Episode 20: Shotgun Wedding (Part 2)

Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

Julia heads down the hallway, content with her work and reaches the curtain when she hears her cell phone ringing.

"Always the most inopportune moments…" she says to herself as she searches through her purse to find the phone. She checks the display for caller ID but the number is not listed. Flipping open the case she puts it to her ear and brushes her hair out of the way with her hand.

"Hello?"

"Julia. It’s me." A gruff voice whispers. "I need your help."

"Darren?" Julia looks around to see if anybody is nearby. She turns to face the curtain. "You’re calling me from jail? What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

"I have to get out of here."

"I told you when the time was right I would arrange it! Now is not the right time. I can’t believe you’re calling me. If anybody finds out you did and they realize that I am connected to the Delta Group, the whole thing could blow up in my face."

"It’s already blown up in mine. You didn’t warn me that getting shot by your trigger happy sister-in-law was part of the bargain."

"Well," Julia scoffs, "If you hadn’t tried to kill the little twit none of this would ever have happened."

"I was protecting myself."

"Your job was to get rid of Morgan and leave town. You didn’t need to panic."

Julia can hear the barked orders from a member of staff and Darren speaks up, "Look I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you again."

"No Darren don’t." But it is too late. The line is cut dead and Julia angrily snaps her phone shut. "You imbecile." She sighs and puts a hand to her mouth, shaking. She is too damn close to getting caught.

Moving forward, Julia pulls back the curtain and jumps back aghast when she sees a smiling David standing there. "Oh dear. Who’s been a naughty girl." He shakes his head stifling his laughter.

"What do you mean?" Julia responds shakily. What a ridiculous thing to say.

"What a lame thing to say." David answers as though reading her mind. "You’re the head of the Delta Group aren’t you. You’ve been behind all of this. This is amazing!" he throws his arms round her and twirls her round.

"David put me down! What are you talking about?"

He drops her to the ground, "I want a piece of the action."

Julia narrows her eyes, "You’re going to. I told you the Wheeler Corporation will reward you generously when I take over."

"Maybe that’s not enough." David looks up thoughtfully and then focuses on Julia again. "But then again maybe it is. Either way I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I’m very proud of you Julia Wheeler."

"Really?" Julia’s face softens and she puts a hand to his chest. Maybe she can trust him.

"Definitely. And here I was thinking you were the shy and retiring type all along."

"Oh that’s me." Julia places her lips on his and kisses him again roughly.

"That’s my girl."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Jake’s eyes bulge grotesquely as Guy continues to drain the life from his body. "I warned you." Guy yells slamming Jake’s body against the ground. But the rage soon begins to disappear and looking at his almost dead enemy, Guy can not believe what he is doing. "Oh my god." Guy loosens his grip and backs away on his knees, stumbling as he does so.

Jake pants for breath and puts a hand to his throat. "You tried to kill me."

"I didn’t mean to…I…" Guy gets to his feet.

Furiously, Jake gets to his feet and drives forwards slamming into Guy’s body. He watches with horror as Guy falls backwards over the edge of the platform and his body lands with a thud on the concrete ground below.

* * *

"Move!" Stephanie’s voice booms as she drags Jessica down the driveway by her arm. The sunlight resting on the beautiful scenery is an ironic contrast to the ugly turn of events.

"What are you doing?" Jessica sobs.

"You are going to drive me to the church. And I know your brother is in the stables. One word and I will blow your head off."

Jessica’s face contorts with horror at the words and moving limply she obligingly unlocks the door to her car and drops down into the seat. Stephanie moves round the front of the car keeping her gun on Jessica to make sure she does not try to run away. Holding the steering wheel tightly, Jessica stiffens as Stephanie opens the door and sits down next to her.

"Go!" Stephanie shouts.

Jessica is frozen. She cannot move. Roughly, Stephanie leans over and slams Jessica’s hand on ignition making her scream. "Please don’t!"

"Then move!"

Switching on the engine nervously, Jessica puts her foot down on the gas pedal of the black Mercedes and sends it racing down the driveway.

"What’s down there?" Jessica asks noticing something next to Stephanie through the corner of her eye. It looks like a container of some kind.

