by Paris Morgan
Paris Morgan
Virgo
Murders of the Zodiac
Book #8
Copyright © 2019 Alathia Paris Morgan writing as A.P. Morgan
Virgo-Murders of the Zodiac Book 8
This is a work of fiction and in no way is meant to portray actual people, names, places, events or situations. The ideas were from the author’s own imagination and any resemblance to people living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in the case of quotations for articles and reviews.
Editing by: Rebel Edit & Design
Book cover: Widget Wyvern Studios
Interior formatting: That Formatting Lady
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
A Note from the Author
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my Grandmother. The most amazing and inspiring lady I know, love you, Granny.
More from Paris Morgan
Murders of the Zodiac
Aquarius Book 1
Pisces Book 2
Aries Book 3
Taurus Book 4
Gemini Book 5
Cancer Book 6
Leo Book 7
Virgo Book 8
Libra Book 9
Scorpio Book 10
Sagittarius Book 11
Capricorn Book 12
Surviving Death
Witness Protection Book 1
Writing as Alathia Morgan
Against Zombies Series
Moms Against Zombies Book 1
Military Against Zombies Book 2
Co-Eds Against Zombies Book 3
Churches Against Zombies Book 4
Geeks Against Zombies Book 5
Governments Against Zombies Book 6
Infected History Series
Infected Waters: A Titanic Disaster
Infected Poppy Fields: A WWI Disaster
Infected Storm Troopers: A WWII Disaster
Writing Romance as Pepper Paris:
Summer of Love
Carter: Summers of Love 1
Kelly: Summers of Love 2
Wade: Summers of Love 3
Jay: Summers of Love 4
Chapter 1
Leslie
“No!”
A scream erupted through my lips as my friend, Kara, slipped to the floor, unconscious.
Even though I was a cop, I could only stand there as I watched the people I’d been getting to know over the past month topple onto the floor.
How could I have let this happen? We’d been vigilant in making sure that no one could slip something into our drinks.
Wait…why was I still up and moving around?
A team of FBI agents and police officers surrounded the victims, trying to revive anyone they could. That’s when I saw the man standing in the doorway. He was supposed to have been our guest speaker.
My feet finally started to move, and I walked slowly in his direction.
David Wilson stood there, waiting for me with a smile.
“So, did you figure it out?”
My fist was halfway to his face as his words registered in my brain. “Figure what out?” My hand stopped mid-air, waiting for him to continue.
“This month’s weapon. Did you figure it out?”
“People are dying, and you think this is some game?” I spat at him, wishing I could wipe the smug look off his face.
“Of course it’s a game, Leslie, it always has been. You’re just now beginning to see how it’s played. Make sure to R.S.V.P. to the event, because you don’t want to miss anything.” He turned to walk away.
Instinct finally kicked in and I reached for his arm, but he was just out of reach. He picked up the pace as I followed, ready to tackle him.
With a lunge, I felt my body move forward, but he easily sidestepped me.
“Tsk-tsk-tsk. You should know better than to try something like that in your condition.”
I leaned a hand against the wall as he became two people…or was it three?
Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus, but could feel myself losing the battle as his arm went around me.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he whispered in my ear as he ushered us out the nearest exit.
He gently laid my body on the floor of the catering van, sticking a pillow under my head. “We’re finally going to meet him. The true believers.” The door rolled shut with a slam, causing me to wince.
“It’s time to meet the master,” was the last thing I heard as my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.
“No,” a scream erupted from my lips as my friend, Kara slipped to the floor unconscious.
Even though I was a cop, all of my instincts were frozen as I watched all the people I’d been getting to know over the past month toppled to the floor.
How could I have let this happen? We’d been vigilant and worked hard to make sure there wasn’t a way for someone to slip something into our drinks. Wait, why was I still up and moving around?
A team of FBI and police officers surrounded everyone trying to get them to revive which is when I saw the man standing in the doorway. He was supposed to have been our guest speaker.
My feet became unrooted and I walked slowly in his direction while looking around so that I didn’t startle him.
David Wilson stood waiting for me with a smile.
“So did you figure it out?”
My fist was halfway to his face as the words registered in my brain. “Figured what out?” My hand stopped mid-air waiting for him to continue.
“This month’s weapon, did you figure it out?”
“People are dying and you think this is some game?” I spat at him wishing I could wipe the smug look off of his face.
“Of course it’s a game Leslie. It always has been, you’re just now beginning to see how it’s played. Make sure to R.S.V.P. to the event because you don’t want to miss anything.” He turned to walk away.
