Chapter 26: Adam's revenge

…

Dr Loomis walked back in from the yard and was about to head to his office, when a receptionist called to him. Dr Stark was currently in with the women and he was now giving Michael some space. "Sir?"

Dr Loomis turned. "Yes?"

"There's a young man to see you," the receptionist said. "Name's Alex Sparks. He's in the visitor's centre waiting to speak to you."

Dr Loomis raised his eyebrows. He normally preferred to be forewarned of visitors, it wasn't often they just turned up. "Ok, thanks Sally."

Turning, he headed out of the ward and towards the visitor's centre. Visitors had to show ID and submit to a search, so there was plenty of security. Clearly, this guy's details had matched.

When Dr Loomis entered the centre, he immediately saw a young man sitting alone in one of the chairs. He looked… there was no other word for it. Nervous. Uneasy. Afraid? Dr Loomis walked over to him.

"Alex Sparks?"

The young man nodded, but didn't meet the doctor's eyes. "Can I talk to you?" His voice too was quiet, as if he was making a concerted effort not to be heard. "In," he swallowed. Dr Loomis noticed the gesture. He's nervous. "In private, I mean?"

"Yes, of course," Dr Loomis said, leading the man in to one of the offices in the centre specifically for this purpose.

Once the door was closed, Dr Loomis looked at his visitor. The man was now sweating, his forehead was damp. He still couldn't make eye contact with Dr Loomis. "No… no one can hear us, right?"

"No," Dr Loomis assured him. "The door is sound proof. We have total privacy. How can I help you?"

"Sir, Dr Loomis, please just hear me out?"

"Of course. You have the floor."

The man took a deep breath. The expression on his face was of a man walking up to the gallows. He looked terrified, as if he thought Dr Loomis was about to shoot him or something. His Adam's apple visibly moved as he swallowed again once, twice. He practically screamed SCARED! Dr Loomis didn't press him, just waited and after a minute, the man spoke, his voice still very low.

"Sir, Dr Loomis, my name isn't in fact Alex Sparks. I was sent here by… by someone to visit one of your patients. I was to use this name to see them. I was to pass on a message to that patient."

"I see." Dr Loomis said, keeping his voice neutral. He glanced at the man in front of him, then the ID round his neck. If his security had failed him, someone would pay with their job! But even from here the doctor could see they looked very alike. Whoever had sent him in, and Dr Loomis had a very good idea who, had clearly planned this carefully. Just like the letter.

"Based on this then I'm going to assume you are not going to tell me your real name. May I ask which patient you were supposed to visit?"

"Danielle Hayward," the man almost whispered. Dr Loomis felt his anger rise. So he'd been right.

"I see." He said again. "What were you supposed to say? What is this message?"

"I…" the young man turned away, unable to look at Dr Loomis now. He didn't speak, but picked up a piece of paper and wrote on it, handing it to Dr Loomis once he was done.

WATCH YOUR BACK. ADAM WANTS YOU. YOU ARE HIS AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT. NO MATTER WHO TRIES TO PROTECT YOU, EVEN MICHAEL MYERS WON'T SUCCEED!

Dr Loomis read the message and nodded. The young man was sweating profusely now and was deathly pale. He almost looked like Michael's infamous mask.

"But I couldn't do it," he was speaking faster now, as if desperate to get his words out now that part was over. "I can't trick a blind woman Sir; I don't have the conscience to do it. If… If they knew I was here now talking to you, warning you, it'd… It'd be well, bad."

"Which I acknowledge and know what this must've taken you," Dr Loomis said, his voice gentle now. "We can take measures to protect you too."

"You can't," the guy looked close to panic now. "I have to get back and tell them I've passed the message on. If I don't…"

"Am I to assume then it wasn't Adam? But someone higher up the criminal chain?"

"I… I can't say!"

Dr Loomis took from that that he was probably right. Adam had probably ordered him to do it, but he had to report to a very dangerous higher up. Whoever was controlling the person watching her, perhaps? Dr Loomis flashed back to Chancer and his so-called iPod. He was seriously considering asking the techs to have another look at it, whatever they or Chancer might say. His alarm bells were still ringing, and loudly.

