The Deadliest Institution Collection

by Holly Copella

  Jacey felt compelled to look in the direction of the table full of strangers. Tiffany was using her standard body language on a particularly handsome man with a clean-cut, youthful face. He had a modern haircut, which was short on the sides and slightly longer on top with stray locks falling into bangs. Jacey had to admit he was handsome. She had a sneaky suspicion about handsome men. Too often, they knew they were handsome and reeked of arrogance. Jacey now felt compelled to scan the other four men and woman. The woman was rather serious looking and refined adding an odd sort of attractiveness about her. She wore her nearly black hair back in a bun. Her lips were red and pinched in an almost prudish manner. She was more than likely stuck on herself. There was a definite class about the woman, which almost made Jacey envious. She was undoubtedly respected, which was something Jacey couldn’t seem to achieve but desperately sought. Men seemed to come on hard then react defensively when she’d turn them down. It appeared some thought country girls were easily had.

  One of the other men was in his fifties. He was distinguished looking with gray hair, a gray beard, and a pleasant smile. He appeared to be the typical grandfather type. There was a heavyset man with slightly longer hair. He appeared pleasant and smiled most of the time. He also did most of the talking and was rather loud. Another man was thin, tall, and lanky with light brown hair. He appeared fairly serious. He seemed to order something Tiffany couldn’t comprehend. The last man wore black rimmed glasses that screamed computer nerd while he read the menu. He had short, dark hair and the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. When Tiffany spoke to him, he appeared shy and barely made eye contact. He removed his glasses and spoke to the prissy woman beside him. Before Jacey could mind her own business, the handsome first man caught her gaze. She forced a tiny, embarrassed smile then looked back at Monique and Coleen.

  “So what would you like to do today since riding is out?” Jacey asked curiously.

  The table with the six scientists became slightly loud with laughter, mostly caused by the heavyset man. Most of the locals stared at them and talk quietly. The rumor mill would be working overtime tonight.

  “I want to tour the institution,” Monique chirped.

  “You what?” Jacey asked with some surprise.

  “Yeah, let’s check it out,” Coleen agreed. “It’s kind of like a historical site--rich with culture and scandal.”

  “They don’t give tours,” Jacey informed them firmly.

  “Oh, come on,” Monique whined. “Surely you know someone who could get us in. You said you were going to do a story for the paper.”

  “Yeah,” Coleen jumped in. “If those are the scientists, you could arrange to do an interview or something.”

  “Okay,” Jacey said with a sigh. “After we eat, I’ll go over there and introduce myself. I’ll see if they’re who I think they are and see about an interview, but you can’t possibly expect that to happen today.”

  Before their food arrived, the handsome man of the strangers, Brian Murdock, approached their table. He smiled charmingly at Jacey.

  “Excuse me, but I’m sure I know you from somewhere,” he said with conviction.

  Jacey stared at him with astonishment. How stupid did he think she was? She then forced a tiny smile and decided to play along for the sake of the girls and the article.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met before. I never forget a face,” Jacey announced.

  He laughed softly. “Perhaps it was in one of my fondest dreams,” Brian said warmly and perfectly timed his charming grin. “I’ve been searching for you my entire life.”

  Jacey couldn’t believe the old pickup lines he was using. She thought she at least deserve some fresh lines. She held back her laughter, though her smile mocked him.

  “How interesting,” she replied and was unsure if she was more humored or insulted by the pickup line.

  “It’s destiny that brought us here together,” he continued with a warm smile.

  Monique and Coleen giggled softly. Obviously, they read him loud and clear also. If he couldn’t fool teenage girls with his bad pickup lines, how did he ever expect her to fall for them? Again, she continued to play along. She was actually starting to enjoy this game they were playing. It seemed inconceivable that he was a scientist. He didn’t sound very intelligent. Maybe he was so smart; he didn’t think some simple, country girl could comprehend his game.

  “Maybe it is,” Jacey announced simply, throwing it back at him. “You wouldn’t happen to be one of the scientists moving into the old institution, would you?” she asked.

