FOUR HOURS LATER-THE TOWN CEMETERY

 

Randy’s grave has been dug up and the casket is being lifted out.  Hal comes running up to Angela and the attorney.  “What’s going on here?”  He demands.

 

Martin Jacobs, John’s attorney gives him the exhumation order and says, “This is all perfectly legal Chief Mason.  That court order gives us permission to exhume Randy Mason’s body and have the county coroner do a second autopsy.”

 

Hal looks at Angela with contempt.  He says, “It’s that cook of yours that was a medic that’s got you doing this isn’t it?  Where is he?  I want to talk to him again.”

 

“No Hal, it’s me.  It’s all me!  Besides I sent him on an errand with CJ and I don’t expect them back for quite some time.  You better go back to your office and take a good look around, because if we find out what I am suspecting to be true, and if I find out that you had anything to do with this screw up, you’re going to be in just as much trouble as Dr. Daniels will be!”

 

“Well let me tell you Angela, I find it fascinating that CJ told me he thought your cook was on America's Most Wanted and he's wanted for murder, now the two of them are together?  I hope to have his identity confirmed by the end of the day, and if I find out that you had CJ give him a lift out of town, you both will be in trouble!”

 

Angela looks at Hal like he’s crazy and says, “My cook, who saved Joshua’s life is a wanted murderer?  Your delusions just get better and better, first my brother, now my cook!  Get a life Hal!  You’ve got way too much time on your hands.  Oh by the way, CJ realized his mistake and admitted it, will you?”

 

“We’ll see.  If he doesn’t come back from that errand eventually, I swear I’ll charge you both with aiding and abetting.” 

 

“Hal, when did it become a crime to send someone to Home Depot who you only think is wanted?”  Hal has no response.  “Hal, when you’ve actually got some real proof, come see me.  Until then, get out of my face!”

 

INSIDE CHIEF MASON'S OFFICE

 

Hal is sitting at his desk looking at his computer.  He pulls up the America's Most Wanted website and it now is working.  He goes to the page where the most recent show's fugitives are posted.  He sees Richard Kimble's picture.  His eyes get wide.  One of his assistant police chiefs walks in.  Hal says, "Dan, look at this picture on America's Most Wanted."

 

"What about it Hal?"

 

"This guy has been working in Angela's diner.  I'm waiting for the fingerprints to come back for a positive ID.  Angela let it slip that Callahan and Kimble went to Home Depot, and it's got to be Las Cruces.  Now they're probably coming back as we speak.  Get on the phone to the DMV and find out Callahan's license plate number and then put an APB out on it for Highway 70, I25, and the 380 as those are the main routes back to Roswell from Las Cruces."

 

"No problem Hal."  He walks out.  He passes a turn that leads to a stairwell and keeps walking.  From under the stairwell out emerges Olivia.  

 

OUTSIDE HOME DEPOT LAS CRUCES

 

Kimble and CJ have just loaded up the pickup with wood and paint for the new porch, when Kimble spots a Campfire Girl selling candy in front of the store.  "Hey CJ, do you mind if I go buy a box of candy?  My sister used to sell that stuff as a kid and now her little girl sells it too.  I can't resist a cute kid selling candy."

 

"Sure, go ahead."  Kimble walks to the little girl and engages her in conversation.  He gets her laughing and he buys a box of candy from her.

 

CJ's cell phone rings.  He answers, "Hello?"

 

"CJ it's Angela, we have a problem.  Hal knows you two went to Las Cruces and he's put an APB out on your pickup along the 70, the 25 and the 380, Olivia said it's not a statewide alert though."

 

CJ stunned by what he's hearing also notices Kimble helping and older lady put her things into her trunk.  "Angela what am I going to do?  Those are the main routes from here to Roswell....You're joking right?  Oh my God...OK, Angela I'll do it!  I'm too involved now not to!"  He hangs up.

 

Kimble comes back with a box of mints and says, "Hey, I wanted to thank you for the lunch at that sports bar.  I haven't watched ESPN in quite some time.  So when do you think we'll be back in Roswell?  I know Angela probably wants me to hang around for the autopsy results but I do need to move on."

 

CJ smiles and says, "Ah Bill, you know Angela just called me and she told me that Randy's body has been exhumed and Hal is not a happy camper about it.  She recommended that we take a little longer to come back to Roswell.  Let's get into the pickup."

 

They both get in the pickup.  Kimble looks worried and says, "What do you mean that Hal isn't a happy camper?  Did he see anything on...ah what do you mean CJ?"

