A skeletal face stared back at her, it's face marred by black holes where her eyes should be.
So, I am to be one of the dead. Cleo thought. A tear slid down her cheek as she prayed for the safety of her daughter.
* * *
In another room of the house, Derrick was moping.
At a time where his thoughts should be centered on Susan, or of what he had done with Sophie, he could think of nothing except Miriam. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her there, behind his eyelids, inside his head, in amongst his dreams.
She haunted every waking moment now. And Sophie had been the catalyst. He paused in his brooding when he heard a sound at the doorway. He looked up and saw a tall, blond haired woman with startling blue eyes. Her lips were curved in a smile.
Derrick felt his heart stop. "Miriam?" He said in a whisper.
* * *
Erin arrived at her hotel room with little to no problem. Her fake ID had gotten her past the desk clerk without any questions, so she shouldn't be given any trouble. Besides, people rarely asked questions in a small town. And Eagle Valley was pretty damn small. There were only four hotels to choose from.
Erin had chosen the more posh one, figuring that if she was going through all this trouble to find out more information, the least she could do was stay in a nice four star hotel. Besides, she loved the chocolate mint on her pillow every night. Now THAT was service.
She finished unpacking her bags and stared at her soft honey colored hair in the mirror above the dresser. Her eyes were a soft shade of green. She had come up with her identity on the spur of the moment. She was Miriam's cousin. Being a family member was the only plausible explanation that she could think of for showing up unannounced at their doorstep. She figured, with all that had gone on in their lives, they wouldn't question something as basic as a family connection.
People were duped by it all the time.
She admired the dark purple gray pantsuit she had chosen. She looked good, like she came from money. Erin was working with the advantage that there was next to no information on Miriam, no remaining family, no next of kin. Erin was free to be who ever she needed to be.
She eyed the sun outside of her hotel room window. It was almost noon. She had time to go grab some lunch before she went to pay her visit. Where could one get good Thai food in a place like this, she wondered.
* * *
Susan was startled to find that she was the first one in the kitchen. Smiling to herself, she poured out the first cup of coffee and, putting it to her lips, took a huge sip. There was nothing in the world sweeter than caffeine. Except maybe good sex, she thought.
She stared down at her left hand and at the ring twinkling there. The diamond at it's centre flashed brilliantly and it took her breath away every time she looked at it.
The rational part of her brain told her that she was getting married to a man that she still knew little about but her heart didn't care. She loved him completely. She had missed him when she had woken this morning to find he wasn't there.
She thought briefly of Miriam than. It seemed that their lives kept coming back to her, that she would continue to haunt them. But the happiness of her engagement pushed all the darkness away from her, made her glow from the inside out.
Until she saw the blue script page.
Susan remembered Miriam describing them, how they would appear in the middle of a day's script and that she would know then. She would know that someone was going to die. Someone was going to suffer.
Along the top of the page, Susan saw the words:
INT: HALLIWELL KITCHEN, EAGLE VALLEY NEW MEXICO
[SUSAN reaches toward the blue pages with a shaking hand… And, just like the stage directions said, she reached towards the blue pages with a shaking hand and began to read.
Chapter Seventeen
Susan scanned the page quickly once, then a second time. She felt her breath growing shallow in her chest; She felt as if the world was closing in around her. There was only one page, but it seemed as if it would take forever for the words to sink in. With a shaking breath, she read the pages a third time
* * *
INT: HALLIWELL KITCHEN, EAGLE VALLEY NEW MEXICO
[SUSAN reaches toward the blue pages with a shaking hand. She clutches them to her chest, quickly, as if they might burn her. She looks around the kitchen, its walls feeling as if they were moving slowly inward.]
SUSAN: Who left these here?
[Silence greets her. SUSAN tires speaking again]
SUSAN: Hello?
[She puts a hand to her throat, her nightgown low cut, revealing the shadow of cleavage]
SUSAN: Won't someone answer me?
[Dark laughter comes from the shadows around her]
SUSAN: Please, is someone there?
YOU ARE BEING WATCHED
* * *
Susan looked at the page quizzically, as if it would hold a clue of some sort. It was a game, she thought suddenly, someone's sick idea of a game. It didn't feel like a game though, this letter felt very real.
It almost burned her hand to touch it.
Susan paused for a moment and then slipped the paper into the pocket of her housecoat. She pulled the coat around her, so that she would be covered. Could they see her now? Was she really and truly being watched?
She decided not to tell Derrick and Cleo about the page. Or Sophie. She would keep this to herself for now. She didn't want to spoil the happiness inside her, the warmth that the ring on her finger spread through out her whole body.
She would wait and tell them when it was right.
Sighing, she went to the liqueur cabinet and took out the bottle of Baileys. She added two healthy dollops to her coffee and a third for good measure. Susan took a greedy sip of her coffee and smiled, in spite of everything.
It was going to be one of those days.
