Chapter Eight – "Suspicion Can Replace Adoration When the Writing's on the Wall"
Previously: Zendall has discovered two lists in Myrtle's Boarding House. The lists are written in red, one on the kitchen wall, and the other on a wall in one of the bedrooms. One list lists the names of the Already Vanished and the other list lists the names of the To Be Vanished. Amanda is still confronting Adam, Krystal and Babe with her theory of Newbie persecution. Tad has hired Di to be his and Aidan's secretary and Ryan is getting used to the new Greenlee. As our latest chapter opens, Opal is on the phone, trying to convince Erica that they are nothing, if not in a jam of epic proportions.
Erica Kane was at a loss. Being at a loss was a new experience for Erica, and she was certain at once that she did not like it one bit.
"Opal, I can't just leave a Staff --"
"Get yourself here, Girlfriend! And bring that husband of yours! I'm tellin' ya, they're after us all, and not one of us is safe!"
"Can't you call Myrtle?" she tried. "I can come over later, but in the meantime --"
"Myrt's gone missing! Half the town has gone missing! Erica, wake up and smell the decaf! We are in crisis mode! Our lives are at stake! Condition Red! GET OVER HERE, GIRLFRIEND, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"
Erica frowned. Opal sounded wilder than wild, which told her that something was wronger than wrong.
"Val, cancel all my appointments, and call Jack. Tell him to meet me at Tad and Aidan's office."
--
"My name is on the list, Zach," Kendall was saying softly, as if he couldn't see that, as if seeing it wasn't making him feel sick and scared. "Big as life and clear as day."
The List of the Soon to Be Gone read as follows:
Adam Chandler
Stuart Chandler
Opal Cortlandt
Aidan Devane
Brooke English
David Hayward
Erica Kane
Ryan Lavary
Tad Martin
Jackson Montgomery
Julia Santos
Kendall Hart Slater
Simone Torres
Zach took her in his arms, turning her away from the wall. "It's only some lunatic's plan, Lovely. Nothing has happened yet. I'll keep you safe. That's my job."
Kendall buried her face in his chest, and wished she could stay in his arms forever. Then she had an unfortunate thought.
"Zach, your name isn't on the wall. Either wall."
He kissed her check, and grinned.. "So what does that make me? A Suspect?"
She stepped away from him. "You're a Newbie. That's why you're not listed on either wall. Newbies and Recasts aren't listed."
He didn't like the look in her beautiful eyes, which had narrowed decidedly. Suspicion had suddenly replaced adoration.
"Kendall, be real! I'm not involved in any of this. You think I could ever hurt Myrtle? Or your Mother? Or you?"
Kendall looked down at the floor. "You said it yourself. You're radioactive."
Gently, Zach lifted her chin until their gazes met. "And what about you, Kendall? Could you be in love with a lunatic who makes people disappear and writes about it on walls?"
"You wouldn't be the first lunatic I've been in love with," she told him ruefully.
--
Di was trying to fit into her new workplace. Doing so, under the best of circumstances would have been challenging, considering her history with Tad. Doing so in the present atmosphere of crisis was somewhere beyond impossible.
"Why isn't she in handcuffs?" Opal was asking Tad.
"Opal, Di hasn't done anything wrong!" Brooke spoke up. "Recently. That we know of."
"Thank you, Brooke," Di thanked her. "I think."
"Opal, I don't think we should fight among ourselves," Stuart added. He was desolate as a result of Marian's disappearance. He yearned to be able to do something, but he had no idea what to do. He wished he was a Man of Action, like Adam. Or Aidan. Or Tad.
"This isn't fighting among ourselves, Stuart," Opal replied in her own defense. "That bleached blonde ex-con isn't one of us!"
"Opal's right," Di said quickly. "I wish she weren't. But she is." "They hate me," Di thought. "Through and through and forever and ever. And they don't even know the rest of it. Wait till they find out." She stared glumly at Tad. "Wait till he finds out!"
--
"Do you honestly imagine you can get away with this?" Adam was asking Amanda, in his most strident and accusatory tone. "You can't do away with half of Pine Valley and then blame it on the victims!"
