The chronological order of my stories is now listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Part 1 - Prologue
Saturday, April 2d. At 1:45pm, Laura and I walked along College Street to the walkway that led to the front doors of First Baptist Church. The church faced south, and the bright Spring sunshine felt good on our backs as temperatures finally began going up a little bit.
Going into the front atrium, we were greeted by my nephew Todd, wearing a gray tuxedo. He gave us a program, and said that we had reserved seats near the front.
As we went into the main Sanctuary, I was impressed by it. It was relatively new, and the gray façade outside gave no indication of the sheer size of the large, auditorium-style room within. The carpet was a dark red, and there were two aisles that led to the front podium and the choir section behind it. Behind and above that was the baptismal pool. Me, I'd gotten sprinkled, not dunked, when I'd been a small child in Apple Grove.
We sat down towards the front as the chamber filled up. Including the upper deck, this room could easily fit 2000 people. Very impressive, I thought to myself as Cindy Ross came in and sat down beside me. Her sister Molly was at the Cabin, keeping a lot of kids. Chief Moynahan and Chief Griswold also came in and sat with us. Tanya Perlman was here, as well, in her first truly public appearance since being wounded and paralyzed. She was sitting just in front of the front right pew, along with Mrs. Veasley, both in their motorized wheelchairs. Jack Muscone and his FBI Team were all on the front row.
Flowers bedecked the entire church, white roses and other arrangements that gave away this occasion as the wedding it was. Just before 2:00pm, the organist began the processional music, which was a little too loud for my liking. The bridesmaids and groomsmen came down the aisles. Some of the ladies were college friends of the Bride, and Detective Diana Torres of the TCPD was also a bridesmaid. She looked much, much more beautiful in her salmon-pink dress than a police uniform, I noted. And the Matron of Honor was no less than the wife of the Sheriff, Mrs. Melina Allgood. I have to admit she looked fantastic.
Todd was one of the groomsmen, as was his fellow champion triathlete, Teddy Franklin. The Best Man was Barry Oliver, who had become very good friends with the groom, Seth Warner.
The organist paused, then began playing 'Here Comes The Bride'. We all stood, per time-honored tradition. And when the Bride appeared in the doorway, escorted by her father, an almost audible 'Awwww' seemed to course through the church.
Joanne Cummings was the very vision of a blushing, beautiful, happy bride as she came down the aisle in her white dress and veil. I happened to catch Elsie Gringer, the Town's Social Queen, surreptitiously but furiously writing notes.
After the ceremonial of the giveaway, Pastor Raymond K. Westboro, with his beak nose and wearing his ministerial robes, went through the ceremony. When he got to the part about 'speak now or forever hold his peace', I instinctively looked around... either the paranoid or cop part of me was halfway expecting something dramatic to happen.
Fortunately... this was not television, and the ceremony continued without a hitch... well, with the happy couple getting hitched...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Most people went through the back doors of the sanctuary and down the hall towards the Fellowship Hall. But there were stairs along there, so Jack Muscone and I escorted Tanya and Mrs. Veasley around to an outside door that gave wheelchair access to the Fellowship Hall. As we went in, I happened to look down to my left, and saw a half open door to another room. Curious, I went down and looked.
It was a chapel. The stained-glass windows of brilliant colors were shining as the sunlight came through them. There were a few rows of old wooden pews.
"Ah Commander." I heard a voice say. Turning, I saw Pastor Westboro beside me, "Admiring our Chapel?"
"Yes, Pastor." I said. "I never even knew this was here. It's very beautiful, especially the windows."
"Ah, if you would join our flock on Sundays, you'd see it much more often." said Westboro, ever the recruiter. "This was the original church, built when the Town was built in the 1800s. It was reconstructed a few times, then we finally bought the land facing College Street and built a bigger Sanctuary. We preserved the old windows, rebuilt the walls, and we use this space for small services, funerals and the like."
"Very nice. I seem to feel the Lord's presence in places like this more than those large, modern auditoriums." I said.
"I understand. I know what you mean." said Pastor Westboro as I allowed him to guide me back to the Fellowship Hall, which was on the upper floor. Classrooms and offices were below us.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Much later that afternoon, indeed almost evening, the Bride and Groom came out the front of the Church to formally leave for their new lives together. A Police Honor Guard raised and crossed swords, creating an archway for Joanne Warner,
née
Cummings, and her husband Seth to walk through. Then came all the rice throwing as the couple made their way to a car. After emotional hugs with her family, the car drove Joanne and Seth away.
