Read The Escape for Free Online Page A

notice of him and he knew it was now or never. He stood up and calmly headed back down the corridor to the door through which they had entered.
    Colin walked slowly across the rear car park and out of the open gates, and then ran as fast as his legs would carry him up the street. He had to keep a tight hold of his baggy
jogging pants as they kept slipping down. Nervous and confused, he asked a couple of passers-by the way to the nearest bus station because he knew the Underground did not go as far out as Croydon.
The depot was half a mile down the road. On the way, Colin nipped down a side alley and turned Barry’s T-shirt with the Coke can logo inside out. Arriving at the bus station, he looked in
Barry’s wallet, to find nothing, not a penny. He knew that by now the prison officer would have realised he’d gone and had probably told the police. He looked round in despair and saw a
man get off his bike at a newsagent’s shop and rest it against the wall. He didn’t want to take it, but felt he had no choice.
    Karen meanwhile was at home checking her hospital bag with her mother. She was feeling scared as they had been told that she should not contact the hospital unless her waters
broke or she had regular contractions. She wasn’t sure, but she had begun to feel twinges in her belly. Her mother kept on asking if she was all right and, at the same time, checking they had
the due date written correctly on the calendar.
    ‘I just want to have the baby!’ Karen wailed.
    ‘I know you do, love, but they’ll only send you back home if you’re not really ready. Often, it’s a few days either side of the due date. When your waters break
you’ll know . . . and right now, they haven’t, have they?’
    ‘I want to be there early to make sure they have a bed for me.’
    ‘Of course they’ll have a bed for you on the maternity ward. Just sit down for now and try and relax. I’ll make us a nice cup of tea.’
    Karen slumped onto the sofa, near to tears. She felt like a beached whale, and her emotions were in a mess.
    ‘I wish Colin was here,’ she said tearfully.
    ‘Well, you’ve known for some time that he can’t be. The prison refused him permission to be with you, but I’m here. I won’t leave you, so just relax. You’re
all packed and ready, and I can drive you there when the time is right.’
    Karen suddenly let out a yelp of pain and held onto her stomach.
    ‘It’s time, Mum. I can feel it. We’ve got to go NOW!’
    By now there was complete panic at Clapham Magistrates’ Court. At first, it was assumed Colin had gone to the toilet, but after a search of the building it was obvious
that he had simply walked out. The prison was contacted and the local police arrived at the court as the poor newly trained prison officer broke down in tears.
    She explained about the traffic jam, that they were late for court, and how she had been trying to find out when Barry Marsden’s hearing was going to happen. By now, his solicitor had
joined them and said that, had Barry appeared and pleaded guilty, it was more than likely he would have been released that morning. He joked that they would probably be able to find him in the
nearest McDonald’s, and, if not there, they should try KFC.
    As Barry Marsden was not a high-risk category ‘A’ prisoner, there was little concern for public safety. He had never been known to be aggressive or violent, so the
police inspector didn’t feel the need for an urgent public appeal. This took a bit of pressure off the situation. However, his escape certainly made the prison and court officers appear
totally incompetent, which in itself was a serious matter.
    The prison authorities would be furious, and the police would have to begin a search even though they felt it was the prison’s fault. The police immediately gave Barry Marsden’s
description to all local patrol officers. They also sent all his personal details to the police stations near his family, so that