Island of Misconception (Unbreakable Genes Book 1)

by H. Caswell

  Johnathan smiles. He knew he could count of Lynn. After all she was a resourceful detective year ago, now a class psychologist herself, she plays the cards well.

  The following day Lynn makes her plea to the Mayor. He pondered it briefly; “I… I do not know about this… who are you again?‘Sighing, she hates repeating herself’ “Lynn, Sir … I want to do a report about Dr. Richardson … and his fine establishment. I believe he should be shared … as a Leading example of Caring and running a Facility … such as his”Tapping his pen looking at Lynn, as the moments pass, thinking‘Yes this could suit our Bronx as well. Far more people will come’Alright dear, I agreeto have a meeting with Alfred.” Later that afternoon the Mayor had his meeting. Alfred wanted no part of it, “NO! NO! NO! I need rest. You have made a circus of my ISLAND!” but as the Mayor continued and sweetens the pot excelling with awards and articles, Alfred‘sighs’ finding himself agreeing, thinking to himself ‘I cannot resist the idea of such a worldhonor of himself’Claire and Charlie complained of the matter once the Mayor hadgone “Alfred it isfoolish to have anyone snooping around” Alfred ‘shrugging it off’ “Deal with it… have you forgotten … who the boss is … I am in charge. You follow my instructions!” Claire storming out of this loft talking to herself‘Alfred, you keep making mistakes. I have warned you’

  The Mayor returned to the docks, giving the go ahead to Lynn, telling her“You can leave in the morning. You are granted to stay for one night twice for a week.” Satisfied, Lynn shaking the Mayor’s hand, “Thank you Sir. You will be proud and satisfied with the results of my report.” Lynn heading into Johnathan’s office, the others gathering as she explains the news. Johnathan now delusional with happiness, hugging Lynn “Oh my girl, I knew I could count on you. Come on, let’s go get …some famous pie and coffee and celebrate.” Later that evening, the gear is packed up, and everyone heads for bed.

  The next morning, the sun just rising as they gathered upon the docks. Johnathan bids themfarewell “Be safe my friends, I will see you soon. If I do not see you back here in two days … I will come finding you.” They had not noticed the Mayor; inside his car waiting, behind them off the dock. As the ship pulled out Johnathan begins down that dock for home. The Mayor rolling his window down and asks for Johnathan to join him briefly.

  The Mayor may well have been played; and now he knew it;“So, I see you finally … finagled a way to get on that island, so sure of yourself …aren’t you.” Johnathan begins to explain his theory,‘his face near the glass whispering’“Sir … I am telling you” but is cut off with the window raising and the Mayor loudly warning “THIS will BE the END of YOUR … career if YOU was wrong” ‘smiling as the car pulls away’

  On the Island, Alfred prepares the group with how things are to go before their nosy guests arrive. “The treatment of Sarah and Kate are to be cared for nice and carefully. Double check to make sure the equipment, is ALL put away, so nobody would ask. Everything … is to be pristine and orderly.” Billy keeping a look out; alerts the others of its arrival …

  They greet the oncoming boat, at the top of the front stairs. Randle is sent to help with their bags. After a formal greeting the guests are brought down the same wing as Charlie, after all; that side is almost a resort compared to the rest of the institution; and old Charlie can help keep an eye at night. Lynn and Melissa are in one room and Joe adjacent to the ladies. Once the guests are settled, a fine lunch prepared of tuna salad and grapes with home squeezed lemons’ for lemon-aid now served. Lynn is granted a personal interview with Alfred in his loft while Joe and Melissa make rounds with Claire.

  Lynn complements Alfred“Your establishment is Beautiful, Sir” as he lights his pipe, “And your office …grand delight.” Alfred offers “Would you likea glass of water‘pouring one from a glass bottle’ please have a seat upon the chase lounge; while we talk and you‘handing her a glass’ write about ourinterview.Taking his seat behind his desk,“Where would you like to start … Lynn?” Smiling at Alfred“Well, how about your parents, how you became into psychology.”Alfred speaks of his beloved father and how he has grown into the man he is because of Thomas. He told the stories of their father- son studies in town. He played a well act to his mother’s situation. Lynn asks “Alfred if you do not mind me asking, why is she not here …with you?”Alfred brushes it off “I suffered so much pain watching… my‘somber voice’ own mother. I believe it would interfere with my abilities‘swallowing hard’ to concentrate on my work.” Lynn acknowledges his story with a delightful smile.

