Title: "Angels Back In Flight" (Part 2)

Author: Drew Roberts ([email protected])

Disclaimer:  This story is based on characters that are Copyright@Spelling-Goldberg Productions. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes, and I retain only the rights to the plot, not the characters.

PART 2:  "ANGELS COME HOME"
 

CHAPTER 9: JILL MUNROE & KRIS MUNROE - “MY ANGEL, MY SISTER”

After Jill Munroe had left the Townsend Agency after just one year she had pursued her other life-long dream - racing cars. She'd started training to race with several top drivers at the time. A lot of races were in Europe or Spain. Over time she became one of the top drivers and made many friends in the business. Unfortunately one friend turned out to not be such a good friend after all and even ended up causing the death of her fiancé at the time - Steve Carmedy. Steve was another top driver in the racing business. It had happened during her first return trip to Los Angeles. Kris, Kelly, Bosley, and Sabrina had all been there to help her and a friend, Paul Ferrino. She had known Ferrino for a couple years and he had supposedly developed a new high-tech race car that could mean new possibilities in fuel consumption for regular cars in the future - if it worked. However, someone was supposedly trying to sabotage or destroy his new car. Paul wanted her to drive it in the race while trying to figure out who was doing it. It turned out that he was sabotaging his own car and making it look like someone was out to get him because his new fuel idea didn’t really work. Unfortunately Jill’s fiancé, Steve, was blown up in a freak accident with the car.

It had taken a long time for her to get over his death. She’d almost quit the racing business but several friends and Kris had all talked her into sticking with it. They knew how much she loved it and she was good at it. She threw herself into racing and became very well known in the racing circuit all over Europe and the US. Eventually she met another racer and sponsor named Adrian McKenzie. They became very close and formed Munroe/McKenzie Speedway, Inc. Together they began to help train and sponsor new, promising drivers who were starting out their careers. Jill and Adrian married and not only trained and sponsored new drivers but over time began to develop their own new race cars as well. Many of Munroe/McKenzie race cars had won important and top races. In 1984 Jill gave birth to a baby girl they named Sherridan Kristine McKenzie (named after her sister Kris - her full first name being Kristine). The next year they had a son named Sawyer.

Things seemed to be going great for a few years, but over time Jill and Adrian’s marriage began to fall apart. Between the business and the kid’s activities there was never any time for each other. Then the blow came and Jill discovered that Adrian was having an affair with one of their top female drivers. When confronted he admitted it and did actually break it off with the driver but the damage had been too great. They separated for several months and then in 1991, after ten years of marriage they divorced.

It was devastating for everyone and that summer she took the kids and spent a lot of time with Kris and David, Kelly and Alan, Bosley, and Sabrina. These people were her family and closest friends and she needed to be with them. Having fun with their cousins was good for Sherridan and Sawyer, too. Everyone was supportive and loving but the two people who were the most helpful to Jill were Bosley and Sabrina.

John Bosley had been married once and had divorced not long after Charlie had hired Sabrina, Kelly and Jill. Sabrina had been married and divorced to Bill Duncan twice. Both of them knew what it was like and were able to talk and counsel Jill through the rough times. Once again she threw herself into her career and her kids, both of whom were now in college.  At first everything for Munroe/McKenzie Speedway, Inc. was put on hold. Eventually, mainly for Sherridan and Sawyer’s sake, Jill and Adrian agreed to keep the business going. They would just try to operate on a business level only. It was hard and weird at first but over time it became exactly that - business. After a couple of years she dated quite a bit but never got serious with anyone. Her life was the race car business, her kids, Kris and Ryan.

The last time she had seen Kris was eight months before on November 2002 for Thanksgiving.  She, Sherridan and Sawyer had flown to Frisco and spent the holidays with Kris and Ryan. However, when Charlie had called her to let her know what had happened to Kris she wasted no time in agreeing to help. He told her what hotel Kris was staying in and instructed them to fly out of San Francisco to Los Angeles immediately.   He’d already set up and paid for her flight into San Francisco and her and Kris’ flight to Los Angeles from there.  They were to go straight to their old office building, which Charlie still owned and used as a guest house for friends when they visited L.A. Charlie told Jill he’d explain more when they got there.
 

Kris felt like she’d go mad if Charlie didn’t call her soon. It’d been almost two days since her attack-of-the-dummy and she hated waiting and being cooped up - especially in the middle of the summer.  Even though the air conditioner was working fine it still felt sticky and stuffy in the hotel room. She wished she could take a dip in the pool but that would be stupid and putting herself out in the open. Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. Immediately her heart began pounding and her gun was out.  She’d specifically instructed the hotel to not disturb her at all.

“Housekeeping!” came the weird high-pitched voice from the other side of the door.  “May I fluff your pillow?”  it continued.  Kris could definitely tell that the person was trying to disguise their voice…but they were doing a terrible job! Strange enough, but Kris’ first reaction was to laugh at the bizarre voice behind the door. She felt sure the lines spoken were from a comedy movie she’d seen with Ryan once. But, no one knew she was here and no one was supposed to disturb her. The smile from her face was gone in a second and the gun was back out in front of her. Slowly, and with the chain still engaged, Kris began to open the door. Her heart jumped but it was from joy, not fear! It was Jill with a wry smile on her face.

