New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
On the Run
by Suzie
Summary: Jim and Blair continue to stay ahead of the game. Simon receives a letter. #2 of the Wanted series.
Disclaimer: Some of the characters in this story belong to the Pet Fly Productions as part of the television show The Sentinel. I do not claim these characters as my own.
"Why in the *HELL* is it taking so *DAMN* long to tell me which way they went!!!" Agent Moe shouted angrily from his car/temporary office, as he remained parked in the lot outside the loft.
**********
It was still dark when Jim and Blair drove into Salem, Oregon. Traffic was nonexistent, being it was early Saturday morning.
"Time to wake up, Chief, " Jim said, as he reached over and shook Blair's knee gently.
Sighing, Blair opened sleepy eyes and straightened up in the seat. "Wow, when did I fall asleep?"
"About an hour ago," Jim smiled. "We're in Salem."
After spending as much time as they dared looking for an appropriate mode of transportation, and having no luck, they decided to go on to Eugene.
**********
Ring
"Tell me where they are!" Moe barked.
"Looks like they've headed south, sir," a voice said over the cell phone.
"South?! South to where?! They have hours on us already! Are they still, now at this moment, going south?! I want to know *WHERE* they are headed!" Moe clicked the phone off and threw it onto the front seat of his car. "Worthless damn people! Ask them to do one thing... *ONE* damn thing and they don't do it!"
**********
Eugene, Oregon found Jim and Blair at a small used car lot off the main street. Jim was looking over a big black Chevy Suburban while Blair stood *lookout*. It wasn't even seven in the morning yet and they didn't think anyone would show up on the lot before nine o'clock on a Saturday, but it was better to be safe.
After a minute of checking, Jim returned for some tools. "Move the truck in next to the Suburban and start unloading it." He handed a screwdriver to Blair as he spoke. "Take the plates off the truck so we can take them with us."
"What are you going to do?" Blair asked, taking the screwdriver.
"I'm going to try to get the keys."
"Be careful. Dial up your hearing and check for the alarm system."
"Right... don't worry," Jim said, patting his Guide on the arm just before he turned and jogged off towards the office.
Blair watched Jim until he disappeared around the back of the building, then proceeded to unload the contents of the truck onto the pavement next to the big Suburban. With that finished, he cleaned out the cab of everything he could find and used the screwdriver to scrape the Cascade PD parking sticker off the windshield.
Less than ten minutes had gone by before Jim returned with the keys they needed. Blair had just finished removing the license plates from the truck and had set them with their other things.
"I think I got everything out, Jim," Blair said, taking the keys from his partner. "Check it though, just to be sure. I'll start loading our stuff."
Jim gave a nod. He was sure that Blair gotten everything. The young man could be very thorough when necessary, but it was better to be safe.
All loaded and on their way again, Blair checked the map. The route they'd decided on months before wasn't marked, but they both studied it enough to have it memorized.
"Okay, we backtrack to Highway 20," Blair said. "The map shows an unpaved road that should take us there without getting back on I-5. No telling what condition it's in though."
"This thing has four-wheel drive," Jim said of the big Suburban they'd acquired. "We shouldn't have a problem."
"Do you want me to drive for a while?"
"I'm fine, but you'd better try to get some shut-eye. We'll make a quick stop in Newport, then you can take over."
"Okay," Blair sighed. He crawled, none too gracefully, into the backseat. Rummaging through a box in the back, he pulled out a pillow and a blanket.
Jim chuckled silently and shook his head as he glanced in the mirror to watch.
Finally, Blair settled himself across the backseat and quickly fell asleep.
**********
"Jesus! I can not believe the incompetent assholes I'm forced to work with!" Agent Moe ranted to Agents Larry and Curly. "Ellison and Sandburg probably have a good five hour head start on us now! All I want to know is where the hell our subjects are! Is that so much to ask?! With all of the information and equipment available to us, why can't two people be found?!"