  He appeared surprised, though he wouldn’t if he’d lived in their town. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. Almost everyone within the diner knew who they were the moment they walked through the door, even if they were a week early.

  “Yes,” he replied more naturally. “We just arrived in town last night.” His sincerity was immediately replaced with his failed attempt at charm. “Ironic that we should meet the very moment I enter town. You must see it too.”

  Jacey normally would’ve laughed and walked away by this point, but she had a mission in mind and two teenage girls to entertain on a rainy, dreary day.

  “Yes, I do,” she replied in all seriousness and added a slightly dreamy smile to lure him into her web. “Actually, I’ve been waiting for your arrival.”

  The man was again surprised then smiled with arrogance. “You have?”

  “Yes,” she replied in her best sexy tone then immediately turned professional on him. “I’m a journalist with our local paper. I’d like to come to the institution today, if it’s convenient for you and your colleagues, and conduct an interview on your current and future projects. It’s also been about ten years since anyone’s set foot inside the old building. I’d love to have a look around and see what changes have been made.”

  Brian was completely astonished. Jacey was beginning to think she had him almost convinced it was destiny that brought them together.

  “Talk about fate,” he said with conviction in his tone. “I’m sure Dr. Zellner wouldn’t mind. In fact, he’d welcome any good publicity connected to the institution.”

  “It’s going to be a story to help put the fears of the town aside,” she informed him. “This town has a tendency to be very narrow-minded.”

  “So I’ve heard,” he replied with a genuine smile. “We’d appreciate some positive response on our research. Public relation is very important in these small towns. When will you be dropping by?”

  “Would this afternoon be okay?” she asked with some apprehension.

  “It’ll be a bit cluttered. We haven’t really had a chance to go through a lot of things, but today will work just fine,” he said with a soft laugh then extended his hand. “I’m Brian Murdock.”

  “Jacey McMurray.”

  “Are these your sisters?” he asked and looked at both girls seated in the booth.

  He had to know they weren’t. She laughed softly and marveled at this man. He missed his calling selling snake oil. “My cousin, Monique, and her friend, Coleen.”

  He nodded politely to both of them.

  Chapter Eight

  The local newspaper press was barely two rooms attached onto the pharmacy next door. Monique and Coleen poked around the old-fashioned press while Jacey talked to the blonde woman, Shelly, by the counter. The business was still run as it had been for decades and the old press was still used on occasion, although Shelly, the owner’s daughter, was slowly transferring the press into the digital age. Jacey looked at the moderately large digital camera then to Shelly and frowned.

  “I’m not sure about taking my own photos,” Jacey informed the woman. “You should see the photos I took last Christmas. I couldn’t tell the tree from my mother.”

  Monique sprang forward eagerly and grinned. “I can take pictures. I’m an excellent photographer.”

  Coleen nodded. “She takes great pictures of our horses.”

  “I really want some pictures of the inside of the institut
ion,” Shelly said. “No one’s been inside for ten years. I’m sure seeing it will change some opinions, once they see there aren’t any ghosts or demons.”

  Jacey jotted some notes on her tablet then sighed. “Should I interview the man in charge or all six?”

  “All six, if possible,” Shelly replied. “Have them tell you what their special area is and what they’ll be contributing to the foundation on a whole.” Shelly’s look was serious. “Make sure there’s a positive side to benefit the town.”

  Jacey nodded and checked the small tape recorder. “I’m not used to interviews with actual people. I hope I don’t stumble over myself.”

  “You can’t write about the collapse of old mines all your life, Jacey,” Shelly said firmly. “You have to graduate to actual people eventually. I’m getting tired of the same old interviews from Brenda.” Shelly’s eyes suddenly strayed to the front of the press as the door opened. Her smile faded. “Speaking of the she-devil--”

  Jacey glanced toward the front of the press. An attractive woman in her late twenties with raven black hair and milky skin entered the press. She had a flawless figure with proudly displayed cleavage that screamed ‘squeeze me’. It’s not as if Jacey and Brenda were rivals in the sense that they liked the same men, they were just rivals over top stories for the paper. Jacey’s stories almost always played second fiddle to Brenda’s stories. Of course Brenda’s stories were better; there was usually a lot of pillow talk involved in her interviews.

