Chapter 1: The Crash of '82

Chapter 1

The Crash of '82

Jeff looked back. Tyler's body did not move. He felt at once satisfied and afraid. The cop had it coming. He should have stayed in Monticello. Did he really think I was going to confess? But what about that letter from Roxanne? And those damn blank cartridges? And now that damn shoe! Even if I took care of Tyler, Spencer is probably suspicious now. What do I do, go back to Monticello and kill him, too?

He stared at Damian's still form for another minute or so. No movement. Jeff turned and headed on his skis to the cabin. No. Stick to the plan. If I stop now, it's over for me. I can't turn back now...not on the plan or back to Monticello. Sell the businesses and live my life in Europe. Too many questions now. Geraldine is against me, the theater company is dead, and Raven...well, it's my own fault for letting myself fall in love. I could have had my share of Martines, it was so easy.

Jeff arrived at the cabin just in time to see Raven with her packages. It must have been quite the shopping adventure, all that money spent. Money! It has made me arrogant and controlling. Have I become like that little spoiled jackass? Maybe so. He couldn't fly well and I can't cover up a murder well...2 murders, 3 if Tyler's dead. He looked dead. And with Raven it'll be 4.

Raven looked absolutely radiant after her shopping spree. Jeff just listened to her ramble on about her clothes, that was easy. But when she mentioned Damian Tyler, he still tensed. Why? He was no longer a threat...but she was! As long as she was alive, she was a threat. After a long, passionate kiss, the 2 ran to the helicopter. It took them to the slope Jeff had pinpointed.

On the way up, Raven leaned against him. “I'm so glad you brought me here.”

Jeff just smiled and nodded. No words were necessary.

But she kept going, she always did. “I'm still wondering why Damian came to Switzerland.”

Jeff sighed and put on the indignance. “I'm not. He just wanted to harass me again about-”

Raven moved up and turned to look at him. “About Jeff Brown?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn't make any sense. I doubt Derek Mallory would give him that much leave, he missed enough after being stabbed.”

“Word was, he was suspended anyway, at least that's what Derek assured me.”

Raven looked him straight in the eye. “Was he suspended because you complained?”

“Yes, damnit! He spend entirely too much time coming to see you. He was a cop, he had real cases to work on, but instead he had his eye on you.”

Raven sighed. “You're right. He wanted to elicit my sympathy for his father's downfall.”

“And did he get it?”

She shook her head and retained eye contact. “No. It started to become a battle for my loyalty. And I will always be loyal to you.”

Jeff smiled. “No matter what?”

“What does that mean?”

She doesn't get loyalty, it means no matter what! “Nothing. But I know why Tyler was here. He wanted to come here to investigate the plane crash.”

“He told you that?” Raven was open-mouthed.

“Oh yeah.”

“Do you think he'll find anything?”

“Like what?”

“Like his body.”

Jeff looked at her darkly. This is just too much! First the questions about the shoe, then about Damian, and now she's wondering about poor dead Sky! His voice lowered so the pilot wouldn't hear. “You'd better hope not, my dear Raven. If that body is found, that's it for me and Sky's money! You hear me? Never speak of him again.”

Raven just stared at him. He knew she could see it, the panic. Those eyes just tore through every layer he had. That was why he fell in love. Fell, not still in. When was it, that I started to fall out? Yes, it was when I slapped her for visiting Tyler. I knew then that this time would come. He let his face relax a bit. “Hey, no time for this now, We're landing.” He allowed a reassuring grin.

She looked around and saw it, the vast expanse of snow she was about to take on. They got off and put on their skis. Raven took a lot time to check her bindings. Jeff was growing impatient but said nothing. It was a full five minutes before she looked up, the stress of the conversation gone. He leaned in to kiss her one more time. “Ready?”

She beamed. “Yeah!”

With that, she went first. He waited about 10 seconds before he, too, began. He watched her the whole time. Her form had really improved after several lessons and the runs they took together. He almost didn't want it to happen. They could spend eternity skiing the rest of Switzerland, then maybe France, Italy, Austria. But no, it was too late.

After a quick schuss, it happened. She spun too quickly and went down. She screamed in agony, then went silent. Was she dead? He came up to her. Tyler seemed to go quickly, why not her? But no, she breathed still. Jeff bent down and removed his skis and hers as well. He held her close. She softly professed her love for him. Oh, how easy it would be to get her to a hospital now, forget the past month. No, that wasn't the plan. He picked her up, silently cursing her interrogative nature. She had done this to herself. He carried her for several minutes easily, but his strength was faltering. He couldn't go much farther, but it was close. The cliff he had espied earlier.

At last they made it. Jeff stared down. It was an eternal fall, he couldn't even see the bottom. It was perfect. Raven pulled his neck close. “It hurts, Sky. Please take care of me,” she moaned.

Jeff nodded and replied coldly. “Yes, Raven. I'll take care of you. Just like I took care of Gunther.” He saw the look of horror and he just smiled. With a short heave, he flung her into the snowy abyss, her screams turning from live agony and fear to echoed, ghostly reverberations, then nothing. He stared down for several moments, almost hoping to hear her voice again, but there was nothing. With a heavy sigh, he turned and headed back to his skis. Hers were still there as well. It was a quick toss down the ravine. Afterward, Jeff made it to the village of St. Moritz. It was time to move quickly. Get the police involved now and get it over with.