Author's Note (4/8/16): This story takes place about a year following the original show's cancellation - circa 1985 or 1986. It is intended to be in keeping with the show's original history.
A/N (3/27/18): This chapter has been updated with better word flow and other grammatical corrections.
Chapter 1 — Charter Field
The bright orange sky flooded through the window as the sun began its descent over the Pacific. The rays cast a golden glow over her face and enhanced the amber highlights in her hair. Jonathan was mesmerized. He watched as she squinted and adjusted her notebook continuing her task of editing her notes. She shifted position on the couch several times as it was getting increasingly difficult for her to find the right angle to sit without being blinded by the sun's bright glare. It was no use. Jennifer stopped fighting the sun and closed her notebook. It was at that moment that she sensed his gaze.
"You're staring," she said with a blushing grin.
"Hmm." His response was neither a sign of acknowledgement or disagreement, but rather an unconscious response to the sound of her voice. It had been a long day and he was simply enjoying the beauty and company of his wife. His eyes followed her as she worked at packing her notepad and pen into her bag.
"Jonathan," she took in a deep breath and stretched. "Where are we? I guess I've been working longer than I thought."
"Hmm?" This time his mind registered that she had asked him something. "I'm sorry, darling. What?" After a few seconds of processing he looked out the window and then at his watch, "We should be landing in about 45 minutes."
"Good." She continued poking around in her bag and pulled out her hairbrush. "I'm getting hungry."
Jonathan's eyes widened as a mischievous smile spread across his face. "I have just the cure for that." He rose from his seat at the cabin table of the Hart Industries Gulfstreem and migrated over to her on the couch. The back of his finger found delight in running a line along her thigh and up her arm as his lips grazed her collar bone.
"Darling, I think that will prove to increase my appetite, not satiate it." She continued to tease the ends of her hair with her brush, feigning ignorance to his advances.
"Isn't that always the point?" He continued nibbling on her neck as he smoothly eased the brush from her hand.
"Did you say 45 minutes?" She smiled playfully and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hmm…" His lips met hers in a deep embrace as they reclined into the couch.
H2H | H2H
"Come on Freeway!" Max's gravely voice rang out as he walked through the open front door of the Bel Air estate. "We can't keep Mr. and Mrs. H. waiting. With the traffic this time of day we'll be lucky to make it to the airport before they land. Why did you have to spend so much time chasing after that golden beauty at the park? I know she has great breeding, but there's something to be said for subtle charm and playing hard to get."
Max always spoke to Freeway as he would any of his horse track buddies rather than the shaggy mixed-bread dog that he was. Freeway belonged to Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, but Max was a surrogate father in every sense of the term. Max was the Hart's trusted houseman, chauffeur, and long-time friend. He had known Jonathan from the time Jonathan was a teen, well before watching him blossom into the self-made millionaire he was today. "Mr. H." as Max so endearingly referred to him was twenty years his junior, and Max had seen him through every milestone, good, bad, or otherwise since.
The Harts had been in Vancouver, British Columbia for two days and were returning tonight. Max had instructions from Jonathan to have the car waiting for them when their plane landed at the airport. Jonathan hadn't decided whether they would be going straight home from the airport or possibly heading somewhere special for dinner, so Max had prepared a fresh recipe of lobster bisque and put it in the refrigerator. He knew it was one of their favorite meals this time of year and could be heated up quickly. He and Freeway had eaten already, so they were good for the duration. Max placed his lit cigar between his lips, donned his driving cap, and ushered Freeway the Rolls-Royce. He laid Freeway's leash, the day's newspaper, and a book on the passenger seat and drove off down the quarter-mile winding driveway toward the main road.
As he exited the privacy gate of the Bel Air estate Max was unaware of a black sedan that was nestled just off the shoulder across and down the road a short way. He turned out of the drive on his way to the airport. The sedan waited for the Rolls to get beyond the first curve before pulling onto the road. The sedan driver kept a safe distance from the Rolls, but remained in its path for many miles. Once Max was outside of the residential area and traffic increased the sedan kept a closer tail. However, once Max finally reached the airport and entered the private gate of the charter field the sedan was no longer able to follow. The driver stopped the vehicle in a nearby parking lot.
The sedan driver's face was masked by a dark cap and sunglasses. He lifted the handset of the two-way radio and pressed the side button. "The package has been delivered," was all he said.
"Roger. The package has been spotted and we will see that it reaches its destination," was the response from the other end.
Max pulled the Rolls around to where he usually met the Hart's jet. He was relieved to see that it hadn't landed yet. He checked his watch as the ball of fur barked at his right arm.
"What?" he questioned.
Freeway gripped his leash in his teeth and looked up at Max with a soft whine.
"Now? I swear, you're as bad as a kid." Max hooked the leash onto Freeway's collar and opened the driver's door. "Let's make this quick. Mr. & Mrs. H. will be landing any minute."
