“Thank you, I’ll be in the library.” Kellie opened the envelope and a single sheet of paper fell out. She picked it up knitting her eyebrows as she looked at the paper. Written in long hand, it began:
Dear Kellie, since you are reading this, it means I have met my demise under strange circumstances. It is a fair bet to say that Mr. Malone had something to do with my death. I warned his spirit that if I was harmed the truth about his past would come out. I don’t think he believed me. This will be the first of three deliveries you will receive. I didn’t trust anyone enough to put all the information in one person’s care. While I was alive, I could protect you from the people who might want to enact revenge against Mr. Malone through you. Now you will have to rely on Drew, your friends, and possibly your Uncle Mike to protect you, but first you must know the facts.
You won’t find any record of the business dealings between Mr. Malone and Mr. Alexander Morgan in the house. They were of an illegal nature, and I am sure nothing incriminating was ever kept on paper. They were in business together and were part of a large prostitution ring somewhere south of here. Much of his fortune came from these activities, but not all. I will get into more of this in my next letter to you. It should arrive in a day or two.
You may hear from my cousin, Claude. He is a good man and knows a little of the Malone/Morgan business as he worked for the Morgan family for years as their butler.
Do take care and stay safe. Your friends may also be in danger. Warn them all. It was my pleasure to serve you both as a butler and friend.
Warm regards, Austern
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Kellie stared at the paper in her hand trying to understand what it meant. She couldn’t imagine what the old man had been into that could harm her now. Unaware that Drew and Hunter entered the room, Drew cleared his voice to get her attention.
She looked up; a cold, angry stare greeted him. “The old man was worse than we thought. He was involved in a large prostitution ring and more.” Drew saw pure hatred in her eyes.
“We know,” Hunter offered. “Old Mr. Crownton came in the office today, and I asked him if he knew the old man and this Morgan fella. He filled me in on the prostitution angle and said there might be more. He said they were both ‘crooks,’ to quote him.”
“How did you find out?” Drew asked.
“A letter from Austern arrived today to be delivered in case of his suspicious death. He said there was more to my grandfather’s evil, and we could all be in danger. I’m supposed to receive two more letters in a day or two. I think we need to stick together, and Cole should stay here when he’s released from the hospital.”
“I’ll talk to Andrea when she gets home,” Drew said.
“I’ll tell Taylor, but knowing her, she’ll be right here at your side. I’m beginning to wonder who is closer, a best friend or a wife.”
Kellie laughed, “You’re not jealous, Hunter? I met Taylor first; of course, best friends are closer than husbands. We can always find new husbands.”
Drew arched his eyebrow and said, “Is that right?”
“Yup.” Kellie smiled.
Drew was happy to see her smile. He had a feeling there were going to be some hard times ahead.
They heard Taylor enter the kitchen. She rushed into the library rubbing her hands on her face to warm her cheeks. They were trying to look casual, but she knew better. “Okay, what’s up now?” Kellie handed her the letter.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have another mystery on our hands.”
“What mystery?” she heard Andrea’s voice behind her. She handed her the letter.
“Oh my, what do we do now?”
“One of the first things is to be sure you and Cole stay here when he gets out of the hospital. We have the best security here and this time, if we’re facing trouble, it’ll be human and the security will work.”
Andrea dropped into a chair and nodded. “I’ll explain it to Cole. He may be coming home, but he won’t be up to doing much for a few weeks. Having all of you to visit with him will probably help him a lot.”
“We’ll all help.”
Claude walked out from the kitchen and said, “Mrs. K. says you can eat whenever you wish.”
“How about now,” said Taylor jumping up. She was ready for roast chicken and anything else that was offered.
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Andrea visited Cole after dinner to try and explain the latest goings on at the mansion. Heading for the library to finish playing a video game, Hunter and Drew left the girls to entertain each other. They settled in the parlor and asked Claude to join them.
Kellie explained about Austern’s letter. Claude’s concern was apparent. “If Austern was worried about you, he had a good reason. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Only tell me everything you know about what my grandfather might have been doing with Mr. Alexander Morgan. Austern said it was illegal.” She leaned forward and stared at Claude hoping her intensity might make him feel as if he should tell everything he knew.
“Well, that would have been before I worked for the Morgan family. I told you about the logo I saw. It’s the same as the one on your wrist. When Mr. Morgan died, I helped Mrs. Morgan go through all of his papers. I never saw the logo or anything about their partnership again.”
“What about when Mrs. Morgan died? What happened to her things?”
“A second or third cousin on the Morgan side was the only relative and claimed the property and belongings.”
“That’s a dead end then.”
“Oh, he also claimed the asylum. It was run down and no one was interested, not even in the property, since it sits in the midst of nowhere. The county eventually placed a tax lien on the property, and then foreclosed or whatever they do to take control of a piece of property for unpaid taxes. Now people hunt on the property during hunting season.”
“Asylum, what asylum?” Kellie’s face lit up. Her curiosity was aroused.
“The old ‘Petal Gate Rest’ east of here in the next county.”
Taylor’s eyes grew big as she asked, “You mean the haunted insane asylum out near Clear Lake?”