…

An hour later, Dr Loomis was once again in his office about to go and see Michael again, when the news flashed up on his TV screen. He looked up and felt a chill in his stomach.

Unknown male found deceased at side of highway, the headline said. If anyone knows this male's name, please contact the local police immediately. He was found deceased half an hour ago, badly beaten and with severe head trauma. It was a very nasty attack and we believe the male would've suffered a lot of pain in the minutes before his death. We are putting this out this quickly because we need to identify this male as a matter of urgency.

Dr Loomis felt a wrench in his heart. He knew what'd happened without having to think too hard. This was murder. Planned, meditated, murder. And he knew why it'd happened. Because the man currently on his screen, was the very same one who'd stood in front of him terrified, just an hour before. He'd died for his actions and warning. No wonder he'd been so afraid. Dr Loomis bowed his head.

"Rest in peace stranger," he said softly before leaving his office. "And thank you. Your brave actions and warning will not be in vain. You have my word."

…

From where Charlotte Avery was standing, there was only one way to resolve the shit Adam had tried to stir. She had to speak to Michael herself. She would wait as long as Dr Loomis asked if she had to, but by God she was going to do it before leaving. Hatred and anger consumed her for Adam which had nothing to do with the hell he'd put her through. Compared to what he was doing to her now, hers had been child's play. The son of a bitch was the one who was pure evil, maybe even more so than Myers. She had cracked some of Michael's shell, while she didn't think anyone would change Adam. She agreed with her. The death penalty was too good for him.

They were now sitting in the staff canteen with Joanne, sipping hot tea and eating breakfast. She still looked pale and wasn't eating much.

"Come on," Charlotte prodded her. "You need to eat something."

"I can't," her friend's face lacked most of its usual colour. "What if this is it? The end? If Michael truly believes I said that stuff, then… My suicide will have just been a dress rehearsal."

"We won't let it happen," Joanne said fiercely. "Not a chance."

"This woman talks sense," Charlotte said. "So listen. We'll make Adam fucking admit it to Michael's face if we have to!"

"Ha, he might not live long enough to do it."

"Well good. Precisely what I was thinking. But seriously Dan, don't worry. We'll make sure he somehow finds out the truth."

"Maybe I should've told him I love him sooner. Before…"

"Stop it!" Charlotte and Joanne said together. "You can't do that," Charlotte said firmly. "The what if or I wish games. They won't do you any good and you'll just drive yourself mad."

"Yes I know," she lowered her head in to her hands. "But shit! Adam's probably really got what he wants this time."

"I don't think so," Charlotte growled. "Over my dead fucking body!"

"Well said" Joanne nodded. Charlotte pushed the plate of food back to her friend.

"Eat. I'll force feed you if it comes to it."

"With me restraining you," Joanne threatened. She knew they weren't joking. She picked up her fork and tried to do as she was told.

…

"Someone must've followed him here!" Dr Stark stared at Dr Loomis in horror. "There's no other explanation."

The two doctors were standing in his office looking at the video footage of Dr Loomis' recent and now dead visitor. They were trying to identify him but they both knew it was an impossible task. For a start, they had no real name to go on. Just the fake one he'd given. Alex Sparks.

"You can see how terrified he is," Dr Stark continued. "I'm surprised he's not screaming."

Dr Loomis sighed. "I know. I tried to make him stay, said we'd help him any way we could, I could see how scared he was, he wasn't here of his own free will. He was under duress. But he wasn't a prisoner, I couldn't keep him here unless I had a reason to believe he was a danger to himself or someone else."

"Spare me the medical stuff," Dr Stark snapped. "I'm a doctor to, in case you've forgotten! You can't get in much more danger than he's dead half an hour after leaving can you? He couldn't have done this to himself! I logged in to our side of the police database and saw the pics! They're…" She swallowed. "Horrific, Sam. His head…" She stopped herself. "Well, it's bad. I'm guessing he was hit with something like a hammer. Nothing else would've caused injuries like that."

"I knew he was afraid of something, but I never suspected this…"

"Then maybe you should have! This was murder, Sam! Stone, cold, murder! If he was as scared as he looks," she jolted her head at the video screen. "Then surely your alarm bells rang?"

