In front of a drug store - a few minutes later


Alex pushes open the door and walks out on the street. He stops in midstride at the sight of Tony walking down the other side of the street. He turns, but not before he is noticed. Tony runs over between the traffic to block his path.


"You got a helper I don't know about, Alex? That wasn't part of the deal."

"I don't know who he was. I never saw him before!"

"Well, I know who he is, so don't count on him being around the next time you welch on me."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said," Tony answers, and turns and walks away.

 

 

 

 

Ann's house - Sunday afternoon

Maggie is standing in the living room, her suitcase on the floor beside her. "I wish I could stay longer."

"Me, too."

Maggie turns to Ann. "I don't know how to thank you."

"It was my pleasure," Ann reassures her.

 "Take care." Maggie gives Kimble a final hug.

"Take care, yourself. And say Hi to Stuart and Emily for me…and Kari." As they pull apart, he reaches for some snapshots in his shirt pocket and looks at them fondly. "Thanks for the pictures."

"I have to go. I'll miss my plane." She turns and runs out in the rain to a waiting taxi, looking back at the house as it pulls away. Richard watches her from behind the curtains until the car is out of sight. Then he turns to Ann.

"I can't thank you enough. These two days have meant more to me than you can ever know."

"I know," she says, looking at him fondly. "Richard, there is something you can do for me. I want you to call Paul's brother and asked him to take your case." She rushes on before he can protest. "Maggie told me about Dinwiddie. You need a lawyer that believes in you! Jim's familiar with your trial. More important, he believes you're innocent and he'll fight for you."

"I don't have the money…"

"We're not talking about money. We're talking about friendship." She slips a piece of paper in his shirt pocket. "Here's his number."

As he fingers the paper in his coat pocket, the phone rings and Ann reaches to pick up the portable phone.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Bowers? This is Alex Sharp. I don't know if you remember me. You saw me at the hospital."

"Alex?" she answers warily. "Sure, I remember." She glances at Kimble, who moves closer to listen.

 "You remember that guy we talked about, the one who brought me in? You said you talked to him and I thought maybe you knew where he lives."

"I told you I don't know where he is." Ann says quickly in denial.

"Its really important. Someone's lookin' for him. He could be in a lot of trouble and its all my fault. I want to help him."

Ann looks at Kimble in alarm. "If he comes back to the hospital, I'll pass on the message."

"Just tell him they know who he is." The phone clicks.

She turns to Kimble anxiously. "Do you think he suspects you're here?"

"I don't know, but I have to get out of here." He moves over to the window to peer out the drapes and pulls back quickly as a police car pulls up in front of the house.

"What is it?"

"There's a police car outside."

Ann tosses him his jacket. "Go! I'll tell him something."

 She turns abruptly as the doorbell rings. Kimble hides behind the door into the kitchen as she moves toward the door.

"Dr. Bowers?"

"Yes?"

The officer holds up his badge. "Officer Maloney. I'm investigating an incident from a few nights ago. I understand you treated a man with a knife wound a few nights ago in the emergency room."

"Yes, I remember him." She stops, volunteering nothing.

Maloney looks up as the rain drips off his hat. "Do you mind if I come inside, Ma'am?"

"No, of course not," she answers, opening the door. As he steps into the front room, she asks, "How can I help you?"

"I'm trying to find your patient. Do you know what happened to him? The hospital said their records were incomplete."

"I'm sorry. I can't help you. I stitched the cut and sent him up to X-ray. Apparently he never got there. I never saw him again."

"That didn't surprise you, him not coming back?"

"It was a busy night. Patients do leave sometimes after they get some basic attention. They get afraid or just get tired of waiting."

"I have reason to believe this man is wanted by the law. Did he look familiar to you?"

"No," Ann laughs to mask her fear. "Why should he?"

"His pictures been on the TV a lot lately."

"I don't have time to watch a lot of television, Officer Maloney."

"No, I don't suppose you do." Maloney looks around the room, his eyes falling on a picture on the shelf. "This your husband?"



 

"Yes, it is. He and Dr. Morse received an award for their work with amputees," Ann answers with pride. "That's one of their patients."

Maloney gazes into the kitchen as Kimble presses tighter against the wall behind the door, holding his breath. "Is he here right now?"

