Page 46 of No Escape

But the idea took him aback; killing the orderlies at Shady Pines had been a regrettable necessity, but he hadn’t enjoyed it.

Now he had suddenly found an impulse to kill someone else who was essentially an innocent. That wouldn’t do. No, that wouldn’t do at all.

As he drove deeper into the night, John reminded himself of his purpose. He was an instrument of justice, a vessel for the universal force that surged through his veins. He needed to focus on his mission: to eliminate the guilty, those responsible for his wife’s death.

“Alex Murphy, Maxine Reynolds, and Julian Leonard,” he said out loud to himself. He half expected the night to grin and laugh in delight. But only the quiet of the road came.

“Three more and I’m done,” he said. Joshua was an unwanted loose end, too. But John remembered Joshua’s physical health during the trial. Alcoholism had taken its toll, and John was quite sure his cousin would be gone soon enough, drink taking him to his grave. And if it didn’t and he happened to get his act together, well, John would pay him a visit at some unknown date in the future.

But he didn’t know what would come of him after that. Maybe the universal force for justice that he felt had chosen him, maybe it would be gone from him forever.

Or maybe…

Then a thought came to him. It came to him in a rush and he felt tingling running up his body. That was the way the thoughts always came. It was how he knew he was receiving signals from the great beyond.

There will be more people who will face your justice, the thought said.

Then three names came immediately into his head.

Valerie Law, Charlie Carlson, and Will Cooper. They tried to stop you, making them instruments of injustice. Now you can stop them,

With renewed determination, John continued down the dark country road, the shadows closing in around him as he drove toward his next target, ready to carry out the vengeance that consumed him.

And the great powers beyond had now given him permission to execute three more people. The people who had put him behind bars.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, Valerie and Suzie pulled up to a modest house on a quiet suburban street. The truck’s engine sputtered and Valerie glanced at the fuel gauge, concern furrowing her brow.

“Val, we’re running dangerously low on gas,” Suzie observed, anxiety in her voice.

Valerie looked at the gauge and then back at the road. “That’s the least of our worries right now,” she replied, her gaze settling on a scene unfolding across the street.

A reporter and a camera crew were attempting to interview a middle-aged man outside his home. He was visibly angry, his face flushed as he shouted at the reporter. The man’s voice carried through the still morning air, his frustration palpable.

“Get off my property!” he roared, waving his arms in a wild gesture. “I have nothing to say to you vultures!”

The reporter tried to ask another question, but the man would have none of it. He lunged at the camera crew, forcing them to retreat hastily down the street. The reporter followed, trying to salvage the situation as the man continued to yell at them.

Suzie looked at Valerie, her eyes wide. “Do you think they’re here because of John Murphy?”

“It’s possible,” Valerie said, her expression grim. “In fact, I think that man is Alex Murphy, John Murphy’s half-brother.” She squinted her eyes, trying to get a better look at the man’s face.

As they watched, Alex Murphy’s rage intensified. He threw a punch, landing it squarely on the reporter’s jaw. The reporter stumbled backward, clutching his face, and the camera crew scattered.

Valerie’s eyes widened, and she knew she had to intervene. “Stay here, Suzie,” she instructed, her voice firm. “I’ll handle this.”

“But—”

“You can keep watching. If you think I need help, come running.” Valerie smiled at her sister and then turned away from her, approaching the chaotic scene, her eyes locked on Alex.

“Hey!” she shouted, trying to get his attention. “Alex, stop it!”

The man, startled by Valerie’s sudden appearance, turned to face her. His eyes were wild with anger, but he paused, his fists clenched at his sides.

“Who the hell are you?” he spat, his voice hoarse from yelling.

“My name is Valerie Law,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. “I’m an FBI agent, and I need to talk to you about your brother John.”

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