Hope Falls Season 2 - Eagle Valley by Jamieson Wolf Page B

need, Sophie." Cleo said softly.
    "Yeah, you will won't you." With a grimace, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. She waited a beat and then spoke: "Howard? We have a problem…"

     
    INT: THE DARK CAGE
    Susan had now spent an unknown amount of time in her prison. Her mysterious captor had not returned. She had no idea how long she had been in the cage. There was only the little bit of light that fell into her cage to see by. There were no windows and no indication of whether or not it was light or dark outside.
    Susan made a noise deep in her throat that sounded like a growl. Whoever this guy was, he had pissed her off and she would make him regret it. Howard couldn't send his goons after her and not expect a fight.
    She looked around her prison. She had to think of a way out of here. She was about to get up and see if the lock on the cage would break when she heard the door to the room open and close.
    Her captor had returned.

     

     

     

     

Chapter Twenty Eight

     
    INT: HOPE FALLS STUDIOS
    "What do you mean we have a little problem?" Howard said gruffly.
    "Well, it's about one of the captured…" Her voice was tinny over the telephone. Howard's hand clenched into a fist as he looked out at the world below him. Streets filled with cars and with people, shinny things that attracted attention, strings to be pulled. He had been a manipulator for quite some time.
    It was an art form, really. That was what other people didn't understand. They didn't comprehend that even in death, sex was life's greatest pleasure. That moment, when caught on camera, was worth millions.
    And there were people who would pay dearly for the pleasure of seeing someone die in that brief moment of euphoria. That was how Hope Falls had started. He had been the manipulator of many people, many times, and each time, they seemed to get more stupid.
    "Well, it's about…one of the…hostages."
    "Spit it out." Howard barked "Didn't I tell you not to show them any fear? Why are you calling, Sophie?" Howard sighed. He could feel her wither, even over the telephone. She was afraid of him. As well she should be.
    "Susan is missing."
    Howard was silent for a moment before he responded. The silence was deathening. "What do you mean missing?"
    "I mean just what I said. I got all of them, even that Erin chick. But someone got to Betty before me."
    Howard's heart stopped. "What do you mean, Betty?"
    "What do you mean what do I mean, Betty? She's dead, Howard, someone shot her. I was gonna take her out, so there'd be no one left to watch, but dead. Her head's been shot in."
    Howard was silent for a long time before he said: "Betty wasn't part of the deal."
    "Yeah, but I didn't do it Howard." Sophie's voice was beginning to rise. "I mean I heard them screaming and she's gone, okay, gone!" Her voice was shrill now. "I'm tired, I freaking hurt and I haven't bathed in two days! I'm tired Howard!"
    "Calm yourself." He barked. "Have some class for frig sakes."
    "I'm all classed out Howard." She sighed. "What's going on here? Where is Susan? Who shot Betty?"
    "Someone else must be involved in this."
    "But who the hell could that be? I thought there WAS no one else involved."
    "There is always someone else involved in a game of double crossing." Howard said. "That is a cardinal rule Sophie, in game playing." He paused so the words would have an effect. "Never forget that."
    "Yes Howard." She sucked in a breath. He could hear her light a cigarette. "So what do we do now?"
    "For now YOU do nothing. Keep them in the house. Betty was supposed to guard the outside, so I don't know how you're gonna do it, but keep them in the house. Do you understand me?"
    "Yes Howard."
    "And don't kill them. People are paying for this, remember. This is a business matter, not a personal vendetta."
    "Yes, Howard." She sounded meek now, tired.
    "I'm coming down there. Someone is playing with us. I want to know who. You are not to move from that house, do you understand