C.W. Patrick

Full name: Carlton Winston Patrick III Player: Jeremy Thomas On-screen character: Det. James "Jimmy" Palmer

Actor (Off-Screen, 2015)

48, Hollywood. East Coast money. Anointed "next Tom Cruise" at 19. Killed Melissa Kane in a 1987 cocaine-and-vodka crash on Mulholland Drive. Pled down. Career torched. Two marriages, multiple rehabs, 2008 possession charge. Three years clean (more or less). Box 13 is his last real shot.

Vibe: Charming when he chooses. Volatility under glass. Chain-smokes when anxious, quotes old movies when deflecting. Skeletons: All of them. Flask and a .32 in the trailer "in case the ghosts get loud."

Actor Relationships

Cory Vandermere: Cory is careful and kind with him — the only cast member who knew Carlton when. Carlton and Cory auditioned for the same role in 1988; Carlton got it. No resentment from Cory. Cory has clocked the flask and hasn't said anything yet.

On-Screen Character: Det. James "Jimmy" Palmer

46, divorced homicide detective. Two kids — Maddie (13) and Tyler (10). Fighting for joint custody with ex-wife Rebecca. Genuinely decent: never raised a hand, doesn't use, shows up for every game and play. The universe disagrees: planted evidence, an exploded garage, blood-covered parent-teacher conferences. Bumbling but not stupid. Solid instincts, real heart, personal life on permanent fire. Recent "mix-up" cost him his badge. Hired on at Box 13 to make child support.

Specialty: Old-school detective work, dogged decency, walking-disaster energy.

Notes

Session 1: Conducted the parent phone call re: Kyle Alexander's disappearance.
Session 1: Found the panicked footprints running out and back in from the outbuilding area at Kessler.
Session 1: Stepped in dog scat (failed Spot Check) — confirmed active animal presence.
Session 2: Failed Listen roll in the museum lobby — did not hear Gus's fight with Steve Blum in the basement.
Session 2: Rushed into the basement after Gus was killed; fired at Steve Blum — missed.
Session 2: Relayed events to police while offering unsolicited tips on their note-taking technique.

Bond Phase — Session 2

Action: Attended daughter Maddie's ballet recital. Roll: Failed. Result: Bond with Maddie −3.

Character Relationships

Elias (Cory Vandermere): The one teammate Elias visibly likes. Palmer's instincts are often right even when his reasoning is off. Elias covers for his screw-ups silently. When Palmer says "this just feels wrong," Elias listens.