Chapter 21 #2
“We're announcing it tomorrow, after filming wraps.” Viv's eyes were bright. “I wanted you to know first. You and Shane have been... well, you kept us safe when things were bad.”
“I'm really happy for you both.” Charlie meant it.
After everything—the joust, the threats, the chaos—they deserved this.
“How are things with Duke? It seems better.” Malcom McCoy had said it was in the briefing he gave Charlie when he turned Viv back over to her, but Charlie wanted to hear it from her directly.
“So much better.” Viv's relief was palpable.
“Ever since he landed the lead for Family of Serpents, the whole dynamic’s shifted.
Duke wouldn't have been able to take the role if I hadn't killed off Caiden—it's a huge opportunity for him. Big budget, multi-season deal.” She grinned and winked. “But if you ask me, I think he’s doing it for the action figure.”
Charlie laughed. “That's great.”
“It is. The fans have gotten less salty since he talked about how happy he was getting the part. He even thanked me.” Viv laughed.
“Oh, and he's dating his new costar.” Viv laughed.
“Rowan and I are engaged. Duke’s moving on, no hard feelings—well, maybe a few.
Everyone's getting what they want. It's like the universe finally aligned.”
Don’t jinx it like that. Charlie felt that slight unease again, The joust was still unresolved. Duke had an alibi. DCSO had investigated the stable hands and come up empty. They'd never figured out who cut that strap. At least there hadn’t been any other attempts on Rowan’s life.
Maybe I’m just being paranoid. But paranoid had kept her alive in the past.
“That's really good to hear,” Charlie said. “I'm glad it all worked out.”
Maddie appeared at Charlie’s side. “Coffee, anyone? Thought we could all use something warm so I grabbed some from craft.”
Viv smiled. “Maddie, you're a lifesaver. Thank you.”
Charlie took a cup, grateful for the warmth. She studied Maddie. The usually-chipper assistant was dragging just a little bit. Her eyes looked glassy.
“Hey, Maddie? You okay?” Charlie asked quietly.
“Fine.” Maddie's voice was clipped. “Just cold. I'm going to check on the equipment for the next scene.”
“Take a break,” Viv said.
“No, I’m good.” She set down the coffee carrier and walked away, her movements stiff.
Charlie watched her go. “What’s wrong with Maddie?”
“Oh, I don’t know. She's been working too hard,” Viv said, shaking her head. “I caught her staring off into space the other day. I’m giving her a big Christmas bonus. She's been incredible through all of this.”
“Yeah,” Charlie said slowly. “Incredible.”
She made a mental note to keep an eye on Maddie. Maybe she just needed someone to talk to.
Twenty minutes later, Charlie straddled a snowmobile and checked her radio one more time.
“Elk, you copy?”
“Copy, King. You're clear to head up.”
“Roger. Maintain position at base.”
Shane would coordinate the main crew and equipment while Charlie took Viv, Duke and Rowan up. With Duke's new show and the tension resolved, the threat level had dropped. Plus, the real danger today was nature, not people.
“You good with this?” Shane had asked before they left.
“Four people, cleared route, ten minutes up, then the full crew in Snowcats. I've got it.”
Shane grinned. “And the pups are good in Viv’s trailer. Radio check when you arrive and if anything’s wonky. We’ll be up in an hour.”
“Copy that.”
If something happened at base, Shane could coordinate with CDOT. If something happened at up the mountain, Charlie could get Viv, Rowan, and Duke out with the snowmobiles.
Not that anything was going to happen. CDOT had cleared the route. The avalanche had already been triggered. They were going to a safe, flat area to practice and then film a scene.
Viv mounted the snowmobile beside her while Rowan and Duke took two others. Four machines, ten-minute ride up toward the Sisters. Simple.
“Stay close,” Charlie said before she started the engine. “Single file. I lead, you three follow.”
They headed up the mountain in a line, headlights cutting through the darkness and falling snow. The trail was clear enough, packed down by CDOT vehicles earlier. Charlie kept her speed moderate, checking over her shoulder every thirty seconds to make sure the others were keeping up.
The cold bit through her jacket. Wind picked up as they climbed higher, exposed to the elements. Charlie's tactical brain noted the risks—communication could get spotty, avalanche chutes above them freshly triggered but the mountain still loaded with snow in other areas.
Ten minutes felt like twenty.
