(From Chapter One)

Memorial General Hospital


It was 2:10 in the morning as she stepped off the elevator in the drab underground parking garage.

She hated to park down there. It made her feel so small surrounded by all those giant cement pillars that held up the upper part of the building, besides, the place gave her a creepy feeling. It was like walking through an art exhibit with nothing to view except cars, concrete and a dingy atmosphere.

She held her hand over her mouth to keep from breathing the smell of exhaust and damp air.


She couldn’t keep from thinking about the newspapers. They had been running some articles about some crazy guy that’s been going around attacking nurses after they got off work. There hasn’t been any recent attacks, but just the same, she was gonna wait for Mr. Clark, the hospital security guard. The recent hospital bulletin said everyone on the night shift should wait for an escort to their car.


She hasn’t worked at the hospital very long. It was a stroke of good luck that she was able to land a position with one of the best hospitals in the city.

She really didn’t care for the twelve- hour shift and getting off at 2 in the morning, but it was the only shift open at the time.

She started wondering where Mr. Clark was. He should have been here by now. He knows what time she gets off.

That’s funny, she thought, as she glanced around at the lights in the garage. She could swear that there were more lights on when she worked last night. Gracie peeked at her watch.
Where was he? She started thinking. Maybe when she marries Freddie next month she won’t have to work this late shift. If Mr. Clark doesn’t hurry up, I’m going to my car without him. I’m not going to stand here all night. She started wondering if she had any wine at the house. A nice glass before she went to bed may help her sleep. Where was Mr. Clark? He should have been here by now.


The man was dressed in black clothing. He stood there in the dark behind one of the giant pillars, and watched her as she was apparently brushing the lint from off her uniform. His hands became sweaty as he thought about brushing it off for her.

He thought about going over there and run his hands over her thin shapely body. Maybe she won’t start screaming like the others. He didn’t want to hurt them, but they wouldn’t stop screaming. He only squeezed their throat so they’d shut up. He didn’t mean to kill them. He could come up behind her and grab her by her long blonde hair and ……

He stopped and stepped further back into the dark.

He thought he heard something. Damn! Someone is coming!


“Sorry I‘m late, Gracie,” the security guard said as he stepped in the garage from the staircase door.

“I was beginning to wonder where you were.”

“Miss Flowers from the fourth floor had a flat tire and he helped her with it,” he said, “he didn’t think it would take him so long.”

They started walking across the garage toward Gracie’s car.
“When the years start creeping up,” he said, “then it gets harder for this old man to change a tire.”


Here’s my car,” she said, “thank you for walking with me.”

“My pleasure,” he said. “See you tomorrow night.” He turned and walked toward the elevator.


She went to put the key in the ignition and dropped it on the floorboard. She leaned over and groped around for the keys. She finally recovered them and raised back up. She stuck her key in the ignition correctly this time and felt, rather than saw, something outside her car window. She hesitated for a second and slowly turned her head to the left.


Mr. Clark stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut. He pushed the button that would take him to the all night coffee shop. He cocked his head to one side when he thought he heard a scream. Shucks, it’s just this old elevator making its usual squeal. He knows it’s time for a cup of coffee when his imagination starts getting the best of him.