Page 22 of No Escape

Her blood became ice as a grinning face emerged from behind Albert’s lifeless body. The sinister smile stretched from ear to ear, and a shiver of dread coursed through Martha’s veins. The horrifying figure before her was unmistakable—it was John Murphy.

“No! How did you escape?” she screamed, her voice raw with terror.

John didn’t answer, he simply lunged toward her, his arms outstretched.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Will’s shoes squelched with every step, and the wind whipped around him, making his clothes stick to his skin. Up ahead, blocked off by two patrol cars, Joshua Murphy’s house sat in the darkness.

“Can’t believe we’re doing this in the middle of a storm,” Charlie said, raising his voice to be heard over the rain.

Will managed a wry smile. “Adds to the ambience, don’t you think?”

Charlie rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small grin in response. “Remind me to arrest you when this is all over, Will.”

As they hurried to the front door, Will couldn’t help but feel the weight of the storm hanging in the air, a palpable reminder of the urgency of their mission.

Upon entering the house, Will found himself in the midst of a somber scene. Joshua Murphy sat in a worn armchair, a glass of whiskey clutched tightly in his trembling hand. He looked up at Will, his eyes glassy and distant, betraying a mixture of fear and resignation.

Several police officers were gathered around Joshua, their expressions a mix of concern and determination as they questioned him. One of the officers, a tall, stern-faced woman, stepped forward as Will and Charlie entered.

“Hi,” Charlie said, showing his badge. “We radioed ahead, was it you I spoke with?”

“Dr. Cooper and Agent Carlson,” she greeted them curtly, her tone professional but tinged with a hint of frustration. “We’ve been trying to get information out of Mr. Murphy here, but he’s not being very cooperative. We’re certain someone else was here, but he won’t tell us.”

Will exchanged a glance with Charlie, who gave him a slight nod. They both knew that getting Joshua to open up would be a challenge, but it was one they had to face head-on. There was too much at stake, and time was running out if they were to find out what had happened to Valerie.

As Will and Charlie crossed the room to join the questioning, the shadows cast by the dim lampshade overhead emphasized the darkness that appeared to be closing in around them all.

Will and Charlie looked at each other before focusing their attention on the anxious man in front of them. Joshua’s eyes darted between the two, pleading for some kind of reassurance.

“I need protection,” Joshua insisted, his voice quivering with fear. “John Murphy will stop at nothing to kill me. You have to guarantee my safety before I tell you anything. But they won’t listen.”

Charlie’s patience had clearly worn thin, and he shot back with a scowl, “Fine, if you want protection that badly, I’ll make sure you spend the night in a prison cell if you’re obstructing us. That should keep you safe enough.”

Will stepped in, attempting to defuse the situation. He placed a calming hand on Charlie’s shoulder and turned his gaze back to Joshua. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he said gently. “Mr. Murphy, have you had any contact with John since his escape? Any messages or threats?”

Joshua shook his head, his eyes never leaving Will’s face. “No, I haven’t heard anything from him. I hope I never see him ever again!”

Will nodded, his expression thoughtful. He could sense Joshua’s fear, but he could also sense that the man was hiding something. Despite the urgency of their mission, it was important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding.

“All right,” Will said softly. “Let’s work together on this. We’ll make sure you’re safe, but we need your help to stop John before he hurts anyone else.”

Joshua hesitated for a moment, his gaze darting between Will and Charlie, before finally nodding in agreement.

Charlie leaned in, his voice firm but steady. “Joshua, we need you to tell us everything you know. Anything that can help us find John and bring him back.”

“Uh…” he said. “I really don’t know much.”

“You seem defensive,” Will said, musing out loud. Then he abruptly said, “Did someone else appear here tonight?”

“You have to give us something,” Charlie said, maintaining his cold demeanor.

Joshua hesitated, then sighed, relenting. “All right. Just before you guys arrived, there was an agent here. The one who originally arrested John. She had another girl with her.”

Will’s eyes widened in shock. “Valerie?” he whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. “And Suzie?”

Joshua nodded. “Yeah, that’s what they said their names were. They left out the back just a few minutes before you showed up. I told them I wouldn’t say anything, and they said two people I should trust would turn up. I hope she didn’t mean you two.”

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