The Charles vs Murder on the LA Express
This chapter is very different in tone from the first two, as the stakes raise, and things get more serious. I present, Chapter 3 called An Offer He or She Couldn't Refuse.
XXXXXXXXXXX 1 Long Wait Begins
Morgan, Alex and Chuck returned to Chuck and Sarah's room to kill time waiting for Sarah's return. Morgan started the 'morganopoly' game while Chuck stared at the wall.
Alex noticed how worried Chuck looked and said, "Sarah'll be back soon."
Asta nuzzled up to Chuck's leg, empathetically whining to let Chuck know he could sense something wasn't right.
Morgan continued getting the game ready to play, "This'll be great Chuck. Time flies when we play monopoly."
Chuck continued to stare off into space, ignoring Morgan, "I don't like this at all. I feel like I'm sitting on a ticking time bomb."
"I get to be the race car," Morgan called out.
Alex corrected Morgan, "You were the race car last time. It's my turn."
Morgan didn't argue, "Oh. All right. I'll be the letter opener."
Alex continued her observations, "Morgan, that letter opener's dangerous. You should find miniaturized versions of all of the game pieces. Like one tenth the size of the model race car and letter opener. Right Chuck?"
"Huh?" Chuck's mind continued to wander.
Alex went back to her role as counselor, "Chuck. She'll be fine. Don't worry."
Chuck finally turned and made eye contact with Alex and Morgan, "I hope you're right."
Alex continued trying to help, "It's probably all the events of the past weeks getting to your imagination, first Sarah's dad was killed, then your dad."
Morgan even pitched in now, "Sarah's with her grandpa. What could go wrong?"
Chuck shook his head, "That's what worries me Morgan. That's what worries me."
XXXXXXXXXX 2 Grandpa's Offer
As Sarah and George walked down the train hallway to the meeting, Sarah asked, "Grandpa, what's going on?"
"I'll get right to the point Sarah. Jack never told you directly, but Jack was a member of the Triangle. So am I." George said in a whisper.
Sarah already guessed as much, but she took the opportunity to ask what was always on her mind regarding the Triangle, "Is that what got Mom and Molly killed?"
The question upset George, "That's all I'm allowed to say. We're here."
George and Sarah went through the door into the private room without knocking.
"Sarah." Inara Serra met Sarah as she walked through the door. She gave Sarah a big hug. "I missed you. You look prettier every time I see you. I'm jealous." Sarah always like Inara. She was like the big sister Sarah never had. But Sarah knew the almost hypnotic effect Inara had on the opposite sex. Sarah didn't like how that made her feel, as she didn't want to be jealous of Inara. She simply was.
Sarah made eye contact with the others in the room, "Hello General. Mrs Verbanski."
Verbanski replied professionally, "Mrs Charles. It's good to see you."
Cobb growled out as nicely as he could, "Grr. Hello Mrs Charles. Grr."
Sarah got right down to business, "Inara, Grandpa, what's going on? Couldn't this wait? I'm on my honeymoon."
"Sarah. We're here to make you an offer. Then we can answer some of your questions. We want you to take your father's position in our organization. We want you to join the Triangle." George stated, as if he was talking to an associate, not his granddaughter.
Sarah had her answer ready, she'd thought about this day quite often, "I thought that's what this was about. I need to talk to Chuck about this. I told him everything about what I knew and suspected already. I'm pretty sure he knows why you asked me here, although we didn't have time to talk."
George turned red faced with anger and said, "Your Mr Charles is not invited. He's not one of our kind. Many of us shield our loved ones from this. You have to do the same."
Sarah made no mistake about her position, "I won't."
George continued, "Your mother, my daughter never knew."
Sarah quickly replied, "And how did that work out for her? Or Molly? No I'm sorry. This sounds worse and worse all the time."
"Sarah. This is an offer you can't refuse. In many ways, you're already in." General Cobb stated in a most threatening manner.
George added in, "Sarah. A Walker has been in this organization since the Declaration of Independence was written. Join us. Everything will work out for the better."
Sarah crossed her arms and frowned, "I won't keep secrets from Chuck. I won't join."
Inara spoke softly, "Sarah, in many ways, how poorly it worked out for Emma and Molly, is one of the reasons you should join. We learned from their deaths. We haven't lost a single family member or loved one since. We've taken steps to make sure Emma and Molly didn't die in vain."
Sarah reacted well to the softer tone, "Steps, what do you mean?"
George bluntly replied, "She means that if you join, your Mr Charles, and heaven forbid any children the two of you have, will be under our protection."
Sarah kept addressing Inara and asked, "I don't understand. How can you protect us. It seems you just get your members in more trouble than anything?"
Cobb now spoke, "You've been told what you can be told. Join us and you'll get more answers."
Sarah was not backing down, even to the intimidation of the General, "No. I won't. I want you all to leave Chuck and I alone. I think I want to leave now." Sarah began to walk toward the door.
Inara again spoke, still calmly, but with a bit of urgency, "Sarah wait a minute. M said you might refuse. Wait. She's here you know?"
