Storm

by Lagomarsino, Giulia

  “I thought I had seen the last of you, Ms. Finley.”

  “You would have, but I needed to talk to you about something I discovered.”

  His face grew curious and he leaned forward, lowering his voice. I mimicked his actions, assuming that he thought we might be overheard. “What did you find?”

  “I found tunnels. I don’t know where they all went, but one led out of a room that was used for procedures. There was a gurney in the tunnel and it reeked of death and rot. That tunnel led to a dumbwaiter that was large enough to hold a gurney and when it was lowered to the lowest level, it opened to a room that had a giant oven.”

  “A crematorium,” he said, staring at the floor. “It’s where they would have taken the bodies of the patients that the procedures didn’t work on.”

  “Were you part of that?”

  “No,” he said, almost like he was confused. “I always knew there was something strange going on there, but I think they knew I wouldn’t approve of their methods. I was never allowed full access to patients like other doctors.”

  “Then why didn’t you report it?”

  “I did my best for the patients I could. I thought many times of leaving, but in the end, if I could save even some of the patients, I felt I had to stay.”

  “But…what did they tell you? I mean, people just disappeared. They had to have an answer for that.”

  “Oh, there were all kinds of explanations. The patient had gone home. The patient committed suicide. The patient died in his sleep. The excuses went on and on, but I could never prove anything. I knew there were tunnels and I knew that nothing good happened in those tunnels.” He stared off at the wall for a moment and then shook his head. “Sometimes, if I worked at night, I would hear screaming that sounded like it was coming in from the woods on the wind. It was the eeriest sound I’d ever heard. Nights like that were the hardest to get through.”

  “Why did you stay when you were transferred here? Is it still going on?”

  “No,” he said, shaking his head. “At least, not that I’m aware of. But as the times change, there are always new treatments for patients. Some are absolutely terrifying. Pills are widely used around here, and a lot of the time, they’re meant to have the wrong effect on the patient.”

  “You mean, make them appear to be insane.”

  He nodded. “For example, ADHD medication on a patient that has ADHD will calm them and allow them to focus. But used on a person without ADHD, it has the opposite effect. People can become irritable, have cognitive problems, among a whole slew of other problems that may not be recognized right away.”

  “Is that what they’re doing? Giving that medication to people around here?”

  “Not just that medication. There are many drugs on the market, all affecting people in different ways. What works for one person can be detrimental to another. Imagine having a whole hospital of lab rats at your disposal.”

  My eyes widened and I sat up straight. “You have to do something.”

  “I’m trying, my dear, but I’m an old man and if I make too many waves, I may end up in here myself.”

  “So, what happens with all these people?”

  “I help where I can. The patients that are mentally aware of what the medication is doing hide the pills and I visit when I can, picking them up to dispose of them so they won’t be caught.”

  I tried to figure out a way to help him, but I was nobody. What could I do? But I knew what Maggie would do. She would do everything she could to expose them.

  “Dr. Abner, do the same doctors that worked at the asylum work here?”

  “Many have retired. Most have died. I’m the last still working. Unfortunately, they’ve passed their ideals and beliefs down to other doctors.”

  “But if I could find proof that the asylum was committing terrible…murders or harm to patients, maybe we could find a way to link it to this place. We need to bring down the whole system.”

  “How would you even do that?”

  “I need the records of other patients that stayed there. See, I know my grandmother wasn’t insane. I know that she wanted her child. And I know my mother was sane. And if that was true of my family, there had to be others that suspected that their loved ones were being mistreated.”

  “But who would you prosecute?”

  “Maybe no one from the asylum, but we could help the people that are here.”

  His furry eyebrows crinkled in thought and he leaned back in his seat. “I might know where they would have kept records, but it’s a long shot. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “If you find them, send them to Reed Security. I’ve been working with them. I know they’ll do everything they can to help.”

  “A security company?”

  “Yes, it’s an hour west of Pittsburgh.”

