Chapter 23: Adam's story

…

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Normally when Adam woke, the first thing to rise was his cock. He was usually in fact, woken by his own erection. Talk about rise and shine! Not today though. Today, the thing which was rising incredibly fast before he'd even got out of bed, was his temper. It was always simmering under the surface, his anger and hatred towards women, like a heavy metal soundtrack of rage and fury no one but he could hear.

This morning though, there were two actual reasons for his anger. The first was the message in front of him on his phone screen. How fucking dare she. Not only had they actually taken Danielle's… His, physical credit card from his wallet when he'd been arrested, thanks to that grass Nigel, nosey bastard should've minded his own business. But now it seemed they'd also closed the bank account. He'd never call it hers. He couldn't access his, yes his money. Danielle was his property, so it stood to reason that anything which came with her was also his, including any money she had. But the damn stupid authorities called it "domestic abuse against women." What a load of bullshit. Women were property to men and that was all there was to it.

When he got to her again, he'd make her suffer for this. It would be a when, he was determined on that. He was paying enough to track his property, so he should be able to use the money which came with her to pay for it. He was blaming her entirely for this. God he wished he was in government. He'd ban women from being judges for a start, hell they wouldn't even be allowed jobs full stop. They'd stay at home while the men worked, cook their dinner and be there for their man to fuck after a long, stressful day working. That was her duty. Women belonged beneath men in every sense of the word, including in bed. He felt himself smile a little at that thought. Things would've been totally different for bitches under his regime. But unfortunately, it would never happen. Even he knew that much. So if he couldn't make it law country wide, it would certainly be in his personal life and he'd fuck any bitch who dared challenge him for this, and physically fuck over any men who did likewise.

He'd thought it was a good thing he'd written down the bank details before his arrest. He'd hidden the piece of paper in his flat and named them as his details, obviously as they were. The pigs hadn't taken it. Now he understood why. It didn't matter. They'd fucking closed it! Probably one of those fucking quacks at Smith's Grove Nut house, or that bitch of a judge.

The second thing angering him was his man inside Smith's Grove, who was getting paid a shit load of his money to report on his belonging. But now he was claiming he couldn't hear a word she said. He believed her cell had been modified specifically to stop him doing so. Adam didn't believe it, but neither could he disprove it. Now ok. If Michael Myers had indeed been on his case, Adam would be fleeing himself. He couldn't lie about that. He remembered his words on the phone. "It could be Michael fucking Myers…" Now, he wasn't so sure. Michael Myers was indeed the one man who scared Adam shitless. If he saw that pale, deathly white mask, Adam Dawson would be running a mile. But the very thought of him caring about Danielle Hayward was fucking humorous. Hell, Hilarious. He'd kill her as soon as look at her, as he did with everyone he met. Or at least he had until he was locked up in the asylum. Adam would applaud him if he took a leaf out of Chancer's book and only killed women. It was the fact he killed anyone which scared Adam the most. Not to mention he was unstoppable, indestructible and the most dangerous killer Adam had ever known. Adam was sure there was something supernatural about him. There had to be. Surely.

Adam finally got out of bed, pulling on his work clothes of jeans and a slightly ripped shirt. They'd get dirtier anyway so there was no point wearing clean ones. He worked as a handyman, doing various jobs. For men only of course. Or on the rare occasion it was a woman, she had to be incredibly good looking and agree to pay him with sex and double the price he'd charge a man. Some of the stupid bitches were so desperate to get the work done they agreed. In spite of all this though, Adam always did his best at any job, got it done properly. But this had nothing to do with her. It was purely for his reputation. That was as important to him as his cock.

Today though, he was working for a man about a half hour's drive away. Adam had worked for him before and he was ok for a little small talk. He had a dripping tap in his bathroom along with a few other small problems. One of which was his wife. Adam smirked to himself. Now his cock did become erect. Fuck she was one gorgeous bitch. He'd fuck her any day. He didn't know her name, but he didn't need to know that to fuck her. That thought made him stop. He lay back on his sofa and wrapped his hand around his painfully hard cock, masturbating as he imagined his hand was her vagina. He just had time to grab some tissues before he ejaculated.

