Previously: Six days before the lifeless body of a woman is discovered in the California home of the Winters Family, Kevin Kale discovered that his boyfriend Prince “Blanket” Onceblack was behind an attempt on Vivienne Scarlet’s life. Knowing that if “Blanket” found Vivienne first he would again try and have her killed, Kevin set out to try and find Vivienne himself.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” Part 1

FRIDAY, 7:33 PM PST

In the dimly lit library of the home of the Winters Family, a crib is set up in one corner of the room. The crib, however, is empty. Across the room, in a stone fireplace, the fire has almost burnt completely out. On an area rug in front of the fireplace lies the lifeless body of woman. Clutched in the woman’s hand, is a small plastic bag that contains a fine white powder. On the floor next to the body are a metal fire poker and a white Phantom of the Opera-style half-mask...

FLASHBACK: SIX DAYS AGO, 6:47 PM PST

In a rundown neighborhood of Los Angeles, Elizabeth Peacock-Canary sits in the front seat of Prince "Blanket" Onceblack's car. She watches nervously as “Blanket” talks with a homeless man. “Blanket” is holding a photo of his missing half-sister Vivienne Scarlet. Elizabeth’s cell phone rings, startling her. She quickly takes the ringing phone from her handbag and answers it. “Hello.” Elizabeth says.

“Hello, Elizabeth, it’s Richard.” Dr. Richard Dove says from his office at a Los Angeles area hospital. “I was just calling to see how the search for Vivienne was going.”

“I am afraid we haven’t uncovered much, Richard.” Elizabeth reports. “And it’s starting to get dark…”

“Don’t get discouraged.” Richard says.

“Well, it is hard not to, Richard. I am starting to think, that with every day that passes, that I will never see Vivienne again.” She says sadly.

“Have you talked to the police?” Richard asks.

“Not in a few hours.” She says.

“I know it is difficult, but don’t give up.” Richard says.

“I appreciate your encouragement Richard.” Elizabeth says.

“Well, I can only imagine how scared you are. I also was thinking…” His voice trails off. “Maybe it isn’t any of my business.”

“No, please, Richard what are you thinking?” She asks.

“Well, perhaps your search for Vivienne could be expanded with the help of her family back in New Hampshire.” Richard says.

“I haven’t even called them and let them know that Vivienne has disappeared.” Elizabeth says. “I don’t think calling and asking for money to help the search would be well-received.”

“Well, I am sure Vivienne’s family will do whatever it takes in order for her to be found.” Richard says.

“Of course you are right.” Elizabeth says. “I will call tomorrow.” Elizabeth sees that “Blanket” is heading back to the car. “I should go, Richard, thank you for calling.” She hangs up as “Blanket” gets in the car. “No luck?” She asks him.

“No.” “Blanket” says, starting the engine. “I am afraid no one in this neighborhood has seen her.”

“Well, maybe the police have had better luck.” Elizabeth says.

“I will call Kevin at the penthouse and see if he has heard anything.” “Blanket” says, taking out his phone. Elizabeth sits silently as “Blanket” calls Kevin at the penthouse. “That’s weird.” “Blanket” says, closing his phone. “Kevin didn’t answer.”

“Maybe he stepped out. He has been cooped up in that apartment all day.” Elizabeth says.

“You’re right. I will call his cell.” “Blanket” says. He dials Kevin’s cell phone number. Kevin’s cell phone, which is lying on the front seat of his car, begins to ring. But Kevin isn’t in the car to answer it. He is nervously walking down a seedy street in Hollywood. Up ahead on a street corner, Kevin sees two prostitutes. He takes a deep breath.

“Well, well.” One of the prostitutes says. “What do we have here?” Kevin smiles nervously as he reaches the corner.

“Ladies.” He says, clearing his throat. The prostitutes begin to laugh.

“Indeed we are.” One of them says. They laugh again.

“I was wondering if you could help me.” Kevin says, reaching into his pocket.

