Fatal Swap
Work in Process -- Version 1.0




Copyright © 2019 by Michael Stokes & Paul Niquette, all rights reserved.

 
References...
E1, E2, E3,...  Excerpts from Selected E-Mail Messages
(as communicated in chronological order)


E1 Exerpt from Novel Elements

The plot for the novel (or screen play?) begins with an event that occurred in 1987…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVV31pXLK68

…and will feature an anti-hero circumventing post-1986 laws in the U.S. pertaining to…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257wV-AbKaE



E2 Excerpt from Names -- Comments are invited [original content can be found in in E6]


E3 Excerpt from Some notes from today's session
[original content can be found in in E6]


E4 Excerpt from More notes from yesterday's session
[some of original content can be found in in E6]

  1. Names…

Garrett Anthony, lead character

Information-processing expert in financial services company

Money problems – question: gambling [?] or real-estate investments hit by recession?

Biggest worry: FSI acquired and likely to RIF many employees, including Garrett.

                                                Home in Palos Verdes Estates (hill with two-lane roads suitable for accident)

Home in Palos Verdes Estates (hill with two-lane roads suitable for accident)

Jennifer Anthony, wife of seven years no children
Ethan Anthony, brother villain, past parimour of Jennifer?

Womanizer, drinking problems?

Wilford “Wiley” Ferguson Palmer

money launderer by computer
subordinate of Ursula,

question: Why did Wiley visit Los Angeles in person? Still pending.

question: Why did Wiley visit Los Angeles in person?

Ursula Perez Roskoschnha [Polish Name]

well educated real estate expert for laundering money?
question: uses Las Vegas stratagem(s)?

generally unseen by clients
name of Wiley’s Ursula's ‘enterprise’ is Baltic Mutual Investments (BMI) – ‘BM’? ugh.

Geoffrey Hutton -- Low-level insurance investiator for LOL in London

Sir Paul Renfrew -- Geoffrey's boss in London

Reginald [last name?] -- Geoffrey's counterpart in Los Angeles [LA]

  1. Duration of Plot:  one or two years possibly a few months?
  2. Slot in timeline for flash-back maybe?
  3. Jennifer drives Garrett to airport

Conversation in car friendly, if not loving?

Mention of fertility issue, worrisome mother-in-law, financial pressures?

  1. Recruiting luncheon at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) 12:00

Backstory for relationship: school chums?  Garrett owes Wiley for something?

Reference to earlier meetings, hinting at explanations for business ‘model’

Business cards recruiting stratagem

Offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles

question: Does Garrett indicate agreement to join Wiley’s firm?

Mention assignment: front man for new opportunity? -- Russian oligarchs?

Wiley pays tab for lunch, of course.

  1. Fatal Flight Notes [see E5]

Plane (type not made explicit – not relevant until much later in story)

Departing Los Angeles (LAX) for San Francisco (SFO)

Wiley homeward bound

Garrett outbound from LA for meeting next day with colleagues in SF

Reservation for overnight in hotel in San Francisco

Wiley’s original early departure 2:00 PM; bag was checked from cab at street level

Garrett’s original later departure 4:00 PM
question: why not same as Wiley’s (Ursula screw-up, full plane)?

E4.5

  1. Rationale for swapping tickets

Wiley receives cell-phone call from oligarchs? must return call? Call does not go through immediately.

Wiley is concerned that he may need to stay another day but can’t because of bag with extremely valuable contents has already been check. Wiley tries call again, in vain.

Garrett offers to swap boarding passes and take earlier flight, asks clerk, knows that “such changes are forbidden”

Swap secretly, with baggage claim-checks

Garrett prepares to dash to gate with carry-on bag.

Garrett asks if Wiley’s flight will be met (by Ursula) at SFO?  No, Wiley’s car is in ‘long-term parking’ at SFO. 

Wiley calls out to Garrett to look for brown leather bag. 

Portentous Note: Garrett and we do not know if Wiley actually catches the later flight.

 

E5 Excerpt from Updates and Notes from today's session in the village

SkyCal


Flight Numbers:  SC 1461 and SC 1641 – both LAX to SFO (~2:10 duration

 

Crash Site…

 

Particulars of Crash: pitch-trim-runaway (“PTR”) + transonic uncontrolled flight into terrain (TUFT) + fire + 159 fatalities



E6 Excerpt from Version 1.4 including notes from today [content moved to E4]

 

  1. Rationale for swapping tickets

Wiley receives cell-phone call from an oligarch from his limousine, connection breaks in LAX tunnel

“Those guys are bringing me another ‘deposit’ to the (LAX) airport – hey, right now!

Wiley must return call, “gotta tell ‘im I’ll be gone before he gets here!”

Call does not go through immediately.

Wiley is concerned that he may need to stay another day but can’t because of bag that is already checked.

Wiley tries call again, in vain.

Garrett offers to swap boarding passes and to take the earlier flight

comments that “such changes are known to be forbidden by airlines, but…

swapping cell phones is same as swapping boarding envelopes secretly, with baggage claim-checks

Garrett prepares to dash to gate with his own carry-on bag.

Garrett asks if Wiley’s flight will be met (by Ursula) at SFO?  No, Wiley’s car is in ‘short-term parking’. 

