A severe Thunderstorm warning was in effect for Santa Barbara, San Diego and most of the surrounding area. Waves battered the shoreline and trees bent in half with the winds. People were being warned to stay inside.
Lee Crane’s sleep was just as stormy. He was in the grips of another nightmare and was unable to wake up. Krueger was after him and while he was running, he was forced to watch Julie as she murdered his friends. It was all happening on Seaview. He whimpered in his sleep and started yelling at both apparitions. ‘No please Julie I’ll do anything, just let them go.’ he cried aloud.
Nurse Chambers came in to check on him and from the way he was tossing and turning she knew the nightmares were severe. “Captain can you hear me?” she asked in a soothing voice.
“No! Krueger, leave them alone. Please, help me.” His frightened voice made Chambers heartbreak. ‘This must be awful,’ she thought.
“Captain, It’s only a dream. Open your eyes and look at me.” She laid her hand gently on his shoulder and he woke with a start. His eyes were glazed for a moment until he focused on her face and realized who she was. “Must have been a bad one Captain.”
“That’s an understatement.” He said as he began to get out of bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have to go to the head.” He said.
“Oh! Go ahead,” she laughed, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Crane washed his face and walked over to the window. He looked at his watch and saw it was only nineteen fifty-five, he hadn’t even slept half an hour. He really was exhausted but his dreams wouldn’t let him sleep. The storm still raged outside as well as in his mind. He knew he needed help if he was to remain sane. He turned as the door opened and Dr. Bricker came in followed by Nurse Chambers.
“Nightmares again Captain?” He questioned.
Lee nodded and his shoulders sagged. “I thought you were going home.”
“I was, but it looks like no ones going home tonight. Roads are washed out. I guess I’ll be sleeping on my couch. As for you I’m going to give you this shot. It will make you sleep, hopefully without dreams for at least ten hours. It’s new and it’s strong. Once we get you back to bed you’re not to get up unless you have help. Understood.” Lee nodded and climbed back into bed.
Nurse Chambers took the syringe and told Lee to turn on his side. She folded down his Pajamas and swabbed a small patch of skin and injected the drug. “This will take effect pretty fast Captain. I’ll check on you shortly.”
“Mm, good night.” Lee could feel himself drifting off to sleep while the storm still raged.
Dr. Bricker turned down the lights as they left, “He should sleep through the night. If not, I’ll be in my office. It’s too bad to drive home. Call me if you need me. Good night Paula.”
“Good night Dr. Bricker.”
A streak of lightening cut through the night sky hitting the main transformer that supplied power to Oceanview and the surrounding area. Oceanview was in total darkness except where emergency lights came on.
‘This is my chance. I know it. I just have to be patient. That’s funny, a patient being patient.’ She could barely hold back her giggles as she heard someone at her door.
“I have to check everyone, even her.” She heard someone say.
After a few seconds the door closed and Julie realized there was no telltale sound of the lock mechanism. She jumped off the bed and made her way to the door. Pulling gently she felt it pop open. She peered into the hall and could see nobody. Opening the door a little wider she heard people talking but still couldn’t see anyone. She had to create a diversion, but what. The supply closet was just across the hall. If she could make it there she would find something. She looked both ways but couldn’t see anyone. She made her way across the hall and into the supply room, happy to find it had emergency lighting. She felt as if she’d hit the jackpot. Nurse’s uniforms hung on one wall and she pulled one out and put it on throwing the hospital pajamas spitefully to the floor and stepping on the hateful things. She found scissors in a box and grabbed her long hair and snipped it to her shoulders. She threw it in with the dirty linen and covered it. Checking other boxes on the shelf she found someone’s stash of cigarettes and matches. She grabbed her hair from the dirty linen and opened the door slowly. The hallway was still deserted and she made her way back to her room. She put her hair on her pillow and pulled the blanket up. Standing back she thought it would pass a quick bed check. She checked the hallway again and still it was empty. She made her way to the washroom and ducked inside. Opening the garbage can she pulled all the dry paper towels to the top and quickly touched a lit match. She pulled it under a smoke detector. Once she was sure it wasn’t going to go out she went back to her room to wait for the alarm to sound.
