Cutter's Demons: manifest in criminal minds, #1

By Bernard Harold Curgenven

Someone was hired to murder Mrs. Stevens. With her out the way, he would be heir to Cutter's Ranch. Who better to fulfill this mission, than the institute's resident doctor, Doctor Keylock! Unfortunately Frank wasn't the only one with a plot to win the old man's ranch, and the good doctor wasn't immune to fear and the paranormal. Doctor Keylock mysteriously died shortly after committing the inhumane act of murder, and so the plot thickened.

Louise Stevens never imagined leaving the railway, and he lived a rather simple life, writing in his spare time. He awoke in hospital after a train accident, and met the most beautiful lady doctor. They fell in love, and the passion was beyond any he had ever experienced. Sometime later they discovered something about each other that had a huge impact on both their lives. They set out on a new venture together, and their goal was to solve the string of mysteries.

They all had foolproof plots, and so they set out to dispose of one another, but little did they know, the ranch was haunted!

This suspense novel is filled with mystery, murder and humor...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bernard Harold Curgenven
• Release date: Feb 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393461142

Book preview

Chapter 1

The track disappeared in the far distance ahead, that which the strait allowed. Above the power flashed as the line section isolators were catching the locomotive pantograph at a speed of eighty kilometers per hour. Behind the controls sat a five foot nine, plump, stump bearded character. A man they call a train driver, working the regular long tiring hours. Driving on the regular road had become boring over the past five years. Five years for the South African company, Spoornet, and yet he still couldn’t answer his own question.  What was he doing here? Life had turned him soft and in this world there is no place for the soft and heart-broken. All these years for nothing! What reward has life offered me? he considered. As he could not satisfy himself with an answer his thoughts started dwelling to the past. His conscience took him further and further into his past. Suddenly the vigilance beeper rang in his ears and his heart beat at twice its normal pace. 'Damned vigilance system', he thought as he pressed the pedal beneath his left foot gently to rid himself of the deafening sound. If only these things had a longer cycle. Sixty seconds was too short for him and after five long years of pressing pedals continuously it had definitely become a burden, which was enough to drive any person crazy, he thought. The blowing and whistling noises died and Louise turned to face an empty seat on his left. Beneath it, on the floor lay his partner, on a home-made sponge bed. He frowned, not at the long haired pupil train driver stretched out in comfort, but at the fact that he was lonely. He was all on his own. Nobody to talk to and nobody would be waiting at home for him the next morning when he signed off and drove home in his 1972 Ford Mustang, a car which he felt to be a lot younger than him, even though it was in actual fact only five years his junior. A car of previous years, which he received from his father amongst many other things! Twenty-four years old and single, the shameful thought that stood out above the rest in his imaginary mind. Still the past overtook this thought once again, this time revealing all his good and bad memories. Cigar smoke filled the room and cigar butts littered the floor while tension grew stronger and beady smiles uncovering rotting teeth occasionally broke the atmosphere. The bearded toothless shadow at the crest of the oval table frowned at his cards while snaky eyes were staring at him in suspense. It was his cards that were causing sweaty foreheads and unnecessary twitching of nervous muscles. A decision was made and the stakes were raised.

Damn! came the unhappy murmur from the bony figure in the leather coat and top hat. Cards fell from his hands, scattering across the surface of the table. 'I see you1, said a third and a fourth. The first lay down his cards face upwards on the table and grinned. All eyes turned to his cards expressing surprise, then all fixed on the third man.