"The team is doing their best, sir," Curly said. "Ellison knows what he's doing and won't be easy to follow."
"His Covert Ops training will...," Larry tried to add.
Moe cut him off, "I don't want excuses and I don't care what it takes! Find Ellison and Sandburg!"
**********
The road was unpaved, but grated and not in as bad of shape as Jim had thought it would be. Blair slept soundly through the uneven ride and the few holes that Jim couldn't miss. When the road ended at Highway 20, he turned left and headed towards Newport.
After a three-hour drive, the old black Suburban was pulled into a gas station and mini mart in Newport, Oregon. Jim quickly but carefully checked the area as far as he dared with his exhausted senses, and decided it was safe. He turned to look at his sleeping partner, buried under the blanket in the back seat. Blair could sleep a few more minutes while he used the restroom.
**********
"Sandburg, wake up," Jim said, as he shook Blair's shoulder from the open back door. "Time for a pit stop."
Blair opened his eyes and stared up at Jim with a slightly confused look.
"We're in Newport, buddy," Jim smiled. "Time to get up."
"Newport?" Blair thought for a moment. "Oh yeah... Newport." He pushed himself up and slid out to stand next to Jim.
"I'm going to fill it up," Jim said, indicating the gas pump they were parked next to. "Grab some money and get us something to eat and drink inside, and pay for the gas."
"Okay..." Blair stretched and yawned. "I can do that. Need to use the restroom too."
"I went before I woke you up. Don't take too long. We have to get back on the road."
Blair nodded, pulling his backpack onto the back seat. He'd pooled their money into a single envelope and had put it in the inside zipper pocket of his pack. That way they could easily get what they needed without putting their money in the public eye. "Be back in a few, man," Blair said, striding off across the lot.
When Blair returned, Jim was sitting on the passenger side of the front seat. He got in behind the wheel and handed the two bags to the bigger man.
"The steering feels stiff, so take it easy until you get use to it," Jim said, prowling through one of the bags. "I smell hotdogs."
Blair started the vehicle and smiled at his friend. "Other bag." Then he pulled out into traffic to head south on Highway 101.
Jim set the bag aside to pick up the other and let out a low rumble that could have been a purr as he pulled out two of the six hotdogs. "Want one, Chief?"
"Yes, with relish and mustard please. I'm starved."
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've eaten." Jim opened a packet of relish and a packet of mustard smearing both on one hotdog before handing it to Blair.
"There's some water and sodas in the other bag."
Jim took a bite out of his hotdog and set it aside to dig through the bag for a soda. "I figure we'll each drive until we need to stop for gas," he said after chewing and swallowing. "You want a soda?"
"Water please," Blair said between bites of his own hotdog. "About every two hours?"
"Yeah... give or take. We're not going to be able to stop overnight until we hit San Diego."
"Provided Moe, Larry, and Curly stay far enough behind us."
Jim nodded.
**********
Early Sunday morning...
Ring!
"Sands here," the agent known as Moe barked into the small cell phone.
"Agent Carlyle here. We think we located Ellison's truck in Eugene, Oregon."
"You think?! Why don't you *know*?!"
"There's nothing left. No plates, no registration, it's totally clean."
"Then why do you think it belonged to Ellison?"
"The truck seems to have been left in place of a Suburban, which disappeared off a small used car lot off the main drag. The office was broken into and the keys to the Suburban were taken rather then breaking into the vehicle and hot-wiring it."
"Okay, they're probably heading for Mexico. I'll set up some of our people at the border while you and your men try to catch up with them." Moe turned to Larry and Curly. "We're closing in. I'm going down there. You two stay here and keep an eye on Banks."
**********
Sunday afternoon...
Jim was at the wheel as they drove into San Diego, California. He glanced in the mirror at the sleeping man on the back seat. "Blair," he called. "C'mon, buddy, rise and shine."
Blair groaned and shifted on the seat.
"We're in San Diego."
Blair sat up. "So, are we going to be able to stop and get some real rest?"
