Birchwood Manor

BM24 Part 8

BM24 Part 8



“I’ll get some rags from the kitchen,” said Carl. “The bottle water will have to suffice.”

“The ice in the coolers is melted some but wouldn’t that be better?” said Tim.

“I’ll get a sheet from upstairs. We can soak it down,” said Angela.

Tim laid his head back putting his right hand to his temple and closing his eyes.

“You alright?” asked Jodi.

“Just a little light headed and it hurts a bit.”

“You shouldn’t be doing so much. Here, lay down and I’ll get one of the rags for you.”

“We’re going to have to do something. They need medical attention.” said Carl coming back in with a pile of rags.

Jodi took one of the rags and soaked it in the melted ice water in a cooler and took it over to Tim, laying it across his forehead.

Carl had begun pacing. “There’s no way around it. One of us is going to have to go for help.”

Doug nodded. “I would take the road. You might find a motorist of some sort. If not, maybe you’ll make it to where a phone can be used.”

Carl slid on his jacket and threw some water in a bag. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Carl went to the front door and tried to pull it open. It wouldn’t budge.

“What the heck?” said Carl. “It’s like the house won’t let us out.” He picked up a small wooden chair and threw it at the window. The chair shattered not leaving a mark on the window.

“I’m going to try upstairs,” said Carl. “I will get out of here.”

“He’s right. It is the house,” said Jodi in a sing-song voice. “No one gets out, no one gets out.” She sat with her knees to her chest and began rocking.

“Do you feel that?” asked Doug. “Somethings changed in the feel of this place.”

Carl came back down the stairs, tripping halfway down. He got up and shook himself off.

Doug went over and opened the curtains. The window was bricked up with grey mortar and the words “What is your secret?” was scrawled across it in white chalk.

“What is your secret? What is that supposed to mean?” asked Doug.

“That’s what we have to tell,” said Jodi.

Carl was sitting on the ottoman. “You know, it has been nagging at my brain that we aren’t here by chance.”

“We all got the invitation, or at least, that’s what I thought,” said Tim.

“The red invitation with gold and silver lettering,” said Angela. “But from who?”

“I think that is what we need to figure out,” said Carl. “There has to be something we all have in common.”

“Tim. You seemed to have secrets earlier. Out with it.” said Doug.

“I’m just a fire fighter. I have no idea what is going on.”

Jodi heaved a long sigh. “I have so much going on in my life I wouldn’t be able to focus on one.”

Doug rolled over to her and reached out his hands. He helped her up t o sit on a couch. He still held her hands. “Just start blurting things out. We’ll decide if they are important.”

Jodi looked up at Doug with tears in her eyes. “I thought things were starting to come together....” She took a deep breath in. “I don’t think Chet could be doing this. He is my husband. He used to beat me all the time and hype me up on drugs. I ran away. I’ve been running for five months now......”

“You said you have a lot going on. That can’t be it.” said Angela.

“I went to Jack Torres for help when I first got to town,”

Angela squeaked when she heard Jack’s name....

Jodi continued. “He got my name changed for me. My real name is Judy Leland. He bought me my restaurant and put the major staff in. They use a back room for different dealings and make me deal cocaine out of there.”

All had fell silent, lost in their own thoughts of their own connections.

Carl looked at the floor. “I’m Jack Torres illegitimate son. I found out three months and tried to shake him down.....”

“I thought I seen you hanging around the restaurant.” said Jodi.

Carl nodded. “I was trying to catch him alone. Since I confronted him, I’ve been getting extra money at the strip club and there have been donations to the library.... but I get threats too.”

“Seems like Jack Torres might be our connection,” said Doug. “He asked me to write his biography and gave me unlimited access to his books. Bad move. I found out what him and his older brother, Marcus, were all about. I got some information to protect myself and told them I wasn’t interested in writing lies for them.”

“They may have you here trying to get back that information,” said Carl.

Tim sighed. “I am not Tim Reid, fire fighter. I am Tim, but it’s Grey. I was an arson investigator but I was dirty working for the Cartel. I covered up a lot of shady fires, even a few murders. I decided to turn evidence instead of go to jail. Tim Reid is my witness protection name.”

Angela stood up wiping her face and then smoothed her dress, standing up straight. “I am Angela Contes and I was engaged to Marcus Deville. I am turning evidence as well, to my new boyfriend Mike Fitz. He’s DEA. He was protecting me until a week ago. Then we lost contact.”

Jodi’s mouth had dropped open. “You were engaged to Marcus? Are you insane?”

‘No. Just an addict. I’m only a couple months clean.”

“I don’t know about anyone else but I’m hungry and tired.” said Doug. “How ‘bout we have some chips and soda and relax.”

Tim was drowsy and dozed off as the others got their snacks.

Angela checked Jeff. “I think we broke the fever.”


1000 wds