The Deadliest Institution Collection

by Holly Copella

  Timon slowly nodded then looked back at Maxwell. “Are you staying down here by yourself?”

  “Just long enough to find Jacey,” he replied. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Timon looked around the room and grabbed a pillowcase from the nearby linen rack. He wrapped it around his arm and tied it. “You look for her. I’ll get the lights on.”

  Maxwell nodded then hurried from the room.

  †

  Jacey walked cautiously along the corridor. The brief moment the lights went out was enough to frighten her. She clutched her sling blade and listened to several strange sounds. She swore she heard movement all around her. She paused before an entranceway to one of the many storage rooms in the maze like basement. She stared into the dark doorway. There was movement, she was almost positive. Jacey pinned herself to the wall near the doorway and listened more carefully. She could hear someone walking through the large room. She raised the sling blade and held her breath. Someone stepped into the doorway. The lights went out. When they came on, Jacey screamed, jumped back a step, and swung the blade. Maxwell ducked. The blade struck the inside of the doorway.

  “Maxwell,” Jacey gasped with surprise and dropped the rusted weapon. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry.”

  Maxwell’s eyes were wide. His body sagged as he exhaled and looked away while holding his chest. “You could’ve killed me,” he gasped.

  Jacey sprang into his arms. “I’m really sorry,” she cried out softly and hugged him happily. “I’m so glad to see you.” She pulled away just as his arms tightened. Her eyes were once more wide. “I have to find Monique and Coleen. They’re here somewhere. Their horses are outside.”

  “They weren’t upstairs that I’d noticed,” Maxwell said and looked around the corridor. “I’ll look for them just as soon as I get you upstairs, so I know you’re safe.”

  Jacey backed away from Maxwell while he stood near the doorway. “We don’t have that kind of time. There’s no telling what happened to them.” Jameson stepped into the doorway behind Maxwell. Jacey looked at him and sighed with relief. “Oh, Jameson. We could use your--”

  Maxwell turned as if to look behind him. Jameson plunged a scalpel into Maxwell’s shoulder, narrowly missing his back. Jacey screamed with shock and horror. Maxwell cried out, clutched his shoulder, and fell against the nearby wall. Jameson lunged for Maxwell. Jacey swooped down to the floor, snatched the sling blade, and swung it at Jameson. The blade tore into his upper arm then struck the wall and fell from her hands. Jameson cried out as he hit the doorway. He clutched his bleeding arm while reaching for his gun. Jacey looked at the discarded sling blade on the floor.

  “Run,” Maxwell cried out and kicked Jameson’s leg out from underneath him.

  Jameson hit the wall with his shoulder but didn’t release the gun. Jacey screamed and bolted down the corridor and into another room. As she stepped into the dark room, she froze with terror. She’d just given Maxwell to Jameson! Why did she run? Just because he told her to? Her heart pounded with anticipation of hearing a gunshot. The gunshot rang out, but the bullet ricocheted off the wall near her head instead. He was shooting at her! She didn’t know what happened to Maxwell, but now she had no choice but to run. Jacey screamed and ran deeper into the dark room.

  †

  Monique and Coleen stopped in the familiar west wing corridor and looked around. Dr. Talbert was at the opposite end of the first floor hallway looking into rooms as he walked.

  “Dr. Talbert,” both cried out and ran along the hallway.

  He spun with a look of surprise and waited for them. “What are you girls doing here?” he asked. “It’s not safe here.”

  “There’s a dead woman downstairs,” Monique gasped. “Brian might be dead too.”

  Dr. Talbert appeared surprised. “We’ve got to call Monroe or Jameson,” he announced sternly.

  “No,” Monique gasped and clutched his sleeve. “Jameson had blood on his nightstick. He might be involved.”

  “He was there at the time of the murder,” Coleen added.

  “Jameson?” Talbert gasped with wide eyes. “That’s impossible. I’ve known Jameson for years. No, Asher’s around here somewhere. There’s evidence that links him to the murder of Roseanne. Jameson’s here to arrest him.”

  Monique shook her head. “I saw the look on Asher’s face when Jameson opened the freezer door. He was afraid it was Jacey in there. If he was the killer, he would’ve known it wasn’t her.”