It wasn’t long before the alarm went off and she saw one of the two night nurses open the washroom door. Smoke billowed into the hallway and the nurse called for help. The guard and the other night nurse came to her aid but because of the smoke they couldn’t get inside.
‘Perfect. I’ll leave while they’re busy with my little fire.’ She went to the stairwell at the end of the hall and found once again that the power was still out and she went quickly down the stairs and out into the storm. No one stopped her, they were to busy with the fire alarms. She ran through the pounding rain to the fence and threw a stick against it. No power. ‘YES!’ she cried gleefully as she climbed over the top and disappeared.
“Have all patients been accounted for?” Dr. Bricker asked.
“I was just going to check.” A small timid nurse told him.
“Nurse Martin isn’t it?” Bricker asked.
“Yes Doctor. We’ve checked everyone on this end of the hall. I was just starting this side.”
“Proceed. I’m going to speak with the security guard. Who’s on duty tonight?”
“Gary Smith. He’s in the washroom, that’s where the fire started. The police are in there as well.”
“Thank you Nurse.” He walked into the washroom and saw Gary talking to a police detective. When Smith saw him he came right over. “What caused it Gary?”
“Someone deliberately set fire to some old paper towels in the garbage can and put them under the smoke detector. That’s all they can tell us right now.”
“Dr. Bricker, I think you’d better come take a look at this.” Nurse Martin said as she ran into the washroom.
“What’s wrong Nurse?” Bricker asked.
“I checked the patient in room two-sixteen. She’s gone.”
“What. She can’t be. That Patient was catatonic.” He said as he rushed to the room with Smith and the detective following him. “Damn!” he swore as he saw the hair on her bed. “Gary call security in the other building and have a guard placed outside Lee Crane’s room. Nobody is to go in or out till I get there. Do it now.” He looked at the detective’s visitor tag, Ned Richards it said, “Detective, I think you better get more men out here.”
“Who was she Dr. Bricker?”
“She was and is the best actress ever born. Her name is Julie Parsons-Radcliff.” Bricker said dejectedly.
“Why was she here, and why did you say she was a good actress?” Richards asked.
“Not good. The Best. She murdered four people ten months ago and almost killed another man who happens to be a patient here. Not in this building. He’s not a criminal. She’s been faking an illness perfectly, to the extent that even I believed it. She must have set the fire and used it as a diversion and while everyone was busy with the fire she managed to get out before the generators came on line.”
“I’m going to call this in. With the storm I don’t know how long before they can get here. I happened to be on my way home when your first call came in. That’s why I was here so quickly. I’ll be right back.”
“Nurse Martin, who checked on her last?” Bricker asked.
“Gary and I were checking the patients after the power went out. She was here. I saw her face and she was looking at the ceiling as she always is. She must have realized the electronic locks weren’t working.”
He looked at his watch and saw it was nearly two am. The power had gone out at twelve forty, which meant she had been loose for approximately an hour. “I have to go over to the other building and check on a patient. Tell Detective Richards where I am if he needs me, and make sure no one else is missing.” Bricker said as he hurried off.
‘So cold. Have to find dry clothes and a place to hide. Maybe that old culvert could provide some protection. Not comfy but dry, I'll sleep and plan my next move. Get my Captain. Oh what a wonderful life they could have. She would be the Captain’s wife.’
She crawled into the culvert as far as she could. There seemed to be a small room at the back. It looked as if someone had been living here. ‘Oh well, if they come back I’ll just have to get rid of them.’ She smiled as she curled into a ball and was soon sleeping. Her life with Captain Lee Crane filled her dreams.