Dr Loomis held up his hands. "Gemma, I agree. I should've done things differently. But I never dreamed of murder. How do you think I feel? I feel like I'm partially to blame for this because I didn't act on my gut instincts."

Dr Stark softened slightly and looked at him properly. "No Sam," she said quietly. "You're not a murderer. Whoever killed him is to blame, not you. You're right. How were you to know? He'd just walked in to our reception."

Dr Loomis shook his head. "No. When he wrote me that message to her from Adam, I should've acted. I knew then who we were dealing with. Adam may not have murder on his record, but we both know he'd have killed her if given the chance. The machete, remember?"

Dr Stark nodded darkly. "All too well I'm sorry to say. But do you really think Adam did this? With all his conditions? Plus you called the police didn't you? They went to his house? Also, Adam lives nowhere near here."

Dr Loomis glared at the screen. "No, I don't think it was Adam himself, but I do think he got someone to follow our visitor. Somehow they knew he'd warned me instead of just passing on the threat to her like he was told to do and then get out."

"But how?" Dr Stark asked. "Some kind of recording bug? Surely our security would've picked that up?"

"I'd like to say yes, but you know how sophisticated the higher up criminal gangs are. They can probably produce bugs we'd never even think of, never mind see. I suggest we show the picture to Charlotte," Dr Loomis said after a moment's pause. "If anyone will know him she might."

"Good thinking," Dr Stark nodded. "But I also think one of us should go and speak to Michael, tell him what's happened. I strongly believe this and the letter are linked, just as you do."

Dr Loomis considered for a second then slowly nodded to his colleague. "Ok. I will. I'm his doctor and I need to… Uh, assess his state of mind before anyone else sees and talks to him, or gets too close."

Dr Stark nodded but made no comment, she didn't need to. They both understood what Dr Loomis meant. "Ok, I'll go and see Charlotte, show her this photograph. Meet you back here?"

"Ask Charlotte if she'll come back here. We'll show her in privacy. Ask Joanne to take Danielle for some air or something. Show her the photo and I'll meet you back here as soon as Michael and I are done. Ok?"

Dr Stark said nothing, just left the room. Although Sam Dr Loomis was trying to remain professional, detached from the case, his own anger was building. She didn't deserve any of this and now a man had died while in his own way trying to protect her. Adam Dawson knew no bounds and Dr Loomis would be privately happy when the son of a bitch was down for life.

…

"What, the, fuck?"

Adam knew he had to be careful, knew he was speaking to one of if not the most feared crime lord in America, but right then he was furious. This had gone way further than he'd ever intended. Not that he was sorry to hear the dwarf had died, but…

"I don't want murder on my fucking record, Sir," he added, with genuine acknowledgement of Chris Leach's authority. If he was honest, he couldn't believe the crime boss had even agreed to meet with him. Before formatting his phone, Adam had written down the number of the organisation working for him, memorised it, and then swallowed the piece of paper. He'd called it as soon as he'd got himself a cheap non traceable phone and asked to speak to someone face to face. To his surprise, leach himself was here. They were in the very internet café Adam had written and printed the letter from. Adam had assured Leach they were safe. That said, he wouldn't have been surprised if Leach also knew the owners. "Sir, Mr. Leach, why?"

"Oh Adam," Leach drawled, in the tone of voice of an impatient teacher trying to explain to a stubborn child that one plus one equalled two. "Don't you understand? He was a liability. We bugged him you see, and on your request may I remind you, followed him. There was a bug which was made to look like a boiled sweet in his bag. State of the art powerful, I might add. Their security would not have even seen it."

Leach pulled out a very realistic looking boiled sweet complete with wrapper and held it up so Adam could see it. "Starts recording as soon as we hit a button on one of our phones, each one has its own unique number. Anyway…" He then took out a digital recorder and pressed play.

"But I couldn't do it," I can't trick a blind woman Sir; I don't have the conscience to do it. If… If they knew I was here now talking to you, warning you, it'd… It'd be well, bad."

"Which I acknowledge and know what this must've taken you," said another voice, which could only have been Dr Loomis. "We can take measures to protect you too."

