Deadly Institution

by Holly Copella

  Professor held up two fingers. “Just two horses?” he asked then smiled deviously and raised a third finger. “Or three?”

  Jacey laughed gently at his childlike behavior. “Including mine, there are ten.”

  Professor’s eyes widened with excitement. “Ten? We could all go riding,” he suddenly announced cheerfully. “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen a genius on horseback. It’s a laughable sight.”

  “I don’t know, Professor,” Brian muttered lowly.

  “Don’t be such a wuss. It’ll be great fun. We can gallop across fields,” he announced while riding his invisible horse, “splash through streams--”

  “Fall off,” Brian added.

  “Timon will go,” Professor remarked simply. “He’s not afraid to try something new. Has to be more fun than wearing out yet another tiresome pickup line.”

  Brian sneered and threatened to kill Professor with one look. She couldn’t believe Brian didn’t know she saw through him all on her own. She didn’t need anyone telling her the sort of man Brian was.

  Professor clasped his hands together and pleaded with Jacey. “Please, please take me riding with you. I won’t even sue when I fall off.”

  Jacey laughed. “Sounds like fun. I’ll leave directions with you. Gather those who want to go riding and come to my place around noon.”

  “Oh, oh, you’ve got it,” Professor chirped. “I want the biggest horse you have,” he laughed. “So my feet won’t drag.” He then wagged his finger sternly at her. “No ponies, no, no.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was a beautiful, warm sunny afternoon. Several horses were tired to the long, thick hitching rail in front of the barn at the McMurray farm. Monique and Coleen helped brush the horses. Jacey saddled her gray horse while the girls chatted excitedly about their afternoon riding adventure.

  “So who’s coming?” Monique finally asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe just Professor,” Jacey replied simply. She felt it best to brush the other horses in preparation for a larger number.

  “I like Professor,” Coleen chirped happily. “He’s cute in his own, strange way. You should marry Professor.”

  Jacey laughed at how easy Coleen made it sound. If life and love only worked that way, it wouldn’t be nearly so stressful. The girl was in for a rude awakening.

  “I don’t like Brian,” Monique announced firmly then sneered a look of distaste. “He was really angry about your date being canceled.”

  Jacey’s brows raised and she turned to face both girls. “He was, was he?”

  Both nodded.

  “Timon scolded him and pulled him from the room,” Coleen informed her. “I think they got into a fight. Professor took us to his room for the movies.” She appeared to consider. “I think Professor was angry too.”

  “Professor seems like a very nice guy,” Jacey remarked then laughed. “He certainly likes horses. Any man who likes horses can’t be all that bad.”

  Monique placed the saddle pad on her horse and leaned on the horse’s neck to look at Jacey. “How old do you suppose Professor is?”

  “Uh, thirty-two, I think he said,” Jacey replied simply.

  “A little too old for me, I suppose,” Monique said with a sad sigh.

  Jacey laughed softly. “He’s practically too old for me,” she remarked. “Ten years older.”

  “Ten years isn’t bad,” Coleen said.

  “Jameson’s ten years older than me,” Jacey said simply. “And we saw nothing eye to eye.” She hesitated then added, “Older men have certain expectations.”

  “So do teenage boys,” Coleen replied dryly.

  Jacey sharply eyed the teenage girl and wondered if they were talking about the same thing. She hoped they weren’t, but there was no telling, and she wasn’t about to ask. The luxury van drove slowly down the dirt driveway and approached the barn. When it stopped, all six scientists got out and approached them. Professor had brand new cowboy boots, designer jeans, and a new cowboy hat on his head. Jacey held back her laugh. Both girls snickered. The only one Jacey was really surprised to see was Angela. She couldn’t imagine her coming along willingly. The woman wore dress slacks, dress boots, and a white, button blouse. The others wore old jeans, old shirts, and sneakers. Timon was the exception. He dressed like a biker in leather with a bandana over his head. Angela eyed the horses and shook her head while pointing. Her upper lip curled snobbishly.