  Alfred asked a few personal questions to Lynn. He, up to his old tricks again begins to sum her up, as her voice speaks, his thoughts, ‘She; a red head with a very fair completion. Her figure … is not too much for me. He finds her breast too small for my liking, but she carries herself as a very confident and intelligent female. I assume her childhood as an average home with both a mother and father. Both; loving nurturing parents. Because she works with colleges, I sees her as having at least one sibling, possibly a younger brother. To me … she is somewhat a bore.’ “Sir are you alright?”Alfred ‘shaking his head’Yes, sorry dear. My brain sometimes, wonders with thoughts to those I am treating. I do apologize” The rest of the conversation about his education. Alfred does not reveal; his fondest lessons.

  Downstairs Claire is taking Joe and Melissa to Sarah and Kate’s room. She leads them through the high-security door. Joe asks “Why such a precaution?” Claire ‘bellowing a laugh’ explains “It is high importance of keeping everyone including thesetwo girls safe”as she opens Sarah’s door. Joe takes mental note, while Melissa pays mind to Claire. Joe’s thoughts ‘The girl is cleaned well, and bears a clean gown; her hair brushed back pulled nicely into a ponytail. A girl who is fragile; asleep… BUT much too thin’leaving the room, Claire; locking it behind them, leads them next to Kate’s room. Joe notices, mentally, ‘a light bruise across her face’ he says nothing ‘hair done the same as the other. She too is asleep and well cleaned’ Melissa notices the bandages upon the wrists and ankles of the girl. Claire tells a lie “Kate has comefor a suicide attempt”. Joe looks a bit concerned and thinks to himself,‘who tries to kill themselves from their feet.’ But he is a good actor and plays stupidly to Claire’s blatant lie.

  Once the inside tour is complete, Charlie takes the two outside and walks them around the property. Randle watches from his cottage window. Charlie tells the stories of the redesigning island “Labor intenseit was, But ‘pointing’ as you can seethe work had been. They find themselves under the big cherry tree taking in the views. Melissa and Joe both confess quietly to each other while Charlie walks on, Joe whispers to Melissa‘something not quite right … with Charlie. He shows signs of depression, perhaps secrets …too sick to share, yet having to.

  Later once dinner had been served, and darkness had set in over the island Joe turned into his room. The two gals into theirs. Having to wait for old man Charlie to sleep finally, before the three could compare notes.

  It was well after mid-night before they could secretly gather into the girl’s room. Lynn discussed the oddness of Alfred“I find it odd not having his ownmother upon the island.” Joe talked about “Kate with her attempted suicide, and I do not like the looks of the … fragile Sarah.” They all agreed on the thoughts Joe hadabout, “There is something not right Old man Charlie.” Melissa shared her concern of the “thin … paleness of Sarah and Kate and why they both were so sound asleep.” Perhaps, Alfred had fooled people not smart enough to know better, their group was not so naïve.

  Joe had returned to his room well after two am. The girls had drifted off to sleep. Joe lay thinking about Kate‘who tries to kill themselves from feet … Something is wrong’ Joe has a knack for the helpless woman. Lynn has spoken with him numerous times about his needing to save beautiful girls. He falls head over heels, sometimes. Kate seems to be no exception. It was around Three AM when Joe, begins hearing, talking. Quietly Joe, listens with his ear to the wall. He hears mumbling
. Slowly, he opens his door, and looks down the hall. No sign, of anyone. He suddenly realizes, the sounds are coming from old man Charlie’s room. Carefully Joe listens as Charlie talks in his sleep. “Where … the girls have gone.” Loudly demanding the answers “where have you put the girls … and why have their screams stopped?” A ruckus from the kitchen sends Joe swiftly back to his room. As Joe lays pretending he is fast asleep, his door opens. Alfred is checking in on his new guest. Joe listens as Charlie is still raving on, and Alfred, checking the girls. Joe finally drifts off to sleep, well after four a.m.