“That would be the place, except it was first built as a hospital for the flu epidemic in the early 1900s and for TB patients. When the flu was under control, and doctors found better ways to treat a TB patient than to lock them away in the middle of nowhere, they turned it into a mental asylum.”
“I heard there were some terrible things that went on out there, and it’s haunted by the people who died there,” Taylor said as she curled into a ball in the corner of the sofa.
Claude replied, “I have heard that, too. However, I think in today’s society with our mental health programs, the old ways seem barbaric and kids always make them worse. Every town has a haunted house or building. Wasn’t this house considered haunted?”
“Yes, but it really was.” Kellie laughed. “I hope the old man had nothing to do with that asylum.”
“Will there be anything else, miss?”
“No, thank you for the information.”
Claude stood, and walked toward the kitchen.
Taylor and Kellie changed the subject quickly. When Andrea arrived home, she joined the conversation. The doctors were hopeful Cole would be able to come home in less than a week since he would have twenty-four hour nursing care at home. Hunter and Drew having had their fill of shooting aliens or zombies wandered into the parlor. Since everyone was there, Kellie filled them in on what Claude had said.
“That sounds like something the old man would be into,” said Drew, “but even the old man must have limits. What could he have done in an insane asylum?”
“Hide gangsters?” Hunter offered.
“Maybe?”
“We’ll know more when I get the rest of Austern’s letters.”
“I always wanted to go out there as a teen, but my friends were all chicken. Drew, we should go and check it out. An abandoned asylum makes for a great road trip.”
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Drew and Hunter put their heads together and began to discuss the asylum. Ignoring their wives, they began making plans for the following Saturday.
“Are you two insane? Hello! Are you listening to me?” Kellie hit the sofa cushion with her palm.
“Yes, we’re adventurous. You need to come along,” Hunter grinned.
“Count me out, I’m spending the day with Cole,” Andrea insisted.
Kellie, hoping to be the voice of reason asked, “What if something awful went on out there and the old man was involved? Austern said we could be in danger. Before you go running off on an insane adventure, we should at least wait until I receive the last two letters from him.”
Hunter and Drew reluctantly agreed. Drew yawned “I’m tired, ready for bed?”
Calling it a night, Drew joined Kellie in the shower. She giggled when he began to rub her shower gel onto her skin. “You’re going to smell like cucumber melon, too.”
“I don’t care, this is fun.” The gel slowly ran down her chest onto her abdomen and his hands gladly followed. He pulled her close and she was able to reciprocate the sensual massage with his body partially covered with gel and bubbles. After several minutes of playful tickles and kisses, their passion grew and Drew’s hands slid down Kellie’s body. She inhaled deeply and decided she needed to rinse off before her knees collapsed. Drew wrapped them in a large towel and they carried their passion to bed.
Little did they realize a very similar situation was playing out between Hunter and Taylor. Hunter worried Taylor’s squeals would be heard by the entire house, and when he tried to shush her, she dissolved into giggles. He did his best to arouse her passion again. He eventually succeeded, they also went to bed, and ended their night in bliss.
Andrea drifted off to sleep thinking of Cole, and hoping he would be home soon. She was tired of sleeping alone. Life was lonely without Cole around all the time. Grateful for her friends and living at the mansion, they couldn’t compare to Cole’s arms around her as she fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-six
Andrea walked into Cole’s hospital room. “Hi, Hon, how are you feeling?”
“Much better. What are you doing here at lunch time? Is something wrong, Andrea?” Cole’s voice sounded frantic.
“Not really. calm down, hon,” she said as she dropped her coat and purse onto a chair and sat on Cole’s bed. “I wanted to fill you in on the rest of what’s going on at home.”
Cole shifted in bed trying to sit.
“Stop moving so much. Wait I’ll raise the bed a bit. Is that better?”
“Yeah, but what’s going on?”
Andrea did her best to explain things without worrying Cole. His eyes opened wide as he listened to her.
“You’re not going with them!” His good fist balled up and his face became rigid.
“I have no desire to visit an abandoned asylum, and don’t tell me what to do.” She snuggled next to him.
“I agree with Kellie that we’ll be safer at the mansion until whatever this is ends. We’re dealing with humans now that will show up on security cameras and trip motion detector lights. They’ll be people that can be stopped with a punch or a security guard’s gun. No more spirits.” He pulled her closer hiding the pain on his face from her.
They lay quietly for a few minutes when the nurse walked in and laughed, “You’re his best medicine. I was coming into see why his heart rate slowed suddenly. He’s been a bit antsy today hoping to leave soon.”
“Can you blame me? Everyone here is great, but it’s not home.”
“I understand.” She checked his blood pressure and left.
Andrea said, “I need to get back to work, but I brought you something from the bakery. One blonde brownie--no nuts, it’ll be easy on your digestion.”
“I can’t wait for chocolate, and nuts, and pizza, and beer again. It seems as if I’ve been here forever.”
“You’re lucky you’re here at all. A little deeper and you wouldn’t be. Let things heal, and you’ll be back to pizza and beer.”
“And making love?”
She kissed him, “Morning, noon, and night, my darling.” He pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss.
