INSIDE ROOM 227

 

Kimble's eyes squeeze shut in agony. Realizing he must face the class, he puts the chalk down and slowly turns around. Thomas's cocky stance challenges Kimble to deny the accusation. "What makes you think that?" The fugitive asks Thomas tersely.

 

"I read the newspapers.  I also surf the web, man. I've logged on to Dr-Richard-Kimble.com."

 

The class is following this interchange in hushed silence. This is far better than their English lesson!

 

"So...turn me in," Kimble bluffs.

 

Thomas, looking puzzled at Kimble's remark says, "Why would I do that?  Anyone with a reasonable amount of intelligence knows you're innocent Dr. Kimble. I'd never snitch on you.  Besides, you took out my little sister's appendix five years ago." A general nodding and murmur of approval sweeps the class. Kimble realizes he is among friends. Suddenly, he recognizes that an opportunity to act has presented itself.

 

"Then you know about the One-Armed Man?"

 

"Charnquist? Yeah that son-of-a-bitch should be on death row instead of you, Dr. Kimble!" Thomas exclaims.

 

"Watch your language, Thomas," Kimble reprimands absently. He goes over to the front windows again and looks out. The class wonders what is going on.

 

Jude then stands up and says, "Uh Dr. Kimble, this is probably none of our business, but why are you even in Chicago and why are you pretending to be our substitute teacher?"

 

Kimble returns and sits on the teacher's desk. "That's a long story that I don't have time to go into but I think Charnquist may be here, on this campus, right now." There is a loud intake of breath as the students absorb this shocking piece of news. "I need to find a way to get everyone out of here, safely and calmly. He's armed."

 

The students rise from their seats as Kimble speaks and hurry to the windows to see if they can glimpse the intruder.

 

"Calmly," he reminds them.

AT FUGITIVE TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS

 

Gerard is on the phone and with the last comment, he's got the entire task force's complete and undivided attention.  Alex says, "Yes Daddy, I didn't recognize him initially but he started talking about surgical procedures and then he drew a really graphic picture of an incision on the chalkboard.  I realized it was him!"

 

Gerard still in amazement says, "Alex, why would Dr. Kimble be masquerading as your English teacher?"

 

Alex getting very impatient says, "I don't know Daddy, why don't you come to the high school and ask him yourself?"

 

Gerard says,  "All right Alex, where are you?"

 

Alex replies, "I'm in the girls bathroom."

 

Gerard says, "OK, stay there and we'll be there as soon as possible."

 

They hang up.  Gerard looks at the task force and says, "All right, you all heard, let's get over to Alex's school and get him out of there as quietly as possible."

 

Eve stands up and says, "Wait a minute Philip.  How about we cross reference her story first before we go into a high school with guns drawn and quite possibly end up embarrassing ourselves and scaring some students in the process."

 

Gerard very irritated says, "Fine Eve, follow protocol!  I'll start getting everybody ready to move out!"

 

Eve picks up the phone.

 

CORONER'S OFFICE 10:55 AM

 

Kari holds the new autopsy photos next to the crime scene photos and to the x-ray.  All three of them are showing what Kari suspected.  The main wound is on the right side of Helen Kimble's head.  She says,  "Well Dr. Alexander, in your professional opinion, what do you think?"

 

Alexander replies, "I think my first instinct was correct.  When I first looked at her I was thinking that because her main wound was on the right side of her head, she was probably beaten by someone using his left hand.  I never got to the invasive part of the exam to verify it though."

 

Kari says, "Yet, Dr. Jones, testified that she was beaten by someone using his right hand.  It was well established that Dr. Kimble was right handed.  Would you testify to everything that you've told me so far?"

 

Alexander replies, "To have any merit, I think we both know that I will need to see the body again to get the exact measurements of the angles to be 100% sure that the blows came from a left handed person and not a right handed person."

Kari, looking angry and suspicious at the same time asks, "You're right, if photographs can be manipulated one way, why not the other?  If you suspected something different, why did you never come forward and dispute this with Dr. Jones and maybe try to contact Kimble's attorney?"

 

Alexander says very quietly, “Agent Holmes, I hadn't been working here that long.  Jones was my boss and everyone in Chicago knows that Matthew Ross is someone you don't want to make angry.  I did try to contact his attorney once.  I got stonewalled.  I tried explaining to the secretary that if Helen Kimble’s body was exhumed, I might have a different conclusion than Dr. Jones did.  They weren't interested."

 

Kari asks, "Will you do the autopsy correctly if I am able to get her body exhumed?"

 

Alexander nods and says, "I'll do it Agent Holmes if you promise to stand guard, and I would appreciate it if you could forget my mentioning of Matthew Ross for the time being.  I have a wife and a two year old little girl at home."

 

Kari nods and says, "Understood.  Where is Dr. Jones now working?  I've got a few questions for him to say the least."

 

Alexander hesitates and then says, "He's dead."

 

INSIDE ROOM 227

 

"Dr. Kimble, I know how to get everybody out." Thomas says at the door, "Let me go out in the hall and I'll pull the fire alarm."

