Page 64 of M for Murder

Jennifer cursed herself for being fool enough to listen to her so-called friend. The campus grounds were empty for a good reason. People were scared, and she and Miranda had more reason to be scared than most. After all, they fit the profile of the killer’s next intended victim. Right now, they should both be back in their room, with the door locked, surrounded by friends and safe from harm.

But instead, where are you? Alone in the dark and a ten-minute walk from your dorm. Just like a sitting duck.

God! How could she be so stupid?

In an attempt to take the edge off her fear, she tried to think of more pleasant subjects. Her family back home, the letter she had received from her sister, summer vacation, now only a few weeks away, Lawrie…

There’s a killer on the loose. A sick sadistic killer and you fit the profile of his next victim!

Her grades were getting better. The last couple of months they’d been steadily improving. She’d even managed to get a couple of As.

He likes to mutilate his victims…

Subconsciously Jennifer began to pick up her pace. In the distance she could see the towering block in which her room was situated. Another five minutes and she would be back on familiar territory.

The evening was warm and, aside from the sounds of her shoes clipping the concrete, very silent. Her heart started to beat faster and she could count the beats in between her feet hitting the pavement.

Beat beat, click! Beat beat, click!

She was very aware that she was all alone, the only person outside making any noise; the only idiot foolish enough to be wandering across the campus at night.

Beat beat, click! Beat beat, click! Beat beat, thump! Click! Beat beat, thump! Click!

Hearing the unfamiliar thump, Jennifer realised with a sudden wave of panic that maybe she wasn’t alone after all. She increased her pace until she was almost breaking into a slow run.

Beat, click! Beat, click! Thump! Beat, click! Beat, click! Thump!

She tried to tell herself it was no one to worry about. It was probably just another student. Probably even someone that she knew from her own dorm.

If you’re so sure, just look over your shoulder. Put your mind at ease.

Jennifer wanted to look. She couldn’t bring herself to turn her head, though, scared of what she might see. There was a killer on the loose. How could she possibly kid herself that it was all right?

What if he was in the student bar watching you? What if when you left, he followed you?

God! Why the hell hadn’t she asked Mike or Jason to walk her back to the dorm? It didn’t matter that she barely knew them. They would have understood, given the circumstances, wouldn’t they? She could feel her insides knotting with fear. Her legs started to tremble.

A slight breeze rustled through the leaves of the giant trees overhead. To her left were the campus tennis courts; the bars of the surrounding metal fence clinked together as they were battered by the light breeze. The football pitch was over to the right. A large black mass of ground that looked completely different at night when there were no jocks running the field.

She was all alone. If she was attacked now, no one would be there to rush to her aid. No one would hear her screams.

Unable to stand the torment any longer, Jennifer turned and glanced over her shoulder.

She breathed in a huge sigh of relief as she recognised the familiar features of Bryan Waller, the tall, lithe, basketball player who shared her Monday afternoon lectures, jogging towards her.

‘Bryan! Jeez!’ She put a hand to her chest, feeling the racing beat of her heart start to slow. ‘You scared the crap out of me.’

Bryan flashed her a lopsided grin. ‘I’m not surprised, out here all by yourself.’ He looked her over, and Jennifer saw his eyes narrow slightly with concern as he realised just how much he’d scared her. ‘What are you doing out here anyway?’

‘Don’t even ask.’

‘You know, it’s not a very sensible idea, Jen, going for late-night walks by yourself,’ he scolded. ‘Not when you know there’s a killer on the loose.’

Jennifer raised a questioning brow.

‘You’re out here.’

‘Yeah, but I have to run. Besides, I don’t think I’m in any imminent danger.’ He stared at the floor, avoiding looking at her face. Jennifer didn’t need him to spell out what he was thinking. Bryan Waller didn’t have anything to worry about for the time being because he fell further down on the wanted list.