  “Jameson was the one who conveniently found the evidence at Asher’s house,” Coleen informed him. “We think he’s trying to frame Asher.”

  Dr. Talbert stared at them with surprise and possible disbelief. “We should get you two safely back with the others,” he said firmly. “We’ll leave the detective work to the professionals.” He guided them along the hall toward the first floor nurse’s station. “Why would Jameson want to kill Roseanne?” Talbert finally asked as they neared the nurse’s station.

  “Blackmail,” Monique replied simply and removed the photos from her back pocket.

  “Blackmail?” he asked from behind them and attempted to look at the photos over her shoulder.

  “Yeah, Roseanne must’ve known Jameson was involved in Mrs. Asher’s death and tried to blackmail him,” Monique continued.

  “Apparently there was a secret lab--” Coleen added.

  Asher suddenly jumped over the tall nursing station desk and tackled Talbert into the opposite wall. Both girls screamed as Asher knocked a gun from Talbert’s hand and watched it slide across the floor. Asher held his cane to Talbert’s throat. Talbert shoved Asher backward. Monique sprang out of his path as he fell against the tall counter with a loud crack. Talbert dove for the gun. Coleen screamed with fright and kicked it down the hall. Both girls ran after the swiftly gliding revolver. Talbert removed a scalpel from his pocket and slashed at Asher. Asher jumped and thrashed him on the shoulder with his cane. Talbert yelped and jumped back a step. Asher swung his cane like a escrima stick used for karate fighting. Talbert slashed through the air toward Asher’s face. Asher slung his cane and struck Talbert several times, as he attempted to cut him with the scalpel. Monique picked up the gun. Both girls ran back to the fighting men.

  “Who do I shoot?” Monique gasped nervously.

  “Neither,” Coleen exploded with horror.

  Talbert slashed at Asher and cut his side. Asher spun into a roundhouse kick and knocked Talbert against the opposite wall. Talbert was slightly dazed. Asher clutched his cut side and looked at the blood. Talbert sprang back for Asher and slashed for his throat. Asher dove to the floor and kicked Talbert as he rolled across the floor. Dr. Talbert was thrown off balance. Asher sprang to his feet and pushed a button on the cane. A three-inch blade popped out the bottom. He jabbed the blade into Talbert’s foot. Talbert cried out in pain, pulled the cane free, and held onto it while lunging for Asher’s throat with the scalpel.

  “No,” Monique screamed and aimed the gun.

  Asher pulled back on the top of the cane. It detached to reveal a twelve-inch, stiletto dagger. Asher blocked Talbert’s right hand, thrust the dagger forward, and impaled Talbert through the midsection. Both girls screamed. Asher pulled the dagger free and watched Talbert fall to the floor. Asher breathed heavily for a minute or two. He turned and looked at Monique and Coleen. Both girls screamed and ran down the corridor. Asher looked back at Talbert and kicked the scalpel from his hand. He lowered himself to one knee. Talbert clutched his bleeding midsection and gasped in agony. Their eyes met.

  “The intention was to frame me and torch the institution,” Asher said calmly. “Why kill these innocent people?” Asher moved closer to Talbert and stared into his eyes. “Tell me, Doctor, who was giving the orders?”

  Talbert breathed deep, shallow breaths as blood seeped out the corner of his mouth. “Howard,” he gasped softly. “Howard Norad gave the order to kill Katie when she found the secret lab.” He was silent a moment. “Jameson killed K
atie then released Hal Burgess in the file room to frame him.”

  Asher was silent a moment then drew a deep breath. He exhaled with an odd relief. “Thank you, Dr. Talbert. You’ve given me closure,” he said with little emotion as the doctor wheezed his last breath. His eyes turned hateful as he looked away from the dead man. “Now, it’s time for revenge.” He patted the dead doctor’s shoulder, straightened, and casually walked down the corridor.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Jacey ran up the stairs to the west wing and bolted out the door and into the hallway on the first floor. She ran along the hallway and turned toward the main corridor, which would take her to the main building. She could hear Jameson in the stairway not far behind her. Jacey suddenly stopped and stared at Dr. Talbert lying on the floor in the hallway several yards ahead. She could see blood surrounding him even from a distance. She hurried along the corridor and slowed when she noticed part of Asher’s cane on the floor. Jacey stared at the dead man with wide, horrified eyes and hurried past him without tearing her eyes from the gruesome sight. She turned and nearly collided with Asher, who held the cane dagger. Jacey let out a startled cry and jumped back with surprise. Asher grabbed her arm and pulled her along the hallway behind him.

