Episode 3: Fade To Black

Episode 2: Fade To Black
by Toni Walker

Charlotte "Charlie" Cooper leaned toward the door and put her eye up to the peep hole. Then she quickly turned around and put her back to the door.


It was him.


She unconsciously bit her thumbnail and slightly shoved the curtain aside. Charlie wasn't sure if she wanted Wayne McKenna to know she was home or not.


She glanced out the window once more to make sure it was him. It was. "Oh, mother," Charlie whispered. "What have you done now?"


The pounding ceased momentarily and she could hear McKenna talking to himself. Then his words became louder as she realized he was talking to her through the door.


"Charlotte," Wayne said softly but with emphasis behind his words. "It's very important that I speak with you. It's about your husband and..." His voice suddenly sounded strained, as if whatever was on his mind was paining him greatly. "It's about your husband and my fiancee."


"Fiancee?" Maybe Wayne McKenna wasn't visiting to take her mother's offer seriously. Maybe there was a completely different reason for his visit.


Wayne sighed. It was a mistake to come here and dig up the past. But there was some part of him that couldn't put his fiancee's death behind him. He didn't know if he could ever forgive himself for pushing her away that day. But what was she doing with Coop? He didn't think Joy and Paul Cooper had even met each other, but stranger things have happened in Park Ridge -- one of them being the accident that claimed Joy's life.


"Please, Mrs. Cooper. Just a moment of your time. I'm begging you."


Against her better judgement, Charlie pulled open the large oak door of the cabin. She motioned for him to enter. He noticed it seemed as if she had been crying. He had a feeling she felt exactly like he did... like four people had died that night instead of two.


"Thank you. I really appreciate this." Wayne crossed the large one roomed building and sat on her only sofa.


Charlie's eyes were brimming with tears. "It still gets to me, you know?" She sighed and wiped the wetness from her cheeks "It's still so hard to believe he's gone."


"I'm right there with you. Sometimes I think I can hear her voice calling to me in the house.." Wayne knew revealing such things was fruitless, but he felt the need to connect with her in some way. Let her know that he could relate to her pain. That her pain was his as well. "The reason I'm here is..."


Wayne's pager beeped and it seemed like a funeral dirge. "Damn." He grabbed the device from his waistband starring at the digital display. "It's the hospital."


He rose abruptly, but didn't turn away. "I really need to have this conversation with you, Charlotte. Maybe we could discuss it over dinner tonight?"


Charlie thought a moment and nodded. Maybe this dinner would finally get her mother off her back.


"Eight, then? I'll have my driver pick you up." He stared at her for another second and then was gone.


Wayne felt as if his world had tilted on his axis. The minute he walked into Charlotte Cooper's home he experienced a buzzing inside his entire body. The noise from his beeper had temporarily broken the spell she had cast over him -- and he wasn't sure he wanted to be out of the reach of her magic presence.

***

Muse Williams grabbed her keys and hurried out to her awaiting Volvo. She received a new one every year as a gift from her father's family. The Williams' were like American Royalty -- at least, most of them were. Her immediate family did have the tremendous wealth but they weren't as noble and self sacrificing as the other members of her clan. They were the black sheep, the ones who enjoyed their wealth and only wanted to keep it for themselves.


Her father, Palmer Williams, was pulling up in his own expensive car when she walked out the door.


"Daddy. How is the election campaign coming?" Muse kissed her father on the cheek. It wasn't an endearing kiss. It was a practiced motion she'd done forever in case someone with influence was watching -- which they usually were. One could never tell where an important vote would come from.


Palmer leaned toward his daughter, but didn't return the kiss. His mind was on the mayoral election. He had to win this time. His reputation had been forever tainted by his loss to Foxworth Hamilton. But this year's race wasn't going to be any easier. He had to not only maintain a spotless image, but discredit Karen Chamberlain in the process. To think, a young girl like that running for mayor. The idea was preposterous.


"The election is fine, my dear. Where are you off too?"


It wouldn't do to raise her father's suspicions, so she came as close to the truth as possible. After all, the best lies had some form of truth in them.


"I'm going to see Marcey in town."


Palmer's back straightened. "It wouldn't be wise for you to continue that friendship under the circumstances. Her sister is trying to steal my job right out from under me."


"Don't worry, Daddy. That will never happen. I'll be sure to keep my friendship with Marcey discreet."


She kissed him on the cheek once more , then raced off to meet with her friend. They had to find a way to deal with Charlie before she ruined everything.

***

Something about this whole situation felt extremely wrong. Jaxx Sinclair didn't know what it was, but there was something going on in Park Ridge, something very strange.