“Jill, what are you doing here? Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you! How did you know I was here?” Kris exclaimed as she opened the door all the way and threw her arms around her sister. “Wait a minute, let me guess….Charlie,” she stated, answering her own questions. Still hugging they walked back into the room and Jill began to get Kris’ bags together. “What are you doing? Where are we going?” Kris asked as she began to help her pack.

“We’re going home, Babe,” Jill replied with a smile and wink. “Charlie wants us all to fly to L.A. immediately and go to our old office. He said he’ll tell us more when we’re there. He’s booked us on a flight which leaves for LAX in two hours.” Kris looked at Jill with impatience.

“He didn’t say anything more than that?” she exclaimed! Jill shook her head. Kris groaned in frustration as Jill took her arm.

“I’m really sorry about what happened, Kris. I’m also very scared about why and who is dong this to you, Kelly, and Bri. I’m not leaving your side until this is resolved.” Kris could see fear in her eyes.

“Thank you. I’m really glad you’re here, Jill. We’ll get this worked out, especially if we work together,” Kris replied as they both hugged again.

Then Kris knew she had to phone David’s parents again and tell them where she was going. She had talked to them the other night and had not told them details but had let them know that there had been a break-in at the house and it had to deal with her old job before she met David. She wanted them to keep Ryan for now to keep him out of danger. Ryan didn’t know anything that was going on and Kris wanted to keep it that way. David’s parents had always loved Kris and had treated her just like a daughter. They knew that she used to work for Charles Townsend and the job had been somewhat dangerous. When she talked to them again and told them she was going to L.A., they were immediately worried. But, they were only too glad to keep Ryan, especially if it meant keeping him safe. Kris then spoke to Ryan for a little bit. He rambled on about a movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” that he and some friends had seen the night before. Then she promised David’s mom that she’d keep in touch regularly. After that, Kris called the news network and spoke to her boss. She told him she didn’t know how long this would take, but after all she had a ton of vacation time coming anyway. Her boss could tell something was up and he told her that if there was a story in it to be sure and get it! Then she and Jill headed for San Francisco International.

CHAPTER 10: KELLY GARRETT-“ANGEL TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!”

Alan was livid after Charlie had called and instructed Kelly where to go. He paced up and down their bedroom as she began packing. “Kel, I will not have you doing this by yourself anymore! Remember, you promised that I would not be shut out this time! This whole thing is crazy and dangerous, you’re not twenty-five or twenty-eight years old anymore!” he yelled as she put jeans and pants into her favorite antique suitcase. Kelly sighed. She knew this was coming.

“Alan, I’m not doing this alone. Kris, Sabrina, and Jill will be there too. I’m not shutting you out! I promise I will keep you informed regularly. Besides, you can’t go with me! You have several major heart surgeries scheduled for this next week. I won’t have other people’s lives put in jeopardy because of my problems. I also don’t want your life put in danger
either, Babe! This has to do with old situations that you don’t know the details about. I don’t think you could really help all that much! Also, thank you so much for reminding me of my current age!” Kelly declared back.

“I’m not calling you old, honey, but you haven’t done this kind of work for a long time! There are other surgeons that can do my surgeries for me. I can come along and be with you every second to make sure nothing happens while you….investigate or whatever. I can’t let you do this on your own!” Kelly took a breath again.

“Alan, for the last time, I won’t be alone. The other girls will be there! If we work together like before, we might be able to catch who is doing this a lot quicker. I know you’d be with me to try and protect me but I don’t want you in danger either. Too many people depend on you to heal them anyway,” she teased with a smile. “I promise I’ll call you regularly to tell you what’s happening, okay? Now let me finish packing.” Alan walked from the room without a reply. Kelly finished packing her bags and then called a cab. Charlie had specifically told her not to bring one of her cars. He’d provide them with automobiles later. She smiled to herself as she thought—if there was an old yellow (probably by now rusted out) 1976 Mustang waiting for her, she’d smack Charlie….or at least tell him over the phone that he’d been smacked. Twenty minutes later, the cab pulled into the drive and honked.

“I love you, Alan! I promise I’ll be careful and talk to you all the time. I’m going to call Greg and Hollie on the way,” Kelly said as she was ready to walk out the door.

“What are you going to tell them? 'Mommy has to go catch a bad guy and put her life in danger, have fun,'” Alan spat sarcastically.

Kelly looked straight at him.  “I think you know me better than that. I don’t want the kids to know anything that’s going on. I’m telling them that Kris, Sabrina, Jill, and I are having a long overdue reunion with each other. In many ways it’s not a lie. We should’ve gotten together more often. All of us haven’t been together at one time since…” her voice trailed off.

“Since Bosley’s funeral,” finished Alan for her.  He took her in his arms and kissed her long and hard. “I’m sorry, but I’m still very angry about
this.  I don’t think it’s right but I guess I can’t stop you. If you don’t call me twice a day and keep me informed, I WILL come find you. Understand?”

“I promise. You know the address and phone number of Charlie’s old office building and, of course, you have my cell number. I love you, gotta go,” Kelly said as they kissed and the cab honked again. Alan watched her until the cab was out of sight.  He would call her in two hours.  If she didn’t answer one of the phones he would come looking.

“Where to, lady?” asked the cabbie after a couple of blocks.

