Twisted

by Jo Gibson

  It was an interesting plan and he might have fallen into their trap if he hadn’t been prepared. But he was always prepared and now he had the knowledge to outwit them. His father would have admired his cleverness . . . if it hadn’t involved a series of murders. Dalton Prescott had one failing as a politician: He was a law-abiding man. He’d be shocked if he knew that his only son, Dale, didn’t mind climbing over dead bodies on his road to success.

  Dale put a concerned expression on his face. He was getting very good at hiding his true emotions. Miss Voelker’s drama class had been helpful and he was turning into an excellent actor.

  He would go far in the political world. Dale was sure of that. The important thing was to make sure he didn’t get caught. He’d gotten away with killing Kelly and he’d keep right on getting away with murder. He was going to let them think that their silly plan had worked, and then he’d kill them all.

  As he looked around the group, Dale felt a small tug of remorse. These were his friends and he liked them, but killing them was the only way out of this jam. Their deaths would look like a horrible tragedy, with one lone survivor. Dale Prescott would manage to get out of Saddlepeak Lodge alive.

  Dale almost smiled as he imagined the stories in the newspapers. The headlines would read TRAGIC HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT SADDLEPEAK LODGE. The people in Foothill would talk about it for years. They’d praise young Dale Prescott for trying so valiantly to save his friends’ lives. Of course, Dale wouldn’t succeed, but that wouldn’t matter. Everyone would hail him as a local hero. It would be just the boost his future political career would need, and he’d be the only one left alive who knew the truth about what had happened this fateful Halloween night.

  “I don’t understand you, Brian.” Tommy frowned deeply. “How can you laugh about something like this?”

  “I’m laughing because I don’t think it’s real. This writing’s different.”

  “Who do you think wrote it?” Lexie asked the question, even though Jennifer had already told her the answer. She was playing along, just as Jennifer had told her to do.

  “I don’t know. It could have been Ronnie, or Susie, or Cheryl. We were all joking around about the séances and the notes. I’m going up to the manager’s office to get the other notes, and we’ll compare the writing.”

  “You’re going up there alone?” Tim sounded very worried. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Dale nodded. “Tim’s right. Maybe we should all go with you.”

  “That’s not necessary.” Brian turned and headed for the door. “You guys stay here. I told you before, this note’s not real. I’ll just grab the other ones and bring them down here.”

  “Do you think I should go with him, just in case?” Tommy stood up.

  “No.” Jennifer shook her head. She was following the plan they’d worked out with Brian. “I’m sure Brian’s right. He examined the other notes and he’s very good with handwriting. If this note isn’t like the others, Brian doesn’t have anything to worry about.”

  “Okay . . . if you’re sure.” Tommy gave a deep sigh and sat down. But after a few moments, he stood up again. “It’s beginning to get dark. I’m going outside for more firewood while there’s still enough light to see. We’re going to need it if we’re planning to stay up all night.”

  Jennifer felt her heart jump to her throat as Tommy went out the door. Tim had promised Brian that he’d follow anyone who left the group, but they’d had no idea it would be his own twin brother!

  “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Tim got to his feet. “I’m going to see if Tommy needs some help.”

  Jennifer and Lexie exchanged anxious glances. Could Tommy be the killer? He’d been grief-stricken when Kelly had died. At least everyone had thought he’d been grief-stricken. How could Tommy have killed the girl he loved? And how about Zada? Why had he murdered her? And Melanie and Ronnie and Susie. They’d all been good friends since grade school! And then there was Cheryl, the girl Tommy had seemed to want to date. And Pete, everyone’s favorite teacher. It just didn’t make sense!

  There was a crackle from the loudspeaker and Jennifer and Lexie looked up. But the speaker was silent again. No cry for help. No word from Brian. Was everything all right in the manager’s office?

  That was when it happened, something so unexpected that Jennifer almost gasped out loud. Dale got to his feet and headed for the door.

  “Dale! Where are you going?” Lexie’s voice was shaking.

  “To the kitchen.” Dale stopped with his hand on the door. “I’m hungry and I’m going to make myself a sandwich.”

