by A. I. Nasser
Walter shrugged. “I’m not the one who makes these decisions, doc. I’m just following protocol.”
“Ah yes, protocol,” Hammond muttered. “Sometimes I ask myself for whose benefit we have them.”
Walter didn’t answer.
When they reached 4A, Hammond pulled out a key and pushed it in place. Just before turning it, he turned to Walter and smiled. “We have her, how should we say, tamed,” Hammond said, “for your conversation. An orderly will be with you in case she causes any unforeseen troubles.”
Walter nodded, not entirely comfortable with using the word tamed in any context that involved Hammond. Still, he had no idea what Ana Dean would be like after he told her the news, and maybe tamed was better than the alternative.
He remembered when she had first found out what her husband had done, laughing hysterically when news of Alexander and Martha Green’s death reached her. It was one of the deputies who had given her the news that her husband had been arrested and charged for murder, and when he called Walter in, Garland couldn’t hear the man over Ana Dean’s laughter.
They had picked her up from home when she had tried to set fire to the Dean house where the children had been staying with their aunt. Henry Pollard had stopped her just in time, Ana scratching his face and kicking at him as she escaped back into her own house and locked herself in. When Walter had broken down the door to get to her, he had to fight through a stench that made him gag, a darkness that was uninviting despite the sunlight coming in through the front door, and a madwoman swinging knives at him as she screamed at him to get out.
He had brought her to Sanctuary Park himself, and the words coming from her mouth were enough to make the Devil blush.
Doctor Hammond unlocked the cell door and opened it for Walter, smiling as he gestured for him to enter. Walter walked in, closely followed by the orderly named Ethan, and looked back at the cell door as it closed and locked behind them. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light, the silhouette of Ana Dean barely visible as she sat in the corner on her cot.
“Mrs. Dean?” Walter said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The figure in the corner shifted but said nothing.
“Mrs. Dean, it’s Sheriff Walter Garland. I’m sure you remember me.”
“Of course,” came the reply, a raspy voice that sounded nothing like the Ana Dean he knew.
“Ma’am, I’m here on behalf of the state to inform you that your husband, Samuel Dean, died at three o’clock this afternoon.”
A chuckle. A cough.
“Mrs. Dean?”
“My husband didn’t die, sheriff,” Ana said. “He was executed.”
Walter hesitated. “I would also like to inform you that the Greens are pressing a whole bunch of other charges. We were wondering if there were any relatives you’d like us to contact to handle these matters.”
“Are the children okay?”
John was taken aback by the question. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Dean, I’m not quite following.”
“The Green children, are they okay?”
Walter winced at the mention of the children that had been left orphaned by Samuel Dean. “Yes, they are okay, all things considered.”
“Good,” Ana chuckled. “I’d hate to see anything happen to them before I leave this place.”
Walter felt a chill run down his spine as he glanced at the orderly, who just shrugged.
“Mrs. Dean, if you do get out of here, your stunt at the house will put you away for a very long time,” Walter said. “Not to mention you just threatened two children in front of a sheriff and another witness.”
Ana shifted again, standing up slowly as she stretched. It was then that Walter noticed one of her hands had been tied to the bed. Ana moved a bit into the light, her hair falling around her face, her eyes barely visible, only her smile shattering the distance between them.
“The house will get them, Sheriff,” Ana hissed. “It always does.”
Walter noticed the rope tied to her hand hanging loosely by her side, blood streaming down her arm to the floor. She looked down to where his eyes were focused, and then looked up again. Her smile widened and she suddenly jumped at him, screaming, hands outstretched as she went for his eyes.
The orderly stepped in immediately, and with a quick swing of his hand, had her lying still on the ground. He quickly banged on the cell door three times, and Walter finally let out the breath he was holding as he was quickly dragged outside.
Bonus Scene Chapter 2
Audrey Fern woke up to the sound of her son playing in the living room, already awake and wreaking havoc. She groaned, her body aching from the strain she had been under the past few weeks. She rolled out of bed, slowly, barely looking at the side where Sebastian had slept less than a month before.
The night Walter Garland had knocked on her door still flashed in her mind. The way he had looked at her, uncomfortable as he had told her the news of her husband’s murder, how he had sat with her for hours as she had wept. Explaining to her son what had happened, that had been even harder
Audrey walked out of her room and watched her only son play with a makeshift sword his father had made him. He was the striking image of her husband, and looking at him made her miss him even more. At least the boy was handling it better than she was.
“Breakfast, sweetheart?” she asked, walking into her small kitchen as she opened the shelves and scanned them for anything she didn’t have to spend too long making.
The boy didn’t answer, swooshing his sword as he jumped across the couches and coffee table. Audrey couldn’t help but smile.
She walked him to school and waved as he raced inside with the rest of the kids, immediately jumping in line next to a little girl in his class. He turned around and waved back, the girl doing the same, and Audrey’s heart ached at the thought that one day they would grow up and face misery and pain of their own.
