The Deadliest Institution Collection

by Holly Copella

  “I’m guessing anyone with an ax to grind against Asher, would be a good start,” Jacey snapped while staring at Roxy. “I can easily blow your entire theory out of the water, but we’ll have to save that debate for later. We should get out of here before whoever left us here comes back to carry out their plan.” Jacey looked around for a possible escape.

  “Don’t bother,” Roxy informed her with a slight hiss in her tone, further agitated by her co-worker. “The door has been locked from the outside and no one will hear us scream in this remote corner of the building.”

  “Then we’ll just go out the back door,” Jacey informed her, attempting to keep her temper from rising.

  Both looked at Jacey with surprise as she left the aisle. Professor and Roxy hurried after her. Jacey approached the opposite end of the room and removed boxes from a steel frame shelf. Once the boxes were removed, they could see an old door hidden behind the shelf. Jacey unbolted the door and pushed it open to reveal a dark staircase climbing upward. She looked back at them.

  “This used to be the wine cellar, remember?” she informed them then indicated the dark opening. “They blocked off the stairs leading up to the kitchen years ago. This will take us to the back of the kitchen.”

  Professor glanced at the large doorway reduced to a crawl space by the position of the heavy shelf. He looked back at them with moderate concern.

  “I’d better go first. In case I get stuck, you can push,” Professor remarked timidly.

  “Yeah, and chase the spiders away while you’re at it,” Roxy muttered.

  Professor eyed her and frowned with distaste. “Spiders, yuk.”

  Jacey watched as Professor then Roxy crawled through the small opening and into the darkened stairs where they could finally stand. Jacey reached down the front of her shirt and removed the flash drive to make sure it was still there. Whoever abducted her had no idea she had it on her, so they didn’t grab her to get their hands on the device. She needed to find out what was on the flash drive, but she’d need access to a computer first. She returned the flash drive down the front of her shirt for safekeeping. Jacey knew she’d have to view it in private first to avoid doctored evidence against Asher falling into the wrong hands. She crawled beneath the shelf and into the small opening behind the others.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  The room was completely black. A loud crack broke the silence. Professor stepped through the broken door of the dark, secret passageway into an equally dark room. He attempted to look around, although there was nothing to see. Jacey and Roxy appeared behind him in the darkness. Both women collided into him, unaware that he had stopped.

  “Where are we? Why is it so dark?” Roxy asked while feeling around the room.

  “We’re in the pantry,” Jacey explained. “The pantry was built after the country club bought the place.”

  “How do you know so much about this place?” Professor asked while feeling around in the dark. “I thought the club was only a few years old.”

  “No. Before it was a country club, it was a summer mansion belonging to some politician,” Jacey replied and fumbled across the dark pantry, bumping into Professor as she felt her way to the door. “When I was a little girl, my father did some remodeling for them. Since the owner’s didn’t want to stay here during the renovations, I hung out with my father and explored the mansion for the three weeks he worked on the place.”

  Jacey reached the wall and felt for the light switch. The light came on and brightened the pantry. The pantry was huge and held many shelves containing food supplies and various other kitchen items. Roxy appeared uncomfortable while looking around and rubbing her arms.

  “Can we just get out of here?” Roxy almost demanded.

  Jacey opened the pantry door and nearly collided with Timon, who was about to open the door from the outside. Both jumped back from each other and screamed. After taking a moment to recover, Jacey entered the kitchen from the pantry and hugged Timon. He half-heartedly returned the embrace then looked at Professor and Roxy as they joined him in the kitchen.

  “What the hell--?” Timon cried out then studied all three. “What were you doing hanging out in the kitchen pantry?”

  “It’s a long story,” Professor replied. “We need to call Sheriff Monroe.”

  “That’s another long story,” Timon muttered.

  “What do you mean?” Jacey demanded.

  Timon became animated by the question, and he started gesturing wildly with his hands. “What do I mean? I mean, everyone is disappearing around here,” he loudly voiced his concern. “I’ve been losing everyone. They’re here one minute and then gone the next.” He then hesitated and appeared reluctant to speak. “Then there’s Carl--”

  “What’s wrong with Carl?” Professor asked.

  “He’s dead,” Timon exploded with horror. “Someone killed him!”

  Roxy gasped and placed her hand to her mouth.

  Timon attempted to relax and remain calm, but he was having a difficult time. “Monroe was in the office with Carl’s body, and I went to call for his backup, but it seems there isn’t a single working phone in this dump,” he explained. “When I went back, Monroe was gone too.” Timon then turned hostile and pointed from the kitchen. “And that little twit guarding the bachelor party won’t let me in to find someone with a cell phone.” He hesitated only long enough to take a deep breath. “I was going to drive to the police station, but that’s when I heard you thumping around in the pantry.” He then looked at Professor and appeared enthusiastic. “You were invited to the bachelor party. They’ll let you in. You can find someone with a cell phone.”

  The thought of Carl being dead and Sheriff Monroe vanishing had Jacey concerned for many reasons, but one weighed heavily on her mind.

  “Have you seen Asher?” Jacey asked Timon.