  Jennifer was so nervous, it took her a moment to find her voice. “You . . . you don’t have to do that. I’ll make you a sandwich.”

  “No way.” Dale laughed. “I believe in women’s lib and I can make my own sandwich. Besides, I need to stretch my legs. Do you girls want me to bring you back something?”

  Jennifer shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m not hungry. But do you really think it’s safe to go off alone?”

  “I’m not worried.” Dale turned to Lexie. “How about you? Would you like a sandwich?”

  Lexie shook her head. “Uh . . . no, thanks. I’m not hungry, either.”

  “How about some water? A soda? A cup of hot chocolate?” Both Jennifer and Lexie shook their heads and Dale gave them a friendly smile. “Okay. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

  The moment the door had closed behind him, Lexie rushed over to Jennifer. “Okay, Jen. What do we do now?”

  “I don’t know. We never talked about what to do if two people left.”

  “Well, we can’t just sit here.” Lexie sounded freaked. “We’ve got to do something!”

  “You’re absolutely right. Let’s go, Lexie. Since Tim’s busy following Tommy, we’ll just have to follow Dale ourselves!”

  Tim stayed in the shadows, several feet behind Tommy. This simply had to be a mistake! Tommy couldn’t be the killer, but he had promised to follow anyone who left and he would. They’d have to talk when all this was over. He’d tell Tommy that he’d never really doubted him and Tommy would say that he would have done the same thing, in Tim’s place. Then they’d laugh about it and there would be no hard feelings or trouble between . . .

  No! This couldn’t be happening! Tim’s eyes widened as he watched Tommy pick up a club-sized log and turn around to leave the woodpile. His twin brother was carrying the log like a weapon and he was heading around to the side door of the lodge. What was Tommy doing?

  Heart pounding fast, Tim followed his brother inside the lodge and up the back stairs. Tommy was going toward the manager’s office and he was armed with a club!

  Tim could barely believe his own eyes. He’d told Jennifer that he was worried about Tommy’s state of mind, but he’d never expected it to get this bad. He didn’t believe for a minute that Tommy had killed Kelly. That was completely impossible. But Tommy had been devastated when Kelly had died, and he’d never gotten over his love for her. His twin brother had been grasping at straws. Because he’d wanted so much to see Kelly again, he’d talked himself into believing that their séance had worked. And then, when Brian had pulled his stunt with the notes from Kelly, it had pushed Tommy over the edge.

  At first Tommy had been amused by the notes from Kelly, but he’d come to believe they were real. And then he’d agonized over those notes, wondering why Kelly hadn’t contacted him. In his crazed mind, he must have thought that Kelly had rejected him and now he was taking his revenge. Tommy had killed everyone who’d received those fake notes from Kelly, and now he was after Brian.

  It was painful to contemplate, but Tim had to face reality. His brother was carrying a club, a lethal weapon. And he was climbing the stairs to the manager’s office to find Brian. Tommy was completely insane. That was the only explanation. His insane twin brother was going to kill Brian and he had to find a way to stop him!

  Tim held his breath as Tommy hesitated at the door to the manager’s office
. Perhaps Tommy wouldn’t go in. Perhaps there was some other reason he’d picked up the club from the woodpile. Perhaps . . . but no. Tommy was turning the doorknob and going into the manager’s office!

  There wasn’t time to think. There was only time to act. And Tim acted quickly, using the element of surprise. Before Tommy could raise the club from his shoulder, he jumped his twin brother, grabbing the club and attempting to wrestle him to the floor.

  “Hey!” Tommy whirled around with deadly intent, but when he saw who had jumped him, he dropped his club in shock. “Tim? Hey, bro . . . what are you doing?“

  But before Tim could answer, something happened that made them all stop dead in their tracks. There was a tremendous crash of thunder and the generator went out, plunging the room into semidarkness.

  Jennifer put her eye to the crack in the kitchen door and then pushed it open. “He’s not here! We’ve lost him, Lexie!”

  “He hasn’t had time to go very far. Listen . . . maybe we can hear him.”