The nurse rushed in again, but this time to question his rapid heart rate. “Okay, Cole, that’s enough for right now.” Cole released his grip on Andrea.
She grabbed her purse and coat, “I don’t want to be late for work.” She blew him a kiss.
Cole settled back on his pillow and mumbled, “We’re supposed to be on a honeymoon or at least sleeping in the same bed.”
The nurse said, “Don’t tell anyone, but rumor has it you’ll be released by Friday.”
Cole lifted his finger to his lips and nodded. He winked at the nurse.
Smiling at him, she said, “You’re ready to go home soon.”
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Kellie had a short day with only one class and was home shortly after one. Claude met her at the door, and told her a messenger had been there, but wouldn’t leave the envelope. Kellie needed to sign for it. The messenger would be back later that afternoon. She thanked him, went up to her room, dropped her book bag on a chair, and lay down on the bed. Rufus jumped up next to her.
“Okay, but don’t jump up here when Drew’s home.” She ruffled his fur.
She fell asleep. The next thing she heard was Claude knocking on her bedroom door. The messenger was waiting downstairs. She rose, and quickly walked down to meet him. Signing for the envelope, she went into the library to read it. Apprehensive about what she was about to read, Kellie settled into the large, oversized chair next to the fireplace. Rufus dropped at her feet. It was warm, but she felt a chill thinking about the envelope’s contents.
She sat for several minutes staring at the envelope. Maybe she should wait for Drew to come home. Her palms were sweaty, and she dried them on her slacks. Claude brought her a cup of tea which gave her a little more time to procrastinate before opening the envelope. Finally, after chiding herself for being so nervous, she tore the top off the legal size envelope. As with the first letter, this one also wasn’t dated.
Dear Kellie, I am sure you are somewhat confused by my secrecy, but I assure you, it is for your own good. My last letter explained your grandfather’s involvement in the prostitution ring. It was not the main source of the Morgan/Malone illegal funds. I believe it did help them to start their most lucrative and heinous enterprise. I am also not sure exactly when the prostitution ring ended.
Their next endeavor was beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. Mr. Morgan’s family owned the Petal Gate Rest. A lovely name for a hospital/asylum, but it was nothing that resembled lovely inside. It was originally meant to treat flu and TB victims, and then became a mental hospital. When Mr. Morgan’s father became too ill to oversee the asylum, he asked his son to close the hospital and find suitable hospitals to accept the patients. From all I could learn, he did that. Then somehow, someway he and Mr. Malone came up with a sure money maker, and they put their heinous plan to work. They kept the Petal Gate Rest as an asylum, but it wasn’t for the mentally ill.
Any man with enough money could have his wife, daughter, or son committed without a legitimate reason. He had physicians who would complete the proper paper work for a fee. The Petal Gate Rest became a prison of sorts. The “patients” were committed for emotional reasons, but were told exactly why they were there. They were also informed that they would be kept and “treated” until they could make their family member happy with their change in attitude or behavior.
As you can imagine, it would be difficult to find employees for a place such as this asylum. Ex-cons, recently released from prisons, unable to find work, were hired. Needless to say, they did what they were told and the “patients” were at their mercy. There was minimal medical care. There are reports of deaths from ill care and/or torture. You should be able to find all the legitimate information about the asylum at the library. In its day, it was a wonderful asset for the sick and disabled
. Only when your grandfather agreed with Mr. Morgan’s plan did it become hell on earth for the people held there against their will. I found this information when we believed your grandfather was dead. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. It wasn’t something a relative would want to know, but I couldn’t throw it away. I knew someday his evil deeds had to be known and perhaps there might be justice for his victims. In a day or two, my attorney will personally stop by with my last letter, some of your grandfather’s papers, and a few items which may help you discover the truth about Frederick Malone.
Sincerely, Austern
She dropped the letter on her lap and let her tears flow freely. What type of man did this? She knew he was evil, but this was beyond evil. It was horrid and cruel. Tomorrow she would find out all she could about Petal Gate Rest.
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Drew arrived home, and Kellie was in tears. Unable to explain, she handed him the letter. He held the letter in his right hand as he read. She could see his left hand ball up into a fist. His anger grew at the people in charge of the asylum. Drew placed the letter on the side table, and sat on the floor in front of Kellie.
He looked up at her. “I don’t understand this. How anyone could be so cruel? This is barbaric. I’m not sure I want to know what’s in that last letter. I’ll ask an older colleague of mine if he remembers anything about this place.” His fists had been bouncing up and down on his knees. “This is horrible.” Both his fists hit the floor full force. He sat and shook the pain off.
“I don’t have class tomorrow. I’m going to check both the public and university libraries to see what information I can find. I’d love to find pictures. Maybe I’ll take that trip with you and Hunter to view the building and grounds. My curiosity is growing?”
“What happened?” Taylor asked as she entered the library. Drew handed her the letter. Halfway through she plopped herself onto the floor letting her shoulders fall as the letter settled in her lap. She picked it up to finish reading.
“Do you think this is true? I know the old man was merciless, but I’m shocked human beings could conspire to do this to others.”
OLD MAN MALONE RETURNS Page 24
