| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted January 23, 2025 | Chapters: |
...12 13 -14- 15... 
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Power Plays
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets
Veil of Secrets Chap 14
by Begin Again
The wind howled around Eleanor as she materialized in the field near the Webb Estate, her shimmering form taking shape amidst the tall grass. The gale tugged at her, throwing her slightly off balance, and with a less-than-graceful stumble, she landed on the uneven ground. Her stylish yet practical shoes skidded against hidden rocks, sending her tumbling to the earth.
For a moment, she lay there — her face brushing against the cool, fragrant grass. Then, with a laugh that echoed her irrepressible spirit, she pushed herself up and brushed off her coat. "Well, that was dignified," she muttered with a wry smile. "Guess I need a refresher course about proper landings."
Standing upright, she closed her eyes and let her senses attune to the land's energy —the faint but persistent whispers of the spirits mingled with the pull of Althea's fear. The emotions were raw and jagged, cutting through the noise of the wind like a beacon. She let them guide her.
A shimmering glow enveloped her as she disappeared from her landing spot, reappearing moments later in a secluded clearing overgrown with tangled vines and wildflowers. As if sensing her presence, the wind stilled, the tall grasses swaying gently under a pale, glowing moon.
She took a moment to steady herself, muttering under her breath, "Much better."
Ahead, partially hidden by the thick vines, stood the cellar door. Its weathered wood blended into the shadows, but Eleanor's sharp eyes caught a faint glow of energy clinging to the latch. The area carried an unsettling weight, as if the emotions left behind had seeped into the ground.
Her steps crunched softly against the gravel as she approached. "Althea?" she called quietly, careful not to let her voice carry. She crouched by the door, running her fingers over the rough surface. A faint sound — muffled and distant — caught her attention — a weak cry.
Eleanor placed her hands on the door, closing her eyes to focus. She let her senses reach into the wood, picking up traces of fear and desperation.
"Hold on," she murmured urgently. Summoning her strength, she focused on the rusted latch. With a sharp crack, the lock gave way, and the door creaked open, its hinges protesting in the quiet night.
A cold, damp draft wafted out as she peered inside. The cellar was dim and unwelcoming, the dirt floor slick and uneven. In the corner, Althea lay crumpled on the ground, her figure barely visible. Dirt streaked her face, and her whole body shook from exhaustion. At the sound of the door opening, her eyes fluttered open, wide with fear.
"Please," Althea whispered, her voice hoarse. "Help me."
Eleanor stepped carefully into the cellar, her shoes sinking slightly into the soft earth. She knelt beside Althea, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's me —Eleanor," she said gently. "Let's get you out of here before Grayson or anyone else returns."
Althea's trembling hands reached for Eleanor's arm, clinging tightly. "I thought I'd die down here," she stammered, her voice breaking. "He said it was for my protection. I couldn't —"
"You're stronger than you realize," Eleanor said firmly, cutting through her panic. "But we need to hurry. This isn't over yet."
Althea nodded weakly, trusting Eleanor despite her fear. With a calm strength, Eleanor helped her to her feet and steadied her as they moved toward the exit. The night outside was still, the moon casting long shadows over the field.
Eleanor stopped at the edge of the clearing, her gaze scanning the surroundings. Something felt off — a lingering tension in the air, as though danger was just out of sight. She turned to Althea. "Stay close to me," she said quietly. "And keep quiet."
Althea clutched her arm — her shallow breaths audible in the silence. Together, they moved through the tall grass, Eleanor leading the way with sharp, purposeful steps. Even as the night remained calm, Eleanor's instincts stayed on edge, the sensation of being watched crawling over her skin.
*****
Rebecca stood near the table, her arms crossed as she listened to Antonio. His words pressed down on her like a heavy shroud, each revelation about Cornelius and the tunnels deepening her unease.
"What do we do?" Rebecca asked, her voice trembling. "How do we save Miriam?"
Antonio opened his mouth to respond, but his expression shifted suddenly. He stiffened, his gaze snapping toward the window as if he'd heard something beyond the glass.
Rebecca frowned. "What is it?"
Antonio raised a hand, silencing her. "It might be nothing but the wind, but I thought I sensed something."
The air in the cottage seemed to shift, growing colder. Rebecca felt a faint prickle at the back of her neck, like an unseen gaze watching her.
Antonio's form flickered faintly, and he turned toward the door. "There's a presence nearby. Someone's here."
Rebecca's stomach knotted, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Who? Do you think it's — Cornelius?"
Antonio shook his head, his expression unreadable. "I don't know. Stay here. Don't move."
"Wait — what if it's dangerous?" Rebecca protested, her voice rising slightly.
"I'll handle it," Antonio said firmly. He looked around and handed her a poker from the fireplace. "Just a precaution. Stay inside. I'll be back soon."
Before she could respond, he stepped toward the door. The sound of it creaking open made her flinch, and a sudden chill swept through the room as he disappeared into the night.
*****
Antonio stepped out into the night, his ethereal form flickering faintly in the moonlight. He moved cautiously, scanning the yard for the presence he'd sensed earlier. The air was still, the quiet broken only by the faint rustle of leaves.
His gaze traveled toward the edge of the Vineyard. A figure moved in the shadows. Antonio narrowed his eyes, watching as the man approached the main house.
"Who is that?" Antonio muttered to himself, his form becoming more translucent as he drew closer to the edge of the yard.
The man climbed the steps to the front door and knocked sharply. Under the porch light, Antonio saw the Stetson. The tension from his shoulders eased. It was Rebecca's cowboy.
