Chapter Seventeen
Jacey slowly hung up the kitchen phone and looked at both girls with concern. “Considering what happened in town tonight,” Jacey announced, “I think we’d better double check that all the windows and doors are locked.”
Monique’s mouth opened with a strange look as she stared at Jacey. “What was that phone call about?” she asked with the concern evident on her face.
“What has you upset?” Coleen asked.
Jacey shook her head and bolted the kitchen door. “Nothing’s wrong. Brian insisted on staying the night so we wouldn’t be alone.”
“Is there something you’re not telling us?” Coleen asked with a slight tilt of her head.
Jacey gently bit her lower lip then sighed. “It has nothing to do with us,” she replied timidly then fidgeted. “It’s just, well, Professor found a watch on the stairwell of the west wing. Dr. Talbert confirmed it belonged to Roseanne.”
Both girls’ mouths dropped open.
“But Jameson searched the institution just yesterday,” Coleen protested softly. “If she was there, he would’ve found her, right?”
Monique’s eyes widened. “She was abducted on the same night we were locked in our rooms on the west wing,” Monique announced with a faint breath.
“I have my doubts about the thoroughness of Jameson’s search,” Jacey said with insecurity and rubbed her chilled arms. “It only took him twenty minutes to look around the entire institution, when it took us almost an hour to walk the building, and we didn’t even go into the basement.”
“So you think whoever locked us in our rooms, did it so we wouldn’t see what they were doing?” Monique suddenly asked and appeared alarmed.
“It’s possible,” Jacey said. She forced a tiny smile and attempted to reassure them. “But Brian’s on his way here, so we’ll be fine. Let’s check those windows and doors.”
Once the house was secure, the girls approached the shelf filled with DVD’s and searched for a movie for the evening. Jacey stood alongside the large bay window and stared down the dirt road. It had been nearly an hour since Brian called, and there was still no sign of him. She didn’t know where he could be.
“I don’t think we should watch any horror movies tonight,” Coleen said nervously. “We’ve had enough horror for one day.”
“I’ll say,” Monique huffed.
Jacey moved away from the window, allowing the curtain to fall back into place, and walked toward the kitchen. “Brian should’ve been here by now. I’d better call and see if he’s on his way.”
Both girls followed her into the kitchen.
“Maybe Professor could come instead,” Monique suggested.
Jacey found the institution phone number on a piece of paper on the counter and dialed it. The phone rang several times before finally being answered.
“Timon’s house of insanity,” Timon announced from the other end. “How may I service you?”
“Timon, it’s Jacey,” she said into the phone while feeling tense.
“Hey, Jacey,” he squawked enthusiastically from the other end. “Are you and the rug rats doing okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine,” she replied and felt her mood lighten. “I was just wondering if Brian had left yet.”
“Yeah, he left right after he hung up with you,” Timon replied then sounded alarmed. “Isn’t he there?”
“No, he’s not here.”
“Should I come and get you? I can be there in ten minutes,” Timon informed her from the other end.
Jacey forced a tiny smile. “No, you don’t have to come and get us, we’ll be fine,” she replied. “I’m just worried about Brian, that’s all. Just let me know if you hear from him.”
“Will do,” Timon replied.
Jacey hung up the phone and frowned, concerning both girls. “He left right after I spoke to him,” she informed them then shook her head. “I don’t like this.”
“Do you think someone’s kidnapped him?” Monique asked then gasped and placed her hand to her throat as her eyes widened. “Or killed him?”
“Stop it,” Jacey scolded and attempted to reign in Monique’s overactive imagination, although after seeing Roseanne murdered like that, she probably had reason for her thinking. “Let’s not get ourselves worked up, okay?”
Both girls nodded but the stress was evident on their youthful faces. Jacey drew a deep breath, approached the gun cabinet within the living room, and removed a small revolver.
“I’ll keep this nearby just in case,” Jacey announced gently and placed the gun down the back of her pants.