"You can't, I have to get back and tell them I've passed the message on. If I don't…"

"Am I to assume then it wasn't Adam? But someone higher up the criminal chain?"

"I… I can't say!"

"You see?" Leach pressed stop. "He was I repeat a liability, Adam. What else would you have had us do?"

"How the fuck did you guys know I was using him anyway? That I'd asked him to do this?"

"Now Adam." Leach now really did look at him as if he were stupid. Adam couldn't stop himself shrinking back in to his seat. Leach could have him killed too on a whim and with a click of his fingers, and Adam wasn't foolish enough to deny this fact. "Come on my friend, this is business. It's nothing personal. But we had to make sure you didn't double cross us in turn. You could just as easily have got cold feet and told the authorities you were having you're…" He paused. "Desired woman watched. We've been listening to your calls ever since you hired us."

Adam wanted to challenge this, but he didn't dare. Chris Leach and Michael Myers were the two men who Adam Dawson was truly afraid of and one of those men was sitting just across from him at a dirty café table. He didn't want to die today.

"You could've done the same," he'd said before he could stop himself.

Leach actually laughed. Adam understood the stupidity of his last statement. Leach was a feared crime lord, approaching the cops was not part of his plans.

"How can they possibly pin this on you?" Leach continued, still as if he were talking to a child. "We also know the pigs were at your house today, one of my men was watching the building. We know they have your phone and laptop. You were at your house when they arrived and where this individual was found deceased is about two and a half hours away from you. Relax."

"But they could link me by association!" Adam slammed his hand down on the wood. "Jesus man!" He took a breath. "Sir, Mr. Leach, I'm serious. They know I knew this guy, I made his life hell at college, bullied him relentlessly. It won't take a genius or police expert to work that much out! I guarantee he'll have reported it to the cops before now!"

"Well he can't tell them anything now," Leach gave a thin lipped smile. "Can he?"

"I'm already in some serious shit because of so-called domestic abuse, I can't have anything come back to me or I'm down! For life! But I own that fucking bitch and she seems to have forgotten that, insolent cunt! So I intend to remind her of this! Her and Avery!"

"Then think about it. Perhaps the fact someone has… Uh, passed, will help you in that endeavour. Even if she doesn't know it was definitely you're doing, she might suspect it and knowing someone has died will only make her fear worse."

Adam looked in to the crime lord's cold blue eyes and had to admit he had a point. He took a breath and swallowed. "You promise this murder will not come back on me?" He couldn't stop himself asking the question and knew Leach would mock him for it, but he had to be sure.

"Now why do you need me to tuck you in and give you your teddy? Tell you it was just a nightmare? Adam, you. Weren't. There!"

"His association to me though."

"For fuck's sake!" Leach snapped now and Adam physically recoiled. Damn this guy scared him. "Stop being such a fucking cry baby! What's done is done! If you don't like the way we handled your… business for you, take it up with us after we terminate your contract! I am far too busy to listen to you wet your pants in fear! Contrary to what you may think or believe, I can't perform miracles to keep you safe from the cops for life! If all you intend to do in this meeting is cry like a baby…" Leach made as if to stand. "Then you'll excuse me but I'm busy."

Adam felt a jolt of panic. He couldn't lose their work now. Not when he was this close to getting his hands on both of his bitches. "Sir, please Mr. Leach, I'm sorry. I just don't want to be behind bars for the rest of my life."

Adam knew Leach was one of the most feared men in the whole of the States. The authorities could never pin any of the dirty work itself on the man. Leach stayed in the shadows, pulling the strings, causing his puppets to dance to his tune. He was a leader, not a worker. When someone died, the authorities were sure Leach had authorised it, but was never found anywhere near the knife handle or gun trigger. Adam knew enough to know Chris Leach dabbled in everything. Drugs, prostitutes, firearms, knives, the works. He'd heard rumours even the police were afraid of him. That cold stare was just as bad as Myers' in its way. You saw it, you were probably either dead or your house was going to be burgled, you would be raped, robbed. If Leach had his eyes on you, you'd better run for the hills. Adam was very close to doing that very thing himself right now.