"My husband is dead, Officer Maloney. Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asks impatiently.

He turns back to her apologetically, setting the picture down. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. No, that's all I need to know. Thank you."

Anne gratefully shuts the door behind him. Kimble emerges from the kitchen and reaches for the picture off the shelf, staring at it with dismay.

"What is it?" Ann asks, coming to his side. "What's wrong?"

"He knows I'm here."

"How can he?"

"He saw the table set for two. And he saw this." He points at the banner in the background of the picture with the bright red letters 'Chicago General'. "There's no way he'll believe you didn't recognize me."

"Oh my God! Richard. I didn't think! " Ann said horrified. "But why didn't he do anything?"

"I don't know," Kimble says, puzzled. "Maybe he went to get a warrant. But I know you could be in big trouble. I have to get out of here."

"Wait!" Ann says, holding him back. "What if that's what he's waiting for. What if he's watching the house?"

 Kimble sinks down on the couch, his head in his hands, thinking furiously. Then he reaches for the phone. He finds the number from the last phone call and presses re-dial. A voice answers.

 

"Alex! Do you still want to help?"

Twenty minutes later - in the squad car

Tony slips into the police car hidden up a side street. "Hey, man, what's up?"

Maloney nods at the house. "Kimble is in there and unless I miss my guess, he's going to be leaving real soon."

"Why mess around? Why don't you just get a search warrant?"

Maloney looks at him with contempt. "Because judges don't issue warrants for suspicions. And all I have is your word that its Kimble. How do I explain that to the judge?! No, I need to catch him in plain sight."

"So, what do you need me for?"

"Insurance. Kimble is smart. He may leave with his doctor friend. Or he may send her out as a diversion so he can leave when I follow her. I've got to keep my bases covered."

Sensing he has the upper hand, Tony says "So, what's in it for me?"

"For starters, maybe I won't send you to jail and throw away the key! You dummy! There's a big reward! You help me out and we'll split it," he adds in a friendlier voice.

Understanding dawns on Tony's face. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to get out of the car and hide outside the house." He hands him a cell phone. "You see anything, anything, you call me on this phone."

"Right."

"Wait a minute, the garage door is opening. Get goin'. I'll follow the car."

DOWNTOWN

Ann drives for several miles. She looks in her rearview mirror and spots the police car still trailing her. Suddenly she picks up speed, recklessly driving through the streets. She is aware of the siren behind her as she pulls into the underground parking lot at the hospital and swings into a spot reserved for physicians. The squad car pulls in beside her and Maloney springs out.

"Stop right, there, Doctor."

Ann gets out of the car impatiently. "I know I was speeding, but I got an emergency call about a patient."

"Is that a fact? Do mind if I look in your car?" He peers in the front and back seats without waiting for an answer. "Open the trunk!"

Ann looks at him incredulous. "Officer, I have a patient…" Impatiently, she clicks the controller on her key ring and the trunk pops open. Maloney springs around the car, gun drawn, only to find the trunk totally empty.

"Satisfied?" Ann ask angrily, pushing the trunk lid down. "If my patient dies, you'll be to blame. And if you ever bother me again, I'll press charges for harrassment. If you'll excuse me…" She walks hastily into the hospital. Walking around the corner, she sags against the wall in relief and speed dials a number on her cell phone. "Go!"

ANN'S HOUSE

Kimble slips out the back door of the house and heads toward a dark blue car parked in the alley. As he pulls open the car door and the light from the car shines on his face, a voice calls out from the darkness.

"Kimble!"

Kimble freezes as Tony emerges from the darkness and approaches the car. "So it is you! I wasn't really sure."

Alex springs out of the car. "Let him go, Tony! Or I swear…"

"Save your breath," Tony interrupts him. "Hey, I'm a nice guy. I'm goin' let him go."

Alex looks at him in disbelief. "Why? What's in it for you?"

"There's nothin' in it for me. Nothin'!" he shouts angrily. "Maloney told me he'd split the reward if I helped him. But I know that SOB. He'd never give me a dime! No, he's settin' me up. Well, two can play at that game. If I don't get the money, neither does he.  And I'll be leavin' town, so our little business arrangement is over. See you around!" As he tosses the cell phone in the bushes, it starts to ring.


NEXT

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1