Episode 22

MY V.I.
(a soap opera)



Monday morning found Cindy Corrales frustrated and parked in front of her television set.

She was on the phone with Trudy Hayes and they both were watching the local news as it showed video from the night before of Billy Ray Jones (a.k.a. Elan Jones) being arrested at the Village Inn.

"That's him, Trudy! That's Mr. gorgeous, wonderful, hunky, I tossed my wife off the boat, man."

"Oh Cindy, you're right - he is gorgeous!"

"I know, right? Trudy, how come every guy I fall for turns out to be crazy, married, trans-gendered or a murderer? It's just not fair!"

"Oh Cindy - life's not fair. You're a catch and any guy would be lucky to have you. You just haven't found Mr. Right yet."

"Maybe you're right but I'm just afraid that, at this rate, by the time I fall for Mr. Right I'll break my hip!"

"Oh Cindy, look - it's Charmaine!"

The t.v. news reporter began to interview Charmaine:

"Miss Charmaine Truce works as a waitress at the historic Village Inn on Balboa Island and it was her quick thinking and heroic action that brought this dangerous fugitive to justice. Miss Truce, how was it that you recognized Mr. Jones?"

"Well, Clint; I've been a fan of America's Most Wanted for many years and I knew the moment that I laid eyes on that scumbag that I'd seen his face somewhere and so I looked on the AMW website and voila, there he was!"

"Simply amazing! Well, Miss Truce . . . "

"My friends call me CharTruce."

"O.k., CharTruce. I've heard rumblings that you may receive the key to the city from the mayor."

"Well, that would be wonderful but I'm sure I wouldn't have it for long cause I'm always losing my keys!"

"Well . . back to you in the studio. This is Clint Lusterbaum reporting from Balboa Island."

"She was terrific!" Trudy squealed.

Cindy was less impressed.

"He's not a scumbag and besides, whatever happened to innocent before proven guilty?"

"Well, the news said that the cruise ship has him on surveillance tape throwing her overboard."

"Hey, Trudy. My call waiting's going off - hang on."

Cindy looked at the incoming number but didn't recognize it.

"I'm not going to answer that. So . . . with all this fugitive excitement I keep forgetting that poor Michelle is out there somewhere."

"I know. I heard the police completely searched both the big and little islands looking for her and Sky but didn't find them, thank god!"

"I know. Trudy, she's really gotten herself into a big mess this time. All I know is I'm playing dumb and keeping quiet. I believe the only people who know the truth about Trixie Louise is you, me, Ally and now Charmaine."

"You don't think Charmaine would say anything, do you?"

"Not as long as Michelle doesn't end up on America's Most Wanted. That Charmaine sure loves that show!"

"O.K. Well, I've got to get over to the V.I. and explain all this to Aric. So, you're gonna cover Michelle's shift tonight, right?"

"Oh yes, I'll be there. I just hope Michelle's alright."

With that, the two of them hung up and Cindy began to play with her dog, Vegas when she remembered the call she missed. Checking her phone, she saw she had one voicemail. When she retreived it she heard the following message:

"Cindy, this is Michelle. I need your help. I'm at a payphone by the ferry and I don't have any more change to call you back. I'm hiding in the ladies room right next to the ferry. Please come get me. I guess I blacked out again and I'm freaking out. I'm standing here with this butt-ugly evening dress on and some ratty-ass beehive wig on my head. Please, please come get me as soon as you get this message! Please hurry! Bye."


TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF MY V.I.!