Page 41 of Mason

This time Jo did panic. She called the hospital switchboard and asked for security, explaining what was going on. They put her through to Sean, the on-duty security guard, who said he’d be right there.

She looked around for a weapon. The hallway was empty, so she started trying doors. Everything was locked. Shit, shit, shit. She was down here with nothing to defend herself against a creeper. How did he know where she was? He’d locked her in, duh. He must have looked in through the windows on the double doors. Which meant he was right outside and could come in at any second.

Another creaking noise startled her so much she half-screamed. One of the locked doors was slowly swinging open. No, no, no. She backed up and stumbled, falling flat. Ignoring the stinging, she scooted backward, her eyes never leaving the swinging door. Now was not the time to run and kill herself. She could scoot. When her back hit the double doors leading to the elevators, Jo used the metal rod handle to pull herself up. She pushed on the handles repeatedly, but there was no give. They were locked.

Her breathing kicked up when the door stopped. No one came out, but that meant jack. He was in there, daring her to come to him.

Her phone dinged.

Unknown: I’m here, baby.

She pushed at the door handles, trying to force them open, but the lock was computerized. Computerized…duh. She swiped her badge, but the green light didn’t pop up. It stayed red.

She was good and truly locked in.

Unknown: Come here, baby. Let’s talk.

The doors shook beneath her hands, and she jumped back, screaming, tripping over her own two feet again and falling. This time she put her hands out to catch herself, and she heard a distinctive crack when she fell, all her weight landing on her wrist.

Pain made her whimper, but she saw Sean, the security guard, standing there. Thank God. He tried the door, but it wouldn’t open.

“Hang on, Jo. I’m calling IT. We’ll have the door open in a minute.”

She pointed to the other open door in the hallway. “He’s in there. Please, Sean, get me out of here.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, cradling her hurt wrist against her chest.

“Stay there.”

Her phone chirped again.

Unknown: Why did you call him? This was our moment, and you fucking ruined it. I’m very angry with you.

She started to shake as she watched a hand reach out of the open doorway and pull the door closed. She noticed Sean saw it too and renewed his efforts to open the door.

Unknown: You’ll have to be punished for this, baby, but I’ll see you soon enough.

It was another five minutes before the red light on the electronic lock turned green. Sean rushed in and bypassed her, heading straight to the door that had been open. She wasn’t surprised when he told her it was empty. It was a linen storage room with a double door to the hallway that led to the morgue. He’d escaped through there.

Sean took her back upstairs and into the ER where she was x-rayed while the police were called.

Jo sat alone on the table, waiting for the doctor to come in. Sean stood across the hall where she could clearly see him.

Jo picked up her phone and called Mason.

“Baby?” His sleepy voice calmed her more than anyone.

“I need you,” she whispered, the first tears finally starting to break through. “I need you, Mason.”

Mason sat up, his body on instant alert at the tears in his girl’s voice. “What happened?”

She told him about the text messages, being locked in the basement with the creepy fucker, and hurting her arm.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, baby. Are the police there yet?”

“No,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

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