Wiley calls out to Garrett to look for brown leather bag. 

Note: Garrett and readers do not know if Wiley actually catches the later flight.

 

‘Safe Arrival’ call – after Garrett meets Wiley in SFO at 6:00 PM

Garrett will not call wife because Wiley has Garrett’s phone with number in it.

Tries, perhaps, but gets wrong numbers?

 

                                “See Agent” annunciating sign:

Inquiry about “Wiley” – not on manifest – “oh, that’s Garrett Anthony’s nick name”. 

“Come with me.” Room full of other worried people.

                               

Waiting for Wiley, Garrett uses company credit card for restaurant and bar in SFO concourse.

 


E7 Excerpts from Couple of thoughts for Chapter 1

Garrett’s immediate motivations upon learning of the fate of the flight with Wiley on board…

…are noble – tinctured by guilt – which will intensify his later transformation to felonious acts.

…he has already had his dinner and drinks at SFO, paid by his company’s credit card (for Geoffrey)…

…he is now seated in ‘notification’ room…

…crying people all around, no privacy, steps outside into hallway and thinks…

 

First priority, call Jennifer…

…pulls Wiley’s phone from jacket pocket, stares at it…

…then remembers something. Realization #1 for readers: The swap included cell phones.

…tries what he can remember of Jennifer’s number, gets “not connected” in his ear.

          Second priority, contact Wiley’s family…

…but why?  Realization #2 for readers: Nobody in the world knows about swap.

Third priority, call Ursula…

…for she will soon become inconvenienced when Wiley does not show up,

…finds Ursula’s number on Wiley’s phone, places call, gets routed to voice mail…

…stammers in placing message, disconnects, looks at watch…

…it is after 7:00 PM.  Realization #3 for readers, It is evening already.

Fourth priority, call hotel to confirm ‘late arrival’ reservation…

…leather bag in hand and carry-on over shoulder, leaves concourse…

…arrives at street level. Realization #4 for readers, Garrett is in mental shock.

…waits in line for cab, trying in vain to remember name of hotel to tell taxi driver…

…Wiley’s cell phone rings in Garrett’s jacket pocket…Ursula.

…awkwardly cheerful conversation commences…

Hi, Garrett.  Welcome to SFO.  How was your luncheon at LAX? 

Hey, why are you talking on Wiley’s phone?

 

These plot elements address several issues.  For example…

…we assure that neither a call to – nor an appearance at – the hotel takes place (sorry, Geffrey)   

…“Ursula, we must talk.”  Garrett takes cab directly to meet Ursula (there you are, Geffrey)   

…Ursula may or may not see news of unrelated crash on TV before Garrett shows up at Ursula’s residence.

Garrett gapes into the bag, as he opens it with the key handed to him by Ursula.

Bundles of paper currency, all right.  Rubles!

Maybe this is the first hint readers get that Russian oligarchs are involved in Wiley’s business.

Laundering, in this case, is derived from real estate – ‘flipping’ of commercial properties in Silicon Valley?


E8 Excerpt from Couple of thoughtes for Chapter 99 (ending)

Garrett and Ursula have operated as a lucrative but precarious cyber-criminal team, with…

…Ursula managing the administration and…

…Garrett impersonating Wiley on phone and via encrypted computer applications.

 

Their romance has fault-lines, including…

…Ursula repeatedly expresses desire to rejoin her family in Warsaw,

…Garrett has longings to become a responsible father for his son, Garrett Jr.

 

Garrett and Ursula have gotten rich ‘enough’ and prepare to shut down business.

 

As business becomes untenable…

…Ursula gets restless, and declares her intention to ‘retire’ in Warsaw.

…Garrett feels increasingly guilty for his criminal life, and…

…makes secret trip in disguise to Palos Verdes,

…sees Jennifer and Jr. through binoculars cavorting with Ethan!

 

Garrett secretly finds out about Ethan’s abusive actions and hatches plot…

…that gets a gob of the Russian’s cash into Ethan’s hands,

…that reveals to the Russian…

…that Ethan has absconded with their cash and…

…that he has ‘stolen’ all of the Russian’s ‘deposits’…

…that discloses Ethan’s identity and personal location in Culver City.

 

The Russian ‘client’ and one of his thugs…

…confront Ethan, make merciless demands, and…

…do horrible things to his knees and so forth.

 

Ethan commits suicide or gets murdered.

 

Garrett and Ursula split the ‘deposits’ of all their clients, then…

…Ursula leaves for Warsaw, and…

…Garrett secretly reunites with Jennifer and Jr. in Palos Verdes,

…Jennifer joyfully agrees to run away with Garrett to Idaho.

…Garrett remains in hiding before departure, and then…

 

There’s a knock at the door…Geoffrey!

 

Seems Geoffrey survived the drunken drive off the cliff, which occurred in Chapter 98.


E9 Excerpt from Thoughts on Wiley -- possibly for Chapter 1

Garrett asks Ursula if Wiley has a family in the Bay Area who will be inquiring about him.

Ursula replies…

…that she has seen “Wilford Ferguson” printed on his passport, but…

…that she figured out some time ago it was not his real name, and…

...that nobody who ever called Wiley had identified themselves as a relative.


