Fallen Stones (50 page)

So many mysterious and correlated things had happened over the previous several weeks. She had finally completed the family tree and discovered the secret of the Livingston family tragedy. She had told Jason everything and had even shown him the supporting documents but he didn't seem to be able to accept the truth.

There were also a number of other things, which Jason had done, that Stephanie found confusing. For example, shortly after she had shown him Marie's journal, Jason brought some man, a stranger home for dinner. He claimed the man was a friend of his and said the friend was a doctor of some sort. Stephanie had never heard Jason mention the man before and she had an odd feeling there was another reason for the man's visit. She felt as if the so-called friend had been studying her a bit to intently, perhaps being more of a doctor than he was Jason's friend. For a time she suspected maybe, Jason's so-called friend was more interested in her than Jason.

This was not to suggest the man had attempted to hit on her or do anything of a sexual nature, but he seemed to ask her a lot of personal questions; questions about her feelings and emotions. She felt many of the questions were inappropriate and quite intimate in nature. On more than one occasion during the dinner, Stephanie had looked over at Jason, attempting to convey her displeasure with unspoken visual cues, but he didn't seem to notice. Then she began to suspect perhaps he understood exactly what she was trying to do but was ignoring her. Stephanie had found it all very unsettling

The man also seemed to be far too interested in learning about her research. Perhaps that was simply the nature of the man's overly curious personality; perhaps it was something else entirely. The bizarre evening made Stephanie feel a bit uneasy as if to suggest Jason and his friend might have been working together toward some sort of hidden agenda relating to her.

She realized the idea seemed a bit paranoid but what else was she supposed to think? Jason had shown up at dinner with a stranger who he claimed was and old friend. Then the so-called friend began delving into Stephanie's personal feelings and then when she turned to her husband for support he ignored her, allowing the stranger to continue his inquiries. How did that expression go? It's only paranoia if everyone isn't really out to get you.

However, one positive thing, which had occurred during the previous weeks was that her brother Chuck had started to visit them on weekends. She was happy to reconnect with him, as they had temporarily lost contact since the family had moved. Stephanie had begun to worry that Chuck might have resented her good fortune in receiving the inheritance, but now that they had gotten together, several times she knew he held no hard feelings about it. Although she had to admit, much like Jason and his doctor friend, Chuck had been acting a bit odd around her.
 

Sometimes he had had seemed a bit too quick with his compliments and encouragements, especially in regard to her project. Like everyone else, he seemed to be weighing his words at times when speaking to her. Chuck was usually more direct when he spoke; he was her brother after all. And Stephanie was not oblivious to the subtle changes in the way he acted around her. This made Stephanie begin to wonder if her brother might also be involved, in whatever strangeness it was Jason was up to.

Yet, other times Chuck seemed to be genuinely supportive. Once when she felt exceptionally trusting, Stephanie had even shown him Marie's letter, not the transcript but the original letter and he had appeared quite surprised when he studied the document. But when she noticed the way he looked at her and how the look was so similar to the way Jason had looked at her, she was momentarily afraid he might not believe what he had read any more than Jason had. But instead, he told her she was doing great and important work for the family and couldn't wait to have his own personal copy of the book. He said he was anxious to see the project finished so she could take some time to get some much-needed rest.

Stephanie was unaware that Jason had already debriefed her brother about her deteriorating condition. Jason had told him about the alleged ancient documents and the message they supposedly contained. Since he had been prepared, Chuck was able to pull off a relatively convincing performance while pretending to read them. He had then surprised Stephanie by volunteering to take Jeremy and Cindy back home with him on occasions for sleepovers on weekends when she needed time to work. She always kept Sammy home during these outings, however, since he was not yet potty trained.

The kids presently were off school for their Christmas break and Chuck's company was on a holiday shutdown. Earlier that morning he had stopped by to pick up the two older children for another overnight visit; a special middle-of-the-week excursion. He planned to bring them back the afternoon of the next day. And Stephanie was certainly grateful for the time alone to finish her work.

Despite the fact it was Sammy's birthday, Stephanie had allowed the kids to go with Chuck. Had she been thinking rationally she might not have permitted it. And if she were asked, she might not have been able to explain why she let the other two children leave. The reason was not something tangible or concrete; it was more like a subconscious, uncontrollable need to be alone with Sammy. And since Jason was at the office and was likely going to be working late once again, she and Sammy would be alone together.

Recently, at the end of each day, when Stephanie took Sammy to the main house to be with the other kids and to have dinner, Jason was nowhere to be found. Connie Franks always had dinner ready and Stephanie had begun to try to spend time with the two older kids again after dinner. But Jason wouldn't arrive home until much later at night. Connie had the week off for Christmas so tonight Stephanie would have to fend for herself for dinner. She would throw something together for her and Sammy. Suddenly she had a fleeting idea cross her mind. The phrase "the last supper" suddenly appeared in her mind along with an image of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, but she had no idea why. She put the thought aside and instead once again wondered about how things had become so bad between her and Jason.

On several occasions, Stephanie had confronted Jason, and each interaction had ended badly.

Now Stephanie sat at her desk tapping her pencil irritably at the recollection of those encounters. Recounting the various arguments she and Jason had, Stephanie realized he really didn't care at all about her project. All this time he had been humoring her, acting as if he was interested when in fact he was not.  

And now that she thought more about it, she began to wonder about Jason's doctor friend again. Had he really been a friend or had Jason brought him around to study her? She could tell by the way Jason looked at her he sometimes thought she was a bit off. Maybe it was more than that. Maybe he was thinking about accusing her of being mentally unstable. Then she began to wonder if he might be gathering witnesses to testify against her. Could he be trying to find a way to have her declared insane? Could he be working a scheme to have her deemed incompetent and then have her institutionalized so he could take control of her fortune?