More than half an hour had passed. Jacey sat on the arm of the chair and remained edgy throughout the first half of the movie, although the girls seemed to watch the television intently. Jacey finally sat in her chair and attempted to focus on the movie. Monique looked at the side window and stared through the separation in the curtains. Her expression suddenly dropped.
“Jacey,” Monique announced and nervously scrambled into a sitting position. “There’s someone at the window.”
Jacey appeared alerted and slowly straightened.
“Maybe it’s Brian,” Coleen suggested and sat up as well.
“Just to be safe,” Jacey said as she stared at the window. “Wait for me upstairs.”
Both girls sprang to their feet and hurried up the stairs. Jacey removed the revolver from the back of her pants, hurried toward the kitchen, and paused in the archway. She stared at the kitchen window, listened a moment, and then looked at the door. She heard the porch creak, as it had so many times in the past--always for no reason. There were no other sounds, except for the wind chimes. Jacey sighed and relaxed. It was windy, which sometimes caused the porch to creak and branches to bend past the windows. She shook her head with a tiny smile.
“It’s just the wind,” she muttered softly.
The kitchen doorknob jiggled. Jacey jumped with a gasp and stared at the door with wide eyes. She flattened herself against the wall, clung to her handgun, and peeked toward the mostly glass door. She could hear a distinct footfall on the porch. A shadow moved past the door. Jacey let out a slight scream and darted up the stairs. She ran into her mother’s bedroom with the girls and slammed the door behind her. She locked it and breathed heavily. Monique stared at her with wide eyes. Coleen stood alongside the bed and hung up the phone on the nightstand.
“The dispatcher’s contacting Jameson right away,” Coleen announced.
Jacey knew the girls were probably just as frightened as she was, but she needed to keep them calm. She placed the revolver down the back of her pants to give the illusion that she wasn’t frightened for their sake.
“We’ll just wait here until Deputy Jameson arrives,” Jacey informed them and raked trembling fingers through her hair.
There was the faint sound of glass shattering from downstairs in the kitchen. Jacey backed away from the bedroom door and stared at it as if it was about to explode. She looked back at the girls, who now stood on the opposite side of the bed with the same look of horror. Jacey hurried to the far side of the bed with them and now removed her revolver. Monique looked out the large window next to her. Headlights appeared at the top of the long driveway. She looked back at Jacey.
“Jacey,” Monique cried softly and pointed out the window. “Jameson’s coming!”
Jacey hurried to the window and saw the large, white vehicle with bright headlights in the darkness. She looked at the porch roof then the large, oak tree near her bedroom window just a couple of feet away.
“Wait here,” she announced and again placed the gun down the back of her pants.
Jacey quietly opened the screen and climbed out the window and onto the porch roof. She carefully walked across the roof, attempting to be as quiet as possible. Monique and Coleen leapt out the window and ran for her.
“Don’t leave us alone in there,” Monique whispered.
Jacey motioned them to the tree. Both girls climbed into the tree with Jacey behind
them. All three began climbing down the branches as the vehicle got closer. Jacey lost her footing and tumbled from the tree to the ground below. She landed on her backside and hit her head. She cringed and looked toward the rapidly approaching headlights. The vehicle was almost on top of her. It skidded to a halt. Something moved within the woods near the house. Both girls screamed and pointed toward the woods. The van doors opened and both Professor and Maxwell jumped out and ran to Jacey’s side. Maxwell knelt beside her and helped her to her knees.
“Are you alright?” Maxwell asked.
Professor ran to the tree and assisted both girls to the ground. They hugged Professor gratefully. Jacey placed a hand to her spinning head and looked around with some disorientation. She then looked at Maxwell and clutched his arm for support. He gently helped her to her feet. Monique and Coleen were screaming and pointing into the woods. They were talking so excitedly, their words barely made sense. Professor stared into the woods a moment, squinted, and then shook his head.
“I don’t see anyone,” he said then motioned them toward the van. “Come on; let’s get you out of here.”
Professor loaded both girls into the van then returned to Maxwell and Jacey. Jacey was now on her feet, although she was weighing heavily in Maxwell’s arms. She couldn’t get herself together enough to stand on her own.
