Mystery and Crime Fiction posted January 3, 2025 Chapters: Prologue 1 -2- 3 


And the hunt begins
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets Chap 2

by Begin Again


Rebecca's breath caught as Miriam's voice echoed in the stillness of the cottage before fading into silence. She gripped the edge of the doorframe tightly. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Eleanor nodded, her expression calm but her unease evident in her eyes. "I heard it."

"How is that possible?" Rebecca stepped back, her wide eyes darting around the room. "She's not here. How can she be calling to us if she's not here?"

Eleanor's voice softened. "Rebecca, I need you to breathe. Slowly." She placed a reassuring hand on Rebecca's shoulder. "Sometimes, places like this carry voices. The cottage holds Miriam's essence, her energy. We may be hearing an echo of that."

"Echo?" Rebecca's voice cracked. "That wasn't an echo, Eleanor. That was her. She's calling for help."

Eleanor hesitated, then spoke gently but firmly. "If Miriam is reaching out, it means she's nearby. But we won't help her by staying here and panicking. We need to stay focused."

Rebecca swallowed hard, her eyes glistening. "What do we do? I don't understand any of this."

"We go back to the mansion," Eleanor said. "If Miriam's presence is strongest there, it's the best place to start."

Rebecca hesitated, glancing back into the darkened corners of the cottage. "What if we're leaving her behind?"

Eleanor's gaze was steady. "If Miriam's here, she'll guide us back. Trust me."

Reluctantly, Rebecca followed Eleanor outside, her footsteps hesitant.
******
As they walked through the vineyard, the path seemed quieter than usual, the winter vines casting long, skeletal shadows on the ground. Rebecca remained silent, her arms crossed tightly. Eleanor didn't push her to speak; instead, she focused her senses, hoping to pick up on Miriam's presence.

Ahead, a figure came into view — a man standing at the edge of the driveway, a dog by his side.

Eleanor's steps slowed. "Stay close, Rebecca. He may be harmless, but we can't trust anyone."

Rebecca glanced at the man and the wagging dog. "He's just walking his dog, Eleanor. We can't suspect everyone."

The dog, a scrappy mutt, bounded toward them, its tail wagging. Rebecca knelt to greet the dog, her hand trembling as she patted its head. Eleanor, however, kept her gaze fixed on the man as he approached.

"Good evening," he said, his tone polite, his smile practiced. "I'm Grayson Webb, and I just moved into the Webb Estate down the road. Thought I'd introduce myself."

Rebecca managed a cautious smile. "I'm Rebecca," she offered, glancing nervously at Eleanor. "This is my friend, Eleanor."

Eleanor nodded curtly, her eyes narrowing. "The Webb Estate?"

Grayson's smile faltered briefly before returning. "It's a beautiful property, but you've been working on this estate, too. The mansion here has always fascinated me — so much history."

"Funny," Eleanor said. "You seem well-acquainted with the local landmarks for someone new to the area."

Grayson chuckled nervously. "My family visited often when I was young. I've always admired this estate."

Before Eleanor could respond, the rumble of a car drew their attention. A sleek vehicle pulled into view, slowing as it approached. Eleanor recognized the driver.

Donatelli stepped out, his presence commanding as he surveyed the scene. "Detective Matthew Donatelli," he said, nodding to the stranger.

Grayson straightened. "Grayson Webb," he said, his voice a little too quick. His hand tightened on the dog's leash.

Donatelli's sharp gaze lingered. "Anything wrong?"

"Not at all," Grayson said. "Just out for a walk."

"Nice dog," Donatelli said, crouching to pet the mutt. "Friendly."

Crater wagged his tail as Donatelli scratched behind his ears, but Grayson shifted uncomfortably.

Eleanor stepped forward. "We were just heading back to the mansion. Mr. Webb was introducing himself."

"Well, welcome to the neighborhood," Donatelli said, his tone neutral but pointed.

Grayson nodded quickly. "Thank you. I should be heading back." He called the dog, and Crater followed reluctantly.

Rebecca turned to Eleanor. "I'll make some coffee," she offered hesitantly. "You and Detective Donatelli probably need a moment."

Eleanor gave her a reassuring smile. "That would be wonderful, Rebecca. Thank you."

As Rebecca disappeared into the mansion, Eleanor turned back to Donatelli. He crossed his arms, his expression concerned. "What's going on? You left my office saying something about Miriam, and now I don't see her anywhere."

"She's missing," Eleanor said, her voice low but steady. "I heard her calling, but she's not here."

Donatelli frowned. "Missing? Do you think she —"

"She's still a functioning spirit," Eleanor interrupted. "But she's not free. Something's holding her."

"What kind of something?"

Eleanor hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the vineyard where Grayson had disappeared. "I don't know yet. But there's more to this than we're seeing. And that man? He's part of it."