Leach slowly sat down again, his cold gaze never leaving Adam's face once. "I don't have time for this," he looked at his gleaming platinum Rolex. "If you're not finished, make it quick. I have places to be."

"I… I know," Adam stammered. "So I thank you for even meeting with me Sir. I didn't expect you yourself, I thought you'd send one of your… Henchman instead."

"I considered it," Leached lounged back in his seat. "But you do provide us with valuable and profitable business Adam, so I decided it couldn't hurt me to spend a little of my precious time hearing what you've got to say. Perhaps if I'd known then how weak you actually are, I might not have agreed to us taking your business."

Adam felt a twinge of anger, but quickly stifled it. Chris Leach was not someone who you shouted at and lived to tell about it afterwards. At the very least he'd get very badly beaten and that's if he was lucky.

"Anyway," Leach made a show of holding up his expensive Rolex again. It probably cost more than Adam's house. "Anything else Adam?"

"Will you still watch her for me? With your man on the inside?"

"Well," Leach said. "I think you know the answer to that. Depends if you keep paying. But we won't if you don't stop crying about the… Unfortunate incident today. We decided he had to die as part of doing business for you and we made that decision without your permission. Sorry if you throw your toys out of the pram as a result."

"But won't that cost me extra?" Adam blurted out and immediately wished he hadn't. If anything, it would just encourage the gang boss to do just that and charge him more. Sure enough, Leach appeared to be considering the question. Adam cursed himself. This had already cost him several thousand dollars of the money he'd saved, money his father had given him when he went to prison, and asking this would only make it worse.

"You get this one for free," Leach said after a moment. "He was a fucking small dwarf anyway. Who'll miss him? You'd have to crouch down to even see him! So no, not this time. But I will warn you now, if we have to conduct any further… Eliminations on your behalf, we'll have to charge you for the privilege."

"Of course," Adam said quickly. "I totally understand Mr. Leach Sir."

Adam couldn't hide his relief the crime lord had decided not to terminate his contract, for now at least. For a horrible moment there, he'd feared that'd been about to happen. For the first time in his life, Adam got a glimpse of how women must feel when they called him Sir and feared him. The power Leach had over him was exactly how they must feel. But this didn't soften him at all. That was just fine with him. It was a woman's place after all to be controlled by men. But he had to admit the feeling of helplessness wasn't something he wanted to feel again, not after experiencing it in this meeting for himself. Having to suck up to Leach out of fear of his very name, losing his organisations work and if he wasn't careful, his own life. The very fact Leach had constantly and casually addressed him as "Adam" when Adam wouldn't have dared call the other man Chris, only demonstrated the huge power gap between them. Adam might be the client, but he was at the bottom of this particular chain and Leach was making damn sure he knew as much.

"Mr. Leach," Adam said quietly. He wasn't sure what made him ask this question, but he had to know. "Would you ever want to meet Michael Myers?"

Leach appeared to be seriously considering the question. "Hmm," he said slowly. "You know Adam, if I could only persuade him not to kill me, or any of mine unless I asked him to, he would be a very valuable, great asset and weapon indeed."

Adam nodded. This was true. He sincerely hoped his letter had undone any chance she might have had of being protected by the masked killer. In as few words as possible so as not to test the crime lord's patience any further, he told leach what he had done. He wasn't exactly sure why he was telling him this, did he unconsciously want a little of the criminal boss's praise?

"Very inventive," Leach said when Adam was done. Adam knew that was all he was going to get.

"I want to try and stop him protecting her," Adam said. "He scares me, Mr. Leach."

Adam knew the other man would never admit it, but was sure Leach was scared of Myers too. But even if he'd said he wasn't, Adam wouldn't have believed him.

…

Samuel Loomis stepped out in to the exercise yard once more, and approached Michael. He was still standing perfectly still, attached to his concrete block.

"Michael?" Dr Loomis softly called the killer's name and immediately their eyes met and locked. "I need to talk to you," Dr Loomis continued. "Please will you come with me?"

Of course no response, but neither did the killer resist when the guards released him from his block and escorted him inside still in chains. Dr Loomis led them in to one of the therapy rooms, but he didn't open the security glass door for Michael to be taken through.

