Officer Jones

Chapter 86

Charleston, South Carolina

The videophone connection was poor, but it couldn’t wipe the smile off Byron Jasper’s face. He’d been sick with worry since hearing the news of the disappearance of Gwen and Big Ugly.

After the initial excitement of the video reunion, reality began to set in. Figuring a way to get Gwen and Carter safely out of that house, before they succumbed to Benson, hunger, the hurricane, or some combination, would be no easy task. The island had been evacuated and all transportation was cut off, including emergency response.

Gwen made it clear the top priority should be to reach JP as soon as possible, and let him know that Benson was planning to use her to lure him into his web. So Byron kept the hostages on the videophone while he dialed JP’s cell.

“Who dis?” came an annoyed greeting from someone who definitely wasn’t JP Warner.

“I think the better question would be who are you?”

“The name’s Lamar Thompson. I got a tour to give, so I got no time for your games. This ain’t even my phone, so make it quick.”

Byron was confused. “I’m sorry, I was looking for JP Warner.” But then something clicked. “Is this the Lamar Thompson who was the greatest basketball player I’ve ever seen?”

“That was a long time ago, man. And I already told you people, no more interviews. Especially that crazy blonde lady.”

Byron was baffled. “Lamar, what are you doing with JP’s phone?”

“He came here, bought me lunch, and then left like a bat out of hell. I didn’t steal no cell phone.”

“I didn’t say you did. I was just trying to get in touch with JP. My name is Byron, I’m a friend of his. It’s very important that I talk to him.”

“Then why you calling me?”

There was no time to explain, reason, or argue. “Lamar, I need your help … where are you located?”

“Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. First in flight, last in avoiding hurricanes.”

“The best flight I ever saw was when you took off from behind the foul line to dunk on Charleston High. I remember they jammed so many people in there to see you that night the game almost got shut down for violating the fire code.”

“That was a long time ago, man. It was nice talking to a fellow Carolina guy, but I gotta go.”

Byron needed to keep him on the line, and kept laying it on thick. “Maybe so, Lamar, but once a clutch player, always a clutch player. I need a clutch player to help me right now.”

“Man, the only clutch I got now is in my car. And even that don’t work no more.”

“You’re talking crazy-greatness is for life, you don’t lose it. I need your help, Lamar,” Byron pleaded.

Lamar sighed. “Listen, man, I’ll get this JP dude his phone back, okay? My word is good. It better be, it’s all I got left.”

“If you don’t help me, Lamar, people are going to die.”

“Now who’s talkin’ crazy?”

“People I know are trapped in a house on Ocracoke Island. You are my last shot to get them out alive.”

“I don’t got no time for this.”

Byron had no choice but to play dirty. “It’s not a coincidence that you ended up with JP’s phone. This is your chance to make up for the death of Marilyn Lacey. I know you’ve been waiting to make up for that for years, Lamar. Now is your chance-are you going to let it just slip away?”

“There’s a hurricane doing something fierce down here. Even if I wanted to, the island’s been evacuated … not even the police can go there.”

“Lamar, people are going to die if you don’t act now!”

He went silent-he was thinking about it. “Why don’t you go?” he finally asked

“I would, but I’m in a wheelchair.”

One thing Byron had learned from a few months in the chair was how guilt could be used as an advantage. And he would need every advantage he could in order to get Lamar to Ocracoke.

It was clear that Lamar Thompson was Gwen and Carter’s only chance-a man nobody believed in for twenty years, and worse still, didn’t believe in himself.