“Life Crisis”
~~~The Next Morning~~~
~~~The Cavendish Hotel–Meadow-Brooke’s Balcony- 11:57 am~~~
Jayne Meadow-Brooke sits on the balcony of her suite. She is sipping coffee. A cool breeze causes her to pull her sweater closer to her arms. He cell phone begins to ring on the stone table.
“Hello Alice.” Jayne answers in a tired, stressed voice
“Jayne dear…” Mrs. Peacock rings on the other end of the phone, “I haven’t heard from you in two days, is everything alright? I was starting to worry!”
“My son-in-law was murdered two nights ago.” Jayne says bluntly
“Jayne, that’s terrible!” Mrs. Peacock gasps
“And my son was shot by his wife, who turned out to be the killer.” Jayne says, her voice weak and saddened
“Oh my, how is Miles taking this?” asks Mrs. Peacock
“The way he handles everything… with his councilor, the bottle.” Jayne glances in the hotel room from the window to see Miles drinking directly from a bottle of vodka.
“Is everything alright between you two?” asks Mrs. Peacock
“Far from it.” Jayne says, “He found out about Reginald and I.”
“When will you be coming home?” asks Mrs. Peacock, “Vera’s party can’t wait forever…”
“I’ll be home tomorrow night, the funeral for Sebastian is today, and Nathaniel is being shipped to New York where his funeral will be held. Miles and Shane are staying in London, it’ll just be me returning.” Jayne sighs
“Jayne, be honest, is Miles really coming back?” Mrs. Peacock asks
Jayne sighs, “I think our marriage is over.”
“Who gets Shane?” asks Mrs. Peacock
“Miles wants him.” Jayne begins to cry, “I’ve lost my family!”
“I felt quite the same way when Matthew died.” Mrs. Peacock says
“The more I think about it, I’m not sure if I should even stay for the funeral!” Mrs. Meadow-Brooke cries bitterly into the phone. She tries to compose herself, “So how’s Vera?”
“She’s coming home tomorrow night.” Mrs. Peacock says, “Just in time for you to arrive.”
~~~ (Across the Globe in Chicago) Michael Reese-Miss Scarlet’s Room -continuous (5:59 am)~~~
Lightning flashes outside the hospital window. Vera looks around her hospital room, the dim light above her bed flickers. Vera moves into an upward position. The door to her room slowly opens.
“Nurse?” Vera asks squinting, trying to make out who entered… and with a flashlight.
~~~ Peacock Residence-Mrs. Peacock’s Bedroom -6:00 am~~~
Alice ends her call with Jayne and turns to her nightstand. Her diamond studded crystal clock gives a small chime as it hit six o’clock. Mrs. Peacock gets out of her bed and puts on a bathrobe. She walks out the hall and begins to descend the stairs. Mr. Tenné is standing at the foot of the stairs.
“Daniel, you’re here early.” Mrs. Peacock says, pulling her bathrobe over her chest.
“I stayed in the Servant’s Quarters.” He says
“Oh.” Mrs. Peacock says. The butler heads off to the kitchen. Mrs. Peacock shrugs and heads to the Drawing Room.
Mrs. Peacock stops half-way through the Hall, noticing her Study door is open. Mrs. Peacock smirks and goes to her Study…
~~~Michael Reese-Miss Scarlet’s Room -6:01 am~~~
“Hello?” Miss Scarlet calls out. The flashlight turns off. Lightning flashes in the room. Miss Scarlet sees someone come over to her bedside. Lightning flashes again and she sees the face of the sea captain, whom she stabbed days earlier.
~~~The Cavendish Hotel–Candice and Nathaniel’s Room- continuous (12:06 am)~~~
A maid is cleaning up the room; Pam and Carl have Candice and Nathaniel’s luggage in the hallway. Carl and Pam watch as the maid washes the windows.
“It just seems strange.” Pam whispers to her husband, “Why would the maid want to clean up their room the moment after they leave?”
“It’s a very popular hotel,” Carl shrugs, “They had to clean for the next guest.”
“But not even twenty-four hours after the prior guests are murdered.” Pam says, “And imprisoned.”
Three people pass by Carl and Pam; the oldest of the three is familiar to Carl. He turns to see if he is correct.
“Al?” he calls out
The older man, Algernon Black, turns around. Prince Azure is standing next to him; who in return is standing next to his mother, Mme. Rose.
“Carl!” Sir Black happily reunites with him, “It’s been a long time. How’ve you been?”
“I only wish I could say I’m happy to see you.” Carl crosses his arms
“Oh, Carl, don’t let that little dispute get in our way.” Sir Black says, “That was years ago!”
“And I still haven’t forgotten.” Carl stares holes through him, “I could call the police and tell them that you are here and what good will that do you?”
Pam’s eyes widen as she walks over to Prince Azure, “Pam Lilac.”
“Danni Azure.” They shake hands formally as he leads her down the other end of the hall, leaving Carl and Algernon fuming in the hallway. Mme. Rose remains in the hallway as Azure and Pam go to the elevators.
Jayne Meadow-Brooke exits her bedroom and is shocked to see Sir Black.
“Oh my God! Al!” she gasps
~~~ (Back in Chicago) The Drake-Guest Suite 709-continuous (6:06 am)~~~
Mrs. White rolls gets out of her bed and opens her purse. She removes her cell phone and dials a number.
“Hello, Donna, make an appointment with my lawyer.”
~~~ The G&Y Company-Board Room - 6:10 am~~~
Mr. Yale brings in the blueprints of the new resort and lays them on the table. Forrest Green enters and closes the doors. They are the only one’s present.
“Alright.” Mr. Yale says, “I cannot take the pressure of your father any longer!”
Forrest crosses his arms, “So?”
“You need to take to him!” Mr. Yale says, “I can’t handle the way he torments me!”
“Donald, you entered this business because you knew and trusted me and you needed a job that will get you money… a lot of it!” Forrest slams his fist down on the table, “You are not walking out on us, no sir, not today, not tomorrow! You will stay with this program or we’ll kill you and that pretty little wife of yours, only in verse order.”
Mr. Yale has never heard Forrest talk to him in this manner.
“I…” Mr. Yale is speechless
“Do you want to end up like the clients my father has had killed.” Forrest says smiling slightly, “Have you ever been in the basement of my father’s mansion?” Mr. Yale has a blank look on his face
“Well if you don’t straighten up your act, you’ll spend an eternity down there!” Forrest yells, “There is a staircase in the basement, hidden behind the potato bin, it leads to an empty mine shaft, which in return leads down to the old sewers. Do you think we just leave our victims perched on the living room sofa? No! We take them down somewhere that if the police find the first passage, it’s hardly likely they’ll find the second one.”
“And what if I tell?” asks Mr. Yale
“If my father or I even suspect that you are going to tell a single soul, you will be on the hard floor before you can even blink.” Forrest says, not flinching slightly
“Forrest, as I’ve said before, you are more like your father every day.” Mr. Yale says exiting the Board Room.
TO BE CONTINUED