Hope Falls Season 2 - Eagle Valley Read online

  EAGLEVALLEY

  HopeFalls Season Two

  By

  Jamieson Wolf

  ISBN: 978-1-927111-49-9

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Books We Love

  192 Lakeside Greens Drive

  Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2

  Canada

  http://bookswelove.net

  Copyright 2011 Jamieson Wolf

  Cover art Copyright 2011 Michelle Lee

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Introduction

  I love being a writer. One of the things I love about being a writer is watching life breathe around me.

  A lot of my short stories come from conversations I've had or things I've seen. I also find that life has a way of behaving much like a soap opera, depending on how you live your life.

  I love soap operas; they are art imitating life, imitating art. I wanted to write something different, like an e serial of people's lives. An online Soap Opera.

  Thus, HOPE FALLS was born.

  The book is based around the world of soap operas. To dip in to the world where Miriam has to fight for her life, you can read HOPE FALLS

  And still, I wanted to do things a little more differently. Thus, this second novel in the HOPE FALLS series is really a second Season. Suspend your disbelief for a moment...

  Read and pretend that the television is glowing softly in front of you and the world it shows is reflected in your eyes. It is called EAGLE VALLEY: Hope Falls Season Two.

  Alright? All strapped in? Well, I hope you all enjoy reading EAGLE VALLEY as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  Cheers to all of you!

  Bring on the Mai Tai's!

  Jamieson

  Prologue

  FROM: THE BURBANK POST, Entertainment Section, July 1st, 2007

  "…..In other news, HOPE FALLS delivers another shocking death in a continual bloodbath! Viewers are left wondering where this story line can go, what with so many beloved Hope Falls residents diminish one by one!

  In other Hope Falls news, the introduction of Miriam's great niece from Paris, heir to the family fortune and her butler Darian make quite the pair. It looks like us loyal viewers are in for quite a treat this year!…"

  ~

  SOMEWHERE OFF THE COAST OF BURBANK CALIFORNIA

  The lights were dim.

  The sand felt dry and coarse along her palms and still she ground her hands into the sand, so glad she was to feel dry ground under her feet.

  She lay on the sand, sure that no one had seen her, sure that she had not been noticed. She was able to rest a moment, let her wet clothes bake in the hot summer heat. They would dry quickly. She had dressed for practicability. Her dress, its simple cotton soft and clinging to her body, would dry soon. For now she could rest.

  Closing her eyes, she calmed her heartbeat, put a hand there to feel it beating under her skin. Eight hours in the water, eight hours. She could remember little except the body numbing cold of it, the bite of the water as it carried her.

  She tried to make sense of what had happened, what had happened after she had left the tunnels, but it all blended together into shadows. Part of her mind was closed to her now and she didn't have the key to unlock it.

  Stretching, she turned over on her back and stared up at the sky. It shone down on her, it's stars like blessings. She could remember the stars from her childhood, knew what color her hair was, but she could not remember other things.

  But she had a plan. She knew that she had to get to them, she had to find them. And when she did that, than she could figure out what to do.

  It didn't help that she had this extra baggage to carry around, as if she had a whole other person inside of her. But it had been helpful in the past, so she let it be. It couldn't hurt to have a voice in your head once in a while. Standing, she looked around. She was in a secluded beach, along the coastline. She could see trees near by, but could hear traffic. Thank god, she was near civilization. Where there was a road, there was traffic. She shook out her dress checked to see that no one had followed her. Before she revealed herself from the darkness, she had to be sure she was safe. It would be a game she had to play from now on. Just like checking both ways before you cross the street, she thought wryly. She walked across the beach until she got to the road. It wasn't too well lit at this time of night, but it was quiet. It felt foreign to her, after the rushing of the water. She had to sleep. She had to find somewhere to sleep. She had to get money.

  Standing at the roadside, she waited for a car to show its headlights before she stood partway into the road. She pulled up the dress so her leg showed. The car slowed and she saw it was driven by a man. He smiled at her as he rolled down the window. Smiling back, she bent down to address the driver, so some cleavage would show. "Could you give a girl a lift?" Miriam asked.

  Chapter One

  Deep Inside Eagle Valley, New Mexico Susan looked at the sunset outside the cabana window. She placed her hands on the glass and felt the suns last rays on the lids of her eyes. This sun had felt like a haven to her; odd, she thought, how the same sun, in a different place, could mean fear.

  She smiled when she felt Derrick's arms around her. He pulled her close, cupped his hands around her stomach. "You okay?" He asked. He kissed her neck.

  "Better now." Susan replied, leaning back into him.

  She looked out the window again, marveling at the sight of palm trees and white sand. "How are you doing?" Susan asked, squeezing Derrick's hand.

  "The same." He repeated. "I'm just tired of hiding."

  "You know we have no other choice. Howard could come looking for us."

  "Susan, it's been three years."

  "I know how long it's been." There was ice in her tone. "I know exactly how long it's been. You don't have to lecture me."

