The Deadliest Institution Collection

by Holly Copella

  He tilted his head with great interest.

  “The same patient had brutally murdered one of the nurses and escaped in an orderly’s uniform. Four more townspeople were murdered in the days that followed. The townspeople protested the institution, and the mayor shut it down. There are still some people in town who believe this place was cursed by the souls of the dead patients. They also believe if this place is disturbed, the killings will start again.” She forced a tiny smile. “I’m sure it sounds ridiculous that grown people should--”

  “No, not at all,” Maxwell remarked simply. “Superstitions and curses have been a belief for many centuries. Witch burnings are a prime example of the power of fear. Either something isn’t understood or they don’t want to believe it, so alternate explanations are created.”

  Jacey nodded with some relief. “It’s not everyone in town. It just happens to be the loud, opinionated ones who have the problem. They carry much influence on the others.”

  “Do you suppose the town library has any information on what you’ve told me about the institution? I’d like to do my own research on the subject.”

  “I’m sure there are plenty of articles on the institution and the murders,” she replied and smiled lightly. “I work there. You’d think I’d know.”

  “Then you’d also know where the library is,” he said with a tiny, mocking smile. “I have some free time this afternoon. Is it far? Maybe I could walk there.”

  “In this rain?” she questioned then smiled. “I could take you there, if you’d be ready in the next twenty minutes. I still need to interview Professor. It’s more or less on my way.”

  “That’s kind of you,” he announced warmly. “I just need to tell Doc I’m leaving for the afternoon. I’ll meet you out front in twenty minutes.”

  As Maxwell hurried across the room, Jacey couldn’t help but watch him. Something about him drew her to him. She didn’t really understand it. He was obviously out of her league. Even his degrees had degrees. Still--? Jacey noticed Angela staring at her. She’d obviously noticed her staring after Dr. Alvord. It became even clearer that the two were in some sort of relationship. A few hours ago, she would have understood it. Angela seemed the perfect woman. Attractive, smart, and refined. Now that she’d gotten to know her, more or less, she realized she was bitter and clingy with a superiority complex larger than the entire institution.

  Chapter Ten

  Jacey drove along the back road toward town and the library, which was on the opposite end of town from the institution. Despite the pouring rain, Maxwell was interested in the buildings they passed. There was a black station wagon alongside the road with its hood up. A woman dressed in a scrub uniform holding a large, black umbrella flagged them down.

  “That’s Roseanne,” Jacey informed Maxwell. “She’s Dr. Talbert’s nurse. That’s his car. We have to stop and see if he needs help.” She pulled to the side of the road.

  Dr. Talbert slammed down the hood, grabbed a black bag from his car, and both ran to Jacey’s jeep. They piled into the back, wet and out of breath.

  “We have an emergency, Jacey,” Dr. Talbert announced while looking exhausted. “Konrad Asher took a fall. I don’t know how serious it is. His cell phone cut out.”

  Jacey’s heart pounded with concern, and her mouth fell open. “I’ll get you there right away.”

  Despite the standing water on the road, Jacey sped down the back roads through the pouring rain. Her jeep could handle the terrain. It took nearly twenty minutes to reach Asher’s secluded house along the private, wooded, dirt lane. It was a shorter ride from her house through the woods and fields. She stopped in front of the house. Everyone hurried from the jeep, avoiding becoming soaked, and ran to the front porch. Dr. Talbert knocked on the door then tried the knob.

  “It’s locked,” Talbert said with concern. “If he’s unable to move, he won’t be able to get to the door.”

  “We could check the back door,” Roseanne suggested.

  “Wait,” Jacey announced and approached the porch railing.

  She removed the railing ball, took out a hidden key, and hurried back to the house. Dr. Talbert and Roseanne stared at her with silent concern. She unlocked the door and hurried inside. Dr. Talbert, Roseanne, and Maxwell entered the tastefully decorated, unusually clean living room behind her. Asher was an amazing housekeeper, but considering his reclusive lifestyle, he did have to live in the home day in and day out.

  “Asher,” she called nervously and walked slowly through the living room. “Asher, the doctor’s here!”

  “Jacey,” came Asher’s voice with the sound of agony. “I’m out here.”