Adam had just gotten off the phone with his brother, Stuart, who confirmed sadly that Marian, Liza and Colby were indeed among the missing.
"Adam, we don't know for sure that Ms. Wacko did away with anybody," Krystal said, giving Amanda the benefit of the doubt, in spite of herself.
"You're only saying that because you're a Newbie," Adam retorted. "You and your Babydoll are as Newbie as they come!"
Babe laughed out loud. "Is Little Adam a Newbie too, Adam?"
"Of course not!" Adam replied at once. "Little A is a Chandler!"
"Well, I'm a Chandler too!" Krystal exclaimed. "And I ain't doin' away with nobody! Not even you!"
Adam glowered. "I wouldn't put it past either of you."
"We love you too, Adam," Babe smiled at him. "Now Amanda, why are you still here?
--
Tad was rattled. After Derek left, promising to put every cop he had on the investigation, Tad tried getting in touch with Joe. Then with Ruth. Even the voice mails on their cells weren't working. All he got when he tried to leave a message, was that same haunting tune everybody got when they tried to leave a message for one of the Vanished.
"There has to be a logical explanation," Di insisted hopefully. "Chief Frye seemed to betaking all of this seriously. I'm sure he'll find something out soon. Tad, where are you going?"
He was putting on his coat and heading for the door. "I'm going to go look for a logical explanation. Wanna come along? Bring something to write on. You can take notes."
She didn't have to be asked twice. "I'm with you, Boss!"
"Tad! Where are you going with that criminal?" Opal cried out. "Erica and Jack are on their way over!"
"Fish and Chips, you fill in Erica and Jack," Tad requested Aidan. "I'm gonna check on my folks."
Aidan nodded, relieved to see his friend back in action. "Just watch your back," he cautioned.
"Don't worry, I've got his back," Di told them all.
"That's what we're afraid of!" Opal said.
--
After a brief tour of the premises, JR found Kendall and Zach in one of Myrtle's vacant bedrooms, staring at a wall.
"That's what Amanda was talking about," he realized. "Look at all those names! Is that everybody who's vanished?"
"There's another wall in the kitchen," Kendall told him. "More names. Same idiotic handwriting. The other wall lists all the people who have already disappeared, and I guess this lists the victims still to come. You're not on either wall, JR."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not on either wall either, Junior," Zach offered. "It's because we're both Newbies."
"I'm not a Newbie," JR made clear. "I'm a Recast."
Zach shrugged. "Either way, you're in the clear, and under a cloud all at the same time."
"No," Kendall spoke up. "I don't suspect JR. He isn't part of this."
Zach felt stung to the core. "And I am?"
Suddenly Kendall was drowning in a sea of panic. "JR, please take me home!" she begged him. "I can't deal with this anymore today!"
"Kendall, wait!" Zach implored her, as she took JR's arm.
Tears streaming down her beautiful, miserable face, Kendall looked back at Zach and then at the wall that foretold her future. She blinked. Erica's name was not on that wall anymore. Neither was Jack's.
"This can't be happening!" she gasped, running from the room.
Zach and JR chased her, not knowing why she was running away. The chase ended in the kitchen.
"Mother and Jack are on this wall now," Kendall pointed out, her voice shaking with horror. "They aren't on the wall upstairs anymore that lists the Future Vanished. That means they've already disappeared, doesn't it?"
JR was speechless.
"It doesn't have to mean that, Kendall," Zach managed. "Let's call Erica. Let's --'"
"Zach, what have you done with my Mother?" Kendall screamed at him.
--
NuGreenlee was busily cleaning the penthouse and, not knowing what else to do, Ryan was helping her.
"Ry, look what I found!"
NuGreenlee handed Ryan some stapled pages she had found under the sofa. "What is it, do you suppose?
"It looks like a script," he said, turning pages. "OMIGOD!"
Are Erica and Jack missing? Does Kendall really think Zach is behind the disappearances? Could she be right? What will Tad and Di find out as they begin their investigation? What hasn't Di told Tad yet? What has NuGreenlee found under the couch? Questions, questions, questions! When will we start getting some answers? Don't ask me! Please come back for the next thrilling installment! Reviews are treasured!