“For a hundred bucks, she will do anything.” The first prostitute says, laughing.

“Shut your mouth, Sage!” Ginger the prostitute says. She then turns to Kevin and smiles. “What did you have in mind, dear?”

“I, I…” Kevin stutters, “I was wondering if you have seen this woman.” He quickly takes a photo of Vivienne out of his pocket. Sage begins laughing hysterically.

“Shut up!” Ginger yells. She glances quickly at the photo. “Nope.” She says, and then begins to walk away.

“But you didn’t even look at it.” Kevin says. Ginger keeps walking. “I’ve got a hundred dollars if you just come and look at the picture. Please.” He says. Ginger stops.

“I’ll look at it for fifty.” Sage says, pushing her way past Ginger. She hurries over to Kevin and takes the photo from him. She goes over to an electronics store window and holds the picture in the light. “I’ve never seen her.” Sage says. “She your girlfriend?”

“No.” Kevin walks over to Sage. “She’s just a close friend.” He hands her a fifty dollar bill and Sage hands him back the picture.

“Thanks.” Sage says. She shoves the money down her shirt and walks away. “A close friend.” Sage whispers to Ginger as she passes her. She then lets out a laugh.

“Shut up!” Ginger yells. She turns to follow Sage down the street.

“I have money and you can have it if you look at the photograph.” Kevin says.

“Fine.” Ginger says. She walks over to Kevin and snatches the photograph from him. Holding the photo up to the light in the store window, Ginger quickly recognizes Vivienne. “Nope.” She lies. “Never seen her.” She hands the photo back to him. Kevin hands her a hundred dollar bill.

“Well thanks for looking at it.” Kevin says. He turns to go back to his car. Sage rejoins Ginger outside the store window.

“Doesn’t that guy look familiar?” Sage asks Ginger.

“I was thinking that.” Ginger says looking down at the crisp bill in her hand.

“I think I saw him in a movie or on TV.” Sage says.

“You know what, I think you are right.” Ginger says. She turns wide-eyed. “And if he gave me a hundred bucks just for looking at the picture, how much do you think he would give me if I told him I had seen that girl?”

“You recognized her?” Sage asks.

“Yeah.” Ginger says.

“Well, what are you waiting for? I bet if you tell him you seen her, he’d give you at least fifty more!” Sage says.

“You might be right.” Ginger says. She takes off down the street after Kevin. “Hey!” She shouts. “Hey, Mister!” Kevin is just about to get to his car when he hears Ginger yelling after him. He turns to see her struggling to run down the sidewalk in her high heels. “Hey!” She shouts. “Let me see that picture again.” Kevin takes out the picture and hands it to her. Ginger breaths heavily as she looks at it. She squints, then walks over to a hardware store window and holds the picture up to the light. “I’ve seen this girl.”

“You have?” Kevin says. He hurries over to her. “When? Where?” He asks.

“Last night, on this street.” Ginger says.

“Do you know where she went?” Kevin asks. Ginger doesn’t respond. “I asked if you saw where she went.”

“I heard you.” Ginger says, leaning up against the hardware store window.

“Oh. Right.” Kevin says. He takes out his wallet. “I don’t have any more cash.” He says. Ginger hands him the picture.

“You know what. I don’t think that is the girl I saw after all.” She says.

“Wait.” Kevin says as Ginger turns to leave. “I can get more money. Please, just tell me about the last time you saw her.” Seeing the concern in his eyes, Ginger has a moment of weakness.

“Last night around ten-twenty that girl was almost hit by a car. She just ran right out in front of this guy.” Ginger says.

“Oh god.” Kevin says.

“She wasn’t hurt or anything. Actually the guy that was driving got out and helped her get into the car and they drove off.” Ginger says. “Together.”

“Did you see what kind of car it was?” Kevin asks.

“It was dark.” Ginger says. “But I could tell it was one of those big luxury cars.”

