CRUELTY is a serial novel in ten parts.

Episode Five.

IN THE EXPLOSIVE MID-SEASON FINALE…

Nell Morgan, Trooper Natalie Holden, and State Investigator Frank Markum find the fragile thread of reality unspooling.

Things go real bad, real quick as it becomes painfully obvious to Twon and Ollie that escaping Kerr County Medical Center unscathed will be a task far more difficult than they could have imagined.

Still reeling from his run-in with Forgiveness, Sheriff Randy Miser is called to a situation in progress. Can this day get any worse?

With Forgiveness out about town, Cruelty finds temptation's call all too seductive.

So many playthings. So little time.