Maggie-Della Mysteries
Our Cast of Characters
Maggie and Della live in a very busy world, with friends, famiy and business associates filling
their lives to the brim. Here's an introduction to the many other people you'll encounter in
the stories:
Walter Cameron
In his late 50s, early 60s. He is a retired business owner (plumbing business) who employs
Maggie to help find his estranged daughter, now living in Las Vegas.
Walter is Della's first real relationship since her separation from philandering ex-husband,
Tony. Walter is extremely funny, bawdy and full of mischief. He is a tad overweight, since he
loves junk food as much as Della does.
John Chilcote
John is the director of Allen Franklin Art Museum, where Della used to work. He is in his mid
60s, married with three children and two grandchildren.
Took job over from a museum director that was keeping the museum in the dark ages. Is
allowing Museum to explore new artists and concepts, including exhibitions created by blind
artists such as Della.
Alice DesChamps
Social worker and close friend of Maggie Szczep. She acts as a liaison to the police, since
neither Maggie nor Della are cops. Alice is in her late 40s and loves to cook, along with
Maggie.
Brett Houston
One of Della's beaus. Bret is a trim 6' 2, with dark blond hair and blue eyes. Texas born,
raised in Houston. Worked his way up ranks there and wanted something new Got a job in
Boston after divorce. No children.
Not college educated, went straight into Fire Academy. Dad was firefighter. Brett's first love
is the fire station and the men under him.
Brenda Mackey
Former porn actress and girlfriend of the pea-brained but nice Johnny Trocadero (more
information about Johnny, below). Brenda is an overwhelmingly bosomy lady who becomes
Maggie's pal, regardless of what Maggie thinks about this arrangement. Brenda is not that
bright, either. In fact, Johnny's a college professor by comparison. But - like Johnny - she's
nice. Maggie wonders how many small children could be sheltered under her chest during a
rain storm.
Aly McKearny
Director of womens shelter. Ferverently anti-pornography and has gone on public record to
this effect. Feels it's degrading. Has a temper and has threatened men in the porn industry.
Karen/Kay Miller (AKA "Smokey")
5' 9, brown hair, light blue eyes. At work, she's Kay. Otherwise, she's Smokey
Kay/Smokey is very professional, believes in the job. Highly ethical, full of integrity.
Competent, no-nonsense. Knows what she needs to do and can act quickly. Her superiors
want to promote her to an administrative job, but she doens't want that. She often shows
up others who are more careless or who want to cover up things.
Knows the medical profession and the people in it. A lot of ego. Knows people like Tony.
Knows people in general. Originally wanted to be an anthropologist, but was limited in her
options at the time. Has also studied psychology.
Tom Moran
Coordinator of museum exhibit: "Perceptions" in Family Secrets. Della's former co-worker at
museum, hasn't seen Della since she left due to disability. A personal friend of Della's. Is gay.
Takes the initiative of inviting Della to work on the "Perceptions" exhibit, not necessarily with
the approval of his boss/es. Tom has the necessarily authority and independence to do this,
though.
He's married to his partner (since this is Massachusetts). Tom's partner's name is Brian.
Jerry Penney
Blinded several years ago in an accident. Was brought back to life by Della, who basically
forced him out of his self pity and depression. He didn't like that treatment - as Della knew -
but it was extremely successful.
Jerry has become accustomed to his condition and has become rather a flamboyant
character. He has a guide dog who wears a red bandana and a sign on his harness that
reads: "Hey! Hands off! Can't you see I'm workin' here?"
Jerry has a sense of humor, particularly when it comes to Della. He's a bit cynical and his
humor has a cutting edge. He loves to tease Della and is very good at pushing her buttons.
Jerry is a musician: singer and pianist. This is something Della and Maggie both got him into.
He jokes with his audience about being "Blind Bob, the Fumbling Musician." Like Della, he
uses humor to make people comfortable with him. He also likes to work with kids, to help
them understand and accept blindness in ways that the adults in their lives can't or won't.