“Is she okay?” she heard Professor ask Maxwell.
“A little dazed, I’d say,” Maxwell remarked gently. “Let’s get her back to the institution.”
Professor saw the revolver lying on the ground beneath where Jacey had fallen. He uncertainly picked up the gun by the barrel with his fingertips, eyed it, and raised his brows.
“Welcome to the sticks, Professor,” he muttered softly and carried it with him as if it would explode.
Jacey exhaled deeply, leaned on Maxwell, and shut her eyes. When she opened her eyes, they were already driving up the dirt lane. Both girls were chattering nervously. Jacey held her pounding head then looked out the window and saw headlights coming at them. Colored lights flashed on the vehicle’s roof. Jacey slowly turned her head and looked at Maxwell, who held her. He was talking to her, but she didn’t understand his words. She rested her head on his shoulder and shut her eyes to the barely audible conversation.
†
Once in the institution lounge, Doc and Timon fussed over Jacey where she sat on the old, worn sofa despite her insistence that she was fine. As she held ice to her head, she couldn’t understand their continuous questions on how she felt. Sheriff Monroe sat on the coffee table across from Jacey and studied her a long moment in silence. She was so busy telling the guys she was okay that she hadn’t even noticed Sheriff Monroe quietly sitting before her. She wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there, although she really wasn’t sure how she even got to the institution. It was hard to concentrate with the walls breathing as they were.
“You didn’t actually see anyone?” Monroe finally asked.
Jacey slowly shook her head. “I was so startled by someone at the door that I ran upstairs to the girls,” she informed him. “It wasn’t until I was upstairs that we heard the glass on the door breaking.” She gave him an odd look. “You know, Timon, I don’t think Sheriff Monroe would appreciate you wearing his uniform.”
Monroe studied her and raised a curious brow. He glanced at Doc in silent question.
Doc shrugged. “She called me dad twice.”
Monroe gently cleared his throat and focused his attention on Jacey. “Well, Deputy Jameson tells me nothing was taken that he could tell,” he informed her. “Your friends’ arrival may have scared him off.” He studied her a long moment and eyed the ice pack she held to her head. “Are you sure you don’t want me to call Dr. Talbert to have a look at you?”
Jacey snorted a laugh and glanced around the room. “I’m already up to my elbows in doctors, Uncle Russell. I don’t think there’s room for one more.”
“At least your sense of humor is still intact,” he replied and offered a tiny grin. “Jameson is going to patrol your place a while longer, and we’re having someone board up that broken window on the door for you. I don’t think you should return home tonight.”
“Under the circumstances,” Doc announced firmly, “I think she should remain here overnight for observation. I’ll have Professor lock the gates behind you. She’ll be safe here.”
Monroe smiled and nodded.
†
It was only a few minutes after Sheriff Monroe left when Professor returned from locking the main gate and the doors. He entered the lounge where Jacey and the girls were beginning to relax after their scare. Brian seemed to be the only one missing. Jacey couldn’t even remember if she had seen him since she arrived. Everything was fuzzy in her mind. Oddly enough, the only thing she seemed to notice was the pleasant smell of Maxwell’s aftershave lingering on her shirt. She barely remembered how it even got there.
“We’re secure,” Professor announced firmly. “No one’s getting in here tonight.”
Jacey lifted her head and her mouth opened slightly. She wanted to speak but her head was pounding now, leaving her feeling dizzy and oddly confused. A moment passed, and she finally remembered what she wanted to say.
“Where’s Brian? Has anyone seen him?” she asked nervously, only now remembering he’d never shown.
All four men stared at her with the same blank expression. Professor finally smiled and gently scratched his temple.
“Well, you know, Brian,” Professor said mildly. “He probably stopped somewhere and lost track of time. I wouldn’t worry too much.” He then clapped his hands together, startling everyone, and looked at Monique and Coleen. “How’d you girls like to come to the kitchen for some ice cream?”