Dr. David Bricker spoke to the guard stationed by Crane’s room and went inside to make sure his patient was still sleeping. Once satisfied that all was well he went to his office and called Admiral Harriman Nelson. Even though it was only three am, Nelson answered on the first ring. “Harry.”
“Yes, who is this?” Nelson asked sleepily.
“David Bricker at Oceanview.”
Nelson sat up, instantly awake. “What’s happened? Is Lee ok?”
“Lee Crane was sedated last night. He’s still sleeping as we speak.”
“Then what....” he stopped when he realized who else was at Oceanview.
“Julie Parsons-Radcliff escaped during a power outage.” Bricker told him.
“How? I thought she was catatonic. Aren’t there security precautions when the power goes out?”
“She fooled us all. We have a backup generator, but it took some time for it to come online.” Bricker said.
“She didn’t fool Lee. He knew all along. His gut instinct knew her better!” Nelson told Bricker in a quiet voice. “I’m coming out there. Are there guards on Lee’s door?”
“I did that immediately. He’s safe.” His voice lacked confidence.
“From her?” Nelson asked sarcastically. “He won’t be safe till she’s apprehended. I’m going to bring a few of my own men to help. We should be there in a few hours. Make sure someone stays with Lee until I get there.”
“I will Harry. See you soon.”
Nelson sat on the side of the bed and called Chip Morton’s number. Chip answered almost immediately, “Morton here.”
“Chip, it’s Nelson.”
“Admiral? What’s wrong?” Chip was startled at the ferocity of Nelson’s voice.
“Julie escaped from Oceanview this morning during the storm. She’s still at large. Contact Sharkey and have him get Patterson and Kowalski and meet us at the flying sub in one hour.”
“Aye sir. Is Lee ok?” Morton asked worriedly.
“He was sleeping and doesn’t know what’s happened. Dr. Bricker had guards posted outside Lee’s room. Chip, I’ll meet you at the flying sub. Nelson out.” He placed the receiver back in its cradle and went to dress.
Julie opened her eyes, unsure how long she had been sleeping. She was disoriented for a few moments until she realised she was free from Oceanview, and Doctors who didn’t know what they were doing, Nurses who came in and jabbed needles into your arms. And she had fooled them all. She lay back and tucked a bag under her head and tried to sleep. ‘Lee, oh Lee, I’m coming for you. None of your friends will get in the way this time. Nelson and Morton and maybe even that quack Bricker would all die. Then you and I can have the life we want. I know you really love me.’ Angry with the people who had put her there, she was unable to get back to sleep and decided to check out her little hideaway. To her surprise she found some old clothing tucked into the bag she had been using as a pillow. She pulled out the clothes and found they were in pretty good shape. ‘Who ever lived here took care of their stuff. Wonder where they are oh well it’s all mine now. No one can take this away from me.’ She pulled off the nursing outfit and pulled on a pair of torn, but clean jeans, an old t-shirt with the words WOODSTOCK barely readable on the front. Now I’ll have to have a plan. I need a place to call my base.’ Where I can keep my Captain. This place is to small and to near the hospital. Maybe I could get back to my old house and get to my stash of money. Joey had been so stupid. Didn’t even ask where all the money was going. I just have to go to the house and get it. Hope nobodies there. Oh well kill them if they get in the way,’ she laughed and went to check if the storm was over. It was. ‘All I have to do now is steal a car and drive to the old house. That won’t be so hard, she thought.’
Lee Crane opened his eyes and realised it was morning. He looked at his watch and saw it was 0730. ‘Thanks Doctor Bricker’, he thought as he got out of bed. He felt renewed. His body wasn’t tensed up from lack of sleep and he hadn’t had any nightmares. He looked out the window and saw the damage the storm had caused while he slept. Trees had been uprooted, lawn furniture lay broken all over, flower pots were all over the lawn, but what grabbed his attention was the amount of policemen roaming around looking in cars in the parking lot and all over the grounds. ‘Something must have happened,’ he thought.