As he checked his work van ten minutes later making sure all his tools were present and correct, he found himself thinking back to Danielle Hayward and Michael Myers. What an unlikely pairing. He didn't even know if they were on the same ward in that loony bin or had even met. He knew Danielle had long ago Googled the masked killer and couldn't for the life of him understand why. Hoping he'd kill Adam probably. Dream on bitch, he thought, amused. He'd kill you just on principal you blind cow.

While he started the van's engine and pulled out of his driveway, he found his thoughts wandering back to his old man. During his childhood, he'd always been taught by his father to hate women. Lisa Dawson was no exception to that rule. He'd only married her to make her think she was safe. Apparently marriage had topped her list. So stupidly easy. Adam had seen the countless times they'd had visitors round and his mother would be sitting dutifully beside his father in her best dress, Edward in his best suit and tie, nodding, laughing and smiling on cue, speaking only when a visitor addressed her. It was clear most people thought she was just shy. This made sense considering in public her father looked like the loving husband. He'd hold her hand, pour her drinks, and act like he adored her. But behind closed doors, that was another story. She called him Sir, did exactly what he said day or night, just as Adam had tried to teach Danielle and Charlotte to do.

Living the life of a young misogynist hadn't been easy. He'd had to fight against the law several times. But Edward was his role model. He wanted his father to be proud of him. So for this he'd do whatever he had to. His father's praise, love and attention meant everything to him. He couldn't give a fuck what his mother thought. As a woman, her thoughts and views meant nothing to him and were in fact, irrelevant.

His first most vivid memory was of him at school aged 12. Some bitch of a young girl had dared to turn her back on him when he was eyeing up her tits. This act of defiance and disobedience had infuriated Adam and he'd grabbed her by her pony tail, swinging her back around and grabbing her tits in punishment. He hadn't intended to touch, just look. But she'd pissed him off. Who did that bitch think she was?

Most unfortunately for him, two of the bitch's friends had been hiding just around the corner and had seen the whole thing. The girl hadn't stopped crying for hours. Adam found out later, from the police of course that he'd given her bruises. Her two friends had run straight to a teacher and told him what Adam had done. Adam, following his father's previous advice, "act like you know hating women is wrong and you don't know what they're talking about," had at first categorically denied it, but when they'd challenged again and again had finally snapped.

"What the fuck? She's a girl. It's my right to look at and touch her tits if I want to! She shouldn't have turned away then while I was getting my eye full! That was her fault!"

This, of course, had been the wrong answer. Within the hour, he was being driven home in the back of a police car to his parents. The stern faced officers told Edward and Lisa what he'd done. Edward of course acted like he was very sorry, saying "Adam, son, you can't do that. That's wrong." But Adam knew him too well. He could hear the pride and glee in his old man's voice. Lisa of course was totally silent. Adam could see the police officers watching her closely. Had they twigged she was treated the same way as Adam had spoken about his victim? Shit. If so, that was bad. But they left a little later, seemingly taking no action. As soon as they were gone, his father had slapped his mother round the face for good measure and growled, "You'll get seen too later bitch." Even though she'd stayed perfectly silent throughout the police visit. Adam couldn't help himself and had laughed.

Edward had then put his son in his Jaguar and driven him to his favourite pizza restaurant. Once in the privacy of the vehicle, he'd given voice to his real, true feelings. "Well done my son! I'm so proud of you! Bitch undoubtedly deserved it! No woman turns away while we're eyeing up her tits. You were right to do what you did. This is your treat. Keep it up!"

Adam had stuffed himself silly that night and felt like his father's king. He'd hardly ever felt happier. If this was what it took to get his father's praise and love, so be it. He'd do it every day of the week; the law and pigs be damned.

