Page 32 of No Escape

With determination in his eyes, he walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He was unshaven, wearing old jeans and a crumpled shirt. His face was gaunt and somewhat unfamiliar.

Nobody would recognize him as the well-respected former FBI department head they used to know. Months of poor sleep, poor eating, and even poorer self-control with alcohol had whittled him down into something else;someoneelse.

But this didn’t matter to Jackson anymore. All that mattered to him was protecting his friends from harm, no matter what it took.

He grabbed a razor and shaving cream from one of the cabinets and began shaving away his stubble. With each move of his hand, he uncovered something he had not seen for some time.

Jackson Weller staring back at him in the mirror.

It was time to help his friends.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

The dark figure of John Murphy approached Redtree General Hospital, blending into the shadows cast by the dim glow of the streetlights, which had only just blinked on.

The note better be right,he thought.

The dusk was as murky as the intentions that fueled his every step. The killer’s eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, searching for his prey, driven by a twisted desire that few could fathom.

He was tired. But only because he had been diverted. A last-moment diversion had nearly upended his plans. But a note written in caring handwriting had helped him find his way again; helped him find his next victim.

As he neared the entrance of the looming building ahead, the automatic doors whooshed open, revealing the sterile, fluorescent-lit interior. The stark contrast to the encroaching gloom of deep reds outside did little to dissipate the eerie atmosphere that clung to him like a shroud.

Hospital staff hurried through the halls, their hushed voices and hurried footsteps echoing through the desolate corridors, unaware of the menace that had infiltrated their sanctuary.

He strode to the reception desk, his gait confident, his icy demeanor commanding attention from the nurse on duty.

This is risky, he thought.But I have to… They have to pay for what they’ve done… Justice must be balanced…

She looked up from her computer, her eyes widening with surprise at the sudden appearance of this imposing figure.

“Can I help you?” she asked, trying to mask her unease.

“I’m looking for Emily Murphy’s room,” the killer replied, his voice calm and measured, betraying no hint of the sinister intent that lay beneath his words.

The nurse hesitated, then quickly scanned the computer screen in front of her. “She’s in room 217. Ward 4. Down that hall and to the left. It’s late for visiting.”

John smiled. “Yes, I’ve been traveling all day to get here. I just wanted to check on her and give her something she needed, then I’ll be on my way.”

The nurse smiled in understanding. “Okay, but don’t be surprised if you get a little resistance. The head nurse on that ward is… strict about these things.”

The killer nodded his thanks and headed in the direction she had indicated. The hospital’s antiseptic smell grew more potent with each step, as if it were a living thing struggling to keep the encroaching darkness at bay. But the darkness would not be deterred.

As he turned the corner, he caught sight of a janitor mopping the linoleum floor. Their eyes met for a brief moment before the janitor averted his gaze, as if sensing that something was amiss but not daring to question it.

The killer continued down the hallway, his footsteps muffled by the soft padding of his shoes, leaving a trail of dread in his wake.

He could feel the stare of the janitor on him as he moved away from him.

Did he recognize me?he thought. His picture was on the news and local front pages, so it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

I need to get in and out.

Picking up the pace, he moved along another corner, and then saw the entrance to Ward 4.

A nurse in a dark blue uniform stood outside the door, her back turned to him. Instinctively, he ducked into a nearby side room, unwilling to take any chances.

John Murphy watched as the nurse unlocked the door and went inside. He waited for a few more moments before peeking out the window, confirming that she was indeed gone. Taking a deep breath, he emerged from his hiding place and headed down the hallway into Ward 4.

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