  A knock at the door woke him at seven. Claire announcing“Breakfast and rounds willbe starting.” The three met in the hall. Joe whispers, asking the girls; as they prepare to go for breakfast“Hey, did you ladies hear Charlie screaming” Both replied‘shaking their heads’ No, what happened? Joe answers “We will have to talk about it later. I do not think it is safe …now”

  As Melissa helps Billy with the cleanup, Lynn sets up and begins writing a report of their first day’s events. ‘Oh, she is good with her words.’ This place sounds like some high class resort for vacation as she caters to Alfred’s personality.

  Joe works with Claire. They prepare breakfast for Kate and an IV for Sarah. Claire explains“Sarah has an unwillingness to eat food, the girl throws it on the floor or chokes herself with it.” Joe says nothing as he watches, thinking ‘yeah, right’as they move on to the next. They prepare a tray, Kate’s breakfast is plain oatmeal and a slice, of white toast, along with a paper cup of orange juice. Claire explains,“Only spoons and paper for Kate …for the obvious reasons” ‘pointing to her own hands and feet’ Kate’s breakfast is left to sit in the small hall as they begin with Sarah. Joe helps Claire as they change the girls’ gown and clean her. They change her bedding. As they are dressing Sarah, Joe mentally notes ‘small bruising inside her thighs, and how gauntshe is’

  ‘Unknown to anyone, Randle has become very interested, in the sex department. He has snuck into Sarah’s room while Charlie drank himself to sleep, and Claire and Alfred attend to other things.’

  Joe notes more ‘Her spine and extremities are showing through her very pale,dry skin’ as Claire brushes her hair, clumps fall to the floor. ‘The girl has no expression upon her thin sunken face, baringdark circles’ Joe’s stomach aches from the sight, of the girl. They move on to Kate now. Joe retrieves her cold breakfast as Claire opens the door and flicks the light. Katethinks ‘it is Claire and Randle’ when the light comes on she sees, not well. She mistakes the silhouette of Joe as Randle. Joe is a big guy, with medium brown hair. His face, wearing a five o’clock shadow. As the light becomes easier to handle, Kate’s eyes adjust better. Claire makes her way to her bed. Clairecautions Joe “Watch yourself with her” as she releases the shackles on her wrists and ankles. Joe placing the plate containing her breakfast down on a small table. He prepares to help Claire, to get Kate cleaned up. As Claire moves Kate’s legs off the bed, from the side, Joe notices ‘severeburn on her thigh’ He says nothing but Kate notices him seeing, putting her head down. Joe ‘swallowing hard’ as he begins to walk over and help Claire to remove Kate’s clothing. Suddenly without warning Claire shouts“GET … OUT! LEAVE …NOW! I can do this one MYSELF!” Joe taken back with the tone, leaves the room. Kate know Claire had not wanted for a man to see her body. Claire changes Kate and preps her for breakfast. Claire calls Joe back in “I apologizes for … my outbursts. I forgot about this one’s‘pointing to Kate’ not liking males seeing her nude. Her reaction is Horrible” As Kate tries to eat the cold porridge, she begins to choke. Joe helps her, with a sip of orange juice. Kate looks up to Joe briefly as Claire writes in her chart. She cannot help but notice the kindness in his medium brown eyes ‘Kate sighs’Claire looks up and asks “Are you finished?” Kate had only taken a bite of cereal but did consume the slice of toast, and most of her orange juice, ‘nodding’ yes. Joe removes the tray back out to the hall, as Claire secretly gives Kate another shot and locks the door. As Kate begins to drift off, she wonders‘who was that man’as her eyes become heavy.

  The day had been long, shifts are over, and all have turned in. Again, old man Charlie begins his mumbling, as Joe listens into the situation. After seeing that horrible wound, inside the legs of Kate, and the already wondering of the so called suicide attempt, Joe, knows deeply something is wrong, here. He had not been able to discuss with the girls his thoughts, Claire had Melissa busy with meds and food prep, with Billy. And poor Lynn, was stuck with Alfred; once again all afternoon. He ponders the situation, of little Sarah and how deep her malnutrition, has become. He has anger inside for the presentation of these two girls. Something in Kate’s eyes, spoke to him, so deeply. He lay there all night, listening to Charlie, awaiting the morning.

  The three prepare for their trip back; Alfred escorts them to the dock where a small tug awaits them. He wishes them“A safe journey back to shore andI look forward to your return” ‘knowing inside himself, he is purely lying’ as the ship leaves the dock.