“193 Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills. It’s at the intersection of Robertson Blvd and Clifton Way,” Kelly replied. She had chosen to not think about or even go by that address for six years now. Not since the depressing rainy day in 1997 when all of them: Sabrina, Jill, Kris, Tiffany, Julie, herself, and their families had buried their dear friend and associate John Bosley.  Charlie had been nearby in a window-darkened limo, crying as much as the girls. That had been the last time they’d been together. However, none of them had wanted to meet at the office building after the funeral.  There were too many memories. Charlie had reserved the back room at Bosley’s favorite Italian restaurant. So, it had been twenty-two years since any of them had actually been at the old office—the summer of 1981 when Charlie had officially closed Townsend Investigations.

After a while they started driving through familiar neighborhoods that Kelly remembered. They even drove past her old house that she’d lived in while working for Charlie.  She’d lived there until she and Alan got married and then sold it.  The current owner or owners had kept it up pretty good. They entered more of a business area and then Kelly saw it.  Her heart gave a little jump and she took in a quick breath as the old familiar two story brick office building that had housed Charles Townsend Investigations for five years came into view.

“You all right, lady?” the cab driver asked when he’d heard her give a slight gasp as he pulled up in front of the office.

“Yes, I’m fine, just having a trip down memory lane. How much do I owe you?” Kelly asked with a smile. After the cab pulled away, she stood there staring. It didn’t look a whole lot different, except minus the brown and white sign beside the front door stating Townsend Private Investigations.  It felt like she was stepping over twenty years back in time—when big hair, disco, and bell bottoms were the big ‘craze’. Kelly laughed when she thought this.  Here she was standing with long, shoulder length hair and bell bottom jeans on now.  Funny how styles repeat themselves, give something twenty years and suddenly it’s cool again!

The building had been kept up very well. Of course, Charlie still owned it and used it as a guest house for friends visiting the city and needing a place to stay. For some reason she just couldn’t go in yet. She needed to just look for a little bit….and remember.
 

CHAPTER 11: SABRINA DUNCAN - “ANGEL FLIGHT TO THE PAST...AND PRESENT!”

When Charlie called Sabrina was waiting and answered after only one ring.  Andy was sleeping around the corner in his suite and she didn’t want to wake him. She listened to what Charlie wanted her to do.  He’d already booked her on a flight straight from Sky Harbor to LAX.  She was to go to the old office immediately. After getting her stuff together, she wrote Andy a long note explaining that even though she knew he’d be mad at her for going on her own this was something she had to do. Plus she didn’t want him in danger. She promised to keep in touch on a regular basis.

She snuck out of her suite and checked her slide card in at the lobby desk.  Out of the corner of her eye she noticed in the mirrored wall behind the desk that a strange blonde woman seemed to be watching her. Her pulse quickened.  She then walked out the front entrance and the door man motioned her a cab. The woman slowly followed and Sabrina saw her get a cab right after her. That cab seemed to follow her cab’s every move. Feelings that Sabrina hadn’t felt for a long time were surging throughout her.  As Sherlock Holmes always said, could the game possibly be afoot? She just hoped the game could be stopped before anymore Diane-type situations would happen.  She knew that was probably just wishful thinking. Whoever it was that had started the game seemed to just be getting warmed up.

The woman followed Sabrina into Sky Harbor Airport but then seemed to disappear.  Trying to not be too obvious Sabrina looked for the strange follower for a while but she seemed to be gone. Sabrina knew she was still around somewhere. Her old detective-state-of-mind was coming back and quicker than she would have thought.  Even though she worked with suspicion every day with insurance claims, it was usually with a lot of paper work rather than people.  The last time she’d played cat and mouse with someone was when she still worked for Charlie.  She could sense someone watching her. On her flight to L.A. she studied the other people on the plane but none of them resembled the woman that had followed her earlier.  Of course, the woman had had the old stereotypical floppy hat and big sunglasses on so Sabrina wasn’t exactly sure what her face looked like.  The rest of the flight and arrival into LAX were uneventful.

Once through the security checks and baggage claim she got a cab. She knew that Charlie wanted them all to go straight to the office but there were a couple other places that she wanted to see first.  She had the cabbie take her by the house that Bill, she and Andy had lived in before moving to Phoenix.  It looked extremely different.  The present owners had painted it a different color, added on and had fenced in the back yard.  She looked from the street for a few moments and then decided that it was time to move on.  She then had the cab driver take her by the old apartment she’d lived in while working for Charlie and before she’d remarried Bill. The complex hadn't changed hardly at all, except for a few landscaping changes.

Sabrina laughed to herself as she remembered the time in ’76 when she and Jill had blown her apartment up.  It actually had been a bomb that an assassin, Harry Wardlow, had planted in the lid of a water jug.  Jill had been over that afternoon and discovered that the top of the jug had been tampered with. They looked it over and discovered an explosive rigged under the top cap.  They’d purposely allowed the bomb to explode to make the hit-man think he’d succeeded. They even faked her funeral.  Boy, had the apartment manager been furious when he’d found out that the bomb had been purposely let explode!  He’d made her pay for the damages and the repair of her apartment.  However, he’d also been very glad she had been all right and helped her move back in when the repairs were completed.  Charlie had actually paid for the repairs because the incident had occurred while on the job.

Sabrina was so into her memories that she didn’t notice the Crown Victoria less than half a block away.  Inside was the woman with the big tourist looking hat and sunglasses.  She watched Sabrina with hatred and wished she could kill her right now, but Master said only when the time was right.  As for now she was only supposed to scare her.  After a few more minutes Sabrina decided it was time to go to the office and got back into the cab.