Note
: This simplifies the narrative and allows for a story element that mystifies the reader about Wiley’s strange behaviors, especially unexplained trips – and time away for Ursula.  Hey…Question:  Was Wiley sleeping with Ursula or not?   If not, she needs a boyfriend, Phil.  During the week before the crash, Ursula has a final falling-out with Phil.


E10 Excerpt from Logical Opportunities in Crash Scene -- Version 1.3

It gets established early-on for readers that two separate divisions of Lloyds of London (LOL) have financial stakes in the crash of SK1461…

…the big boys who directly insure airliners and ships-at-sea…

…this is where we initially find Reginald, the on-site LOL investigator on the scene in San Luis Obispo.

…the little boys who indirectly underwrite accidental-death policies for key employees in commercial enterprises…

…this is where we initially find Geoffrey, a mid-level LOL claims-adjuster (whose hobby is orchid gardening) in London.

Since Garrett is on the manifest for SK1461…

…his burned body is apparently/obviously one of the 39 that cannot be forensically identified, but…

…his paper luggage tag on the large suitcase (with wheels?)…

…merely ‘confirms’ his presence in the plane but also…

…connects investigators from both LOL divisions together…

…for routine – if reluctant – dialogs by phone and e-mail exchanges…

…Reginald is only interested in the cockpit-voice recorder and the flight-data recorder.

…Geffrey is only interested in notifying Garrett’s NOK (next of kin).In Chapter 12, say, the contents of the suitcase (with wheels?) offer the author/screenwriter several options…

…nothing significant, no personal effects, of course, from Garrett – why not, Geoffrey?

…large amounts of bundled paper currencies…

…dollars only or…

…euros only or…

…rubles only or…

…combinations of the above.

…Geoffrey calls Reginald and asks him to climb down off his high horse and to go interview Jennifer, and…

…discretely ask specific questions – while not mentioning suitcase (with wheels?) and its contents…


Note: Jennifer does not bring up the suitcase (with wheels?) when first given the bad news about Garrett.  In a follow-up interview, Geoffrey arranges to have Jennifer asked about the suitcase (with wheels?).  She does not know what Reginald is talking about… 

 

“Garrett always travels light.  Especially for overnight trips to home office in SF.  Only a garment bag, usually,  No suitcase (with wheels?) was taken in the car on that Thursday morning.”

 

This leaves open the possibility of the suitcase (with wheels?) going missing at some point.  Meanwhile, the Russian and his hired courier do not know about Garrett and the swap, so he surely figures that Wiley was on the fatal flight.  Thus, won’t the Russian pose as an unhappy relative of Wiley’s and file a claim for the suitcase (with wheels?) with SkyCal.  Geoffrey’s suspicions begin right there. 


E11 Excerpt from Crash Scenes -- Version 1.2

Monday 22 April 2019

Garrett has been summoned to SF office of FSI…

…important meeting Friday morning 26 April 2019 9:00 AM,

…purpose not given, but IFA is facing ‘reductions in force’, and

…Garrett fears the worst.

Garrett books flight, SC 1461 LAX – SFO departing 4:20PM Thursday 25 April 2019.

Garrett makes reservation at hotel in SF, saying “no need for ‘late arrival’ guarantee’.”

 

Tuesday 23 April 2019

Wiley has been in LA for meetings since Monday.

Ursula calls Garrett at home to set up a three-hour meeting with Wiley in LA for Friday 26 April 2019.

Garrett expresses regret and tells Ursula…

…that he will be leaving LA Thursday afternoon for a morning meeting in SF on Friday.

Ursula tells Garrett that she will check with Wiley and call back.

Wiley tells Ursula…

…that he wouldn’t mind heading ‘home’ (in SF) earlier than Friday

…that they can meet at the airport for lunch on Thursday

…that they might then take the same flight to SFO…

…that Wiley has his fancy car on Wednesday at SFO long-term [?] parking,

…that he therefore can drive Garrett to downtown SF and also have dinner with him.

Ursula calls Garrett again and Garrett…

…agrees to the plan, saying that he will leave his home early for luncheon Thursday at LAX…

…gives Ursula the name of his favorite fast-food restaurant next to SkyCal’s departure lounge.

Ursula calls SkyCal and finds that all LAX – SFO flights Thursday afternoon are booked except SC1641.

Ursula hurriedly books Wiley for a seat on SC1641, which departs two hours earlier than SC1461.

Ursula calls Wiley, gets switched to voice-mail and leaves message with restaurant name and…

…flight reservation: SC 1641 LAX – SFO departing 2:20PM Thursday 25 April 2019.


 

Thursday 25 April 2019 11:00 AM

Jennifer drives Garrett to LAX, conversation includes…

…Garrett’s explanation for 11:00 AM trip to the airport for a 4:20 PM flight,

…reason for luncheon [job interview?] and who is Wiley [old college chum…?]

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 11:00 AM -- at the same time…

 

Wiley is enroute to LAX in limousine, looks at ticket on smart-phone screen for first time…

…sees that departure time for SC1641 is 2:20 PM (‘not enough time for a recruiting luncheon’)…

…gets angry at Ursula, tells driver [name?] to speed up but traffic is heavy,

…calls Ursula [?] to express anger [and develop relationship for readers].

