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.
He looked past her at the two girls, who cleaned their dishes a little too thoroughly, indicating they were possibly listening to their conversation. He looked back at her.
“Could I speak to you a moment outside?”
Jacey sighed and followed him onto the porch. He turned to face her and shook his head while studying her.
“You know how I feel about you associating with Konrad Asher,” he announced. “You were too young to understand what happened, but you have to trust me when I tell you to stay away from him. At the very least, he’s insane.”
Jacey cocked her head to one side. “You’re a lawman, Jameson. Surely, you understand innocent until proven guilty. They’ve never been able to prove Asher murdered his wife.”
“I know they haven’t,” he replied. “I never believed he killed his wife, but I do, however, believe he killed Hal Burgess.”
“I don’t know how you can assume there was a killing. They never found the guy--dead or alive.” Her brows raised. “Or do you think he ate him too?”
Jameson sighed and shook his head. “I’ve known Asher for a long time. He’s very intelligent and rather tricky. And since his wife died, I’d say he’s very dangerous.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she muttered with disinterest. “Thanks for stopping by, Jameson, but I’d better get back to the movie before I miss the ending.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said with a tone of defeat.
Jacey entered the kitchen and saw both girls straining to look out the window by the sink as the police blazer drove away from the house and up the long, dirt driveway. Monique and Coleen spun to face Jacey with matching grins.
“It would seem the deputy is still an interested party where you’re concerned,” Monique said with a giggle.
“He’s kind of cute too,” Coleen added.
“Smothering and possessive would be the description I’d choose,” Jacey replied. “In the two weeks we’d dated, he was here four times a day while on duty, and then he’d spend the entire evening here. I couldn’t make a move without his knowing about it, and there were constant questions if I happened to slip out of his sight.”
“Too bad,” Coleen said. “I think it�
��d be cool to date a country cop. They all look so handsome wearing those gun belts and cowboy hats.”
Jacey laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, that’s probably the reason I went out with him too.”
Chapter Seven
The rain poured down over the small town. It was a little before noon when Jacey and the two girls ran into the quaint little diner. They stopped just inside to remove their soaking wet jackets. The waitress, Tiffany, approached them by the coat rack.
“Afternoon, Jacey,” Tiffany said cheerfully. “Bit dreary out today.”
Jacey moaned and forced a tiny smile. “Hasn’t stopped since late last night,” she replied to the waitress.
“I just hope we have good weather for the town fair. Hot cocoa?” Tiffany asked.
All three nodded then sat down at an empty booth. The diner was particularly busy that afternoon. It was always its busiest on rainy days. The diner seemed to turn into a social gathering for farmers and housewives when it rained. The waitress was prompt with their hot chocolate despite the small crowd. Jacey stared out the window at the heavy rain and shook her head.
“I guess we were due for some rain,” she announced with a defeated sigh.
“No riding today,” Coleen muttered with a frown.
Jill Sutten, now in her late thirties, approached their table appearing cheerful. The last ten years had taken their toll on Jill. She almost looked older than she was, but there had been rumors that she took up drinking as a hobby after the death of her brother. Jacey never understood Jill’s relationship with her brother. From what she heard, her brother had been committed before he even reached puberty. Her family moved to town when her brother was transferred to the infamous institution. By all accounts, her brother was a known threat to himself and others.
“Good morning, Jacey,” Jill said with a pleasant smile and looked at the two girls. “These young ladies must be your houseguests.”
Jacey wondered how Jill knew she even had houseguests. The gossip grapevine was faster than the internet in Stony Ridge. She introduced both girls to Jill, who appeared pleasant but promptly returned her attention to Jacey. Her expression became serious with a look of desperation. She extended a folded paper.
“Would you sign this petition to stop them from reopening the institution?” Jill asked.
Jacey eyed her skeptically. “I don’t think that’ll matter at this point. The building’s already been sold and renovations are mostly complete.”
Jill frowned with apparent disgust. “That place must never be opened again. It’s cursed,” she insisted. “If they open it, more people will die.”
Jacey rolled her eyes and looked away a moment. Monique and Coleen looked at each other with apparent doubt to the woman’s sanity. Jill was becoming more paranoid with each passing year. She often spoke of curses. Jacey looked at the paper briefly and noted the signatures on it. She looked back at Jill and returned the paper unsigned.
“I heard there’s a group of scientists moving into the old institution,” Jacey announced with a tiny smile. “They’ll be studying the stars, fossils, and other scientific areas. The main building is going to be made into a museum with archaeological finds, dinosaur bones, and educational displays.”
“They’re going to do experiments on animals, make chemicals that could harm our town, pollute our water, and kill organic life,” Jill insisted. “No good will ever come from that place. It should be torn down and made into a park to remember those who’d died there.”
Jacey raised her brow. “A park behind the town cemetery? Hardly. Besides, we already have a big park just three blocks down the road.”
“Do you approve of animal research, Jacey?” Jill demanded to know. “If your father was alive today, he’d be helping to fight this atrocity.”
Jacey inhaled deeply then leaned toward the woman. “If my father was alive today, he’d tell you just what I’m about to tell you. The new institution will be highly educational and profitable for both the town and future generations. There will be no chemicals to speak of and certainly no experiments on animals. There’ll just be old fossils and a huge telescope sticking out the top of the building, which I assure you won’t transmit radiation or signal alien attackers. The building isn’t and never was cursed.”
