Guilty

By Eric Steven Terry

Step back into the world of Seth Conley as his once protector, Abraham Murray tries to put the pieces of his life back together.

Abraham Murray comes face-to-face with the supernatural as he attempts to make up for his sordid past by attempting to protect and improve the lives of those he holds most dear. As the world inches closer to chao

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645330714

Book preview

Copyright

Guilty is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

GUILTY: A NOVEL

Copyright © 2019 by Eric Steven Terry

All rights reserved.

Editing by KP Editing

Cover design by KP Designs

Published by Kingston Publishing Company

The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter  5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Author

Extras

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: For thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

Chapter 1

Waiting

Beep … Beep … Beep …. The constant beeps and small noises were steady and repetitive. A reminder of just how much Abraham Murray had failed the frail soul lying before him. It had been several hours since the batteries in the morphine drip had drained. At that moment, when the beeping and the noises grew louder, Abraham thought that he’d seen a sign of life from his friend.

Abraham had sat in this room, on and off, for seven days, waiting, hoping, and praying for a change. There was no response. Only sleep. A deep sleep. Perhaps it was the depressing atmosphere. The hospital room was very similar to the patient rooms found in the Carnestine Hills Rehabilitation Center. White and lifeless. A world without color or imagination.

Most days, Abraham would sit alone, next to the bed. He’d stay as long as he could without getting caught. Whenever he left, he’d check on a few friends that had grown to be dependent upon him.  Today was different.

Today he was joined by a new friend. A friend that he had only known a few short years. She sat on the opposite side of the bed, shielding her eyes from the rising sun that shone through the fourth-floor windows of the UK Medical Center. Abraham stared at her for a moment. He felt sorry for her. She’d had to endure far too much in her young life. There had been a time where her presence added brilliance to his world. Now, she was broken. It was his fault. A child should never have to watch her house burn down, especially on Christmas. A woman should never have to hide from the world and conceal her identity, especially one so talented and intelligent as Dr. Hannah Lacy.

Abraham?

Her voice sounded defeated. It angered and saddened Abraham to witness just how far this lovely woman had fallen. Not that she didn’t have a good reason to feel the way she did. Abraham hated seeing this once confident and strong individual look so broken and depressed. Whenever he looked into those once vibrant eyes, his heart would break. Her eyes, once so bright they could light up a room, were sullen and dark.

Yeah, Hannah. What is it?

Was all of this necessary?

Abraham looked at Hannah, his eyebrows and lips drawn downward.

"Was all of what necessary?"

This! Hannah said.

What do you mean?

Was she referring to their location? Her place in life? The answer to those questions was ‘no.’ They were not necessary, and they could have easily been prevented.

Three weeks ago, when Cameron Thompson – better known as Junior to Abraham and the patients at Carnestine Hills – approached him with a plan to escape the institute, Abraham should have ignored him. He should have discouraged him. At least, he should have convinced him to leave Seth Conley out of the plan. Abraham was desperate, though. He’d wanted to protect Seth, and he thought that with his help, Junior’s plan might work. He was wrong. And now the lives of Seth Conley, himself, and others were in jeopardy.

No, Hannah, none of this was necessary.

Then why’d you make me do it?

I didn’t make you do anything.

Yes, you did, Abraham. Look at me. I’m a reflection of death warmed over.

Abraham sat straighter and peered across the bed at Hannah, raising an eyebrow. He had no idea what she was talking about. She did look paler than usual, but since he’d found her passed out from near-starvation, she looked much better.

Need I remind you that when I found you lying in your bed wearing the exact same clothes that you wore the day you were fired, you were close to death. You hadn’t eaten in nearly three weeks. I don’t know how you survived.

I’m not talking about that. Look at my hair. Look at my face. Was it necessary to change all of this?

Abraham studied Hannah’s facial expressions for a moment. She’d had to cut her hair and dye it jet black. Hannah had always been proud of her red hair, and loved to style it and show it off. Now, there wasn’t much left to show off, or to style. Just a cheap haircut, done with a two-dollar pair of sewing shearers.

Yes. I’m sorry, Hannah, but it was necessary.

Abraham didn’t want to tell her why. He didn’t want to tell her that if he had not found her when he did, someone else could have, and they might have ended her life. Andrew Aiken, a man hired to replace Edgar Martinez at Carnestine Hills, was recruited to do more than occupy a position left open by Edgar’s death. He was the newest hire of Mr. Nesher’s. He was purposed with the task of spreading rumors throughout the facility that Dr. Hannah Lacy had killed herself after losing her job. He was also told to find Hannah, and kill her. Thanks to Junior, and a fit of rage that many had feared he’d held back for far too long, Andrew Aiken died in the common area of Carnestine Hills just a few days after he’d begun his new job. Abraham was sure that Andrew had already been replaced, but since he was no longer allowed entry into the rehab facility, he had no idea who might have been planted.

Hannah, you don’t realize this, but there is something big going on. Mr. Nesher is a dangerous man, and I’m afraid that since you failed to get Seth to confess to the murder of his family, he’ll come after you.

Why would he do that? Why would he care about a psychiatrist from Kentucky? Why, in fact, would he care about Seth? Why do the cops care so much about this? They say they have the evidence to convict him, why bother with a confession? Hannah said.

Abraham smiled. Hannah was smart. She asked a question that more people needed to ask. Why would the cops need a confession when they had evidence that proved his guilt? After all, the evidence does not lie.

The cops don’t care as much as you’ve been told they do. Mr. Nesher, on the other hand, is waiting, with intense anticipation, for Seth to admit to the murder of Sara and Angel Conley. He cares a great deal.

Why?

Abraham sat for a moment, pondering whether he should tell Hannah everything he knew about Seth Conley’s situation.