That was how things went on for the next few years. But Adam was more careful. He never actually touched a girl again. Instead, he made sexist remarks and jabs, only ever picked boys to pair up with and made sure the girls came last in class activities whenever he could. The times he wouldn't be detected in fixing it by a teacher that was. Small, but it was something. He'd also make lude suggestions to girls he liked. Oh purely sexually of course, not as people. Girls he wanted to fuck as he entered his teens. Girls often reported him to teachers for sexism, but as he hadn't actually assaulted any of them, there was nothing the idiot teachers could do. Adam was surprised the police weren't also told, but glad. They'd put two and two together and make four immediately given his history.

But then, Adam had finally gone too far. When he was 16 a stunning blonde had joined his class, and Adam knew no questions asked he was fucking her, end of story. He'd asked her to come with him behind the bike sheds and in to the deserted woodland beyond. He'd deliberately been nothing but nice to her up to this point, so she had no reason to suspect him. Even if she had been warned about the fact he was a blatant misogynist by the other girls, she'd clearly disbelieved or ignored it. That suited Adam just fine.

In his school bag that morning, he'd carefully packed a flick knife and a couple of condoms. He'd lost his virginity before of course, but consensually. Or at least that's what the girls had thought. In truth, things would have got very nasty for them if they'd refused him. But this? Oh no. This time, he was having her whether she wanted it or not. No pretending to ask this time. His father hadn't asked what he was planning, but Adam had seen his old man's smirk as he'd left the house. His mother was nowhere to be seen since she'd made them breakfast. Probably in bed waiting to get fucked, Adam had thought with glee.

So that day, she'd followed him in to the woodland. Adam had pretended he just needed to talk to her about something up to this point. But as soon as they were alone, he'd pulled out his flick knife and put it to her throat. Fake niceties were over.

"If you scream," he'd said. "I'll slit your fucking throat, bitch. I'm going to fuck you and if you're a good little whore, I'll let you go afterwards. If you're not and you struggle, you die. Do you understand?"

He didn't give her the chance to answer. He just forced her to the damp ground, unzipped his school trousers, lowered his pants and knelt over her, unzipping hers. He wouldn't use the knife unless he had to. As he put on his condom, climbed on top of her and rammed his rock hard cock in to her tight pussy, he could hear her trying desperately not to scream with fear and pain. But he kept the knife at her throat as he began to thrust inside her and all that came out were little whimpers of pure terror. I'll say this for her she's gorgeous, Adam thought as he ruthlessly fucked the girl beneath him. That was where women belonged. Beneath men in every sense of the word, including during sex. He grabbed and fondled her tits through her bra as he did so, not being gentle. He was sure hers would bruise too, unless her clothing protected them. But as he finally felt himself come, his orgasm was so intense he bit the side of her neck, unable to stop himself. Now she did scream as he drew blood. Shit! He hadn't meant to do that.

Within hours, the police were at his house and this time there was no leniency, no slap on the wrist. His mother was once again silent and most unfortunately, this time had a black eye. Within minutes, Adam and Edward were both handcuffed and arrested, despite Lisa insisting she'd fallen over. The police, rightly, didn't buy it.

Adam sighed now as he thought of the rape trial. Juvenal court had been terrible and was somewhere he'd hoped never to go to again. So much for that. Adult court had women judges after all for fuck's sake! The male judge glaring down at him and outright calling him an "evil misogynist in the making," had got to Adam more than he cared to admit to anyone. He was sent to a young offenders detention centre for two years and his father was given twenty years in prison for a long history of so-called domestic violence against Lisa. Who, of course, fled the country as soon as they were safely locked up?

If Adam was honest, thinking about these things sixteen years later at the age of 32, he'd like nothing better than to go find his bitch of a mother and show her that men were still in charge, nothing had changed wherever she lived. He'd even fuck her if he had to, to make his point. She might think she was safe, he wanted to be the one to show her how wrong she was. Like father, like son.

