Richie Fife

**Richard "Richie" Fife** is a character featured in *Home Before Dark*. He is portrayed by Kiefer O'Reilly.

Richie was a resident of Erie Harbor, Washington circa 1988. His kidnapping and supposed murder on January 31, 1988 sets off a catalyst of events spanning twenty years.

## Biography

Richie was born around 1978 to Mrs. Fife and Arthur Conway in Erie Harbor, Washington. He was the product of an affair between the two. Mrs. Fife allowed her husband, Jack Fife, to believe Richie was his biological son. Growing up was difficult to Richie as Jack was physically, emotionally, and mentally abusive to him. In school, Richie was popular and outgoing most of the time. His best friends were Matthew Lisko and Frank Briggs Jr., and the pair often got into mischief together. They pulled pranks on local store owners that weren't fond of the boy's antics. They rode their bikes together nearly every day and paid little attention to those outside their circle. The trio also bullied social outcast Al Wergeles, nicknaming him "The Birdman" because of his dedication to birds and birdwatching. Matt and his friends thought little of how their actions affected Al or the other kids in their school. They spent weekends and hours after school in the back of Sam Gillis's van drinking beer and discussing films.

Around 1987, Richie's mother became very ill and began taking him to the local airfield, where he met Arthur Conway for the first time. Richie was unaware that Arthur was his biological father, but formed a close bond with the man none-the-less. He grew to enjoy his time there and at Strata Tech Industries, who owned the airfield. On day, he overheard a group of executives discussing cadmium and it's toxicity. They didn't want anyone to know about their use of the chemical, which was making people sick, so they hid it on an island outside of town. Richie warned Hank and Arthur who then came forward. They thought they could force Strata to tell the truth about the chemicals. Instead, the corporation came after Hank and Arthur. Arthur had proof - video evidence of an executive admitting to everything. He planned to bring it to the police. However, Strata sabotaged Hank's plane which resulted in his death on October 12th, 1987. Strata covered it up by making it look like a suicide committed by a mentally unstable man. Arthur left Erie Harbor that night.

During and after the ordeal with Strata, Richie tried to continue his normal life, and hung out at the local dollar arcades, played video games, and was virtually inseparable from his friends. However, he grew shy and withdrawn from his friends as a result of his other situations. On January 31st, 1988, the boys spent the day together at the underpass. They walked home when a van came screeching to a halt next to them. The man driving jumped out, grabbed Richie, and threw him in the back of a white van. He told Matt and Frankie to run before he tore off in the van. That was the last anyone in Erie Harbor ever saw or heard from Richie. In reality, the so-called kidnapping was a ruse to rescue Richie from Strata's grasp. However, Richie didn't know the plan and acted in self-defense against the kidnapper Ezekiel Miller by stabbing him. In a desperate act, Zeke ran the van carrying them into the nearby lake, believing Richie had already died. Richie woke up in the river and managed to escape the van. He pulled himself to shore and was found by Arthur at some point after. Arthur explained that he had organized the kidnapping to save Richie from Strata, though Zeke's greed changed things.

Arthur and Richie moved to Canada where they started a new life together. Richie grew up, married, and had a son named Tommy that never knew of his father's complicated past in Erie Harbor.