In the back of the loft, the presence of Marie Livingston inside the mirror was smiling a rotten-toothed grin of pleasure. Yes, the plan was almost complete. Stephanie was ripe for exploitation. She was starting to believe exactly what they wanted her to believe. And today was the day it all had to come to its inevitable climax. It was the ninetieth anniversary of that terrible night. And if things went according to plan, as she and Dwight would make sure they would, then before midnight, they would be free of their Purgatory and Jason and Stephanie Wright would take their places among the damned for eternity.
 

 

Chapter 36

 

Stephanie sat stewing in frustration at her memories, growing angrier and more irrational by the second. She recalled how Jason had tried to convince her they were almost cash broke, but she knew that was impossible. She was sure they were really wealthy, and she was certain they had more money in the bank then what Jason had told her; perhaps more than they could ever possibly spend. After all, they lived in a mansion and had Mrs. Franks to cook and clean as well as her husband Wilbur to do yard work. Common people couldn't afford such a luxury so they most certainly had to be rich. She didn't understand why Jason would lie to her about it.

She tried to recall exactly how much money the lawyer H. Mason Armstrong said she had inherited. The estate document was somewhere in the loft, but the area was so disorganized and such a mess, she had no idea how or it she would ever be able to locate it. Jason had said the cash in the estate was only about three-quarters of a million dollars but she was certain the figure was much, much higher than that. She was not sure of the exact amount but she believed it had to be at least several million in cash. Yes. That made perfect sense to her. She even thought she could recall the lawyer telling her there was at least ten million dollars in cash available to her. And now the more she thought about it, that figure was probably more like twenty million dollars, maybe more.

In the mirror across the room the image of the deceased, H. Mason Armstrong appeared in the pulsating liquefied glass. Stephanie couldn't see his visage in the shadows and as such had no notion of his presence. Had she seen him standing and looking out at her from his world, she would have been stricken with horror at the gaping hole in his chest cavity from which Dwight Livingston had plucked his heart. Wormlike creatures crawled freely from the massive wound, dribbling down the front of his suit coat and creeping up his chest and onto his gray mottled face where they burrowed deep into the thin flesh of his cheeks. He had once been a prestigious lawyer, a respected pillar of the community of Ashton. Now he was just a walking buffet for foul creatures of the netherworld. But he also had an assignment to carry out for the Livingstons.

The ghost of Armstrong was focusing and sending thoughts from his world out into Stephanie's already confused mind. He was giving her false memories of their meeting, convincing her she had inherited great sums of money, and Jason was trying to steal it from her, lying to her for his own selfish gains.

"Yes, that explains it!" she suddenly said aloud. That was what Jason was up to. If he could get enough people, especially those with credentials, to say she had lost her mind he might be able to take control of her twenty-five million dollars. But she couldn't understand why he would do such a thing. They had joint bank accounts, so Jason already had access to all of her money to spend as he chose. So what could be the reason for his treachery? Didn't he love her anymore? Would he do such a horrible thing just to control her money?

Stephanie had always heard how coming into money often changed people. Maybe the idea of getting his hands on her thirty million dollars was enough to make Jason betray her. Then she realized he actually might be inclined to do so if the amount of money was as high as she somehow knew it had to be. Yes, he might do it for thirty-five million dollars.

In the mirror all of the specters of the homestead now stood together; both Dwight and Marie Livingston, the lawyer H. Mason Armstrong, Emerson Washburn and the charred remains of Jack Moran. They were all apparently connected now and as such, all had something to gain from what would occur this night and each of them was doing their best to help control Stephanie's delusion so she would do what they needed her to do.

Suddenly another realization hit Stephanie. It was instantly all too clear to her. She knew why Jason wanted to have her declared insane and wanted her money. It wasn't just for the money alone but it was for another woman. She suddenly understood Jason was obviously having an affair just like his illegitimate grandfather Dwight Livingston had done. Perhaps it was with someone at work; most likely that woman from the accounting group who had been practically throwing herself at Jason all the time. Stephanie couldn't recall her name but didn't care. Yes. That had to be it.

"Oh my God no!" Stephanie said aloud with the realization. Sammy still sat silently staring at the blank TV screen, lost in the fabricated world of illusion; sitting in his urine-soaked, waste-filled, foul-smelling diaper. Sammy couldn't hear what his mother was saying, not while he was busy in his special place. Stephanie was now certain Jason was probably screwing that home-wrecking slut from the office, maybe right now in fact. Stephanie imagined them going at it like two rutting beasts on the top of his office desk. She knew now why he was plotting to have her declared insane. He and his bimbo would steal her forty million dollars. Jason must have been planning this for months, slowly putting his list of witnesses together. He had probably been banging that bimbo since back when he first took the job. Brainless tramps like that always go after the bosses who seem to be on the fast track to success, hoping no doubt to be the trophy wife. Stephanie had suspected as much earlier, but now she was certain.

Inside the mirror, all the hideous specters were concentrating, pooling their thoughts and projecting them out at Stephanie. She was theirs now, and with the thoughts they were planting in her mind, she would do whatever they wished.  

Then as if experiencing an epiphany, Stephanie suddenly realized something else. "Oh my, Lord, no. She must be pregnant." Stephanie was overcome with panic as she paced manically back and forth in the loft, trying to determine what she would do next. Nothing seemed to make sense to her yet at the same time everything made perfect sense. She understood now how Marie Livingston felt when she learned about Dwight's bastard daughter. Jason was Dwight's illegitimate descendant and like his great-grandfather Dwight before him, Jason had apparently found his own cheap little whore to impregnate.

Behind her in darkness, the specters continued to send volley after volley of thoughts out to Stephanie. Tonight was the night when it all had to happen as it had happened before so many years ago.