Jill appeared annoyed. She huffed, snatched the paper, and glared at Jacey. “I should’ve expected that from a friend of his,” she hissed as her temper quickly rose. “You just wait and see. When more people die, you’ll be just as responsible as the others who allowed them to open that place.”
All three watched Jill storm across the diner and to a small table with four other women. The five women were the town’s busybodies, known for causing trouble. They were also partially responsible for the town’s attitude toward Asher. If it were up to them, Asher would’ve been lynched from the tallest tree in Town Square.
“She’s a bit eccentric,” Monique said under her breath.
Jacey shook her head and sighed. “Her brother died in the institution fire ten years ago. She couldn’t find anyone to hold accountable, not for lack of trying. Now she’s blaming some curse for the trouble there. If you ask me, she’s more insane than her brother ever was.”
“So we see,” Coleen replied dryly.
Tiffany approached their table with a tiny smile on her face. “You could’ve saved yourself her wraith had you just signed her stupid paper,” she remarked. “Half the people who signed it just wanted to get her away from them. It’s not going to matter anyway.”
“I’m sure it won’t, but I don’t want anyone to think I support that rubbish.”
“It’s always entertaining to watch a confrontation with Jill,” Tiffany giggled. “She’s pretty amusing when she starts with that curse stuff.”
“Unfortunately, there are many people in this town who are crazy enough to believe her,” Jacey replied.
“This town never was high on intelligence,” Tiffany said. “They’ll believe just about anything.”
She took their lunch order then left the table. Jacey glanced around the crowded diner. She saw Roseanne Pierce, now in her mid-thirties, approach the crowded counter. Roseanne wore a conservative nurse’s scrub uniform with cartoon animals on her scrub top. She had been working the last nine years as Dr. Talbert’s nurse. Dr. Talbert was now the town’s general practitioner. He had an excellent practice since the institution closed. Derek Falcone, the diner’s short-order cook, approached Roseanne and appeared cheerful.
“Here for your take-out?” he said a little too cheerfully. He was obviously smitten with the still beautiful nurse.
Roseanne returned the smile with less interest in him despite his attractiveness. “Yeah, I’m here for Dr. Talbert’s usual.”
“Liverwurst,” Derek remarked with a look of distaste. “I don’t know how he can eat that stuff every day.” His smile broadened. “I’ll get your order. Give me a minute.”
Roseanne nodded and looked around the crowded diner. Her eyes suddenly rolled back. Jill was standing directly in front of her with her petition clutched firmly in hand.
“Hey, Rosy,” Jill announced with a smirk chiseled on her face. “I’m trying to get a petition passed against the reopening of--”
“I know what you’re peddling,” Roseanne suddenly snapped with hatred in her eyes. “Get away from me with that paper!”
Several patrons suddenly turned and looked at Roseanne, having heard her raised voice. Jill looked stunned by the hostility.
“But you don’t even--”
“I don’t care,” Roseanne retorted. “You and your little petitions nearly cost me my livelihood. I lost my job when you and your cronies petitioned to have the institution shutdown. I was lucky enough to become Dr. Talbert’s nurse, but some of my friends weren’t so lucky. It’s because of you they all moved away to find work. So you just stay the hell away from me.”
Derek approached the inside counter with Roseanne’s take-out bag and eyed Jill sternly.
&
nbsp; “I think you’d better go back to your table and mind your own business, Jill,” Derek informed her. “This is a diner; not your personal forum.”
Jill sneered at Derek and returned to her table. Roseanne frowned and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Derek,” she said softly while running trembling fingers through her hair. “That woman just brings out the worst in me.”
“You and everyone else,” Derek chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.”
Roseanne smiled her appreciation, paid for her lunch, and left the diner. Derek stared after her until she was gone. Jacey glanced at Monique and Coleen and held her breath.
“Tensions are certainly high today,” Jacey muttered.
“I’m surprised someone hasn’t whacked Jill,” Monique casually remarked and immediately received stares from Jacey and Coleen. She saw them staring at her and apparently realized she’d spoken aloud. She smiled with embarrassment. “Sorry, I’ve read one too many detective novels.”
The door to the diner opened and several men in suits and trench coats entered. Several heads turned to watch them, indicating they were strangers. Jacey followed tradition and looked as well. They hung up their wet trench coats, proceeded past her table, and took a larger table near the back. There were five men and one woman all dressed for business. Tiffany scurried to their table with typical curiosity on her mind. Most strangers came to their town purely by accident. The five gossiping biddies were only two tables away, stretching their necks to have a look at the newcomers. Their lack of discretion was almost humorous.
“Plenty of interest in that group, huh, Jacey?” Coleen said with less interest now. “They look like a bunch of pompous scientists to me.”
Jacey nodded then minded her cocoa. “Might be just that,” she replied.
“Not a bad looking bunch,” Monique remarked while sipping her hot chocolate. She purposely left the whipped cream on her upper lip and tried to make Coleen laugh.
Coleen rolled her eyes at her friend’s warped sense of humor. “The waitress seems to think so too,” Coleen added and watched Tiffany flirt with the men.
The Deadliest Institution Collection Page 6