Jerry is married to Jean Penney and they have two young daughters (four and six years old,
respectively), the older one of whom is named after Della - much to Della's chagrin. Jerry did
that deliberately. He loves his kids and acknowledges that they did as much to bring him
back into the world and out of his misery as did Della.
Underneath his barbs and joking, Jerry is really rather fond of Della. He'll never admit it,
though!
Tony Peterson
Della's ex-husband. Tony is 5' 10" with dark brown curly hair, now turning grey, and deep
blue eyes.
Tony is head of Neurology at Boston General Hospital. Educated at Johns Hopkins in
Baltimore, MD, where he first met Della. Della, still sighted at the time, was an art student.
Tony posed for her as a nude model to pay for his every day expenses, although he was
awarded a full scholarship to medical school. He and Della started dating while still a
student. She supported them while he was finishing school. The couple moved to Boston to
complete Tony's residency at Boston General Hospital.
Tony has cheated on his wife since his residency and moved in with his current mistress
while still married to Della.
Robert Peterson
Tony Peterson's younger brother by 10 years. He has remained single and lives in Los
Angeles. Robert works as a manager for the Consolidated Small Business Loans in California.
Marcella Sasso
Forensic anthropologist, brought in to clean up Boston's crime lab. Marcella is sharp-witted,
with a tongue and intellect to match; her manners at times border on being too blunt, and
there are times when she lets her passion for a case over-ride her self-censor. Patience is
not always her strong point, especially when dealing politicians, or anyone who thinks they
know everything when they clearly don't. Conversely, she can be very patient and caring
towards the victims family, exuding an air professionalism that easily makes them feel that
there is someone on their side.
She is though, highly dedicated to her job, and finds because of her obligations that it's hard
to make friends, never mind find the time to nurture them.
Education:
High School: Newton North - graduated at the age of 15
College: Masters degree: Forensic DNA and Serology University of florida
Bachelors degree: Anthropology University of Florida
Masters degree: Forensic Anthropology University of Tennessee Knoxville
Due to her being a minor when she graduated from H.S., she and her parents moved to
Florida so that she could pursue her double majors. After she graduated, she went on to
Tennessee in order to earn her Masters in anthropology while her parents stayed behind.
Work history:
Marcella interned at the Body Farm while she earned her Masters in Forensic Anthropology.
After she graduated she was offered a full-time position, where she worked for nearly 2
years. She then took a position with the FBI crime lab, where she worked for nearly 20
years. During that time her reputation as a dogged investigator with a high close rate grew.
She has on several occasions been called to lend her expertise to other labs that were
without an anthropologist, or where natural disaster has struck (she assisted remains
identification in New Orleans).
In 2007, her boss approached her about taking over Boston's crime lab; Marcella jumped at
the chance, looking forward to the challenge. So during that summer she came back to
Boston where she was assigned the position of super-intendant of the whole dilapidated
Boston crime lab, and the monumental task of fixing it. Part of the deal was that she was
given complete control over the hiring and firing of personnel not only in the lab, but in the
M.E. office which had also suffered greatly from incompetence.
Despite being born in Newton, she is treated as an outsider by the Mayor, his cronies, and
several higher-ups of law enforcement. The chief of police doesn't like the fact that he will no
longer be able to stick his undesirables in either the ballistics, or the fingerprint labs, and
has made no bones about letting Marcella know this. Not that she gives a damn, she has
her plate full trying to recruit her lab with competent people(though she does on occasion
go out of her way to show what a bombastic buffoon the chief is).
While her new position calls for a lot of time spent in the office pushing paper, she still will
go out into the field, either in the capacity of her expertises, or to check on her team's
progress.
Dan Sexton
Supervisor of data systems at Boston City Hall. Is fully blind from retinitis pigmentosa, with
only light perception. Uses a guide dog, Samson. Married to Skylar Nicole Sexton-Lloyd,
Opthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Dan is o riginally from Texas, with a neatly trimmed brown hair, parted in the middle, with
touch of grey in beard. He is the father of Daniel Richard Sexton II, Architect, living in
Houston, TX. Usually wears western type clothing, jeans, pointy toe boots, white western
cut shirts for work, denim shirts in winter, prefers black T-shirts in summer (with pockets for
smokes)! When relaxing in summer will wear blue jean cut offs, t-shirts and tennis shoes.