‘People were stupid. They stopped for anything.’ She had lay down in the middle of the road and the old guy had stopped to check on her. Add one more to her list of crimes. She had tied him up and thrown him in the trunk. ‘I’ll have to find somewhere to get rid of him. At least he had a nice chunk of cash. Travelling salesman. He must have had a good day yesterday because she now had over six hundred dollars.’ She pulled into a gas station and parked by the payphone. She dialled the operator and asked for the number for Oceanview Sanitarium. Once she had this she called and told them she was with Admiral Nelson’s office and she needed to talk with Lee Crane. She was asked to hold. Hanging up the phone she went back to her car and drove towards Santa Barbara.
“Good morning Captain. How did you sleep? I’ll be your nurse for today. My name is Tammy.”
“Hi Tammy.” He said with a smile. “Actually I had a great sleep. Why are all the police out there?”
“I’m not sure. I just came on. Maybe Dr. Bricker can answer that for you. He should be here any moment.”
Lee could tell she was trying to hide something but didn’t have time to ask anything else as Bricker came in. “Good morning Lee. Sleep well.”
“Slept fine. Why all the police and why is there a guard outside my door?”
“The guard is just a precaution.”
“Precaution? Why?” he asked suspiciously.
“To keep patients safe.”
“Are you telling me you have a guard stationed outside every door?”
“No Lee. I guess you have to be told. Julie escaped during the storm.” He watched for Crane’s reaction and was glad there was no sign of panic.
“Any idea where she is?”
“The rain washed away any sign of footprints, so we have no idea which way she went or if she even left the grounds. That’s why there are so many police officers around. They’re searching the grounds in case she’s hiding.”
“How long ago did she escape?” His voice became more anxious.
“Around seven hours, near as we can tell. Admiral Nelson is on his way here in the Flying sub. He’s bringing a few of your men with him for added security while you’re here.”
“I have to help them find her.” Lee Crane said in a voice that brooked no argument.
“We still have to talk Lee. The police are doing all they can. At least stay the time we agreed on. Paula Chambers told me how violent your nightmares were before I came in last night and they won’t go away. Give me the time I asked for.”
There was a knock on the door and the guard stuck his head in, “Dr. Bricker, Admiral Nelson and Chip Morton are asking to see you.”
“Send them in.” He said and the guard opened the door to admit the two men. They looked with concern at their friend.
“Hi Lee,” Morton said perching on the windowsill. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine Chip.” He said and turned to Nelson, “Admiral, I need to get out of here and find her.”
“Lee, there’s nothing you can do. The police are setting up roadblocks on all roads leading out of town. Stay and talk with Dr. Bricker. This is the safest place for you.”
“The only place I’d be safe is on Seaview. You’re also forgetting that she may go after you and Chip. After all you did help me get away from her. Look I’m leaving and that’s it. Dr. Bricker I would still like to talk with you but I’m afraid it will have to wait until Julie is back in custody. Get me whatever papers I need to sign.”
“That’s not wise Lee.” Nelson told him.
“I have to do this Admiral.” Crane said. Nelson knew by the stubborn look on Lee’s face that he wasn’t going to change his mind.
“Alright, Lee.” Nelson’s acquiescence was reluctant “We’ll do it your way… for now. Get the papers David. I’ll make sure he comes to see you when this is all over. Chip, go tell Sharkey we’ll be going back to Santa Barbara.” He turned to Crane, “No you’re not staying here to find her. I will not let you be bait. We go home and assign you bodyguards until she’s found. Otherwise you stay here. I’ll sign you in myself and Dr. Bricker will help me keep you here.”
“Yes sir. Understood. Thank you, Admiral. Dr. Bricker, I will come back for our talk.”
By twelve hundred hours they were on their way back to Santa Barbara.