 

CJ starts driving down the road and says, "Hey Bill, have you ever been to the Carlsbad Caverns?"

 

"No, I haven't."

 

"Great!  I haven't seen them either and I've lived in New Mexico my whole life!  Let's go see them.  It means going south through El Paso but the 180 takes us right back into New Mexico and straight to Carlsbad."  They get on the freeway.

 

Kimble very tentatively says, "CJ, why are we taking the long way back to Roswell?"

 

CJ nervously laughs and says, "Actually, I prefer to think of it as the scenic way Richard."

 

They both look at each other with a deer in the headlight look.  "CJ, what did you just call me?"

 

CJ looks extremely embarrassed and says, "Angela's going to kill me, but I guess I'd better go with plan B which is called total truth."

 

7:00 PM OUTSIDE THE CARLSBAD CAVERNS

 

CJ and Kimble pull up to parking lot.  The caves are closed but Angela and Olivia are there waiting in Olivia's car. 

 

“Well CJ, that was the longest trip I’ve ever taken to get building supplies."

 

“I’m so sorry about freaking you out in Las Cruces."

 

“You don’t have to keep apologizing, Angela was right, I probably would have bolted for the door and you, Angela and Olivia would have had some explaining to do.  As crazy of a plan that it was, it made sense.  Everyone's back side is now covered.  Besides, once you explained everything, I kind of enjoyed myself actually.  I haven't just hung out with a guy in a long time and those milkshakes you got us to go in El Paso were the best!"  He laughs slightly.

 

CJ smiles and says, "For what it's worth, I don't think you killed your wife.  I'm sorry I ever said anything to Hal."

 

"Thanks CJ, your reaction was normal though."  They both get out of the truck.

 

Angela comes running up to them. “Hi Bill, you're probably wondering why Olivia and I are here..."

 

CJ says, "Angela, he knows.  I told him."  Angela gives CJ a look of disappointment and CJ says, "Angela, I had to tell him.  Richard knew I knew something and he was ready to jump out of the car when I was going 60 mph."  Angela looks at Kimble.

 

Kimble says, "Angela, you've been great but I can't put any of you in danger any further.  Just give me my stuff and I'll go back to hitchhiking."

 

"Richard, that's not going to cut it.  I'm driving you to a safe place.  Olivia's going back to Roswell with CJ and they'll both wait for me to get home.  CJ, Olivia will fill you in on all of our alibis.  Come on Richard, I'll fill you in on everything in the car.  Your stuff is already in there."

 

Kimble looks at Olivia and CJ and shakes their hands and says, "How can I thank you?"

 

CJ replies, "Just don't get caught!"

 

"Ditto!"  Olivia responds.

 

Kimble gets into the car with Angela and they drive north.  "Where are we headed Angela?"

 

"Albuquerque.  They're not looking for you there, and you can easily get on a bus out of New Mexico. I got a call on my cell phone from the attorney, you will be happy to know that the second autopsy confirmed that Randy did die because he ate the coconut bread.  The head wound was just a very serious concussion which is why he lost consciousness so fast.  Since it was confirmed that Randy bought the coconut bread and no one knew that he was allergic to it, my brother’s coming home!” 

 

Kimble smiles and says, “I'm really happy for you Angela, how soon before he gets out?”

 

“Probably about twenty-four to forty-eight hours.  Mr. Jacobs will have to do a writ of habeas corpus and take it before a judge tomorrow.  He said with the overwhelming evidence the ME gave him, it shouldn’t be a problem.  Mr. Jacobs has already made the call."

 

"Well, he's a lucky guy.  We should all be so lucky."  He gets a far off look in his eyes.

 

Angela looks at Kimble with compassion says, "Richard, it was important to me to say goodbye to you because I wanted to give you a bonus payment for being the best employee I’ve ever had.”  She hands Kimble an envelope.

 

He opens it up and it has $1000.00 in it and a folded up piece of paper.  “Angela, you don’t have to give me this much money for the short time I worked…”  He stops as he’s opened up the piece of paper and it’s a Wanted poster with his name and picture on it.  “Well, this explains why Hal didn’t try arresting me this morning.”

 

“I go into Hal's office often because Olivia and I are close friends and I never saw your picture in there, but on the day you arrived, when I sent you to take out the garbage, Hal came in and I realized Olivia had with her a fresh batch of Wanted posters.  I faked an accident sending them to the floor so I could look at them and when I saw your poster I conveniently removed it.  Don't worry about the money, both of the businesses turn terrific profits and Randy also had good life insurance.  Believe me, I won’t miss it.”