  Upon their return, Johnathan awaits them. He has been waiting two days, to hear of their discoveries, even worrying, if they would come back. They stay up all night discussing their first nights. Joe becomes extremely distraught over the conditions of the two girls. He speaks “There is a major severity … of malnourishment of Sarah. I am concerned for how‘his voice softens with sorrow’much longer she can hold out” pleading his case. His look changes as he speaks of Kate. Lynn notices Joe has a softness and tenderness within his eyes. “First, suicide … then I see a horrific wound on her inner thigh and Claire changed her tune when I prepared to help her clean Kate. We needto do something. Those two girls … are sitting ducks on a pond.” The three listening agree, but it was the confessions of Charlie that sang deep to Johnathan Joe telling “He talks in his sleep. HE asks about the Girls. He is tautened with this. Both nights I heard him.” For the first time Johnathan is receiving information that seals his suspicions of that island and the monster behind it. Lynn tells Johnathan “We have enough evidence now to file a complaint if you wish”. But Johnathan wants more evidence and secure case. He expresseshis concern “You do not undertsand Alfred, being a man of so much money, and the Mayor, heeding his warning.You know damn well… If we are going to win this … we need a lot more” The group except Joe agrees. He explains “There is a greatneed to hurry it along.” Later after the girls had turned in. Joe discusses with Jonathan“It is no secret my dissatisfaction of you … wanting more. While you are … collecting your proof… one of those girls, if not both could die before we save them! All over you needing more evidence,” ‘storming outside to cool off’

  Chapter 18

  Later that night Alfred has a conversation with Claire. Alfred explains to Claire “I am worried of old Charlie’s confessions while he sleeps. I do not believe that the guests had heard Charlie shouting out, for I had checked on them. My concern is grave with the group returning. I have mixed emotions as to handling‘his voice full of sorrow’ the situation, for Charlie is like my second father, but I cannot have him‘swallowing hard’ coming mentally unstable.” Alfred tells the signs he has seen in his friend since the last group of girls. “Charlie he cries and swallows the whiskey he hasnot touched in years.” Both agree something‘she very annoyed while she listens’ needs to be done soon. But neither concur to the right form of action. They agree, “For now it will wait.” Alfred requests “Claire, Please escort Kate to my loft. I feelthe need for some private work.” Understanding Alfred, has become easy for her, she kindly reminds him“You must be easy. Do you think this time is wise … Alfred?” Looking up from his desk, annoyed with her question “Claire ‘his eyes glaring’you leave the worrying to me. Just bring her to me.”

  Kate is asleep, she has been taken, yet again to a place. ‘The same blonde woman is yelling at the girl. Kate watches, the anger build, as the woman takes hold of the blonde hair, of the girl, she begins to pull and pull the hair of the child, as she co
ntinually slaps her across the face. The girl's cheeks are red as blood as the woman continues to beat her. Thrashing the child on the floor now, she begins to smash her head, upon the floor by her hair. The child pleas, for her to stop. Kate observes helplessly, unable to do anything. She has tried to yell at the woman; it does nothing. She tried to stop the woman by grabbing her; hands go through as if, she a ghost. There is nothing Kate can do. Silence finally comes as the woman leaves the child upon the floor. The little one picks herself up and cleans her bloodied lip in the sink. She brushes her hair, so easy for the pain still burns, bumps cover her head. Kate tries to talk to the girls, asking who she is and why this woman does these things. But the child does not answer. For she cannot hear Kate.

  Kate, awoken by Claire pulling her arms, out of the shackles. Claire tells Kate “You have an appointment‘smiling’ with Alfred ‘her tone is sarcastic’as she get the girl out of bed, escorting, Kate to the third floor. Kate walks slowly, Claire shoves her, faster. As they reach the door to Alfred’s loft, Claire reminds Kate‘You best remember … the last time. Do what he says … or you will feel it all over again.” Alfred, seated in his chair, pipe in mouth, when Claire seats Kate onto the chaise lounge. A roaring fire; blazing, gives the room a glow. Kate hears the door close behind her. Now she is alone with Alfred. He begins the evening with his questions again. Kate has no answers for him. She still yet has no idea of his asking.