  “I’ll do what I can. But please don’t contact me again. It’s too suspicious.”

  “Alright.”

  I didn’t want to agree, but I didn’t have much of a choice. The man was going to do what he could for me. I had to give him time to look into it. I stood and left the building, but as I was getting to my car, I had the feeling of being watched. I turned and looked back at the building. Not seeing anyone, I turned, but at the last moment, caught movement out of the corner of my eye. There was someone staring at me from one of the windows, but because of the sun, I couldn’t see anything else. I slid my sunglasses on, but the person was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Storm

  Lying in bed the next morning, I came to the conclusion that while I didn’t want to have a relationship with Jessica, I still wanted to fuck her. Yeah, she was a little crazy with the ghost shit, and whether anyone else admitted it or not, there was crazy in that woman’s eyes. I would have to keep her away from Maggie from now on. Two redheads were bound to stir up trouble. Besides, she wasn’t going to be part of my life for long. Just enough for me to seduce her and prove to her that I wasn’t a total douchebag in bed.

  But if I was going to seduce her, I was going to have to get to work and make this room at least somewhat presentable. Since she was likely to go back to her room, I’d have to do mine up for her. If I hurried, I could get some of the guys to come over and help me paint this room and the bathroom. I could have the girls pick up bath shit and flowery crap that would make her feel all girly. Of course, I’d have to do one hell of a job cleaning up first.

  It was still early, so I should have plenty of time to get this done. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and pulled up Cap’s number.

  “This better be an emergency.”

  “Uh, well, it is for me. I need some guys over here to help me paint and clean up this room.”

  He sighed into the phone. “Thunders, do you realize that it’s fucking six o’clock in the morning and I’m at the hospital with my wife and kid?”

  “Huh?”

  I rubbed my eyes. Why the fuck would he be at the hospital?

  “Aren’t you working?”

  “God, you’re such an asshole. See, when you have a kid, you want to stay with your wife and hold the little fucker for a minute or two before you get back to reality.”

  “Really? I thought that was all left up to the woman.”

  “Welcome to the age of enlightenment.”

  “Wasn’t that a few centuries ago?” I asked in confusion.

  “Yes, but for you, it seems to just be happening.”

  “So…how are we with that help around here?”

  “Jesus, you’re an asshole. Fine, I’ll talk to Cazzo and have him send some guys over to help you out.”

  “Just have him call me. I have a list of shit that needs to be picked up.”

  “I don’t suppose this has to do with getting Ms. Rabbit back in your good graces?”

  “That’s exactly what it’s about.”

  “Good. We need that property.”

  “Yeah, I’m working on it.”

  “Just don’t fuck it up again,” he growled
.

  “Relax, what could go wrong?”

  “Why don’t you talk to Sinner about that.”

  He hung up and five minutes later, Cazzo was yelling at me about waking him up so fucking early in the morning. I gave him my list of supplies and started looking around the house for cleaning supplies. Jessica was already out for the day, so that gave me plenty of time to implement my plan.

  One hour later, Cazzo, Sinner, and Burg were carrying in supplies and Tacos and Coop were on their knees scrubbing the floor. “Tell me again why I’m on my fucking knees while you’re giving out orders,” Tacos grumbled.

  “Because someone has to give directions,” I answered.

  “Tacos, why in the hell are you wearing an apron?” Cazzo asked.

  “Because I didn’t want to get my clothes all dirty. This is my last clean shirt and I don’t have the money to go out and buy new clothes right now.”

  “You could just do laundry,” Sinner suggested.

  “I could, but that would require me doing domestic shit. I fucking hate doing laundry.”

  “Just take your laundry to the laundry room at the safe house. The ladies do all the laundry. Just make sure you label your basket. I don’t want to end up with your skivvies.”

  “Really?” I asked in amazement. “They’ll do my laundry?”

  “Well, yeah,” Cazzo said, “but don’t be an asshole about it. And make sure you wipe your ass. There’s nothing worse than seeing skid marks in underwear. You’re old enough to know better.”

