"The jailers, Mr Mayor. There's no way they'd claim not to be aware that something like that was about to happen!"
What do you mean? Cases like this happen and it's quite possible for the jailer not to be aware! You shouldn't speak like that!" The mayor chided his secretary who had her hands clasped under her boobs...
"Your excellency, the prison here isn't quite a large one in comparison to others in the state and the security it boasts of is more than half of what big prisons boast of. That's my point. There's just no way. Probably the people had bribed him into keeping his mouth sealed."
"What's my schedule like today? Busy?" He asked as he slumped into his chair with exhaustion. He had only returned from New York the previous night and hadn't even rested one bit.
"Not so busy your excellency. Today's a Saturday, remember?"
"Oh, I forgot. That's good. I'd like to visit the facility immediately after I'm done meeting the representatives from New York,"
"Alright sir, I'd make arrangements for it immediately." His secretary responded and then darted off.
Micheal couldn't get his sister's words out of his head as he found his way to work. It hurt him to the marrow because she was saying only the truth...
He had brought nothing but shame to the family for a very long time and was always in the News for the wrong thing. The last time, he was caught at a nightclub, drunk with some druggers. He wasn't aware that they were druggers because he was drunk as hell.
His father had to speak to some Top persons before he was eventually released. It trended for days and even affected the stock of the company. Nobody wanted to be affiliated with those involved with drugs. It was only when the truth came out that their stocks bounced back.
If he had only stayed without getting himself drunk, he wouldn't have been in that mess...
"But do you know you said harsh words to your sister back there?" His conscience chided him as they pressed on.
"Of course, I fucked up! Yeah! I know but there's nothing I can do about it."
"No, you can actually do something about it..you can place a call to her and apologize."
"Are you kidding me?" He asked in exasperation. "That's the last thing I'd do." He shot with all his might.
Not long after, he arrived at the firm in grand style as his driver rushed out to open the door.
As he got down, he felt an air of peace blow around him. He was glad that he decided to return. He had worked so hard just to see the firm grow and after it had grown, he had acted so foolishly and childish. He was sure he wasn't going to make such a mistake again...
"Good morning sir!" The greetings came in from every angle as he stepped into the building.
"Good morning!" He responded to those he could before proceeding to the third floor where he had his office.
He could see the smile on everyone's faces as soon as they saw him. It proved that he was a wonderful boss to them all, but there was one person he'd love to see, that was his secretary.
She had called every day, trying to persuade him to return to work. She had even gone the extra mile by coming to see him at home just to plead with him. He didn't respond.
He got to the door and was about to open it when it suddenly came open, revealing his secretary who was speaking with someone over the phone.
"Sir Michael!!" She yelled in excitement, almost dropping the phone in her hand onto the floor.
"How're you doing?" He asked with a bright smile that revealed his white dentures.
"I'm fine." Her smile was even brighter than his. It bore the joy of having him back as her boss.
"How have you been? The office?" It's been fine. Remember I send a weekly report to your mail right?"
"Wait, I thought you stopped doing that from the first month!"
"Nope! I didn't. In fact, I was about to go round to collate all the reports for this week so I can send them. Wait, so you've not been checking them?" She asked with hands akimbo.
He pouted his mouth, stared into her eyes and muttered, "Yes, and I'm sorry."
"It's okay sir."
He was about to ask something important when his phone rang. It was the mayor. He was shocked to the marrow because he hadn't expected him to call him.
"Hello, good morning Mr Mayor," he greeted as soon as he picked up the call.
"Good morning Michael. Heard you returned to work already?" He asked, taking Michael by surprise. How fast News flies.
"Yes sir, I returned just this morning."
"Great! I need you to see me in my office later in the morning, there's an important task for you to handle!"
"Alright sir, I'd be there sir."
Diana was dumbfounded when she heard of the jailbreak. It came to her as a surprise, the same way it did to everyone. The prison in Austin was one with tight security that wouldn't be easy for The inmates to escape from, without the help of some inside sources.
The first thing that came to her mind was her client who was held in custody pending the hearing date. It was the same girl she had gone to meet her parents a few minutes back.
"What the hell!!" She yelled in exasperation, slamming her hand against the wall. She was perturbed because she was sure that the innocent girl had joined them in their escape, and for sure, they'd be caught. Once they are caught, their sentence would be doubled. Hers was different, she'd be convicted of the crime immediately, especially with who was assigned to the case.
Diana gazed around her for a split second before jumping to her feet like one who had just sat on a pin. She Sauntered out of Starbucks with quite a number of people staring at her.
She was heading to the correctional centre and as much as she'd have loved to order a ride, she just couldn't as she had to be there on time.
She flagged a cab almost immediately, with displeasure all over her face. Goodness knows the last thing she wanted was to use her Saturdays for work.
"Where to ma'am?" The driver who recognised her as attorney Diana Asked as soon as she was seated.
"The correctional facility!"
"Alright maaa!" He responded with a mischievous grin and before she could say jack, he was driving through the road with a speed that made her heart jump to her mouth.
She wanted to ask him to take it slowly but then these drivers could be funny and naughty at times. He may decide to go extremely slow and then she'd have to complain again and the process would go on and on... No, she wouldn't want that. She kept mute instead.
The jailer was prancing the entire length and breadth of the prison wondering how in the world that jailbreak happened. He was off duty when he got a call that there was a break and all the inmates had escaped. Only a few, less than a hundred were Caught.
He became unstable as the punishment awaiting him visualised itself. "How did this happen?" He asked, running his hands through his head.
"We have no idea, sir. We were extremely surprised when we heard some yells from outside and behold, they were the ones. We tried to lay our hands on them but it was too late." The most senior warder explained, staring at his toes. He couldn't bring himself to look into the jailer's face.
"But we found someone that didn't go on with them. We found her sitting all alone in the cell."
"Are you kidding me?" The jailer asked with disbelief.
"No sir. Should we bring her in?"
"With immediate effect!" He snapped his finger and watched the man leave to get his orders carried out.
He returned a few minutes later with a young girl who could be no more than twenty years of age. She was fair and looked so gentle
The jailer rested his gaze on her and couldn't help but wonder how such a pretty lady could end up in jail...
"Hello! How are you?" He asked, as soon as she was seated.
"Good morning sir. I'm fine, thank you," she muttered underneath her breath while making sure that their eyes don't meet.
"Why didn't you join them in escaping?" His question came as a rude surprise to her. That was the least question she expected from someone like him.
She kept mute for a few seconds, and then asked again, pretending like she didn't hear his question.
"I said, why didn't you join them in escaping?"
"Would it have been right if I went with them? What would I gain being a fugitive? I'm here, not because I'm a criminal but because I defended myself. If I had gone with them then It would have proved that I am guilty," she explained, almost bursting into tears.
"You don't need to explain anything to them. They aren't worth it," a voice shot From behind, taking them all by surprise.