The Fright Factory Read online

  A booming crash at the front door startled him but he did not push away from Brandi. Through the shattered door bolted a man with wild bloodshot eyes, long greasy hair, and an intense, crazy stare that sent shivers through Wesley. The man charged toward them with something in his hands that looked like a club or bat.

  “What the fuck are you doing to my wife!” the man bellowed. “YOU ARE DEAD!”

  The man bolted toward Wesley, crashing through the glass coffee table and kicking over chairs. Wesley started to stand and as he did he instinctively put his hands up to protect his face. It wasn’t enough. The man swung the bat as he moved forward and struck a homerun shot to the back of Wesley’s head. Wesley’s vision flared red and then sparkled with bright light. Robin screamed and then Wesley’s feet gave up….

  Chapter 2

  Three Days Earlier

  Robin carried a stack of mail in both hands and walked for the kitchen from the front door. She slumped in a chair and glanced around the kitchen. The refrigerator was free of artwork and school reminders. The pantry shelves housed healthy cereals instead of the sugar-blasted favorites of her children. There were no more backpacks hanging or rubber boots cluttering the floor. The house was empty of all that. Worst of all, it was so quiet. No more shouting or giggling or heavy feet on floors or sibling rivalry to referee.

  Monica was now living with friends near campus and would start law school in two months. Jordan was already practicing at a small firm in Alberta. Robin would never have believed she and Wes would produce two lawyers.

  She thumbed through the mail and found one from the Visa Company that Wesley used for business. The envelope said Urgent Matter in bright red lettering. She quickly tore open and glanced at the letter. The account was three months overdue with a huge balance and a minimum payment over $2500.

  “What the hell?” She found the monthly statement that concurred with the letter. She had received at least three calls from the company but they wouldn’t share any info with her and only asked Robin to relay a message to the cardholder to call a 1-800 number. Apparently, Wesley had not taken care of this.

  She instantly began to worry as Wesley was meticulous about paying bills on time, especially where the restaurant was concerned. She knew he was the kind of man who would not want to burden her with the stress of a financial problem and would soldier on for months on his own.

  She poured herself a cup of coffee and thought over how best to present her findings to Wesley. She knew this could come across like she was accusing him of hiding something. God knows what he might read into it if she had the wrong tone or body language. It could touch off a huge fight which would be unfortunate if this was just some computer glitch at the bank.

  If the business was failing, then Wesley would be stressed to the limit. She wanted to help, not cause more anxiety. She added a splash of cream to her coffee and then walked toward Wesley’s study. She quietly stepped through the door and set the mug down in front of him.

  He startled and then smiled at her. “Awesome, babe. Just what I need.”

  Wesley had numerous job applications spread out on his desk. She knew he was looking to hire a new line cook and at least two part-time waitresses. “How’s the search going?”

  “Hmm, not so good. I think we need to pay a little higher wage to attract apps from more qualified people. But, with Sergio now making manager salary and the new seafood menu, it’s pretty tight.”

  “The mail came and this one had Urgent Matter on the front so I opened it,” she said as she studied his response. “It’s the company Gold card.”

  “Oh, yeah…um that one is a bit behind,” Wesley said, looking more than a little embarrassed.

  “Is everything okay?” She looked into his eyes.

  “The online banking went weird again. None of the payments went through last month. I dunno. I’ll call them again.”

  “Okay, but it hasn’t been paid since before Christmas. It’s way behind.”

  “I said I’ll call them,” Wesley said. His smile and tone hardened to a concerned frown.

  “Okay, but why is the balance so high? You normally pay it off each month so there are no interest charges.”

  “What are you asking?”

  “I don’t know—I guess I’m asking if the business is in trouble?” Her tone had changed from friendly as well. She knew this was going to get hot.

  “What the fuck do you think is going on? Business is slower than normal for this time of year. I overspent on developing the new menu, I pay Sergio too damn much, and we went overboard on the fucking company Christmas party. You were the one who wanted to treat the staff this year!”

  “Okay, but you don’t need to swear at me. We’ll sort it out.”

  “We—what the fuck are we gonna do?” Wesley threw his hands up in the air.

  “What the fuck does that mean, Wes?” She turned from him and then turned to face him again. Her thoughts were racing.

  “It means that you live in la-la land, Robin. Talking on the phone to your friends on the board, Facebooking with Monica, and meanwhile I’m running a business with two dozen employees and a fucking leak in the roof,” he said with a voice growing louder by the second. “All I ever hear from you is we never do anything or go anywhere. You need a vacation from what, doing sweet F-A every day?”

  “You know damn well I quit because of my back.”

  “Yes, your back. Your back seemed pretty good to go in that 10 K run last week…”

  “Fine, Wes, and you know damn well I walked more than half that run. I’ll quit my charity work and I’ll come back to work at the restaurant. Don’t hire any new waitresses…in fact, you can let Liz go. Marcy had lunch the other day and said that Liz gave her lousy service and I know she has a bad attitude.”

  “You’d do all that?” Wesley sighed. “Quit the board and come back to wait tables?”

  Robin was on the Board of Directors of a non-profit society which raised funds for children’s charities including Make a Wish.