Max and Freeway made their way around the side of the hangar to the grassy area near the fence. Freeway was sniffing around when he suddenly turned back toward Max and growled.
"What the—" That was all Max could get out before he was struck on the back of the head and everything went black.
H2H | H2H
Jonathan and Jennifer deplaned and headed toward the Rolls. Jennifer was the first to notice Freeway sitting by the driver door. "Freeway! Come here boy," she patted her legs and sweetly called for her dog.
Freeway looked over at her and stood up on all fours, but he didn't attempt to move toward her. Instead, he turned toward the nearby hangar and began barking loudly.
"What's the matter, Freeway?" she asked. Her eyes grew wide as she turned toward her husband. "Jonathan, look at Freeway's leash. He's tied to the sideview mirror. Why would Max do that?"
"Something's not right, darling," Jonathan announced. He turned toward her with a furrowed brow and they both ran toward the car. "Max! Max?" He peered through the driver window but it was empty. "Where are you, Max?"
"Max!" Jennifer joined in. She untied Freeway's leash as they both continued to call out for their friend.
Just then an unmarked, gray van peeled out from inside the hangar and drove toward the airport gate. Jonathan attempted to stand in its path, but then quickly realized the driver wasn't slowing down and continued straight for him, so he jumped back and shielded Jennifer who had clumsily swept Freeway up into her arms.
"Darling!" Jennifer said with a start, "Who was that?"
"I don't know," Jonathan replied. "But, I want you and Freeway to get into the car and lock it. I am going to check things out."
"Jonathan, maybe we should wait a minute."
Just then an unmarked, gray van peeled out from inside the hangar at an alarming speed heading straight toward the airport gate. Jonathan attempted to stand in its path, but quickly realized the driver wasn't slowing down. The car barreled straight for him, so he jumped back to shield Jennifer who had clumsily swept Freeway into her arms.
"Mr. Hart! You folks alright?"
Jonathan pushed out his hand showing that it was okay to slow down. "We're okay, Frank. But, someone sure tore outta here in a hurry!"
"I noticed that from the cockpit."
"Our driver is missing." Jonathan shook his head almost forcing himself to believe Max was off doing something that made sense, but he knew that wasn't true. "He's just disappeared. I want to take a look around."
"Max?" The pilot finally reached Jonathan and stopped.
"Yeah. He's not with the car, and our dog was left tied to the car."
"I'll come with you," said Frank.
Jonathan accepted his offer and the two men rushed off to the open hangar. It was dark and quiet as they made their first glances around the open space. Jonathan called out, "Hello? Anyone here?"
They silently waited for a response but heard nothing. Frank yelled out, "Anybody here?"
As he crept along, Jonathan had no idea what he was looking for. He just kept moving and scanning the area. There was a small plane parked about 30 feet from where they were standing. Nothing stood between him and the plane, so he made his way around to the other side. "Maybe someone is inside that plane," he said to Frank.
"The cockpit is dark," said Frank. "I'd say it's doubtful that anyone is inside."
"You're probably right." Jonathan acknowledged. Just as he finished his sentence his foot slipped on something. "Whoa."
"Be careful, Mr. Hart," Frank said as he grabbed Jonathan's arm to steady him.
Jonathan looked down to see what it was that he slipped on. He bend down and picked up a half smoked cigar. He rolled it between his fingers and held it up to his nose. "It's still warm. I'd lay odds that it's Max's." He knew in his heart that it was.
"Do you think Max was in that van?"
"I don't know," said Jonathan with a perplexed look on his face. "But, if he is he's certainly not there by choice."
Jonathan's heart leapt when he heard her shout, "Jonathan!"
"Jennifer," Jonathan's eye grew wide. He looked at Frank and gasped, "Come on!" He darted off toward the Rolls.
When he reached the vehicle he was surprised to find it empty. His heart was racing as he scanned the area which was growing darker by the minute. Relief spread as he saw her gesturing for him to come toward her around the side of the hangar.
"Darling, what are you doing over here?" Jonathan asked frantically.
"Freeway was going crazy inside the car," she said trying to justify where she was, "so, we got out."
He nodded lovingly.
"He just kept barking and barking. Then, when we got out he ran straight over here. That's where we found this." She gently took Jonathan's hand and placed a gray driver's cap in it.
"Max is in trouble," he said as their eyes met.
"What is it?" asked Frank.
"It's Max's cap," said Jonathan.
"Are you sure?" Frank questioned.
Jennifer leaned her temple against his shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around Jonathan's arm willing herself to believe things really weren't as bad as they seemed.
"It's his." Jonathan's voice was quiet.
Jennifer closed her eyes and squeezed his arm tighter. "Darling, there's blood on the inside band. And several hairs are matted into it."
"It's time to call the police," said Jonathan as he turned the cap to examine the band.
A/N: Thank you for reading! If this is your first visit to my story, please share your thoughts.
Those who are rereading to refresh your memory, please share your thoughts on the updated writing style. Other chapters will be updated soon!