Donatelli's jaw tightened. "Grayson Webb?"

"He's Cornelius Webb's descendant," Eleanor said. "And Cornelius had a dangerous history tied to this land. If his great-nephew is here now, it's not a coincidence."

Donatelli exhaled. His instincts were on alert. "Maybe — maybe not. We can't jump to conclusions."

Eleanor's gaze lingered on the darkening horizon. "Miriam is missing and needs my help. I'm going to suspect everyone."

*****

The private suite in one of New York's upscale hotels reeked of cigar smoke and tension. Three men sat around a polished mahogany table, their drinks untouched as they reviewed the botched escape plan. Tony "The Hawk" Romano, a high-ranking figure in the New York mob, slammed a folder onto the table, the papers inside spilling out like his frustration.

"This was supposed to be clean!" Tony growled, his Bronx accent thick. "Run the bus off the road, grab Doyle, and disappear before anyone knew what happened. Now we got nothin'! No Doyle, no leverage, and a freakin' circus on the news."

"Calm down," said Salvatore "Sal" Ricci, his consigliere, leaning back in his chair. He was the voice of reason, but even his patience was wearing thin. "We underestimated someone. That's all."

"Someone?" Tony shot back, pacing. "Who? Like Jack Lexington? That Chicago snake's been keeping his hands clean for years, but this feels like his kind of move."

Sal shook his head. "Lexington had no reason to get involved. He helped put Rossi away. Why would he risk it all now?"

"Then who?" Tony demanded. "This wasn't random. Whoever did this knew our plan, knew the route, and swooped in like they were a damn SEAL team."

Vito Greco, the operation's boss, was at the head of the table. He'd been silent, his dark eyes scanning the room like a predator assessing its prey. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, calculated. "What about Doyle himself? Could he have sold us out? Played both sides?"

Sal frowned. "Possible. Doyle's got connections everywhere, but he wouldn't have staged this unless he had an escape plan. Where's his plan now? He's missing, too. All our feelers say he's off the radar."

The room fell silent until Tony spoke again, quieter this time. "You think it's the Chinese?"

Vito's gaze sharpened. "Zhang Wei?"

Tony nodded. "Rumor says he's got a grudge against Doyle. The yacht bust cost him everything. It's taken him ten years to get back on top. If anyone's got the resources and the motive, it's him."

Sal leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "If Zhang Wei's involved, this isn't just about Doyle anymore. It's about revenge, and Zhang doesn't care about making deals or territory. He plays for blood."

Vito exhaled slowly, his mind working through the possibilities. "And he's smart enough to keep us guessing. What better way to stir the pot than to make us think Lexington's behind this?"

Tony gritted his teeth. "So, what do we do? We just let Doyle rot in some Chinese dungeon while Zhang sets up shop?"

Vito's expression hardened. "No. We find Doyle. And when we do, we send a message — loud and clear — that no one crosses us. Not Zhang Wei, not Lexington, no one."

Sal cleared his throat. "We need to be careful. If the feds sniff out a war between us and Zhang, they'll crush us both. And if Lexington gets wind of this, he might come after us just to protect his reputation."

Vito nodded. "Then we keep this quiet. Find Doyle first, figure out who's behind this, and take care of it before anyone else knows what's happening."

Tony smirked, though there was no humor in it. "And what about Lexington? If word gets out that we're pointing fingers at him —"

"Make it subtle," Vito interrupted. "Let the whispers spread just enough to distract him while we handle the real problem."

As the men finalized their strategy, a courier entered the room, his face pale. He carried a small box, setting it on the table before retreating without a word.

Vito opened the box carefully, his jaw tightening as he stared at its contents. Inside was a severed hand, the cufflinks still attached to the wrist unmistakably belonging to Vince Rossi.

Tony cursed under his breath while Sal leaned closer, his expression grim. "A message."

Vito closed the box, his voice ice-cold. "Not just a message. A declaration. Whoever did this isn't just taking Doyle. They're erasing him — and us — from the game. This is just the beginning."

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Eleanor - ghost detective
Jenna - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, and falling in love with Donatelli
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie)
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge and current inmate at Joliet State Prison
Vince Rossi - mob lawyer
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Donatelli
Rebecca - new girl in town and Jenna's assistant
Miriam - a spirit from days gone by
Trevor Cascio - deceased owner of the estate
Joseph DeLuca - detective
Cornelius Webb - deceased and responsible for hanging Miriam long ago
Grayson Webb - grand nephew of Cornelius
Jason DeLuca - retired detective
Frank DiVito - retired gangster-childhood friend of Garth
Sam -Frank's right hand man
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" Romano - mobster
Salvatore "Sal" Ricci - consigliere of the New York mob family
Vito Greco - the mob boss
Zhang Wei - Chinese underworld
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