  “Yeah, a while ago. At least I think it was him,” Timon remarked, although he seemed uncertain. “I only saw him from the back. I called to him, but I guess he didn’t hear me. I followed him, but then he disappeared too. I’m telling you, everyone has vanished.”

  “Timon’s right,” Jacey announced to Professor. “You should go to the smoking lounge, borrow someone’s cell phone, and call the police. Sheriff Monroe wouldn’t just leave a crime scene without good reason.” She fidgeted slightly. “I have to find Asher.”

  Jacey received stares from all three. She glared at them then looked away with annoyance. “And don’t you guys give me that look,” she snarled. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “Then I’m going with you,” Timon announced.

  Professor glared at Timon with a look of disbelief or possible annoyance. Timon glared back at him and appeared insulted from the look he’d received.

  “I know what I’m doing too,” Timon insisted.

  “You’re both insane,” Professor scoffed.

  Professor motioned for Roxy to follow him. Both headed across the kitchen. Jacey looked at Timon and attempted a weak smile. She was grateful for the moral support as well as someone covering her back.

  “Thanks, Timon.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m just going along to make sure you don’t disappear too,” he muttered then shook his head. “This shit is seriously freaking me out.”

  †

  Roxy and Professor stood within the doorway to the smoking lounge and stared into the room with disbelief. The entire room was empty. Everyone was gone! It seemed Timon wasn’t kidding. Everyone was disappearing! They looked at each other with a shared look of confusion.

  “What’s going on around here?” Roxy suddenly demanded. “Where is everyone?”

  “It’s not even ten o’clock,” Professor remarked. “The party couldn’t have broken up this early.”

  They uncertainly entered the lounge and looked around. It seemed as if everyone left rather suddenly, although not in a ‘fleeing for their lives’ sort of way. There were glasses of beer and mixed drinks on the tables as well as lining the bar. Cigars were partially
crushed yet still smoldering in the ashtrays, and trays of appetizers were carelessly setting on tables. Both scanned the room as they crossed it. Roxy clung to Professor’s arm while apprehensive about the appearance of the lounge.

  “I don’t like this,” Roxy muttered softly.

  Professor gently pulled free from her grip, approached the bar, and looked behind it. Angel suddenly straightened from behind the bar, startling Professor. Both Angel and Professor cried out with surprise. Angel had a handful of cash and the register remained open. She easily closed the register with her hip and attempted a smile while slipping the money in her apron pocket.

  “What are you guys doing here?” she asked while lightly fidgeting. “I thought everyone had left.” She then looked at Roxy. “Your father was looking for you, Roxy.”

  “Where did everyone go?” Professor asked while looking around the eerily silent room then met her gaze with distrust. “What’s going on around here?”

  “Where have you guys been? The fire alarm went off nearly thirty minutes ago,” Angel informed them. “Everyone’s outside in the front parking lot waiting for the fire department.”

  “Fire alarm? No, we didn’t hear the fire alarm,” Roxy replied and appeared curious as she cast a glance at Professor.

  The file room was moderately soundproof, so it was possible they didn’t hear it. Professor didn’t comment, but his look matched Roxy’s expression.

  “Eh, it’s probably just another false alarm anyway. We’ve been having some trouble with the alarms the past few weeks,” Angel informed them. “We should probably wait in the parking lot with the others.”

  Angel rounded the bar, casually walked past them, and left the lounge. Roxy and Professor watched her leave then looked at one another.

  “Why didn’t Timon mention the fire alarm?” Roxy questioned.

  “I think we’d better find Jacey and get the hell out of here,” Professor announced with concern. “This is starting to feel too much like old times.”

  Professor took Roxy’s hand and led her toward the lounge doorway. Roxy suddenly stopped him. He turned to face her with some surprise. She appeared concerned.

  “It’s not a good idea to go after Jacey,” Roxy remarked. “If she’s found Asher--”

  “She’s my friend,” Professor insisted, almost disbelieving what he was hearing. “I can’t just leave her wandering around this place. It smells of a setup.”

  “And Konrad Asher is behind it,” Roxy firmly insisted, becoming defensive again.

  “We don’t know that,” Professor protested. “Even he has more imagination then that. This is too much like ‘museum gala revisited’ for my liking.” He vigorously shook his head. “I think someone is trying to imitate the museum gala in order to frame Asher.” He fidgeted with concern. “I suddenly have a really bad feeling.”

  Professor tugged on her hand and attempted to pull her from the smoking lounge behind him. Professor’s body suddenly jerked, and he collapsed to the floor, twitching slightly. Roxy flashed the stun gun along with a tiny smile, although Professor was in no condition to notice her.

  “I don’t think you’ll be saying anything to Jacey,” Roxy remarked. “It would ruin my perfect plan, Professor. I’m really sorry I involved you, but it was necessary.”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Jacey and Timon walked along the quiet hallway toward the back of the country club. Both glanced around with shared looks of concern.

  “It’s awfully quiet around here, don’t you think?” Timon remarked.

  “Where is everyone?”

  “Probably fell through a black hole or something,” Timon muttered. “The fire alarm went off half an hour ago, but it stopped after only a minute. I sort of doubt they evacuated the place because of a false alarm.”