  “We’re riding on them?” she demanded from Maxwell. “They’re so big.”

  Timon excitedly jogged toward the barn and the horses. “I call dibs on the big, black one!”

  Coleen sharply eyed him and clung to her horse’s head. “He’s taken,” she said firmly.

  Jacey chuckled softly. “Never get between a girl and her horse,” she teased. “You can have any of the six on the far end.”

  “What’s wrong with the others?” Timon asked as he approached Jacey while indicating the horses in the pasture.

  “Too young,” she explained. “They’re still in training. I also need to place you according to your past riding experience. Some are more devilish than others.”

  “Ooh, ooh, I want a devilish one,” Professor called after her and hurried to join them.

  Once all the horses were saddled, Jacey and the girls helped the scientists mount. Angela didn’t stop complaining from the moment she sat on the horse. As they rode away from the barn, Maxwell brought up the rear with Angela. Monique and Coleen rode in the front with Professor and Doc, while Jacey stayed in the middle between Timon and Brian. She looked back every couple of minutes to ensure that Maxwell and Angela were still with them. They rode nearly an hour through the woods and fields.

  “We’re going to be so sore tomorrow,” Timon announced and stretched slightly in the saddle.

  “Tomorrow,” Angela remarked from several feet behind. “I’m sore already.”

  “You should be grateful, Angela,” Brian announced with a soft chuckle. “Riding is a great butt conditioner.” He looked behind Jacey and leered lustfully at her backside. “Jacey’s proof of that.”

  Jacey eyed him and attempted a humored smile, but he wasn’t winning any points with her. “You’re such a dog, Brian,” she remarked. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

  Brian chuckled lowly in his throat. “Any position works for me.”

  Jacey rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  “We’re thinking about having him fixed,” Timon added while grinning.

  They approached the tall, steel fence surrounding the institution, though the building could barely be seen from the back of the estate. The four in the front stopped and stared at the back gate. Jacey rode up to them. Doc pointed at the open chain dangling on the gate.

  “I wonder how long that’s been open,” Doc remarked.

  Jacey stared at the cut chain. It looked freshly cut. “I’m sure it wasn’t like that the other day.”

  “I remember it was locked,” Coleen reported.

  “Maybe we should go inside,” Doc suggested.

  Monique rode to the gate, leaned down, lifted the bar, and pushed the gate open. Everyone rode in behind her. They rode at a trot across the flat, lush grounds. Monique and Coleen picked up the pace. Professor loped after them, screaming like a psychotic cowboy. As they approached the front of the institution, they could see the police blazer parked before the main entrance. Doc looked with great interest at the institution and then Deputy Jameson standing before the front door. Jameson appeared startled by their presence, being they came from the back.

  “Is there something wrong, officer?” Doc asked.

  Jameson stepped off the elegant porch and approached them on their horses. “I’m not sure. Are you Dr. Zellner, the person in charge here?”

  Doc nodded.

  “I received an anonymous phone call just a few minutes ago urging me to investigate the institution,” he announced. “Last night, Roseanne Pierce, Dr. Talbert’s nurse, was abducted from her ho
me. At least, it appears that way. Some of her things were gone through, and no one has seen her.”

  “And you suspect she might be within the institution?” Doc asked and seemed curious.

  “Would you object if I had a look around?” Jameson asked simply.

  Doc shook his head. “No, of course I don’t mind. I’ll show you around personally.” He dismounted with some effort and handed the reins to Monique.

  “Why don’t we tie the horses and get a drink inside?” Professor suggested.

  They all agreed. Jacey, Monique, and Coleen tied the horses to the porch. Jacey tied the last horse to the side of the porch and saw a shadow move within the caretaker’s workshop.

  “Are you coming?” Monique called to her.

