The Alpha Men's Secret Club 3(23)

He was Aaron Mitchell.

Teddy, meanwhile, transformed swiftly back to his naked human self.

“What do you think you are doing?” Aaron Mitchell asked his son mildly.

“Staking my claim.”

“These are my guests. You do not stake any claim on them unless they permit it. Go back to the house, Teddy.”

Teddy bridled, but did not dare go against his father in public. His eyes flashed fire, and he made as if to retort something, but thought the better of it. He shot a murderous glare at Rust and stalked off.

Rust had also metamorphosed back into his human self.

“I’m sorry about my son,” Aaron Mitchell said. “He was never a good sport at such games.”

“Thank you for intervening,” Rust said.

Aaron gazed at the exposed body of Kate, and she suddenly felt very embarrassed to be displayed in such a wanton manner in front of the famous billionaire.

“I’m sorry for my son’s behavior,” he said to Kate.

She was too stymied to say anything.

Aaron smiled and nodded. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy the rest of the party. Please, don’t let anything else spoil your mood.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mitchell,” Rust said.

Aaron nodded again and turned to leave. Kate could feel every eye on them.

Rust said to her, “Are you OK?”

She was none too comfortable. It was starting to get chilly, or maybe it was just her. “Rust, please take me down . . . they are all looking at me.”

“Of course.”

He helped her down from the harness. Her wrists and thighs wore red strap marks from the prolonged suspension. She massaged them.

“Come on,” Rust said, putting his arm protectively around her. “Let’s get you out of this circle.”





16



Rita Cunningham surveyed the perimeter of the grand mansion with its six foot walls. A private party was going on inside, and her reporter’s instincts told her that she – and the world – would be very interested in the proceedings inside.

After the anonymous phone call, her curiosity had been piqued. Something about the Bellevue case had always bothered her, and she hated unsolved mysteries. She was so sure there was a cover-up somewhere along the lines, and the fact that a multi-millionaire like Connor O’Brien was involved was doubly testament to the fact.

So she had spent a good deal of time researching the O’Briens again. She had kept her notes from five years ago. Back then, she had wanted to continue probing, but there was great pressure from her editor not to continue. Rita had suspected there was some political wrangling involved. But she was young then and in need to prove herself to her newspaper, and so she did not continue.

But now she was a seasoned investigative reporter with several awards under her belt. And now she was aiming for the elusive Pulitzer, which seemed to be going to all the war reporters.

She had stalked Connor O’Brien, followed him to Bellevue, as was his usual routine. Nothing out of the ordinary, and Bellevue had put out an order not to admit any reporters into their premises long ago. The new development in the O’Brien family was the return of the wayward son, Rust O’Brien. He had been involved in a university sex scandal involving a barely legal student.

Through her sources, Rita managed to trace the name of the student – Kate Penney. Who was here with Rust O’Brien now. Their relationship was consensual, by all accounts.

This was all about the O’Briens, Rita was certain, and the secrets they had to hide.

Their motive for the experiments.

If Connor O’Brien conducted experiments on the criminally insane inmates of Bellevue, he had to have a motive. At one point in his life, he was assisted by his son, Rust, who had to be in on the secret. Whether or not Rust ultimately left because of those secrets – and the burden of guilt he had to bear – was something Rita intended to find out.

But now Rust had returned to the family home in disgrace, his young girlfriend in tow.

Rita had a chart, which she tacked up to the board in her apartment – not at work, since she was doing this out of work hours.



BELLEVUE ?MURDERS



SUSPECTS:

CONNOR O’BRIEN

RUST O’BRIEN



DEATHS: (occurring within 12 months)



JOHN TULLY, 34



Interred for raping and murdering his wife and three children

Diagnosis: Paranoid schizophrenia

Official cause of death from Coroner’s report: Pneumonia and Septicemia



HARRINGTON JAMES, 45



Interred for the ritualistic killing of three hookers, who were mounted on trees and made to resemble wood nymphs

Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder

Official cause of death from Coroner’s report: Tuberculosis



ISABEL FONTAINE, 29



Interred for the murder of her father, stepmother and two step-siblings in their family home