"Uh, Sir…" one of the guards began. "Shouldn't…"

"This is my session," Dr Loomis said briskly. "My decision, I can take it from here thank you gentlemen."

The guards stared at him incredulously, but their job was security, not the patient's welfare. So they unchained Michael in silence. Dr Loomis was the expert and their boss. "Does he have a fucking death wish?" One muttered as they reached the door. "Crazy, suicidal. You wouldn't catch me alone with Myers without chains."

Dr Loomis pointedly pressed the button to close the door, blocking the guards off. Internally though, he understood the guards concern and respected them for trying to do their jobs. But he had a panic button if needed and given previous interactions with Michael, didn't think it would be.

"Please will you take a seat?" Dr Loomis asked his patient. No orders here, they were equals in this room. Dr Loomis knew that was the only way to get through to Michael. Slowly, the silent killer did so. The doctor stepped over to the other side of the desk so they were opposite each other, not breaking eye contact.

"Michael, I need to tell you something. A rather… unfortunate event occurred today which all of us agree, or at least are sure Adam Dawson was behind." Dr Loomis was sure he saw Michael tense at the sound of Dawson's name. He nodded to the other man. "I know. That's why I needed to tell you. I think you deserve to know given… current events. Earlier this afternoon, a man entered the visitor's reception asking to see me. He gave me the name of Alex Sparks, later giving me strong reason to believe this wasn't in fact his real name, though he didn't confirm this. He wrote me this. Dr Loomis handed Michael the piece of paper the now deceased man had written him.

WATCH YOUR BACK. ADAM WANTS YOU. YOU ARE HIS AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT. NO MATTER WHO TRIES TO PROTECT YOU, EVEN MICHAEL MYERS WON'T SUCCEED!

"You see?" The doctor said softly. "Even Michael Myers won't succeed! Why would Adam have said that unless he'd made a conscious effort to ensure this was indeed the case. His man was too scared even to say it and had to write it! She is really upset and desperate for you to believe her. She didn't say any of this to Charlotte or indeed to anyone else. For her part, Charlotte wants you to believe she didn't write it and is just as troubled by today's events. As I have told you previously, she really cares about you Michael. She wants to show you that."

The killer raised a cold eyebrow. Dr Loomis gave him a small smile. "Now I can't tell you how, that's for her to do. But will you give her that chance, Michael? That's a decision only you can make. No one else can do so for you. You need to decide if you will let yourself trust her, or if you really, truly believe she would've betrayed you this way after all you've both been through since she got here. Not only that, but whether you honestly believe Charlotte actually wrote that. She'd never hurt her, and by association you. She knows how much Danielle cares about you and wouldn't do anything to endanger that. She's actually here right now, Michael. Charlotte. She wants to speak with you. The question is, will you let her? She was so upset when she told her about the letter, she got straight in to her car and drove the almost three hours from her house to here. Now if that doesn't tell you she didn't write it, nothing will. No one's that good an actor, Michael. She was in floods of tears to me on the phone earlier. She was begging me to let her speak with you. My question to you now is, will you let her? Will you let yourself love, Michael? Believe this was indeed an act of evil, calculated malice designed to do exactly what you're letting it do? Will you show her she's wrong and by doing so, help her fight back?"

…

"Charlotte?"

Charlotte turned. It was Dr Stark. "Yes doctor?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you all, but please may I have a word with you? I need to show you something."

Charlotte nodded immediately and stood.

"Is it ok if I take a walk?" Danielle asked. "I think I need some air."

Though of course Dr Stark didn't say this, this was exactly what she was hoping for. Michael was now inside the building so she'd have the yard to herself. Her and Joanne at least.

"Of course you can, you don't need to ask. You take as much time as you need and we'll meet you back here when you're done. Ok? Joanne can let you back through with her pass."

"Will do," Joanne said. she managed a small smile and Joanne took her arm, leading her in to the exercise yard.

As soon as they were gone, Dr Stark turned to Charlotte.

"You were hoping for that weren't you?" The young woman asked. "That she would take some air. You don't want her to hear this?"

