Wolf Asylum (7 page)

Momentum had swept through New Haven like a flash flood. Plans began to come together in quick succession and celebrations in the town square were almost becoming a nightly occurrence. The issue of food was not entirely resolved, but much of the celebration revolved around solutions coming to fruition.

Doctor Gagnon had come up with an ingenious plan that would create a food source but not actually kill any humans, at least not in a way that would draw attention to the town. A woman's right to choose meant a steady supply of biological matter that was akin to caviar. It seemed so obvious when the suggestion was made…if these women were going to abort their child then why waste it? Setting up the Every Woman's Health Center only took a few days and when the doors opened, a functioning website allowing outsiders to pre-book an appointment was in full swing. In the first week the clinic was performing three procedures a day, but as word spread it was expected that number would increase exponentially. The price was also a huge draw for teenagers and low income mothers.

A brave Guardian had also come forward with an exceptional plan requiring some immediate consideration. It had become standard that Guardians didn't speak to members of the council or even request meetings. Loyalty meant keeping their distance and if they had a message to send to the council, it had to be relayed through Tim Waters via email. The Guardian by the name of J.D. strolled through the doors of City Hall and requested an audience from the Mayor. Initial reactions from on-looking lycans was not unlike being in a comedy club, but the Guardian held his ground and was granted a one minute meeting with Darwin. J.D. was told at the beginning of that meeting that unless the subject was impressive, he would be terminated on the spot. The smug Guardian asked one simple question-Why not sell membership? It was agreed the puny human was right and for his trouble, Darwin bit him and gave him an immediate job of attracting wealthy investors.

The greatest achievement was setting the date for the grand opening of the Hadamar Wellness Retreat. After lengthy discussions with the Riverview authorities, it was finally agreed to let Riverview and the ideals of that era fade into history. Hadamar would be brighter with mountain views and an overall less restrictive feel. Everything would be done differently and the board at Riverview gave the plan their blessing, even though they doubted the success privately. In early July the first series of patients would be brought over and by the end of that same month, the facility was expected to be at full capacity. Riverview had some reservations, but ultimately they knew it was no longer their concern.

Another last minute success came from Vivian Yee who spearheaded the outreach program for the homeless and disadvantaged. Vivian herself pointed out the inefficiency in creating an elaborate halfway house only to devour the clients. She instead suggested moving new arrivals directly to Special Handling and having only a simple storefront for the new arrivals to go to. On the off chance anyone from the outside came to see the facility, clients would be off on an outing or in a class. A few New Haven residents would be quickly put into costume to parade in front of the intruders until they went away, or it was decided they had to be dealt with using harsher measures.

To have so many accomplishments in such a short time made everyone in town feel like they were finally on a paying basis. Even the summer tourists were beginning to flow through town during the day and shop in the local stores. The tourist trade wasn't large, but it was enough to help make the town appear normal. The outsiders who did venture into New Haven were greeted with big smiles and home cooking. It seemed to everyone that only more tourists would come in the near future. New Haven had been molded so perfectly that word in the outside world spread of this gem of a community.

Perfection did have its disadvantages. New Haven was not open for purchase. Several visitors noted the lack of hotels and real estate offices in town. After Mike Bollen had closed up shop, no one considered reopening a realty office because there was no need for one. It was an oversight on the part of the council and they realized they may must consider opening a fake office or even a small hotel to appease the prospective tourists.

On the classified front Darwin had heard nothing from Robbie since he had left town. It was concerning that no news had come in, good or bad. His little secret had been maintained but now he wondered if the issue would just go away or come back to haunt him at a later time. Darwin had hoped Robbie would be smart enough to keep in touch, but everyday Darwin's phone remained silent. Was he dead? Did he desert? The questions would continue to nag at him, fortunately a new distraction helped to ease his mind.

Mary Cardwen had become a beacon for Darwin. Since her arrival in town, they had spent every possible moment together and Darwin was becoming a new person. The locals knew what was going on and were happy that their leader had finally found someone that brought him happiness.

On her first night in town, Darwin took Mary up to the old Bollen estate for a private dinner prepared by Chef Andre Kristofski. The two dined on beef tenderloin served with root vegetables and a lovely pinot-gris. The meal was fantastic but the two dinner guests hardly took note of the quality. The conversation flowed as though they were old friends. Mary asked about her brother and Darwin was all too happy to share what great things he knew about Steve. Mary sat and smiled throughout the stories, which Darwin kept to the upbeat and humorous.

By the time the pineapple cake with vanilla-pecan icing was served, Darwin was asking Mary about her life and where she had gone to avoid the horrors of the Cardwen house. After she had escaped the Mormon teen pregnancy ghetto, as Mary described it, she went out east. She hitchhiked in the early days trying to get as far away as she could. It took her months before she stopped looking over her shoulder and worrying “they” would come and find her and drag her back. It never happened and she eventually gave birth to her daughter who she named Aurora. Times were tough for Mary, but she managed to survive. She went to night school and finished her education and even went on to university where she completed her degree in business administration. These were happy times for her and her daughter, but it was never easy and Mary wanted to be sure Darwin understood that. Student loans, waiting tables, sleepless nights and with only a handful of friends to help her—she made it.

Mary found love shortly after finishing university. It was a quick courtship but they both knew what they had in each other. Ryan Smithton asked Mary for her hand in marriage after only three months of courting and she had said ‘yes'. Soon after, the two lovers eloped and the beginnings of a fairy-tale seemed to be in the making. Everything was perfect, according to Mary. Ryan loved Aurora as though she was his own flesh and blood. The family may have been made quickly, but it was still a family.