“Right.” Kevin says. “I need to call the police and tell them what you told me. I guess you wouldn’t be willing to wait around and tell them yourself.” Ginger raises an eyebrow. “Right.” Kevin smiles. “Well, I will go and call them and then head to the ATM and get some cash.”

“Sure.” Ginger says, not believing him.

“How will I be able to find you so I can give you the money?” Kevin asks.

“Don’t even worry about it.” Ginger says. She starts to walk down the street. Kevin watches her disappear down a dark alley then hurries to his car to call the police. Kevin takes out the number of a police detective and picks up his cell phone. He sees he has three missed calls from “Blanket”. Dialing a number, Kevin bites his fingernail as he waits for the detective to answer.

“Detective, this is Kevin Kale.” Kevin says. “I have a tip on Vivienne Scarlet’s whereabouts. I talked to someone who said they saw Vivienne get into a car around ten-twenty last night.” Kevin says. “No, they didn’t get a license plate.” Kevin says. “If only there was some way we could have gotten the number.” Kevin looks out the car window at the hardware store window. He notices a red light at the top of the window. “Wait a second. Detective, I will call you back in a few minutes.” Hurrying out of the car, Kevin runs down the alley that Ginger disappeared into. With his adrenaline pumping in his ears, Kevin looks for Ginger. Suddenly he hears a woman scream. “Ginger?” He says. The woman screams again. “Ginger!” Kevin shouts into the darkness. “Ginger is that you?”

“Help me!” Ginger screams.

“Where are you?” Kevin yells, running down the alley.

“Here!” Ginger yells. Kevin turns a corner and sees that Ginger is being attacked by a man. The man has his pants pulled down and he is trying to rape her.

“Hey!” Kevin yells. “Get off of her!” He runs over to them and pulls the man off of her. Ginger struggles to pull her stockings up.

“You next pretty boy?” The man laughs. He takes a swing at Kevin, who ducks. Kevin then punches the man in the stomach. The man collapses onto the gravel.

“Are you alright?” Kevin asks Ginger.

“I think so.” She says breathlessly.

“Let’s get out of here.” Kevin says. He holds out his hand. Ginger sees that the man is trying to get up so she grabs Kevin’s hand and they run down the alley. Once they reach the street, they stop running.

“Thanks.” Ginger says.

“Who was that sicko?” Kevin asks, looking back down the alley.

“Oh, he’s just one of the many colorful people that live in this neighborhood.” Ginger says.

“Are you sure you are alright?” Kevin asks.

“Yeah.” Ginger says. “I sure am glad you came back. But, why did you?” She asks.

“Because I think I know of a way we can tell what kind of car Vivienne got into.” He says.

“Oh.” She says disappointed.

“But I need your help again.” He says.

“I told you everything I know, honest.” She says.

“I know. But I just need you to tell me specifically where it was that you saw Vivienne get into that car.” He says.

“Well that’s easy. It was right there.” Ginger says motioning to an area on the street directly in front of the electronics store window. Kevin hurries over to the electronics store window and looks up. “What are you doing?” Ginger asks, following him over to the window.

“See that?” Kevin says pointing to a red light inside the store. “All of these stores have security cameras pointed at the street.”

“Ok?” Ginger asks.

“So I am pretty sure if this is where Vivienne was almost hit by that car last night like you said it is, then that the camera inside that store got it on tape.” Kevin says.

“Do you know who owns this store?”

“I’ve seen the man that opens it in the mornings.” Ginger says. “But I don’t know him personally.”

“I need to call the police again and tell them that they need to get to this store first thing in the morning.” Kevin says. He takes out his phone and dials the detective, leaving Ginger standing on the street. Then he stops. “Well?” He says turning to face her.

“Well what?” She asks.

“Are you coming?” Kevin asks.

“Where are we going?” She asks.

“The least I can do is buy you a cup of coffee or something to eat.” He smiles. Ginger smiles and hurries to catch up to him.

TO BE CONTINUED...