Town Slayer

Grand Escape

Summary
After being beaten by her husband, Janet finds him bleeding on their front room floor. With the evidence piling against her; she was holding a bloody bat and was covered in blood when the EMT's walked in, the cops accused her of murder. Frightened she runs.
She gets a ride out of town from a truck driver named Sam, claiming her name is Jackie
Seeing the blood on her dress, he holds her at gunpoint, demanding an explanation.
Believing her story, Sam takes Jackie to a truck stop so she can get cleaned up. Seeing a news bulletin on the TV about her being a murder suspect Sam leaves.
Jackie finds out she's been abandoned and then sees the bulletin on the TV. She runs to the bathroom grabbing hair dye and scissors on the way. The red-headed Janet/ Jackie asks another trucker for a ride only to find out he's a rapist and she's trapped in his cab.
The assassin has tied up and is torturing Beth's abusive husband, Steve.

Joe and Jerry are sitting at their desks trying to stay awake. They've both been up for over twenty-four hours so they're finding this difficult to do. After nearly falling out of his chair, Joe decides he'd better move around. I wish we'd they'd find Janet, he thinks as he watches the morning sun peak over the Ozark mountains.

"Want a refill, Jerr?" he asks. Jerry's head thuds against his desk; papers scatter across the floor.

"I guess that's a no for you." Joe looks at his cup again. He then feels his stomach slosh when he moves. "I think I've had my fill of this gut-wrenching crap too," he says, exhausted, he drops to his desk.

He's tried to concentrate on other police business, but his thoughts keep returning to Janet. The unusual stillness that surrounds him only adds to his inner turmoil.

"Why didn't you just listen to me, why?" He plops his head in his hands.

Seeing his Sergeant's anguish, the captain walks over to him.

"You did what you could for her, Joe. That's more than what most would do."

The sergeant glances up at him, a worrisome expression on his face. "You see what good that did, Captain." Joe recalls all the times he tossed Steve in jail only for him to be released the very next day.

"You tried to help her out of a bad situation. She's the one that kept throwing herself back in."

"I wish I would've done more for her; make her see what a low life he really is. Oh, why didn't I try harder, why?"

"Beating yourself up over this isn't the answer."

"I just feel like this is my fault somehow, that I let her down."

"It's not, Joe, believe me, it's not."

Joe looks up at his Captain, tears forming in his hazel eyes. "Janet has been my best friend since kindergarten. She was there for me when I had my accident, and when mom passed away, but I wasn't there for her."

"I don't know what else you could've done, Joe. I really don't." He looks over at Jerry sleeping soundly at his desk and then glances at Joe's weary face. "It's been a long day, Sergeant. So why don't you go home, get some sleep."

"I really want ...." Joe begins.

"That isn't a suggestion it's an order. Take sleeping beauty with you," He points towards Jerry.

"But, Sir I ..." Seeing the look on his boss's face he stops. "Come on Jerry, let's go," He shakes his partner.

"Huh, what?" Jerry asks as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.

"Captain is ordering us to go home." He glances back at the captain.

"I'd rather stay in the bunks if that's alright with you, sir."