Episode 16: Legacy of Trouble
By Toni Walker
Editor's Note: This episode may not follow the same timeline as previous episodes,
but I wanted to post it just the same. Enjoy. - Toni
Bulgaria seemed like a lifetime ago.
All Ian Fairchild could remember was a feeling of fear, dread and confusion and a women’s scream that echoed in his mind as if pulled from a nightmare.
Life began for him twelve years ago in the ruins of a Bulgarian monastery. He was found by a traveling priest on a pilgrimage to meet a friend. What the two of them had been doing at the monastery was still a mystery. Ian wasn’t certain why he was at the monastery either. Everything about his previous life was just one big empty zero.
That was water under the bridge now and a lifetime ago. Ian had moved on. He wasn’t likely to stumble across anyone from his former life. Since he’d moved to America, life was much simpler, safer. Danger didn’t come to towns like Park Ridge.
With a sketchy past, it made finding a job more of a challenge. But he had enough survival skills to work as a park ranger in the national forest that hugged the east side of town like a blanket of green.
His nearest neighbor was Jaxx Sinclair. He also had a bit of a sketchy past which was what probably made them fast friends when Ian first landed in town. Jaxx and his main squeeze, Karen Chamberlain treated him like part of the family. And family was something he was seriously lacking.
Ian wandered around town. The streets were curiously empty. A sign in a ladies boutique revealed the answer he was seeking. Closed for McKenna party, it said. A petite brunette teenager walked by on the street and Ian physically flinched. The haunting scream pierced his ears as if he was literally hearing her scream.
The girl stated at him curiously. “Are you okay, mister?”
Ian nodded stepping away from her. Another female image superimposed over the image of the girl then disappeared like a ghost. He stumbled away scurrying down the street toward Infrared. The images from his past haunted him more today than they had in a long time, and he wanted those images to stop. And the only way he’d found to quiet the voices was to get blubbering drunk.
The door to club Infrared called out to him, beckoning him to enter.
Music throbbed in the dark club. Lights pulsed in time to the rhythm as the band at the far end of the club jammed to an 80’s classic.
An unkept man whirled around him holding a blue cocktail in a martini glass. He leaned in toward Ian so he could hear his comment. “It’s theme night. Aren’t they a blast?”
Ian glanced up and realized the man was Thom Masters, the owner of Infrared. He was dressed as Doc Brown from “Back to the Future.”
“Like the outfit?” Thom asked. “Classic 80’s movie. One of my favorites.”
Thom was probably the happiest person he knew. He seemed to enjoy everything about his life. Infrared was the most popular club in town because of ‘Thom’s passion for befriending everyone in town.
“I’m more Marty McFly than Doc Brown,” Ian muttered.
“I can totally see that about you. The only problem is -- you’re too tall. You’re more of a dramatic leading man.” Thom stared at him for a second. “Oh, I have it!”
He ran off into the back room and came back holding a beat up light brown leather jacket.
“Put it on. It will fit perfectly,” Thom said.
Ian humored Thom as he shrugged into the jacket.
“Awesome!” Thom practically sang the word. “The perfect MacGyver. All you need is a mullet and you’ll be set.”
Ian stepped backward. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Touchy,” he said with a smile. “Have a great time. I must mingle.”
Ian shook his head as another person came up beside him. It was Zan O’Neill.
“Don’t mind him,” Zan said. “Sometimes he gets over excited about theme night.” She handed him a beer. It was a dark ale, the type of beer he preferred over American draft.
“You know my sweet spot,” Ian said as he took a long sip of the frothy liquid.
“I thought you might need one after that extended talk you had with Thom. He has an uncanny ability to zap the energy from everyone he speaks with. Just think of this ale as the sun. Superman needs the sun to replenish his energy,” Zan said.
Ian smiled. “I like the way you think.”
“I thought you would.” Zan smiled back. She glanced in the direction of the back room. “I think someone is trying to get your attention.”
A woman sitting alone drew his attention. She smiled at him and looked away. Ian was definitely interested in knowing more.
He’d never seen the woman before. She was tan with shoulder-length hair, black with reddish streaks. She didn’t hide the fact she was smoking even though it was illegal inside the club. He approached her and sat down. She glared bullets.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Introducing myself.” He extended his hand but the woman didn’t reach for it. She stared at his hand as if it was a poisonous snake. “I’m Ian Fairchild. I work for the park service.”