He'd recently visited his old man in prison and Edward Dawson had looked tired, pale with the pallor which only comes with long incarceration. Adam had told his father about his time in detention. They'd sensibly done everything they could to keep women away from him. Just as well for them. Adam had slowly climbed up the inside ranks, until just before his eventual release eight years later, he was one of the top dogs. No one messed with him. Where as in the beginning he'd suffered beatings. He'd soon put them to rights and showed those idiot boys why they should and did in the end, fear him.

He remembered the social worker, (male of course,) who'd spoken to him to try to understand why he felt this way about women. At least they hadn't tried to give him a female one. He'd have badly hurt the bitch if they had. Security or no security.

"Why do you hate women so much?" The man had asked. Adam couldn't remember his name now. He'd just shrugged.

"Because my father did," he'd replied. "It's the way things should be. Women are second class to us men," he'd winked at the social worker as if to say, I know you agree really. The man had shown no emotion at all. Dick. He probably had a wife, adored her and thought Adam was an "evil little misogynist," just as the judge in court did who'd sentenced him to here in the first place. Instead, the man who'd introduced himself as a social worker, but who Adam strongly suspected was actually a fucking Psychologist, just looked at him in silence for a moment.

"So," he'd said eventually. "You believe that just because your father does, you need to do the same? You do realise that view is illegal? The rape you're here for aside, which of course is also illegal, treating women as second class citizens is against the law in this country."

Thinking about it now, he believed and always had, that other countries had the right idea. The ones where women had to have a male guardian and couldn't do anything without his consent. If Adam had his way it'd be the same in America too. They wouldn't be able to open bank accounts, drive, or even marry without their male guardians say so and agreement. Those guys had it absolutely right. Damn American law!

"Women are equal to men," the Psychologist had said and Adam had wanted to punch him. Patronising git. "We are all humans, Adam. Before you are released, your views have to change, or you'll end up in prison for real before you know what's happening to you."

Adam had just smirked at the arrogant idiot. "You'll have to work fucking hard," he'd snarled. "Women exist to be fucked and to cook for men and do whatever men tell them. Change my views? When hell freezes over twat!"

The guy hadn't reacted, but Adam knew his reports on him weren't good and this was only proven when his early release hearing was instantly rejected, even though he of course said all the right things in front of the board. He was sorry, he'd never treat women that way again. But it did no good and his sentence was extended to five years. Adam was furious. Clearly he'd have to lie, pretend his views had in fact changed, that women were indeed equal to men, even if the very thought made him feel sick with anger and hatred. Not in his life they fucking weren't, and never would be for that matter!

His mother had of course as soon as they were locked up, given a full statement to the police, including the day Adam had assaulted that bitch who'd dared turn away as he was eyeing up her tits. How she strongly suspected Edward had taken him out for a meal that night, secretly very proud of his crime. She told them all about the abuse. Having to call Edward Sir, be there when he wanted sex day or night, cook, and do as she was told and so on.

She'd also much to Adam's anger, disclosed how he was turning Adam in to a Misogynist just like himself. She begged the police to help him before it was too late, work with him to change his views and feelings towards women.

As Adam finally drew up outside the house he was about to work in, he laughed out loud at that memory. The pigs and quacks had told him some of what his mother had said, her number one wish was that he was helped and she apparently loved him. Total bullshit! The bitch was probably terrified of him and was saying this to save herself from his justified anger. Well if he ever found her again, Correction, when he found her again, he'd show her there was no chance of any of that. He'd show her just how little his feelings towards women had changed, IE not at all, and that she was as much a bitch as the rest of them. Just how much he hated her, his mother or not. He'd never love any woman for as long as he lived.

