The New Beginning

                It was a warm night, dangling his feet from the boxcar intently watching the scenery.  His thoughts turn to his good fortune in Kansas City Missouri an extremely lucky day.  The freight hopped in there heading west. He thought about escaping the authorities and drug dealers and how profitable it was.  The authorities not as scary; the drug dealers were terrifying.  Of course, he hadn’t robbed the police. They would pursue him for assaulting one of their uniformed brothers. It was necessary to ensure his successful escape.

                The Police possessed the technology to track him, simple assault not one of their priorities. Assaulting a uniformed officer would increase the authorities, effort in locating him.  Jamie Howard was the name given they would put to his face. They didn’t have fingerprints or DNA only the name given before the assault.  His fingerprints were on file with the military, FBI, and Dade Country Florida. Without the authorities in Kansas City having fingerprints, identifying him was impossible.  He thought his escaping the authorities a sure thing.

                The drug dealers didn’t have the resources nor a description or name. The drugs dealers taken by surprised the toxic gas blinded them briefly.  His gas mask under the mask prevented the flumes from affecting him.   They would lean on their dealers and junkies for information. This would be time consuming even if they developed a lead.  He would have traveled many miles from Kansas City Missouri.  Even if they organized a search for the masked phantom robbing them, they couldn’t obtain his identity.  There wasn’t a single person in Kansas City Missouri that knew the phantom. 

                The major drug deal stumbled on accidentally the second day in Kansas City. The plan organized quickly and with great care took protecting his identity.   When arriving in the city, his net worth was twelve dollars and seventy-five cents. His three days stay in Kansas City spent sleeping on the streets and in the parks.  Other than, to the officer he assaulted, his alias never given.  The name Jamie Howard an alias used often it would be retired.  There were junkies and drug dealers seeing him briefly.  It was unlikely they would connect him to the robbery. His disguise of the stolen gorilla suit and mask made him truly a phantom robber.

                The stolen costume and gas mask discarded in the stairwell after binding and gagging the four drug dealers with duct tape.  Even in someone saw him leaving; they think it suspicious.  Pizza deliverymen always had reason to be there. Delivery people often used the stairwells over the slower elevators.  The Pizza Deliver Jacket from the neighborhood Pizza Parlor stole yesterday from a delivery vehicle.          

          To complete the escape he walked around the corner and took the bus to the motel not requiring ID near the rail yard. His plans were to spent the night and leave by hopping a freight tomorrow heading west.   Leaving the bus and walking the short distance to the motel was when the perfect escape plan went haywire.  He heard the vehicle driving slowly behind him but didn’t look around thinking it suspicious.  When the flashing lights came on and the siren sounded briefly.  He thought about running but decided that wasn’t wise.  He would talk to the police.  The authorities dealt with previously in different cities this worked most of the time. Of Course then he wasn’t carrying a duffel bag full of stolen money and two stolen Colt 45 pistols. The weapons and the money weren’t things a law- abiding citizen would possess.

           He stopped dropped the duffel turned facing the cruiser keeping his hand at his sides. He noticed before the spotlight obscured his vision only one officer present. Shading his eyes to improve vision realizing the brown jersey gloves still worn making sure he wouldn’t leave fingerprints.  It was a mistake on a warm night.  Unless the officer an imbecile he would notice the gloves and become suspicious too late to remove them.  Lying was useful in other brushes with law enforcement officers but had disadvantages.

                When you didn’t possess the proper identification, it meant spending a night in jail.  While they checked for wants and warrants using the fingerprints. If arrested they would search and confiscate the money and Colts. Once they run the serial numbers, they would discover the Colts stolen adding to his woes.  How would he explain carrier the duffel filled with undetermined amount of money. His mind spun wildly searching for a solution to prevent arrest and the discovery of his identity. Nothing came to mind as the spot light went out and the officer stepped out.

                The officer was a large white man with a shaved head.  At least six-three and two hundred and thirty pounds muscles bulged from his dark uniform.  The officer apparently spent many hours working out.  The two 45’s stuck in his waistband felt like a thousand pounds.  The duffel filled with money at his feet appeared to glow saying search me.  His mind raced there wasn’t a solution to save him after he committed the perfect robbery.  The police would arrest him and confiscate the money demand and explanation he couldn’t provide. Once they discovered his identity through fingerprints, the felony warrant issued by Miami Dade County Sheriff’s department for assault and jumping bail would turn up on the computer.   It was a valid warrant they would hold him for extradition.  He skipped bail and town not wanting to go to trial.  His lawyer was telling him to take the plea and spend a few months in jail.  He nearly punched the damn lawyer.  He jumped bail and left Miami five month ago.  Since then he had been drifting doing odd jobs and surviving using his skills and wits.  Arriving in Kansas City Missouri thinking his luck changed stumbling on the drug deal deciding on the robbery. The money would enable him to start over and make it easier to avoid arrest and extradition.  Now his luck changed completely and there wasn’t any way to walk away cleanly.

                “What’s your name and why are you wearing gloves on a warm night?”  The officer asked shinning the flashlight on the duffel and then back to his face studying his expression.             

                “Jamie Howard officer, I’ve got poor circulation in hands and feet from my diabetes.  My hands and feet are cold all the time.”  He attempted to keep his voice from sounding scared.  He looked the officer directly in the eyes squinting from the beam of the flashlight. According to the nametag, his name was Rogers. The man gave the impression of a bully, that didn’t set well. 

                “Mr. Howard let’s see some identification.”  The officer request formal, the flashlight beam moved from his eyes back to the duffel briefly.  The officer expression remained neutral with a permanent hateful scowl.

