Character Relationship Map: Shadows Run Black

Characters

• Rydell King (played by William J. Kulzer) — protagonist
• Judy Cole (played by Elizabeth Trosper) — supporting
• Morgan Cole (played by Shea Porter) — supporting
• Jimmy Scott (played by Kevin Costner) — supporting
• Lee Faulkner (played by Terry Congie) — supporting
• Billy Tovar (played by Julius Metoyer) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Rydell King → Morgan Cole (Professional Investigative Contact) — Rydell shares a major investigative update with Morgan.

  Rydell tells Morgan that the suspected killer is in custody after Jimmy is booked.

• Billy Tovar → Judy Cole (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Billy openly declares love for Judy before the final crisis.

  Billy visits Judy to apologize and tell her that he loves her.

• Rydell King → Judy Cole (Professional Investigator And Witness) — Rydell relies on Judy's information while trying to protect her.

  Rydell questions Judy about Jimmy and the other victims, and the police place a tap on her telephone after she receives threatening calls.

• Jimmy Scott → Judy Cole (Romantic Pursuit) — Jimmy's pursuit of Judy creates a romantic triangle with Lee.

  Judy explains that Jimmy asked her out even though he was already seeing Lee.

• Jimmy Scott → Lee Faulkner (Romantic Involvement) — Jimmy and Lee are involved in a troubled romantic relationship.

  The plot states that Jimmy was already seeing Lee when he asked Judy Cole out, and that Lee argued with Jimmy before she was killed at the swimming pa...

• Rydell King → Jimmy Scott (Professional Investigator And Suspect) — Rydell investigates Jimmy as a possible serial killer.

  Rydell assists with the homicide investigation, while Jimmy becomes the main suspect in Lee Faulkner's death and is arrested by the police.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Judy Cole → Lee Faulkner (Shared Social Circle) — Judy has direct knowledge of Lee's personal life.

  Judy discusses Lee's relationship with Jimmy and explains that Lee preferred dangerous, rebellious men.

• Morgan Cole → Billy Tovar (Conflict Suspected Adversaries) — Morgan confronts Billy over suspected involvement in Judy's disappearance.

  Morgan believes Billy is responsible for the threatening call and leaves armed to find Judy, while Billy insists that he never made the call.

• Morgan Cole → Judy Cole (Social Protective Association) — Morgan acts to locate Judy when he believes she is in danger.

  The caller claims to have Judy and orders Morgan to go to 30 Wiley Avenue, causing Morgan to arm himself and leave to find her.

Story Analysis

A murder investigation turns into a dangerous search for an unidentified killer as evidence against Jimmy collapses and the final confrontation remains unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. The Black Angel Emerges — A brutal attack and a series of murders establish the unknown Black Angel. The shared school connection suggests that the victims were selected deliberately.
2. A Dangerous Suspect — Rydell returns to the homicide investigation and examines Jimmy's links to the victims. Lee's violent death at a swimming party makes Jimmy the leading suspect.
3. Clues and Threats — Judy describes Jimmy's overlapping relationships, while investigators find a contact book connected to the murdered women. Threatening calls turn Judy into a possible target.
4. The Wrong Arrest — Detectives aggressively reconstruct Lee's death and arrest Jimmy despite his denial. Rydell reports the arrest, but another call immediately undermines the case.
5. The Unresolved Confrontation — Judy realizes Jimmy may not be the killer, while Billy declares his love and then becomes a suspect. Morgan goes armed to 30 Wiley Avenue, where the available story ends in confrontation.