Nobody lived in her house and it was dark and deserted. She checked in the flowerpot and found the spare key they had always left there. She went into the house and up to the attic without turning on any lights. At the back of the attic she pulled at a loose floorboard. It came away easily. Her money was there. Over the years she had managed to stash away quite allot of it. Money she’d asked Joey for to buy things for the household. Of course she hadn’t bought anything when she could steal it instead. She also hadn’t told him about winning ten thousand gambling on the races. ‘Twenty two thousand dollars. Hire some men, not like the last ones,’ she thought angrily. ‘Kill Nelson and Morton, and find a place to be with my Captain until he accepted her love.’ She shoved the money into her pocket and left the house.
She had left the car with the old guy in the trunk at a gas station and proceeded to a used car lot. At the car lot, she had stolen a set of keys while the salesman had been busy and she waited till he closed down before taking the car off the lot. She had driven straight here, and now she had her money. ‘Take some of these old clothes and disappear till I have everything ready. I will be back for you Lee. We’ll be together.’
Two weeks passed. The police had found the man Julie had left in the trunk and aside from being bruised and mad as hell he survived.
Detective Frank Bartlett had come to see Crane every day with a report.
“Frank, we leave tomorrow on an assignment that will keep us away from Santa Barbara for a month. I think we’re going to spend tonight getting Seaview ready to sail. Lee will be safe onboard.” Nelson said.
“That’s a great idea Admiral. My superiors told me that I couldn’t keep the guards on you much longer Lee. They’re convinced Radcliff has left the area totally and that you’re safe.”
“She hasn’t gone far Frank, but sooner or later I have to get on with my life.” Crane told them all. “Thanks for all you’ve done.”
“Contact Angie if you get any leads.” Nelson told the detective.
“I will Admiral and take care,” he said as he left.
“Well Lee, let’s get back to work. Seaview awaits.”
“Gladly sir, coming Chip?”
“Of course.”
A month had passed and she had changed her appearance. ‘Hope Lee likes redheads,’ she thought. Looking in the mirror she was pleased at the way she looked. Her hair was cut short and tight curls had been added using a perm, she was wearing coloured contacts and a pancake type make up which gave her a very pale colouring. She barely recognized herself.
The mercenary she’d hired had rewired some of the building so she had some power to the lights in the hallway but he had been unable to get any power in the apartment she now occupied. She had taken the basement apartment in the condemned building on the outskirts of Santa Barbara to be close to her Captain. One room had been converted into a cell with a length of chain attached to the wall, there was a double mattress on the floor and that was the only piece of furniture. ‘This will be our room. First I have to take care of those meddlers and then I can bring you here.’ She turned at the sound of someone coming down the stairs and smiled at the man who would help her.’ All he wanted was the use of her body. He was a rich mercenary, and not bad looking. He would do till she had Lee and then she would have him killed for touching her. Lots more mercenaries for hire.’
She laughed as he took her in his arms. “How did it go Brent?”
Brent Williams looked at her with lust filled eyes, “Everything’s as you wanted it. Seaview docked this morning and I left a message for Nelson and Morton that I needed to see them.”
“You didn’t mention me did you?”
“Of course not. I’m not stupid you know. They know me. I helped them a couple of times.”
“Are you going to betray me to them?”
“How can I. You know I will do anything for you.” He said as he snuggled up to her and tried to bring her to the mattress.
“No! I will not do that on his bed.”
“ Where?” he asked in a husky voice.
“Here on the floor.”
“Whatever you say.” He laid her down and took her.
She stood and pulled her clothes back on when he finished and fought the anger she felt every time this happened. She would rather pay him with money but he wanted her body instead. ‘I’ll get even.’ She thought.
“When are they meeting you?”
“Back to business, hey?” he laughed. “They should meet me at the Shoreline drive pier at nine PM. I told them to come alone and that if anyone else is with them I won’t show.”
