Reaper by Patrick J O'Brian

Author:Patrick J O'Brian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, horror, halloween, suspense, mystery, action, serial killer, historical, murderer, bloody, indiana, murders, grim reaper, jesuits, restoration, deaths, west baden, springs hotel
Publisher: Patrick J O'Brian

Chapter 16

Clouse found the hotel grounds in shambles the next morning when he and Zach arrived. Between the crime scene tape along the yard and an empty state police cruiser sitting awkwardly along the brick drive, the hotel didn’t look prim and proper as usual.

At such an early hour, Clouse could not find any family members to take his son, and there would be little need to supervise the workers because their workday would consist of placing tools and supplies in storage once he and Rusty broke the news.

He imagined most of the workers were frightened about coming into work anyhow after one of their colleagues was murdered; possibly by someone they all knew. While no one else was present, Clouse wanted to evaluate what needed to be accomplished before the hotel could be closed down.

It still seemed odd that tomorrow there would be no activity within the mammoth walls, and that he’d have nothing to do on his days off from the fire department. Both he and his brother-in-law were given an additional week off by their chief to settle any family affairs that might linger.

Clouse figured it was the chief’s way of wiping his hands clean of any potential criminal investigations within his department, particularly aimed toward Clouse himself. It would certainly look bad to have Clouse working while the city police investigated him, but the front office, like any other, kept Summers from working as well, so it didn’t look as though they were only targeting Clouse.

Clouse knew, and understood, but their reaction served only to further annoy him.

Thanks to the unrelenting press, most of the Bloomington area seemed to know Clouse was the prime suspect in Angie’s murder. It worried him, not being able to prove otherwise, or speak out against the allegations.

Stopping beside the state police cruiser, Clouse stepped from his truck, surveying the car and wondering why Jason Brinkman would still be at the hotel.

Usually, whoever worked midnight security would be gone by morning, locking all of the entrances and gates around the hotel before heading out. He might have thought little about it, except for the pool of dried blood beside the patrol car.

“Oh, no,” he told himself, fearing the worst if he went inside.

Along the last several steps, he could see chips of black plastic and more blood droplets. Signs of a turbulent fall were evident.

“Stay in the truck, Zach,” he ordered his son, “and lock it.”

Clouse walked the seemingly endless stained path up the steps, finding the front doors unlocked as he stepped inside. Cautiously walking into the unlit lobby, Clouse stepped in a pool of blood, still wet on the designer tile, which would cost a small fortune to replace.

“Shit,” he said to himself, looking at the bottom of his boot, knowing he had already contaminated evidence.

Still, he could not help but see what horrors awaited him further inside. The firefighter observed the floor, finding nothing except a heavy flashlight, still sending a beam of light across the lobby. Resisting

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