…

++When the harsh buzzing of the breakfast bell echoed through the block at 7, Derek Chancer stood up, feeling distinctly unrested. Blinking his eyes tiredly, he picked up his iPod from the bedside table, turned it off and on again as he'd been instructed. Within seconds, the music and fake workout aps reappeared on screen. Derek knew he had to be careful, but his curiosity was too much. He had to know if it would work now or not. Raising the iPod, he pointed it towards Hayward's cell. But there was only silence. Bugger! It seemed he would have to wait until later in the day to see if the update had done any good. Sighing, he slowly pulled on his uniform and awaited the arrival of the guards who'd shackle and take him to breakfast.

…

Danielle stirred slowly when the breakfast bell sounded, wondering at first if she had indeed been given pills. She'd slept well enough to have done, like a log actually. But then she felt Michael's arms still tight around her and smiled. Who needed pills? Michael Myers helped her sleep just fine. How ironic! Seeing as he would've once put her in an everlasting sleep, death.

"Morning Michael," she gave him a tired smile. The killer then did something Danielle would never have expected. He wiggled his left ear, the one her hand had been against all night.

Danielle burst out laughing. "No way! You did not just do that. Please do it again?" The killer did so.

"Damn!" Danielle giggled. "You shouldn't have shown me you can do that; you'll never hear the end of it, pun intended. I love people who can do that! I wish I could! I find it hilarious if I'm honest!" In your case fucking sexy to boot, she didn't add. The killer softly chuckled and wiggled his ear again.

A few minutes later, one of the guards opened their hatch. Danielle didn't recognise his voice, having not heard it before. "Hi Danielle, my name is Jeff Ellis. I'm one of the new guards, so you won't have heard my voice before. I only started last week; this is my first early shift. Mel's with me, tutoring me."

"Hey Danielle, Michael," Mel said. Danielle had been told how new guards were tutored one to one for a month when they first started, then from a distance for another month. If everything was fine, Dr Loomis or one of the other senior doctors signed them off their probation period. Jeff sounded nervous. Was it of Michael? Danielle couldn't and wouldn't blame him if so. She'd been scared of him when they'd first met. But now…

She loved him.

"Hi Jeff," she said with a smile. "I'm not that scary I promise. Mel can vouch for that."

Mel laughed. "You are when you use that cane as a weapon," she said.

"Only if justified," Danielle grinned.

"Well," Jeff said quietly. "I'm here to tell you Dr Loomis has said you two can have breakfast in here if you want privacy. We've already got your order Danielle and Jordan's gone to get it. Mr. … Mr. Myers, what would you like?"

So Danielle had been right in her assumption. It was the killer he was nervous of. No crime there, she thought. Everyone is.

She heard the rustle of paper and guessed the killer had been handed a piece and a pencil. A few seconds later, Ellis said "sure Mr. Myers, just a moment." Then he was gone, Mel along with him.

"I think he's scared of you Michael," Danielle said quietly. "No crime there, everybody is."

Michael pulled her in to his arms and held her close tightly. Danielle smiled at him. "I know what you're asking," she said softly in to his ear. "I'm… Getting to the point where I'm not."

Michael placed her hands against both his ears this time and wiggled them. Danielle genuinely giggled. God it felt good. She couldn't remember, prior to her banter with Jack, the last time she'd really laughed properly. Shortly afterwards, the two guards returned with the food. Jack must've said something about what Danielle had said regarding it not being hot, she thought. As her scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and hash browns were piping hot and gorgeous. So was Michael. Her desk was big enough for them both to sit side by side as they ate. The guards brought in a plastic chair which Danielle took. Sitting there made her think about what she was longing to tell Michael. This was hardly a romantic way or time to do it, but she wanted to talk to Dr Stark about it, see what could be arranged.

She knew Smith's Grove wouldn't be able to fix a romantic meal for two, probably too many security risks, but could Dr Stark perhaps do something? Even if it was them eating in her cell just as they were now?

To Danielle, the realisation that she loved Michael Myers deserved something special when she told him. After all she'd been through, she wanted it partly for herself she couldn't lie about that, but also to show him she was serious in her words. She loved him. The killer would never have felt love before either, so she wanted to prove she meant every word she said to him. So when Scott arrived to take Danielle to her session, she knew what she was going to talk about today.