Audrey made her way back into town, slowly, taking her time as she counted her steps. She almost laughed at the irony of her life. Working for both the Greens and the Deans, the two households that had helped keep her own home afloat, had been the same thing that had torn her life apart.
Sebastian Fern had worked hard ever since their son came to the world, but they had soon realized that his pay alone would not be enough to keep them going. He had asked Alexander Green if he needed a helping hand at home, Martha eagerly welcoming Audrey in and making her feel like part of the family. She had loved that woman, although she had never felt comfortable around Alexander.
She didn’t know if there was any truth behind his involvement in the fire that had taken the life of the Deans’ son. She had asked her husband about it several times, Sebastian always shrugging it off and telling her to stop asking questions she didn’t want answers to. Eventually she did give up asking, but only when he had assured her that he had had nothing to do with the fire. He never denied Alexander Green’s involvement, and the entire town supported his innocence.
Samuel Dean had obviously thought otherwise.
Audrey made her way down Gale Street, looking at the windows for any sign of help needed. She had called her sister in Boston and had already made plans to send Derrick there. She was in no condition to provide for both of them, and her sister was more than willing to help. She had a soft spot for her nephew that Audrey had been counting on. Telling Derrick would be the real problem.
When she neared the arcade, the doors and windows boarded and a deputy sitting guard outside, she quickly crossed the street. She didn’t want to be anywhere near the place where her husband had been stabbed to death, knowing that she would never truly be happy in Cafeville as long as that place was there to remind her of what had happened.
When Walter Garland pulled up to the curb next to her, she was eyeing a dress hanging in a boutique window, the same one Sebastian had promised to buy her with his next paycheck. She watched the sheriff climb out of his car, tired and wary, the last few weeks obviously taking a tol
l on him. He took off his hat as he approached her and attempted a smile.
“Mrs. Fern,” he greeted.
“Sheriff,” Audrey nodded back. “I’m starting to feel like I’m going to be seeing a lot of you from now on.”
Walter sighed and scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry, Audrey, I really am,” he said, “but there are a few things we need to get settled, and you’re involved in a lot of it.”
Audrey frowned. “How so?”
“You’re going to have to come with me,” Walter said. “Everything’s at the station, and quite honestly, I want to get this whole thing over with as soon as possible.”
Audrey hesitated. “I’m not under arrest, am I?”
“Oh, God no,” Walter said. “It’s just a bunch of paperwork, a few questions, and a box with your name on it.”
“A box?”
Walter gestured to his patrol car. “Please? It won’t take more than an hour.”
Audrey eyed Walter Garland and then reluctantly got into the car.
Bonus Scene Chapter 3
“Sorry about all this.”
Audrey sat uncomfortably in the seat across from Walter Garland, eyeing the papers he was looking through, frowning in confusion as he struggled to find where to start.
“Ana Dean died last night,” Walter suddenly said, pushing a small box towards her, the initials A.D. on the cover. “She slit her wrists after lights out. They found her this morning.”
Audrey’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh my God!”
“The doctor said it was probably because of her husband’s execution. The news must have hit her a bit too hard.”
Audrey tried to shake away the images of Samuel Dean writhing in the electric chair. She grabbed the small box, running her fingers over the wood and the carvings, trying to wrap her head around the news of Ana’s death.
“She left a message on the wall of her cell, written in what we can only assume was her own blood,” Walter said, leaning in. “It said ‘Fern knew’. Does that mean anything to you?”
Audrey frowned, a chill running down her spine as she avoided Garland’s eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, I know you worked for both families for a while,” Walter said.
Audrey finally looked up, squinting at Walter. “I thought I wasn’t under arrest,” she said.
“You’re not,” Walter said. “It’s just follow-up, really. It was a strange thing to do, and I’m a little curious as to what the message meant.”
“Just curious, Sheriff?”
“Come on, Audrey,” Walter said, leaning back in his chair as he folded his hands over his belly. “Humor me.”
Audrey didn’t answer, her concentration quickly shifting back to the box in her hands as she turned it about in her hands. The truth was, she had an idea of what Walter was talking about, but she wasn’t sure if it would make any sense. Cafeville was a town that had its secrets, and she was just as guilty as everyone else when it came to those.
“What is this?” she asked, holding up the box.
“According to her will, Ana left that to you.”
“Why?”
Walter shrugged. “I was hoping you could tell me. I haven’t opened it, of course, but would appreciate it if you did that right now.”
Audrey looked at him for a moment, and then looked back at the box. She had no idea what Ana could have left her, and a part of her didn’t want to know. She began to wonder if maybe there were a way she could just give it back.
“Audrey?”
Audrey flipped the box over, looking at her former employer’s initials on the cover as she slid it off. There was a note inside, and a key, and Audrey took one look at both before dropping the box on Garland’s desk and getting up, quickly backing away.
Walter got up in an instant, worried.
“Keep that away from me!” Audrey screamed.
Walter turned the box around, looking inside. He frowned and looked up at Audrey questioningly.
“I don’t want it,” she said. “You can’t make me take it!”
