Character Name: Claire Hutcheson
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 29 (DOB 8th November, 1987)
Height: 5’3”
History: Claire Alison Oldham was born and raised in the quiet, picturesque village of Lower Slaughter in the heart of the Cotswolds. She had a fairly normal childhood with her parents and siblings; older brother Geoffrey and younger sister Holly. Most of her teenage life she wanted to be a policeman. Geoffrey would taunt her, telling her she couldn’t be a policeman because she was a girl, at which she would hit him and they’d brawl until Holly went crying to their Mum and they’d both be sent to their rooms. By tea-time everything would be roses again.
When Claire finished High School she was as keen as ever to join the police, and put in an application as soon as she reached the eligible age of 18½. Her application accepted, she moved to London to attend the Hendon Training School and begin living her dream. Being so small she struggled with some of the physical requirements, but got through on sheer dogged determination.
Assigned to a station in Newham Borough, Claire flourished. She enjoyed working as a WPC, despite the sometimes long hours. She felt she was making a difference in people’s lives, and couldn’t foresee any reasons why she’d ever leave the force. She dated a few times, mostly other police, but never found anyone she wanted to settle down with.
Then came the day the toilet in her flat needed repair and changed her life. The plumber’s name was Dean Hutcheson and by the time she’d made him his fifth cup of tea they’d both figured out that there was a definite spark between them. Less than a year later they were married, and soon enough Claire discovered she was pregnant.
Dean wanted her to quit the police, worried that it was too dangerous for her, but Claire couldn’t bear the thought of resigning. So as her pregnancy progressed she was reassigned to light duties for a while, and after the birth of her son Alan she soon returned to the beat. She had her eye on CID and was thinking about applying, but one night one of the other constables was slashed with a knife and died some few hours later.
That was the final straw for Dean, and even Claire began to question the wisdom of remaining in a job where such things could happen when she had a young child to take care of. They spent long nights talking it over and eventually Claire handed in her resignation, albeit reluctantly. She couldn’t stand the thought of removing herself entirely from that world, however, and used her contacts to get a position as crime reporter for a London newspaper.
In the meantime, her brother Geoffrey had married and had two children of his own, while her sister Holly had drifted from one troublesome boyfriend to another. Claire worried about Holly, especially those times she was up on minor criminal charges, but her sister remained adamant that she was enjoying her unfettered life. There was something about this latest boyfriend of Holly’s, though, that was more disturbing than usual. Claire just couldn’t put her finger on it, however. A quick call to her old station revealed nothing suspicious in his background check, but Claire couldn’t help the nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Then Holly disappeared. Vanished without trace, and Claire and the rest of her family feared the worst. Claire pulled every string she could, but there was no sign of Holly anywhere. Six months went by and hope was fading fast among the Oldham family, when a crumpled postcard arrived at Claire’s house one day.
Hey Claire-Bear,
I know you guys are probably worrying, but don’t. I’m perfectly okay and happy here with my friends. It’s just that my life has changed now and I don’t feel any need to keep any ties to the old me. Don’t bother to look for me – I don’t want to be found. Tell Mum and Dad that I’m okay, and tell Geoff not to fret. We don’t want him stressing out like he did that time I broke my leg.
Holly
Claire took one look at the postcard and wordlessly handed it to Dean, who looked puzzled and upset at Holly’s decision. Then Claire pointed out that Holly had never broken her leg and Dean began to see the light. It took only a small amount of detective work on Claire’s part to figure out that the postcard had been mailed in Los Angeles. The subsequent discussion between them was brief. Dean was unhappy, but understood Claire’s need to find her sister, especially if Holly was in trouble and asking for help.
Claire promised that if she hadn’t made any progress in a month that she’d rethink her approach, but for now she didn’t want to make a big song and dance about it. Her plan was to get to LA, track down Holly and take it from there once she knew the full situation. She bid Dean a sad farewell, kissed three-year-old Alan and told him to be good for his daddy, then got on the plane for Los Angeles.
Items: Laptop, mobile phone, digital camera – the usual accoutrements for an investigative journalist.
Powers: None supernatural. Excellent powers of observation. Strong-willed. Dogged.
Played by: Jane Danson
Player: Heather – yes, back for more punishment.
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Claire Hutcheson
I like it. Especially the potentially hooks you have with looking for Holly.
Claire Hutcheson
Oh NO!!!! She's played by Leanne from Coronation Street!!! (she's such a biatch! LOL) :P
Oh yeah, a very promising character also :D
Claire Hutcheson
hehe I've never watched Coronation Street, so I wouldn't know. :) I picked her mainly 'cause she was in The Bill for about a season, so there are a couple of pics out there of her in a copper's uniform. :)