 

Lily quickly joins him. "Oh, may I go with Thomas?" she pleads.

 

Seeing no one in the corridor, Kimble nods permission for the two students to leave.

 

INSIDE THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

 

Principal Owen picks up the phone. Before his secretary can introduce her, Eve Hilliard interrupts "Mr. Owen, I'm Agent Eve Hilliard with the FBI and we have reason to believe that a wanted fugitive is impersonating a substitute teacher there today.  Do you have a substitute working currently?"

 

Owen says, "Yes Agent Hilliard, Mr. Sanders came in late and is substituting for an English class."

 

Eve says, "Give me your fax number! I’ll fax you a picture of the fugitive we think is in your school. His name is Richard Kimble."

 

INSIDE THE HALLWAY ON THE UPPER LEVEL

 

Lily and Thomas are walking down the hallway.  Suddenly they realize someone is coming up the stairs.  They look at each other and stop before they get to the stairwell.  They both see a gun coming around the corner.  They are next to the boys restroom.  Thomas grabs Lily and into the restroom they go.

 

Charnquist thinking that he heard something, opens the boys restroom door and looks in.  Thomas and Lily are both behind the door breathing very softly.  Charnquist takes a quick glance and seeing that no one is in the stalls, shuts the door.

 

Thomas and Lily's eyes lock on each other.  "I want you to know something," Lily says in a low voice, "I love you."

 

"Lily, we're not going to die," Thomas assures her, he smiles and says, "I love you too!  Now let's get to that alarm!"  Thomas looks out to make sure Charnquist is out of sight which he is.  Thomas and Lily walk down the hall toward the fire alarm.

 

INSIDE THE MAIN OFFICE

 

Principal Owen is receiving the fax of Richard Kimble when a man walks into the office. "Excuse me, I'm so sorry that I'm late.  I got stalled by a terrible accident on the freeway.  My name is Todd Sanders.  I was called to fill in for an English teacher today."

 

Owen, wide-eyed at this revelation, looks down at the faxed picture of Kimble and says to Eve on the phone, "Oh my God! Kimble is here what do we do?!"

 

CORONER'S OFFICE

 

Kari shocked by the answer says, "How?  How did Dr. Jones die?"

 

"Traffic accident, about a year ago.”  Kari can not believe what she is hearing.  Alexander says, "You see why I don't want to be associated with the name Matthew Ross?"

 

Kari says, "I'll be in touch Dr. Alexander."  She hands him her business card and says, "Do you mind if I use your copy machine?  I think I'm going to need an official file and an unofficial file for this case."

 

Alexander says, "Sure go ahead, and take the new photos with you."  He hands her the photos and says very sincerely,  "Be careful Agent Holmes."  He walks away.

 

As Kari photocopies her notes she says to herself, “Abe Eisenberg, Dr. Jones, Nicholas Armanesco and Buddy LaRue  are all dead.  Who else am I going to find is dead before this is over?"

 

IN THE HALLWAY UPSTAIRS AT THE SCHOOL 11:05 AM

 

Thomas and Lily reach the alarm and Thomas takes a deep breath. He sets it off. Instantly doors open and students and teachers begin to file out. "I've got to help Dr. Kimble leave the building unseen," Thomas tells Lily. He starts back towards Rm. 227. When she follows him, he pushes her in the direction of the crowd heading for the exits.

 

"No way, Thomas! I want to know what happens just as much as you do!"

 

Thomas is insistent. "Go--I mean it. I'll meet you outside!" Unwillingly, Lily leaves with the others.

 

Marjorie Winston appears at the door of Kimble's class and rolls her eyes. "Welcome to Timber Creek High! Three fire drills in less than a month." Then she smiles. "Well, the upside is you won't have to worry about teaching this period after all!"

 

Trying not to appear stressed as he ushers his students out, Kimble agrees, "Guess not."

 

Filing past Kimble, Jude claps him on the back. "Take care, Mr. Sanford," he says sincerely. Kimble nods.

 

Zachary offers Kimble a handshake and a newfound look of respect.

 

"You were right," Kimble says to Marjorie. "They're good kids."

 

Everyone is congregating on the front lawn below. Lily looks up anxiously at the windows of Room 227. Principal Owen is keeping order.

 

OUTSIDE THE CORONER'S OFFICE IN KARI'S CAR

 

Kari is sitting in the front seat of the car and is dialing a number on her cell phone.  The phone rings and it is answered, "Gerard."

 

Kari says, "Capt. Gerard, I just finished talking with the coroner and..."

 

"Agent Holmes, listen carefully.  You're only three blocks from my daughter's high school, Timber Creek High.  Kimble is there impersonating a substitute teacher.  Get over there immediately and do what you can to apprehend him!  Here's the address."

 

Kari, in complete disbelief at what she's just heard writes down the address and says, "Capt., is this for real?"

 

Gerard yells into the phone, "Agent Holmes, of course this is for real!  Get over there now!"

 

"All right, I'm on my way."  She hangs up the phone and says, "Richard, how did you manage to get into this predicament?"  She puts the car in gear and speeds off.

 

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