  Shelly pat Jacey on the back. “Good luck. I won’t tell her about the scientists arriving early, but she’s bound to find out on her own pretty fast, so get your article to me as soon as possible.”

  Jacey nodded but wasn’t sure she liked the added pressure. As they turned to leave, Brenda smirked at Jacey and gave her the standard, disinterested nod. She obviously felt she was above Jacey, and Jacey was pretty sure she was right.

  “Soliciting another article about the mayor’s garden?” Brenda mocked with a twisted smile on her nearly perfect face.

  Jacey found dealing with Brenda exhausting. She smirked without comment and ushered both girls from the press. She didn’t want to admit how much she hated Brenda, because she refused to believe she hated anyone, but there were days she wanted pluck every black hair from her head. Judging by the looks she received from both girls, they were silently wondering why she didn’t do just that. Truth was, Jacey could have a headline article that would stun and shock the town while shutting Brenda’s mouth once and for all, but she wasn’t about to act on it. Asher had offered to do an interview with Jacey to further her career, but she refused to print anything about him that would stir more controversy and cause problems for him. It was generous of him, but she couldn’t do that to him. If the town knew her true relationship to Asher, they’d be shocked. The three left the press with the professional looking camera. Jacey could see several people standing on their porches, gawking at the scientists leaving the diner. She immediately wondered if Brenda had noticed or not. Of course, she noticed. How could she not notice? The scientists piled into a white, luxury van. It was still raining quite heavily, but that didn’t stop the nosy townspeople from standing around and gossiping.

  “What does this town do for fun?” Coleen asked. “Watch paint peel?”

  “Oh, no,” Jacey said cheerfully. “Their main objective is to persecute the innocent, ridicule the weak, and condemn those who dare think differently.”

  Monique aimed the camera at two older women on their porch, staring intensely at the van as it pulled away from the diner. She snapped a picture. The older women appeared to notice their picture being taken.

  Monique grinned proudly. “I’ll call that one ‘portrait of a busybody”,” she said loud enough for the women to hear.

  Both women huffed and went inside the house. The door slammed shut.

  “Stop that,” Jacey scolded then secretly smiled.

  †

  The mayor’s office was nestled in the corner of the top floor of Town Hall. The town had come a long way since the days of mayor being an unpaid position taken by locals who held other full-time jobs. Ten years ago, Mayor Bradford used the conference room to conduct any official business, of which there was very little. The new mayor’s office, renovated nearly a decade ago for the new mayor, was as old as the building itself but had a regal appeal to it. The large, old-fashioned desk was elegant and possibly antique with sculpted edges and fancy legs. Howard Norad sat behind his desk in the large, leather chair and rubbed his sore temple while holding the phone to his ear. When the position of mayor became a full-time paid position, Howard leapt at the opportunity to secure it. With the shutdown of the fire riddled mental institution, Howard needed a new position to command.

  “I know you’re concerned,” he muttered into the phone. “But the institution opening is completely out of our hands.” He became silent then groaned and sat back in his plush chair. “That’s impossible, it can’t be done,” he said and sat forward while quickly losing patience with the caller. “I’ve had fifty phone calls today from our citizens. All of them want the institution plowed to the ground. My personal thoughts are of no importance here. There’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve fought, I’ve begged, and I’ve even groveled, but there’s nothing more I can do.” He groaned and listened while rolling his eyes. “Okay, okay. I understand your point.”

  There was a knock on the door and the secretary entered. She leaned on the doorknob. He looked at her, rolled his eyes, pointed to the phone, and shook his head.

