Death by Hellfire: Caged, #2

By Wendy Hershey

Melvin J. Murdock has returned for vengeance in "Death by Hellfire," Book 2 of the Caged thriller series.  Approximately 70 pages

Meet Murdock, if you dare. He is a polite madman. But a doctor's worst nightmare.

His physical identity continues to be a mystery to the FBI, after a twenty-year manhunt for his capture.  No one has seen his face, except for his victims.  And they are all dead. He is known by authorities as the "invisible assassin." 

In Book 2, Murdock resurfaces in Washington, DC to continue his lucrative career as a professional assassin.  This time, his mission to to pay final condolences to Dr. Nick Phillips over the death of Nick's fiancee, Victoria Vincent.  But final condolences can be deadly, especially to members of the medical profession.

Dr. Nick Phillips and his colleague friend Dr. Harold Millstone are determined to see Murdock brought to justice for the vicious killings of many female doctors in the Washington, DC area, including Nick's own beloved Victoria. But will Murdock strike a deadly hit first?

Tick-tock, tick-tock, time is running out, as Murdock arrives in Washington on a deadly mission of revenge. 

 

Get ready for some blazing heat in this fast-paced psychological thriller. A nail-bitter read for all mystery lovers. 

Join the Murdock thriller reader fan club. Download your book today!

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Hershey
• Release date: Nov 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393306214

Wendy Hershey

Greetings to all of my readers! A little about me... I am an author of medical articles, inspirational pieces, psychological thrillers, poetry and books for children. I have many interests in life so I believe that is why the topics I write about are so varied. It's difficult to pinpoint what I love the most. My career for the past twenty-five years has been as a medical professional in geriatric medicine. I also have many years experience teaching music and also a long career as a successful business professional in the insurance industry. I have been blessed with an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit! I am what you would call a "Jackie of all Trades."  

Book preview

Chapter 1

Final Condolences in Washington, DC...

Have you met Melvin J. Murdock? He’s been on the FBI's Most Wanted list for almost twenty years. He might look and act like your typical guy-next-door type, but he will strike like a treacherous viper. Only his victims know his true identity. And they are all dead.

So, what makes him such a bad boy? His resume is impressive, and he fashions his career after his executed hero, Ted Bundy.

Melvin Murdock is highly skilled in the art of assassination. A pure genius in his chosen profession and shows no remorse. He is responsible for the brutal murders of over fifty female medical professionals in the Baltimore-Washington area over the past twenty years. And his murder count continues to multiply and extend into nearby communities in northern Virginia.

We know Murdock in the criminal world as a master of murder and evil deception. His identity remains to be a mystery, as he moves about in stealth mode, hunting down his next fresh kill.

They can't catch what they can't see! he laughed to himself.

After several frustrating years of tedious police and FBI case investigation, the authorities were still no closer in apprehending him. They believed he was a middle-aged male who had been acquainted with most of his female victims as a medical patient. He did not fit the typical profile of a serial murderer. Each murder scene was inconsistent and left behind no psychological signature clues.

He was a puzzle with twisted pieces.

Murdock knew he was the friendly, nice guy type women were attracted to and trusted.  And that trait was his chick bait.  He didn't need to hunt for new female victims. He was a magnet. 

Hey, when you are good, you are damn good! he praised himself.

Murdock had an indestructible ego. He was the finest in the gruesome business of assassination.  Nothing had stopped him yet in inevitably killing any woman he targeted. He had executed all of his captures within 24-hours of initial contact... except for one. Her name was Dr. Victoria Vincent. She had been his little pet, who he imprisoned in a steel cage for more than a year. 

Dr. Victoria Vincent would still be alive today if someone had not interfered with Murdock's plans. That someone was Dr. Nicholas Phillips, a cardiovascular surgeon at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC.  Murdock bitterly hated Nick Phillips for winning Victoria's heart. She was Murdock's caged pet and was forbidden to have romantic feelings for another man. So, he didn't have a choice but to eliminate her, with one bullet to her beautiful skull.

Now Murdock was on a mission to pay Dr. Nicholas Phillips his deepest condolences. And while he was on his sympathy tour, he would also call on that meddling shrink Harold Millstone.

This will be perfect. Eliminate two thorns at one time. I've suddenly become a psychotic head case with an undiagnosed heart condition, he laughed. I need a doctor!

His laughter was sinister.

Boss, what are you laughing about? questioned Murdock's driver, Franko. Franko had been Murdock's driver for over ten years. He knew Murdock was a cold-blooded killer, but he always kept his mouth shut about business. Why? Because he loved what Murdock paid him... $20 grand a month in hundred-dollar bills.

Just drive. No questions, Franko. That's what you're paid to do, answered Murdock coldly.

Yes, Mr. Murdock. We'll arrive in DC in less than an hour, Franko replied obediently.

The Mercedes black sedan took the Washington exit off I-270, heading through suburban Maryland to an eventual destination in northwest Washington.

That destination was George Washington University Hospital.

Murdock had an appointment for a consultation with the head shrink... Dr. Harold Millstone.

Chapter 2

Harold Millstone, MD Psychiatry...

"M r. Timms? asked the office receptionist. May I get a copy of your id, please?"

Yes, that's me.  Ulysses T. Timms is my name, replied Murdock with a slight twang in his voice.  He pulled out a fake driver's license and handed it to the woman. 

His eyes quickly scanned her body and face. Such lovely hands, but the rest of her packaging was frumpish. No, this chick was not his type. Lucky for her.

"Welcome to Dr.