The Repairman 14

The Repairman 14

Detectives Raines and Burma listened to what was going on in Sarah’s house as they forgot to tell her that the devices were already active. They knew that they were crossing a line but felt it had to be crossed. If Sarah was going to help them then they wanted to know if she was in condition to do so. The extra conversations they heard were only that but this development between her and her husband was quite intriguing. They were unsure how it would affect the plans. There were now additional questions that came into play and more possibilities as Sarah no doubt must be conflicted more now than before. They continued to listen, hoping for a clue as to what she would do now. As the time ticked by it became apparent that they would learn nothing more from Sarah tonight. The lights in the house had been turned off and everything was now silent. They were left in the dark to wonder through the rest of the night.

John pulled the van to the side of the road and put it in park. He turned towards Melissa who was tending to Janet. “Is she hanging in there still? I am getting on the highway and we will take her to the next town. Drop her at that hospital to keep the police off of our trail.” Melissa felt relieved at the news John had just shared with her and began to believe again in the trust she was gaining with him. She again began to feel as if she could and in fact would be able to get away from John very soon. She smiled at John before answering him, “I think she can hang in a little longer John but it is really pushing it. We just need to do whatever it is that you have planned quickly. We do not need a murder wrap following us. She will like be in a coma or at least have amnesia from the injuries to her head. We just need to get wherever and get her out of here.” John nodded and turned forward. He slipped the van into gear and headed towards the freeway on ramp. Soon they were traveling 70 mph down the highway. Janet squeezed Melissa’s hand in a way that let her know that she was still with her and had heard everything John had just said to her. Melissa squeezed back and was happy for Janet but knew she needed to form her own plans and was running out of time with each passing mile. She began to look around again but nothing was jumping out at her. The van had some tools in it but nothing she thought she could hide while she lifted Janet out of the van. She was beginning to feel a little nervous that she would not be able to get away. She knew this was the opportunity that she had been hoping for and it would likely not come again. She wondered if she could open the toolbox that was on the floor without John noticing. It was a gamble but one she felt she needed to take regardless of the outcome. Her hands began to shake as her nerves took over. Janet could feel Melissa’s hand shaking and that began to make her nervous. She was unsure what could be wrong as she had not heard anything to make her feel nervous. She wanted to open her eyes or to try and talk to Melissa to just find out what was wrong. Her own nerves were beginning to ratchet up and thus she decided to squeeze Melissa’s hand hard to get her attention. Melissa bent towards Janet to pretend to be listening again for her breathing. She told Janet not worry and that she was just looking for something to make her own escape possible after they dropped her off at the hospital. Janet gave her a firm squeeze to let her know that she heard her and understood. Janet wanted to somehow help Melissa but knew that she just would be no use in her current condition. She figured that it was best to at least get her self out of trouble and then she could tell the police everything she knew to try and help the others. She just needed to relax and let it play out now.

Mellissa slowly unlatched the tool box cover and began to slide it open. It began to squeak so she just slid her hand in without opening it any further. She felt around and there were all sorts of metal objects inside. Some were obvious to her and others not as obvious as to what they may be. She decided to grab a screwdriver and hope that she could hide it. She slowly moved her hand back out of the toolbox and held the screw driver like it was the most precious thing in the World to her. This would be her way out and her way to get away from John. She thought it she jabbed him with it in the back of the head that he would be badly injured and then they could help the police find his home. That would mean that anyone else stuck in there would also be rescued. It sounded like a plan to Melissa and she convinced herself she could find the strength inside to hurt someone. It needed to be done and if it ended up being fatal then she told herself that it needed to be that way as what John was doing was just wrong. If his price was death for her to be free again then that was the way it needed to be. She began trying to work her confidence up to gather all the strength and confidence inside of her that she could find. Somehow she knew she would have to dig down real deep but also knew she could do it. She had no choice if she wanted to get away.