The town's presence had changed since he was last a resident. Something was going on with his friend, Cole as well. Since when did the baddest of the bad become a white knight for the force of good?


Nothing had made sense since he stepped foot in Park Ridge.


When Cole didn't return, Jaxx decided to do a bit more investigating into his sister's car accident. A woman nearby had her back to him. Maybe she would remember an accident from two years ago.


"Excuse me, miss?" Jaxx tapped the woman on the shoulder. She spun around so quickly it set him off balance. He steadied himself with a hand on the counter.


She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with lively mischief. "Well, as I live and breathe. Never thought I'd see you around these parts again."


"You know me?" Jaxx hadn't yet caught a complete glance at her. She was moving around at lightening speed, answering phones, filling out invoices and still talking to him, all at the same time. It took him a moment to realize that he knew her as well. "Karen?"


"That's my name. Don't wear it out." Her smile was large, bright and natural. She was the first person in town who actually seemed happy to see him.


"Whatcha doing back?" Some things never changed. She was still as nosy as ever.


"I was abroad for the last few years and only recently heard about my sister's death."


"Sister's death? Didn't know you had a sister. What's her name? Maybe I know her." All of Karen's abundant energy was focused on him. The phone rang off the hook behind her but she didn't seem to notice.


"Joy. Her name was Joy."


Karen's hand flew to her mouth. "Joy Sinclair?" The reaction was momentarily and then gone. "You know, you two don't look anything alike."


"We have different father's. My mother wasn't actually a one-woman man." Jaxx stood silent for a moment. Karen seemed to draw her energy away from him, if that was even possible. "What can you tell me about her car accident?"


Her eyes darted carefully around the precinct and her voice lowered considerably. "I can't really talk about it here." She scribbled a quick note on a piece of paper. "I won't get off for another couple of hours. Meet me here after the sun sets.

***

Muse met Marcey Chamberlain outside the gates of Charlie's cabin. By the time she arrived, she was seething.


"What's he doing in there?" Muse spat.


"Nothing. He sped away five minutes ago like a bat outta hell." Marcey smirked and held up her cell phone. "He thinks there has been a bus accident on the other side of town."
Muse hugged her friend. "You're brilliant."


Marcey's smile only brightened. "I know." She smelled a bit of alcohol on Muse's breath. It wasn't like her to start drinking so early. But she didn't want to get her best friend mad at her by mentioning it.


"Where's Charlie at now?" Muse was bright-eyed and more determined than Marcey had ever seen her. The alcohol had obviously given her an added boost of confidence.


"She's sitting out on the back porch singing, if you can believe that. Probably gloating over the fact that she snared the attention of Wayne McKenna." As Marcey said the words, she could only think how they must have hurt her friend. She had stuck her foot in her mouth yet again.


Muse snuck toward Charlie's yellow SUV. She wanted to draw Charlie out of the house. She had a few things she wanted to get off her mind.


For the first time ever, Marcey began to think Muse was going a bit too far for revenge. "Maybe you should think about what you're doing." Marcey's usual strong voice was laced with uneasiness.


"Maybe I should cease the moment." Muse shoved the yellow SUV. It emitted a shrill beeping. Quickly, Muse ran back to the shelter of the trees.


Charlie came outside like a perfectly timed clock. She focused a remote control on the car. Nothing seemed to be happening. The noise continued to blast their eardrums. She repeatedly pressed the button, but the alarm didn't turn off.


"Come on, you stupid car. Turn off."


Charlie didn't notice a car coming down her street. She knew she'd have to actually start the vehicle to get it to shut up. "Why are you doing this to me?" Charlie jogged toward the car which was parked on the shoulder of the street. It was in that moment she heard the car. She waited on the gravel shoulder for the vehicle to pass.


The SUV was still beeping at a rapid rate. She never heard the person come up behind her and shove her into the path of the oncoming speeding car.

***

Jaxx tooled down a country lane. His Grandmother lived back out here somewhere. He'd never actually been to his Grandmother Sinclair's house before, but he wanted to reconnect with any family he still had around. Plus, the visit with Grandma would kill a few hours until he could meet Karen Chamberlain in Lovejoy Park.


In a split second, he knew he would never make it to Grandma's house. A woman in white suddenly appeared in like road ahead of him like some sort of phantom. He slammed on the brakes and waited for the body of the woman to slam into his windshield. The road had been recently rocked and his tires had little traction on the bumpy surface. He wasn't certain he could stop in time, even with his excellent driving skills.


Jaxx was helpless to do more to evade the accident.


It was just proving to be one of those days.