  Jacey looked at both girls and nodded, although she was clearly distracted by what she’d seen. “You go ahead. I’ll be along in a couple of minutes.”

  Both girls hurried into the house. Jacey stared at the old, rusted door to the caretaker’s workshop and eyed the broken windowpane. She cautiously walked around the side of the huge building and approached the workshop. She heard a metallic clang from the addition. The door was partially opened and old ivy vines had been displaced. She tilted her head to the side and slowly approached the door. Jacey gently pushed it open while standing back. The workshop was filthy and covered in cobwebs and old, rusted tools. She pushed the door further, stepped just inside the doorway, and slowly entered the workshop. The door shut behind her. Jacey jumped and spun around with a startled scream. Asher casually leaned against the back wall next to the old lawn mowers. Jacey’s mouth opened with some surprise. She looked back at the door then to Asher. He smiled delicately and leaned on his cane as he straightened.

  “I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing hiding in the caretaker’s workshop,” he said with some humor.

  “That’s just one of several questions,” she remarked then cocked her head slightly to the side and squinted. “Why are you hiding in here?”

  “I’d really prefer to explain it to you later. I’m sort of in a spot here, and I need an exit.”

  “No kidding!” She once more looked toward the door then took two steps toward him. “If Jameson sees you leaving here, he’ll think you were up to something.”

  “I’m aware of that, Jacey,” he replied casually. “But I think it would be worse if I was found here, don’t you?” His look conveyed he was up to something. “Will you help me?”

  Jacey remained silent a moment then nodded mechanically. “Yes, of course. What would you like me to do?”

  “Keep the others busy while I borrow your horse and slip out the back gate,” he said simply.

  She stared into his blue eyes then nodded.

  “I’ll release your horse within the grounds and collect my jeep on the other side of the woods,” he informed her.

  “Give me a few minutes to locate them,” she said gently then left the workshop.

  Jacey nervously hurried around the institution and entered through the double doors. She could hear voices from the kitchen. Jacey looked around the lounge. She climbed on top of the sofa and began to scream. In a matter of minutes, everyone was within the lounge, staring at her.

  “What is it?” Jameson cried out with concern and looked around the room.

  She pointed across the room toward the bookcase. “It was a snake,” she proclaimed. “It went over there. I think it was poisonous!”

  Angela let out a startled cry, jumped on top of the coffee table, and looked around nervously. One of the horses neighed excitably from outside. Monique and Coleen both looked toward the window and were about to check on the horses. Jacey had to stop their prying eyes.

  “There it is!” she screamed while again pointing across the room.

  Everyone looked in the direction she pointed. Angela screamed hysterically, even though there was nothing to see. Timon jumped on the sofa beside Jacey. She eyed him with surprise. He forced a tiny smile.

  “I, uh, don’t like snakes,” he replied timidly.

  Jameson and Professor looked around the room for several minutes. When they were satisfied it wasn’t coming out from wherever it had slithered, they urged everyone off the furniture. Monique looked out the window.

  “One of the horses got loose,” she said with a sigh then left the lounge to collect it.

  Jacey sighed with relief. Asher had managed to slip away unnoticed. Despite her relief, she intended to have a lengthy discussion with him about his nasty habit of showing up when things looked bad for him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was late afternoon. Monique and Coleen rode their horses around the training ring and playfully jumped their horses over short jumps. They looked in the direction of the porch several times and appeared interested in Jacey’s business. Asher sat on the porch near Jacey while sipping his brandy and stared at his crossed, propped feet on the porch railing across from where he sat. Jacey watched him in silence for a long moment. He obviously knew she was waiting for an explanation, but he never just came out with it. She was always forced to ask him point blank.

  “Do you intend to tell me what you were doing at the institution earlier today?” Jacey finally asked while glaring at him as she sat sideways in her chair.