"Where are they going on their honeymoon?"Laura asked, still holding some rice in a little bag.
"Florida, I think." I said. "Daytona Beach, then Jacksonville for a concert. Then they're going up to the historic Savannah, Georgia and historic Charleston, South Carolina sites."
"I've watched you scan the crowds ten times." Laura said. "What are you looking for?"
"I've been wondering if we'd see Seth's sister show up." I said. "And of course, there's always the possibility of someone even more sinister coming around and trying to mess up our party."
"Melina said that Seth did not invite his sister, but Joanne did---" said Laura.
Just then we were interrupted by Elsie Gringer and her niece, Bettina Wurtzburg, "Oh, it's the loveliest couple in the County!" gushed Elsie. "I can only hope that Seth and Joanne will look as happy as you two when they grow up!"
I laughed, understanding Elsie's joke. "I hope I never have to grow up." I said. "And of course my lovely wife will look like she's 21 forever." Laura smiled.
Elsie said "You are a shameless flirt, Commander. May I take a photo of you two?"
Though Elsie might not have known it, taking a picture of a Deputy Director of the CIA was not always a good thing. Nevertheless, Laura allowed it and we posed for a quick picture together. I notice Laura had lowered her hat's veil just a bit, which would help cover her face ever so slightly, and being as tall as me in her high heels, she could get away with bowing her head a bit to help. Small things that most wouldn't notice...
Part 2 - The Escape
"All right guys, we're having a little party tonight." said Senator Richard Langdon in his Midtown State Senate offices. "The early one is a fundraiser for SBI Director Lewis. Then we'll have a smaller, more private party for the really big donors. So we're going to need some girls."
"No problem, sir." said his aide. "How many? Any specialties?"
"Usual number, about twelve." said Langdon. "Standard stuff, no kink."
The aide called Watch Captain Lockhart, who called contacts in State Women's Prison in Madison County, to the east of Midtown, and placed the order for 'comfort women' to be made available for the sexual use of wealthy political donors.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So, your son got married today?" asked the female guard as she escorted Karla Warner back to her cell from the prison library.
"Yes." said Karla. "Seth came and visited me earlier this week. She's a cute girl; he adores her. Only problem is that she's a cop."
"Maybe she'll keep him out of trouble, then." said the guard. Just as she was about to leave, the guard whispered to Karla "It's on for tonight. Be ready to move, and when we come get you, don't say anything. Make sure you're in the last van."
Karla nodded. The guard then went further down the hall and gave a sign to the woman in that cell, then another. Then she stopped at one final cell. "Are you ready, Goth Girl?" she whispered.
"You bet." said the woman. The guard gave her the same admonitions she gave Karla, then moved on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The four vans passed through the gate of the prison and up to the end of the finger of the building that protruded out from the main prison. In this wing were the kitchens and laundry, and at night there were almost no people on the entire wing.
"All right ladies, you know the drill." said the lead guard. "Four per van. You four... you four... you four... hey Charlie! I thought there were just twelve."
"One extra set tonight, Tom." said the other guard. "We got a call that the party got bigger."
"Okay, you four ladies in the last vehicle." said the first guard, Tom. The four women nodded. Tom didn't think much of three of them being older, only one being a hot young thing that State Senator Langdon normally liked.
"All right, here come the vans." said another guard. The vans pulled up. The women were escorted into them, guards closing the doors. Karla Warner and three others got into the last van.
"All right, take them to the safehouse to change into some dresses. A little extra makeup for the ones in the last van, yes?" joked Tom. "And then to the Midtown Marriott Hotel. Our guys will be waiting for you at the back service entrance." The driver affirmed the instructions, then the convoy pulled out.
Karla had noticed that the driver of her van was a woman, dressed up to be disguised as a man. She looked at the other three women, all who had knowing, expectant looks on their faces. As they neared Midtown, they got off the highway, following surface streets.
Suddenly, the other person in front, riding shotgun, turned and said "Hold on, ladies! Now's the break!" With that, the van sharply turned right at high speed, then the driver accelerated as they went into a residential area.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