Walter grabbed the paper and began to read, his eyes widening as he looked at the woman cowering away. He held the paper toward her. “This is the deed to the house,” he said. “Why did she leave you the deed to the house?”
“I don’t want it!” Audrey screamed out again.
Walter hurried around his desk as the woman collapsed onto the chair by his door, visibly shaking, her eyes fixated on the box and its contents. He sat down next to her and grabbed her hands, squeezing tight as they shook uncontrollably.
Audrey suddenly began to cry, leaning against Walter as he held her, muttering something incomprehensible as he strained to understand what she was saying.
“Audrey, you have to tell me what happened,” Walter whispered, and as he held her, as she shook in his arms and cried, she began to speak.
Bonus Scene Chapter 4
Audrey
When I first met Samuel Dean, Ana Dean had been visiting the Greens. I had always found it strange that the feud between the two families stopped at the men, the two women closer than anyone I had ever known, as if their husbands were acting like a bunch of children. I didn’t give it too much thought, though, and soon enough I was helping at the Dean household as well.
It was more than I could have ever hoped for, the extra bit of money a blessing really, and soon I was managing my time between both families as if it were nothing at all. The women were civil enough to manage their expectations and time the hours perfectly so that I was able to be of help to both.
To be honest, I loved the work. Many people would find it demeaning, but I liked that I was being of use. Sebastian’s job wasn’t enough, and we both knew how important this was. Besides, the children were wonderful, and both Martha and Ana treated me like one of their own. They even let me bring Derrick along, which was more than I could ask for.
Alexander Green was a harsh man, and I did my best to stray clear of him. I never liked how he treated his children, and he definitely was quick to use his hands on Martha. I never said anything, obviously. Maybe I was scared he’d lash out at me if I opened my mouth, and I didn’t want to put Sebastian in a tight position with the one man who was providing him with steady work. The men had been working together for years, and I didn’t want to get in the middle of that.
So, I kept my mouth shut. About everything. Whatever happened at the Green household while Alexander was away was none of my business. But, that didn’t mean I didn’t see things. I was there most of the time, after all, and soon enough Martha was comfortable enough around me that she sometimes forgot I was even in the house.
I had seen Samuel Dean only a few times. The man was the complete opposite of Alexander. He was charming, quick with a smile, and those eyes could easily make any woman melt. He treated Ana like a queen, and she cherished him like a king. Benjamin was their pride and joy, and it wasn’t hard to see that the child only brought them closer.
I don’t know how it started, or how long the affair had been going on, but it had definitely started well before I had started working for the Greens.
The first time I noticed it was when Samuel would pick up Ana. There was something in the way he looked at Martha, and the way she looked back. I didn’t give it much thought at first, but the more it happened, the more I felt something was going on between them.
I never brought it up with her, and I didn’t think that Ana had any idea. Alexander was definitely in the dark. A man like that wouldn’t let something like this slide, his wife bedding the one man in Cafeville he hated the most.
Soon I started to hear them. I’m telling you, Martha Green had gotten so comfortable, she didn’t even notice whether or not I was still in the house. There were days at a time when her husband would be out of town, and usually mine had been with him. During days like that, I spent the entire day there. I would hear them down the hall from the room she’d let me stay in, and I don’t know if she knew I heard t
hem, but it didn’t stop her if she did.
Samuel knew, though. One night when Ana was visiting Martha, he confronted me, asked me a lot of questions, cornered me until I gave in and admitted that I had an idea. I’m telling you Walter, something was wrong with that man a long time before Benjamin died. He smiled at me when I told him I knew about the affair. The smile scared me more than anything, and he just stood there, looking at me, his eyes moving up and down my body like he was undressing me with them.
I stopped going to both houses after that. I made up some stupid excuse so Sebastian would stop berating me, and I locked myself in my home. I didn’t go out for a week, scared I might bump into any of them in the street. I ignored their calls, Sebastian usually answering and making up an excuse like I was sick or tired, or that Derrick had come down with the flu.
I could only escape them for so long, though, and soon I was working the Green household again. Ana had stopped coming over, and Martha had changed completely. She was angrier, more stressed and frustrated, once even throwing a glass at my head when I had spilled some wine on the floor. I’m telling you, something had happened, and I was finding it harder and harder to work there. I begged Sebastian to not make me go, but he had been insistent, reminding me how much we needed the money.
I remember the last night I worked at the Dean house clearly. It was a Monday, and Samuel was out of the house, probably down the street, and Ana had been drinking heavily. I had a feeling that she had found out about the affair but was keeping her mouth shut. The house had changed, too. It was getting harder to clean. It seemed like every time I went over, it was like I had to start from scratch. And that smell! Oh God, the stench! It was like the entire house was dying, rotting away from the foundations. It was intoxicating!
That night, Ana Dean had asked me to stay with her because Benjamin was feeling under the weather. I agreed, but to this day I have no idea why. I had never felt so uncomfortable before. The only thing on my mind had been how bad I wanted to go home. I wanted to get out of my clothes, take a shower, and scrub away the smell of the place.