I'm out! said a blunt, broken voice. Then all glances focused on the fourth person who showed no expression on his scarred face. A scar which ran from beneath his long, well-built nose to the corner of his mouth! The hidden expression which frightened many, and the relaxed attitude, was the secret of the man behind the thick black moustache, who as a result of a mouth movement displayed the scar clearly. Beads of sweat were forming droplets on the foreheads of his opponents as their eyes followed the cards which were lowering to the surface of the table in front of them. Impatience and frustration were the mixed feelings of the other three, which seemed to last for all eternity but was in actual fact only moments. He remembered how strict he had been brought up as a child and loved his parents for it. He knew the problem with children today; parents don't know how to discipline children in the modern world, resulting in a lack of respect for elders. He remembered how his father worked long hours for money to please his family. He also remembered every time he was rude to his parents. Today he was thankful for his good upbringing but at the same time very sorry for talking back to his parents as a child. There was no time to tell his mother how much he loved her before she ran away. Twelve years old and the separation of his parents tore him apart. It was unbearable at the time. Alcohol proved to be a perfect stimulant for his heartache. A heartache, which grew worse with time! Following in his father’s footsteps was the only alternative. Often suicide had seemed to be the only answer, but fear overcame all attempts. There was no strength for suicide. If only, he could be a 'chip off the old block'. A coward in one's own eyes is the worst punishment to bring on oneself. He thought of how he turned to God on a number of occasions and gave his life to true love and faith. But thus far proving himself a traitor and a coward in even God's eyes; there was no chance of a happy future, if any at all. Fear of eternal death was haunting his soul. Survival was no doubt a burden. And then he saw his two brothers, they seemed dead.

Where am I? Why can't I see? Everything is black, help!

Calm down and tell us if you know who you are?

Us! Who are we? There was no answer to this rhetorical question. He thought he knew where he was, hell! Yet shock and anxiety brought about immediate reactions, perhaps being the only means of defense against the many changes which he expected. Was there escaping the death warrant?

Do you know your name?

Yes, and I will change!

What is your name? Now there was a giggle from another voice in the distance, beyond the former. But Louise knew that he was in no position to become angry or sarcastic.

I am Louise Stevens, he was now relaxing and his heart beat was settling to its usual steady pace. If something drastic should happen now, he deserved it.

Be patient, the doctor will attend to you now. Louise suddenly recognized a sweet subtle voice, definitely the one that giggled at him. It was far from the hoarse voice of a demon. Now the warm feeling was leaving him and he was no longer afraid, for there was something in front of him which he could almost see in his mind. It was beautiful but he could not see it in reality. If only he could see it. Where was this doctor who had been mentioned? A noise which sounded like a door closing came from behind the voice before it spoke again. I am the doctor. Judging her to be a beautiful blond, sexy woman, possibly in her twenties, simply by the sound of her voice, he became interested. Louise couldn't help asking her name.

What do you think is my name? Now the voice even more clearly displayed the French accent which Louise thought he was imagining. In an instant the patches over his eyes were removed and he could barely make out the tall, slender figure of a blonde woman in a white cloak. As his blurred vision was becoming clear he was able to clearly visualize the woman in before him. This couldn't be hell, it slipped out. It must be heaven then.

Bernadette! the voice, although blunt, had become a whisper. Forgetting his condition, his thoughts drifted into a fantasy world where the long white cloak in front of him dropped to the floor, beneath which was a pale figure of flesh origin. True beauty! Like a bright green plant rid of all its dead leaves. It was the tenth of December 1991 when Louise awoke for the first time in many years to appreciate the birds singing in first light. Despite of the fact that he was lying in hospital with a broken rib, he considered himself a happy man. No more devils in his mind, only an idol. A vision of a woman in a white cloak with a banner of victory held high above her head. Then, interrupting his thoughts, his room door opened and a man walked in. It was a man very well known to him. Senior Superintendent Bradley Jones, Brad for short, a name well known amongst all Louise companions. The offer of a different position to his present was only another way of telling him that he was dismissed. He had admitted to his boss that he was 'in another world' at the time of the derailment. Not concentrating on the responsibilities of one's work is reason enough for dismissal from a job like his. Then there remains the fact that he had cost his company seven million rand through his lack of attention. Now it was 'over. At least the young man who had worked regularly with him had escaped unscathed, otherwise he would have been charged with murder as well. Not even the thought of his disaster put him down because he was in love. At long last he had found true love. A new meaning was given to his life. He smiled at the thought as he turned his head, to face the man lying in the bed on his left. At the sight of this poor man he considered how lucky he was. The man's condition was much worse than his own. Very little of him was visible through -.all "his ''bandage. Apparently the only possible way anyone would recognize this man would be his tall thin figure. Louise turned his head to face the man opposite him who was watching him from across the hallway. The bearded man had been studying him and now opened his mouth about to speak when Louise noticed the toothless gums.

In case you're wondering, explained a deep voice, he was burnt alive. The Australian accent seemed to suit his abrupt manner of speech very well