Sarah slowed down and stopped. "M?" She's here? She never leaves, wherever it is she lives." She had a pretty good idea what was next.
Inara walked to the adjoining cabin door and knocked.
Only Inara's side of the conversation could be heard. "Sarah declined our offer." Followed by a long pause. "I will." Followed by a shorter pause. "I understand." Another pause. "I'll leave immediately." Inara turned to Sarah, "Sarah. An old friend would like to see you."
Sarah hesitated, then slowly walked toward Inara and through the door into the adjoining cabin. Inara did not follow Sarah in, but rather closed the door, then she headed out the door of her cabin into the hallway, to take on a mission of her own.
XXXXXXXXXX 3 Sarah vs M
"Come on in my dear. It's so nice to see you. Come here. Let me get a good look at you. How long has it been?" M, although in her eighties, was not frail, rather full of vigor.
"Five years M. Almost to the day. You spent the week at our house. I remember it as if it was yesterday." Sarah couldn't help but smile. Sarah loved M, as if she were her own grnadmother.
Me gave Sarah an understanding look, "Me too my dear. Come. Sit. Let's talk this all out. Like we used to talk."
Sarah sat, "M. I always dreaded this day, down deep I knew it was coming. I have so many questions. Why did daddy train me like he did? What do you want from me? What is this secret organization of yours all about? What does my mother's and sister's murder have to do with all of this? And finally, I told Chuck everything I know about you? After today, what can I tell him? And is he in danger because of me?"
M smiled, "I'm getting old. That's a bunch of questions. Let's see if I can help. Inara told me you declined our offer You decided to not be part of this life. Good girl. I'm proud of you. George won't understand, Jack wouldn't have understood either, but your mother would have. You made the right choice. Go live a happy, normal life with that Mr Charles of yours. I made tea. Our favorite. My gardener can't quite make it like you, but its a fair substitute."
Sarah returned the smile, "You remember?"
M poured the tea, "Sarah dear. I remember everything. You don't have to fear me. Your husband has nothing to fear from me either. But …"
Sarah's eye's grew large, she gulped, as she thought to herself, "here it comes."
M's look got serious, "You do have much to fear. Now that Jack is dead, I do need to talk to you. I came a long way under much risk to see you. I have to tell you the story of how your mother died. Since your father never can now.."
"I know you don't travel much. You came all this way to tell me this?" Sarah was trying to understand.
"Is your tea good my Dear?" M asked.
"Excellent. I know you were kidding, you make the best tea in the world." Sarah took another sip after she spoke.
M smiled over the tea comment and continued, "I came all this way to tell you this. Plus. I can't wait to meet that delightful husband of yours. I saw your wedding picture in the New York Times. He's a handsome fellow. Is he a good man?"
Sarah's face lit up, "Oh countess. He's the best man. He's kind and gentle, sweet as can be. He loves me with all of his heart. I've loved him since the moment I laid eyes on him. He's clever and witty, funny and charming. Plus, he might be the smartest person I've ever met. Have you ever met such a man Countess?"
M's expression changed, as she recalled the love of her life, the father of her daughter, from long ago. "Yes. I believe I have. One of the reasons I've been single all these years, once you meet such a man, nobody else can measure up? Is he good in bed?"
Sarah turned red. "Ha ha ha. Countess. You haven't changed. Could you please tell me what's going on?"
XXXXXXXXXX 4 The World's Best Seductress
The countess read Sarah's satisfied facial expression regarding her husband's bedroom ability, "That good eh? Excellent. OK my Dear. Here goes, I'll answer a few of your questions, what I can at least. Why did Jack train you like he did? Jack started training you even before the night your mom was killed. He based it on how I was trained. You essentially were trained to be me. Jack did it so you could protect yourself, because of the life he lived. To give you a chance, regardless of what path you take. Many, many people have tried to kill me over the years. And I'm still here. He wanted the same for you. Do you understand?"
"I guess I do. Is Inara trained the same way?"
"Yes she is. But she was older when I trained her, and not as physical as you were. But no woman on the earth can seduce a man like Inara can."
Sarah nodded, "I know M. I know. I used to get so jealous of her. All the boys, all the men, and most the woman I recall were all under Inara's spell."
XXXXXXXXXX 5 The Triangle's Newest Member
The countess continued, "Now, for your second question, what do I want from you? I won't lie. I want you to become a member of our organization."
Sarah asked, "To take daddy's place? Grandpa told me that."
"No. Not just yet. I filled that spot yesterday. Nobody else knows about this. While I was in New York City I met with a very qualified member who became available after a prolonged illness. He joined the Triangle." The Countess paused and studied Sarah. She was curious if Sarah could put the puzzle together.
Sarah thought for a moment. "Oh my! Orion?"
M nodded in approval, "Ha ha ha. See my dear. You see why I want you to join us? You were made for this life. Orion died in an explosion. You witnessed it. There was nothing left of him. Surely he's not smart enough to fake his own death. Is he?"
Sarah shook her head no while she replied with a big happy grin on her expressive face, "Certainly not M". Sarah thought to herself, "I can't wait to tell Chuck."