Wears sun glasses most of the time, not for cosmetic reasons but eyes sensitive to bright
light.
As a youth was an artist, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal and some arcrylic painting. Switching
from art to music around age 18. Self taught musician, plays by ear. Sings, plays drums,
guitar and bass guitar. Played in a variety of bands from 18 to around 45, now enjoys a little
caraoke but doesn't play with bans any longer. Will pick up the guitar and spill out and old
rock or country song while sipping an ice cold beer among friends.
Dan's brother, Michael Bryan Sexton, has been blind from RP since his early teens. He works
as a computer programmer at a college in Missouri.
Met Skylar during his college years playing music in a club. After graduation with BS in
computer science went to work as a computer programmer supporting and helping his new
wife Skylar through medical school. They had one son, Daniel Richard Sexton II while Skylar
was doing her internship. Dan lacking affection as a child now has the loving family he
wanted. Dan and Skylar are both affectionate and huggy type people, not afraid to show
that they care. Due to Dan's RP, Skylar directed her medical career in that direction. Dan is
still a smoker and Skylar is forever doing little things to make him quit.
Dan is slender and wiry. He works out regularly and is adept in the martial arts. He acquired
a black belt after becoming blind. He is good natured and humorous, with strong vestiges of
a southern accent. An up person with a quick wit, a great sense of humor, and a great
person to have as a friend. As most people with RP do, spent many years adjusting to the
constant changes that occurred in his vision due to RP. Going through stages of depression
when vision loss occurred. Now that his vision is fully gone the adjusting period is over, he
has moved on with life taking the normal up and downs life puts in your path. With is up
beat personality and quick wit, he has the advantage of putting fully sighted people at ease,
some times making them forget that he is blind. Helps others adjust to RP through computer
groups and telephone.
Ed Sheppard
A beau of Della's, also an Emergency Room doctor at Boston General and Mt. Auburn
Hospitals in Boston and Cambridge, respectively. Knows Tony Peterson, but not as a
cheating philanderer. He's in his late 50s to early 60s and rides a souped up Harley Davidson
Ava Simmons
Ava is in her mid to late 20s, a college grad with business degree
In the porno business, trying to get out. Started shooting porno films to pay for college. Met
boyfriend Joey Livenstein, who became her manager. He controlled the business in her
name. She did not know he was taking her for everything. He took out large loans and put
the money into personal accounts unknown to Ava. He now thinks she is too old and her
time in this business is up. He up and left, leaving her with a lot of bills. She is being sued
and not so nice people are wanting their money. In order to pay back these rather shady
characters, she has to do even more porno.
Rather chesty and is friend of Matt and Brenda.
Johnny Trocadero
Johnny works at Joseph & Antonette's place as a waiter. Dumb as a post but, as his father
says, no one leaves without paying their bill. Maggie meets him there, when she takes Della
out for lunch. Johnny's a big galoot, body builder and all around nice guy. He eventually finds
a job at UPS and starts delivering packages to Maggie and Della's office.
Joseph and Antonette Trocadero
Johnny's parents and the owners of the trattoria where he works as a waiter. Both are
straight from the old country. They have the one son, Johnny. They live above the place and
do all the cooking and normal things with the resturant.
Joseph is a dark haired tall man, big, with a booming voice. He's one of those men you
wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley, but he's got a great sense of humour and is
protective of his friends.
Antonette rules the roost. She can get Joseph to do what she wants just by saying his
name. She's a short stocky woman with her hair pulled back into a roll bun, greying.
Both of them are the love of each other's life. One would die without the other. She's
cooking and he's dipping bread in her sauce. She smacked him with a spoon and he smacks
her butt. They still love to play and tease each other.
They want to leave the place to Johnny, but realize he's too dumb to make a go of it.