I don’t know why, but Mr. Nesher wants Seth dead.

Well, if this Mr. Nesher is so scary and powerful, why didn’t he try to have Seth killed?

Hannah was growing frustrated. For years she’d been under the impression that Mr. Nesher, the owner of the facility she had been hired into straight out of medical school, was a benevolent soul. She was told by her superiors that he couldn’t stand to see those less fortunate than himself suffer, and that he's devoted much of his time to catering to invalids and victims. She had a hard time reconciling that he was also a monster who struck fear in the eyes of two of the strongest men she had ever met. She’d questioned Abraham about this a few days earlier, but then he chose not to answer.

That’s the thing, he did try to have Seth killed. He hired two assassins to kill Seth and his family. They were only partly successful.

Hannah’s frustration transitioned into anger and confusion. Abraham watched as Hannah contorted her face and twisted what was left of her hair trying to process what he had told her.

Do you remember the time you confronted me about hovering over Seth too much?

Hannah nodded.

This is why. I was trying to stay close to him so that I could protect him.

Hannah stood to stretch and walked over to the window. Abraham watched as she stared into the light of the morning sun. It had been an unusual winter for Kentucky. Today was the first time in several days that the clouds had broken, and the sun had shone through. The world in which Abraham and Hannah lived was dark and cold. They both needed the light.

All right, that makes sense, I guess. But still, if the cops have all of this evidence, why do they need the confession?

Abraham sat quietly for a moment, regretting the need for the conversation.

Like I said, there were two assassins there that night. Seth’s neighbors attested to that when the cops questioned them.

Hannah returned to her chair, eyes watering. Any conversation about Seth Conley would be a touchy subject for Hannah. She still loved him dearly, even though Seth could barely remember her. Abraham blamed himself for that, as well.

Seth couldn’t have had many neighbors. According to his papers, he’d always lived in the house he grew up in. Unless someone rebuilt my parent’s house, there weren’t very many people around, Hannah said.

I suppose that house was rebuilt. The husband and wife that lived there said they watched two masked men enter Seth’s house that night. They called the cops after hearing gunfire. That’s why the court can’t convict Seth. That one little detail throws their investigation into chaos.

A steady stream of tears flowed from Hannah’s eyes. Abraham feared he was revealing too much.

And these neighbors. Are they still alive? She asked.

Abraham shook his head.

What happened to them? Hannah leaned back in her chair and awaited Abraham’s response.

Car accident. It killed them and their two kids.

Was it really an accident? Hannah took a brief glimpse at Abraham from the corner of her eye.

No. A silence hung heavily in the room before she spoke again.

Why, Abraham?

Because they knew too much, Abraham answered simply. It was the only way he could answer.

Hannah buried her face in the palms of her hands as tears rolled down her arms. The young woman convulsed from the lack of oxygen reaching her lungs. Abraham felt a similar panic grip his chest, but he forced it back down.

Hannah, you’ve got to sit up. Take a minute and just breathe.

She ignored him, so he walked to where she was and forced her to her feet.

Hannah, look at me, we’re not supposed to be in here. I had to pay the guard off, and he promised to keep a lookout for us, but if you don’t collect yourself, he won’t be able to explain away the noise we’re making to anyone walking by.

Hannah lifted her head and forced herself to make eye contact with Abraham. Anger flashed in her dampened eyes.

Abraham, how do you know so much about all of this?

He stared at her for a few seconds before answering. He’d already said too much.

Abraham, I want to know. Tell me, she said in a lowered voice.

Why do you need to know?

Why are you deflecting?

Hannah Lacy was a brilliant psychiatrist. He’d have to give her an answer. Any non-answer would reveal much more.

I know all of this because of Edgar Castillo – well, you knew him as Edgar Martinez. He was one of the assassins.

Hannah stepped back from Abraham and dried her eyes with the black, raggedy shirt that Abraham made her dress in. Abraham had made a mistake by mentioning Edgar’s original family name.

So, he had to change his name afterward.

Abraham pulled at the collar of his shirt. He was hoping that she hadn’t caught that. But of course, she had. Hannah caught everything. Always.

"No. Before that.

What about you?

He didn’t answer, instead choosing to examine the body being kept alive by tubes and machines. Abraham realized that this was a mistake, too. When he looked back up, an angry smile crept across the face of his raven-haired interrogator.

Is Abraham Murray your real name?

Hannah Lacy was smart. Too smart. Abraham would have to be more careful in their future conversations.

Chapter 2

Homeless

The bus ride back to the hotel was terrifying for Abraham. Hannah refused to speak with him, choosing only to glare at her former colleague. Refusing to blink. Refusing to look away. Abraham wanted her to talk; he wanted her to ask questions. Abraham already knew what she was thinking, but he did not know why she refused to speak. He knew Hannah Lacy. He had watched her work with patients. She was able to get every patient that ever sat across from her to speak. Even Seth Conley. Yet, here she stood, staring into his soul, silent. He was afraid of what she might do.

Abraham hoped Hannah would begin to open up after exiting the bus. They had to walk almost half a mile down Broadway before arriving at Lexington’s newest hotel; Silver Maple Luxury Suites. For years the lot that was home to the hotel had sat empty as the city and contractors squabbled over codes and licenses until, finally, the original hotel chain decided to cut their losses and sell. They had never imagined the property would sell so quickly, so when they received a reasonable offer from a man named Malachi Larson, they jumped on the opportunity to hand the political battle off to the next man up. Mr. Larson seemed to be more apt to deal with the city, and construction began on the high-rise just a few months later.

The alley behind the hotel was where Abraham Murray chose to reside. Although he called a back alley with a cardboard box ‘home,’ he would not