his remorse had turned to hatred of the police and the system that he now blamed for taking him from his wife’s side. Was his sentence too harsh? Perhaps. But there was nothing Jeremiah could do about sentencing, much to many of his one-and-done session participants’ dismay.
He annotated Chuck’s file in the ancient computer and glanced up at the clock that rested in a cage of metal wire. He had time to slip down for another cup of coffee before his first group session. Perfect.
“Hey, Remi. How you been?” Kyle Snyder, a nurse in the medical ward, greeted him as he exited his office.
“Hey, man. Doing well. Heading for more coffee. What about you?”
They meandered down the hall. “I’m grabbing a soda, but caffeine is caffeine, right?” He slid his ID through the slot and deactivated the lock. Jeremiah let the man go through and let the door shut because he had to process through via his ID so the guards had an accounting of where people were. He slipped his ID into the slot and frowned. He tried it again, but the light flashed red.
“What the––” A loud, sharp alarm blared throughout the medical block. Red lights flashed and in one instant all the doors that opened with identification cards sealed, locking everyone where they were. Both he and Kyle turned to the bird’s nest. Eddie was behind the glass, yelling into the phone as he turned and saw them. The fear in the guard’s eyes said more than his words ever would.
“Get somewhere and hide,” Jeremiah yelled at Kyle, who nodded and sprinted toward the back of the hall. Jeremiah hesitated for just a second. If asked why he’d never be able to explain, but he turned back to where Kyle had run.
Macmillan was in the hallway.
Blood drenched the man’s orange and white striped inmate uniform.
The serial killer smiled at Jeremiah and entered the room where Kyle had ducked. Jeremiah slammed against the door and screamed at Eddie to let him in. The only thought in his mind was to help Kyle. After years of training, he was strong enough now. He had the skill to kick that murderer’s ass. A blood-curdling scream filled the hall on the other side of the locked door as Macmillan dragged two people, Kyle and one of the secretaries, from the room. He threw Kyle against the wall and grabbed the woman.
“Stop! Don’t do this!” Jeremiah screamed and beat on the door. “Leave her alone!” Macmillan sent him another smile and then laughed as he shoved his hand in the woman’s mouth, wrenching down, breaking her jaw. It flopped against her throat, attached only by skin. Macmillan held her up when she passed out from pain. He let her drop to the ground after using his fingers to slap the woman’s jaw, sending it flapping back and forth.
Jeremiah pounded on the door. He turned and looked up to beg Eddie to let him in. What he saw sent horror through him. There were three inmates in the bird’s nest. Blood and brain matter splattered against the window.
He turned his attention back to Macmillan, who now stood directly in front of him at the door.
“Let me out or they both die.”
“I can’t. The door is locked.” He shoved his ID into the slot over and over, letting the man see what he said was the truth.
“Too bad.” Cyrus shrugged and turned, making his way back to his two victims at a leisurely stroll.
Jeremiah dashed back to his office and picked up the phone. “Come on! Damn it!” When it connected, he yelled, “This is Doctor Jeremiah Wheeler. Macmillan and three inmates are loose in the medical wing. Three inmates are in the bird’s nest and Macmillan is in Medical Hallway B4.”
“Are you safe?” a disjointed voice asked.
“For now. Once those assholes figure out how to open doors, I’ll be dead.”
“We’ve taken the controls offline. They shouldn’t be able to unlock anything. We’ve got our Rapid Response Team gearing up and the locals are sending their SWAT team and hostage negotiators.” He heard the guard over the phone. “Doc Wheeler, can you see the inmates or any staff?”
“Hold on.” He pulled the old phone as far as the cord would allow and then stretched out the door.
“I see two inmates in the bird’s nest. There is a lot of blood spattered on the window. I don’t think Eddie made it.” He turned his head and met Macmillan’s eyes as he stood in the hallway