  Both girls stepped back into the hallway and listened. And then they heard it, the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

  “Hold on a second.” Lexie dashed back into the kitchen and pulled two knives from the butcher-block holder. She handed one to Jennifer and then she motioned to the stairs. “Now we’re armed. Let’s follow him!”

  “Which way did he go?” Jennifer stopped when they reached the landing and leaned back to whisper. If Dale was the killer, she didn’t want him to know that they were behind him.

  “Up there!” Lexie whispered, too, as she pointed to the second set of stairs. “I can hear him on the third floor!”

  Heart pounding in fear, Jennifer climbed to the third floor, Lexie close behind her. But when she reached the top of the stairs, she heard footsteps running toward the back staircase. “He’s going down again! Let’s go!”

  When they reached the back stairs, they heard a door bang shut on the landing. Dale was on the mezzanine, the same floor as the manager’s office!

  Jennifer’s legs were trembling as they tiptoed down the stairs and eased open the door. But before they could step out onto the mezzanine, there was a bolt of lightning, an ear-splitting crash of thunder, and a sizzling pop as the lights went out.

  “Oh, my God!” Jennifer was so frightened she forgot to whisper. “What was that?”

  “I think lightning just struck the generator. Come on, There’s no time to waste!”

  Jennifer tiptoed onto the mezzanine, peering into the gathering darkness. They hadn’t gone more than a few feet before she saw a shadowy figure ahead in the semidarkness. He was bending over by one of the potted palm trees that were placed at regular intervals on the mezzanine.

  “There he is!” Jennifer’s voice was a frightened whisper.

  “I see him. I think he’s tying his shoe.”

  Jennifer’s eyes were adjusting to the dim light and she could see him more clearly now. “What should we do?”

  “Let’s go around the other way. If we can make it to the manager’s office before he gets there, we can warn Brian. He’s a sitting duck in there!”

  Jennifer followed Lexie as they reversed their direction. The mezzanine was built in a circle, overlooking the lobby, the dining room, and the library. When they passed the spot where Ronnie had fallen, Jennifer shuddered. If Dale had killed Ronnie, he would surely kill Brian if they didn’t get to the manager’s office in time.

  Dale felt like shouting out in triumph. His plan had worked. He’d heard Tommy and Tim come up the back stairs and he knew they were in the manager’s office with Brian. Now the girls would join them and soon he could put the second half of his plan into motion.

  Jennifer and Lexie were just passing the section of the mezzanine that overlooked the library. He could hear their soft footsteps on the carpet. As soon as they went into the manager’s office, he’d be ready to act.

  Dale pulled the master key out of his pocket. This was a little like shooting fish in a barrel, but he didn’t have time for any more games. He’d lock them all in the manager’s office together. They didn’t know there was no way to get out, once he’d locked the bolt from the outside. At first they’d think they were safe behind the closed door, but eventually they’d realize that they were prisoners. Doomed prisoners. Prisoners who would die before this Halloween night was over so they’d never be able to tell the story of how Dale Prescott had murdered them all.

  Twenty-One

  “You thought I was the killer?” Tommy was so shocked his mouth flew open. “Tim! You should have known better than that!”

  “What was I supposed to think? You left the group right after Brian got that note and you took a club from the woodpile. And then you came up here to the manager’s office!”

  “You bet I did! Somebody had to protect Brian!”

  Brian shook his head. “No, Tommy. It was all a trap to catch the killer. I sent myself that note so that we could lure him up here.”

  “You really thought it was me?” Tommy still looked shocked.

  “I hoped it wasn’t.” Tim winced a little. He thought about lying to his brother and saying he’d never doubted him, but he just couldn’t do it. “Sorry, Tommy . . . I know I shouldn’t have suspected you, but I figured you’d gone off the deep end. And you were the only one to leave the group.”

  “I guess that’s true.” Tommy began to grin. “So you thought I was going to murder old Brian here and you jumped me. For a little guy, you pack some muscle, bro.”

  “Thanks.” Tim grinned back. Tommy wasn’t mad at him and he felt very relieved.