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 11:45AM

Wiley jumps out of limousine at LAX with two bags…

…one is a small carry-on satchel and the other is…

…heavy brown leather bag (‘damned Ruskies don’t know anything about wheels’).

Wiley rushes…

…to ticket counter at street level and…

…checks the heavy bag using his smart phone to capture ticket-tag number [?]

…then to security for check-in, takes off shoes, and so forth,

…to concourse level and searches for the fast-food restaurant closest to SkyCal’s departure lounge.

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 12:45AM

Wiley greets Garrett, then complains…

…that since their plane leaves at 2:20, they won’t have enough time for their luncheon meeting,

…that they will just have to get by with peanuts on the plane, but…

 

Garrett signals ‘time out’ to Wiley, then shakes his head, grins, and says there is no problem…

…that his own flight – showing his smart-phone to Wiley – is at 4:20 PM…

…that after Wiley leaves for his 2:20 departure, Garrett can just…

…have a leisurely lunch,

…catch his 4:20 departure, and take the BART train to his hotel,

…then can have the job interview in SF Friday afternoon ‘after my meeting with IFS’,

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 01:30 PM

 

Wiley relaxes and suggests that he can just go ahead and catch his 2:20 plane, then…

…outside SFO baggage claim, he can…

…take the bus to long-term parking to pick up his car,

…drive back to SkyCal and wait an hour or so for Garrett’s arrival.

 

Wiley’s phone rings, and Garrett overhears hasty conversation, which includes something to the effect…

…that a package needs to be delivered in person to Wiley and…

…that the courier is on the way to the LAX airport right now.

 

Garrett comments that Wiley evidently needs to find an evening flight with SkyCal or some other.

Wiley tells Garrett that he has already checked an important bag onto flight SC1641.

 


 

Idea dawns on Wiley, who proposes that he and Garrett can swap flights, which means merely swapping smart-phones.


Thursday 25 April 2019 2:00 PM

Wiley takes a box of new business card from his brief case and hands it to Garrett with a smile.

Garrett shoulder’s his carry-on garment bag, grabs his briefcase, and dashes for the jetway.

Parting exchange:  “Have a good lunch, Wiley.”  “Have a good flight, Garrett.”


Thursday 25 April 2019 3:00 PM

Wiley takes delivery Samsonite suitcase with wheels from courier.

Wiley tips the courier, rolls the suitcase from the curb to the check-in counter at street level.

Wiley checks in suitcase using Garrett’s smart-phone [!]  Clerk: ‘Have a good flight, Mr. Anthony.’

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 3:30 PM

Wiley starts to place call using Garrett’s smart-phone to chastise Ursula, but stops…

…looks at time, dashes with his carry-on bag through security, takes off shoes for second time





E12 Excerpt from Logical Opportunities in Crash Scene -- Version 1.3

It gets established early-on for readers that two separate divisions of Lloyds of London (LOL) have financial stakes in the crash of SC1641…

…the big boys who directly insure airliners and ships-at-sea…

…this is where we initially find Reginald, the on-site LOL investigator on the scene in San Luis Obispo.

…the little boys who indirectly underwrite accidental-death policies for key employees in commercial enterprises…

…this is where we initially find Geoffrey, a mid-level LOL claims-adjuster (orchid gardening) in London.

Since Garrett is on the manifest for SC1641…

…his burned body is apparently/obviously one of the 39 that cannot be forensically identified, but…

…his paper luggage tag on the large suitcase with wheels…

…does ‘confirm’ his presence in the plane and also…

…connects investigators from both LOL divisions together [Readers need to be told how; see [*] below]

…for routine – if reluctant or antagonistic – dialogs by phone and e-mail exchanges…

…Reginald is initially interested in the cockpit-voice recorder and the flight-data recorder.

…Geffrey is initially interested in notifying Garrett’s NOK (next of kin).


In Chapter 12, say, the contents of the suitcase with wheels offer the author/screenwriter several options…

…nothing significant, no personal effects, of course, from Garrett…

…why not?, Geoffrey may wonder later on.

…large amounts of bundled paper currencies…

…dollars only or…

…euros only or…

…rubles only or…

…combinations of the above [Was this our selection?].

…Geoffrey calls Reginald and asks him…

…to climb down off his high horse and to go interview Jennifer,…

…to ask specific questions – while not mentioning the suitcase with wheels and its contents.


 

Some sequence issues are lurking here – particularly about how Geoffrey gets his clues.

 

Jennifer does not bring up the suitcase with wheels when first given the bad news about Garrett.  In a follow-up interview, Geoffrey arranges to have Reginald asks Jennifer about there being any suitcase. (‘Why do you ask?’)  It’s merely a routine question – not for identification of the passenger but for assuring that items in the crash are returned to the respective families of their rightful owners.  Jennifer does not know what Reginald is talking about… 

 

“Garrett always travels light.  Especially for overnight trips to home office in SF.  Only a garment bag, usually,  No suitcase (with or without wheels) was taken in the car on that Thursday morning.”

