Kimble enters a quiet suburban neighborhood off the highway. There is still no sign of Charnquist, but he knows the One-Armed Man could not have gone far. Kimble runs along a fenced block bordered by a high hedge. At the corner he turns. Part way down the sidewalk is an unfamiliar man facing him with a gun. Kimble whips back the way he came and skids to a stop.

At the end of the block he sees the One-Armed Man raising his gun. Moving quickly, Kimble hoists himself over the fence and crashes through the high hedge beyond. In the next instant, the other man appears from around the corner and signals to Charnquist. Charnquist gestures with his gun to the hedge.

Kimble is on the grounds of a public school. A large building bears the banner:

“Welcome to Timber Creek High School!

Home of the Timber Wolves”

A security guard is just inside the main gate, dozing in a golf cart with a Walkman over his ears. Kimble hesitates, debating whether to enlist the guard's help and run the risk of capture. With a grimace of frustration, he abandons the idea and ducks into the shadows of a covered walkway, scanning the school perimeters to see if either of the two men has followed him. Kimble reaches a pay phone in a student commons area, he puts money in and uses a phone calling card. "Please be available," he says as he waits for the connection to happen. The phone on the other end begins to ring.

10:00 AM CAPT. GERARD'S OFFICE

Agent Kari Holmes is sitting across from Capt. Gerard. It is apparent that they have been engaged in conversation for at least a few minutes when she hears her cell phone ring and says, "Excuse me Capt." She takes her phone out of her purse and says, "Holmes." She looks confused. "Hello?"

IN THE SHADOWS OF THE WALKWAY

Just at that moment the bell rings for the change of classes and students swarm out into the walkways between the buildings. Kimble finds himself stuck in the middle of a crowd of kids. In all of the noise, he can not hear Kari's voice on the other end of the phone. He notices a mature-looking woman wearing glasses who seems to be gesturing to him over the student's heads. He can't hear what she's saying. She cups her hands and calls louder.

"Mr. Sanford?"

Uncomprehending, Kimble looks behind him with the phone still in his hand.

"Your English class is this way!" She points to the nearest entrance. When Kimble doesn't respond, she threads her way around the kids with their books and backpacks. "Mr. Sanford," she repeats, reaching him and smoothing a loose strand of hair into her French twist. "Marjorie Winston, English teacher. Come with me." Putting an arm around Kimble, he quickly hangs up the phone. Marjorie steers him toward the door of the building, talking all the way. "I'm sorry to get you off the phone like that but class will be starting in two minutes. I hope it wasn't important." Kimble nods negatively as Marjorie keeps talking.

"It's a madhouse anytime, but especially now that school is almost out for summer. The students have vacation on their minds and it's hard to get them to listen to anything!"

"Hi, Mrs. Winston," nods a girl passing them and glancing curiously at Kimble.

Marjorie nods back and conducts Kimble into the building. "But I don't expect you'll have any trouble. Just get them to discuss the chapter they've been reading."

Once inside, Kimble takes a quick look both ways. He has the bad feeling that Charnquist and his cohort are still in the vicinity, and only half listens to Marjorie as they go up a flight of stairs to the second level and down a long hall.

"Beverly Hogue, the teacher you're substituting for, has been having a troubled pregnancy. She left us abruptly this morning, so I sent her last period class to study hall. Principal Owen assured me you were on the way but I was beginning to think you couldn't make it! Thank goodness you did, or we'd be having students wandering the corridors!" A second bell rings and the noise level increases as students rush by to get to their classes on time. They pass a teacher's lounge. Marjorie raises her voice. "I notice you didn't bring a brown bag. Don't worry. You'll have an hour for lunch after this period. That will give us time to check you in properly at the office and then grab a bite to eat. Sound good?" Kimble nods in agreement. She then sees Principal Owen walking past and says, "Principal Owen, this is Mr. Sanford, the last minute substitute teacher."

Principal Owen stops and says, "Thank you for getting here on such short notice."

Kimble smiles wanly as he puts his hand to his forehead to avoid making eye contact and says, "Glad I can help." Principal Owen continues walking back to the office.

Marjorie stops outside a classroom door. "Here you are, Room 227." Kimble looks in at the students already seated at their desks. Marjorie notices his worried expression. She laughs. "They're good kids. Really--no barracudas! If you need to, just holler. I'm down the hall, Room 235." She gives Kimble a reassuring pat and is gone.

NEXT