Caged: Caged, #1

By Wendy Hershey

An eerie psychological thriller exploring the madness and ultimate evil lurking in a small town in northern Maine. Dr. Victoria Vincent has recently opened her medical practice in the remote town of Harbor Cove. Why would a successful big city doctor move to this tiny town inhabited with peculiar residents?  She frequently asks herself that haunting question. But the past horror which undoubtedly brought her here has found her. This short story will keep the reader in breathless suspense up until the final page. A fast-paced, quick read for every mystery reader! Book 1 of 2 in series. Approximately 45 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Hershey
• Release date: Jul 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393425687

Wendy Hershey

Greetings to all of my readers! A little about me... I am an author of medical articles, inspirational pieces, psychological thrillers, poetry and books for children. I have many interests in life so I believe that is why the topics I write about are so varied. It's difficult to pinpoint what I love the most. My career for the past twenty-five years has been as a medical professional in geriatric medicine. I also have many years experience teaching music and also a long career as a successful business professional in the insurance industry. I have been blessed with an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit! I am what you would call a "Jackie of all Trades."  

Book preview

Caged

Caged, Volume 1

Wendy Hershey

Published by Wendy Hershey, 2020.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Caged

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About the Author

To my Dad, who was the epitome of determination.  Thank you for teaching me a bulldog never surrenders.

You are now entering the township of Harbor Cove, Maine...

Harbor Cove is one of those sleepy old towns in northern Maine, located just a few miles from the border of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.  Few people venture these days to take the I-95 exit to visit Harbor Cove because the tiny town offers nothing to attract tourists. Not even one fast-food restaurant. Just a greasy local diner on Mulberry Street called the Tastee Spoon.

Inside the Tastee Spoon, you will find a few red counter stools, one very uncomfortable plastic covered booth and a crabby 73-year- old waitress named Beulah Butterfield. You’re out of luck to order a cup of coffee if you don’t arrive at least a half hour before closing time. If the clock is nearing the closing hour, Beulah will quickly motion you to move on before you even step inside the diner doorway.

Down the street from the diner, a lonely vintage 1950s Texaco Fire Chief pump stands shadowing a rundown single bay service station.  The station is only open for business three days a week and offers oil changes and flat tire repairs for a mere $5. You can get your car windshield spotlessly cleaned by old Calvin Jenkins, who has been the station owner since the late 1950s. At 83 years old, Calvin pumps gas for every customer and can still complete an oil change in less than 15 minutes. Make sure you have cash in your wallet because this gas station is cash only. Calvin doesn’t believe in credit cards, checks, or any modern form of payment that doesn’t involve cold cash. He enjoys stashing each paper bill he receives of $5, $10 and $20 denominations into their assigned slot in his silver-plated antique National cash register. He doesn’t accept any $1 bills, and he doesn’t give change. Each afternoon at 3:45 PM, he counts all of his money twice and then once again at closing time. He is a man who relishes the touch and smell of money. He has never believed in the phrase, When you die, you can’t take it with you.  Calvin has every intention of hauling every dollar with him when he drives through the gates of Heaven.

A little further down Mulberry Street is the First National Bank of Harbor Cove. As you enter the bank, the only employee you will see is 86- year-old, nearly deaf Miss Mabel Clump perched behind her massive oak desk. Mabel functions as the only teller in this bank and spends most of the business day sitting at her desk crocheting colorful doilies for the church thrift shop. Most of the time, she confuses deposits with withdrawals, so a customer must be sure to speak up and ask her to crank up her hearing aid before they can make a transaction. If you are from out-of-town, don’t look for an ATM in this bank.  Mabel Clump thinks an ATM is Satan in a box and will never allow such a demonic machine in her bank. 

Walk a few more steps from the bank and you will discover the delightful This Way to Salvation thrift shop run by the local Baptist church women’s auxiliary. The shop is located just six feet from the First National Bank and