 

This leaves open the possibility of the suitcase with wheels going missing at some point in a subplot, perhaps involving some corrupt law enforcement character.  Meanwhile, the Russian does not know about Garrett and the swap, but he…

…sees what could well be the suitcase with wheels in news footage of the crash scene,

…surely – if hopefully -- figures that Wiley was on the fatal flight,

…directs his ‘courier’, say, to pose as a grieving relative of Wiley’s and then files a claim with SkyCal. 

 

[*] Wiley is not on the manifest for SC1641. Geoffrey’s suspicions begin right there, don’t you think?  

 

[Meanwhile, Mike, I have forgotten the sequence of details about the Russian confronting Ursula.]



E13 Excerpt from Alternateive Ending Version 2.0

After a year of high-pressure operation of a villainous enterprise, Ursula and Garrett (impersonating Wiley), decide that it’s time to quit and to get the hell away from several worrisome threateners…


 

Garrett’s ‘frame-up’ plan…

…locks part of Russian’s deposit inside the brown leather bag…

…arranges to deliver the bag into Ethan’s possession as ‘blackmail payoff’…

…notifies the Russian of Ethan’s…

…theft and hiding place,

…likely personal locations, and schedule…

…tips off law enforcement person(s) that the Russian may ‘harm’ Ethan…

…law enforcement puts heavy surveillance on the Russian…

…Russian kills Ethan, takes leather bag – and gets caught by cops.

 

Garrett and Ursula…

…abscond with all ‘clean’ funds from company bank accounts…

…split the immense treasure and close down the business…

 

Ursula leaves for Warsaw with her riches.

 

Garrett hatches secret plan then…

…happily reunites with Jennifer and Jr. in Palos Verdes.

…tells his secret plan to Jennifer – only the part about running away to Idaho.

…takes nap in bedroom ‘hiding-place’ upstairs.

Doorbell rings…Geoffrey

 

Geoffrey reveals to Jennifer that he knows Garrett is alive, asks to see him…

Jennifer acts shocked and angry, asks Geoffrey to leave, but…

Garrett comes down the stairs and shakes hands with Geoffrey…

You must be Geoffrey.

You got my message.

How was your trip? 

Any trouble finding the place?

Oh, of course not, you’ve been here before, haven’t you.

Garrett hands Geoffrey a thick envelope.

Geoffrey bids Garrett, Jennifer, and Jr. a cordial goodbye.

 

Denouement: Conversation between Garrett and Jennifer…

…never mind Idaho, no more hiding, impersonations, looking over shoulder.

…staying in Palos Verdes merely requires a few terse explanations as needed.

…what about Prudential?  No problem, paid them back with interest from SF.

 

Many options for the sequel can be formulated, including Geoffrey…

…meets Reginald in LA for celebratory dinner and plentiful drinks…

…inebriated, drives rental car in rain on wrong side of the road, collision…

…with truck and dies.

…THE END


Excerpt for next book in series begins with…

…inebriated drive rental car in rain on wrong side of the road…

…head-on collision with truck and Geoffrey seems to die

…awakes from coma in Georgia Street Receiving Hospital in LA…


E14 Excerpt from Alternative Ending -- Version 2.1

Garrett’s Ursula’s ‘frame-up’ plan…

…locks part of the Russian’s dirty deposit inside the brown leather bag…

…arranges to deliver the bag into Ethan’s possession as ‘blackmail payoff’…

Garrett notifies the Russian of Ethan’s…

…theft and hiding place,

…likely personal locations, and schedule…

Garrett tips off law enforcement person(s) that the Russian may ‘harm’ Ethan…

…law enforcement puts heavy surveillance on the Russian and Ethan

…Russian kills Ethan, takes leather bag – and gets caught by cops.

 

Garrett and Ursula…

…abscond with all ‘clean’ funds from company bank accounts…

…split the immense treasure and close down the business…

 

Ursula leaves for Warsaw with her riches.

 

Garrett [not Ursula, this time] hatches secret plan then…

…happily reunites with Jennifer and Jr. in Palos Verdes.

…tells his secret plan to Jennifer – only the part about running away to Idaho.

…takes nap in bedroom ‘hiding-place’ upstairs.

Doorbell rings…Geoffrey

 

Geoffrey reveals to Jennifer that he knows Garrett is alive, asks to see him…

Jennifer pretends to be shocked and angry, asks Geoffrey to leave, but…

Garrett comes down the stairs and shakes hands with Geoffrey…

You must be Geoffrey.

You got my message.

How was your trip? 

Any trouble finding the place?

Oh, of course not, you’ve been here before, haven’t you.

Garrett hands Geoffrey a thick envelope.

Geoffrey bids Garrett, Jennifer, and Jr. a cordial goodbye.

 

Denouement: Conversation between Garrett and Jennifer…

…never mind Idaho, no more hiding, impersonations, looking over shoulder.

…staying in Palos Verdes merely requires a few terse explanations as needed.

…what about Prudential?  No problem, paid them back with interest from SF.

 

Many options for the sequel can be formulated, including Geoffrey…

…meets Reginald in LA for celebratory dinner and plentiful drinks…

…inebriated, drives rental car in rain on wrong side of the road, collision…

…with truck and dies.