                “Sorry Office lost in several days ago my date of birth is 10-12-84 my social security number is 199 74 9730.”  Sometimes rattling off personal information impresses the cops.  This monster showed no emotion and continued shinning the light. The officer remained expressionless the hateful scowl seemed to radiate and increase in intensity.  The longer he watched the officer the more concerned he became about his well-being. He assumed arrest imminent and resisting could cause him serious injury.  His impression the officer wanted and altercation to deliver punishment.  His opinion of the offer being a bully could be untrue he doubted it though.                 

                “What’s in the bag Mr. Howard care if I have a quick peak?  If you don’t have ID, I will have to arrest you making you spend the night in jail.  Or until we identify you making sure there or no wants or warrants.” The beam of the flash light returned to his face obscuring his vision.

                “Do what you have to do officer.  You can go through my dirty laundry.” He shoved the duffel with his foot toward the officer feet. The officer maintained a safe distance during the brief conversation.  The duffel stop short as intended the officer made the mistake of stepping forward and bending over while continuing watching him.  He wasn’t too bright after all. With a quick flip of the right wrist and hand the collapsible asp appeared and extending in one fluid motion. Before the officer could react, the asp was moving toward his head.  The asp connected knocking him unconscious instantly.  He quickly checked the pulse making sure he hadn’t hit him too hard.  The officer pulse strong his breathing steady and normal.  He quickly handcuffed him to the cruiser bumper, headed for the rail yard hoping to catch a freight heading anywhere quickly.

                No pursuit by the officer knocked unconscious there were no other patrol cars encountered during the trip.  The officer unless he called the stop in prior to turning on the lights and siren hadn’t called. If that was the true, his luck had returned.  Once reaching the rail yard slipping into the dark shadows moving to the center scouted yesterday when panning his escape.  He found a freight facing west and cautiously walked along side of the freight scanning around for workers spotted none.  Seeing the open boxcar, the duffel tossed inside climbing in after it.  Picking up the duffel moving to the rear setting, he watched the door waiting.  The fifteen minutes before the train started moving passed slowly seeming like an eternity.  Once it pickup speed it didn’t take long to cross from Missouri to Kansas.  The moon was bright enough to count the money.  He moved to the open door and counted the money.  The total-take amounted to 982,000 thousand dollars.  A sizable nest egg if invested wisely he would be set for life.

                Jason Walker of Miami Florida brief stay in Kansas City was productive and exhilarating.  Sometimes facing danger and avoiding discovery was exciting and provided and adrenaline rush. He wasn’t a violet person but had spent three weeks as a prisoner of war in Afghanistan mostly in solitary confinement.  He didn’t intend on spending time in jail again.  American jails would seem civilized compared to the torture endued in Afghanistan.  Isolated without human contact was worse than the torture endured.  He escaped after three weeks, made his way back to his unit.  They awarded him the Silver Star.  

                The money stolen from the drug dealers would make it easier to disappear.  It would require seven years for the Statue of limitation to expire on the assault in Florida and Missouri. He was thinking seriously about Mexico, Australia, or perhaps the Caribbean.  Caution advised the authorities didn’t appreciate people assaulting their officers and jumping bail.  Drug Dealers certainly would hold a grudge forever probably.  He actually feared the police more than drug-dealers.  He wouldn’t hesitate in using deadly force in defending himself against drug-dealers.

                Two years later Jason Walker AKA Jamie Howard now knows as Robert Whiteside sat in a hotel bar in Cancun Mexico sipping a beer feeling fine.  He arrived here several days ago loved the resort city it was a celebration and vacation.   He was celebrating the dropping of the assault charges in Miami Florida.  The lawyer that he almost punched remained on the case and managed to get the charges dropped. According to the lawyer, the authorities also dropped the jumping bail charges.  The bail bondsman hunted him wanting his money though. He wasn’t too concerned about the bondsman.  It was unknown about the assault charges in Kansas City it was likely they were still pending. After all this time, he still felt bad about sucker punching Rogers. He wondered how he handled the humiliation with his fellow officers during the aftermath.  This wasn’t a priority and he had no intention of returning to Kansas City and confronting Officer Roger.  He remembered the hateful scowl etcher on his face positive the man was a bully with malevolent tendencies. He was certain Roger would seek revenge if they meet again the man wouldn’t forget.

                In the two years since the robbery, he remained vigilant covering his trial.  None of the drug dealers or their associate showed their ugly faces.  The new identity of Robert Whiteside assumed in Los Angeles. Afterwards he traveled to Mexico hooking up with and ex-Navy seal in Tampico.   He invested 150,000 dollars his Novelty export business as a silent partner.  The investment excellent and was turning a nice profit.  Other investments made and his finical future assured thanks to the drug dealers money.

                He glanced briefly at the entrance noticing a large man entering accompanied by an attractive female. Officer Roger the bully still had the permanently hateful scowl. He almost panicked turning away quickly hoping not recognized.   Officer Roger preoccupation with the young woman accompanying him didn’t notice Jason Walker AKA Jamie Howard slipping out the back returning to his room to pack.  It was time to leave the peace and tranquility of Cancun Mexico.   Dealing with Roger whom he assaulted two years ago could get him hurt badly.  

                He carefully checked the corridor through the fish eye before stepping out.  He turned seeing a large man and a blurred fist moving toward his face. Unable to react the fist, connected breaking his nose.  Evidentially Rogers recognized him. Holding his nose blood seeped through this fingers looking up at Rogers; preparing to kick him in the ribs.  He thought better and started speaking.  “That sucker punch makes us even asshole you humanity me that night. Not wanting to face the taunting from my fellow officer s the incident never reported. You best leave Cancun.  I will give you a beating you will never forget if we cross paths again.

                Speechless and in extreme pain he watched the bully walking down the corridor out of sight. He took his advice after getting his nose set at the emergency room and five stitches.  The pain and suffering worth nearly a million dollars and secure future.