  "I'm just saying; maybe it's time we enjoy a little bit of freedom. Get away for a bit. Take a trip."

  "Where, Derrick? You know we're being watched."

  "I know we were being watched. They weren't able to track us here and that was three years ago, Susan. A lot can happen in three years."

  "Like more people dying."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It's still happening. It's still going on, Derrick." She took a piece of paper out of her pants pocket. It was a newspaper article. She handed it to Derrick.

  He took it and began to read.

  FROM: THE BURBANK POST, Entertainment Section, July 1st, 2007

  "…..In other news, HOPE FALLS delivers another shocking death in a continual bloodbath! Viewers are left wondering where this story line can go, what with so many beloved Hope Falls residents diminish one by one!

  He looked up at her. "So?"

  "So?" Susan mimicked. "What do you mean so? It means it's still going on. It means he got Miriam and kept on killing."

  "There's nothing we can do about it, Susan. But we can't waste our lives like this."

  "Do you not remember the assassins sent after us? Do you not remember almost dying three years ago? God, Derrick, if I lose you too…" Tears welled up in her eyes and Derrick pulled her closer.

  “Forget it, forget what I said." He stroked her hair and rubbed her back. "I'm sorry, it's just so hard hiding out, not being able to do anything. I can't stand not doing anything, it drives me crazy."

  Susan turned to face him, putting her hands on either sid
e of his face. "I know, I'm sorry, I know it's hard. God, this constant hiding is making me afraid of my shadow. It's so hard to live a double life, Derrick. God, I feel like I'm living in a soap opera."

  “You're doing wonderfully." He said, wrapping a curl of dark brown hair around his fingers. "You should win an Emmy."

  Susan smiled at him, tears on her cheeks. "Yeah?"

  “Best Actress in a daytime drama any day."

  Susan chuckled. "Yeah, Deidre Hall eat your heart out."

  Derrick laughed this time. "You should of won it last year."

  “I know…I had my hair done and everything." She pouted. They both erupted into laughter and than started kissing. Susan's life had changed the moment Miriam went missing in several ways: She had lost an anchor, gained a new one and found love all in one fell swoop.

  There are certain things that happen to people in intense, dangerous situations. They fall in love, for example. It was only natural, in the situation they were in, that Susan and Derrick would turn to each other, both having lost a loved one. Susan had lost a friend. Derrick had lost a lover.

  And it was natural that they would feel something for each other. They felt a bond; in a way, Miriam's death had brought them closer. After six months on the road they were lovers. It happened so naturally, neither of them had ever commented on it, but just enjoyed it as much as possible.

  Cleo, though, was still alone. She felt even more alone while living with her daughter. It was odd, trying to form a relationship with a daughter who was different than when she had left her. But she would have one to love too, soon. Cleo could feel it deep into her bones. The fact that a loved one would be coming for her helped Cleo take on the day. It also helped her with the knowledge that this was not over.

  This was not over. They would continue to be tested. Her bones told her this. She could feel it's cold gnawing at her insides. The warmth of her lover to be was the only thing that kept her sane.

  She stepped into the kitchen of the cabana and cleared her throat. If she didn't, those two would go on kissing the whole damn day. "Is there coffee on?" She said, smiling.

  Chapter Two

  Susan stopped kissing Derrick when her mother came in. For whatever reason, the woman's presence made her nervous. She didn't know why it was, but having her mother back in her existence, back from the dead as it were; it just didn't sit well with her. She had so many unanswered questions. There were so many things that didn't add up.

  Where was her father? For example…She had so many questions. She wanted to ask her mother so much, but didn't know where to begin.

  Shaking her head, Susan stepped away from Derrick, but not before pinching his butt. She smiled at her mother. "Hello Cleo, how did you sleep?"

  She still insisted on calling her Cleo. Cleo smiled, noting this. "I slept fine, baby. The warmth of New Mexico does my bones good."

  “Here, Ms. H, take a seat." Derrick Cleo a chair at the table. Cleo accepted gracefully. "I'll get you a cup of coffee."

  “Two sugar two milk, please, Derrick." Cleo smiled. The man was so intent on pleasing her. She rather enjoyed it and would miss the attention when it would end. "You sure you don't mind me staying with you?" She asked.

  Susan smiled and sat down beside her mother. She felt distant from her, as if she couldn't relate to the woman she had loved all her life, as if this woman was a different person from the mother she had loved. "No, we already told you we don't."

  “I could stay in a hotel, it wouldn't be a problem…"

  “I wouldn't hear of it mother." Susan said.

  “Don't be silly Ms. H." Derrick said. He was mixing up pancake batter at the sink. "We like having you around." He paused. "Don't we Susan."

  Susan blushed slightly. "Of COURSE I love having you here, Mother." She said, touching her mother's shoulder. "Besides, we're all safer together. Howard could be looking for you too."

  “We spend so much time afraid now." Cleo said sadly. "Tell me," she said, switching the subject, "Have you heard anything?"