* * *
The blond woman by the door laughed softly and came in. She closed the door to the attic behind her and stood there like a vision. "I want you Derrick." She whispered. She stepped closer to him and laughed again. She was wearing a simple cotton dress. Derrick could see her nipples underneath the dress, could see the sun shining through the fabric.
"Miriam." He whispered. The word came out in a choked half sob.
"It's all right, Derrick." The woman purred. "It's alright. I'm here now. Let me take care of you." Slowly, she reached behind her head and undid a loop, letting the dress fall to the floor. It pooled at her feet like water and Derrick watched the rise and fall of her breasts. "I want to take care of you." She said.
"I've missed you so much, Miriam." Derrick said. He approached her and reached out to touch her, to feel her in the flesh. The woman reached for his hand and cupped it around her right breast.
"I'm real." She said. "You can touch me. I want you to touch me, Derrick, make love to me."
Slowly, Derrick took off his clothes and let them fall to the floor beside hers. She took her in his arms than and crushed his lips against hers. He thrust his tongue into her mouth to taste her, to breathe her in. He never wanted to let her go.
"Oh, God, Derrick, I need you now. I need you now Derrick." The blond woman purred.
The sound of her voice set Derrick on fire and in one swift motion he thrust into her. They fell onto the floor with Derrick on the bottom. Riding on top of him, the blond smiled widely.
All it would take now, she thought, was time.
Chapter Eighteen
Erin studied herself in the mirror. Her chin length red hair suited her green eyes. She had a smart suit on, a soft purple wool number made by Prada. She wanted to look like she came from money. You always had to make a good first impression.
Her shoes were Jimmy Choos, and she wore a small Tiffany necklace around her neck. On her finger, she wore a small ruby on her finger. Okay, so she had gone shopping. But she had wanted to look the part. She had to be convincing after all.
She checked her watch. She had just enough time for
a quick bite to eat and then it was off to her destiny. Okay, so she had gone shopping and had postponed her trip to the Eagle Valley house. She was nervous, dammit. She had never done anything like this. It would take all of her concentration.
"Okay," She said to her reflection. "Get a bite to eat and then it's time."
* * *
When Derrick awoke, the blond haired woman was gone.
He sat up slowly and looked around the attic. The sun, higher now, was slanting the shadows, but there was no sign of her.
Derrick looked down at himself and was shocked to find himself naked. He hadn't imagined her than. Miriam had come back.
* * *
Madder sat outside Erin's hotel and watched.
He had a set up in the car. Food, plenty of beer. And other things, should the need arise for him to use them. He eyed the black bag on the floor of the car beside him. A slow smile spread across his face. It would be fun, but hopefully not necessary.
Madder snapped to attention when he saw Erin leave the hotel. And idea had occurred to him and, rather than listen to the sensible part of his brain, he was going to follow an impulse and do what needed to be done.
Man, was she gonna be pissed.
* * *
She sat outside the house.
She was a little cold. The afternoon had turned chilly and she had neglected to bring a sweater. She swatted at her dark gray hair as the wind blew around her. She heard a shrill sound.
Reaching into her coat pocket she took out her cell phone and flipped it open. "Yes?"
"Are you in position?"
"You know damn well I am."
"I'm sorry, Betty, but I just can't afford screw ups this time. Understood?"
"You know I'm not gonna screw up." Betty spat into the phone. The branches in front of her waved in the wind as if they were saying hello. She wanted to set them on fire. "Why else would you hire me for this job?"
"Because I want the best." Howard's voice grew soft. When his voice was soft, it was best to watch your footing.
"And I am the best." Betty said. "So how about you let me do my fucking job?" She flicked her phone shut and smiled. Let him stick that up his butt and stuff it, she thought.
She was to observe the house for another twenty-four hours. Then she would strike. She had a score to settle. When Miriam had knocked her down, it had taken her more than a year to get back her reputation as a cold hearted, no survivors assassin. It was hard enough to keep afloat in this business without some blond messing it up.
She knew that Miriam wasn't in the house. But someone would pay. Howard had seen to that. This time, for her, it was personal.
She ducked down further into the bushes when she heard a car driving up in the driveway. Inside as a young woman with shiny black hair and soft make up. She stopped the car and got out, reaching in the car for her purse.
Who the hell was this woman? Betty thought. She had been observing the house for a week and she had never seen her before. What was going on?
There was more to this than met the eye, Betty thought. And she wanted in on the action.
Chapter Nineteen
Erin adjusted her coat and closed the car door. She flipped out her shiny black hair and surveyed her make up in her rearview mirror. Satisfied with her appearance, she took one more fortifying breath and calmed herself. "I can do this." She said. "I can do this, I know I can." I have to stop talking out loud, she thought. I'm starting to sound like the little train that could.
Steeling herself, she ran to the front door and rang the doorbell several times before she could change her mind. Oh God, she thought. What am I getting myself into?