"You’ll find out soon enough. Now drive to the church. You better pray your mother is there. Because if she isn’t…you’re dead."

* * *

Jake can hear a car leaving and guesses that Jessica has departed for the wedding.

"Guy?" Jake watches the body from the platform and recoils as he sees blood dripping from Guy’s mouth. He climbs down the unstable ladder and drops to the ground to check for a pulse.

"Wake up." Jake shakes the body. "Come on. Wake up." But there is no response and the pulse is weak. This is Jake’s chance to get rid of him.

"It was an accident." Jake says to himself as he brushes down his suit. "You fell…it wasn’t me." Jake heads out of the stables and gets into his car ready for the wedding leaving Guy’s bloody body unconscious on the stable floor.

Stephanie’s Car: Napa Valley

The journey remains silent adding an even more sinister atmosphere which unnerves Jessica greatly. She has stopped the tears and now realizes that the only way to get through to this woman is to try and reason with her. It is her only hope.

"Do you really want my mother dead?"

"Of course I do." Stephanie laughs at what she sees to be a simplistic question. "Don’t you see? She has to die!"

"Why?" Jessica’s eyes are transfixed on the road but her ears are just as alert to anything Stephanie has to say.

"Because it’s the only way. She’s laughing at me…they’re all laughing at me…" Stephanie bows her head, her eyes darting around. She seems to be in a state of confusion. "Angela told me…she said…and Cassie…laughing…"

"Stephanie? Don’t you realize that you will go to prison for this? What about Tommy? Do you think he wants to see that? If you let me go now…"

"No!" Stephanie’s head shoots up and she stares at Jessica, her eyes glowing with hatred. "Shut up."

"But…"

"I said shut up and I mean it! Do as I tell you!"

After several minutes of silence, Stephanie delves into her jacket making Jessica flinch. She pulls out a cell phone and dials a number. Home.

"Tommy?" Stephanie says lovingly.

Jessica moves involuntarily at the name. If anyone can save her from this it is him.

"Mom?" In the Elliott living room, Tommy looks at Mark who presses the speakerphone button.

"It’s nearly over Tommy. Mommy’s nearly finished."

"Mom…Jessica…what have you done with her…"

"She’s with me. She’s helping me."

"Helping you? What?" Tommy splutters and Mark takes over.

"Stephanie it’s me."

"Mark?" Stephanie’s eyes light up upon hearing the voice. "You came back?"

Jessica keeps on driving pretending not to be intrigued by the conversation.

"Of course I did. Now I’m home you don’t need to go through with this. Just…just…let Jessica go…and come home. I want to see you."

"No! That’s not the way!" Stephanie begins to mumble incoherently before continuing. "I may have to go away for a while after my work is done. But both of you remember I love you. I’ll be back."

Jessica’s heart pounds as she sees Stephanie preparing to end the phone call. She can’t let her only chance slip through her fingers, "Tommy!" she screams.

"Oh my God." Tommy listens intently to the speakerphone.

"Get to the church! She’s taking me to the church!"

"No!" Stephanie yells and slams the phone down against the plastic dashboard of the car. The phone’s casing drops to the ground and Stephanie uses her fist to break the remaining componenets. "What have you done?" She turns to Jessica and holds up the gun, "Why did you do that? You just made the biggest mistake of your life."

Tommy switches off the speakerphone as he hears the crackling noise and turns to Mark. "We’ve got to get there before my mother and warn everybody. I’ll call the police from the car."

"Okay I’ll drive."

Tommy hands Mark his car keys and the two men run out of the house. They jump into the unlocked car and hurtle down the driveway, the tyres skidding against the road.

Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

Not noticing his sister’s car parked across the street, Jake pulls up in his flashy sports car and runs across the lawn into the church.

In Jessica’s car, Stephanie watches Jake enter and then springs into action. "Come on." She jumps out of the car door and goes around to Jessica’s side, dragging her out by her arm once again. She grabs the keys from Jessica and leaves the car unlocked.

The two women run across the street with Jessica being dragged by her arm and Stephanie leads Jessica around the side of the church.

Inside Jake takes a seat at the back and Lauren runs over to him. "Where is your sister?" she asks angrily.

"I don’t know." He looks over to see Cassie and Isabelle holding flowers. Both are staring at him. "I assumed she came here."