  “We’ve got to hurry. There’s not a moment to lose.”

  “Asher,” she gasped and pointed back to Talbert. “I don’t understand. What--?”

  Jacey saw the stairwell door being thrown open behind them as it struck the opposite wall with a crack that echoed throughout the hall. Asher whirled around as Jameson skidded to a halt in the corridor. Jameson raised his gun and fired at them.

  “You didn’t tell me you brought friends,” Asher remarked while pulling Jacey along the hallway behind him and down the connecting corridor.

  They ran up the stairs to the second floor. As they passed through the stairwell fire doors, Asher slid to a stop on the other side and pulled the fire alarm. The alarm blared loudly.

  “That won’t stop him,” she said nervously and looked down the hallway. Asher grabbed the fire hose, pulled it to the door, and tied it through the bars.

  “That should hold him for a few minutes,” Asher announced and pulled her along the corridor. “We’ll be in need of the fire department soon enough.”

  “Why?”

  “I discovered some gasoline cans in one of the storage rooms in the basement. They were taken from my house, though I hadn’t noticed they were missing until I found them here. They intend to burn the remainder of the institution and frame me.”

  Jacey was suddenly alarmed. “Maxwell’s still in the basement,” she gasped. “Monique and Coleen are around here somewhere too. I can’t leave without them!”

  “Considering the fright I gave them, those girls should’ve reached the others by now. They should be safe,” he announced. “It’s us I’m worried about. In order for their plan to work, I have to die.”

  He pulled her past the second floor nurse’s station.

  “Maxwell’s been hurt. We have to go back for him,” Jacey said nervously.

  “We will, but first we have to get some distance between us and Deputy Jameson.”

  He hurried her into the nearby linen closet and closed the door behind them. Asher looked around the old stacks of sheets on the racks then to the linen chute. He opened the small door and looked down the slanted, metal chute. He grabbed some old blankets and tossed them down.

  “What are you doing?” she asked with surprise and concern.

  “Making a pile at the bottom of the chute,” he replied casually.

  “Why?” she demanded to know.

  He turned and looked at her matter-of-fact. “So you won’t hurt yourself when you hit the bottom.”

  Jacey’s eyes widened. “I’m not going down there!”

  “It’s a shortcut to the basement,” he remarked. “I’ll be right behind you.” He suddenly grinned. “It’ll be fun.”

  She could hear someone running along the hallway. Jacey frowned, removed her high heels, and climbed into the chute. Asher supported her as she went in feet first. She looked into his eyes briefly. He smiled reassuringly and let her go. Once he released her, she slid down the metal chute. Jacey held back her scream. She landed in the laundry room on a pile of blankets. A hand appeared before her face. Jacey gasped then saw Timon standing over her. She accepted his hand. He pulled her to her feet and looked back at the chute.

  “Should I ask?”

  “No,” she replied and looked up the chute as well.

  “Expecting someone else?” he asked.

  Asher didn’t appear. She feared calling up to him. She spun toward Timon and tossed her shoes aside. “Get Sheriff Monroe,” she ordered. “Jameson’s a killer. He’s after Asher on the second floor on the west wing. Get help to him.”

  “Where are you going?” Timon asked.

  “Maxwell’s been hurt,” she said nervously. “I have to see if he’s alright.”

  Timon’s eyes were wide with fear as he nodded. “I’ll get the sheriff.”

  Both ran from the basement laundry room in separate directions. Jacey scurried along the corridor and into the first storage area. It took her several minutes to figure which way she needed to go to reach the corridor where she’d left Maxwell. She reached the corridor and saw blood on the wall near the floor. Maxwell wasn’t there. Jacey stood immobile a moment. She then looked toward the corridor that led to the west wing stairs. She hurried to the connecting corridor. She spun around the corner and nearly collided with Jameson. He aimed his gun at her.

  “Going somewhere?” he asked with a sly smile.