  “Of, course,” she said, forcing a smile.

  “Okay, this will really free up some cash. Thank you,” Wesley said in a near whisper.

  “So is there anything I need to do to get hired, Mr. Tate?” Robin pulled Wesley in close for a kiss.

  “Hmm, I’m sure I can think of something,” he said as he glanced at his papers. “But it will need to wait ‘til later. I’ve gotta clear this paper and write up a separation sheet for Liz.”

  Robin wanted to let things go to call a truce at the very least. She wanted to walk away and let Wesley finish what he was doing. However, her thoughts would not cease. “How bad is it, Wes? I mean, is this why we didn’t go to Maui last year?”

  “No, that’s not why we didn’t go to Hawaii. I just really have no interest in going to that tourist trap,” he said with his fake grin that irritated her so much.

  “So you let me think we were going and then just never followed through because it just isn’t your thing?”

  “Not quite like that.” He shook his head.

  “Then like what?”

  “I want to travel with you but somewhere that isn’t so trendy and fake, like over there. Somewhere different and special with a bit of adventure, you know?” He sounded sincere to Robin.

  “Like where?”

  Wesley opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a brochure and handed it to her. “This place sounds great. We can look at the website too. Log cabins, hiking, swimming, well, the lake’s bit cold right now but there is a hot tub in every cabin and it’s secluded and quiet. Remember when we used to do stuff like this when the kids were small? But this would just be us and a few glasses of wine….”

  “Loon Lake Resort? Where is that, babe?” She had to admit a few days away at a lake resort might just be what their marriage needed to get back on track. Neither of them placed much faith in counseling. Nevertheless, she had really worried at times about their relationship. The constant bickering and lack of intimacy
was taking its toll. “Okay, punch it up and show me.”

  “Look, a natural hot springs, no TV, no phone—you’ll love it.”

  Chapter 3

  Six Years Earlier

  Driving younger staff members home after a late shift was a routine Wesley started when he was head waiter years before he bought the restaurant. Receiving oral sex from employees was far from normal and this indiscretion would soon become the biggest mistake of his life.

  He looked around the neighborhood, hoping, silently praying no one had witnessed the act. He stared at his hands in his lap and then glanced at Shelly. She was one of the few new hires that was working out. She had a good attitude for the most part and was quite reliable for her age. He glanced at her again, felt his face flush, and looked away. He wanted to smash his face into the steering wheel.

  “Um, that was—was…um…not right,” Wesley said, embarrassed at his weak voice.

  “It’s no big deal,” Shelly said, a shy smile on her face.

  “Actually, it is. I mean if my wife ever found out….”

  “No one is gonna find out, Mr. Tate. I mean you have been really good to me.”

  “I didn’t…I didn’t want for you to do that….”

  “You could have hired someone with experience,” she said as she glanced at him. “And my Mom hasn’t been able to work in a while so we are doing okay with my paycheck now with no more welfare. And then there was that thing with Mrs. Glencourt,” she sighed. “You could have fired me for yelling at her.”

  “Glencourt has been treating younger waitresses like shit for years. She deserved it.”

  “Well, still, I appreciate what you have done for me so I thought that maybe I could do something for you…I mean you could have stopped me….”

  “You’re right. I should have stopped you. I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

  “Forget it. It’s not like you forced me. It’s just a BJ. Not like we screwed or anything.”

  Wesley squirmed at her bluntness. She had no idea how serious a matter this was. “I know but you are so young. What are you, sixteen now?”

  “No, I’m still fifteen.”

  Oh shit! His head was spinning.

  “I’ll forget about if you will,” she said, still smiling.

  “Yeah. I think that is a good idea. It never happened, right.”

  “Right, Mr. Tate. You drove me home and we talked about work for a sec.” She opened her door and then looked back at him. “Have a good night.” Then she was gone into the night.

  But it did happen and it was a big deal. Two days later an envelope arrived addressed to him at the restaurant. Someone had seen him and Shelly and had photographed the entire act. His face was easily identifiable in several shots and it was obvious what was going on in the photos. A day later another letter arrived. This time with directions about how much money he was to leave in a grocery bag and how often he had to pay.

  * * *

  Wesley knew he was in danger. His vision was blurred and his hearing was not right. He knew there was a considerable pool of blood growing on the floor under his head. He could hear Robin’s voice, which he believed was good. However, it was warbled and he couldn’t understand her words. If she was talking it meant she was alive and if he could hear her, then he was also among the living; for how long he had no idea.

  He caught a clear glimpse of the long-haired man who had struck him. The man gave him a wicked grin through missing front teeth. He said something. Wesley wasn’t sure what.

  “How you feelin’, old man?”

  Wesley attempted a verbal response but could get out no more than a weak croak and moan. He cringed when he watched the man take a fist full of Robin’s dark hair and then yank her to her feet. Wesley attempted to stand but was met with a wave of dizziness.

  “Sit down!”

  Long-hair pulled Robin’s struggling body along with both of his hands and then slammed her down into a chair. He was fastening her to the chair but Wesley couldn’t see any rope. Then he heard the familiar zip-zip of tie straps closing on Robin’s arms and legs.