…THE END


Excerpt for next book in series begins with…

…inebriated drive rental car in rain on wrong side of the road…

…head-on collision with truck and Geoffrey seems to die

…awakes from coma in Georgia Street Receiving Hospital in LA…


E15 Excerpt from Crash Investigation -- Version 1.0

Thursday 25 April 2019 8:30 PM a half-hour after crash of SC1461

 

Early news reports are looping onto television screens and being heard on radio stations...

…Flight SkyCal Flight SC 1461departed LAX at Thursday 25 April 2019 4:20 PM

…with 172 passengers on board plus 5 crew members

…crashed in farmers field five miles north of San Luis Obispo, California at about 5:10 PM

…at some point, on-site televised announcements begin reporting no survivors

 

Thursday 25 April 2019 8:45 PM some hours after crash of SC1461

 

Crash-site news from  San Luis Obispo:

…sunset lighting on hilly farm land

…large recognizable Rudder and tail fragments of flight SC1461

…county fire department with hoses pouring water onto the base of the smoke cloud

…strong lighting from television klieg lights are already playing on the scene

…abundant smoke flows back and forth in the evening breeze

…flames are still visible above the smoldering ashes in the middle distance

…not far off are the black, mangle shapes of burned corpses

…nearby are shoeless, grotesque victims from the tail section, still strapped in their seats

…close up we see a damaged suitcase that has wheels and is rather large

 

Thursday night 25 April 2019 and Friday morning 26 April 2019

 

Rescue efforts have concluded, identification of victims has begun, along with an immediate search for…

…two forensic items: cockpit voice recorder (CFR) and flight data recorder (FDR).

 

News reports expand with…

…there are no survivors from the 179 souls on board, followed by…

…emotional survivor interviews

…elementary tutorial about ‘black boxes’ (CFR and FDR), can takes days to locate.

 

Investigators begin at dawn to collect the grotesque debris and build their databases.

 


 

Friday morning 26 April 2019

 

Readers meet Reginald Abbott [description includes British accent], accident investigator for Lloyds of London, which is the liability insurer of SkyCal. 

 

Reginald just drove through the night 4 hours from his home in Pasadena, California.  Someone…

…tells Reginald that although the CFR and the FDR are both located in in the tail, they have not been found,

…hands him a clipboard with passenger manifest.

 


 

Friday noon 26 April 2019

 

Reginald’s smart-phone rings…Geoffrey



E16 Excerpt from Crash Investigation -- Version 1.1

That first evening, after…

…the opening of the brown leather bag followed by…

…the transformative “hook-switch” ploy (THSP),

…Ursula tells Garrett that he must leave SF immediately.

…Garrett looks quizzical, of course, and asks Ursula why…

…Ursula explains…

Garrett would be known in SF as his head office is there; he would have to move about discreetly (until he grew a beard or something.

…Garrett asks where should he go…

…Ursula answers…Las Vegas

 

Note: We might well simplify Garrett’s back-story by eliminating his gambling addiction!

 

While growing his beard in Las Vegas, Garrett is sighted on the Strip – but not confronted – by Ethan [!]

 

The unspoken identification by Ethan can take place almost as soon as Garrett arrives in Las Vegas, inasmuch as…

…investigations of the crash are still in the earliest stages,

…passenger manifest is not yet published,

…Jennifer has not yet appeared in a television interview, but when she does…

…Ethan begins his planning for romantic reunion with (insurance rich) Jennifer…

…does not remember the exact date of Las Vegas sighting of Garrett, until…

…later on, he checks a newspaper article and begins planning his blackmail caper!

 

Meanwhile…

…Garrett is struggling to get comfortable in his over-the-phone rôle as Wiley.

…Ursula uses her comprehensive resources to create…

…an in-person rôle for Garrett – Philip (who wears a beard) – as a subordinate to Wiley.

…credit card and driver license with picture identification (after the beard has grown in, of course).

…to be used in traveling and in incidental meetings…

…with Wiley’s previous in-person contacts

…with Las Vegas casino ‘associates’ in money laundering.

 


E17 Excerpt from More Thoughts about Wiley

Saturday 27 April 2019 (2 days after crash)

 

Ursula’s phone rings – Wiley’s ex-wife, identified by first name, is calling from Daly City, California…

…asks if Wiley is still in Los Angeles (he was supposed to return Friday 26 April).

…says that Wiley’s visitation with the kids was scheduled for today Saturday 27 April

Ursula quickly concocts a simple story…

…Wiley had another business meeting that got called for Monday 29 April in LA

…offers greetings to the Ferguson kids [names, ages are known to Ursula?]

Before ending the call, Wiley’s ex-wife comments that…

…Wiley better not be late with the alimony check again this month.

 


 

When future calls come in, Ursula – and Garrett – will have a story for all inquisitors…

…Wiley has disappeared, having possibly absconded with a client’s money or…

…Wiley seems to have simply run off to points unknown or…

…Mr. Ferguson is no longer with us.  He has not provided forwarding information.

 


 

Note: We have Garrett playing the rôle of Wiley for telephone calls and e-mail replies, but – oops, watch out for calls from Wiley’s ex-wife – hey, or anybody else who knows Wiley!  It is not practical to expect Ursula to screen all incoming calls.

