†
Five days later...
The quaint general store was the original general store from the 1800’s before the town was even known as Stony Ridge. It was reminiscing of an old cabin. The hardwood floors were all original and creaked with every step. The sounds of creaking floorboards were heard throughout the entire building. Jacey studied the rows of candy bars through the glass of the candy case. She wasn’t often allowed chocolate, and she wanted a candy bar today more than most days. Her mother, Russell, and Jill, who owned the general store, were talking over one another without any pauses between sentences. Their conversation bored Jacey. Most adult conversations bored Jacey, and she easily blocked them out.
“What does it matter,” Jacey’s mother said firmly. “The killings have stopped.”
“I’m just glad they’re shutting down that damned institution,” Jill huffed from behind the candy case.
“Personally,” Russell interjected, “I don’t care if someone grinded the bastard in their garbage disposal.”
Jacey suddenly looked up and tilted her head with a look of surprise. “Someone did that?”
Her mother frowned. She picked a fine time to start listening to adult conversations. “No, darling. Uncle Russell was just making a bad joke.”
The door opened with the jingling of a bell. Asher entered the general store and strolled along the aisle. Two other customers looked at him and whispered as he passed. He approached the counter and smiled cheerfully.
“Good morning, Jill,” Asher said pleasantly. He then nodded to Russell and Jacey’s mother.
“Morning, Asher,” Jill said with a slightly raised brow. “What can I do for you?”
“Six bags of fertilizer,” he announced. “The plants need some TLC. Katie would be furious if she saw the condition of her garden.”
Jill flashed a fake smile. “Taking up gardening?” she teased.
“Little choice, I’m afraid.”
She rang out his purchase and spoke casually. “So, have they found the guy yet?”
Asher’s smile faded into a preoccupied smirk. He removed a lollipop from the box on the counter and handed it to Jacey. She accepted it without hesitation.
“Uh, no, they haven’t,” he replied and looked back at Jill. “I think he finally moved on. I’m sure they’ll catch him one of these days.”
Asher then gave a general nod and went to collect his bags of fertilizer. He carried the first two bags from the store and appeared oddly cheerful. Russell watched with a look of disapproval and shook his head as Asher walked out the door.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” Russell muttered. “He killed him.”
Jacey looked at the door with wide eyes. She then looked at the lollipop and quickly returned it to the box on the counter.
“Wouldn’t doubt if he ate him,” Jill remarked lowly under her breath.
Jacey suddenly gasped and covered her mouth.
Her mother glared at the woman behind the counter. “Jill,” she scolded then looked at Jacey and squeezed her shoulder while smiling sweetly. “Honey, Mr. Asher didn’t eat anyone.”
Chapter Six
Ten years later...
Three horse and riders galloped through a large, lush field in the warm afternoon sun. All three horses were neck and neck as they thundered through the field racing one another. The twenty-two-year-old woman was Jacey McMurray now grown. She rode her gray horse and attempted to pull ahead of the other two riders. A large, brown and white paint horse carried a blonde-haired, fifteen-year-old girl, Monique Harris. The black horse was ridden by another fifteen-year-old girl with dark hair, Coleen Cooper. At the last moment, the girl on the black horse pulled ahead of the other two. All three slowed their horses to a more relaxed gait.
“I win,” Coleen proclaimed while grinning.
As they approached the woods, the horses remained excitable, but none of the three appeared to notice.
“I’m so glad you invited us to spend the week with you, Jacey,” Monique said and patted her paint gelding.
“You’re lucky, Monique,” Coleen sulked. “None of my relatives have horses, and I’d certainly never be allowed to bring Thunder with me.” She hugged her black horse as they rode.
Jacey entered the path in the woods ahead of them to lead the way then turned sideways on her horse to look back at the girls.
“I really wanted to have both of you here. My mom and Uncle Russell went on their two-week cruise, so we’ll have the entire house to ourselves.” She grinned at them. “Kind of like girls’ time.”
