Page 54 of No Escape

“Val, please. We should leave this to the authorities,” Tom said, gently.

“And let John Murphy kill his hostages the second he sees blue lights flashing?” Valerie asked. “No, that’s not an option.”

“We’ve been through so much already,” Suzie said. “We should see this through.”

Charlie looked concerned, his eyes scanning the faces of everyone in the room. “We can’t let him dictate the terms. But we can’t ignore the threat to Maxine and Julian either.”

Will stroked his chin, deep in thought. “It’s strange that he wants all of us to go there. It’s a change in profile.”

Valerie nodded, her brow furrowed. “I thought that too. He’s shifting his focus.”

Charlie scratched his head, clearly puzzled. “But why would he do that?”

Valerie speculated, “He believes he’s avenging the death of his wife, and it was Charlie, Will, and I who stopped him the last time. In his twisted mind, that makes us accomplices.”

Tom interjected, his voice tense. “So he intends to kill us too? Then we definitely shouldn’t go.”

“You don’t have to go, Tom,” Valerie said. “You’re not on his vengeance list.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not leaving you this time.”

The police officer, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, finally spoke up. “I should report back to my superiors. They need to know what’s happening.”

Valerie looked at him pleadingly. “Please, just give us one hour. We need time to get Maxine and Julian out of John Murphy’s grasp. After that, report whatever you need to.”

The officer hesitated, clearly torn between his duty and his desire to help. He glanced at the determined faces of Valerie and her friends, and then back at Valerie. “Alright. One hour. But after that, I have to report in. I’m putting my job on the line here.”

Valerie nodded, grateful for his cooperation. “Thank you. We’ll do our best to make sure this ends within the hour.”

Tom placed a hand on the officer’s shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. “We appreciate your help.”

Valerie turned to look at the faces of her friends, her family.

“This could land us all in prison or in the ground,” she said. “Anyone want to back out?”

“I think I speak for us all,” Will said, “when I say ‘once more unto the breach, dear friends.’”

“If he means let’s kick John Murphy’s ass,” Charlie quipped, “then we’re all in.”

Valerie nodded. She turned to face the now darkened skies outside.

One more time, she thought.One last chance to catch a killer and do some good. Even if it’s the end.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Valerie, Suzie, and Tom drove in silence as they neared their destination. The sun had long set, and darkness enveloped the landscape, casting eerie shadows along the narrow road. A feeling of dread gnawed at the pit of Valerie’s stomach. She gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white with tension. This was it, the endgame—one way or another, it was all going to be over soon.

As they pulled up at the end of the dark trail, Valerie spotted Charlie’s car parked near the entrance. The sight of the familiar vehicle was both comforting and disconcerting. They were all here now, in the thick of it, facing the unknown together. But there was just one problem. Will and Charlie were nowhere to be seen.

“Where the hell are they?” asked Tom.

“I don’t know,” Valerie said. “They ended up only being a couple of minutes ahead of us in Charlie’s car. If they aren’t here, there’s a reason for it.”

“Should we wait?” Suzie asked, her voice filled with nerves.

“No,” Valerie said. “We need to keep going. For all we know, they need us.”

Somewhere nearby, the sound of a river whispered through the night, a constant, almost soothing presence amidst the growing tension. Valerie took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Alright. Are you both ready for this?”

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