Charley

Charley’s Character Model – Monica Potter

Orphaned at twelve, Charley’s teen years were harsh. Her parents, Chase and Christine, and both sets of her grandparents died in a plane crash. Chase survived several hours. However, he succumbed to his injuries at Fairfax Community Hospital. Afterwards, Charley lived with her aunt, Beverly, her mother’s older sister. Chase, like Charley was an only child. Beverly failed as a guardian. An assistant district attorney for Albemarle County, Beverly was unavailable and parenting wasn’t on her agenda. Many nights, young Charley slept when Beverly arrived home late and exhausted. Never married, Beverly dedicated her life to the law. Something Charley learned through her aunt’s dedication to her career. Charley cared for herself. After school, she prepared dinner for one. Being alone was customary, ingrained. She never understood the concept of loneliness until she met Sean Murphy.

Ruger Mark 3

On her sixth birthday, Chase’s present to his daughter was a Ruger Mark III. Christine expressed her disapproval. Every weekend, Chase and Charley spent hours at the firing range. It didn’t take long for Charley to become proficient enough to upgrade to other weapons, such as the shotgun. The following year, Charley enrolled into mixed martial arts. Training that would serve her well later in life. During her learning, her instructor introduced her to knives and swords. She travels nowhere without her D2 knife strapped to her belt. Charley’s favored sword is the katana. A collector of weapons, she has a hidden weapons room in her home, accessible in her closet. People aware of the vault refer to it as her museum. All her memorability is kept there. Even a certain mug she swiped.

Charley’s Beloved Katana

Speaking of swiping, Charley has a habit to “collecting” souvenirs from places that have meaning or purpose. The collection contains items some would dismiss as junk. Others are held dear to her heart. Her father’s military service medals while a U.S. Marine, her mother’s engagement ring. Tickets to the theater she and Garrett attended two weeks before his death. A red button that loosened from her shirt and fell, the night her father died while she played outside on the hospital grounds with a new friend.

Charley has other vices, which will be revealed as the series progresses. As her life story unfolds, readers will sympathize and understand why Charley practices a few questionable activities. Some illegal. Wait until Murphy discovers, through this he will understand the only thing Charley ever wanted was personal peace.