"Well we’re going to have to start without her. I don’t believe this." Lauren nods to the minister and moves in front of Cassie and Isabelle. As the organ music swells, she begins to move elegantly down the aisle towards a smiling John. Her love.

Tommy’s Car: San Francisco

"Yes, Lt Arnold." Tommy yells down the phone with a sense of urgency as the car picks up speed crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. "The Holy Trinity Church on Hardcastle. She’s got a gun."

Mark winces upon hearing the words but does not let it detract from his concentration. Driving this fast, he needs to keep all his attention on the road.

"Quickly." Tommy switches off the phone with a beep and confirms his uncle’s hopes. "They’ll be there as soon as possible. I just hope it’s not too late."

Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

"You’re hurting me!" Jessica whispers as Stephanie leads her up a wooden staircase towards the gallery at the back of the church.

"Tough! It could be hurting a lot more." Stephanie reminds her, poking the gun in Jessica’s back.

Forcing Jessica to keep low, Stephanie pulls her onto the gallery where they kneel. It is a huge balcony, overlooking the main part of the church with an oak partition to stop anybody from falling over the edge. The sound of the minister’s words can be heard and Stephanie smiles wryly as she listens to them.

"Do you Lauren Jacqueline Wheeler take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?"

"She’s making a big mistake. Marriage ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe I can save her from a fate worse than death."

Jessica gasps with shock at the distasteful "gallows humor" and moves her eyes to the container that Stephanie has been carrying. It is a red, metal container with a word printed in black at the bottom. Jessica reads the word and her mind whirls with disbelief. G-A-S-O-L-I-N-E

She turns her back to Stephanie and tries to think rationally, her mind racing. What should she do? Down below, the organ music begins again and she can hear the guests begin to talk. The ceremony must be over! Maybe we can still get out of here.

But the following event only takes a split second and before Jessica can realize what is happening it is too late. She hears a deafening gunshot and turns almost in slow motion to see Stephanie stood, firing her gun at the congregation below.

The guests jump to the floor as chaos breaks out and John pulls Lauren down as she pushes Julia out of the line of fire. Blood trickles down her white flowing dress and John looks into her eyes.

"It’s okay." She assures him putting cloth from her dress to her wound. "It’s only my arm. Who is it? Who's doing this?"

Amidst the panic, Julia turns her head to the gallery. She sees Stephanie smiling. Then, she disappears.

"Come on!" Stephanie booms at a sobbing Jessica and putting the gun to her back, she pulls her down the spiral oak staircase that leads to the congregation. "Nobody move!" Stephanie shouts to the guests as they realize what is happening.

Jessica continues to sob and Jake makes an attempt to rescue her but Stephanie swings the gun in his direction. "I wouldn’t if I were you." Keeping Jessica in front of her, Stephanie takes the gasoline and begins to pour it over the ground. She covers as much space as she can, anxious to see the wood of the church burn.

She takes out a match and Jessica screams, "No!"

"It’s too late." Stephanie laughs and drops the match to the ground. Amidst a blue haze, the burning flames spread down the aisle and the guests move towards the front of the church, trapped by the growing fire.

Through the flames, Stephanie looks around the church and sees Lauren bleeding at the altar. "No. It wasn’t meant to be you. If you hadn’t have pushed her out of the way…"

Her words are cut short when Jessica is yanked away from her and a furious Julia grabs the hand holding the gun. "Give it to me!" Julia screams.

"No! You’re going to die! You have to die!"

Michael runs up the church and Isabelle stands behind him as Julia struggles with Stephanie for the gun. "Michael!" Isabelle screams hoarsely, choking on the smoke. "Watch the flames!"

Suddenly another gunshot rings out and Michael falls to the floor. Isabelle runs over to his body, "What have you done?" she screams. Stephanie stops struggling and darts her eyes around the room to find David. He stares back at her for a moment and she speaks under her breath, "Burn you bastard."

Slamming the gun into the side of Julia’s head, Stephanie leads her down the steps and out of the church. They go to Jessica’s car and Stephanie gets into the driving seat putting the gun down.

"Where are we going?" Julia asks breathessly. She wipes sweat from her brow.

"You’ll see."