The cab took her to the office building and she had it drop her off across the street from it.  Sabrina looked for a few moments.  It had hardly changed at all in the twenty-four years since she’d last been there.  Suddenly she noticed a woman standing in front of the building, staring at it, too. Her heart jumped as she realized it was Kelly.  Sabrina ran across the street and slowly walked up to her.

Kelly didn’t seem to notice her right away.

“I was wondering, Miss, do you know who lives here?” Sabrina teased from behind her.

Kelly whirled around. Immediately her face exploded into a smile.  “Bri! Oh, my gosh, Bri!” They both hugged fiercely.

Sabrina realized that Kelly had tears streaming down her face.  “You okay, kiddo?”

Kelly smiled again and nodded her head.  “Yeah, I think so. It’s just so good to see you! I haven’t seen you since…”

“Bos’ funeral, six years,” Sabrina finished quietly.  “We should’ve gotten together many times. It just seemed that Bosley’s death kind of…distanced everyone or something.  One of our team and family died and it just made it difficult to see everyone. It brought back so many memories.  I’m sorry, Kelly.  You look beautiful.  Don’t you ever age?” she teased.

Kelly smiled and laughed.  “Stop, please! I probably look like the wreck of the hespers or something, especially with what’s happened in the last few days.” Her last remark reminded both of them the reason they were here.

“Are you okay, Kel?  Charlie briefly told me what happened.  I’m so sorry!”

“Yeah, I’m all right.  I just can’t believe that all this is happening.  It’s almost like we never left Townsend Investigations. What about you, Bri? I heard about the rose things and the girl that got hit by the van.”

“I’m dealing with it…or trying to.  Diane is still in the hospital but the doctors think she’ll pull through.  Andy's also about to come out of his skin.  I don’t think he knew the kind of cases we used to solve.  He’s used to insurance fraud, which sometimes can be dangerous, especially if we have to go out and role play, so to speak, to find out information.  Usually we don’t run into the old guns and knives bit.  He’s also probably furious with me right about now.  I left him sleeping at our hotel.  He was so insistent on staying to protect me.  He’s really kind of bossy sometimes,” Sabrina laughed.

“Sounds like someone else I know,” teased Kelly with a chuckle. They talked a few more minutes and then decided to go in.  The actual office had been on the second floor. The first floor rooms had originally been rented out by Charlie to a couple other businesses.  Now the front hallway was decorated like the front entrance to a house. The rooms that had housed the other businesses now had doors that looked like bedroom doors.  However, an elevator and stairway were still at the end of the hallway.  Kelly and Sabrina took the elevator to the second floor as they had many years before.

Once again the hallway was decorated like the hallway of a house and one of the rooms off the hallway was open.  Kelly looked in and saw it was a bedroom that was very lavishly decorated. They opened the double doors that went into their old office and both of them gasped as they stared in with memory and wonder.  It had totally been redecorated years ago. It now had up-to-date furniture, carpet and a big screen TV complete with VCR and DVD player.  However the fireplace, mini-bar and antique desk that Bosley usually had sat at were all still there.  On the desk was what looked like a brand new computer system with internet access.  The office seemed totally different, yet in several ways was very much the same.  Both of them began talking at the same time and looking at everything.  They were talking so much that they didn’t hear the elevator open again at the end of the hallway and some people get off and slowly walked towards the office doors.
 

CHAPTER 12: OPEN FOR BUSINESS! - “TOWNSEND INVESTIGATIONS, MAY I HELP YOUU?”

Kris and Jill got off the elevator and walked down to the double doors that lead into their old office.  Both of them could not get over how different the hallway looked.  Then they heard talking and laughing coming from inside and one of the doors was partially open. They peered into the room and saw Sabrina and Kelly.  Both of them were talking a mile a minute.

“Bri, look at that vase!” Kelly giggled.  “I guess it goes with this room but I don’t think I’d pick that one out for my living room.”

Sabrina laughed and agreed.

On the walls and coffee table they noticed several pictures of them all together when the agency was still in business.  However, the newest picture was of all the Angels and Bosley together.  It had been taken in 1995, two years before Bosley’s death, when all of them had surprised him for his birthday.  All six Angels had had to try and squeeze in to fit into the picture. The result ended up with everyone laughing and the picture was perfect!  At that time no one knew that heartbreak was just down the road.  They’d had the surprise party at the same Italian restaurant that had ended up hosting the after-funeral dinner for him.  After the funeral get-together the Angels had vowed to never eat at that restaurant again.  Suddenly Sabrina and Kelly heard loud voices behind them and they whirled around.

“Hey, keep it down in here! Some people are trying to sleep!” Kris teased loudly as she and Jill came in the doors. People down on the street could probably hear the strange commotion as four women ran, hugged, laughed and cried with delight.  All of them began talking at once and they all caught up with each other with tales of their jobs, kids and spouses and/or significant others. They all walked around the office again looking at everything with arms linked when they stopped in front of the antique desk.  Behind it, on the wall next to the bookcase, was a huge portrait of John Bosley.  It had a gold plated frame and there was a gold plated engraving below it.

