CHARACTER 2
American, caucasian
Male or female
18-25 years old
Has played around with drugs - you decide the extent
Has lived through a tragedy
Third Background story of Character 2 (Why she'll be in Guttenberg, Iowa
on December 24, 2008)
By Wind River
Ian Owens was lying in bed with his fiancé at the Eagle View Motel. He
was wrapping her hair around his finger and watching it unwind when the
phone rang.
"Just let it ring," Erica said, then planted a kiss on his chest.
"It's tempting."
He rolled over and took her into his arms. "Maybe we can stay in bed all
day."
"Not if that phone keeps ringing. Persistent, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm tired of hearing it ring." He reached over and answered it.
"Erica, it's for you."
"Who is it?"
"I don't know."
She put the receiver to her ear. "Hello"
"Tommy! It's been awhile," she said. "Yeah? What about Matt? ... Oh ...
Sure, we can do lunch."
She hung up the phone, and Ian said, "I guess that ruins our day in bed."
"Maybe tomorrow."
"Not if we head back to Chicago for Christmas Eve." He stuck out his lip
and pretended to pout.
She laughed. "You'll survive."
They dressed and passed a newspaper machine on their way to their car.
Ian backed up, "Whoa, we're on the front page."
"What did you expect? We gave a knock-out concert last night."
"We did, didn't we?"
Erica put two quarters in the machine and pulled out a paper. "Here, you
read while I drive to Tommy's."
"Erica Holmes, sister of Matt Holmes, returned to Guttenberg to play a
tribute concert for her brother who died four years ago. Other band
members include ..." He stopped reading. "Erica!"
"What is it?"
"The article goes on to say that new evidence has surfaced regarding
Matt's death."
Erica slammed on her brakes and turned sharply into the parking lot of
Bender's Foods. She grabbed the paper from Ian. "That's all it says?"
"Yeah."
"Tommy knows something. That's why he wants to meet with us. He was the
only other person in town who never believed Matt overdosed."
They continued driving to Tommy Carson's apartment. When they got there,
he met them at the door before they even knocked. He locked the door
after they entered, then he gave Erica and Ian both a hug.
"You guys were great last night," Tommy said as he set a plate of
sandwiches on the table.
They thanked him, then Ian said, "Tommy, have you read this morning's
paper?"
"Yeah, I was surprised they printed that. Bert Clawson always tried to
stay away from anything to do with Matt's death."
"Interesting that he changed his mind," Erica said.
"What's going on?" Ian asked.
"It's sort of a long story, but basically, when you left, Erica, there
was no one questioning Matt's death anymore, so I took it upon myself to
find out what happened that night. I did it quietly at first, going to
bars and listening as people drank and developed loose tongues. I wrote
down all the conversations I heard and finally took it to the police.
There had been a lot of changes in the personnel over the years, so it
was easier to find someone willing to listen than when you went to them."
"What did you hear?"
"A lot of conversation snippets that make me think he was in the wrong
place at the wrong time and saw something he shouldn't have."
"And was killed because of it?"
"Yeah." Tommy wiped his eye with his sleeve. "I'm sorry to reopen these
wounds, but I need your help. Both of you."
"What do you need us to do?" Erica asked.
"Talk to the investigators. Tell them that Matt didn't do drugs."
"I was his roommate and in a band with him and never saw him do
anything. But, I did see him reject drugs a few times," Ian said.
"That's exactly what they need to hear, and it sounds like the newspaper
might be on our side now, too."
"Bert knows a lot about the dealings in this town," Erica said.
"And he likely will help because of you." Ian glanced at Erica and she
met his gaze.
"Am I missing somthing?" Tommy asked.
"Let's just say I was once in the wrong place at the wrong time, too.
But it looks my experience might finally bring positive results."
As they were leaving, Ian reached for Erica's hand. "I know you didn't
want to spend Christmas here, but I think we should stay."
"Yeah, I guess we should."
"Are you okay?"
She nodded. "How about you?"
"Yeah. I'm okay, but I think I'd like to delay our day in bed."
END (for now)
(I'm not sure this is a stand alone story, Alaric, but it can't really
be finished until after Christmas Eve.)
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