The Deadliest Institution Collection

by Holly Copella

  Asher finished his drink, set the glass down with a cheerful smile at Angel, and tossed her a fifty-dollar tip, indicating he’d been there most of the afternoon.

  “Later, Angel.”

  Asher turned and placed his arm around Jacey’s shoulder for added support in an effort to maintain his sober appearance. He nearly succeeded. Nathan was enraged by the verbal lashing and Asher’s smug attitude.

  “Got you whipped, has she?” Nathan remarked snidely while folding his arms across his chest.

  “That’s right,” Asher replied while grinning. “But don’t be jealous, you’ll always have Nick.”

  Nick sneered and made a motion toward Asher, who didn’t move but kept his eyes locked on the large man. Despite his obvious drunken condition, Jacey felt Asher tense against her shoulder. She somehow knew he’d be ready to pounce on a moment’s notice, and his chances of beating Nick were still better than average.

  Nathan casually stopped Nick from engaging Asher in a fight. “Let it go, Nick. The drunken ‘has been’ is just trying to have a moment.”

  Jacey appeared annoyed but refrained from commenting. She was already in danger of losing her job as it was. She tugged on Asher, afraid if given enough time he’d accept the challenge or come up with his own.

  “Time to go,” Jacey announced.

  Asher chuckled lowly, clung to Jacey, and waved at the men, his middle finger extended further than the rest in silent gesture. “Good night, boys.”

  Asher and Jacey left the smoking lounge and entered the hallway. Jacey was just happy to be away from the thick stench of cigar smoke. Nathan and Nick followed them at a distance then headed for the back hallway leading toward the office area. Asher paused before the men’s room and smiled at Jacey while pointing to the nearby door.

  “I just need to make a side stop in the little boys’ room,” he cheerfully announced.

  She had to grin at his child-like innocence. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  Asher released Jacey and drunkenly stumbled into the nearby men’s room.

  †

  Once Nick passed through the doorway to the reception office, Nathan slammed the door. Nick casually sat on Jacey’s desk and glared at his furious boss. Nick obviously had strong feelings on how the incident within the smoking lounge should have panned out and showed his irritation.

  “Why didn’t you let me have him?” Nick demanded, noting his boss’s foul mood matched his.

  “Because that wouldn’t have looked good for the club, attacking a drunken member, and certainly not in front of Jacey,” Nathan remarked then sneered. “She’s a Konrad Asher sympathizer. I don’t need her going to Davis with something like that.” Nathan angrily paced the office while attempting to hold his temper. “Davis is on the fence about bringing Asher on as an investor and board member. I don’t want to give him reason to sway in Asher’s favor.” He glared at Nick. “Keep an eye on those two until they’re gone. Make sure they leave. I don’t want any more surprises out of that one.”

  Nick nodded then left the reception area and entered the back hallway. Nathan hurried into his office and slammed the door behind him. He turned on the light alongside the door, brightening the office. Asher stood directly in front of him, startling Nathan. He gasped with alarm and reached for the door behind him. Asher grabbed him by the shirt collar with both hands and slammed him against the wall near the office door. He struck the wall with such force, the frosted glass on the door cracked. Asher stared into Nathan’s eyes with an icy glare.

  “I promised Jacey I wouldn’t get into any trouble in light of recent events,” Asher announced in an oddly calm tone without taking his eyes from Nathan, keeping him pinned to the door. “Don’t make me disappoint ­her.”

  Asher released him, straightened Nathan’s shirt collar while grinning, and then left the office through the main door. Nathan appeared unnerved then slowly relaxed while releasing his breath. He looked from the door then to the open window with a bewildered expression.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Asher’s black Audi SUV was parked in front of his dimly lit cabin just a little before eight o’clock that night. Jacey helped Asher into his mostly dark bedroom, not bothering to stop and turn on the lights. Asher appeared less steady on his feet now and clung to her for support. She helped him to the bed, partially pulled down the covers for him, and helped him sit down. He collapsed onto the bed, fell onto his back with his legs dangling over the edge, and moaned while rolling his eyes.

  “I’m never drinking again.”

  Jacey laughed softly, having heard that fairy tale many times before. Although, his whereabouts over the last twenty-four hours did have her curious.

  “Have you really been drinking since you left the museum last night?” she asked, figuring he wouldn’t remember anything she asked by morning anyway.

  “Sadly, yes,” he muttered then sighed deeply while strumming his fingers on his abdomen as he stared at the ceiling. “What is this place?”

  “It’s your bedroom,” she replied.

  “Oh,” he remarked with little emotion. “Remind me to dust the ceiling in the morning.”

  She knew he wasn’t purposely changing the subject, since she doubted his attention span was longer than three seconds, so she pressed with her original line of questioning.

  “Your car was at the club since this morning, but I looked everywhere for you,” she remarked then eyed him suspiciously. “Where were you hiding?”