“'In loving memory of Jonathan Edward Bosley: 1929-1997'," Sabrina read in a subdued voice.  "'From your beloved Angels and Charlie.  We all love and miss you. You may be gone but not from our hearts, and you will never be forgotten.'”  After she finished Kelly looked around at all of them and everyone had tears streaming down their faces, including herself.  Kris especially seemed to have a hard time and a few short sobs escaped as she tried to keep herself under control.  Kelly put her arm around Kris and they all walked back to a couch and sat down.

They all began talking about the funeral and how sad it had been.  It felt good for all of them to finally talk about it and express their feelings. They all agreed that it had been stupid to not have done it six years before. After the tears had dried they began to discuss their terrible attacks.  Why Jill, Tiffany or Julie had not had anything happen to them and who might be responsible.  Kris told her tale of the shower dummy but had no idea, other than some past criminal they’d help put away, who might be after them.  Eventually she got up and walked around again.  “Hey, look at this!  Some things never change. In a weird way I’m almost comforted by seeing this old thing,” Kris chuckled.

All of them got up and walked over to the desk where she was standing. There on the desk, next to the computer monitor sat one of the newest models of a cordless phone.  Sitting next and connected to it was the old familiar speaker box that Charlie had given their assignments out of for five years.

“I guess Charlie doesn’t always change everything, does he?” Jill laughed.  “Well, I don’t know about the rest of you but I could use something to drink.”  She walked over behind the mini-bar and saw that it was fully stocked.  They all decided to have a glass of wine and some cheese.  Jill opened the mini-fridge, took out a bottle of red table wine and a hunk of cheddar.

“I wonder if that old speaker box still works or if Charlie just had it put out there so we’d see it...sort of a nostalgic hello,” Kelly mused.

The words were hardly out of her mouth when suddenly the phone rang.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” Sabrina stated as she walked over to the phone.  All of them put down their wine glasses and gave each other curious glances.  She pushed the old speaker button beside the box.  “Charles Townsend's residence, may I help you?”

The unmistakable voice of Charlie came booming out of the speaker box as it always had before.  “Hello, Sabrina!  How are you? Are all of you lovely creatures there or are we still waiting for some of you?”

All of them sounded at once and said they were there.  Everyone began speaking at the same time as they all talked and laughed with Charlie about what they’d discussed with each other just a little while before.  Then he asked the question that brought back the realization of why they were all there.  “Were all of your trips here safe and uneventful?”

Everyone stated that everything had been fine except for Sabrina. She told them all about the strange woman that had seemed to be following her.
 

CHAPTER 13: WHO DONE IT? - “ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR ANGEL!”

“Have you seen her anywhere since you’ve been back in L.A.?” asked Kris.

Sabrina shook her head.  “No, the last time I saw her was back at Sky Harbor in Phoenix.  She seemed to disappear and I didn't see her again.  She easily could still be following me right now.  I didn’t get a very good look at her and I’m not sure I’d recognize her again, unless she still had on that goofy, floppy hat and the ‘60’s Jackie Kennedy style sunglasses..”

“Are you sure she was following you?"  Jill queried.  "I mean, she could’ve been just another tourist visiting Arizona.  Or maybe she was following you but was an angry insurance client and has nothing to do with this.  Maybe she’s a private detective herself and was hired to follow you regarding some insurance fraud case you’ve handled recently.”

“All of those are very possible.  Like I said, I’m not sure about anything any more.  Everything seems so out of whack! What we need to do is try and figure out who is doing this to us and why,” Sabrina stated as she put her head between her hands and began massaging her temples.

Jill walked over, sat next to Sabrina and put her hand on her shoulder. “You okay, Bri?”

“I’m fine,” Sabrina responded, smiling. “It’s just the frustration of not knowing what’s going on or why.  Right now I’m game for a little investigating.  What have you found out, Charlie?”

“There are some very interesting things that I’ve discovered.  After each of your attacks I’ve been in contact and working with the local police at each of your attack locations.  We actually may have a few leads to go on and they’re probably going to be surprises or shocks to all of you,” he replied.

“Why?”  Kris asked in a leery tone of voice.

Charlie moved on quickly.  “Kris, we’ll start with you.  Do you remember Ted Burton?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget him as long as I live!**  Why in the world are you asking me about him?”

“After I had you get out of your house and check into a motel I immediately got in contact with the police there.  I talked to the captain in charge of that particular division.  He happens to be an old friend of mine and, as a favor to me, had a Crime Scene Investigation team totally go through your house.  In the shower someone had definitely rigged up the dummy to come down on you the moment you stepped into it.  CSI found some hairs that weren't yours and sent them off to their lab. They, of course, turned out to be human and they entered the DNA profile into CODIS to see of they could get a match with already known offenders.  They didn’t have to wait long.  The same day the DNA was put into the system and it kicked out a match.  Guess who's?”

Kris’ face had gone very white.  “Are you telling me that Burton was the one in my house, set up the dummy and wrote that psycho message on my mirror?”

“I’m afraid so. There’s no mistake.  He was the one. After spending over 24 years in prison he was paroled two months ago.  He came back to Santa Monica and got some part-time clean up job at a mechanics shop.  His parole officer heard from him regularly until about two weeks ago, then Burton stopped making the required check-ins and seemed to disappear,” Charlie told her.

“Oh, my God!” Kris exclaimed in shock and disbelief.  She lowered her head in her hands.

Kelly put her arm around her.