 

“CJ told me that you knew right from the beginning when I first walked into your diner.  Did you ever think about turning me in?”

 

“Nope, because I used to be a fan of Court TV and your trial was the biggest miscarriage of justice I’d ever seen.  Little did I know at the time I’d eventually be living out my own miscarriage of justice.  I couldn’t keep John out of jail, I figured I could at least keep you out of jail and give you a helping hand.  I’m sure CJ filled you in on the rest.  Oh and don't worry about the fingerprints.  I took care of that as well.”

 

Kimble smiles and says, “How can I thank you Angela?”

 

“Find that One Armed Man, clear your name and go back to being the best doctor and human being that you can possibly be.  That’s what you were born to do you know."

 

Kimble then sees that they are entering Albuquerque and driving toward the bus station.  They stop one block from it.  "Angela, will you be all right driving back to Roswell?  You're not going to get back until close to sun up."

 

"I don't have much of a choice.  Don't worry, I've got my cans of Coca Cola."  Kimble starts to get out of the car.  "Richard, when you first came into my diner, my only motive for anything was to just help you out.  I had no idea that you would end up helping me clear my brother of a manslaughter charge and saving my son's life in the process.  I know you loved your wife and you miss her a lot.  But I know that as things changed for me when I was least expecting them to, I know it will happen eventually for you too."  She smiles and hugs Kimble.

 

"Thanks Angela."  He gets out of the car, Angela drives off and he walks toward the bus station.

 

THE DINER 7:00 AM           

 

CJ is sitting at the counter.  Angela walks out of the kitchen with his coffee and Danish.  They are both yawning.  CJ says, “Are you sure you want to open up the place today?”

 

“I'll go nuts if all I do today is just wait to hear about John even though I was driving most of the night."  She smiles. 

 

CJ smiles back and kisses her passionately.  “I know, I was very lonely."

 

"Well maybe we'll have to do something about that sometime soon!"  They smile at each other.

 

The door opens and it's Olivia.  "Reporting for work!  Have you two heard anything?"

 

Angela says, "No, not yet."

 

"What do you mean reporting for work?"

 

"Well CJ, I left a voicemail message stating that I quit.  Angela did you get Kimble to Albuquerque OK?"

 

"Oh yeah, he's long gone.  I just hope he'll be all right."

 

Hal walks into the diner and yells, “Where is he?”

 

Angela replies, “Please Hal, it’s only 7:00 in the morning.  Who are you referring to?”

 

“You know who I’m talking about.  Your cook Bill!  Take a look at this!  I just got it faxed to me from the FBI."  He shows them the Wanted poster.  "I called the lab at 6:00 AM demanding to know what happened to my priority prints.  Olivia, what can you tell me?  As I recall, I asked you to tag it as a priority and they said it was standard 24-48 hours.”

 

Olivia innocently replies, "I'm sorry Uncle Hal, I guess I made a mistake.  Silly me."

 

"My deputy saw you walk in here yesterday, what exactly did you two do?"

 

Angela replies, "Hal, Olivia comes in here all the time, I'd hardly call that something out of the ordinary."

 

"Well then, perhaps Olivia can tell me where she was all afternoon yesterday."

 

"You made me so mad that I had to get out of there, so I went to go see Aunt Louise in Dexter.  I've always been very close to your ex-wife Uncle Hal and after what happened at the precinct yesterday, I needed to just leave and do some thinking.  If you call her, she will verify that I was at her place for several hours.  She advised me to quit.  So I quit.  I feel so much better now."

 

Angela says, "It sounds logical to me Hal."

 

"Really Angela?  Well I got the results from the lab.  The fingerprints were unidentifiable.  Yet, I looked at the America's Most Wanted website and looked at who they profiled on Saturday and it was Richard Kimble alias your Bill Gates."

 

Angela replies, "Excuse me Hal, but how could my cook have been Richard Kimble if the fingerprints didn't match?"

 

"You tell me Angela."  He looks at her with contempt.

 

"Ah, perhaps they are distant cousins who look alike."

 

"Try again."

 

"OK Hal, I'm reaching out on a limb here but there is the alien factor.  Maybe he was an alien who just assumed the body of Richard Kimble, like in that movie with Jeff Bridges, what was that?"

 

CJ replies, "Starman.  You know he was like the Starman too, he saved Joshua's life remember Chief Mason?"