XXXXXXXXXX 6 The Butcher of Verdun
Sarah was feeling better, so she aggressively asked, "M. I don't understand, why are you OK that I don't want to join?"
M had this answer rehearsed and she got most serious as she said, "You and your Mr Charles can live in that beautiful top floor penthouse overlooking Central Park and Broadway. You can have a dozen kids and live happily ever after. If that's what you want. And the longer you're away from all of this, all of us, the safer you'll be. But all things come with a price. That price for you now is the man who killed your mother and sister is coming after you."
Sarah was afraid, "Why now?"
M continued, "Your father made a deal with the killer, a few weeks after he killed Molly and Emma. Jack agreed to not pursue him in revenge, and the killer agreed to not go after you or Jack. But, now that Jack is dead, the deals off. My sources tell me he's already in America. Hunting you."
Sarah answered like a programmed robot, "I want to kill that man, who is he?"
M shook her head no, "I was afraid of that. Sarah. The killer is out of your league. He's the most sadistic murderer in the world."
"I don't care. I'm going to kill him." Sarah voice resonated intense hatred.
M slowly replied, since Jack was dead, M was the only person who knew the name, she promised Jack she would tell Sarah if he died, it was the reason she came to America from her overseas hiding place. "His name is Dante Shawzetti."
Sarah put her hand to her mouth. Every man, woman and child knew who Shawzetti was. "The butcher of Verdun? The most hated man on the planet? Responsible for millions of deaths in World War I?"
M nodded, "One in the same."
Sarah drew a deep breathe. Her eyes welled up in tears. "Why did he kill mom and Molly? What did they ever do to him?"
M looked at Sarah with as much sympathy as she had, "Not them. Your father's job was to bring him to justice. Jack tracked him down, and when Shawzetti used his wife as a shield, one of Jack's shots killed her. Evita Shawzetti. Dante's revenge was to kill Jack's entire family. Your mom fought him off long enough, with Molly in her arms before he killed them. Lucky for you, Jack came home, and Shawzetti ran off before he could kill you."
"That's why they were in the pool house? Mom ran from the house. To draw him away from me."
M sadly nodded, "Yes. We assumed he set the fire to cover his escape."
The tears Sarah fought back finally overtook her. Sarah broke down and began to cry, releasing years of pent up emotion. M got up and walked over to Sarah and hugged her.
Fighting through the tears, Sarah found resolve. "M. I will kill Dante Shawzetti. If its the last thing I do ..."
XXXXXXXXXX 7 Even 'M' Can Screw Up
"Sarah. As I said, you were born for this life. Join us. We'll take down Dante Shawzetti together. For now. Keep this all secret from your husband."
Sarah fought through her tears and answered, "I can't. I won't. There is no one in the world better suited to work with me to take down Shawzetti than Chuck. I trust him with my heart and soul. I won't lie to him."
"Sarah. I'll make you a deal. Let me meet your Mr Charles. Right now. At lunch. If I like what I see and hear, you can tell him everything. Can you give me that much?"
Sarah didn't like it, but she nodded, "Well. I suppose. But I know you're going to love him M. I can't wait for you to get to meet him. Inara too."
M looked downward. It was M's turn to tell the truth with her face.
Sarah read the look immediately. "You didn't M?"
M continued to look downward, not making eye contact, "I would have done it earlier, but you got married so quickly. I had to know if we can trust him. You have to know too."
Sarah was angry, beyond angry, "M. How could you?" Sarah got out of her chair, she was on a mission now, and was not to be denied.
M stook up too, she called out, "Sarah. Please. Wait."
Sarah didn't reply, she ran out the door, past George, Verbanski, and Cobb, and out the door into the hallway. Her emotions ran the gambit of betrayal and anger as she ran toward her room. Sarah burst through the train car door and entered the hallway leading to Chuck's and her room.
XXXXXXXXXX 8 Hurricane Sarah vs ChucNara
Sarah slowed as she approached her room door. She listened for clues as to what was going on inside while she tried to calm herself. She didn't want to burst in on Chuck, Morgan and Alex like some sort of mad woman, if Inara wasn't even in there. She didn't have to listen for long. "Oh no." Sarah said to herself, as she unmistakably heard a female laughing from her room. But the female voice was not Alex's, but rather was Inara Serra's seductive laughter, accompanied by Charles Charles voice.
Jealously and rage overcame any control Sarah had over herself. Sarah summoned up all her might, and all her years of physical training literally flowed through her veins. She turned sideways, raised, then cocked her right foot into the air, and smashed cabin through the door with a thunderous right foot kick. As Sarah entered the cabin door, she screamed out in a thunderous voice, "Charles Charles. You broke your vow to me. You're a dead man."
XXXXXXXXXX The End of Chapter 3
Is there anything better than jealous Sarah? Is Sarah going to really kill Chuck?
Do you like M? For those who know who Inara is from Firefly, am I being fair to her?
And Dante Shawzetti! He's going to cause trouble, isn't he? Muhahahahaha!