* * *
In the kitchen, Susan heard the doorbell. She looked up when she heard footsteps on the stairs and saw Cleo looking as shaken as she was. Susan wondered vaguely what was troubling her mother, but she pushed that aside. There were more pressing matters at hand.
The last time they had had a guest, it had been a visit from the past. Both Cleo and Susan eyed the front door with caution. "Maybe they'll go away." Susan said. She jumped when more footsteps sounded behind her. Cleo and Susan both turned to see Sophie coming into the kitchen.
"Don't do that!" Susan said.
"Do what?" Sophie said.
"Sneak up on us like that." Cleo said, putting a hand to her heart. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"I heard the doorbell." Sophie said. "Did you hear it?"
"Yes." Susan said.
"Well, are you going to answer the door?" Sophie asked.
"I don't want to." She said.
"Fine, then I'll answer it." Sophie said.
"No, you can't!" Susan said. "It could be anyone."
"It could be Miriam." Sophie said.
There was silence at her words. Finally, Susan spoke. "What do you mean?"
"You never found her did you? There was never any body? She could be out there somewhere. Trying to find us."
"Mother, do you sense anything?" Susan asked.
Cleo was shocked. It was the first time that her daughter had openly acknowledged her gift out loud. "I do not sense Miriam. She is too far from here. But outside this house, I can't see that. We have a barrier here and I can only see certain things. I'm only shown pieces. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Susan said, taking her mothers hand. "Don't be sorry." She squeezed her mother's hand and felt tears in her eyes.
The doorbell rang again and all three women jumped.
"So, who's going to answer that?"
"Is that the doorbell?" Derrick came down the stairs dressed in a lose cotton shirt and dark grey cotton pants. To Susan, he was the sexiest thing alive. She smiled at him from across the kitchen and felt some of the tension melt away. He had that effect on her.
"Yeah, did you want to get it?" Sophie said. "After all, you're the only guy around here. You ought to be the one doing the protecting."
"She's right." Cleo said. "Big strong thing like you."
Susan could not help but snort in laughter. "Go get the door babe." She said.
Derrick shook his head. He still felt like he was floating. He had had the best orgasm of his life and Miriam was back. Miriam was back, she was back, Miriam was back. It kept repeating over and over in his head and his whole body felt as if it were on a cloud. He approached Susan, who was smiling at him, but he didn't see her. He saw Miriam, soft and supple. Leaning down he brushed his lips against hers and bit her lip softly.
Turning, he walked towards the door and picked up the small gun they kept on the front hallway table. Opening the door, he was careful to keep the gun hidden behind it. He saw a striking woman in a purple grey pantsuit. She had the most amazing raven black hair. Her eyes were hidden behind small sunglasses in a soft purple tone that matched her suit.
"Hello." She said. "I'm looking for Miriam Parker."
Derrick felt as if he had just been slapped. No one knew Miriam was back but him, no one but him. "I'm sorry?"
"I'm looking for Miriam Parker." She said again. "I'm her cousin, Erin. Erin Parker." She extended her hand and Derrick took it softly, still not quite sure what was going on.
"You want to see Miriam, did you say?"
"Well, yeah." Erin said. "She's here isn't she?"
Susan, Sophie and Cleo appeared behind Derrick. Erin tried to hide her shock at seeing all of these women in the flesh after studying their lives for so long. She hoped she did not let her feelings show on her face, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Cleo narrow her eyes at her.
Chapter Twenty
"But I already told you who I am." Erin said.
"Well, start at the beginning anyway." Derrick said. "I want to hear it again. WE want to hear it again."
They were sitting in the kitchen in the Eagle Valley house, all around the round kitchen table. Sophie was in between Derrick and Susan with Cleo on Susan's left. Erin sat on the other side of the round table, an ashtray full of cigarette butts in front of her.
The
sun was hanging lower in the sky. A grayness had taken on the afternoon. They had been grilling her for hours and each time her story was the same. She was either a really convincing actor or she was very sincere.
Sighing, she stubbed out her cigarette and lit another. "Alright," She said, "for the final freaking time: My name is Erin Parker. My cousin is Miriam Parker. We never knew about each other because of our two mothers who had a feud when we were younger. A few years ago, I found a picture of Miriam, but I didn't know who she was then. I had no idea." A tear slid down Erin's cheek.
Sophie patted Erin's hand. "It's Okay, sweetheart." Sophie said. "Here, have a tea. Do you take sugar?"
Susan shot her a death glance. "And then what happened."
"Well," Erin dabbed at her eyes with a Kleenex that Sophie had given her, "I asked my mother who she was, who this girl was in the picture. But no one would tell me. I dreamed of her for years and finally I hired a private investigator. He led me here."
"But how did you track us down? Why did he think that she was here?"
"I don't know." Erin said. "He was very mysterious. He just said you were here and that I would find the answers I seek with you." Erin looked at them pleadingly. "Please, do you know where Miriam is? It would mean so much to me to find my long lost cousin."
Hope Falls Season 2 - Eagle Valley Page 5
