Chain of Vengeance: Chapter Three - Part Nine

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There was a commotion coming from the staffroom next door to her office. Anna sighed, laid down the file she had open and made her way round, intending to ask them to keep it down.

It was a little room with no facilities beyond a vending machine, TV and several comfy chairs. The window only overlooked the blank wall of a neighbouring office building. A dozen of her colleagues were crowded in the doorway watching something on television. They seemed very excited.

“What is it?” asked Anna. “What’s going on?” Through a gap in the crowd she got a glimpse of the picture. It was the midday news.

“Sam’s sister’s been murdered in Bristol!”

“What?”

“Shhh!”

The newsreader was speaking. “The body of the victim was found yesterday evening. Police are seeking this man for questioning about the crime, caught here on an amateur video.”

The image became a blurred shot from a video camera, panning quickly round with several bangs in the background that sounded like gunshots. The picture jerked to a stop and showed a shaky view of a man standing on the balcony of a small hotel in a grey coat, firing a pistol. Anna couldn’t believe it. She recognised that face.

Someone said, “It’s Sam! It’s Sam Decker!” Then everyone was shouting. She couldn’t hear the newsreader anymore.

Surely he wasn’t capable of that; of murdering his own sister; but then again, Anna had seen his real face, the one he kept hidden most of the time. More than anyone else she knew what he was capable of.

The picture became a grainy close-up of Sam’s features. The newsreader said, “The police have warned that this man should not be approached. He is considered armed and dangerous.”

Someone said “Where is Sam? He’s on leave isn’t he?”

“No, he’s here. I just saw him. He’s in with Masters.”

Anna ran out into the corridor.

Everyone else on the floor was busy working. They had no idea what was going on. At the end of the walkway Masters door was closed. She jogged toward it, suddenly feeling an ugly quiver of fear. What if Sam was in there? What was she going to do? She needed to call the police. She slowed down to do that but thought better of it. If he was in there then Masters could be in danger. By the time the police arrived it might be too late.

She pushed open the door. Masters was slouching in his chair alone looking shocked, his face pallid.

“Henry, are you okay? Where’s Sam? Is he here?”

“He just left.” He spoke in short breathless bursts. “It was odd. He acted so strangely; aggressive; angry. It wasn’t like him at all.”

“We have to find him,” said Anna, “The news says he murdered his sister. How long ago did he leave?”

Masters looked flummoxed. “His sister?”

“Henry! When did Sam leave!”

“A moment ago. Less than a minute.”

Anna turned in the doorway then paused and looked back. “Call the police and get building security on the phone. Tell them to hold him in reception. I’m going down!”