“I’m so glad you invited Coleen along,” Monique said cheerfully. “You know we’re practically twins.”
Jacey laughed softly at her young cousin’s comment. “You girls are lucky. I wish I had a close friend growing up. My best friend was my pony, Patches. None of the girls my age liked riding, and I usually showed up the boys.”
“Us too,” Coleen replied and appeared pleased about it.
“We’re going to ride all day and watch scary movies every night, right?” Monique said excitedly.
“We certainly are,” Jacey replied happily. “I took time off work at the library and the local paper.”
“You’re cousin is so cool,” Coleen marveled.
They rode through the woods and peered along several other trails. There seemed to be never ending trails throughout the woods, providing hours of trail riding within the game land.
“What was that big, old building we passed when we drove through town?” Coleen asked. “The one behind the cemetery with the big fence around it.”
“That used to be the nuthouse,” Monique said dramatically.
“The place that burned all those years ago?” Coleen asked. “I thought it burned to the ground.”
“No,” Jacey replied. “Just the east wing.”
“Didn’t look burned to me,” Coleen announced. “Just slightly abandoned.”
“It’s been abandoned for almost ten years,” Jacey informed her. “But not for long.”
“They’re finally tearing it down?” Monique asked.
“No,” Jacey replied. “They’ve been renovating it the last six months. They tore down the remains of the east wing a few months ago.”
“Are they bringing more crazy people?” Coleen asked.
“No, it’s going to be some sort of laboratory and museum for scientists,” Jacey explained. “I intend to do a story for our local paper. They’re supposed to be arriving next week and having some big, formal party. Shelly, the paper owner, promised I could do the story.”
“That sounds cool,” Monique said with excitement in her eyes.
Jacey attempted a smile then sighed softly. “It’s tough competing against Brenda. She’s been writing for the paper for a few years now and has seniority over me. She’s aggressive when it comes to interviews.” She then considered her own comment. “Brenda’s aggressive when it comes to just about everything.”
“Yeah, we have a girl like her at our school,” Monique announced. “She’s boy crazy.”
“No boys for you, huh?” Jacey asked and smirked.
Both glared at her and made faces.
Coleen patted her horse’s neck and grinned. “Thunder is the only man for me.”
Jacey smiled knowingly. She had been the same way at their age. Actually, she hadn’t taken an interest in boys until she was eighteen, and even then, it wasn’t anywhere near the way other girls reacted around them. Honestly, she could still take them or leave them. A certain young deputy soured her on men. They rode for several minutes in the woods then came to a clearing. A large, modern cabin with an all-glass sunroom came into view. They were directly behind the home, allowing them to see the beautiful, well-kept garden with its stone wall, waterfalls, trees, bushes, plants, and marble statues.
“That’s quite a garden,” Coleen remarked. “My mother would love to see that.” Coleen removed her cell phone and snapped a picture.
“That’s Konrad Asher
’s house,” Jacey informed them. “He leads a bit of a secluded life.”
“Isn’t he the guy who murdered his wife?” Monique asked curiously.
Jacey looked at Monique with some surprise by the comment. That rumor had gotten around town right after his wife’s death, but they were never able to prove anything. Jacey just wondered where her cousin, who lived several counties away, had heard about it.
“He murdered his wife?” Coleen asked with wide eyes then made a face.
Jacey rolled her eyes and moaned. “Where did you hear such a ridiculous story?” she demanded to know.
“Uncle Dave,” both replied simultaneously.
Jacey shook her head with disapproval. “Should’ve guessed.” She looked at Coleen while cleverly raising her brows. “No offense, Coleen, but you’re Uncle Dave is clueless.”
“We know,” both once more replied together.
Although not related, Monique and Coleen were closer than most sisters, having been best friends since birth. Coleen’s Uncle Dave was one of those relatives everyone dreaded knowing.
