Page 141 of Forever Dead
The second round tore into the frame beyond the attacker, scattering splinters across the hallway.
The man struck the wall with his shoulder, recovered and drove through the adjacent bedroom doorway.
Glass shattered.
Connor ran after him.
By the time he reached the room, cold air poured through a broken window. Curtains snapped outward. The figure was already dropping from the low rear roof onto the ground below.
Connor reached the window.
“Stop!”
The attacker landed, stumbled once, then ran.
Connor keyed his radio.
“Shots fired at Ellison. Suspect's still moving, armed with a knife. Broad build, dark jacket and hood. He's fleeing down the hill toward Meekie's.”
Cheryl answered over a burst of static. “Arnold’s two minutes out.”
Connor turned and ran.
He took the stairs fast, crossed the kitchen and went through the rear door. The killer was halfway down the slope.
Blue lights from the SUV flashed behind Connor. Ahead, Meekie’s corn maze glowed at the bottom of the hill.
The figure ran directly toward it.
Connor followed.
The ground dropped sharply beyond Nora’s yard. Dead grass slid beneath his boots as he descended. The killer moved with surprising speed for his size, taking long strides toward a fence separating the Ellison property from the field below.
“Stop!”
The figure vaulted the fence.
Connor climbed after him.
Music from Meekie’s grew louder. A woman laughed somewhere in the maze. A recorded howl played through speakers near the entrance.
The killer reached the first corn rows and disappeared.
Connor’s stomach tightened.
“Cheryl, the suspect's entered Meekie's maze. Have Chuck clear the visitors and cover the main entrance. Get a unit to Miller Road on the far side.”
“I've got Chuck at the maze. I'll send the next available unit to Miller Road.”
“Arnold stays at the Ellison house. Tell everyone else the suspect has a knife. I'm entering from the ridge.”
Connor entered the field.
The first path ran straight for perhaps thirty yards before splitting left and right. Corn towered above him, dry leaves scraping against one another in the wind.
A family appeared from the left branch.
The father wore a jacket over a vampire costume. Two small children ran ahead of him.