She nodded and blew smoke to her left. “I’m waiting for someone.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Friend friend.”
“Do your friends always leave you waiting like this?”
She glanced around uncomfortably. “I haven’t been a very good friend to them lately. I met this guy while vacationing in London.”
“Whirlwind affair?”
“I thought so. He wasn’t willing to attempt the commute,” she said. “I know. It’s crazy, right? Who has a transatlantic relationship in this day and age. It’s not like I can afford it with my salary.”
“Sounds tough.”
“It was.”
“Was?”
“We broke up,” she said.
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” She paused and extended her hand. “I’m Eden, by the way. Eden Turner.”
+++
The two of them sat at the table in Infrared and had an easy conversation that lasted into the wee hours. Thom Masters approached their table reluctantly.
“I’m going to have to cut you two crazy kids off. Bar’s closing.”
Eden looked at her watch and gasped. “Oh, God. Where did the time go?”
“It happens all the time around here. You got the whammies,” Thom said brightly.
Eden raised a curious eyebrow.
“Two strangers see each other across a crowded room and boom! Instant attraction.” Thom cupped a hand to his mouth creating a make shift megaphone. “Someone call the fire department. These two are on fire for each other.”
Ian couldn’t disagree with Thom’s assessment. Eden was beautiful, funny, exciting and definitely someone he wanted to get to know better.
The two walked out of the club. Eden was hesitant to leave. So was Ian.
“I’m only a block away,” she said, pointing in the direction of the town center.
“I’ll accompany you home.”
She smiled up at him and grabbed his arm. It all seemed innocent enough. He held her hand as they walked the short distance to her apartment. They lingered in the hallways as she searched for her keys. His hand closed over hers as she attempted to open the lock. Her hand was unsteady as he finished the effort and led her inside.
He gazed into her eyes as she dropped her purse on the table without breaking eye contact.
“I should really be going. It’s getting late,” Ian said without conviction as he took a step closer.
“Yeah it is.” Eden spanned the remaining space and before either knew what was happening, they were kissing. It was like putting two north ends of a magnet together. Instant attraction.
They stumbled their way into the bedroom. He reached under her shirt and ran his hands up her back pulling her closer to him. One of them moaned and he wasn’t sure who.
He was the first to pull away. He stared at her attentively. “I greatly enjoyed meeting you tonight. Can I see you tomorrow?”
“Aren’t you staying?”
“As much as I would like to, I have to decline.”
She stared at him with round, needy eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to be the gentleman here. We’ve known each other less than four hours. I think we deserve to get to know each other better before jumping into the sack.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving.”
“I can’t either.” He kissed her a few times lingering over her lips. “Tomorrow will be an entirely different story.”
+++
He was definitely right. Tomorrow would be a different story.
Kevin Fairchild stared at his long, lost step-brother through binoculars. Next to him was his partner, Minka Zara.
“Is it him?” she asked, checking her hefty-looking Sig Sauer.
“Oh, yeah. It’s him.”
“How did you find him? He’s been off the grid for over ten years.”
“An agent I know was working over in Gateway City. Mr. Charming here came into the diner where he was doing surveillance another subject. His boss, Fouts, let him give me a call.”
“What do you think he’s going to do?” She pulled out another set of binoculars and peered into the downtown apartment. “Wow. He does look exactly like Ethan.”
Kevin frowned setting down his binoculars. “That’s why they call them identical twins.”
Minka sighed. “That’s no reason to get snaky.” The two f them watched the events unfold from a position on the roof of a building opposite Eden Turner’s apartment. “He’s leaving.”
“You’re kidding.” Kevin put the field glass back to his eyes. Ian was indeed leaving.
“Maybe he’s not as dangerous as you think.”
“He assaulted my sister! He’s never paid for that crime,” Kevin said. “There’s no telling what he’ll do. My father has a penchant for messing with his memory. Ian was in a coma for years after the assault. Franklin had him stowed in an underground lab in Bulgaria. No one knows what Franklin was doing to him all those years. Ian may look normal now, but underneath that calm façade is the mind of a killer.”