  “Well, after I closed the smoking lounge bar last night, Jack Daniels and I took a walk behind the club and found a nice little quiet spot in the woods near the ninth hole,” he replied. “Sometime late this morning, I had brunch in the Garden Room.” He considered his movements that afternoon. “Afterwards, I showered in the gym, although I’m afraid it may have been the ladies’ shower room. Then I wondered around for the longest time in a pink towel until I remembered where I’d left my clothes.” He hesitated and glanced at his fingernails through the dim lighting. “I vaguely remember getting a manicure.” He groaned softly. “I certainly hope that was after I found my clothes.”

  Jacey groaned and shook her head. She removed his first shoe and dropped it to the floor. As she worked on untying the other shoe, he rubbed her arm with his sock-covered foot while studying her through the dim lighting.

  “Are you mad?”

  Jacey dropped his second shoe on the floor then sat on the edge of the bed near his knees while facing him.

  “Of course not,” she announced and offered a tiny smile. “As soon as I get you tucked in, I plan on getting a little plastered myself.”

  “That’s my girl,” he announced cheerfully. “Then we can both feel like shit tomorrow.”

  Asher reached out for her and gently caressed her lower arm while studying ­her. He smiled charmingly.

  “Why do you put up with me?”

  She stared back at him. Although she knew the answer, she refrained from responding too quickly. “Because I completely adore you,” she replied with a reluctant sigh then smiled, although he probably couldn’t see it. “When you’re around, you make me feel like I’m the most important person in the room.”

  Asher slowly sat up, now only inches from her, and met her gaze. Despite the dim lighting, she could still see the blue of his eyes.

  “That’s because you are the most important person in the room,” he announced gently but firm then raised his brows, “--any room.”

  Asher took her hand in his and gently kissed it, as he had so many times before. Although this time, she noted a little added affection, causing her heart to skip a beat. His eyes never left hers, and she felt compelled to stare helplessly back at him.

  “You know I absolutely worship you, my darling,” he announced with warmth and affection.

  Jacey smiled warmly while staring at him through the dim lighting. She could say the same about him, which probably explained part of why her relationship with Maxwell had failed. Asher had bee
n the most important man in her life for as long as she could remember. He gently brushed the hair from her face then ran the back of his fingers down her cheek before his hand came to rest on her shoulder. Jacey remained motionless and watched him. Although he was normally outwardly affectionate toward her, he tended to ramp up the charm while drinking. She often shamed herself for secretly enjoying those moments, but she liked when he laid on the charm. She often felt it was a small glimpse into what Katie must have felt when they were together. Katie was lucky to have been loved so much by him. Jacey was slightly swept away in the moment as she awaited the warm kiss on her cheek that was bound to follow. She knew he’d then hold her in his arms and the world would be as it should be.

  Oddly, he seemed to be lingering for some reason. She gently touched his face then allowed her hand to fall to his chest and remain there. To her surprise, Asher lowered his mouth to hers. Jacey felt her heart suddenly pound in her chest with anticipation. His lips touched hers as he kissed her warmly. It wasn’t a quick kiss this time; it was a real kiss. Jacey knew in his drunken condition that he must have thought she was Katie, but she couldn’t force herself to stop him. She uncertainly returned the kiss while running her hand up his chest and gently placed her arms around his neck as she moved against him. His kiss turned more passionate, almost startling her, but she couldn’t resist returning the passionate kiss. Asher pulled her against him and then lowered her to the bed, placing himself on top of her. Jacey held back her surprised gasp but refused to break off the kiss. Her acceptance was wrong, but the feeling was so incredibly erotic, she didn’t want to stop him, although she knew she would have to eventually.

  His hand firmly caressed her side, ran along her buttocks, and then along her thigh. He pulled her leg up and alongside his hip, gently maneuvering between her legs while now aggressively kissing her. She remained so focused on the kiss; she hadn’t even realized he had placed himself between her legs. As he grinded his hips against hers, Jacey gasped at the sensation, now aware of his position. She returned the aggressive kiss while enjoying his aroused state as he grinded rhythmically against her. Between his kiss and the sensation of his hard body pressing against hers, she was dizzy with ecstasy. As his mouth left hers, he warmly kissed her neck and throat while his hands traveled her body, fondling her breast over her shirt. She writhed beneath his body and moaned her pleasure to his firmly caressing hands. She wanted this to happen and made a conscious effort not to stop him. She was torn, because she had to stop him. He thought she was Katie, and it would be wrong to let him continue. Asher stopped kissing her neck, breathed softly in her ear, and then passed out. Jacey attempted to catch her breath and stared at the motionless man on top of her. She attempted to move him off her, but he was dead weight. She groaned softly.

  “Terrific.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  It was a little after nine o’clock that evening. Roxy entered the west wing lounge with Professor, who studied her with concern. She appeared unnerved about something but was reluctant to speak. He offered her a seat on the comfortable sofa toward the back of the room and sat a few feet from her, facing her.

  “I appreciate you meeting me, Professor,” Roxy announced and fidgeted. “After what happened tonight, I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “You sounded upset on the phone,” Professor remarked. “What happened?”

  “I’m concerned about what Jacey may have gotten herself into,” Roxy announced while staring at him with a look almost resembling fear. “Earlier this evening, I heard Asher was drunk in the smoking lounge. Apparently, he got into a fight with Nathan over something.”