 

Hal continues to look at all three of them with suspicion and contempt.  Angela says, “And you know what else he did?  He also diagnosed Joshua properly with dyslexia.”

 

“What?”

 

“Oh yes Hal, I know this will make your day, Joshua has dyslexia just like I do.  I know it’s a handicap.  After all, I do run two businesses.  Don’t be too hard on Olivia though.  I’m sure she just made a mistake, like she said.  You were a straight A student too, weren't you Olivia?”  Olivia nods in agreement.

 

Hal asks, “Where is your cook?”

 

“He told me this morning that he wanted to move on and look for work in Texas.  He was quite taken with El Paso yesterday.  CJ offered to give him a ride back to Las Cruces but he said he'd rather just take a bus."

 

“That didn’t tip you off that maybe he was running from something?”

 

“No Hal, why would it?  I didn’t tell him anything about your suspicions because after having it confirmed that Randy died because he ate coconut bread, your credibility as a policeman went out the door.  Remember Hal, I thought you were delusional at the cemetery yesterday.”

 

Hal looks at CJ and says, “Did I hear Angela right that the two of you were in El Paso yesterday?”

 

“Well yes Chief Mason, Angela asked us to go to Home Depot in Las Cruces and buy the building supplies for her new porch, so we did that after we went to my favorite sport’s bar for lunch.  Bill then mentioned that he hadn’t been in this part of New Mexico before so I took him sight seeing and we ended up taking the 180 through Texas and back into Carlsbad.  The caverns were closed unfortunately, but I do have receipts from all of the places that we stopped at and I’d be happy to provide you with them and the phone numbers if you wish to check it out.”

 

Angela chimes in, “…and then CJ spent the night at my place.”  She smiles innocently.  CJ smiles as well.

 

Hal rolls his eyes and shakes his head.  “You don’t say?  You said he was headed south?”  He looks at Angela with much suspicion.

 

“Yeah, I did but Hal, before you send out the dogs to look for him, my attorney told me that you received a visit from the state police last night and they are now looking into how you managed to railroad an innocent man to prison.  Now if they are looking into your botched job of how you handled John’s case, how do you think it’s going to look if you tell them you had a convicted murderer working in the diner and he slipped away with no one noticing?  And you don't even have valid fingerprints to give a positive ID.”

 

"That's true Angela.  How about I have you fingerprinted and compare them to the prints on the butterknife."

 

"I have no problem with that Hal, but really who would care?  The butterknife came from my diner that I own.  Why would it be any shock that my prints were on it?"

 

"Because it was the knife that I saw him give me."

 

"Are you really sure?  Can someone vouch for that?"

 

Hal looks uneasy at Angela’s last comment.  “Well played Angela...and to think I always thought you were that ditzy lame brained blond and I couldn't understand what Randy saw in you."  He throws the poster of Kimble in the trash and walks out.  All three of them breathe a sigh of relief.

 

CJ says, "Angela, you crafty little vixen.  You switched the knives with Olivia and conveniently left that little detail out when I went off with Kimble.  I love you!"

 

Angela leans in and says, "Nobody saw Olivia and I do it, therefore it didn't happen and I love you too CJ!"  They passionately kiss as Olivia looks on and smiles.

 

MAGGIE KIMBLE HUME'S CAR  8:30 AM  CENTRAL TIME

 

Maggie is driving her car with her headset on.

 

"Maggie, I'm sorry I shouldn't call you when you're in transit to work.  I forgot you were an hour ahead of me."

 

"It's not a problem.  I've always got time for you.  I'm just thankful that America's Most Wanted didn't catch you.  CJ, Angela and Olivia sound like good people."

 

"Yeah, they are."  Kimble's voice has remorse in it.

 

"What's wrong Richard?  That is aside from the obvious."

 

"It's just that CJ and Angela get together, her brother has a get out of jail free card and now he gets Olivia...and here I am still running.  I could almost handle America's Most Wanted if it weren't for the fact that I've got an obsessed cop chasing me who probably strong armed that show into showing me again!  And now that bastard Gerard has Kari on the task force."

 

Maggie is confused.  "Richard, are you on a first name basis with that ungrateful FBI agent whose life you saved?"

 

"Maggie, Kari Holmes can be trusted.  She's had opportunities to turn me in and she didn't."

 

"What kind of opportunities Richard?"

 

"Maggie, the less you know the better it is, she can be trusted though."