  “I’m well aware of how to wipe my own ass,” I snapped. “Do I tip them or something? Is there a tip jar down there?”

  Burg shook his head and placed his hand on my shoulder. “You don’t tip them,” he said slowly. “That gives the impression that they’re your servants.”

  “Well, isn’t it kind of the same thing if I’m not paying them?”

  “Do yourself a favor and keep those thoughts to yourself,” Cazzo said. “Just buy them lattes once a week or bring in some muffins.”

  “Yeah, but get the fat free kind,” Sinner said. “That shit is fattening.”

  “Worried about your woman putting on weight?” Burg grinned.

  “Do you see my ribs?” Sinner raised his shirt and pointed to the bruising along his ribcage. “This is from Maggie. Let’s just say that I pointed out one too many times yesterday that she weighed a lot.”

  “Dude, that’s harsh,” Coop piped up. “What the hell were you thinking? The woman was having a baby and you felt that was the time to start pointing out how much she weighed?”

  “What do you know about it?” Sinner asked Coop. “You have a kid, but no woman. I’m guessing you had a harder time hanging onto your woman than I did.”

  “You have no clue,” he grumbled. “Weight wasn’t her issue. Drugs were. Only, I didn’t know about the drugs when I met her. It was one of those fast-paced romances. I was deploying and I thought I loved her. I found out that she was pregnant overseas and served the remainder of my time. I got out and as soon as my kid was born, she was back to doing drugs. If I had reupped, I never would have known she had a drug problem.”

  “But I thought your daughter lived with her part of the time,” Cazzo asked.

  “She did after her mother got clean, but it was always something with her. She replaced drugs with men. At least the guys weren’t half bad. My daughter was always safe.”

  “That sucks.” I couldn’t imagine having a kid and having to share custody with the mother. Especially if I felt she wasn’t the best influence.

  “So, what do you need us to do?” Cazzo asked.

  “I want the walls to be painted in here and the bathroom. Did Vanessa agree to go shopping for bathroom shit?”

  “Yeah, she also said she would pick up curtains.” Cazzo snorted, “She said she was getting red. Apparently, red induces excitement in the bedroom. She said you needed all the help you could get.”

  “Does everyone know about this shit?”

  “Are you kidding?” Sinner slapped me on the back as he started pulling out supplies. “You’re more famous than Burg now.”

  “Why is he famous?” Tony asked.

  “He almost fucked a trannie,” Sinner grinned. “Brought her home from the bar and-”

  “Can we stop talking about this? It’s been like seven years.”

  “So, did you…” Coop cleared his throat and tried to school his features. “You know, did you…get to third base?”

  “No,” Burg threw down his roller. “I didn’t do anything with her…him.”

  “But you kissed him?” I asked.

  He rolled his eyes, taking in a deep breath. “Yes.”

  “Was it good?”

  His foot tapped irritatedly on the ground and he glanced at the door. “Alright, I’m gonna tell you something, but if it ever leaves this room, I will shoot every single one of you.”

  “Oh, man,” Sinner grinned, rubbing his hands together. “This is gonna be good.”

  “His dick? Fucking huge.” Burg nodded and gave a knowing look.

  “How big?” Tony asked.

  “You ever heard of John Falcon?”

  I shook my head, but Sinner’s eyes grew wide. “The actor? The one that has the world’s largest penis?”

  Burg nodded. “It may have been larger.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Cazzo said, shoving his shoulder. “How could you be sure? Did you measure?”

  “Based on the length of my hand. I measured when I got home that night.” Burg shook his head and sighed. “Makes me feel pretty small in comparison.”

  “Why? How big are you?” Sinner asked. Burg looked at him funny and walked away.

  “What? It’s a legitimate question.”

  With that, Burg picked up his roller and got to work. The rest of us stood there, staring at the man who had come into contact with the Penis God.