Both girls gladly joined Professor.
Jacey sighed while clutching her head. “I suppose I’ve watched too many horror movies, but I’m just worried that something happened to him. I mean,” she said and inhaled deeply, again smelling Maxwell’s wonderful scent on her, “he was coming to the house, never showed, and then we’re attacked. It’s just odd.”
Timon walked to the window and looked out. “There he is,” he said then sighed. “I suppose I should unlock the gate for him.”
“He has a key,” Doc said lowly. “I’ll arrange rooms for our guests.”
Jacey watched Doc straighten and leave the lounge. She caught the look Timon and Maxwell exchanged. Neither man said a word. Maxwell joined Jacey on the sofa and checked the bump on her head. She glanced at him briefly and marveled at his bedside manner. Maybe it was just the concussion or that marvelous smell, but he suddenly seemed amazingly handsome at that moment. He returned the ice pack to her head and offered a tiny smile.
“Someone’s going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow,” he teased.
Jacey stared at him and grinned at how cute he was. “You smell good,” she announced, surprising him.
Timon stood by the large window and slowly turned his head to stare at her. His mouth opened slightly from the comment. Maxwell smiled, snorted a laugh, and turned away with embarrassment.
“I guess Doc gave you the good painkillers,” Maxwell teased.
Timon snickered softly. The front door was unlocked and opened. Brian hurried into the room, looked around, and paused when he saw Jacey.
“There you are,” he exclaimed. “I went to your house. The glass on the door was broken. What happened?”
Timon walked toward Brian with a cold look on his face. His eyes were narrow and harsh. “Very rude of you not to phone and tell us where you were,” he snorted. “We thought you were dead.” His harsh voice indicated there was something more than concern behind his comment.
Brian appeared a bit puzzled. “I was talking with Deputy Jameson about the murder of that woman. We talked a little longer than I anticipated.”
Jacey’s disorientation was lifting and something didn’t make sense. “Deputy Jameson? Were you with him the entire evening?”
�
�Until half an hour ago. That’s when I went to your house,” he replied. “That’s why I was late. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Jacey’s eyes narrowed to his lie. “Yeah, everything’s fine,” she scoffed. “I just had some trouble with a break-in.”
She knew Jameson had been at her house earlier, so Brian couldn’t have been with him. Both Maxwell and Timon listened to the conversation but didn’t comment. Maxwell appeared uncomfortable then stood and approached Doc’s medical kit. He returned items to the kit but appeared to listen with interest to the ensuing conversation.
“At least you’re alright,” Brian announced in a soothing tone and appeared sympathetic. “I was worried when I saw the kitchen door and found no one home.” He approached the sofa and sat extremely close to her. “I’m glad you’re okay. I would’ve felt terrible if something happened to you.”
Timon grunted lowly. “I need a drink.”
He left the room as Angela entered with coffee for everyone. Jacey stood with some dizziness and attempted to put some distance between her and Brian. Maxwell saw her sway and twitched as if debating whether or not to rush to her side.
“I’ve had a trying day followed by an appalling evening,” Jacey remarked lowly. “I think I’d like to just get some sleep.”
Brian sprang to his feet to assist her. Jacey ignored him, held her head, and stumbled toward Maxwell.
“Would you mind walking me to my room?” she asked gently.
Angela’s eyes narrowed at Maxwell and snorted her disapproval.
“Of course,” Maxwell announced with a tiny smile, apparently not noticing the look he received from Angela.
As she clung to his arm, he walked with her from the room and guided her toward the stairs. Jacey walked up the stairs while clinging to Maxwell then finally looked at him. Oddly enough, she didn’t remember how she ended up walking with him or where they were even going.
“Why did you and Professor come to my house tonight?” she asked.
“When you called and said Brian didn’t show, we thought we should come for you,” Maxwell gently informed her, although he seemed to be leaving something out of his story. “We were concerned about leaving the three of you alone after what happened in town. It seems we had good reason to be worried.”
The Deadliest Institution Collection Page 14
