BY UNFORTUNATE CHANCE IT WAS A GOOD FIFteen minutes before a nurse went into Clinic Three and was surprised to find it unoccupied. She went down to reception and spoke to the duty nurse there.
“What happened, to Doctor Jessup and the patient?” “They should still be there. Treatment takes an hour.” “Well, they aren’t.” I’ll come and see.” The prison guard was still reading his magazine when te door swung violently and the two nurses, having found the doctor’s unconscious body in the toilet, rushed in.
AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT, THE LAUNDRY VAN turned into the crowded car park of a la/ge supermarket fifteen miles dow{ the highway and Mori pulled in beside a dark sedan.
“This is where we change,” le told Kathleen, went round io the rear and opened the door. “Out you get.” Ryan clambered out wearing a brown tweed suit and a raincoat. Kathleen kissed him impulsively.
“You made it, Uncle Michael.” Mori unlocked the sedan. “In you get.” Ryan and his niece got in the rear, Mori slid behind the wheel and put on a chauffeur’s cap that perfectly matched his navy blue suit, then drove away.
Ryan said, “Where are we going? They must have put the alarm out by now. Tbere’ll be cops everywhere.’ ‘
“Long Island.”
“But that’s a hell of a way from here,” Kathleen said. “They’ll have roadblocks on the highway and at the toll bridges.”
“None of which will do them the slightest good.
Trust me and just sit tight.”
About ten minutes later there was the sound of sirens and three patrol cars passed on the other lane of the highway. Ryan said, “Christ, we could be in trouble here.”
Mori shrugged. “Keep the faith. We’re nearly A few moments later he took a slip road and then a left turn. A signpost said Jackson Aero Club and they came to it a few minutes later. There was a car park with a few vehicles, a single-rey administration block, two hangars and an airstrip, and twenty or so single- and twin-engined airplanes parked.
There Was also a Swallow helicopter standing on the edge of the airstrip.
Mori parked the sedan. “This is it,” he said and got out. He reached for Kathleen’s suitcase. “I’ll take that. Come on, let’s get moving.”
The pilot, a hard-looking young man in black sunglasses, started the engine as they approached. Mori opened the rear door. “Go on, in you get. Let’s move it.” Ryan and Kathleen scrambled in and Mori followed.
He closed and locked the door, then belted up, turned to Ryan and smiled for the first time.
“Long Island next stop. See what I mean? Easy when you know how.”
THEY LANDED AT WESTHAMpTON AIRPORT ON Long Island. A limousine with.a driver drove straight out to the helicopter to pick them up.
As they drove away Kathleen said, “Do I get time to catch my breath? Where to now?” “The Russo residence at Quogue. Don Antonio wants to meet you,” Mori told her.
“Does h,e,” she said belligerently. “And he always gets what he wants, does he?” “Absolutely.” Mori turned and smiled for the second time. “I’d remember that if I were you, sweetness.”
—
THE WORD OF THE ESCAPE’PREAD LIKE LIGHTning at Green Rapids Detention Center. Salamone, on duty in the prison hospital, received the word from a man on laundry detail called Chomsky. He paused as he was pushing a trolley full of soiled linen out of the ward.
“Hey, Paolo, you heard the good word? That guy Kelly, the Irish guy?” “What about him?” “Escaped when he was down at the General Hospital for treatment. I got it from Grimes up in the
warden’s office. All hell broken out. It’s this joint’s first escape.” “Well, all I can say is I wish him luck,” Paolo said.
He thought about it for the next hail hour until his meal break. When it came, he went to one of the inmates’ phone boxes and used his card to ring Sol-lazo, who was just about to leave for Long Island when his secretary offered him the cail.
“Yes, Paolo?” “Hell, we did good, didn’t we? I did good.” “Only what I expected.” “So I can look for some sugar? You promised you’d get me out. I’ve made my bones on this one.