  Jacey suddenly stopped and turned to face him with a suspicious look.

  He stared at her with concern. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “I overheard Nathan telling Davis they couldn’t shut off the security cameras, because it would trip the fire alarm since they were on the same line,” she informed him then sank into thought.

  “Do you think the fire alarm went off because someone shut off the security cameras?”

  “If you wanted to murder someone, it would help to shut off video of you committing the crime,” she informed him then shook her head. “I have this terrible feeling someone is setting up Asher to take the fall.”

  “What should we do?” Timon asked with concern.

  “I need to find Asher,” she announced. “You need to call the police and get some officers out here in case Professor was unsuccessful finding a cell phone.”

  “Back to my original plan,” he remarked. “I’ll drive to town and get the police myself.” Timon appeared concerned while studying her. “Although, I don’t know that I should leave you alone here. Asher can take care of himself. You should probably come with me.”

  “Asher handling himself isn’t the problem,” she informed Timon. “It’s someone attempting to frame him that worries me. I need to prevent that from happening.”

  “Do you know who the killer is, Jacey?” Timon asked. “If you do, tell me.”

  She shook her head. “There’s the usual list of suspects, but I really couldn’t say.” Jacey removed the flash drive from her cleavage. “But I have a feeling this may have some answers. I need to access a computer. I’m pretty sure the ‘why’ is to cover up Carl’s murder and a far-reaching blackmail scheme.”

  “Then we should get you and that thumb drive out of here,” he announced with panic in his voice.

  “You just worry about the getting the police out here,” she informed him and returned the flash drive down the front of her shirt. “I need to find Asher before someone else does.”

  Jacey turned and ran down the hall. Timon helplessly stared after her.

  “No, Jacey! Wait! Jacey,” he called after her then groaned with disgust. “Come back!”

  Timon nervously fidgeted while running his fingers through his hair, considered his options, and then hurried toward the smoking lounge and a possible cell phone. As he headed toward the main corridor, he nearly collided with Angel. Both jumped with surprise then relaxed.

  “What are you still doing in the building?” Angel asked sternly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Everyone’s supposed to stay outside until the fire department arrives and announces it’s okay to return inside,” she replied matter-of-fact.

  “You mean there isn’t anyone in the smoking lounge?” he asked with concern.

  “No,” she replied. “Everyone is out front. I’m sure they took the party with them. I saw a few of the guys smuggling some bottles of booze out of the lounge when they left.”

  “So anyone with a cell phone is outside?”

  “I would assume so,” Angel replied.

  “Could you do me a favor?”

  She shrugged and grinned. “Sure, what’s the favor?”

  †

  Jacey hurried into the darkened reception office and tried the lights. To her surprise, they didn’t work. She approached her desk, which was only visible from the glow of Nathan’s office, and rolled her mouse across the pad. The glow from her computer monitor brightened the reception area just enough. She saw a man’s pale hand sticking out of Nathan’s office doorway. Jacey approached the open doorway and stopped as soon as she saw Carl’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood just inside the office. Blood was spattered along a large portion of the carpet. Despite having heard about Carl’s murder, she still wasn’t prepared for the gruesomeness of the crime scene. Jacey backed away from the dead man, returned to her desk while removing the flash drive from her cleavage, and inserted it into the USB port. She collapsed into her chair and opened one of three files on the flash drive.

  Jacey scanned through nearly one hundred different photos of her bosses as well as other club members. Every photo appeared to be taken using some sort of spy camera.
Some were fairly old, relatively grainy, and mostly black and white. Each picture had one common theme. Club members behaving badly, badly enough that the mere sight of the pictures would be enough to warrant a payoff to whomever possessed them. Jacey quickly skimmed the photos and saw many of members with women who clearly weren’t their wives. She recognized some of the women as club employees. Most of the photos were X-rated in nature. The second file contained grainy video footage, possibly recorded within the last year or two. Most were pornographic, again involving some of the same men seen in the photos. One thumbnail in particular caught her interest. She could clearly make out Maxwell and Asher in the museum’s game room, which was shot from behind a doorframe. She played the video and nervously chewed on her fingernail. Jacey was slightly unnerved to what she’d discover about the man she loved. The video played on her computer monitor.

  “I know what you’re up to, Asher,” Maxwell snarled at him. “You’re in love with Jacey. Don’t bother to deny it.”

  “Jacey’s my friend,” Asher scoffed. “There’s nothing inappropriate between us, and I’ll ask you only once to keep your accusations to yourself.”

  Maxell suddenly laughed then glared at Asher. “Nothing inappropriate? That’s a good one!” His look turned hateful and angry. “You’re the reason I can’t even get to second base with Jacey.”

  “That’s the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever heard,” Asher snapped back and became angry. “If you can’t get to second base with her, it’s probably because you’re behaving like this.”

  “My behavior isn’t the issue,” Maxwell lashed out. “It’s your behavior that’s the distraction. You’re always holding her and kissing her as if you’re her lover. That’s not how friends behave together.”

  “That’s how our friendship works,” Asher casually replied. “If you have a problem with it, take it up with Jacey.”