“Ok noproblem,” Will replied.
Deacon hadfinished his breakfast and got up to leave. “George, if Nia gives you anytrouble, just send her to me and I'll sort her out for you ok?” He said this sonicely I was almost fooled.
“ThanksDeacon, I can handle her, she won't be any trouble, but I would like to keepher a little longer,” I said returning the calm smile, even though my insideswere anything but calm.
He pausedfor a second staring at me, as if trying to read my thoughts but then noddedand left with two huge guys by the side of him.
I atebreakfast quietly trying to plan my escape. That's all I could think of wasKelly and the kids and how they were coping without me. I planned to have agood look around after breakfast and make my escape that evening.
For therest of the day I kept busy, helping out in the kitchen a little, getting toknow the layout of the inside a little better.
At dinnerwe sat at the same table, with Deacon and his right hand man. We didn’t reallytalk, just ate our food and listened to Deacon go on about the women and howthey were only useful for a handful of things.
“Once theyare no longer useful, we set them free, right boys?” a few of them laughed.
I had afeeling that setting them free was not as nice as it sounded and my mindflashed back to that woman outside the gate yesterday with most of her bodyeaten. I wondered if she was once part of Deacon’s group.
I justforced myself to smile and nod along, trying to fit in.
After dinnerthat evening I walked outside around to the back of the warehouse and made myway to the gate, I didn’t really have a plan as such, just get out of thisplace alive and try to get back to my family as quickly as possible. I wouldmake it up as I went along.
I was justpushing back a little bit of fence that I had noticed was loose at the bottomwhen Will called my name.
“George?What are you doing out here in the dark?” he asked, suspicion all over hisface.
“I uh, wasjust checking the stability of this bit of fence. I planned to tell one of theguards to keep an eye on this bit as it looks weak.” I stood up straighter andpuffed out my chest hoping to portray confidence.
Will’s eyesflickered to the fence and back to me, turning his head from side to side tomake sure that nobody was listening. “George I know you’re desperate, man, Ido, but desperation gets you killed. You’re no good to your wife and kids dead,now are you?”
I shook myhead no, hanging it down and slumping my shoulders in shame and disappointment,admitting defeat.
“Good. Now,let’s get back inside, I need a darts partner.”
I had nochoice but to follow him back inside, my first attempt at escape was a failure.I wouldn’t have done so well anyway. I had not taken any food, water or even aweapon out with me. No, I decided, I would plan better and go tomorrow night.
My hopes ofescape over the next week quickly washed away with the heavy rain and thunderstorms. Deacon deemed it too dangerous to go out because of visibility andflooding cutting off roads. So I spent most of my time with Billy and Will,showing me around and introducing me to the other men. They introduced me toLewis and John a couple of mechanics who obviously looked after the vehicles tomake sure they were in good condition and able to leave quickly. They weregreat guys and anyone who looked closer could have seen they were a couple inlove. When I asked Billy about it later he shrugged his shoulders and said,“Deacon doesn't like gays so they are not allowed to be. They each have a girlstaying with them. They stay together in one room but as far as Deacon knowsthey are with the girls and not each other.”
“Oh Ishould have guessed it would be something like that. How sad,” was all I couldthink of to say. “Why don't they just leave?” I asked Billy and Will.
“Once youare in with Deacon you are in for life,” Will answered. “You thinking ofescaping George?” Will asked jokingly but the look between Billy and him wasanything but funny it was serious.
“I do needto get back to my family, so yeah I suppose,” I admitted.
Will justsmiled at me. “Come on George, Billy and I are doing perimeter checks, you canhelp. We need to check the fence for holes and weak points,” Will said, givingme a pointed look before leading the way.
We walkedaround the edge of the property like he said checking for holes and weak pointsin the fences and gates. This was great as it showed me extra exits and otherweak points. I noticed that the bit of fence that I had checked out was still loose,that meant hopefully something was on my side. I would have to be carefularound Will though, as this may all be an act; he could be waiting for me toattempt something before telling Deacon on me. The perimeter checks also gaveme an opportunity to check out the guard stations and see what their changeovertimes were.
During thistime, I also found out that Deacon’s favorite number was 180 because he lovedto play darts. Being pretty good at darts myself, I used this talent as a wayto get into his good books. It meant I had to spend more time with him and histwo heavies than I wanted to but I did get into his good graces. This meant Iwas left alone to do whatever I wanted to do in the days as long as I was doingsomething to help. This normally consisted of helping Will do the rounds,checking the safety of the place both inside and out, helping Nia out in thekitchen, so I also