  Jacey ran toward the sunroom. A ladder lie on the floor along with a broken hanging plant. Asher sat on the floor against the wicker coffee table with his legs casually outstretched in front of him. He smiled warmly with a look of embarrassment and held a handkerchief to his temple.

  “Nice of you to stop by,” he said pleasantly. “Sorry I don’t have any coffee made.”

  Jacey hurried to his side along with the doctor. He lowered his bloodied handkerchief to reveal a cut that bled freely in his slightly graying hair.

  “You idiot,” Jacey scolded. “What do you think you were doing?”

  He eyed Jacey with a surprised look and blinked innocently. “Watering my plants.” He looked from Talbert and Roseanne to Maxwell then smiled. “I haven’t had this many visitors since the last lynch mob passed through.”

  Dr. Talbert put a cloth on Asher’s head and had Jacey hold it in place. “Can you move? Where do you have pain?” he asked while preparing some solution on a pad.

  “Just my head and my left ankle,” he replied.

  Roseanne removed his left shoe, causing him some agony. She then removed the sock.

  “Careful,” he said then smiled. “I’m ticklish.”

  She felt his ankle, probing him. “It doesn’t appear broken,” she announced then gently turned his foot.

  He jumped in pain and winced. “Easy, Rosy.”

  Roseanne frowned with disapproval. Considering her feelings for him many years ago, it was obvious she despised him now. “Wiggle your toes,” she ordered.

  Asher did as she commanded.

  “You took a nasty bump to your head,” Dr. Talbert said with a sigh and straightened on his knees. “We should take you to the hospital for some tests.”

  “No, no hospitals,” Asher said firmly. “They poke and prod every crevasse on a man’s body. I’d rather not be violated tonight, if it’s all the same to you.”

  “This is serious, Asher,” Talbert said sternly. “You could have a concussion or worse. I won’t allow you to stay here alone. Someone needs to keep an eye on you. The hospital is your only choice.”

  “I’ll look after him, Dr. Talbert,” Jacey announced almost immediately.

  Roseanne and Dr. Talbert eyed her with their mouths hanging open. Her unusual friendship with the infamous Konrad Asher had been kept a secret for a very long time, although there had been rumors of their association. Her willingness to stay with him almost confirmed their closeness.

  “Jacey, I don’t think that’s--” Roseanne began then fell suspiciously silent.

  Asher struggled to pull himself upright and glared at Roseanne with narrow, evil eyes. “And why not, Rosy?” he hissed coldly. He obviously knew what she meant.

  There was silence in the room. Dr. Talbert cleared his throat and caused both Jacey and Roseanne to jump.

  “Let’s get you patched up first,” Dr. Talbert said gently and worked on placing surgical tape across the cut to his head then taped a patch to it. “Help me get him onto the couch.”

  Maxwell immediately came forward, helped move the coffee table while Jacey supported Asher against her, and then helped Dr. Talbert lift Asher to the nearby sofa. They propped his foot on the cushion. Both doctor and nurse worked on his ankle while Jacey sat on the edge of the sofa near Asher’s side.

  He patted her hand and strained t
o look at her. “I’m glad you came, Jacey,” he said softly. “I need someone to look out for my best interest. I called you first, but you didn’t answer.”

  “I’m sorry. The girls and I were doing an interview for the paper. I must have left my cell phone in the jeep.”

  “Not your fault. You didn’t know I was having a clumsy day,” he teased.

  Once his ankle was wrapped, it was insisted he not move around much. He patted Jacey’s arm. “Would you mind going to my desk and fetching my checkbook?”

  Jacey left the room and went into Asher’s study. She found his checkbook and a pen then returned to the sunroom. She handed them to Asher.

  “I insist everyone stay for some coffee,” Asher announced more cheerfully.

  Roseanne glared at Dr. Talbert. He nodded slightly. She rolled her eyes then forced a tiny smile. “I’ll make some.” Roseanne was quick to leave the room.

  “Rosy really needs to work on her bedside manner. I remember her being friendlier in the past,” Asher said with a sly smile.