  “Nothing unusual about that,” Professor remarked. “Those two have been going at it since Jacey started working at the country club.”

  “It’s what happened shortly after that has me worried,” she announced timidly. “I can’t say anything to Jacey, because I know how she feels about Asher, but what happened tonight has me frightened for her.”

  “Asher’s a lot worse in theory then in reality,” he announced reassuringly. “You can’t listen to the rumors and gossip. His reputation is based on lies.”

  “Not you too. This has nothing to do with his prior reputation,” Roxy insisted. “How am I going to get anyone to listen to me if everyone blindly defends him?”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Professor responded delicately. “Please, continue.”

  She took a deep breath, exhaled, and attempted to compose herself. “When Jacey was about to take him home this evening, I saw Asher go into the men’s room. I’d swear he was completely intoxicated, but then he came out of the reception office just five minutes later looking one hundred percent sober. I don’t know why, but I decided to follow him. He met up with Jacey in the hallway, and suddenly he was acting drunk again.” She fidgeted slightly and shifted on the sofa. “Later, I heard Nathan tell Nick that Asher threatened him in his office.” Her eyes pleaded with Professor’s. “Asher’s up to something.”

  Professor stared at her a long moment with a strange look as he processed the new information. He appeared to consider her story then shifted on the sofa.

  “Jacey and I are pretty close,” he remarked casually, although it was evident he was concerned. “I’ll talk to her in the morning. Asher has been acting strange lately, but he’s been under a lot of stress. I’ll see what I can do, okay?”

  “Thanks, Professor,” Roxy announced and gently touched his lower arm. “I knew I could count on you.” She smiled more naturally and stood. Professor stood as well. “You always have the answers to everything.”

  Professor appeared slightly embarrassed and hid his smile. “Well, maybe not to everything--”

  Roxy quickly kissed him on the lips, pulled away, and smiled. “I really appreciate this,” she chirped. “Jacey’s been a wonderful friend to me even when I refused to believe her about Brian. I just don’t want to see her hurt.”

  “Oh, well, there’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about,” he announced and offered a pleasant smile. “Asher would never hurt Jacey. He adores her.”

  She shifted uncomfortably and met his gaze. “You know, despite what happened at the museum party, a lot of people still think he murdered his wife.”

  “People say a lot of things that aren’t true,” he interjected a little too quickly. “According to Jacey, just before he died, the real killer confessed to killing Asher’s wife.”

  “That makes me feel better,” Roxy announced with a gentle sigh and smiled more naturally. “I can’t imagine Jacey lying about something like that, not even to protect Asher’s reputation.”

  She kissed him once more and prolonged it. As she pulled back, Professor stared at her with surprise. Roxy gave him a quick, embarrassed smile, waved, and then headed for the main door. Professor watched her leave then touched his lips. He could barely contain his grin then sighed.

  “She’s certainly friendly these days,” Professor muttered. He hesitated and sank into thought. “Jacey lie to protect Asher--?” Professor scratched his head while remaining deep in thought. “I don’t think she would, but then again--”

  †

  Roxy hurried from the west wing to her car that was parked between Professor’s black, Lexus sedan and Brian’s red Corvette. The parking area was brightly lit, although there were shadows only a few yards away. She heard a twig snap from within the darkness near the side of the building. Roxy looked around with concern. There didn’t appear to be anyone around.

  “Professor?”

  There was no response. She fumbled with her keys and unlocked her car door. As she looked past her car, she saw a shadow move near the edge of the main building. She stared a moment longer, appeared curious, and then saw a tree branch moving slightly in the breeze, casting shadows on the building. She sighed with relief and opened her car door.

  †

  After Roxy had left, Professor walked across the dimly lit lobby exhibit. He neared the yellow-tape
d police line, eyed it, and then took a wide birth around it. He heard a faint crash. Professor looked toward the door to the scientist’s labs near the back of the main museum. He slowly walked toward the door marked ‘lab’ and reached for the doorknob then hesitated. He saw it was partially open when it was usually kept shut. A floorboard creaked from nearby, startling him. Professor quickly turned and nearly collided with Timon. Both cried out and jumped with alarm. Timon clutched his chest and gasped.

  “Damn it, you nearly killed me!” Timon cried out.

  “What are you doing sneaking around so late at night?” Professor demanded and felt his own chest in response.

  “You’re the one sneaking around--and with girls,” Timon snapped. “What was Roxy doing here at this hour?”

  “Nothing, she just wanted me to talk to Jacey about Asher’s behavior.”

  Rather than seeming curious, Timon appeared offended. “Why didn’t she ask me? I’m closer to Jacey then you are.”

  “You are not,” Professor scoffed.

  “Am too.”

  “She probably figured I can handle the conversation more delicately than you.”

  “Yeah, and it’ll take hours for her to even figure out what it is you’ve said,” Timon remarked.

  “I see you’re feeling your old self,” Professor muttered then indicated the partially open door. “Is someone downstairs in the lab?”

  “Shouldn’t be,” Timon announced. “With Doc and Maxwell gone, it’s just us.”

  They eyed one another then appeared uneasy and looked back at the police line surrounding the t-rex. They exchanged looks and simultaneously tensed.