Page 53 of No Escape

Valerie and Suzie continued their search for an entry point, and to Valerie’s relief, they discovered a window around the back of the house that was slightly ajar. Cautiously, they pushed the window open and climbed inside, their senses on high alert as they found themselves enveloped by the gloom of the farmhouse.

The interior was unsettling, an air of unease hanging heavily over the dimly lit rooms. The floorboards creaked beneath their feet as they moved through the house, shadows dancing across the walls in the fading light.

Suddenly, they heard a muffled noise coming from one of the rooms. The sound sent a shiver down their spines, and they exchanged a glance before cautiously making their way toward the source of the disturbance.

As they stepped into the room, they were met with a sight that made Valerie’s blood run cold. A police officer lay bound and gagged on the floor, his eyes wide with fear. Without hesitation, Valerie and Suzie rushed to his side, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

“We’re too late,” Valerie whispered, her voice strained with despair. She gently loosened the officer’s gag, her fingers trembling with the knowledge of what this meant for the missing family member.

As the gag came free, the officer gasped for air, his eyes darting between Valerie and Suzie. “You’re… You’re Valerie Law,” he said with fear in his voice.

“I’m trying to catch John Murphy, not kill for him,” Valerie said. “Don’t believe everything you hear. What happened?”

“John Murphy,” he choked out, his voice hoarse from the rough fabric that had silenced him. “He blindsided me outside, next to the cornfields. I woke up here, tied up and gagged.”

Suzie furrowed her brow, a mix of confusion and concern flashing across her face. “Why didn’t he kill the police officer?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Valerie glanced at the officer, taking in his fear-stricken expression before turning back to Suzie. “It’s not part of his plan,” she explained, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her. “From everything we know about John Murphy, he’s driven by what he perceives as a higher power. He believes he’s on a mission to bring justice to the world.”

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she continued. “Killing someone who’s just in his way wouldn’t fit that narrative, he has to see them as a direct opponent of justice. I assume that’s how he saw the orderlies back at Shady Pines. He’s intoxicated by his own self-righteousness, convinced that he’s doing the right thing. To kill indiscriminately would contradict the twisted sense of justice he’s constructed for himself.”

Valerie hesitated for a moment before nodding at the officer’s request. “Hold on, I’ll help you with those ropes,” she said, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. But just as she moved to assist him, a faint sound reached her ears—the unmistakable creak of a door opening.

“Did you hear that?” she whispered urgently, turning to the officer. “Do you have your gun?”

He shook his head, fear evident in his eyes. “No, John Murphy took it.”

Valerie’s heart raced as she instructed Suzie and the officer to stay put. She crept out of the room and into the dark hallway, her senses heightened as adrenaline surged through her veins. The shadows stretched and shifted around her, concealing the unknown dangers that lurked within.

Without warning, a figure emerged from the darkness, moving with an unnerving swiftness. Valerie instinctively engaged in a fierce struggle, grappling with the powerful figure that seemed like a living embodiment of lightning and steel. She unleashed every ounce of strength and skill she possessed, but her opponent seemed impervious to her efforts.

The man hurled Valerie against the wall, the impact jarring her to her core. As she fought to regain her breath, a shard of light cut through the darkness, illuminating her attacker’s face for a fleeting moment. To her surprise, she recognized the face—it was her partner, Charlie.

“Charlie?” she gasped, her voice a mix of relief and disbelief. Their eyes met, and in that instant, they embraced.

Charlie’s voice was filled with concern as he spoke. “We’ve been worried sick, Valerie.”

At her questioning gaze, he gestured behind him, and Will appeared from the shadows. His face was etched with genuine emotion, and he enveloped Valerie in a warm hug. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice strained. “We’ve been tracking your movements for days, doing our best to keep up with you.”

More footsteps echoed through the hallway, and Tom materialized, his eyes locking onto Valerie’s. Overwhelmed with emotion, she let out a soft whimper at the sight of him. Without hesitation, she rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his. “I’ve missed you so badly, Tom,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I just want an end to all of this.”

Valerie pulled back slightly from their embrace, her eyes searching Tom’s face. “I’m so sorry for all of this, Tom. For dragging you into it, for putting you through so much worry.”

Tom shook his head, his eyes filled with love and determination. “Valerie, you don’t have to apologize. I’m here because I want to be. I believe in you, and I know you’re doing what’s right.”

She blinked back tears, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ve been so scared… scared that I wouldn’t see you again, that I’d lose you.”

He gently wiped a tear from her cheek, his touch tender and reassuring. “We’re in this together, Val. We’ll get through it, and we’ll come out on the other side, stronger than ever.”

Valerie took a deep breath, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you, Tom. Just… thank you. For everything.”

With one last, lingering look, they pulled each other close once more, holding on tightly to the love and strength they found in each other’s arms.

Suzie suddenly appeared, holding a piece of paper in her hand. “I found this on the kitchen table,” she said.

Valerie took the note from Suzie, her hands trembling as she unfolded it. She cleared her throat and began to read aloud, her voice wavering slightly. “He says he knows where Maxine Reynolds is hiding. By now, he’ll already be there. If we want her and Julian Leonard to live, we must come to 614 Ashton Mooring on the Redcreek River. He tells us that we must come without backup. Any sign of anyone else, and he’ll slit their throats.”

She paused, her voice shaking with anger as she continued, “He’s taunting me. He’s playing with us. He wants to control the situation.”

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