…

Once Derek Chancer returned from breakfast and was alone in his cell, he once again picked up his iPod, turned it on and pointed it in the direction of Hayward's cell, putting the earphones in his ears. This time, he heard something and listened as hard as he could. It was definitely Hayward's voice, but it was muffled. He could only hear her voice, not her words. Shit.

He restarted the iPod again and retried. Same result. He could hear she was talking, but her actual words were indistinguishable. After an hour of fruitless trying, he texted his employers again.

The update hasn't really worked. Did it update? Because now, I can hear her voice, but I can't make out a word she's saying. It's just really muffled. Please help? D.

A few seconds later, the iPod gave out its fake alarm clock sound. Furious, Chancer answered the call.

"Relax," drawled a voice he didn't recognise, but the laid back tone just made him angrier. "But I'm afraid in that case, you'll have to speak, to tell our client. If we say it he'll think we're lying."

Before Chancer could text back he'd refused to speak, he heard the ringing sound. Those fucking bastards. They'd just put him through to Dawson without any warning or waiting for his consent. Shit.

…

As Adam held a screwdriver between his teeth by the handle and started twisting the tap to find the drip, he once again thought about Danielle meeting Michael Myers. He imagined her trying to touch the killer's ears as she had his and nearly laughed out loud. The idea was so ridiculous it was funny. Myers would kill the blind bitch if she even attempted it. Sure, Adam had let her touch his ears at first, he'd had to. To convince her he loved her, false sense of security as it were. That was the reason he'd also whistled. That'd been another thing Edward had taught him. "Pretend to love her at first. Be kind, do whatever she wants, make her think you're her Mr. Perfect. Then, either once you're married or she's moved in with you, let your true self out son! Bang! She won't know, literally, what's hit her. You probably. Especially if she disobeys you."

Privately though, Adam had absolutely detested having his ears touched and couldn't wait until he could make her stop. God help her if she tried to touch his ears now a days. Not that she would of course. She hated and feared him. Excellent. She'd told him once that he had "nice ears." What the fuck? They were ears. Plain and simple. Nothing "nice" about them. She had a pair of ears too for fuck's sake! She should just touch her own! Maybe if he got his way someday he'd cut hers off. That'd serve her right.

When Adam had entered the house, his client's wife had been there on her own. Adam immediately felt himself become erect again. Dam it! If he knew for certain the guy wouldn't come back, he'd fuck her right now. But he couldn't take the risk. Another so-called rape on his record would not be good for him. Her husband could catch him, or she'd call the pigs herself. So instead he simply followed her up to the bathroom, nodding as she told him about the tap and the other issues his client had asked him to fix. "Ok," Adam said in his most charming voice. "Of course madam."

You don't know what you're talking about bitch, he thought. That's probably why your husband texted me the details. Women don't have a clue about work stuff. It's a man's territory. Women belong in food, fucking and obedience. They should just stop fucking trying to pretend otherwise and accept it! They obviously don't like the truth.

As he continued working, he did indeed hear the front door slam minutes later. Just as well he hadn't tried to fuck the guy's wife.

"Honey I'm home," he heard his client shout. He felt sick. God! So he loved the bitch? Yuck! Why didn't most men realise women's real place? He was probably pussy whipped.

A short while later, his client came up to see how he was getting on. Adam had by now fixed the tap and was moving on to the cracked bath panel.

"You might need a plumber to look at this," he said to his client. "I can fix it, but you might want to get it checked properly by a trained plumber."

"No worries," the guy said, nodding. "Can I offer you a drink?"

"No thanks man, your wife did when I arrived." As she should, he thought. It's her duty as a woman after all. Even if you can't see that, idiot.