“Charlie, do you think that Burton had been planning to get revenge on me all this time? I mean, after getting out after 24 years, why wait two months to do it? Why didn’t he come after me when he got out in May?  He could’ve just broken in, waited until I came home some night and killed me. Thank God he didn’t. What if Ryan had been home?  This whole thing is so ludicrous!  Oddly enough, I was just thinking about him and the time I had amnesia just the other day. This is too freaky…but it also sounds very premeditated and very elaborate.”

“I agree, Angel! The dummy in the shower was no spur-of-the-moment act. It takes a cunning and scheming person to think up something like that, let alone put it together.”

“From what I remember, he wasn’t the type to plan and scheme.  He’d just explode and act without thinking, sort of a blind rage kind of thing.  He might want to take revenge on me but the dummy in the shower just isn’t his style.  It’s almost as if someone else gave him the ideas on what to do,” Kris concluded with an uncertain look on her face.

“Charlie, do you think that his hair could’ve been planted?  I mean, we’re just assuming that because we found Burton’s hair in Kris’ house that he was actually there.  Someone else with knowledge of the case dealing with him could’ve somehow gotten a hold of some of his hair and then planted it in Kris’ house in order to frame him,” suggested Sabrina.

“That’s always possible, but CSI and I don’t think so. The hair was found in a way and in places that would be very hard to position intentionally. The main reason is skin epithelials - matching Burton’s DNA were found all oveer in the bathroom and on the stairs. He almost had to have been there to leave those behind.  I believe that Burton entered Kris’ house, set up the shower dummy, and wrote the threatening lipstick note on her mirror.”

"The message on the mirror is definitely possible for him.  It sounds like Burton’s state of mind - rambling on about memory, remembering sttuff, and pretty much sounded like a psychotic, angry nut.  After all, it called me an Angel bitch. I guess the reason certain words were haphazardly underlined was to let me know it had something to do with my memory - sort of a taunt about my amnesia and him almost getting me.  Even the bizarre cardboard question mark fastened to the head of the shower dummy would suggest the attack had something to do with memory and knowing and/or not knowing something,” Kris explained, pausing to take a sip of her wine before continuing.

"But, as I said before, it’s like two different people were in my bathroom.  The mirror message was like a last minute act of hatred, sort of a few incoherent words of an unstable nut.  My ‘shower buddy’, however, was more planned out.  It would take a little bit of time and patience to put that together.  It’s as if one person decided to practice his vocabulary on my mirror and a totally different one decided to have some fun in my shower,” Kris voiced sarcastically.  Her snide remarks brought smirks to everyone’s faces.

“Do you think there might actually have been two people, Charlie?  Maybe Ted Burton and an accomplice broke in.  Burton wrote the crazed message on Kris’ mirror and a mysterious other set up the cloth dummy in the shower,” Jill ventured.

“It’s a very reasonable theory, Jill, but I don’t think so. The police and CSI found no trace of anybody else, other than Kris and Ryan, being in the house - except for Ted Burton.  I believe that Burton, and Burton alone, entered Kris’ house and performed both acts.  However, I don’t believe that he came up with ideas on his own.  I think Kris actually might be on to something when she said that it was like somebody else had created the game plan, so-to-speak. Someone either talked him into or hired him to do it.  After all, a man just out of prison wouldn’t have the money or means for plane trips and rented cars to and at San Francisco, as well as anywhere else he might have followed Kris.  He doesn’t have any family left or close friends around that we know of,” said Charlie.

“If that’s the case, then maybe the shower dummy was what Burton was hired to do. Then, on his way out or something, he got an idea of his own. He decided to leave Kris the message on the mirror, sort of his own addition to someone else’s plan,” Jill commented.

“A very definite possibility, Jill," Charile agreed.  "I think that'is probably what happened.  That would explain why it seems like two different minds at work, because in a way it is.  Someone else planned the shower dummy but not the mirror threat.  Burton decided to throw that in at the last second.”

Kelly had been listening to the different theories and noticed that Charlie had continually been very adamant about something.  “Why are you so certain that Burton didn’t think this up on his own, Charlie?  Now that I think about it, he could also be the one who cut my brake lines and sent me those taunting flowers in the emergency room.  He could also have somehow looked into some of our old cases to use things to get back at us, and decided to use the rose thing to try and terrify Sabrina,” Kelly added and then paused to take a drink. “After all, the three of us - Sabrina, Kris, and myself, are the ones who stopped him from killing Kris and sent him to prison.  Plus, this might explain why Jill, Tiffany or Julie hasn’t had anything happen to them.  The incident with Burton and Kris’ amnesia occurred after Jill had left and before Tiffany or Julie had come to work with us.”

“No, I don’t think so,” Sabrina disagreed as she pondered Kelly’s idea.  “There’s no way that just anyone could easily find out the specific details of the case that dealt with Angie and the roses.  Besides, like Kris said, Burton wasn’t exactly the planning out type.”

“Right, Bri.  When we all had to testify at his trial, he really blamed me the most.  I’m the one who actually got him sent away for murder when I testified I saw him kill that restaurant owner.  If he was going to go after any of us it would be me,” Kris replied.

“Kelly may be on to something though, Angels,” Charlie interjected.  “The reason she gave of why Jill, Tiffany, and Julie have been ‘attack-free’ sounds very plausible and I might even say somewhat obvious.  The person who's the master mind behind all this is someone that the mentioned particular three caught and put away and has no use for the other three.”

