Unknown - Sex-crazed stallion

That's what it took to shock Johnny back awake. It was then that Rod noticed the crooked twist where the bone had broken, the lack of any splints. What the hell had gone on here, he wondered.

Johnny let out a scream.

"Oh God, it hurts, please, no more, no more, I can't take it, I can't take it."

Rod leaned over and freed Sherry's arm and helped her to the floor gently.

Suddenly he thought about Carrie. Her father was out there in the house somewhere and so was she. He was obviously out of his mind.

"Carrie!!" he yelled, "he's out there. Be careful! He's snapped!"

He heard nothing in reply, and was just about to get up and run out into the hall to see what was keeping Carrie, when a form crossed the doorway.

It was Dr. Simpson, his eyes as wild as ever, standing right in the middle of the door. In his hand was a revolver. It was pointed, not at Rod or Johnny but at Sherry.

"Mr. Barrett, I wouldn't worry about my daughter. I assure you, I'll worry about her. You might look to your own safety. You see, Mr. Barrett, I have plans for you."

Rod's eyes were glued to the revolver.

"Don't worry, Mr. Barrett. You needn't worry about this little toy. It's not for you."

He looked at Sherry's still immobile form on the floor next to the bed, and without blinking an eye drilled three rounds into her. Her body jerked at each shot.

Rod felt his world slipping away. It was over. They had lost without even knowing what the stakes were until it was too late.

"Well, are you satisfied, you maniac," he said, trying to sound as vicious as he could.

"Please shut up Mr. Barrett."

Lucus turned his attention to Johnny, conscious now, simply watching in fear for his life.

"Babyraper!"

Rod hissed the words and they had a startling effect.

Lucus' face went slack for just a second, and he seemed to collapse against the door frame.

His eyes grew wide with shock.

"What did you say?" he croaked.

Rod sneered at him, looking a lot more contemptuous and condescending than he felt.

"You think I didn't know? You think that we didn't know from the first, when you introduced yourself? Come on, Dr. Simpson? That was a big case."

Rod saw Carrie, her face white from shock and fear peeking around the corner, listening. Her eyes fell on the wooden splint that Lucus had cast aside after using it to beat Sherry.

"Come on, Dr. Simpson. How many was it they were after you for? Six. Eight maybe ten?"

He flinched at every word, as if being physically struck.

"Babyraper. That's what they called you, wasn't it?"

"There was no evidence," screamed Lucus, all at once losing control. Rod tensed his muscles, certain that a bullet was about to rip through his body, maybe two or three. Maybe enough to kill him.

But the expected shot didn't come. Lucus had somehow brought his temper under control, though Rod could see he was right on the line.

"You think you can shake my composure? You think you can surprise me and gain the upper hand. You have a lot to learn, Mr. Barrett. A lot to learn indeed."

"Well, I've already learned a lot, yessir quite a lot indeed."

"You've learned nothing except to repeat rumors. But you see, there is no one which whom you can confide your information and do me damage. The daughter I loved is gone, the one who loathes me will not come close enough to me for me to deal with her as she should be treated, so I will have to track her down."

Carrie had by this time already snaked into the room and had the splint in her hand. It was hard for Rod not to steal glances at her from time to time, but he knew it would be her death warrant if he did, so he made certain that his eyes stayed glued to Lucus.

Carrie had the splint in her hand now, but instead of bringing it down on top of him, she looked like she was preparing an underhand swing.

Good luck Carrie girl. If you miss this one you won't get another chance.

"Tell me, Dr. Simpson, what was it like, trying to slide your cock into a small child like that? Was it as disgustingly sick as I imagine it was?"

Lucus was beginning to sweat and his bottom lip was quivering without pause.

"You'd better shut up now. I'm sick of listening to you." He leveled his gun at Rod's midriff to make the point.

Rod looked over at Johnny. He hadn't made a move since Lucus walked into the room. He looked like he was in bad shape.

Too bad about Sherry. Fine lady. Would have been great to bring her out too. But there was still Carrie, and if he could at all he was going to save her from this madness.

She had her own plans at the moment.

Rod kept talking to Lucus, who seemed only too glad to brag, not about the murders themselves for he'd always maintained that he was innocent, and he saw no reason to change his position now. But about the escape, when every law agent in the city had been watching him to make sure he didn't do exactly. And with two daughters no less!

The more he talked, the more Rod got the idea that he saw his daughters simply as a gauge to measure himself. He success at dominating them was his measure of his own worth.

Sick!

And then Carrie was in position. Rod held his breath, still scarcely able to avoid looking at her. She stood behind him, hands gripping the splint tightly, her face contorted from the urgency of the situation.

And yet, this was her father. A madman, to be sure, and certainly not to be reasoned with. She knew that. She was a bright lady. But Rod could imagine that the final thrust, that last harsh act that would forever place him beyond her was a difficult one for her. He could almost see her steeling her reserves!

Too late! He'd glanced in her direction, for just a split second. It was enough. Dr. Simpson pivoted on his heels in a second, and a grin slowly crossed his features.

"So. I'll not have to track you down after all. So glad you could join us, my daughter dearest."

He spoke with a sneer, his words dripping with contempt. Carrie's face went white as she saw the gun aiming right at her stomach. With his back turned, Rod was tempted to jump him, but Lucus was too quick, swiftly moving away so that he could aim his gun at them both.

"Over there," he told her, pointing to Rod.

"What have you done to Sherry?" she cried. "You're a monster. You're a vicious monster. What have you done?"

"Please, don't. You're giving me a headache. It's the last thing I need now. Just stand there next to your little friend there, and we'll just see what's to be done about you. I must say daughter, you've been a supreme disappointment to me. I had such visions for you when you were younger."

"Yeah, but they all included keeping me away from the rest of the world. I'm tired of being in a cage. I want to leave. I want to leave with him."

Lucus chuckled.

"Well, that's going to be a little difficult. You see, he and his friend are not going to be leaving us. Not today, not at the end of the week. Not ever."

"You can't keep us here forever. If you kill us, there are people who know where we are. There'll be search parties. You'll be found out, no matter what. It's over. You're finished. Why don't you face that fact and end the suffering now. You've already killed one of your daughter's. Must you kill the rest of us?"

Locus stared at Rod as he spoke, but it looked as if he really couldn't hear what was being said. His eyes began to wander the room, he began to waver ever so slightly on his feet. Rod noticed this, hoped it would continue and grow worse and kept up a steady stream of chatter, designed more to hypnotize him than anything else.

It appeared to be working. Rod kept hammering home the arguments for letting them go, but as he spoke, his voice assumed more and more a lilting, melodic quality, almost a sing-song rhythm, rises and falls spaced at regular intervals.