Adam sighed as he moved through the list of small jobs the guy had paid for him to do. He couldn't know for sure Danielle had met Michael Myers. But that was the problem. He had to be sure. But how? He knew it would take something clever, something which could not in any way shape or form be traced back to him. Ok, so this would take planning, which he knew he couldn't do while working. So when he got home tonight, he'd have to have a good long think about it. He decided then and there that just for tonight he wouldn't order a prostitute. Instead, he'd order a nice meal and while he ate it, he'd make his plans. He had only one mission in mind. To completely destroy Danielle Hayward's life before he killed her. No failed attempt this time, a knife straight through her throat. He already had vague ideas forming in his head, but he needed to sit down and actually work on them.

He'd heard rumours in and out of detention that the girl he'd fucked at 16 had spent months in hospital, traumatised and now suffered from severe PTSD. Afraid of men and didn't trust them. Adam smirked as he thought of her. Ok he'd had to pay a heavy price for that fuck, which they called rape, fucking bullshit, but God it had been worth it! He'd done more damage to her than probably anything or anyone else could in her life. Now, a decade and a half later, it was Danielle Hayward's turn. What was more, this time she wouldn't attempt suicide, and she'd be murdered. By him if he could help it.

He'd just turned off his electric screwdriver having secured the heated towel rail back to the wall, when his phone rang.

…

"Hello?" Dawson's voice said in Derek Chancer's ears. "Dawson?"

"Mr. Dawson," Chancer spoke in just above a whisper. If the microphones were as strong as those fuckers claimed, he should have no problem hearing him. "It's Derek Chancer in Smith's Grove. Bad news my friend. I think they've soundproofed her cell. I can't hear a word she's saying. I reported this and they apparently updated my software making the microphones stronger, but even with the update, it hasn't made any difference at all. Well, except I can now hear her voice, but not her words. I'm sorry."

"Then you need to keep trying!" Adam snapped. "You're getting paid enough!"

"I can't," Chancer said. "Not unless they can give me better software somehow. I don't think they'll get away with bringing an iPad or something in. I only just got away with the iPod. They're watching me Mr. Dawson. An iPad would ring every alarm bell in the place!"

There was silence, then Adam shouted, "FUCK!"

"Listen," Chancer said very quietly. "I'm on your side. I'd kill the bitch if I could, after I'd fucked her of course. So believe me, lying to you is the last thing I'd do. I want to hear what she says too. So I promise, I'm not making this up. I also need the money."

After another short pause, Dawson sighed and spoke again. "Well you can have the money you're owed so far from me purely because you kill and fuck women. Good man! Thank you! You're a man I really respect and would love to meet. When you get out of there, can we arrange it? I'll help you in any way I can! Financially, or whatever else you need, in your mission to fuck and kill more bitches!"

Chancer sneered. The guy was a fucking ammeter. Ok he was a misogynist there was no doubting that, but Derek doubted Dawson would actually be able to kill a woman. If he could, why wasn't Hayward dead already? Why had she even got here? As if reading his mind, Dawson spoke again.

"I tried; you know. To kill Danielle. She attempted suicide because I was quote abusing her, total bullshit! Fucking pussies won't make it law! God I wish they would! Women are second class to men but the powers that be are too cowardly or stupid to make it law! I had a machete that day. I was trying to finish her off with it. But she got in to my garage too fast and when I saw she was hanging so would die anyway, I locked the door. But God help me Mr. Chancer. If I'd got to her in time, that machete would've been straight through her throat. I had to pretend I was trying to get through the door because my fucking neighbour saw everything. I still got arrested. I'm serious, man. You can have the money you've made so far just for killing bitches. I'm also serious when I say please can I meet you someday? You're one of my idols."

Chancer felt his sneer intensify. Underneath it though, part of him couldn't deny Dawson's words and flattery felt good. He felt like a celebrity with a fan desperate to shake his hand or get his autograph. He decided he'd humour the rich guy. Especially if he was offering to help him financially when he got out! Now he'd offered, he sure as fuck wasn't taking it back. Not if he wanted to stay alive at any rate. Chancer killed women admittedly. But he could and would certainly make an exception to his usual rule and kill a man if he'd been lied to, named Adam Dawson.