  Jacey stared at the gun as her heart pounded with fear. She didn’t know if Maxwell was even alive, or what had become of Asher, but she had a more immediate problem to consider.

  “We’re going to take a little walk now,” he informed her simply and motioned with the gun.

  Jacey backed into the main corridor and stared at the gun aimed at her. “Why, Jameson?” she asked sadly. “Why would you do this?”

  He frowned and shook his head. “You wouldn’t understand. Don’t think I want to do this,” he said. “I never intended to hurt you, but there’s too much at stake to allow loose ends.”

  She was forced to walk along the hallway and through several storage areas. Jacey noticed the gas cans near the wall where Asher said they were. They approached the basement morgue. Jacey made a conscious decision to stop suddenly. She turned to face him and hid her fears.

  “You killed Kate Asher, didn’t you?” Jacey demanded with angry, hurtful eyes. “This is all because of what happened ten years ago.”

  He shook his head with irritation on his face. “Don’t pretend to know. You don’t have any idea what happened here ten years ago or today, for that matter. The only way to stop this is to burn this place to the ground once and for all. Your cousin and her friend had to get involved. Most of this could’ve been avoided if they’d minded their own business.”

  Jacey shook her head with some confusion. “I don’t understand. They didn’t tell me they found anything. What do you think they know?”

  “They have the evidence that Kate found,” he remarked. “They took some photos from Roseanne’s belongings while helping Dr. Talbert.” He shook his head with annoyance. “Kate discovered the experiments Dr. Talbert had been conducting in his secret lab. She even took photos. It was necessary to get rid of her before she had a chance to tell anyone.”

  “Did you kill her?” Jacey asked firmly. Her fear was quickly turning to anger.

  Jameson didn’t respond.

  Jacey slowly nodded. “I see,” she announced. Jameson was the reason Asher lost everything and suffered the last decade. She suddenly wanted to see Jameson dead. “So you framed Hal Burgess. Except it didn’t work as planned. Something went wrong.” Jacey almost couldn’t stop her mouth. She’d never been this bold before. She wasn’t sure if she was being brave or stupid at this point, but she wanted answers.

&nb
sp; “He was a little smarter than I anticipated. He used the scalpel I’d left behind to cut the straps on his straitjacket. Probably used his feet. By the time I saw the discarded straitjacket, he was already behind me and hit me with my flashlight,” Jameson informed her. “I had no idea he’d set the fires to escape the institution and kill all those people.”

  Jacey didn’t want to hear about his guilt. She was becoming increasingly angry and felt her entire body twitch. She felt as if she was about to explode. “Then when the fire broke out,” Jacey snapped, “Dr. Talbert took time to destroy his files; the ones Kate was looking for in the file room. He knew they’d investigate.” Her eyes were hateful and demanding. “When he should’ve been saving patients, he was busy covering his ass.”

  Jameson was again silent.

  “And he also disconnected the fire alarms. Why?” she asked sternly.

  She knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. There was the very real possibility she was channeling all Asher’s anger over the years. Something about herself felt oddly different at that moment. She was no longer herself.

  Jameson inhaled deeply with a sad look on his face. “He needed to disconnect the alarms to use the facility for his experiments. The fire alarms were tripped every time he used the lab. He’d forgotten to turn them back on,” Jameson informed her. “Don’t you see, we had to destroy this place, but if it would’ve burned while empty, there surely would’ve been an investigation. Jill created a perfect way out. We needed to blame someone, and since everyone believed Asher was a killer, he was the perfect scapegoat.”

  “So you killed Roseanne just to frame Asher?”

  He shook his head with wide eyes. “No, of course not. Rosanne resorted to blackmail. She found out what really happened that night from papers she’d taken from Kate’s purse. She finally put it together the night she went with Dr. Talbert to Asher’s house. That’s why she had to be silenced. We never wanted to hurt anyone, but there was just no other way.” He tilted his head with a look of sorrow. “I’m really sorry, Jacey. You know how I feel about you. If you only had remained my girl, you wouldn’t even have been here tonight. None of this would’ve happened. But you had to get involved with Asher and mess around with that scientist. It’s your fault I had to kill him,” he said with some anger in his voice. “It’s because of you that I’ll have to kill those girls as well.” He shook his head violently. “I’m not looking forward to that at all.”