 

"So why is she on the task force then?"

 

"Because Gerard likes ironies.  However, I pity him more than anything right now.  He doesn't know it yet but I think he very well may have met his match in her.  Look, Maggie I can't go into a lot details for why you should trust her but if she contacts you, you can trust her so please trust my judgement on this."

 

"Richard, there's a couple of things you need to know.  First of all, were you aware that that Helen kept a diary?"

 

Kimble's eyes get wide and he says, "No I never knew of anything like that.  What are telling me Maggie?"

 

"Richard after you got convicted, you'll recall that you asked Becca and I to clean out your apartment.  Becca took all of Helen's belongings and the few books that she knew belonged to her.  I then just emptied the shelves and didn't look at anything in particular of what I was throwing into the boxes.  The boxes have stayed in my den.  However, I recently bought a new desk and I realized in order to make room for it I had to go through those boxes.  You told me I was welcome to donate whatever I felt like donating.  Anyway, I came across a leather bound book with no title.  I opened it up and I was shocked to see that it's Helen's diary.  Now I haven't read any of it but you need to know that it's here for you."

 

"I don't know what to say Maggie.  Look I'll contact Kari and I'll tell her to come and see you and when she does, you can give it to her."

 

"Richard, she's a stranger.  These are Helen's private thoughts.  Do you really want her reading them?"

 

"Maggie, Helen was murdered.  I was convicted of the murder.  Helen's diary could potentially have something in there that could help me and therefore it's not private, it's police business and if anyone is going to look at it outside of me, it's going to be Kari."

 

"All right Richard.  I'll do as you ask.  Now there is one more thing I think I need to tell you about."

 

"What is it?"

 

"Well, I've gone to visit Becca Ross a couple of times at the prison.  We've even started writing letters to each other.  I wanted her to know that I at least appreciate all that she's done to try and help you.  I received a very strange letter from her earlier this week.  It wasn't even a letter.  It was a news story out of the Chicago Tribune.  It stated that a man by the name of Bill Walsh was arrested earlier this week in connection to a robbery of some kind here in Chicago.  Does this mean anything to you?"

 

"No the name isn't familiar to me."

"Well, maybe this will help.  Over his picture Becca wrote Smith282.  Does that mean anything?"

 

Kimble's eyes get wide.  "This man is in jail in Chicago?"

 

"Yes the same jail you were in."

 

"Thanks Maggie I gotta run!"

 

"Richard..."  He's hung up.

 

Kimble walks into the bus station and approaches the counter.  "Can I help you?"  The ticket seller asks.

 

"Yes.  I'd like one ticket to Chicago please."

 

CHICAGO CEMETERY HELEN KIMBLE'S GRAVE

 

Kari is holding a half dozen white roses as she looks down at the grave that simply reads HELEN ROSS KIMBLE 1968-1999.  Kari leans down and picks up the vase.  She sets the flowers down as she takes the vase over to a water spout and fills it.  She puts the vase in the ground and puts the six roses in it.

 

She kneels by the grave and says, "Hello Helen.  I'm sorry I got here so late.  I can hear my dear sister Ellie right now saying I told you that you should have moved to Chicago when Dad died!  Everything is going to be all right.  I promise.  Ben Charnquist is going to pay for everything he's ever done...not just to us but for what he's done to everybody that he's ever hurt.  I swear this on everything I have ever held sacred in my life.  If I have to lie, cheat or steal to see to it that Richard is exonerated...I'll do it.  And when he's finally free, the entire state of Illinois will be lining up to apologize and the first person to apologize will be Gerard.  The second person will be your father.  Somehow Helen, his involvement with diamonds got you killed.  I don't know how to connect the dots yet but trust me, I will.  You can rest in peace now...and when Richard is exonerated, I promise he'll bring you a full dozen roses."  She smiles slightly as she wipes a tear from her cheek.

 

MILWAUKEE BUS STATION

 

Ben Charnquist buys a Chicago Tribune and gets in a ticket line.  He turns the paper over as he approaches the counter.  The man behind the counter says, "Can I help you?"

 

"Yes I'd like one ticket to New York."

 

The cashier starts to ring him up when Charnquist's eyes get wide and he sees a newstory that states a suspect in an armed robbery by the name of Bill Walsh was released on bail yesterday.  Charnquist then says, "On second thought would you change that destination to Chicago?"

 

"Not a problem Sir."  Charnquist hands the man his money and takes the ticket and walks toward the Chicago bus.

 

THE END