Jim shook his head. "I have a feeling we shouldn't stay around here. I'm going to jump onto Interstate 8 and go to El Cajon, then we'll stop."
Blair crawled into the front seat and grabbed the map. "El Cajon?" His finger traced the line of the Interstate where the city was on the map. "About fifteen miles I'd guess. It's off the Interstate."
Jim nodded. "We need to see if we can locate another vehicle."
After unloading the Suburban into a small hotel room in El Cajon, Jim and Blair went to look for their next mode of transportation. A search of a local newspaper and two hours of driving later, had them haggling with the owner of a red 1970 Ford pickup with four-wheel drive.
Finally the agreement was made. The Suburban and a thousand dollars got them the pickup and a way to throw the Government off their trail for a while.
**********
Sunday evening...
Agent Sands was met at the San Diego International Airport by two of his underlings and driven to the California/Mexico border.
"Report," Sands said after settling into the back seat of the car.
"A black Chevy Suburban with two men inside was reported crossing the border into Mexico a few hours ago."
**********
Monday...
Captain Banks stared at the two empty desks out in the bullpen and sighed. He had called the loft, tried both Detectives' cell phones and pagers without luck. It was noon, and with what had happened with that group from the Government, Simon was beginning to worry about Jim and Blair.
The second batch of mail for the day had just been delivered and Simon shuffled through it absently. He stopped when a large manila envelope with no return address stared up at him suspiciously. The writing looks familiar, Simon thought as he eyed the address.
The Captain had turned to refill his coffee mug when he realized *why* the writing on the envelope was familiar. "Sandburg!" he nearly yelled. The coffee was forgotten as he spun back around to his desk. As quickly as he could, Simon tore open the envelope and dumped its contents onto his desk. "Oh... dear... God." With shaky hands he picked up the handwritten letter and read:
Dear Simon,
If you are reading this, it means that Blair and I have had to disappear. There is the possibility that we will never be able to return to Cascade, so you will find two letters of resignation and our shields and identifications.
Simon fingered the badges and set the two white envelopes aside that were printed with, "Letter of Resignation: Det. James Ellison," and "Letter of Resignation: Det. Blair Sandburg." He continued reading:
As you know we have been prepared for this possibility and have enclosed all the necessary paperwork. All you need to do is sign everything and take them to the attorney that Blair and I have been working with. His name is Mr. Carl Dever and he is a good man. He is aware of what has happened with the dissertation, but that is all. We have given him no information about our plans or exactly why we are leaving. If you feel an explanation is necessary, please feel free to use your imagination.
Simon smiled sadly.
Please sell everything that is now left in the loft and the basement storage area. This includes selling the loft itself and Blair's car. You will find all deeds and titles in my safe deposit box. Checking and savings account numbers are listed on the enclosed forms. Just take them to the bank and you will have access to our accounts and the safe deposit box. Close all the accounts and open one account in a different bank in your name. All money from the sale of Blair's and my belongings can be placed into that account.
Also, there are sealed copies of Last Will and Testaments for both Blair and I.
Simon found the envelopes and quickly set it with the resignations, not even wanting to consider having to open them.
We are both sorry to have put this burden on you, Simon, but you are the one person that we can trust with this. You have always been and we hope you will continue to be our friend. We will contact you as soon we can, but it may be some time before that is possible.
Sincerely, Jim
Below Jim's signature was a note scrawled by Blair.
Simon,
Thanks for everything, man. Your trust, encouragement, and friendship have been a major highlight in my life. Give Darryl a hug for me. Tell him I'm sorry we couldn't say good-bye.
"You bet I'll do that," Simon whispered.
There is an envelope with Megan's name on it. Please see that she gets it.
Your Friend, Blair
Simon shuffled through the paperwork and envelopes until he found the one he was looking for. He took several deep breaths to help regain control of his emotions. Then he went to the door of his office and slowly pulled it open. "Connor! A word with you please."
**********
~end~