They watched as Ian walked away down the street. Eden stared at him with longing eyes, waving goodbye.
“How touching,” Kevin snarked. “I think we’re looking at a perfect way to capture him.” His binoculars zoomed in on Eden’s face.
+++
Karen Chamberlain stared at Jaxx Sinclair while biting her thumbnail. He’d been staring out the window of his darkened office for thirty minutes. She approached him with the obvious question on her lips.”
“Should I even ask what you’re doing?”
“No.”
Jaxx came forward and pointed at the front door. “Ian’s going to be walking by the precinct any moment now. Grab him and bring him to me.” He returned to his office back to the same window.
“Okay,” Karen huffed. “No, I don’t need to know what’s going on. Thanks, Jaxx. I’m good.” She stomped toward the door. She hated it when Jaxx went into secret agent mode.
Just as she opened the door, Ian walked by.
“Hey, Karen,” Ian said. “Working late?”
“I’m not sure I’d call this working. Jaxx has been staring out his window at something for half an hour. Suddenly he decides he wants to talk to you.”
Karen pointed to the darkened office. “Trust me. He’s in there. He’s acting all covert. Maybe you can talk to him. Convince him all work and no play makes Jaxx a dull boy.”
Ian approached Jaxx’s office. He was inside staring up at an apartment building with a grim expression on his face.
“Dare I ask what you’re looking at?”
“Someone has taken quite an interest in you.” Jaxx pointed to a building and handed Ian his binoculars.
Ian stared at the man on the rooftop. Images flashed across the landscape of his mind like a quickly moving slide show. Nothing lingered in his mind long enough to make sense.
“He does look familiar. I’m not sure why.”
“What about the girl?”
“No. Nothing.”
“They’ve been watching you for the last hour. They followed you from Infrared.”
“How do you know?” Ian asked.
“Thom Masters saw them leave after you. He has security cameras in his club. We have photos of them both. We’re running their images through our database.”
A nearby walkie-talkie squawked and a female voice came over the static. “Sinclair? This is Samantha. Targets are on the move. They’re converging on Eden Turner’s apartment.”
“Eden?”
“Whatever it is you don’t remember, I think it’s coming back to haunt you.” Jaxx threw a gun in Ian’s direction. “Let’s go.”
“Stay out of sight, Sam,” Jaxx said. “We’re coming to back you up.”
“How do you even know I can use one of these?” Ian asked.
Jaxx smiled. “I’m taking it on faith. You wouldn’t have gotten a job with the park service in your position without qualifying on a firearms exam.”
“Right,” Ian said reluctantly taking the gun. He followed Jaxx out of the office.
+++
Eden’s eyes were wild with fear. The woman at the door had seemed so friendly. Now she knew her politeness was only a ruse.
“What do you want from me?” Eden asked, trying to keep her voice even.
Kevin paced the room, a scowl painted his face with deep grooves. “We want your boyfriend and you’re going to help us catch him.”
“Ian? What do you want with Ian?”
Kevin paced the apartment. “Let’s just say he’s not exactly who he claims to be.”
Minka tied Eden’s wrists and ankles and shoved her onto the bed.
“Relax. We may be here awhile.”
+++
Jaxx and Ian approached Samantha Ashton. She spoke into her cell phone in a quiet tone. When she spotted them, she waved them over. By the time they’d reached her, she’d ended the conversation.
“Everything all right?” Ian asked, glancing at he phone.
“No. Nothing serious. Dakota’s been staying with me since Avery flipped out. For a ten year old, she’s very independent. She wants to invite a boy over.”
“Uh oh,” Jaxx said. “Isn’t ten a little too young for boys?”
“It wouldn’t bother me if Hannah could have stayed and watched them both for a couple of hours, but she had a gig over in Gateway City.”
“I take it that was an emphatic no to the boy coming over?” Ian asked. “Any fallout?”
Samantha shrugged. “She hates me, but what else is new? She’ll get over it. Tomorrow she’ll be onto something else. But enough about me and my soap opera life. Suspect has moved Eden into an apartment on the same floor with easy access to the fire escape. Parker’s keeping an eye on them from the alley.”
“You okay working with Barnett again?” Jaxx asked. “I know he took it hard when he found out Dakota was his daughter.”