“Last time my mother and I visited, your Uncle Russell told us all about Mr. Asher,” Monique informed her. “He said no one in town talks to him, he never leaves his house, and everyone is afraid of him.”
“I’m not,” Jacey announced firmly. “Since the death of his wife, I’ve heard all sorts of stories. Some claim he killed his wife using the escaped mental patient as his scapegoat; some are even convinced he set the fires himself. I will admit people in town do fear him, but that’s because they’re narrow-minded fools. I’ve never believed any of it.”
“Your uncle seemed to believe it,” Monique added.
Jacey sighed sadly. “I’m afraid my family’s been sucked in as well. You’ll find this town is filled with skeptics and superstitious ninnies.”
The sound of hedge clippers could be heard from the garden. Monique and Coleen jumped then looked toward the stone wall surrounding the garden.
“We’d better get out of here,” Coleen nervously suggested.
Monique nodded in agreement.
Jacey reluctantly sighed and forced a tiny smile. “Why don’t you take the old mining road back to my house and find something for lunch,” Jacey suggested. “I don’t want to seem rude and not say hello.”
Both girls appeared horrified.
“No, he’ll kill you,” Monique gasped.
She laughed softly. “Don’t be silly. Go on--go home.”
Jacey rode up to the garden as the girls turned toward the wide, dirt road. Without fail, they sent the horses into a gallop and raced each other down the road. Jacey dismounted and tied her horse to the old, iron hitching post, which seemed oddly placed in such a remote area. She walked around the stone wall and nearly ran into a man leaning casually against the large, oak tree holding a hedge clipper. She jumped with some surprise then relaxed and smiled. A much older Konrad Asher smirked appearing pleased to have startled her.
“You startled me,” she said with a tiny sigh.
His smile was fixed and unchanged. “And you me,” he said in a calm, monotone voice.
Jacey somehow doubted that. He probably heard them coming a mile away.
“I wasn’t expecting any visitors today.” His smile brightened. “I was actually anticipating a peaceful day at home alone for a change.” He chuckled lowly at his own witticism.
Jacey smirked and held back her laugh. “I bet you were.” Every day was a quiet day at home alone for Asher. He rarely left his house. Asher turned his head toward the woods then looked back at her with the same, solemn smile.
“Your friends didn’t care to stop for some lunch?”
“That’s my cousin, Monique, and her friend, Coleen. They’ll be staying with me for the week.”
“While your mother and uncle are on their cruise, no doubt,” he replied.
She nodded slowly.
“Your cousin and friend could have stayed for lunch. I do enjoy entertaining,” he said with a mocking smile.
Jacey forced a nervous smile and covered by running her fingers through her long hair. “You know how kids are. They wanted to get back to the house and watch movies.”
Asher smirked with a humored laugh. “You don’t need to lie to me to spare my feelings, Jacey. I don’t have any worth sparing.”
He turned and walked back into the lavish garden. Jacey followed him through the extensive, carefully manicured garden. They passed a massive weeping willow tree with a marble placard dedicated to Katie. Asher had planted the tree in her memory after her death and buried her ashes along with it. They approached the patio. He set the hedge clipper on the patio table.
“My reputation precedes me even to strangers,” he announced as he approached the glass, patio doors. “Young girls fear what they perceive to be real life monsters.”
“You’re not a monster,” she stated firmly and followed him into the sunroom filled with various hanging plants. She closed the glass door behind her.
Asher turned in the archway to the kitchen and leaned his shoulder against the frame.
“Even you weren’t so easily convinced,” he said simply with a tiny, knowing smile. He placed his hands in his pockets. “You wouldn’t even speak to me until that day your horse tossed you in the woods, and I helped you catch the beast. You were what? Thirteen?”
Jacey nodded.
“You’d stop by and say hello after that and even had soda on my patio.” His smile brightened and almost mocked her. “Yet you wouldn’t enter my house until you were nearly eighteen.”