 

Now, for in-person meetings, according to Crash Investigation – Version 1.1, Garrett’s persona is Philip, who ostensibly works for Wiley.  Why not the same for phone calls and e-mail messages?  Shall we simplify these matters by letting Wiley vanished from the enterprise completely?  I vote yes



E18 Excerpt from Alternate Ending -- Version 2.1.1

Ursula’s ‘frame-up’ plan in cahoots with Philip (Garrett’s persona’):

…locks part of the Russian’s dirty deposit inside the brown leather bag…

arranges to deliver the bag into Ethan’s possession as ‘blackmail payoff’

…poses as Philip’s secretary – who ‘thinks’ that Philip has a gambling debt…

…flies to Los Angeles to meet Ethan in person and pay off Philip’s debt,

…takes taxicab to meet Ethan at his apartment in Inglewood,

…hands over the locked bag (without the key) to Ethan, and…

…dashes away quickly in waiting taxicab.

…Philip (Garrett’s persona’) notifies the Russian of Ethan’s…

…theft {*} and hiding place address of the apartment in Inglewood…

likely personal locations, and schedule

…Ursula dials 911 on throw-away cell-phone in taxicab on way to LAX…

…tearfully tips off law enforcement person(s) in Los Angeles…

…that the Russian (by name) is threatening to ‘harm’ Ethan.

…Law enforcement puts heavy surveillance on the Russian and Ethan…

…Russian kills Ethan, takes brown leather bag – and gets caught by cops.

 

Inasmuch as Ursula and Garrett are shutting down the enterprise, here’s another – simple – idea: Let’s have them load up the brown leather bag with a selection of incriminating business documents – both authentic and fake. (Readers don’t need to be given any details.)

 
 

{*} The bogus ‘theft’ by Ethan needs to be rationalized for the Russian and explained simply to readers.  One concept would tie it back to the crash debris…

 

Review: Authorities have unresolved mystery about the large Suitcase with Wheels (SCW)…

…its tag number is linked via smart-phone scan to Garrett, and…

…Garrett is listed on the manifest for SC 1461, but…

…Garrett’s body is not identifiable in crash debris, and…

…Garrett’s NOK, his widow Jennifer, does not file a claim…

Geoffrey calls or visits Jennifer in June 2019 to inquire about the bag and…

 

Suitcase with Wheels (SCW) – Version 1.0



E19 Escerpt from Suitcase with Wheels -- Version 1.0

Reference: ‘Crash Scenes’ – Version 2.1

Thursday 25 April 2019 3:00 PM

 

Wiley takes delivery of large Samsonite suitcase with wheels from courier.

Wiley tips the courier, rolls the suitcase from the curb to the check-in counter at street level.

Wiley checks in suitcase using Garrett’s smart-phone.  Clerk: ‘Have a good flight, Mr. Anthony.’

 


 

Reference: Logical Opportunities in 'Crash Scene' – Version 1.3

 

Since Garrett is on the manifest for SC1641…

…his burned body is apparently/obviously one of the 39 that cannot be forensically identified, but…

…his paper luggage tag on the large suitcase with wheels…

…does ‘confirm’ his presence in the plane and also eventually

…connects investigators from both LOL divisions together…

 


Reference: Crash Investigation – Version 1.2:

Thursday 25 April 2019 8:45 PM some hours after crash of SC1461

 

Crash-site news from San Luis Obispo, ‘looped’ by networks on several channels:

…sunset lighting on hilly farm land

…large recognizable Rudder and tail fragments of flight SC1461

…county fire department with hoses pouring water onto the base of the smoke cloud

…strong lighting from television klieg lights are already playing on the scene

…abundant smoke flows back and forth in the evening breeze

…flames are still visible above the smoldering ashes in the middle distance

…not far off are the black, mangle shapes of burned corpses, and scattered luggage

…nearby are shoeless, grotesque victims (from the tail section), still strapped in their seats

…close up we see a undamaged Samsonite suitcase that has wheels and is rather large

 


Reference: Crash Investigation -- Version 1.1

That first evening, after…

…the opening of the brown leather bag followed by…

…the transformative “hook-switch” ploy (THSP),

…Ursula tells Garrett that he must leave SF immediately.

…Garrett looks quizzical, of course, and asks Ursula why…

…Ursula explains…

Garrett would be known in SF as his head office is there; he would have to move about discreetly (until he grew a beard or something.

…Garrett asks where should he go…

…Ursula answers…Las Vegas

 


 

Russian (alongside his thuggish courier) watches repeating news about crash and …

…remarks that Wiley might have been on flight SC1461,

…calls Wiley…

Wiley's smartphone rings in Garrett's hands

…Russian’s caller identification (“Boris”) is unknown to Garrett…

…Garrett shows screen to Ursula, who tells him not to answer it.

 


 

Reference: (in situ)

Saturday 27 April 2019 (2 days after crash)


Ursula’s phone rings – Wiley’s ex-wife, identified by first name, is calling from Daly City, California…

…asks if Wiley is still in Los Angeles (he was supposed to return Friday 26 April).

…says that Wiley’s visitation with the kids was scheduled for today Saturday 27 April

Ursula quickly concocts a simple story…

…Wiley had another business meeting that got called for Monday 29 April in LA

…offers greetings to the Ferguson kids [names, ages are known to Ursula?]