“There’s a lot of unspoken tension, but I think he reserves a lot of that anger for Avery. She did take Dakota away from us for ten years. He’s still coping.”
“Suspects are moving.” Parker’s voice came over Samantha’s radio.
“Copy that, Parker. Keep eyes on them.” Sam turned to Jaxx and Ian. “Let’s move.”
+++
Parker Barnett could her the suspects talking. The sound echoed down the dark alley. He drew closer as the couple pulled Eden into the hallway toward the back door.
“Let go of me,” Eden said, her voice filled with emotion. “What’s your problem?”
Minka’s anger was easily ignited. Her nostrils flared as she slammed Eden back into the wall.
“Listen, little girl.” Minka’s voice was filled with venom. “Your boyfriend isn’t who you think he is. He’s a killer. And he will have no qualms snapping your skinny little neck.”
“Stop it, Minka. All we want is Ian,” Kevin said. “She’ll help us get him and we’ll both go back to our assignments.
Eden struggled against Minka. “Oh, no I won’t,” she said. “I won’t help you do anything to Ian.”
“You don’t know who you’re…”
Kevin interrupted Minka with a silent gesture. Immediately, she stopped speaking and her attention went on high alert.
“You stay right there,” Minka insisted. “If you’re good, we may let you live.” She pushed her back onto the bed on her stomach.
“Wonderful,” Eden muttered.”
“Looks like we have a peeping Tom.,” Kevin whispered. He had eyes on Parker for a few seconds before the man ducked out of sight.
“Is he after some loving with the girls or is he going to be trouble?” Minka asked.
“My money’s on trouble,” Kevin said as he moved to the front of the apartment. As he opened the door, Jaxx Sinclair stood there blocking his exit and holding a huge gun in his face.”
“Damn,” Kevin muttered attempting to slam the door in Jaxx’s face. “Where the hell did you come from?”
“Park Ridge Police Department. Please surrender your weapon,” Jaxx said.
Minka came out of the bedroom pointing a gun at Jaxx.
“Sweetie, this is none of your concern. We’re just here to capture a fugitive. Just think of us as international bounty hunters,” Minka said. “Why don’t you let my friend go so we can get back to doing our job.”
“That job has nothing to do with Eden Turner,” Jaxx said. “So, why don’t you let her go?”
“You give us Ian and the girl’s all yours,” Kevin said.
Jaxx noticed how unsteady Kevin was on his feet, probably from a recent injury. He could use that to his advantage. He was sure Parker and Sam were somewhere nearby. That’s why he felt comfortable verbally sparring with the enemy.
The only thing he didn’t expect was Ian. Ian came into the room and blew away any plan Jaxx had been conjuring.
“It’s me you want,” Ian said, attempting to walk around Jaxx.
“No,” Jaxx said. “Surrendering is a death sentence.”
“I always had a feeling there was something sketchy in my past,” Ian said. “Maybe this is what I deserve.”
Ian looked at Kevin but no emotions registered in his mind. The unsettling way he stared at Kevin gave the man pause.
“Don’t you remember me?” Kevin asked.
Ian glanced at Jaxx and back to Kevin.
“Should I? Are we friends?”
Kevin let out a surprised laugh. “Friends? I guess you could say that. You’re my brother.”
“Brother?” Ian asked. He swooned a moment as the fact registered in his mind. “I remember three names of siblings but no faces are connected to them. Are you Ethan or Kevin?”
Kevin shook his head. He couldn’t believe the irony.
“I’m Kevin. Ethan looks exactly like you. You’re twins.” He pulled a photo out of his back pocket and handed it to Ian. It showed their entire family.
Jaxx leaned in to get a better look.
“If you’re family, why didn’t you just knock on his door?”
“Ian is a danger to himself and to anyone around him. His father did some mental mojo on his brain. Had him stashed in a lab under a Bulgarian monastery. We’re not sure what he did to him. But we have several attacks linked to him. One of which is my sister, Faith.”
“I remember the monastery,” Ian said. “And a man who talked to me while I was coming in and out of consciousness.”
“That was probably our father, Franklin.”
A commotion from the other room drew everyone’s attention.
“A little help here,” said Eden frantically. “I think my arms have fallen asleep.”