Maggie and Della live in a very busy world, with friends, famiy and business associates filling
their lives to the brim. Here's an introduction to the many other people you'll encounter in
the stories:
Walter Cameron
In his late 50s, early 60s. He is a retired business owner (plumbing business) who employs
Maggie to help find his estranged daughter, now living in Las Vegas.
Walter is Della's first real relationship since her separation from philandering ex-husband,
Tony. Walter is extremely funny, bawdy and full of mischief. He is a tad overweight, since he
loves junk food as much as Della does.
John Chilcote
John is the director of Allen Franklin Art Museum, where Della used to work. He is in his mid
60s, married with three children and two grandchildren.
Took job over from a museum director that was keeping the museum in the dark ages. Is
allowing Museum to explore new artists and concepts, including exhibitions created by blind
artists such as Della.
Alice DesChamps
Social worker and close friend of Maggie Szczep. She acts as a liaison to the police, since
neither Maggie nor Della are cops. Alice is in her late 40s and loves to cook, along with
Maggie.
Brett Houston
One of Della's beaus. Bret is a trim 6' 2, with dark blond hair and blue eyes. Texas born,
raised in Houston. Worked his way up ranks there and wanted something new Got a job in
Boston after divorce. No children.
Not college educated, went straight into Fire Academy. Dad was firefighter. Brett's first love
is the fire station and the men under him.
Brenda Mackey
Former porn actress and girlfriend of the pea-brained but nice Johnny Trocadero (more
information about Johnny, below). Brenda is an overwhelmingly bosomy lady who becomes
Maggie's pal, regardless of what Maggie thinks about this arrangement. Brenda is not that
bright, either. In fact, Johnny's a college professor by comparison. But - like Johnny - she's
nice. Maggie wonders how many small children could be sheltered under her chest during a
rain storm.
Aly McKearny
Director of womens shelter. Ferverently anti-pornography and has gone on public record to
this effect. Feels it's degrading. Has a temper and has threatened men in the porn industry.
Karen/Kay Miller (AKA "Smokey")
5' 9, brown hair, light blue eyes. At work, she's Kay. Otherwise, she's Smokey
Kay/Smokey is very professional, believes in the job. Highly ethical, full of integrity.
Competent, no-nonsense. Knows what she needs to do and can act quickly. Her superiors
want to promote her to an administrative job, but she doens't want that. She often shows
up others who are more careless or who want to cover up things.
Knows the medical profession and the people in it. A lot of ego. Knows people like Tony.
Knows people in general. Originally wanted to be an anthropologist, but was limited in her
options at the time. Has also studied psychology.
Tom Moran
Coordinator of museum exhibit: "Perceptions" in Family Secrets. Della's former co-worker at
museum, hasn't seen Della since she left due to disability. A personal friend of Della's. Is gay.
Takes the initiative of inviting Della to work on the "Perceptions" exhibit, not necessarily with
the approval of his boss/es. Tom has the necessarily authority and independence to do this,
though.
He's married to his partner (since this is Massachusetts). Tom's partner's name is Brian.
Jerry Penney
Blinded several years ago in an accident. Was brought back to life by Della, who basically
forced him out of his self pity and depression. He didn't like that treatment - as Della knew -
but it was extremely successful.
Jerry has become accustomed to his condition and has become rather a flamboyant
character. He has a guide dog who wears a red bandana and a sign on his harness that
reads: "Hey! Hands off! Can't you see I'm workin' here?"
Jerry has a sense of humor, particularly when it comes to Della. He's a bit cynical and his
humor has a cutting edge. He loves to tease Della and is very good at pushing her buttons.
Jerry is a musician: singer and pianist. This is something Della and Maggie both got him into.
He jokes with his audience about being "Blind Bob, the Fumbling Musician." Like Della, he
uses humor to make people comfortable with him. He also likes to work with kids, to help
them understand and accept blindness in ways that the adults in their lives can't or won't.