Before ending the call, Wiley’s ex-wife comments that…

…Wiley better not be late with the alimony check again this month.

 


Reference: (in situ)

Saturday 11 May 2019

 

Funeral for Garrett in Palos Verdes is attended by Ethan [!]

 

Ethan begins his efforts for a romantic relationship with (insurance-rich) Jennifer.

 


Reference: (in situ)

15 June 2019

 

While growing his beard in Las Vegas, Garrett is sighted on the Strip – but not confronted – by Ethan

 

The surprising identification in Las Vegas of Garrett by Ethan cannot take place until some elapsed time after the funeral.

 

Ethan…

…is not too smart, greedy as hell, and addicted to gambling,

…is down on his luck and deep in debt to unseemly lenders,

…thinks Jennifer’s insurance is OK, but maybe there’s more scratch to be had,

…spends money on alcohol,

…gets abusive to Jennifer, who is pregnant with Garrett’s child,

…speculates that Garrett has somehow faked his own death…

…to hide big gambling winnings from Jennifer or…

…to escape debts and unpaid taxes

…to start a new life with a rich woman or something

…has suspicions that Jennifer is colluding with Garrett in an insurance fraud, so…

does not tell Jennifer about the Las Vegas sighting and…

…decides on a secret stratagem to blackmail Garrett.

 


Reference: (in situ)

From May 2019 through, say, November 2019

 

Boris (‘the Russian’) periodically calls Ursula – and Philip (Garrett’s persona)…

…insisting that he knows…

…that Wiley was killed that plan,

…that the suitcase he gave Wiley survived the crash,

…that SkyCal won’t honor his claim for the suitcase,

…asking Ursula, as Wiley’s employer, to file a claim for the suitcase, then later…

…accusing Ursula for filing the claim and keeping the money for herself.

Ursula responds to Boris with appropriate denials and agreements, meanwhile…

…filing the claim on behalf of Wiley’s NOK (his children),

…which gets settled by LOL with Wiley’s ex-wife.

…getting the Samsonite suitcase from Wiley’s ex-wife as ‘souvenir’, then…

…enduring (ostensibly) long bureaucratic delays until…

 

Mike, see Alternative Ending – Version 2.1.1, which is excerpted below.

 


Reference: Alternative Ending -- Version 2.1.1:

[date to be determined] June 2019:

 

Review: Investigators have an unsolved mystery about the Samsonite suitcase with wheels (SCW)

…its tag number is linked via smart-phone scan to Garrett, and…

…Garrett is listed on the manifest for crashed flight SC1461, but…

…Garrett’s body is not identifiable in crash debris, and…

…Garrett’s smartphone with its SIM card were destroyed in the fire; moreover…

…Garrett’s NOK (his widow Jennifer) does not file a claim…

…Geoffrey asks Reginald to visit Jennifer to inquire about the SCW and…

This is new, Mike.

Someone is visiting Jennifer when Reginald shows up – Ethan [!]

 

Reginald rings the doorbell at the Anthony residence in Palos Verdes…

…Ethan answers the door and…

…asks Reginald why he is there, commenting…

…that after all, the LOL settlement has been paid.

…Reginald says that he merely has a few routine questions for Mrs Anthony…

…Was Garrett carrying any luggage? No, only briefcase and carry-on garment bag.

…So he did not check a suitcase onto the flight?  No, already answered.

…Did your husband own a Samsonite suitcase?  Yes, but it’s up in the attic.

…May I see it please? It’s just routine, ma’am.  Ethan interjects: Why?

…Reginald answers that inspectors found a suitcase and want to find the owner.

…Ethan suddenly realizes that something valuable must be in that suitcase…

…sees an opportunity to file a new claim with SkyCal, and…

…tells Jennifer not to show Reginald the suitcase in the attic, then…

…asks Reginald to leave at once.

 

Reginald reports back to Geoffrey what took place. 

Geoffrey tells Reginald that that gives him another idea and to forget the matter for now.

 


 

Reference: Alternative Ending -- Version 2.1.1

 

Ursula creates ‘frame-up’ plan in cahoots with Philip (Garrett’s persona’):

…purchases a Samsonite suitcase that matches the one in news video of crash scene…

…locks part of the Russian’s dirty deposit inside the Samsonite suitcase

…poses as Philip’s secretary – who ‘thinks’ that Philip has a gambling debt…

…flies to Los Angeles to meet Ethan in person and pay off Philip’s debt,

…takes taxicab to meet Ethan at his apartment in Inglewood,

…hands over the locked Samsonite suitcase to Ethan, and…

…dashes away quickly in the waiting taxicab.

…Philip (Garrett’s persona) notifies Boris the Russian of Ethan’s…

…theft (by phony claim) and the address of his apartment in Inglewood…

…Ursula in taxicab dials 911 on throw-away cell-phone on way to LAX…

…tearfully tips off law enforcement person(s) in Los Angeles…

…that a Russian (Boris whatever) is threatening to ‘harm’ Ethan.

…Law enforcement puts heavy surveillance on the Boris and Ethan…

…Boris kills Ethan, takes Samsonite suitcase – and gets caught by cops.

 


E20

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