Instinct finally kicked in and I reached for his arm, but he was just out of reach. He picked up the pace as I followed ready to tackle him.
With a lunge, I felt my body move forward as he easily sidestepped me.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…you should know better than to try something like that in your condition.”
I leaned a hand against the wall as he became two people or was it three?
Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus, but could feel myself losing the battle as he arm went around me.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” He whispered in my ear as he pushed open the nearest exit and helped me walk out of the building.
He gently laid my body on the floor of the catering van, sticking a pillow under my head. “We’re finally going to meet him. The true believers.” The door rolled shut with a slam that made my face wince.
“It’s time to meet the master.” Was the last thing I heard as my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.
I woke with a start. It had all seemed so real. Who was Kara? Why hadn’t I gotten sick when everyone else had? Was this a dream of the future?
***
A Month Earlier
Kara
I went to gather the mail and bring it inside for my mother, who has a bad hip and couldn’t get around too easily.
“Anything good today? Did we win the Publishers Clearing House?” she called out as the door clicked shut behind me.
“Not today, Ma. Maybe tomorrow,” I answered cheerfully as I flipped through the stack of envelopes.
Bills from the doctor and hospital were on top, but a shiny envelope with my name, Kara, scrolled across the front
stood out.
I dropped the mail onto the table and sank into a chair. Using the letter opener, I slid it underneath the embossed seal and pulled the thick card out.
“You’ve been invited to the birthday extravaganza of the year. Great,” I muttered to myself. “Just what I need, a party, when I have all these bills piling up.” There was no point in reading the rest of the card because I wouldn’t be able to attend any events in the near future. I put the invite on top of the bills and stood.
“Back to the work grind,” I groaned, stretching my arms above my head. “Ma, I’m going back. Is there anything you need before I go?” I stood just out of sight so I didn’t get sucked into a conversation about the current drama of her soap opera.
“No, honey, I’m fine for now. When you take a lunch break, I’ll have you help me get up and move around.”
I blew out a relieved sigh and hurried down the dark paneled hallway into what most would consider a broom closet.
A tiny window let in only a small bit of daylight, but it was enough that I didn’t feel like I was in prison. The desk I worked at wasn’t fancy, but considering the fact that we’d picked it up off the curb and given it a fresh coat of paint, it suited me well enough.
My headset beeped and I plugged it into the desktop computer as I took my seat. “Resume.” I issued the command that would connect me to the next caller with a technical issue. The invitation I’d received would collect dust as it sat unread on the table.
***
Three days later, my mom was in the hospital due to a fall. They were going to put her in a rehab for the next few weeks to help her after surgery.
I walked into the quiet house and started laughing. I’d always wanted to have a few minutes to myself, not getting interrupted by her calling my name, and now that I did, I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
Food—that was a good place to start. So I walked over and popped a microwave dinner in because I wasn’t going to cook a meal for just one person.
When it dinged, I placed the tray on a hot pad and carried it over to the table. I pulled the cover off and let the steam rise as I cleared the mail off the table. I really wanted to just throw it all in the trash can, but my sense of responsibility would take over before the first piece could hit the bag.
Even though I couldn’t get rid of it, I could remove it from my sight so I didn’t get depressed every time I had a meal for the next month.
Suddenly determined, I grabbed the nearest packing box from a delivery and started forcefully shoving the piles into it.
One letter fluttered to the floor. When I bent to pick it up, I realized it was the birthday event invite.
You’ve been invited to a birthday extravaganza. Come and relax while we take care of you in honor of your birthday. There is no cost for this offer, as a generous donation was made so that people like you could have an opportunity to escape their everyday problems for a while.
My fingers were dialing the number before I could even register why.
“Hello, you’ve reached the Happy Hills Rehabilitation Facility. How may I help you?”
A frown fluttered across my face. “Rehabilitation facility?”
“Yes, ma’am. We are here to help those who are overworked, stressed out, or dealing with grief and loss. We help you recover from whatever is ailing you and help to bring you to a greater understanding of yourself,” the cheerful woman explained.
“So it’s not a place for drug addicts or old people to recover?” Doubt crept into my voice as I realized I could just stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet.
“No, ma’am. It’s for all ages, but we specialize in rehabilitating your life so that you can function with ease through all of your worries and problems. How did you hear about us?”
I rubbed the embossed seal on the envelope. “I got an invitation for the birthday extravaganza.”
“The birthday package is a pampering session for those who have a birthday during the sign of Virgo. We believe that to have a wonderful experience, you have to learn about who you are, and that includes a passing knowledge of your zodiac sign. Were you born during August 23rd to September 22nd?”