Jerry is married to Jean Penney and they have two young daughters (four and six years old,
respectively), the older one of whom is named after Della - much to Della's chagrin. Jerry did
that deliberately. He loves his kids and acknowledges that they did as much to bring him
back into the world and out of his misery as did Della.
Underneath his barbs and joking, Jerry is really rather fond of Della. He'll never admit it,
though!
Tony Peterson
Della's ex-husband. Tony is 5' 10" with dark brown curly hair, now turning grey, and deep
blue eyes.
Tony is head of Neurology at Boston General Hospital. Educated at Johns Hopkins in
Baltimore, MD, where he first met Della. Della, still sighted at the time, was an art student.
Tony posed for her as a nude model to pay for his every day expenses, although he was
awarded a full scholarship to medical school. He and Della started dating while still a
student. She supported them while he was finishing school. The couple moved to Boston to
complete Tony's residency at Boston General Hospital.
Tony has cheated on his wife since his residency and moved in with his current mistress
while still married to Della.
Robert Peterson
Tony Peterson's younger brother by 10 years. He has remained single and lives in Los
Angeles. Robert works as a manager for the Consolidated Small Business Loans in California.
Marcella Sasso
Forensic anthropologist, brought in to clean up Boston's crime lab. Marcella is sharp-witted,
with a tongue and intellect to match; her manners at times border on being too blunt, and
there are times when she lets her passion for a case over-ride her self-censor. Patience is
not always her strong point, especially when dealing politicians, or anyone who thinks they
know everything when they clearly don't. Conversely, she can be very patient and caring
towards the victims family, exuding an air professionalism that easily makes them feel that
there is someone on their side.
She is though, highly dedicated to her job, and finds because of her obligations that it's hard
to make friends, never mind find the time to nurture them.
Education:
High School: Newton North - graduated at the age of 15
College: Masters degree: Forensic DNA and Serology University of florida
Bachelors degree: Anthropology University of Florida
Masters degree: Forensic Anthropology University of Tennessee Knoxville
Due to her being a minor when she graduated from H.S., she and her parents moved to
Florida so that she could pursue her double majors. After she graduated, she went on to
Tennessee in order to earn her Masters in anthropology while her parents stayed behind.
Work history:
Marcella interned at the Body Farm while she earned her Masters in Forensic Anthropology.
After she graduated she was offered a full-time position, where she worked for nearly 2
years. She then took a position with the FBI crime lab, where she worked for nearly 20
years. During that time her reputation as a dogged investigator with a high close rate grew.
She has on several occasions been called to lend her expertise to other labs that were
without an anthropologist, or where natural disaster has struck (she assisted remains
identification in New Orleans).
In 2007, her boss approached her about taking over Boston's crime lab; Marcella jumped at
the chance, looking forward to the challenge. So during that summer she came back to
Boston where she was assigned the position of super-intendant of the whole dilapidated
Boston crime lab, and the monumental task of fixing it. Part of the deal was that she was
given complete control over the hiring and firing of personnel not only in the lab, but in the
M.E. office which had also suffered greatly from incompetence.
Despite being born in Newton, she is treated as an outsider by the Mayor, his cronies, and
several higher-ups of law enforcement. The chief of police doesn't like the fact that he will no
longer be able to stick his undesirables in either the ballistics, or the fingerprint labs, and
has made no bones about letting Marcella know this. Not that she gives a damn, she has
her plate full trying to recruit her lab with competent people(though she does on occasion
go out of her way to show what a bombastic buffoon the chief is).
While her new position calls for a lot of time spent in the office pushing paper, she still will
go out into the field, either in the capacity of her expertises, or to check on her team's
progress.
Dan Sexton
Supervisor of data systems at Boston City Hall. Is fully blind from retinitis pigmentosa, with
only light perception. Uses a guide dog, Samson. Married to Skylar Nicole Sexton-Lloyd,
Opthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Dan is o riginally from Texas, with a neatly trimmed brown hair, parted in the middle, with
touch of grey in beard. He is the father of Daniel Richard Sexton II, Architect, living in
Houston, TX. Usually wears western type clothing, jeans, pointy toe boots, white western
cut shirts for work, denim shirts in winter, prefers black T-shirts in summer (with pockets for
smokes)! When relaxing in summer will wear blue jean cut offs, t-shirts and tennis shoes.