As fast as the family came into existence it was snuffed out. A stolen car racing down the highway lost control and flipped into oncoming traffic and into Ryan and Aurora. Their car was crushed against a cement barrier blocking the passenger doors. The driver's side was pinned by the criminal vehicle. Miraculously, neither Ryan nor Aurora were seriously hurt and all they had to do was wait for help. Ryan had phoned Mary to let her know what happened, and that they were fine. The emergency crews arrived about the time the fire started and both vehicles were engulfed rapidly. Mary listened to her child and husband burn to death until the call was dropped.

Darwin connected himself with Mary. Her relation to Steve helped, but her own torment made her a remarkable person. She was older than him by ten years but the age difference didn't matter. Darwin was finding himself drawn to Mary, and for the first time he was certain the feeling within him was the beginnings of love.

The one thing Darwin had yet to tell Mary was the big secret. The full moon was not until July and although he felt comfortable and safe in telling Mary, he wanted to be sure his feelings were the real deal. Darwin also assumed that Mary might not want to stay in the town where she grew up and had been run out of. If she wanted to stay, Darwin wanted it to be her choice. For the moment, she didn't know about the hairy times.

The two walked through the streets of town laughing and talking. The odd resident would holler and wave to Darwin and he would return in kind. Mary had been polite and asked nothing about Darwin's political career but the more she saw of New Haven, the more curious she became. She knew Darwin was falling for her—or had already fallen for her—but she knew he hadn't been completely up front about his own situation. Mary opened up the subject with tact.

“How come you never want to talk about you?” Mary asked.

Darwin snickered before responding and replied with a little confusion on his tongue, “we talk about me all the time.”

“I don't mean about the time you and Steve got baked and watched the
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
seven times in a row. I'm happy to know those things, but there seems to be more in this town that involves you, but you don't talk about it.” Mary paused, hoping Darwin would open up on his own.

“Okay, what would you like to know?”

Mary could see that Darwin had become uncomfortable but she had to know. “How did you become Mayor? You're so young,” she asked.

Darwin launched into one colossal lie, “I started public speaking in school. I was quite good at it; I was great at getting the people riled up over issues. One of my teachers suggested that I try running for public office. I guess it started out as a joke, but no one else in town wanted to run against Mayor Bollen. A long story short, I actually won the election. Mind you, the Mayor did have some scandals that helped me out, but I won.”

“Just like that?” Mary replied, touting her disbelief.

Darwin confessed in truth. “You know, between you and me, I hate politics. I wish I hadn't won the election. Kissing babies and hugging seniors…it's not me. I could resign, but I don't want to let anyone down. I plan on finishing my term and then I'll move on.”

“How long until the next election?” Mary asked.

“A few years,” Darwin replied, uncertain of the real answer. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What are your plans?” Darwin said without straying into sensitive areas.

Mary remained silent, only looking at the path in front of them. It was an awkward silence but both dug their heels in refusing to budge on who would speak next. The two continued through the streets of New Haven in silence until they reached Cadmore Avenue. Instinctively, Mary turned onto the street and headed towards familiar territory. Darwin kept quiet, only waiting for time to reveal the purpose of the stroll.

727 Cadmore was abandoned. Darwin had meant to have the structure leveled but it had slipped his mind. He avoided this area and the whole neighborhood had more or less been vacated in December, so there was no reason to come here. The ranch-style house looked haunted, even from the outside. Darwin had not set foot inside the home since the day he had pancakes and set up the surround sound for Sally Cardwen. Inside that home Darwin knew there existed an echo of Steve that he was reluctant to confront. Mary didn't give him the choice. She made her way up the old walkway surrounded by knee high grass to the front door.

“Mary, please don't go in there,” Darwin begged, but only for his own selfish reasons.

“I have to know, Darwin. I have to see it,” she quietly answered.

She creaked open the screen to find the old fifties style main door ajar. Mary pushed her way in and crossed the threshold into her past. The home looked much as it had when she had left fifteen years earlier. Religious portraits adorned the walls and everything was permeated with the stale smell of cigarettes. It was as though time had ceased the moment she had walked out the door.

“I always thought your family's religion frowned upon unhealthy lifestyles?” Darwin asked with the nicotine strong in his nose.

“They were hypocrites,” she solemnly replied as she scanned the living room. “Why are the belongings still here?”

“I don't know. I'm not even sure why the door was open. I guess that makes this place yours, since you are the only known living relative,” Darwin offered in trade of a good explanation.

“Do you know where he killed them?” Mary asked.

Darwin replied, “Steve told me he electrocuted his mother in the kitchen. He said he slit his dad's throat while he slept-I assume in the bedroom.”

Mary passed through the living room and began her trek down the hall towards the bedrooms. Steve's room was first to be visited. She pushed the door open, allowing enough light in to see the patched and broken drywall from where Steve had collided after his father had used him as a shot put. The dark room smelt like a teenager; sticky and pungent. For Darwin, the smell was a concentrated reminder that watered his eyes. He managed to hide his pain from Mary while she continued down the hall to her parents' bedroom.

The door of the master bedroom was closed and stuck. Mary turned the knob and jiggled the door but it wouldn't move. After a few tries she threw her weight at the door and it released from the frame. A warm, metallic air rushed into her face. The room was humid and dead. From the hallway she could see a stream of brown, splattering up the wall beyond the head board of the bed. The linen and mattress were still in place and bleached with the actions of Steve.