He was interrupted by a blast from Ryger’s shotgun, which ploughed into Jason’s stomach, throwing him off balance. Even from this distance, Halo and Tom physically felt the thud as he hit the floor.

Halo heard Ryger say, “That oughta do it,” but she knew damn well that it wouldn’t. Nevertheless,

Jason presently lay flat on the carpet. For a moment, she entertained the idea of dashing past him, to get to that fire escape.

Then he sat up, making the cops yell in surprise and swung his cleaver blade clean through both of Ryger’s legs, just above the knee.

The deputy’s upper half fell backwards, his divorced legs toppling like skittles. He fired the shotgun again, whether by accident or design, and this second salvo pumped into the ceiling. Plaster rained down on Jason and the two men, one of whom was lying on his back, screaming for mercy as Jason stood over him.

Chapter 23, Friday the 13th: Hate Kill Repeat