Wears sun glasses most of the time, not for cosmetic reasons but eyes sensitive to bright
light.
As a youth was an artist, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal and some arcrylic painting. Switching
from art to music around age 18. Self taught musician, plays by ear. Sings, plays drums,
guitar and bass guitar. Played in a variety of bands from 18 to around 45, now enjoys a little
caraoke but doesn't play with bans any longer. Will pick up the guitar and spill out and old
rock or country song while sipping an ice cold beer among friends.
Dan's brother, Michael Bryan Sexton, has been blind from RP since his early teens. He works
as a computer programmer at a college in Missouri.
Met Skylar during his college years playing music in a club. After graduation with BS in
computer science went to work as a computer programmer supporting and helping his new
wife Skylar through medical school. They had one son, Daniel Richard Sexton II while Skylar
was doing her internship. Dan lacking affection as a child now has the loving family he
wanted. Dan and Skylar are both affectionate and huggy type people, not afraid to show
that they care. Due to Dan's RP, Skylar directed her medical career in that direction. Dan is
still a smoker and Skylar is forever doing little things to make him quit.
Dan is slender and wiry. He works out regularly and is adept in the martial arts. He acquired
a black belt after becoming blind. He is good natured and humorous, with strong vestiges of
a southern accent. An up person with a quick wit, a great sense of humor, and a great
person to have as a friend. As most people with RP do, spent many years adjusting to the
constant changes that occurred in his vision due to RP. Going through stages of depression
when vision loss occurred. Now that his vision is fully gone the adjusting period is over, he
has moved on with life taking the normal up and downs life puts in your path. With is up
beat personality and quick wit, he has the advantage of putting fully sighted people at ease,
some times making them forget that he is blind. Helps others adjust to RP through computer
groups and telephone.
Ed Sheppard
A beau of Della's, also an Emergency Room doctor at Boston General and Mt. Auburn
Hospitals in Boston and Cambridge, respectively. Knows Tony Peterson, but not as a
cheating philanderer. He's in his late 50s to early 60s and rides a souped up Harley Davidson
Ava Simmons
Ava is in her mid to late 20s, a college grad with business degree
In the porno business, trying to get out. Started shooting porno films to pay for college. Met
boyfriend Joey Livenstein, who became her manager. He controlled the business in her
name. She did not know he was taking her for everything. He took out large loans and put
the money into personal accounts unknown to Ava. He now thinks she is too old and her
time in this business is up. He up and left, leaving her with a lot of bills. She is being sued
and not so nice people are wanting their money. In order to pay back these rather shady
characters, she has to do even more porno.
Rather chesty and is friend of Matt and Brenda.
Johnny Trocadero
Johnny works at Joseph & Antonette's place as a waiter. Dumb as a post but, as his father
says, no one leaves without paying their bill. Maggie meets him there, when she takes Della
out for lunch. Johnny's a big galoot, body builder and all around nice guy. He eventually finds
a job at UPS and starts delivering packages to Maggie and Della's office.
Joseph and Antonette Trocadero
Johnny's parents and the owners of the trattoria where he works as a waiter. Both are
straight from the old country. They have the one son, Johnny. They live above the place and
do all the cooking and normal things with the resturant.
Joseph is a dark haired tall man, big, with a booming voice. He's one of those men you
wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley, but he's got a great sense of humour and is
protective of his friends.
Antonette rules the roost. She can get Joseph to do what she wants just by saying his
name. She's a short stocky woman with her hair pulled back into a roll bun, greying.
Both of them are the love of each other's life. One would die without the other. She's
cooking and he's dipping bread in her sauce. She smacked him with a spoon and he smacks
her butt. They still love to play and tease each other.
They want to leave the place to Johnny, but realize he's too dumb to make a go of it.
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