“How can you be sure they’ll come alone?”
“We’ve been through this before. I’ve sold them solid information on other projects. They’ll be there.”
“Chip, it’s from Brent Williams.” Nelson told Morton as he read the message Angie had passed him as he entered his office.
“The Mercenary.”
“That’s the one. Lee is still on Board Seaview. Detective Bartlett said there was no sign of Julie, and Lee has lots of bodyguards where he is. I think we better check this out.”
“I agree Admiral. When does he want to meet?”
“In half an hour at the pier. We just have time to make it.”
“Chief, any word from Admiral Nelson or Mr. Morton?” Crane asked.
“No sir.” Chief Francis Ethelbert Sharkey told him.
“Did they say where they were going?”
“Admiral Nelson said he was going to check with Detective Bartlett and see if he had any new leads on the case.”
“I’m going up to the office.”
“Er, Skipper, sir, er, the Admiral wanted you to stay here till they came back.”
“Chief, I can handle myself.”
“I know that sir, but he asked me to make sure you didn’t go off by yourself. I’ll come with you. If you like sir.”
“Thanks Chief but I don’t need a babysitter.”
“No sir, but the Admiral would be upset if I let you go alone. Please let me come sir.”
Crane laughed, “All right Chief, let’s go.”
She looked at the clock, ‘Eight fifty. It would soon be over. The trap was ready for Nelson and Morton, and then he would be hers. All hers.’
Morton didn’t like the idea of meeting anyone on a dark pier, “Admiral, this could be a trap.”
“I agree Chip, but if he has the information he says, it could mean catching Julie.”
“I know sir, but we have to be careful. Why don’t I go in first, make sure everything’s safe?”
“We go together Chip.” Nelson said as he opened the gate and walked towards the meeting place.
The night sky lit up with the explosion and two bodies were thrown across the vacant pier. Fire burned around them, but neither man felt the heat as they were both unconscious.
‘Nine oh five, they’re dead. Now I just have to get my Captain to come to me. He needs me now. He has no one else to love. Nelson and Morton are history. I love you darling. We’ll soon be together. We’ll be happy here.’
Lee Crane stepped into his office and closed the door. Chief Sharkey waited outside. He had assured the chief he would be ok in here. He stood by his desk and glanced out the window as an enormous fireball lit the sky. “Oh my god.” He said aloud and went to the door. “Chief, there’s been some kind of explosion. Find out where it is and let Admiral Nelson know.”
“Yes sir,” Sharkey said as he ran out the door.
Chip Morton groaned as he tried to push himself to a sitting position. He could feel the heat of the fire as it raged all around him. Slowly and painfully feeling was coming back and he realized he was trapped. He could move his legs freely but could not pull them out from under the sheet of metal. He looked around, “ADMIRAL!!! ADMIRAL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? …ADMIRAL!!! I can’t move. My legs are trapped.” There was no answer and Morton tried again to free himself. He heard sirens and knew help would soon arrive. “Sir, do you hear that? Helps on the way.” He grew even more concerned when there was still no answer.
Crane was uneasy looking at the glow of the fire. He jumped when his phone rang. Picking up the receiver he recognized the voice immediately.
“Darling, you’re friends are dead. There’s no one standing in our way. We can be together forever now.”
“Julie, what the hell have you done?”
“I made them go away. Come to me Lee. I’m waiting.”
Crane spoke softly into the phone, “Where are you Julie?”
“You know better then that darling. If I tell you where I am you’ll just send the police after me. I’ll send someone for you soon. I promise. I love you darling.”
Lee heard the telltale sound of the phone being disconnected from the other end. ‘Oh my God, what has she done to Nelson and Morton?' He grabbed his keys and ran out of the building to his car.
Sharkey watched as Crane’s familiar red sports car left the Institutes parking lot. ‘OH boy, Skipper, why didn’t you wait for me?’ He went back to the Institute to get his keys.
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