  Roseanne stopped in the kitchen doorway and cast a glare at Asher. She obviously didn’t care for the reminder of her behavior in her younger years. If Asher caught her stare, he didn’t acknowledge it. Asher again eyed Maxwell and offered a charming smile, although he was obviously attempting to figure him out with a single look.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met,” Asher announced.

  Maxwell approached the sofa and extended his hand. “Maxwell Alvord,” he announced with a pleasant smile.

  “Konrad Asher; local legend. Pleasure to meet you,” Asher announced with a cheap grin.

  “Pay no attention to him,” Jacey scoffed.

  Asher frowned. “Only telling it like it is, right, Doc,” he called to Dr. Talbert, who cleaned up the paper packaging.

  Dr. Talbert attempted to smile. “I assume you’re feeling better,” he remarked simply and straightened. “With your thick head, I’m not surprised. I think you’ll be fine being on your own tonight.”

  Maxwell gave Dr. Talbert an odd look. “Do you think that’s wise? He obviously has a concussion, it could be dangerous to leave him by himself.”

  Dr. Talbert eyed Maxwell with some annoyance then smiled gently. “As a doctor, I think I know what’s best for my patients,” Talbert chirped.

  Jacey glared suspiciously at Dr. Talbert then smiled pleasantly at Maxwell and offered a gentle tilt of her head. “A second opinion never hurt, Dr. Alvord.”

  Dr. Talbert looked sharply from Jacey to Maxwell and fidgeted slightly. “You’re a doctor?”

  “Scientist, actually,” Maxwell replied. “Though I do know enough about medicine to keep this man under observation. It would be best if Ms. McMurray stayed with Mr. Asher tonight.”

  Dr. Talbert looked back at his bag with embarrassment and slowly closed the bag. “Of course, you’re right,” Talbert replied softly, almost under his breath.

  “You’ll have to forgive Dr. Talbert,” Asher announced cheerfully with narrow eyes on the doctor. “He’s just afraid I might have the young lady for dinner, literally.”

  Talbert spun to face Asher with reddened cheeks and anger in his eyes. “That’s not funny in the least!”

  Asher chuckled in his throat. “It would’ve been, if you didn’t actually believe it.”

  Maxwell looked at both men with apparent confusion. “Did I just miss something?”

  Asher looked at Maxwell with a broad smile. “The rumor about town is I’m some sort of monster. Supposedly I killed a man, but since they never found a body, it’s assumed I ate the poor bastard.”

  Maxwell stared at Asher without expression. The look of concern was enough. Maxwell then smiled and appeared humored. “You didn’t, of course.”

  He laughed lowly. “Of course not. I’m practically a vegetarian. And if it wasn’t for pork, beef, and chicken, I would be one,” Asher teased.

  Maxwell laughed as well and appeared relieved. Jacey frowned and smacked Asher’s arm then looked away with disgust. She hated when Asher poked fun at his tainted reputation.

  “Your reputation is no joking matter,” Dr. Talbert said firmly and with annoyance.

  “Of course it is,” Asher remarked. “No one in this town will give me the time of day no matter how nice I’ve been to them. Before my wife’s death, I was a respected man. Fate cursed me twice in one night. I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of me anymore.” Asher relaxed, inhaled deeply, and then smiled. “At the risk of offending you, Dr. Talbert, I would think you could sympathize. The same tragedy that ruined my life nearly ruined your career and reputation as well. There was that scandal about your part in the fire.”

  Roseanne paused in the sunroom doorway and appeared to listen to their conversation. Dr. Talbert snatched his bag and turned to Roseanne.

  “Call Deputy Jameson and ask him if he’d give us a ride back to the office.”

  Roseanne uncertainly nodded and removed her cell phone from her scrub top pocket.

  Dr. Talbert spun back toward Asher. “I don’t care to discuss this with you any further,” he snapped. “Unlike you, I’d like to preserve my reputation!”

  “Is that what you were doing when I saw you running into your office when you were supposed to be saving patients?”

  Everyone now stared at Asher and Dr. Talbert. Dr. Talbert glared at Asher with a look of confusion and impatience.

  “What?” he demanded to know.

  “Just before midnight on the night of the fire,” Asher remarked simply and cleverly raised his brows. “I was leaving the lounge, and I saw you running into your office. I called to you, but you didn’t seem to hear me.”