"You could be a psychiatrist yourself," Dr Stark smiled at her. "Correct. I didn't want her to hear this. She's been through enough."

"Tell me about it," Charlotte growled. "Adam's pulling out all the stops here and it's killing me I can't do anything about it!"

"That's where you may be wrong," Dr Stark said as they began walking towards Dr Loomis' office. "You're her best friend, like you said you're like sisters. You can probably do more for her than anyone else."

"Now you do sound like a psychiatrist," Charlotte said with a grin. "Also, are you sure about that? More than even Michael?"

"Well," Dr Stark grinned back. "That remains to be seen, and I know you want to speak to him before you leave. Dr Loomis is speaking to him at this moment, so we'll see how that goes first."

"Do you…" Charlotte hesitated. "Do you think he's… well, coming round?"

"If you mean do I think he's starting to believe it was Adam, I don't know as I haven't seen him myself since it happened, but if you're honest with yourself, you probably believe the same as Dr Loomis and I do. That Michael believed it deep down and has done since this began."

"You think?" Charlotte stared at the doctor.

"You don't?"

"I… Well I don't know," Charlotte Admitted. "I hope you're right, but well he is a silent masked killer. He's never had reason to trust before, what if everything that's happened is… like wiped out of his mind by this?"

"While I understand where you're coming from," Dr Stark touched Charlotte's shoulder. "I don't think so. A lot has happened between them, a lot of time has passed. I don't think even Michael would let it all go just like that. Of course he's unsure and by the sounds of it you understand that just as we do. Charlotte nodded. "But we both think deep down he knows she didn't say, and you didn't write any of it."

They had reached Dr Loomis' office and entered. Dr Stark made sure the door was securely closed, then picked up the file from Dr Loomis' desk.

"Charlotte, I need to ask you to keep what I'm about to tell and show you to yourself at the moment, don't even talk to her about it. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course," Charlotte said immediately. Dr Stark smiled at her. Charlotte took a seat opposite her and the consultant opened the file.

"Do you recognise this man, Charlotte?"

Charlotte looked at the HD quality photo the doctor had just handed her.

"No," she said after a moment. "Never seen him before."

"Are you sure?" Dr Stark prompted.

Charlotte studied the picture closely again then nodded. "Yep, certain. I don't recognise him. Sorry."

"Don't be silly. No worries. Now please watch this?" Dr Stark showed Charlotte the video of Dr Loomis' visitor and the conversation between them.

"Wow he looked scared shitless," Charlotte said when the video was over. "Like he might as well have had help written on his forehead."

Dr Stark sighed sadly. "Indeed. But we couldn't keep him here as he wasn't a patient or anything. So he left when he was done."

"Ok," Charlotte said slowly, clearly trying to join the dots. "Then… where is he now?"

Dr Stark sighed again and brought up the news report. Charlotte clapped a hand to her mouth in horror.

"Fuck! Don't tell me! You… you think one of the goons Adam's got working for him to watch her…" she couldn't finish.

"He was followed here," Dr Stark said. "He must've been. I'm also guessing he was bugged so they knew what he said. I think that's why he wrote this, too scared to say it." She handed Charlotte a copy of the man's message.

WATCH YOUR BACK. ADAM WANTS YOU. YOU ARE HIS AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT. NO MATTER WHO TRIES TO PROTECT YOU, EVEN MICHAEL MYERS WON'T SUCCEED!

"Jesus," Charlotte looked horrified. "But see? 'Not even Michael Myers will succeed!' Doesn't that show you Adam's responsible? God! A stranger died to protect her! 'I can't trick a blind woman' he said. That makes it so obvious…"

"Again, that's exactly what we thought," Dr Stark said. "Which is why we don't want her knowing."

"Yeah," Charlotte looked sad. "It would tear the poor woman apart. It upsets me and I don't even know the guy. She would blame herself I know it. She'd say in some way it's her fault because Adam is after her or something crap like that! It'd break her heart!"

Dr Stark smiled sadly. Charlotte could tell she agreed. "Dr Loomis is showing Michael the very same message and video as we speak."

"Too bad we don't know who killed this poor guy," Charlotte said sadly. "So we could ask Michael to take revenge."