“Then who cut my brake lines and sent the horrible flowers?  If your theory about the specific ones of us being attacked is correct, Charlie, Burton would be a great suspect since the three of us who've been threatened are the three who sent him away!” Kelly exclaimed.

“I was just coming to that, Kelly. This is also another reason I believe that there’s someone else besides Ted Burton pulling the strings,” Charlie replied. “In January of 1979, Angels, we were asked to investigate some strange murders that were happening near and around a popular disco club, Freddie’s Disco” to be exact. It was owned by Fred Hesston.”

“I remember that,” said Sabrina. “Several homeless and low income men were killed near the club.”

“Right!  The homeless man that was the last one killed was the one that finally got us involved. His name was James Hannah.  He and the other men were murdered near Freddie’s.”

“I remember that, too!  I had to go undercover as a disco dancer with a Mario….somebody.  If I remember right, he and his father taught people to disco dance at the club,” Kris exclaimed as she and Sabrina both began laughing at the memory of her having to disco.

“Right you are, Angel!  It was Mario and Hector Montero.  We ended up saving Hector’s life after he became the killer’s next intended victim.  Sadly, he passed away in his sleep in 1984, but Mario is now a lawyer here in L.A.  He also now owns his own dance club, too - sort of a hobby for his time away from court.  It’s a popular retro dance club that specializes in the wonderful, nostalgic art of disco,” Charlie joked.

Sabrina and Kris rolled their eyes and laughed some more.

“I remember Mario saying at the time that he was going to law school.  I guess his dancing paid off,” Kris remarked, still chuckling.

“I though disco went out in the early 80’s,” said Sabrina.

“Oh, it did, but now it’s gaining popularity again.  Everything from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s is back.  It just goes to show you, keep all of your clothes because they’ll come back in style sometime,” Jill added with a laugh.

“I remember that case myself,” Kelly added, a little more somber than the others.  “I remember that crazy disco DJ at the club.  He almost attacked me at his apartment when he found out who I really was.  I think somebody had found us out and called to inform him.  Until that time, he’d thought I was a song promoter from a reputable record company.  He was a real wacko.  If I remember right, he had an immense hatred towards his father.  Instead of killing his father he’d mentally substitute certain men and bums along the strip outside Freddie’s that angered him and put them in the father’s place.  He was who we ended up saving Hector from.  I think his last name was….Owens. I don’t remember his first name.”

“His name was Harry Owens, Kelly.  After you all helped catch him, Angels, Harry was sent to a mental institution for the criminally insane.  He’s been there ever since…until about four weeks ago.  He was released after being finally declared supposedly sane.  Once again, Angel, I had the CSI team, along with police technicians, go over your wrecked SUV.  They didn’t find any hairs, prints, or anything other than yours and Alan’s in the vehicle.  However,  they found a partial print where your break lines are.  Next the police went over the delightful little bouquet of flowers that you were sent.  They found several prints and were able to track down the floral shop that sent them.  The prints near the brake line on your car and the prints on the flowers all came up as a perfect match to none other than…Harry Owens,” Charlie explained.

“What!” Kelly exclaimed in shock as everyone gasped in disbelief.

“The delivery man that brought the flowers in to you, Kelly, also gave a description of the man who ordered them, and it fits Owens almost perfectly," Charlie continued.  "Except for almost all gray hair now, it’s definitely him.  He even still wears the huge, bizarre glasses he wore at the time of the disco case.  The delivery guy said that Owens really gave him the creeps.”

“I just can’t believe this!  Harry Owens cut my brake lines and sent me the sick flowers?  This is just crazy.  I haven’t thought about him or that stupid disco club in years! Why would he come after me?” Kelly bemoaned.

“Well, someone wasn’t very professional, were they?”  Sabrina wryly stated.  “That’s pretty sloppy work leaving fingerprints behind.  It’s like the oldest mistake in the book.  As far as why he’s targeted you, Kel, who knows?  Maybe it’s because you were the one who directly tricked him.  You were the one who he dealt with face-to-face. You had more personal contact with him than Kris, Bos or I did.  He probably blames you for deceiving him and putting him away,” she stated as she rested her hand on Kelly’s shoulder.

“We all caught him.  I just don’t know why he’d only go after me alone!  I guess you’re probably right.  I still just can’t comprehend all of this.  It’s like I’m having a demented dream,”  Kelly grumbled, still shaking her head in disbelief.  “How could they let him out?  Do you think, Charlie, that he’s been planning to get revenge on me all these years, like Burton was with Kris?”

"I don’t know, Kelly, possibly.  What we do know is that he's out, he tampered with your Lincoln, sent you the flowers and note in the ER.  How long he’s been wanting or planning to do those things….who knows?”

“It's all so nuts!  Do you think that Harry Owens was acting on his own or do you think he was hired, too?” Kelly queried.

“I believe that the same person who hired Ted Burton also hired Harry Owens,” Charlie answered honestly.

“Oh, my God!” Kris and Kelly cried at the same time.

“I was wondering if that’s what you were getting to.  Iit would make sense that if one was hired then most likely the other one was, too,” Sabrina stated, nodding her head.

“Charlie, you’re saying that the same man - or woman - hired both of these buffoons to come after both Kris and Kelly?” Jill questioned.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.  Except I don’t know whether or not Burton and Owens knew about each other.”

