Page 20 of No Escape

As they rounded a corner, they came to a partially open door. Through the gap, Valerie could see a man lying on the floor, the flickering glow of a television screen casting a ghostly blue hue over the room. Suzie instinctively tried to rush in, but Valerie grabbed her arm, holding her back.

“Wait here,” Valerie whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of their own ragged breathing.

Suzie hesitated but eventually nodded, her eyes wide with fear.

With her pulse soaring in her chest, Valerie slowly pushed the door all the way open and stepped into the room, her grip on the knife tightening. She crept closer to the prone figure on the floor, every step feeling like an eternity. The suspense was unbearable, her senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

Finally, she reached the man’s side and crouched down to check for a pulse. As her fingers touched his wrist, he suddenly grabbed her arm, his grip like a vise. Valerie stifled a scream, her heart threatening to burst from her chest as she stared into the face of the man she had come to save—Joshua Murphy.

The man gasped and leaped up, and Valerie helped him to his feet. She studied his face, noting how much more haggard he appeared than she remembered.

“Joshua! You’re alive,” Valerie said. “I’m here to help you.”

He nodded groggily. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”

Valerie helped him into a nearby chair. He looked older and more worn down than she remembered. “Do you remember me?” she asked. “I’m the agent who saved your life when John Murphy attacked you. Valerie Law.”

Recognition dawned on Joshua’s face. He looked shocked for a moment at the memory and then groaned. “Yes, I remember you. But why are you here? Can’t a man have some privacy?”

“Joshua,” Valerie explained, “your cousin has escaped and we’ve good reason to think he might be coming for you. If he’s not here already… How did you end up on the floor? Were you attacked?” Valerie said.

“Please don’t tell me he’s…” Joshua’s words trailed off as he looked up nervously at the sound of a creaking floorboard. It was Suzie entering the room.

“That’s my sister,” Valerie said. “You’re safe.”

“Sister?” Joshua smirked. “Is it bring your sister to work day at the FBI?”

“I’m going to level with you, Joshua,” Valerie said grimly. “I’m not currently with the FBI. But I am here to help you. What happened? Did John do this to you?”

Joshua confessed, “I’ve been drinking heavily since John attacked me last time, always looking over my shoulder, scared. Been that way for months since I got out of the hospital. It’s not the first time I passed out drunk on the floor. Sometimes the booze is the only thing that’ll let me sleep.”

“Because you’re scared of John?” Valerie said, almost rhetorically.

He nodded.

“I am too, Joshua. That’s why I’m here.”

“I can’t shake this… guilt either, you know,” Joshua admitted, his voice trembling.

“What do you feel guilty about?” she asked, concern on her face.

But Joshua quickly changed the subject, avoiding her gaze. “Never mind that,” he said. “It’s not important.”

“Joshua,” Valerie said firmly, “John has escaped from custody, and I think he might be coming for you.”

Joshua’s face turned pale.

“He’s really out?” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I knew this would happen!”

“Is there somewhere you could go that’s safer?” Suzie offered. “Like a friend’s house he doesn’t know about?”

“I won’t feel safe anywhere,” he said. “John always liked to play games with people’s emotions. He wants me to run, no doubt. He wants me to be scared. I’m tired of being manipulated by him!”

That statement made Valerie realize something. It was a realization that stopped her in her tracks.

“I’ve been stupid,” she muttered. “John Murphy deliberately told me he was going to finish his work, knowing that I would either follow him or alert the police. Meanwhile, he could be out there killing someone else. We’ve been duped.”

Suddenly, flashing lights appeared outside. Valerie and Suzie knew they had to leave immediately. “We need to go, now,” Valerie said urgently.

---