  “If you have another idea, I’d be more than willing to hear you out.” The mayor was silent. His brow raised sharply, and he eyed his secretary. “No, that’s not a good idea. You’d better think of something else. Listen, I have to go,” he announced firmly. “There’s a meeting I need to attend.” He was finally able to put down the phone. He allowed his head to drop to the desk then lifted it with a groan. “No more phone calls on the institution subject. I can’t handle anymore.”

  The secretary smiled sympathetically. Howard motioned for her to come to him with both hands and a warm, inviting smile. Her smile faded into something resembling a sneer.

  “Your wife is here with Jill Sutten,” she said firmly.

  Howard’s head once more dropped to the desk. “No, not Jill,” he moaned. “Tell them I’m dead.”

  “I told your wife that the last time,” she replied dryly. “She didn’t believe me.” Her eyes swept over him as he straightened and rubbed his eyes. “You said you were going to divorce her.”

  “Soon, darling,” he said with a moan. “One crisis at a time, please.”

  The secretary gave him a cold glare then left the office. A few minutes had passed before a stocky woman entered Howard’s office with Jill.

  “Damn it, Howard,” his stocky wife lurched. “I want that institution shut down--today!”

  He smiled wryly and barely attempted to humor her. “Honey, I can’t shut the place down. It’s out of my hands,” he insisted. “Don’t you think I’ve tried?”

  “You’d better try harder! They’re going to do experiments on animals,” she complained. “I have it on good authority. Shut it down!”

  †

  Jacey’s jeep drove through the gates to the institution just beyond the cemetery. All three stared at the headstones as they passed. Jacey looked at the recently mowed lawn. There were tall weeds near the fence that needed tending and the hedges were in need of trimming, but it looked better than it had in years. Both girls looked out the window with great interest and awe. The Stony Ridge Institution was just as impressive as it had been before the fire--and twice as creepy. Jacey inhaled deeply with some apprehension.

  Coleen looked at Jacey. “You aren’t nervous about the interview, are you?”

  Jacey slowly shook her head and stared at the institution ahead of them. “No, not the interview,” she replied. “I suppose I’m a little skeptical about setting foot inside. All those years and having h
eard all the stories; it’s like entering a haunted house.”

  “Yeah, cool, isn’t it?” Monique said excitedly.

  Jacey looked at her young cousin then smiled with a feeling of relief. “You’re right,” she replied. “It’s an amazing opportunity, and it’ll be exciting to be one of the first locals to see the place in ten years.”

  The rain continued to pour, giving the institution an even more eerie presence. Jacey’s jeep pulled up to the front doors just alongside the familiar white van. They hurried from the jeep and ran through the pouring rain to the large, stone porch before the double doors. The building itself was elegant in design with its fancy porch and sculptures, though they were in desperate need of a scrubbing. Jacey knocked on the double doors and waited several minutes before the door was opened by Brian and the heavyset scientist, Timon Bennet.

  “Glad you could make it,” Brian announced while retaining his charming smile. “Come inside.”

  All three entered the large foyer just before the spacious solarium. Brian shut the door and turned to face them. “This is Dr. Timon Bennet,” Brian announced pleasantly. “Timon has a PhD in Astrophysics, same as me. Timon, this is Jacey McMurray.”

  Timon extended his hand to Jacey. “Timon,” he announced with a pleasant smile.

  Jacey shook his hand. He then looked at both the girls and appeared enthusiastic.

  “And you two young ladies must be Monique and Coleen,” Timon said with a daring smile. He shook their hands suavely. He tilted Monique’s hand and examined her braided bracelet. “Hey, cool bracelet. What’s it made from?”

  Monique giggled. “My horse’s tail. I made it myself.”

  “The others are in the lab in the back of the building,” Brian announced. “It’s such a large place, we barely heard you knock.”

  “I still can’t find my way around,” Timon announced with a soft chuckle. “I wanted to try leaving breadcrumbs, but I still haven’t found the kitchen.” He then grinned and raised his brows. “Of course, we have rats the size of dogs, so breadcrumbs would probably be counterproductive.”