Finally, Charlie saw the markers CDOT had left earlier in the day—reflective posts marking the safe zone. She slowed, guided her snowmobile into the flat area, and killed the engine.
Silence rushed in. Just wind and the distant sound of the crew down below.
The others pulled up beside her. Viv climbed off first, already looking around with her director's eye. “This is perfect. Rowan, Duke, stand over there so we have the slope behind you.”
Charlie dismounted and did a quick perimeter check. The area was maybe forty feet across, relatively flat, backed by a steep slope on one side and open to the valley below on the other. The Seven Sisters loomed above them, massive and dark against the sky, but the snow was undisturbed.
Charlie tried her radio. “Elk, you copy?”
Static, then Shane's voice, faint and breaking up: “...opy... signal... weak...”
Great. Mountains were interfering with the signal. Not unusual, and not ideal.
“We're at the location,” Charlie said clearly, hoping he caught it. “Beginning scene walk-through, over.”
More static. She couldn't tell if he'd heard.
Charlie moved to where she could watch both the approach trail and the area where Viv was positioning Rowan and Duke. The two actors were professional, focused, discussing the emotional beats of the scene—Caiden's final speech to Aldric, the loyal friend telling his king the truth before the end.
Viv took a puff on her O2 canister. “Camera will be here,” Viv said, pointing. “Wide shot first, then we'll move in for close-ups. Duke, when you say, 'You've always been the true king,' I want you looking right at him. Eye contact. Make it hurt.”
Duke nodded. “Got it.”
Rowan pointed at Viv’s O2. “I’ve got one if that’s running low.”
“Thanks. I’m okay.”
Charlie scanned the darkness beyond the snowmobile headlights they’d left on. Nothing but snow and rock and wind.
Then she heard it.
Another snowmobile. Engine growing louder. Coming up the trail.
Charlie's hand moved to her sidearm. “Viv, we expecting anyone else?”
Viv looked up, confused. “No. Everyone's supposed to stay at base until they’re ready.”
The sound grew closer. A single headlight appeared on the trail.
“Elk, you sending anyone up early? Over.”
Nothing but static, then “…Maddie there. Over.”
Charlie relaxed a little. “It’s Maddie. Did you forget something?”
Viv looked confused. “I must have, but I can’t think what.” She looked at the men. “Either of you forget something?”
Rowan shook his head. Duke grinned and shrugged. He said something but his voice was lost beneath the sound of the snowmobile.
Now Charlie wondered, What could be important enough that it couldn’t wait for the rest of the crew?
As Charlie started toward Viv, Maddie parked the snowmobile next to the others, killed the engine, and climbed off. She kept her helmet on.
“What did I forget?” Viv called.
“Nothing,” Maddie said calmly. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Maddie.” Charlie said. “What are you doing up here?”
“Sorry, Charlie,” Maddie said, then made a sound like a laugh crossed with a hiccup, or maybe a sob.
“Stop right there. What’s going on?”
Maddie stopped about eight feet away and faced the men.
“You said you loved me. But you're with her now.”
Is she talking to Rowan or Duke? Charlie's hand moved to her sidearm. “Maddie—”
“I loved you,” Maddie said, her voice breaking. “I did what you asked. I turned them all against her.” She gestured wildly toward Viv.
“Maddie, honey—”
“Shut up, Viv!” She turned her attention back to the men. “I did everything for you.”
Duke's eyes went round. “Maddie, what—”
“And then you got your new show.” Maddie's voice rose. “And your new girlfriend. Like I never existed.”
“Maddie,” Duke said carefully, “we were just friends. I never said I loved you—”
“Liar! You did!” Her voice cracked. “Every time you complained about Viv. Every time you said they were ruining the show. Every time you told me I was the only one who understood. I was The Chronicler. For you. I riled up the fans. For you. You're the perfect Caiden.”
Her voice dropped, low and menacing. “I cut that saddle strap for you. So Rowan would get hurt, Viv would fail, and you'd keep being Caiden.”
Duke's face went white. “Maddie, I never asked you to—”
Maddie drew a gun and pointed it directly at Duke's chest.
Charlie's weapon came up as she moved, putting herself between Maddie and Duke.
“Gun down. Now.”
“I don’t care what happens to me anymore.” Maddie's eyes were dead. Empty. Her finger moved to the trigger.
Charlie lunged. The gunshot cracked across the mountain.
Followed by a roar above them. A wide, white plume of snow rose and blotted out the sky.