John looked back in the mirror and began to think that maybe Melissa really had been the one and that maybe he could make it work with her. He wondered if he could trust her though to leave the house knowing what she knew about him. He shook his head as he knew there was just no way he would be that foolish. How could she let it all go and be fine with it? He could not trust her yet and knew he should keep an eye on her when they dropped off Janet. He drove down the off ramp and could see the signs for the hospital. He was near it and his heart began to race as this would be a test for him. It would set knew things in motion. He felt like he was taunting the police by letting Janet go free. He was daring them to find him. He knew that eventually they would but he hoped to be long gone by that time. He knew this would speed things up and he decided that was a good thing. It would not allow him time to become sloppy and get caught because he got careless. He loved Sarah and she loved him as well. He would convince her to run away with him. She would leave her husband for him and he was so confident in that fact that no other possibility seemed to exist. He pulled to the curb near the hospital and turned off the vans headlights but left the motor running. He turned back to Melissa, “We are here and we need to do this quickly. I will drive into the Emergency entrance area where we will quickly grab Janet and place her on the ground. Someone will find her and she will get the help she needs. Do you understand? We won’t have time to do anything but get her out and go so nothing but business here. I will not lock you up when we get back as long as you listen to me and do as I say right now. Agreed?” Melissa knew she had to answer the way John wanted right now to get this to the next step where she could get away. “John let us do this and then get back home. Get rid of this ungrateful bitch now. Then we can go enjoy each other. I would like you to take me home and make love to me. So let’s hurry up.” She hoped that he bought every word of it as she tried to sound as convincing as she had ever been in her life. Those were the most important words she felt she had ever uttered from her mouth. John smiled and turned forward to watch the entrance for the right time. A security guard was there having a smoke right now and John knew after that he would disappear inside to be seen elsewhere. That would be the perfect time as long as there was no other activity. He waited patiently as he knew that timing was critical to get in and get out without being seen. If he were seen then it could lead to the police closing in on him quicker than he would like and it may mess up his plans with Sarah.

The security guard finished his cigarette and headed back inside the hospital. John took his foot off of the brake and the van began its forward progression. He looked around again as the van was moving and the coast was still clear.  He pushed the gas pedal harder and the van lurched forward as he headed towards the entrance. The headlights were off but he could see well enough to go where he needed to go now. He pulled into the lot and stopped in front of the doors. Nobody was around just as he had hoped. He leapt from his seat after throwing the van into park. He ran to the back and flung open the doors. Melissa was there with Janet’s upper body in her hands and just waiting on John to lift her legs to begin to pull her from the van. She smiled at John in a way to hopefully reassure him. He grabbed Janet’s legs and began to move backwards. His eyes were drawn to the light shining into his van from outside as his toolbox was lit by that light. He quickly noticed that something was different about it. He was unsure of what though as he was more concerned with getting Janet out of the van and onto the ground by the entrance. Melissa was now stepping out of the van and following John’s lead and not doing anything to peak his interest or suspicions. Just going with the plan he had laid out until it was time for her plan to play out. They were setting Janet to the ground when it clicked in John’s head that the toolbox had been opened and not closed which was something he never would do as it was just not his character to do something like that. His mind raced through the possibilities and just as it clicked on the correct one he saw Melissa moving like she had been shot out of a cannon. She was headed straight towards him and he had very little time to react. He twisted slightly but felt a sharp pain between his shoulder and neck. Melissa knew when he bent over it was time and leapt for him with the screwdriver aimed for the back of John’s skull. She plunged it into him with all of her strength and did not even notice John moving below her. As the screwdriver entered John’s skin she knew she had missed and by the time she realized why John had grabbed her legs and pulled. She was now spinning towards the ground. The pain shot through John’s body and brought him to his knees. Melissa crashed to the ground beside of him with a heavy thud. She moaned in pain and John reached for the screwdriver still impaled in his neck. Melissa saw him reaching for it and made her way back to her feet. She went towards John determined to finish the job. He let her get close and then lunged upward towards her ramming the top of his head into her chin. Melissa heard a loud crack and then everything went black as she fell backwards to the ground. John staggered from the collision but had the advantage of knowing what was coming. He looked down at Melissa who was clearly out as she lay motionless now before him. He reached down and grabbed her legs. He began to pull her towards the back of the van and the open doors. He was behind the van when he heard the electronic door open on the other side of the van and he knew he was no longer alone. He had a choice to make now and that was to go fight with who had just come out or to leave Melissa behind so he could quickly get away. He heard shoes and then they stopped as he was sure the sight before the unexpected visitor was enough to make them gasp. He needed to leave quickly so he dropped Melissa’s legs and then ran to the van. He slipped into the drivers seat and quickly sped out of the lot leaving behind two women he was sure could not talk for at least days. He was full of adrenaline from the unexpected twist and then remembered the screwdriver was still in his own neck. He tried to reach for it but could not drive and pull at the same time. It would have to wait till he had the time. He flicked the headlights on as he headed onto the highway towards home.

The doctor was on break and saw Janet’s lifeless body as the doors opened from the ER entrance to the outside World. He was frozen in place and did not see anyone moving behind the van and then he heard someone moving quickly and the van lurched forward and then squealed the tires as it left the lot. It all happened so fast that he did not get any plate number or see who was driving. He now saw that another woman lay lifeless on the ground and had been blocked by the van. His instincts kicked in as he turned and yelled for help. The he ran towards the two women to determine if they were alive.