Whispers of Bedlam Asylum (Sigmund Shaw Book 2) Read Free

take my leave. I cannot get home soon enough on a day like today.”
     
    “By all means,” answered Jamison. They all watched as the visitor turned away and the door was shut.
     
    Looking back out the window, Sigmund released his long held breath and watched as this young man entered the bitter downpour once again. The messenger started running up the road and with every step, Sigmund’s cold feeling dissipated a little.
     
    “Who was that, dear?” asked Alexis from the kitchen.
     
    “It was a messenger with a telegram to deliver,” Jamison answered.
     
    “Really? On a day like today? What does it say?”
     
    “I have not opened it yet, for you see, it is addressed to you.”
     
    They could hear the sounds of footsteps in the kitchen and then Alexis appeared in the doorway with a surprised look on her face. “Did you say it was addressed to me?”
     
    “Yes. The young man clearly said that this was for Alexis Clarke.” With that, Jamison walked over to her and handed her the note. She stared at it for a moment while Jamison held out his hand and lightly cleared his throat.
     
    “You want a gratuity?” she said in mock anger. “How about I prepare you dinner?”
     
    “That will be just fine.” He smiled. “So, don’t keep us in anticipation…”
     
    They all watched as Alexis opened the telegram. Her eyes moved over the paper as she silently read it. When she was done, she looked at Sigmund and simply said, “This is odd. I do not really understand it.”
     
    “Read it out loud, dear, so that we may share in the oddity.” Jamison encouraged.
     
    Clearing her throat, Alexis said, “It reads:
     
    Greetings Alexis Clarke,
     
    I trust that you and your daughter Sarah are well. I would like to encourage you to remind your brother that favors owed should be repaid. In anticipation of this favor and of your continued good health, I bid you farewell.
     
    W.F .”
     
    Everyone turned and looked at Sigmund. The cold feeling returned with a vengeance, as if the once summer of his heart became instant winter. The stranger who delivered this note may not have been of any consequence, but the message was. Unbeknownst to his family, all of their lives had just been threatened.

2.
     
    The heat of their stares could be felt even though Sigmund had his eyes focused firmly on the floor. His mind raced as he wondered how best to answer everyone, how much should he tell them. He knew exactly what the message was about and who it was from. ‘W.F.’ was Doctor Walter Ferriss, as ghoulish a man as there ever was, and this ghoul was looking to recall an old promise.
     
    Despite some reservations, Sigmund decided to tell his family the truth. Some of the most painful moments of his life came about by trying to protect people by hiding things from them. There was no way that he would go down that path again.
     
    He took in a deep breath and then let it out. After looking at all their faces, he started, “This telegram is from a man I know, Doctor Walter Ferriss. After the explosion two years ago and my escape from the police, Doctor Ferriss is where I first went to hide. He found out what I was being accused of and threatened to execute me in the name of justice.”
     
    Looks of concern grew on all the listener’s faces. Evidently sensing the fear, Zachary hugged Sigmund’s leg. Alexis, in a quiet voice, said, “Sigmund, you never told us this.”
     
    “I know, and I am sorry. It was a detail that I didn’t want to worry anyone with, but we are clearly past that point now. I pleaded my innocence and was able to get him to let me go. However, he had a condition. A favor.”
     
    Jamison now spoke, “What was the favor?”
     
    “There wasn’t one. He was saving it for some future time. Evidently, that time has arrived. I was hoping that he had forgotten about it or just did not need to use it, but with the arrival of that telegram, that was a false hope.”
     
    “But why send a telegram to me?”