For Better And For Worse
Chapter 37

Fountain bar.

John catches up with Jeff not far from the bar.

John: Hey, Jeff!

Jeff: Clément, are you still around?

John: Of course. The other day I promised you a client, right?

Jeff: I was just going to remind you.

John: Well, there he is. You can approach.

Commander Léon approaches.

John: It’s him!

Jeff: oh yes, is it reliable?

John: 100%.

Léon: hi, I’m Léon and I’m going to tell you everything. I used to be a commander and led the anti-drug squad but the government betrayed me so now I’ve turned around. During my long years of service, I noticed that what brings in the most money is drugs. That’s why I’m here. I want to make as much money as possible and you’re going to help me.

Jeff: why should I trust you?

Léon: because, 1, I told you everything about myself and 2, if I was still a cop, I would come and arrest you instead of offering to deal with you.

Jeff: even with ex-cops, you have to be wary.

Léon: okay, too bad, I’ll look elsewhere.

The commander leaves.

John: You can’t let him go, he’s been chasing drug dealers for years. He knows several places where he can easily sell your coc, you have a golden opportunity to raise my pot.

Jeff was convinced and called on Léon.

Jeff: Wait!

Léon stops and returns near them.

Leon: what’s wrong?

Jeff: your friend convinced me so we’re going to give it a try. Follow me !

They approach a dark corner. Jeff takes a few bags of drugs and puts them in Leon’s bag.

Jeff: his bags have a value of 100,000 f. If you want to walk with me, you will have to bring me these 100,000 f tomorrow at the supermarket at this address, at 10 a.m.

Léon: ok, it works.

John: you’re not going to regret it, buddy.

Jeff: I hope so.

Léon takes the drug and they separate. Kevin joins them and they return home.

Prison.

Early in the morning, Aristide and Krist pray as usual. After the prayer, they discuss this story of escape.

Aristide: I hope you have thought carefully and that you will give up?

Krist: I instead asked God to clear the way for me. And first of all, I need to know where the engine room is and how to get out of this cell. Do you know where it is?

Aristide: is it worth asking me this question?

Krist: of course not, I forgot that you are a pastor. I’ll replace it eventually.

Aristide: What should I do to dissuade you from doing this madness?

Krist: nothing, I have decided to escape from this prison.

A few minutes later, the inmates go out to do sports as usual. Krist goes out to observe and investigate. He checks the number of guards around the grounds as well as the guards who are on the roof, at each corner. He goes to the boxing gym to talk with Léo.

Krist: hello Leo!

Leo: Krist, hi! You feel better now ?

Krist: Yes, I’m much better. I need your help.

Leo: How can I help you?

Krist: do you know where the engine room is.

Leo: the engine room?

Krist: Yes, the computer room.

Leo: what for?

Krist: It’s better you don’t know. So do you know or not?

Léo: I don’t know the computer room, I never tried to replace out.

Krist: ok, thank you.

He goes out and continues to observe.

To the hospital.

This morning, Isabelle wakes up and talks with Stella. Doctor Roger arrives and knocks on the door then enters. He greets them and gets Isabelle’s health news then he administers some medicine to her.

Stella: doctor, when could she come home?

Roger: her accident wasn’t very serious so I think that even today she can return.

Stella: you heard Isabelle, it’s great, isn’t it?

Isabelle: yes, I don’t want to sleep another night here.

Roger: I will write you a prescription and you will spend every three days having your wounds treated.

Isabelle: okay doctor.

Florence arrives with some food and greets the doctor who was leaving. She then k****s Stella and her daughter.

Florence: how are you feeling my darling?

Isabelle: I feel better, mom.

Stella: the doctor said she could come home today.

Florence: wow, that’s great news!

Isabelle: yes mom.

Florence: ok, I’ll talk to him.

Florence goes to speak to the doctor and pays all of her daughter’s hospitalization costs. The doctor gives her the prescription and she goes to buy all the tablets before returning to her daughter. She serves the meal and they eat together. Just after the meal, Séverin arrives with a bouquet of flowers. He knocks and he is allowed in so he enters.

Séverin: hello everyone.

They all respond to his greeting.

Séverin: Isabelle, how are you feeling?

Isabelle: I’m a little better, thank you.

Séverin: they are for you.

He hands her the bouquet of flowers.

Isabelle: oh, thank you very much, that’s nice!

Séverin: Please. I hope you can recover quickly.

Isabelle: thank you.

Séverin: OK, I’ll leave you, I’m going to work and stopped by to see how you were doing.

Isabelle: that’s nice of you.

He says goodbye to them and leaves. Once out of the hospital, he meets Bruno. He greets him then leaves. Bruno goes to see his daughter and realizes that they are ready to leave.

Bruno: wow, where are you going?

Florence: the doctor released us.

Bruno: oh well, but it’s great! Does that mean you’re better?

Isabelle: yes dad.

Bruno: ah, I’m happy! I’ll let your mother take you home, I’ll go to work.

Isabelle: okay, have a nice day dad.

Bruno: thank you.

He k****s her and leaves. Florence and Stella bring Isabelle into the car.

Florence: I’m going to take you to our place my darling.

Isabelle: no mom, I want to go home.

Florence: but there is no one to watch over you. We will take good care of you there.

Isabelle: but Stella is here.

Florence: Stella has to go to school so who will watch over you when she’s still there?

Stella: she’s right Isabelle, you have to go with her and once you get back from school, I’ll come see you, okay?

Isabelle: okay.

This is how they leave for Florence. She drops Stella off at home before continuing home, giving her her address.

Prison.

At breakfast time, Krist takes his meal and goes to Giscard’s table.

Krist: hi, can I sit down?

Giscard: obviously Krist, sit down!

He sits.

Giscard: do you feel better now?

Krist: Yes, much better.

Giscard: These guys really hurt you.

Krist: I’m not telling you.

Giscard: Do you still think it’s wise to be alone and rely only on yourself?

Krist: certainly not, man cannot survive alone, even the creator said so.

Giscard: there you go!

Krist: does your offer still stand?

Giscard: of course, if you need protection or help, you are welcome in my team.

Krist: Thank you.

Meanwhile, Krist’s friends are also talking.

Olivier: what is your fellow inmate doing?

Aristide: ah! Better not to know.

Leo: but why, tell us what he has in mind.

Aristide: he wants to escape from here.

Leo: what, how does he plan to get there?

Aristide: I don’t know that. I tried to dissuade him but to no avail.

Sam: What made him make this decision?

Aristide: his father-in-law had visited him and it seems that his wife had an accident and they lost their baby who was still in his mother’s womb.

Olivier: oh! Now I understand. It’s hard to hear such news.

Leo: yes, but what he plans to do remains suicide.

Aristide: obviously!

Sam: He doesn’t know what he’s getting into.

Anti-drug squad.

Around 8 a.m., Commander Léon went to the anti-drug squad with the bags of drugs that he had taken with Jeff. He replaces Commander Boris.

Léon: hello commander!

Boris: hello.

Léon: my mission has begun but to gain Gauthier’s trust and infiltrate his network, I would need time.

Boris: takes as much time as necessary.

Léo: here’s some coc for 100,000f. I have to bring the money to Jeff at 10am.

Boris: That’s a good start. In the meantime, I’ll put the drugs in the seals.

Commander Boris brings the drugs in the seals and Léon leaves. He replaces Jeff at the convenience store and gives him 100,000 francs as promised.

Jeff: Meet me at the same location yesterday at the same time. I think you and I will get along well.