She smiled with some embarrassment. “Okay, you’ve made your point,” she announced. “I was young and still believed some of what I’d heard.”
He laughed, straightened, and entered the kitchen. “Yet part of you still believes some of the stories.”
She followed him into the elegant, modern kitchen with marble countertops and tile floor. “Of course not,” she scoffed. She didn’t know why he enjoyed tormenting her. He obviously got some sort of sick pleasure out of it.
Asher chuckled softly. “I’ll believe you, if it makes you feel better.”
†
The McMurray farm appeared unchanged ten years later. There were several new horses in the pasture along with Coleen’s black horse and Monique’s brown and white paint. The house appeared freshly painted, and there were several new plants hanging around the wraparound porch. It was a clear summer night with a bold, nearly full moon. Despite the bright barn light, the house appeared mostly dark. Eerie, dismal music could be heard within the house. Jacey, Monique, and Coleen sat on the floor in the dark living room watching a horror movie while eating large bowls of ice cream. There was the chilling sound of someone being stabbed in the movie, and it echoed throughout the room. All three cringed and moaned with disgust at the gruesome gory scene on the television.
“The boyfriend’s toast,” Monique chuckled.
“The boyfriend always gets killed in these movies,” Coleen remarked simply.
“Speaking of boyfriends,” Monique said and grinned at Jacey. “I was told you had one.”
Jacey laughed softly without looking at the young girl. “Had is the appropriate word choice. I’ve tried dating a couple of times. I dated Deputy Jameson for nearly two weeks, but that’s a recurring nightmare. I’ve concluded that horses are more understanding and less demanding. I can’t seem to find attraction toward any man in this town.”
“I want to marry a rancher,” Monique said cheerfully. “With lots of land to ride.”
“I’ll only marry a guy if he can out ride me,” Coleen said with a tiny laugh.
Monique looked at Jacey. “What about you? Do you have a dream man in mind?”
“I’d say a combination of your dream men put together, but I’ve already met him, and we didn’t get along.” Jacey sighed then smiled. “But he definitely needs to be a country boy, none of those stuffed and pompous city types. He should like horses and know how to ride well.�
� Her smile brightened. “He should be strong, bold, and outgoing--rugged and manly.”
The woman in the movie screamed hysterically, causing all three to jump with surprise. There was a harsh pounding on the kitchen door. All three screamed. Jacey sprang to her feet and hurried to the kitchen door. She looked through the window, groaned, then unlocked the door and opened it. Deputy Jameson Ramos, the former institution security guard, looked past her and into the kitchen with concern. He looked very handsome in his deputy uniform and official police cowboy hat.
“Are you okay? I heard screaming,” Jameson announced.
Jacey smiled with some embarrassment. “We’re watching a horror movie.”
“I thought your parents left yesterday for their cruise,” Jameson remarked then strained to look past her toward the living room.
“They did,” she replied while glaring her disapproval of his curiosity. “My cousin and her friend are staying with me.”
Monique and Coleen entered the kitchen with their dirty dishes but appeared more interested in the uniformed stranger. Deputy Jameson looked at them with mild relief, smiled warmly, and then focused his attention on Jacey.
“I thought I’d check on you, since your parents were gone,” he informed her. “I was concerned about you being out here by yourself.”
“I appreciate your concern, Jameson, but it’s not necessary,” she informed him with a tiny, humored laugh. “I’m old enough to take care of myself.”
He smiled with embarrassment. “I know you are, Jacey, but I’m still allowed to be concerned, you know, with some of the characters living in this area.”
Jacey frowned and folded her arms across her chest. “I know how to use a gun, which I have several,” she informed him in a matter-of-fact tone. “There’s never been any problems on our property before. And if there is trouble, Asher lives just a short ride down the road.” Her words were arrogant and bitter to Jameson’s insinuation obviously directed at Asher.
Deadly Institution Page 5
