This is the thrilling conclusion to the 'Sarah' Trilogy – A Major Case (Part 1) and California Premiere (Part 2).
Many thanks to all who have read the previous installments, I hope the conclusion wraps everything up in a satisfactory way.
CHAPTER 1
Fade in…
…."Welcome back, I'm Jessica Andrews and we are here with author, Sarah Stevens and we're discussing her latest book, 'Testament'. Sarah I'm sure one of the questions your many fans are curious about is, why a supernatural thriller? After four successful crime dramas and two that you adapted into the screenplay for the films, my question is what prompted the change in focus, from crime to supernatural? Did you accomplish everything you'd hoped to with your crime drama fiction?"
As the camera pans back, the home audience gets another look at the young author. Sarah Stevens was a petite young woman, in her early 30's with long chestnut colored hair and green eyes, green eyes that were now flashing a warning signal to the interviewer, if she was only smart enough to read it, which Sarah doubted. This was getting dangerously close to something that had been discussed earlier and all parties agreed wouldn't be brought into the interview.
"Well truthfully Jessica, I didn't set out to accomplish anything with my first four novels or even with my latest other than to enable me to finance my addiction to Manolo Blahnik and Prada." Laughing, she continued, "Really though, "Testament" is still at heart a detective story, as were my previous works. "Testament" is still basically a detective story, just now cloaked in the mystique of the supernatural rather than nature of man. There are still mysteries to explain; clues to discover and sift through, there are deceptions and truths, pain and triumph, victims and heroes. Fairly universal themes regardless of how you dress them up."
"Well, ok. Surely, the tragic murders of your agent, your best friend and her husband must have had an effect on you. Surely, this played a part in changing your focus to a different genre?"
The hair bristled on the back of Sarah's neck and the shock of betrayal clearly registered on her face. The viewing audience would have no doubt, how she felt about that question. Sarah had made it a pre-condition of participating in the interview that the Michael DeVry murders would not be a part of the interview. Jessica had readily agreed, as had her producer. Sarah tried to compose herself enough to answer the interviewer's rude question. Her brain raced through the events of almost two years ago as she formed a retort.
Very quietly, Sarah said, "You left out my agent's assistant."
"I'm sorry? I don't think our audience could hear that?" Pointed out Jessica, as she leaned forward like the vulture Sarah saw in her mind's eye.
Clearing her throat, Sarah spoke more forcefully, "I said, you left out my agent's assistant." Taking a deep breath, Sarah continued, "The crime drama, fiction based tales that I and many other writers have used to illustrate the sometimes terrible nature of man, bears little relationship to the brutality and cruelty, the messiness that real crime, real murder is. Being in the unfortunate position of having been involved in both fictional crime and real crime, believe me I'll take fictional crime any day of the week. Right now, I'm just not up to dealing with either one."
"Well, there you have it. I'd like to thank Sarah Stevens for joining us this morning on 'New York A.M.'. And as a reminder for our local viewers, Sarah will be at Scribner's Book Store in Manhattan on Wednesday evening to sign copies of her new supernatural thriller, 'Testament'."
Smiling graciously, Jessica thanked Sarah again.
"And thank you Jessica, for having me on the show." Sarah returned icily.