Tommy’s Car: San Francisco

Hearing police sirens in the distance, Mark and Tommy watch with terror as the church comes into view. Flames are dancing through the windows as guests race outside. Mark prepares to slam on the brakes but Tommy sees something.

"Mark! It’s Jessica’s car! My mother is inside!"

"Shit!" Mark yells and slams his foot down sending the car shooting away.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Everything is perfectly still, the estate empty except for one person. The door to the mansion swings on its hinges and inside the hallway shows sign of a struggle. The phone is broken and there is a small patch of blood on the rug.

Outside, only the sound of the birds can be heard but the driveway is marked by tire tracks leading to the stables. And that is where the only person remains. Sprawled unconscious on the floor, blood trickles from Guy’s mouth.

But in his unconsciousness, he does not know what has been going on around him.

Holy Trinity Church: San Francisco

The guests pour like water out of the front doors of the church, desperate to escape the flames. The minister helps John support Lauren who is becoming groggy from the loss of blood.

"Michael." She whimpers. "Help him."

"I can’t leave you." John replies. He is sweating and choking on the smoke.

"I said help him!" Lauren pleads.

The minister manages to get Lauren outside and John runs over to a desperate Isabelle. Her dress is covered in blood from where Michael has been shot in the chest. "Here. Let me help." He lifts Michael’s right arm and Isabelle takes the other side, reluctant to let this man help her in any way. Realizing that it is the only way to get Michael to safety, she obliges.

Outside the church, Cassie breathes deeply and watches the horrified guests comfort each other. As she moves around she hears segments of conversations.

"…who was that woman?"

"…what about Michael?"

"…I hope to God the police catch her."

Hearing the questions, Cassie pats her stomach gently. "Thank God you’re okay." She mutters to herself. But one thing suddenly hits her. Guy, Jake and Jessica are all missing. She searches the lawn frantically with her eyes but there is no sign of them. Her breathing getting deeper with panic she turns to face the church.

Cassie heads to the steps but without warning she is thrown backwards when an explosion comes from the back of the church sending flames shooting into the sky. The screaming women fill Cassie’s head but she is able to make one realization. So many people are still left in there…

Jessica’s Car: San Francisco

Stephanie looks in her rear view mirror and sees Tommy driving behind. A police car is also attempting to catch up with them.

"Stop the car!" Julia demands. She grabs Stephanie’s arm.

"Get off me!" Stephanie blares and hits Julia away as the car makes a sharp turn.

Noticing an object overhead, Julia looks upwards and sees a police helicopter hovering above them. Stephanie notices the distraction and briefly raises her eyes to see it.

"Why did it all have to go wrong?" she slams her hands down on the steering wheel causing Julia to lean back in her seat. "You did this!" Stephanie raves angrily.

"Just stop the car." Julia yells back. She is no longer afraid. Just angry for what her daughter went through and desperate to save her own life from this delusional woman.

Julia panics as she notices the bay towards them. The water glistens in the sunlight and the piers begin to get closer and closer…

"Where is she going?" Mark widens his eyes and speeds up in the other car.

"No…she wouldn’t…" Tommy holds onto his seat and closes his eyes as though he knows what is going to happen. "Oh my God!"

"Stephanie!" Julia screams as the water gets nearer. "Please!"

"I warned you!" Stephanie smiles. "Say your prayers."

Overtaken by a reflex, Julia lunges for the steering wheel and yanks it to her side. The car skids precariously across the street, narrowly escaping a collision. Stephanie uses her fists to bang Julia’s hands but cannot remove them from the wheel. The two women struggle desperately and as the car skids it moves closer to the water.

"Brake!" Julia screams shrilly. But it is too late. The car mounts a wooden pier and gives Julia a jolt as it reaches the end. Julia places her hands in front of her as if to try and stop the inevitable. Stephanie remains calm but Julia’s screams can be heard as the car plunges off the pier into the water.

"Stop!" Tommy yells as he watches the car crash down into the river.

The car’s tires skid on the sandy ground and Tommy and Mark jump out, running over to the pier. Sirens fill the air around them and all they can do is watch with fear as the car sinks into the water below.

That is the conclusion of Season One of Power and Deception.

To read a sneak preview of Season Two, Click here

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