"Ok," he said eventually. "We'll meet up when I get out of here. You can't visit me in here for obvious reasons."

Oh Adam knew what the "obvious reasons" were alright. His fucking bitch was also on that ward. If he came in to Smith's Grove even to visit Chancer, he'd be accused by that bitch of a judge of breaching his order. "Yeah," he said bitterly. "Don't I fucking know it?"

"Sorry," Chancer apologised. He wasn't really sorry at all. "But yes. When I get out of here I'll meet up with you for a drink or something."

"Awesome, thanks."

"So what do you want me to do about the here and now?" Chancer asked. "I honestly can't hear a word she says."

Adam felt his anger soften towards the other man. True he was angry the quacks had made such a stupid, all be it clever move to modify his bitches cell, but that wasn't Derek Chancer's fault, a man Adam Dawson had idolised for years given that Chancer was ten years older than him. He sighed softly.

"Just keep trying Mr. Chancer. Can you? I don't mean all the time but if and when you can?" Adam kept his voice reasonable and he genuinely wasn't angry with Chancer. Danielle though, that was another story.

"I totally understand where you're coming from re getting a new piece of surveillance equipment in after what happened with the iPod. I'm sorry about that."

Chancer snorted. "Fucking Dr Loomis. I was in an interrogation cell for three fucking hours. Fucking cold and claustrophobic and there were guards all over me."

"I'm sorry," Adam said again. He meant it. Chancer made a dismissive sound. "Not your fault. Just keep fucking and hating women for me ok?"

"You're on," Adam said with a grin. He felt a strong bond with the notorious woman killer. They were united in their single aim. To get rid of the female sex. But then Derek Chancer spoke again, and Adam felt himself falling fast back to earth, his excitement fading.

"Listen Mr. Dawson. I have to warn you. For your sake as much as mine. It's not only because of the problems with the iPod that I'm struggling to continue with the job. It's because of who is protecting Danielle Hayward."

"Who?" Adam asked.

"Only the one man who scares everyone shitless," Chancer said. "The man who wears a deathly pale mask and kills anyone he comes across without hesitation. Well, except Danielle, it seems."

This time, Adam was forced to listen. Was it really, truly Michael Myers who was protecting her? If it was… He took a deep breath.

"Are you serious?" He knew it was a stupid question but he just had to ask it. "You honestly, truthfully mean Michael Myers?"

"I do," Chancer replied. "I mean Michael Myers."

Shit! Shit! Michael Myers was protecting Danielle Hayward. Bad! It also meant there was only one thing he could do. It'd been what he had already considered, but now Chancer had just confirmed Danielle was indeed being protected by the masked killer, it made his idea much more straight forward and easier to accomplish.

"Mr. Chancer," he said after a moment. "I've got a plan. Can I run it passed you? Michael Myers is indeed the one man who scares me shitless. In which case, I need to try and stop him protecting her. I think I know exactly how I'll attempt it. There's no way he'll do so after this."

"Ok," Chancer said quietly. "Run it passed me. I'm all ears."

Adam felt his anger at Danielle rise further with the ears reference, and was sure Chancer had used it on purpose. This was only confirmed when he heard Chancer snicker.

"Stupid bitch," the woman killer said. "She loves ears. What the fuck? She'd be dead before she got anywhere near my fucking ears!"

Adam laughed out loud. "I couldn't agree with you more. Of course I had to let her touch mine at first, false security and all that, but now, I'd fucking fuck and kill her if she even tried to touch my ears!"

"Good man after my own heart," Chancer said. "But come on, I probably don't have long before the screws come back to check on me. So run it passed me quickly. What are you thinking?"

As quickly as he could, Adam started to speak, spelling out his plan.