“So, each one was hired to stalk or terrify a specific one of us - possibly without the knowledge of the other one.  The whole thing does sound like a very elaborate plan but yet in both cases the assailants were both very careless.  I’m starting to think maybe Charlie’s right," Sabrina mused aloud. "Someone purposely chose Burton and Owens to specifically target Kris and Kelly, maybe to do some of the dirty work for them.  However, it’s starting to also look like both of those guys didn’t carry out their part of the plan very well, either.”

“I just can’t believe all of this!  Someone is hiring people we sent to prison years ago after they get out and using them to get back at us?  It’s almost too bizarre to be real,” Kris groaned.  “Are we sure about all of this?  I mean....it’s a little far fetched to believe without definite proof.”

“Yes, Kris, I’m sure, and we have definite evidence leading to this theory.  Obviously the man hired to target each specific Angel is a specific criminal that each of you've had a past with during a case.  As far as who the mastermind is behind all of this is - I have no idea yet,” Charlie answered.

"Then who's the one that sent me the black roses and ran down Diane?” asked Sabrina.

“This is where it starts to get tricky, Sabrina, because I don’t know.”

“I remember around the time that case with the black roses and your friend Angie happened.  I had just won a race in Spain and Kris and I had talked on the phone.  She told me about the case and what had happened.  If I remember right, the people responsible were a head pilot or someone like that and another guy with the airline.  If the guys going after Kris and Kelly are people from past cases, then maybe the one trying to scare you is someone dealing with the black rose case,” Jill suggested.

“The only problem with that theory is that Bill Glover and Cliff Culverare both dead.  Glover was accidentally shot and killed by Angie aboard the plane during the actual hijacking.  Culver was killed during a prison riot a few years later.  There’s really no one left from the case that would have anything against me,” replied Sabrina in frustration.

“If Charlie’s theory is correct, Bri, then there’s got to be a connection somewhere.  We just have to figure out what it is,” Kris said.

“It seems very clear to me that since the thugs hired to come after Kelly and Kris were from past cases, then the person behind all of this and who hired them is also from a past case.  Somehow he or she was able to find out that both Burton and Owens were getting released at around the same time.  Once they were out this person wasted no time in getting them to perform their sick jobs.  This seems as though our mysterious person in charge has been planning this for a long time,” said Jill.

“I totally agree! Our job now is figuring out who that is and why,” replied Charlie.

“You know what I wish?” Kris suddenly added.  “I wish Bosley was here to help.  Not only would he know information about our past cases but he’d also give us that father/uncle-like support we always got from him.  I don’t know about anyone else here but I always felt a sort of safety and security with Bosley.  Even though we heard his Time Is Money speech a lot of times, I think that speech was more of a teaser than anything else.  I just wish he was here.”

All of the Angels gave teary glances towards Bosley’s portrait.

“Well, I do have a male that I think will be a very helpful addition to you, Angels.  Especially you, Sabrina,” Charlie interjected.

“What are you talking about, Charlie?” Sabrina asked.

“He’s talking about me,” said a male voice behind them.  All of them looked around and Andrew Duncan stood in the doorway.  All of the Angels jumped to their feet .

“Andy, what are you doing here?”  Sabrina exclaimed in disbelief.  “You followed me here from the hotel in Arizona, didn’t you?  You promised you’d go home after I’d left.”

“I know, Mom, but I just couldn’t leave you to deal with this by yourself, even though I know Aunt Kelly, Kris, and Jill would be here too. I had to come.  I didn’t follow you. I actually arrived here about twenty minutes before any of you did.”

“Now, Sabrina, calm down.  After I talked to you at the hotel, Andy called me and wanted to help.  At first I told him no and that this was a very dangerous situation that involved only us.  However, he persuaded me otherwise.  He told me about his involvement with the Phoenix Police Department and he pretty much told me that he’d follow you anywhere, no matter what.  So I decided that maybe he could help.  This way both of you can keep eyes on each other at all times.  He left a few minutes before you did, Sabrina, and flew here.  That’s why the door was already unlocked when you and Kelly first got here.   Andy was already here in an upstairs bedroom,” Charlie explained.

Sabrina still wasn’t satisfied. “I still don’t like this.  What if something happens to you?   I’d never forgive myself.”

 “Mom, I’ll be fine!  Besides, if both of us are together we can protect each other.  There's no way I’m going to let you try and deal with this psycho….or psychos on your own - Aunt Kris, Kelly, or Jill either.  I have to help.”  Andy exclaimed.

“I still don’t appreciate being kept in the dark about you coming here.  You should’ve told me!  You're so much like your father that it’s not even funny!” replied Sabrina, finally smiling. Andy smiled back as she hugged him.

“Oh, I don’t know. I always thought he was more like you, Bri,” Jill chuckled.

“That was my doing, Mom," Andy admitted ruefully.  "It took forever before I finally got Uncle Charlie to agree to not tell you I was coming.  I told him I wanted to tell you in person and that I’d take all responsibility.  It’s not his fault.  I knew how you would’ve reacted if I’d told you earlier.  Iit seemed to be the best way at the time. I’m sorry if I made you angry.”

 “So, as I let deja vu wash over me by this question, what are our assignments, Charlie?” Kelly asked.
 

** Angel On My Mind (aired episode)
 
 

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