The Rose Man Read online

  "I'm Detective Robert Fernly," the man announced, flashing his badge. "Homicide. I need to ask Mrs. Morrison a few questions."

  "You won't be able to tonight," Dr. Ridley replied. "She was in tremendous shock. I had to give her a sedative."

  "Well, I have a John Doe with a broken neck in her bedroom and her husband is missing," Fernly said, pulling a card from his jacket. "When she is able to talk, can you call me?"

  The doctor took the card and buried it in his white coat pocket. "I will make sure you are contacted when she is responsive."

 

  Dr. Ridley excused himself and walked away. A nurse with her arms full started to pass Fernly on her way to Helen's room.

  "Excuse me, miss," Fernly asked. "Are those from her husband?"

  "Not unless her husband's name is Carol," the nurse replied, after checking the small white card.

  "Thanks," Fernly said, taking his leave.

  The nurse entered Helen's room. The patient was deep in troubled sleep. The nurse put the vase on the nightstand and left, quietly.

  The bouquet of multi-colored roses began to stir.

  Story Notes

  In the original version of The Rose Man, the street peddler had a British accent. For the revised version, I decided to make him Cajun, so he wouldn't appear so out of place and there is a more mystical air around him.

  The homicide detective at the hospital, Robert Fernly, was the main character of a novel, Distinguishing Marks, co-written with Daniel D. Burr. Review copies of Distinguishing Marks, which included an introduction by David B. Silva, went out but the book was never released due to the dissolution of the publishing company. You can find advance copies occasionally on Amazon and believe me when I say they are rare. I don't know if Dan and I will ever consider putting the book out.

  Robert Fernly was meant to be a major player in my fiction universe, but Dan and I had created him. When we went are separate ways, I stopped writing tales about Robert Fernly.

  Dunlavey, my self-destructive Private Eye with a third eye character from Dead Aware, is a dark, more mystical version of who Fernly was meant to be.

  -TMW

  11-14

  About the Author

  Terry M. West is an American horror author. His best known works: What Price Gory, Car Nex, Dreg and his Night Things series. He is also the managing editor of the Halloween/horror website, Halloween Forevermore. He was a finalist for 2 International Horror Guild Awards and he was featured on the TV Guide Sci-Fi hot list for his YA graphic novel series, Confessions of a Teenage Vampire. Terry was born in Texas, lived in New York for two decades and he currently hangs his hat in California. www.terrymwest.com

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