“Uh, yeah.” This sounded too good to be true. “How are we picked for this offer?”
“Well, the computer uses a database and finds those who have a birthday near a particular timeframe. The invitations are sent out and we screen those who call in by doing a simple background check and interview upon arrival. The process is to keep out those who are just trying to get a free ride by saying they need help or accepting the offer when it’s not their birthday.”
“I see. How long would I be there?”
“As long as you want during the sign of your month, or until the birthday dinner at the end. It’s a really big deal.”
I looked around my home, seeing the peeling paint, and a list of repairs that would need to be done.
“I’m in. How do I sign up?” I knew as the words came out of my mouth that they felt right. I had a little money left over that would cover the household bills while Mom was out. I had to take the chance and the offer while I could. I might never get another chance to get out if I didn’t leave now.
“You’ll just need to give me the invitation code and your information. Then I can coordinate your arrival schedule and send you an email with all the details.”
Minutes later, I was signed up to arrive the next morning, and I sat down to eat a cold dinner, hoping that I had enough good clothes for a place like that.
While I rarely made impulsive decisions, I felt that at the age of twenty-five, it was time to do something for me instead of waiting for my life to start.
There was only one thing left to do, and that was to notify my employer that I was going to be gone for a while. I’d never taken a vacation, and I had plenty of days racked up, so I should be good for a little while.
***
Leslie
As I got out of the vehicle, I looked around with wary eyes.
“Are you sure that I need to be here for an entire month? I’m not the country club type,” I protested, taking in the manicured lawn and prestigious mansion.
“Yep. Nothing you can say will get you out of it.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “Do I have to dress up?”
Adam let out a hearty laugh. “I don’t believe it’s a requirement. Regular hygiene and clothes that cover your body should be sufficient.”
“Please, oh please, put some clothes on. I don’t need to see parts on my partner that will make me want to burn my eyes out.” Ryan playfully covered his eyes.
“Ryan, don’t look now, but I’m flashing you a bit of ankle. I hope your retinas can handle it,” I joked, enjoying the camaraderie.
“Girl, we can’t have those ankle flashing.” Adam winked at me. “You’ll be having all the boys within a fifty-mile radius coming to check them out.”
“Well, from the looks of this place, I’m going to need something to help keep me entertained.” I squinted as a woman about my age came down the front steps with a basket.
“I swear, you both got me into this mess, and I’m going to make sure you have some payback coming,” I warned through gritted teeth.
“Now Leslie, you’re going to just love the shock therapy treatments,” Adam teased.
The welcome party just happened to hear his comment, and her shocked face didn’t have time to recover before we were inside.
“Sir, we’re not a mental facility, and shock therapy has been outlawed for a while now. I’ll have you know there have never been any accusations of this kind before. We’re an aboveboard facility that helps people. We don’t hurt them,” she hastened to reassure us.
“I’m certain you don’t. Adam Dalca, at your service.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it.
“Oh, well, in that case…” She blushed, flustered at his attention. “Let’s get you checked in. You must be Leslie. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Thank yo
u. I’m sure that your facility will be just what the doctor ordered to help me get myself back on track.”
“It was a bit out of the ordinary for the F—well, your company to make such a request, but we’re glad to help. We only allow women to take the course, so we’ve had to put you gentlemen in one of our cottages on the grounds instead of here in the mansion.”
“We’ll need to be able to keep an eye out in case there’s trouble,” Ryan protested.
I simply rolled my eyes. It wasn’t as if I had become a cop yesterday or something. “I’ll be fine, and you can check on me frequently.”
“Yes, her safety is very important to us. We’ll have an access card for each of you, but I don’t want to hear a word that you’re using it for other unpleasant activities. Our women, and a few men, come here to get rest and recuperate, not have unwanted attentions from the opposite sex.” She shook a finger in warning.
“No, ma’am. There won’t be any unwanted attentions from either of us. I’m engaged, and Adam here just started dating one of our good friends. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Ryan bit his lip, trying not to laugh.
“Make sure to wear your lanyards at all times so that you’re able to get into your rooms.” She gave each of us a few papers to fill out. “Ms. Boxe, you’ll have an hour to get settled, and then you’ll make your way to the counselor’s office for your intake interview.”
“I was hoping we could forget that?” I whispered as I leaned forward.
“Not a chance.” Adam slung an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll make sure she’s there.”
“Well, no one is forced to attend, although we do recommend it so we can get an idea of how much help you need to receive.”
“Right, it’s all optional,” I groaned, but it came out as more of a growl.
“Watch out, she bites,” Adam warned with a raised eyebrow.
