OCTOBER 31

6:30 AM NEW ORLEANS THE MAJESTIC HOTEL

Richard awakes to find Kari’s side of the bed empty. He looks around, only to see her sitting on the window sill looking down below at the French Quarter.  He gets out of bed and approaches her. Tears are coming down her face.  He walks up to her and wipes them gently away.  “Why are you crying, Kari?”

“Look at us Richard.  We’re in New Orleans.  It’s such an exciting and beautiful place I had forgotten how much I loved this city.”

“You’re thinking about what happened?”

She shakes her head, remembering her last visit to New Orleans.

“No, I was thinking that I would so much like to share this city with you, the coffee and beignets at Café Dumonde are worth it alone…but then again, do you really want to share all of that with me?”

“Oh Kari, of course I do.” He looks into her eyes. “I love you, Kari.  I want to build a new life with you.  You came into my life when I was at the end of my rope and I didn’t know what to do anymore.”

Kari gets up off the window sill.  He takes her in his arms and kisses her.  As he does,  the window shatters with a loud bang and Kari falls limp in his arms and Richard sees Kari’s blood splattering in the air.  She falls to the floor and he cradles her in his arms.  On the balcony opposite, Ben Charnquist drops his shotgun. He smiles at Richard and salutes him as he turns and runs away. Kimble watches him disappear and looks down at Kari’s lifeless body and just screams, “NO!”

He wakes up and it’s light in the room.  The bed is empty and he’s breathing hard.  Kari pokes her head around the corner from the bathroom.  She has a toothbrush in her hand and a puzzled look on her face.  “Are you all right?”  Richard doesn’t answer and she walks over to him and sits on the bed next to him.  “Richard?  What happened?”

He touches her face and says, “Night terror that’s all.”

She takes his hand and says, “It’s all right.  Look I’ve got to go and get the search warrant and then I’m meeting Jason briefly. When I get back we can go over the final plan.”  Richard nods and Kari grabs her coat and purse and leaves.

11 AM CHICAGO FUGITIVE TASK FORCE

Captain Gerard is sitting at his desk.  The rest of the task force has left for the day and Gerard, feeling totally displaced, is sitting at his desk brooding over what has happened in the past twenty four hours.  Suddenly the phone rings.

“Gerard.”

“Captain Philip Gerard?”

“Yes it is, who is this?” Gerard says impatiently.

“My name is Carolyn Evans.  You don’t know me, but I was on a Greyhound bus yesterday going into Baton Rouge to see my daughter.  As I was getting off the bus I recognized a man getting off the bus in front of me.”

Gerard impatience grows. “And why should I care about that?”

“It was Richard Kimble!”

Gerard grips the phone tightly. “Where is he?” he demands.

The woman continues as though unaware of his tension. “I followed him to see where he was going. That’s why I know he boarded a bus bound for New Orleans.  I don’t know if he was going to stay in New Orleans, but that’s where he was headed yesterday.”

Gerard looks down at the memo to him from Jason Merriman stating that Holmes was needed in New Orleans.  “Thank you, Ms. Evans.  I will take your tip under advisement.” 

“What about the reward?” she asks eagerly, but all she hears is the click of the phone.

Gerard stares into space, a grim smile on his face.

“I’ve got you both now!”

Minutes later, Gerard storms into Eve Hilliard’s office. “OK Eve, give me the address where Holmes is staying.”

Eve glances at Vic and Eddie. “I don’t know where, Philip.”

“The hell you don’t!  I got a call just now from a concerned citizen in Baton Rouge Louisiana telling me that she saw Kimble get on a bus in Baton Rouge that was bound for New Orleans!  Coincidence?  I don’t think so.  Holmes is guilty of aiding and abetting a fugitive.  She’s going down with him!  I will not be made a fool!”

“You should have thought about that when you decided to put her on the task force.”

“Are you condoning what she’s done Eve?”

“I’m not condoning anything.  All we have is someone who said that Kimble was seen getting on a bus for New Orleans. That doesn’t prove Holmes sent for him or is planning to meet with him.  Maybe they both got wind of something about to go down in New Orleans.”

“Oh, you’re good Eve! Almost as good as Holmes.” He turns to Vic. “Gutierrez, I want the record of all the calls made from Holmes’ phone. And find out if she has a private cell phone. Do whatever you have to.”

Vic stares at him in disbelief.

“ Now!” shouts Gerard. As Vic leaves the room, Gerard heads for the door. “I’m leaving for the airport. I’ll find her if I have to search every hotel in New Orleans.” He turns looks back over his shoulder. “Oh and Eve, I really wouldn’t consider making a phone call to her if I were you.  That would definitely be considered collusion.”  He walks out.

After several seconds Eve reaches for the phone and starts to dial.  Eddie grabs the earphone. “Eve, who are you calling?  Even if Holmes is right and uncovers something in New Orleans, if you tip her off and Gerard finds out, you’re looking at trouble.”

“After what I told you last night, do you really believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Kimble killed his wife?”

Eddie is silent.  Eve continues, “Agent Holmes got to the position that she’s in because she’s taken chances and put her neck on the line when she knew she was right when everybody else told her she was wrong.  Why don’t we see how it feels?  Besides he told me not to call Holmes, he didn’t say anything about calling anyone else. I think AD Merriman should know what’s happening.”

Eddie nods his head.

3:30 PM KARI’S HOTEL ROOM

Richard is dialing a number on the phone.  “Hello?”

“Maggie, it’s Richard.”

“Richard! Is something wrong?”

“I’m glad I caught you at home. Listen I can’t tell you where I am, but I suspect tonight I’m either going to get killed or get exonerated.”

“What’s going on?”

“I wish I could tell you, but it’s better that you don’t know.  I’m with Kari.”

“Kari? You two are finally together?”

“Not like that. She’s here with me.  Look, I just want you to know that I love you and I love Stuart and Emily.  Just remember that if you don’t hear from me again.”

“Richard…”  Before Maggie can say anything else, Richard hangs up.

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