  Asher stared into his brandy glass, sighed, and took another swallow before responding. “Early this morning I received a phone call. The voice on the line told me to meet them at the institution at one. It was concerning Katie’s death.” He turned his head to look at her. “Of course, I’m the skeptic, but I couldn’t resist the offer. Just to outwit my mysterious caller, I purposely showed up half an hour late. I arrived on the grounds from the back and saw Deputy Jameson pull up looking all-official. Apparently I wasn’t the only one invited to the institution.”

  “But for what reason?” Jacey asked. “Jameson didn’t find anything there. Other than the fact that you were trespassing, what difference would it have made that you were there? Why would someone go to all that trouble?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a sigh. “Someone’s up to something foul. Maybe there was something to be found and our deputy just wasn’t clever enough to find it. I’m a little concerned about Roseanne’s sudden disappearance as well. I can’t help but wonder if it’s tied in somehow.”

  “You had a small argument with Roseanne last night,” Jacey reminded. “Maybe she’s playing you for a fool and staged the entire thing.”

  Asher shook his head without looking at her and appeared concerned. “I don’t think so. I fear Roseanne fell victim to something last night.”

  “You think someone may have killed her?” Jacey suddenly asked and felt alarm sweeping through her. It just didn’t seem possible, and she wondered if Asher was being overdramatic. However, it wasn’t like him. “But for what reason?”

  “I couldn’t even guess,” he replied softly.

  “Well, tell me about the voice on the phone? Was it male or female? Who do you think it could have been?”

  “The voice sounded male, but I can’t be sure. It was whispered in such a manner that it could have been a female lowering her voice.” He then looked at Jacey. “It could have been Jill for all I know. She hates me with a passion. Of course, so does most of the town.”

  Jacey slipped into thought while staring out toward the two girls in the riding ring. Monique stood before her paint horse and made him rear up on his hind legs. The horse towered over the girl with his front hooves thrashing in the air. He landed softly and collected the treat she held in her hand. That girl was a handful. She wanted to scold her, but she had been just as bad when she was her age. Besides, she had more important things on her mind.

  She looked back at Asher and shook her head. “None of this makes any sense.”

  “Of course it doesn’t, but I’m sure it will soon enough.” He placed his feet on the porch and leaned forward. “I need to ask you for another favor.”

  “What sort of favor?” she asked with some conc
ern. His idea of a favor was most times troubling and borderline illegal.

  “I need to get into the institution and have a look around, but I need to be invited.”

  Jacey’s eyes widened with horror. “Are you out of your mind? If anything happens, whoever lured you there might continue with their plan.”

  “Returning to that place won’t exactly be easy for me either,” he announced boldly. “But I need to check on a couple of theories. I can sense something very bad is about to happen, and I’d like to prevent it.”

  Jacey’s eyes were wide with fear. “Then I suggest you keep away from there,” she announced firmly. “This isn’t you fight, Asher. It would probably be best if you looked up an old friend and stayed away for a week or so.”

  He chuckled softly as his smile mocked her. “Are you suggesting I secure an alibi?”

  Her brows raised in response. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea. What if someone has killed Roseanne?” she demanded. “You know you’ll be the first person they question.”

  “Yes,” he replied with a wry smile and seemed a little too proud of his reputation. “My legacy continues.”

  “Not just that, but she was at your house the night she disappeared. Dr. Talbert and Maxwell witnessed the hatred between the two of you. It just looks bad.”

  “Yes, I see your point.” He looked out to the training ring and watched the girls perform. “Tomorrow’s the town fair. Are you taking the girls?”

  She was perfectly aware he was once again changing the subject, but she was too tired to argue the current subject anyway. “They heard about the horse fun show and insisted we go,” Jacey said and forced a tiny smile. “Their rooms are wallpapered with ribbons. I fear to say it, but they both ride better than I do.”

  Asher laughed softly. “And how are you and your young scientist getting along?”

  “Brian?” she asked while raising a curious brow. “He’s nothing to brag about. He’ll eventually get bored and move on.”