  “I went to call the fire department,” Dr. Talbert snapped. “If you were in the second floor hall near the lounge, you should’ve seen the smoke from the fire. Why didn’t you help?”

  “I wasn’t aware there had been a fire until I was in the stairway heading toward the first floor. From the crossing hallway to the stairs, I could see your office but not the linen closet.” He shifted on the sofa and appeared curious. “And who disconnected the fire alarms?” Asher asked coyly and cocked his head to one side. “Certainly not Hal Burgess. Where would a mental patient get the codes to disconnect the alarms? Let’s face it, for a psychotic serial killer, the boy wasn’t too bright.”

  “That’s no joking matter,” Roseanne scoffed. “That bastard killed my best friend.”

  Asher wasn’t even affected by Roseanne’s remark. He kept his attention focused on Dr. Talbert, who was growing more furious and enraged.

  “Don’t drag me down with you, Asher,” Dr. Talbert lashed out hotly. “I won’t be a part of your sick analogies.”

  The doctor turned, stormed past Roseanne, and hurried into the kitchen. Roseanne stared at Asher a long moment then realized someone was speaking to her on her cell phone. She quickly turned and followed Dr. Talbert. Jacey glared at Asher through narrow eyes and frowned. Asher raised his brows sharply in response to her disapproving look and seemed almost humored.

  “What’s that look about, my dear? You don’t approve of the truth?” Asher asked simply. “I know in the perfect world you’d like to see the town embrace me with open arms, but that’ll never happen.”

  Jacey looked away and frowned. She caught Maxwell’s stare and forced a tiny smile. “Perhaps it’d be best if you rode back to town with Deputy Jameson,” she said gently. “Do you think Professor would mind keeping the girls overnight?”

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Maxwell replied in a soft tone. “Should I tell Brian you won’t be able to make it tonight?”

  Jacey was slightly surprised that he had known about their date as well, but Timon seemed the gossiping type. Actually, Asher’s unfortunate accident worked out to her benefit as far as Brian was concerned.

  “I, uh, suppose you should tell him what happened,” she replied.

  Asher touched Jacey’s arm. She glanced at him and noted the concerned look on his face.

 
“You had a date tonight?” Asher asked with surprise. “Why didn’t you say something? I’m sure I’ll be fine by myself. I don’t want you to miss an opportunity.”

  Jacey forced a tiny smile. “It’s okay, Asher, really.” She meant that. She leaned on Asher’s shoulder and moved closer to his ear. “I don’t mind getting out of it.”

  Asher patted her leg and chuckled softly. He then shifted on the sofa and smiled cheerfully at Maxwell. “I have an idea. Why don’t you stay with us for a while, Dr. Alvord? I have some lobster tail in the freezer, and we can discuss the plans for the institution. It’s not often I have visitors who aren’t afraid of me.”

  Maxwell smiled lightly then laughed. “I’m sure the two of you would have a better time without me. I’d just bore both of you with fossils and finds.”

  “I insist,” Asher announced firmly. “I’ll give Jacey a crash course in cooking, and you and I can talk scientifically while Jacey amuses us in the kitchen.”

  Jacey smirked and folded her arms across her chest. “I know how to cook.”

  “Darling,” Asher said and tilted his head. “Pushing numbers into a microwave isn’t cooking; it’s preventing starvation, and lobster can’t be microwaved.”

  Jacey blushed with embarrassment. “I knew that,” she snapped then looked away and nervously bit her lip.

  “Alright,” Maxwell said with a smile. “You’ve talked me into it. But if it’s all the same, I’d like to do the cooking. I’m not a half bad chef.”

  Dr. Talbert entered the sunroom without Roseanne. “Roseanne and I will wait outside for Jameson,” he said firmly. “Despite your horrendous attitude, Asher, I’ll be by in the morning to check on your condition.”

  Asher frowned. “I’m sorry for offending you, Doctor. I do appreciate your coming out here. Not everyone would have done that for me. You’re a good man.”

  Talbert then managed a tiny smile. “You were right. I do understand what you’ve been through.”

  “Are you sure you won’t stay for coffee?” Asher asked more gently.