  “Hey . . . we’re forgetting something!” Brian spoke up.

  Tim and Tommy turned and spoke in unison. “What?”

  “The killer. It’s got to be Dale, unless you buy that seventh-person theory. And I don’t.”

  “Me, neither.” Tommy shook his head. “I just said that to give us some time to . . .”

  “Oh, my God! The girls are down there with Dale!” Tim ran for the door, but the moment he turned the knob, the door crashed open and Jennifer and Lexie tumbled in. At first Jennifer didn’t even notice Tim and Tommy. She just ran over to Brian and threw her arms around him.

  “Brian! Thank God you’re all right!” Jennifer hugged him tightly. “Dale’s the killer and he’ll be here any minute! Do you have any weapons?”

  “I’ve got two. And they’re right over there!”

  Brian was grinning as he pointed, and Jennifer whirled around. And when she saw Tommy and Tim, she threw herself in Tim’s arms and started to cry. “I was so worried about you! I was worried about everybody! And now we’re safe. We’re all safe right here!”

  Dale was humming a little tune as he went down the stairs. It would take them a while to realize they were locked in. He wished he could see the expressions on their faces when they realized it, but he couldn’t afford that luxury. He had things to do and places to go, and the first place was the walk-in cooler. He’d been the one to suggest that they store the bodies there. And now he would move them all and place them in various rooms of the lodge. It had to look natural or someone might get suspicious and start asking questions. After being so very careful thus far, he’d be negligent if he took a silly chance like that.

  The cooler was kept at a constant temperature and Dale shivered as he stepped inside. They were all there and he gave a little wave at he faced his former friends.

  “You first.” Dale dragged Susie’s blanket-wrapped body into the kitchen and took off the wrapping. Then he propped it up on the counter, right next to an open box of doughnuts. “Maybe I did you a favor, Suze. Now you don’t have to diet anymore. Eat all the chocolate-covered doughnuts you want!”

  Dale was laughing as he went back inside the cooler again. Pete was next and he dragged his body into the library, unwrapping it and putting in a nice reading chair. “Here you go, Pete. Pick any book you like. You told us you loved to read.”

  “Hey . . . Cheryl.” Dale dragged her body out o
f the cooler. “Where shall I put you?”

  It took a minute, but then he had it, and he was smiling as he dragged Cheryl’s body over to the service elevator. He unwrapped her and carried her in.

  “There you go, Cheryl.” Dale pressed the button for the top floor and laughed as he closed the doors manually. “There’s no power right now, but this is your last chance to move up in the world.”

  Ronnie was next and Dale wasn’t smiling as he dragged his body into the lobby. He’d liked Ronnie a lot and he’d been a good friend. Dale was thoughtful as he unwrapped Ronnie’s blanket and put him on one of the leather couches. What final thing could he do for Ronnie? It took a moment, but then Dale had an idea that made him laugh out loud, all the way to the cooler.

  “You wanted a girl, Ronnie.” Dale was puffing with exertion as he carried Melanie’s body into the lobby. “And you always said that Melanie was pretty. Well . . . here she is, and I can guarantee that she won’t leave you for another guy!”

  Dale unwrapped Melanie’s body and lifted her up, right next to Ronnie. It looked like they were nestled together on the leather couch, and that made him feel good.

  “How about you, Zada?” Dale hurried back to the cooler for Zada’s body. It was the last one and he was exhausted by the time he’d dragged her out. “I didn’t know you, so I’m not really sure what I can do for you.”

  It took some thought, but at last Dale had it. He carried Zada to the séance table, unwrapped her, and propped her up in a chair. The candles were still on the table and Dale almost lit one, until he remembered. Zada would have to conduct her séance without an open flame. “Go ahead, Zada. Now that you’re dead, you ought to be able to contact one of your fellow spirits.”

  When he went back to the kitchen to close the cooler door, Dale realized that his stomach was growling. He’d missed breakfast his morning and that meant he’d done all this work on an empty stomach. “Mind if I have a doughnut, Suze? Or do you want them all?“