Chapter Two

Driving across the icy bridge, Paul turned off the headlights and pressed his foot down harder on the accelerator. A shadow ran across the road and Blaisdell slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting the figure. The car skidded out of control and came to a crashing halt as the grill smashed into the bridge's guard rail.

Blaisdell slowly opened the car door and climbed out of the vehicle. He examined the damage as smoke came up from under the hood.

Footsteps caught his attention. Pulling out his gun, Blaisdell quickly turned around and pointed the weapon at the man in front of him.

"Easy friend." The man raised his hands in the air.

"You're the man who ran out in front of me," Paul waved the stranger against the side of the bridge with his gun. "What were you trying to do, get yourself killed?"

"No," The man answered as he stared straight into Paul's eyes. "I was trying to stop you from killing yourself."

"How could you have known…”  Blaisdell's voice trailed off. He lifted his head and angrily returned the stare. "Why am I talking to you? I owe you no explanation."

"Apparently you don’t realize how ending your life will affect both your family and your friends.” The man walked closer to Blaisdell until there were only inches between the two men. "Do you really care?"

"What business is it of yours? You don't know me from John Doe." Paul kept the weapon pointed at the man. This stranger knew too much about his life and it unnerved him. "You don't know what you're talking about?"

"You're Paul Blaisdell. You think your family would be better off if you never lived." The stranger began. "How is that for starters?"

Paul's mouth dropped open until a thought came to mind. Only one explanation could explain how this stranger knew his true intention. "Kermit sent you, didn't he?"

"I don't know Kermit," the man admitted.

Paul tilted his head back slightly. Suspicion ran rampant. "Then tell me why you are here?"

The man smiled slightly as he touched Paul's shoulder and squeezed it. "You have no idea how much you have affected people's lives over the years. Do you know what their lives would have been like if you had not interfered in them?"

"I know they would be better off if I had never lived," Paul said bitterly as he remembered the attack on his family almost two years ago by two members of the Falcon's Wing. He had relived the attack every day since it had happened. Remembered hearing his wife and two daughters’ terrified screams as bullets ripped though the French Doors, not to mention seeing his son diving over the table, still sent shivers down his back.

"Paul Blaisdell, my name is Charles." The stranger introduced himself as he began to walk Blaisdell across the bridge. "I'm going to grant your wish," He waved his hand and the snow suddenly stopped. "You never lived."

As the two men crossed the bridge a police car came rushing up the street to meet them.

TBC