  “There was this in the paper today…" Susan passed Cleo the clipping from the newspaper.

  Cleo tutted as she read it. "So, it continues."

  “Seem to be." Susan said. "I don't know how we can put a stop to it. There has to be away."

  “Things were better when you didn't get the paper." Derrick said. "I didn't mind being cut off from the outside world."

  “I couldn't stand not knowing what had happened." Susan said. She sighed and flopped into a chair. "If I saw Howard Kowalski now, I'd tear off his balls and feed them to a dog and make him watch while I was doing it." Cleo spit out her coffee in a fine spray all over the breakfast table. "Sorry Mother."

  “No problem," Cleo said, chuckling.

  “They say that ignorance is bliss. They're right. Hiding here, not knowing what is going on in the outside world, walking along our own private beach every day. I admit, it's been pretty swanky."

  She took a sip of her coffee. "For two years, we were in bliss, ignorant of what had happened. But didn't a part of you want to know? I mean they were making SNUFF films for fuck sake." She took a breath.

  “They ARE making snuff films, Hope Falls is still in action, still going strong. Could either of you really live with yourselves now knowing what was happening? Knowing we're the only ones who can do something about it?"

  Both Cleo and Derrick both looked down and said nothing. Neither wanted to admit that they, too, had been curious. Susan smiled. "You're both just as restless as I am. For god sake, Derrick, you wanted to go on a trip! That's the WORST thing we can do, because where ever we go, we'll be seen. I KNOW you're tired of hiding, but I couldn't go on not knowing…." She said.

  “We can't stop hiding but I couldn't go on not knowing, no matter what it would cost me…" She reached for a pack of cigarettes, took one from a pack and lit one.

  “I wish you would stop that." Derrick said.

  “Bite me." Susan replied sweetly.

  There was silence for a few minutes while Derrick handed out pancakes and they poured syrup. They listened to the wind play outside, to the birds in the trees that lined the beach. If Susan tried hard enough, she could pretend that they were just a normal family, mother, daughter, lover, all sharing a morning breakfast. Sometimes, in quiet moments like this, it almost felt normal, as if none of the past had happened. She wished for the quiet to go on for just a moment longer.

  And then the doorbell rang.

  * * *

  Susan went to answer the door a smile plastered to her face automatically. It wasn't often they got visitors in Eagle Valley. Their nearest neighbor was four miles away, so they were well hidden. But occasionally people stopped by, friends from their new life, after Hope Falls. It was always good to answer the door with a smile; people asked less questions that way.

  You learned a lot of survival tricks in three years. So the smile just came naturally to Susan when the doorbell rang. The smile vanished a second after Susan opened the door, however. She gave a loud shriek, mumbled something unintelligible and fainted onto the front stoop.

  Derrick and Cleo, hearing the noise, came running from the kitchen and stared in shock when they saw why Susan had fainted.

  Standing on the front step was Sophie.

  Chapter Three

  “Hi." Sophie said.

  Cleo looked at her with amazement. Her mouth gaped open and she wasn't really sure what to say, if she could even say anything…the last time she had seen Sophie…oh Goddess. The last time they had seen Sophie, it had been that night, when everything went wrong.

  The night their lives changed forever…

  FLASH!

  IT IS AS IF WE ARE STARING AT THINGS THROUGH THE FABRIC OF TIME. GOLD GLITTERS AROUND THE EDGES….

  Sophie stayed listening for a while. "Where have you been? How do you know about what is going on?"

  “Oh, darling girl, I've done some terrible things. I've done some horrible things. I couldn't live with myself,
I just couldn't. We were so poor and you see, you were wanting a job on the television for so long. I cant' tell you what it was like, we never told you..."

  “Mom, what are you saying?" Susan studied her mother intently.

  Sophie took this moment to leave the room. The conversation was getting a little too intense. She wanted to give the mother and daughter space to talk amongst themselves. It had been two years since they had had privacy.

  Walking down the hallway towards the back of the house, she took a cigarette from out of her purse and headed out the back door of the small farmhouse. She knew she shouldn't smoke, but to hell with it.

  Stopping for a moment, she turned and went back inside, pouring herself a glass of wine. If she was going to relax, she was going to do it right. The whole day had been weird. She was starting to feel as if she were right into the middle of a soap opera. Sophie knew from reading Oprah that drama was not good for a healthy life style. She wished that it would all stop soon.

  She walked out into the tall sunflowers that grew on the edge of the yard. They reached towards the sky and it's early dawn grayness. She inhaled and exhaled, enjoying the play of the smoke in front of her. She took a sip of her wine and smiled. It was the last thing she did before she died.

  It was done in a flash. A knife blade across the throat, her own blood running down her front. She saw the blood running down her shirtfront and tried to scream but could only gurgle.

  She gaped, not making a sound. Looking down she saw that blood had collected in the curve of her wineglass, staining her wine to a nice rose color.