  The man charged back toward Wesley with something dark in his hands. “Let’s see who you are now, old man.”

  It was his wallet. The man thumbed through the cards and made a show of stuffing the cash into his shirt pocket. “Well, now, here is Mr. Wesley F. Tate. My lil’ ol’ wife says you are a restaurateur. Well, la-di-fuckin’ da! What’s the F stand for, Wes—hmm? I’m thinkin’ it’s faggot.” He smiled at Brandi. “What do you think, Bran? We got us a stool pusher here?”

  “Could be, baby,” Brandi said softly. “He sure is no good at fucking pussy.”

  “Is that right?” He wandered around in front of where Wesley lay on the floor. “You want to get up there, Wes—huh you wanna take a swing at me? Or is you nothing but a sissy little fag?”

  Wesley tried to stand but the nausea was overwhelming. Long-hair took hold of Wesley’s shirt and stood him on his feet. “There now. You wanna take a free shot there, Wes?”

  Wesley took a step toward.

  “Right here.” He pointed to his chin. “Go ahead—free shot!”

  Wesley balled up both fists, stepped forward again, and then doubled over and threw up. Long-hair jumped back to avoid the stream and spray. He stepped closer to Wesley. “What the fuck?”

  “He’s concussed,” Robin said, almost whispering.

  “He what—confessed to being a homo?” Long-hair laughed as though his words were hilarious.

  “He has a concussion from when you bashed him with the bat!” Robin said firmly.

  “Oh, is that right?”

  Wesley wasn’t sure what to think. He glanced at Robin in the chair and then he watched as the man took his time thinking about her words. “Oh, shit,” he said alarmed. “I forgot to introduce myself to you all.”

  Wesley slumped down to the floor and stared at Robin as he did. Her face looked years older than it had a few hours earlier and tears trickled down her cheeks.

  “I’m Jesse. My friends call me Jesse.” He turned away and fumbled in a large sports bag on the couch. He stood and then turned around to face Wesley with a video camera and then handed the device to Brandi and motioned for her to begin recording.

  Into the camera he began, “I’m Jesse Lawless. Known from now on as the killer. Cause that is precisely what I am.”

  Jesus Christ, Wesley thought as he stared at this couple. Jesse took the camera and focused it on Brandi. “Now this beautiful creature is Brandi, my wife. You’ll get to know and love her as the accomplice.” He panned the camera to Wesley and then to Robin and then lowered it.

  “You two shit-bags will be the victims of this horrible crime.” Jesse paused as his harsh words settled in. “I expect everyone to play their part properly and with a little pride.” He chuckled. “We four are gonna make us a fine motion picture. I can’t afford any actors, stunt people or the like, but you two will do nicely.”

  Wesley shook his head. A movie? Was all this just some sick film or weird pornography video?

  “Brandi here has already captured the opening scene. Quite a hot three way, don’t-cha think?” Jesse opened a laptop computer and punched in a few commands and the entire screen filled with the sex scene at the hot tub.

  Wesley looked around for a hidden camera and could find nothing. He noticed Brandi was now dressed in a body-hugging white running outfit with a pink smiley face over her breasts.

  “Stop looking, Wes, my man,” Jesse said as he opened Brandi’s purse and showed Wesley the mini camera. Then he held up a second camera from her back pack near the front door of the cabin.

  Wesley glared at Jesse. Jesse motioned to Brandi and a few seconds later she tied his hands together with the same tie-straps as were used on Robin. Jesse pulled his hair back into a ponytail and smiled at Wesley. Jesse’s voice and mannerisms had changed somewhat from hillbilly to film maker.

  “Here’s what I expect from you both,” he said and paused.

/>   Wesley glanced at Robin. Her eyes were filled with pure terror.

  “Don’t have no special effects budget or C-G-fucking-I. So I expect you two to be scared shitless. To bleed and to cry and to scream and to escape and then when I catch you motherfuckers, I expect you to beg…and to plead…and, of course, to die horribly and gruesomely. But please keep in mind that you’ll both be famous when I get the entire film up on the website.”

  Chapter 4

  Robin’s heart was pounding and she had a knot in her stomach that felt like she might vomit. Jesse was insane and Brandi wasn’t much better. Brandi had set cameras in the cabin and filmed everything.

  Robin looked around for Jesse and could not see him. She could hear him and Brandi in the kitchen discussing something quietly. Robin then returned her gaze to Wesley. A few seconds after his ‘you’ll be famous’ speech, Jesse swung a sudden punch into Wesley’s face. Wesley collapsed. Jesse took hold of Wesley’s feet and dragged his unconscious body along the floor and then jolted him up and fastened him to a chair.

  Wesley was slumped forward with his head down on his chest. She doubted he was conscious. The wound on the back of his head was over an inch long and down to the skull. Before Jesse had tied her to the chair she had almost stopped the bleeding with a towel. Now she was certain it was hemorrhaging again.

  “Wes,” she whispered. She was across the living room from him. She glanced at the camera, now on a tri-pod and pointing at her. The red light was on. Jesse was filming her movements. “Wes?”