Not feeling any sense of danger, Antonio turned back toward the cottage. "I'd better tell Rebecca she has a visitor," he murmured.
*****
Meanwhile, Rebecca sat at the small table. She replayed Antonio's words in her mind. The weight of everything — the tunnels, Cornelius Webb's greed, and the danger hanging over her family — pressed down on her like a heavy shroud.
She glanced toward the corner mirror, its surface faintly shimmering in the dim light. A familiar chill crept through the room, making her shiver.
"Grandma?" she whispered, rising from her chair. The mirror seemed to pulse faintly, almost like it had heard her.
Rebecca took a hesitant step forward, her heart pounding. "Are you there?"
The mirror's surface rippled, and a faint voice echoed. "Rebecca —"
Her breath caught. She moved closer, her hands trembling as she approached the cold glass. "Grandma, is that you?"
The voice grew clearer, soft, and pleading, "Do not give up."
Tears welled in Rebecca's eyes as her hands pressed to the mirror. "I don't understand. Where are you?"
But instead of an answer, the shimmering surface darkened. The chill in the room intensified, and the faint echo of her grandmother's voice faded, replaced by a deeper, more sinister tone.
"You've wandered into something far beyond your understanding, Rebecca," the voice said, smooth and chilling.
Rebecca froze, her hands trembling against the glass. "Who — who are you?"
The figure of a man began to take shape within the mirror, his features sharp and shadowed. His eyes gleamed with a cold, predatory light, and his thin lips curled into a faint, menacing smile.
"Cornelius Webb," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Rebecca stumbled back, her heart racing. "You're dead!"
Cornelius chuckled, the sound low and cruel. "And yet here I am, child. This Vineyard is mine. It always has been."
Rebecca's mind raced, her thoughts colliding in a chaotic blur. "What do you want?"
"I want what's owed to me," Cornelius hissed. His eyes glinted as he leaned closer, his form pressing against the glass as if testing its boundaries. "And you, Rebecca, are a part of that."
The air grew heavier, suffocating her as his presence seemed to spill out from the mirror. Rebecca tried to move, but her legs felt rooted to the spot.
"Run, Rebecca," Miriam whispered faintly, almost drowned out by Cornelius's malevolent laughter. "Run."
Rebecca broke free of her paralysis and stumbled toward the door, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She threw it open and disappeared into the night.
*****
When Antonio stepped back into the cottage, the air was heavy with an unnatural stillness. His gaze swept the room, and his chest tightened.
"Rebecca?" he called, his voice echoing faintly.
The room was empty. The shawl Rebecca had worn earlier was draped across the back of a chair, but there was no sign of her. Antonio's eyes narrowed as he stepped further into the room.
The faintest chill brushed past him, and his gaze darted toward the mirror. Its surface was dark, and shadows seemed to twist and writhe within.
"Rebecca?" he called again.
Silence answered him.
Antonio's form flickered as he moved toward the door.
He turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on the mirror. "Cornelius," Antonio said, his voice filled with anger and dread. "Where is she?"
Cornelius's devilish laughter echoed inside the cottage. "You're so pathetic. No wonder Miriam left you. Maybe I will taste the honey of your granddaughter, too. And there's nothing you can do."
Antonio beat his fist against the mirror, his anger out of control. "Give me back my granddaughter."
*****
Inside the mansion, Garth called, "Rebecca? It's Garth. Are you home?"
There was no answer. Everything seemed in place — no sign of a struggle, no indication Rebecca had left in a hurry.
"Rebecca?" he called again, his voice echoing through the empty house.
Still nothing.
Garth ran a hand through his hair, a knot forming in his stomach. Eleanor's warning about danger lingered in his mind, and the thought of Rebecca wandering the grounds alone made his chest tighten.
Grabbing his radio, he pressed the button. "Danni, this is Garth. I'm at the Vineyard, but Rebecca's not here. Have you heard from her?"
Static crackled, followed by the police dispatcher's voice. "Sorry, Garth. Danni's on a call with DeLuca. And Donatelli's headed to the Webb Estate. Have you checked with Jenna?"
"I'll check now," Garth muttered. "Thanks."
Willow's loud brays reached Garth as he stood in the drive. Turning toward the barnyard, he called, "Rebecca, are you down there?"
No one answered, but he did see what appeared to be a light inside the cottage. He hurried down the path. His brow furrowed when he saw the door was ajar.
"Rebecca?" he called, pushing the door open cautiously.
The beam of his flashlight swept the room, illuminating the dust-covered furniture and the faintly glowing mirror in the corner. As he stepped further inside, his gaze landed on a shawl draped over the back of a chair, one end brushing the floor. On the ground nearby, a pair of earrings glinted in the moonlight.
Garth crouched, picking up the earrings. "Rebecca —" he muttered, his chest tightening.
His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He straightened, gripping his radio and pressing the button.
"Dispatch, this is Garth," he said, his voice tense. "I'm at the Vineyard, in the cottage this time. Rebecca's not here, but something's off."
Static crackled, followed by the dispatcher's voice. "What do you mean 'off'? Did you find anything?"
"A shawl and earrings," Garth said, glancing around the room. It's like she left in a hurry or was taken. Has Danni or Donatelli spoken to her?"
"No, both of them are still off the grid," she replied. "But if you think Rebecca's in danger —"
Garth didn't let her finish. "She is in danger. Get someone out here. Now."
He released the button, his heart pounding as he turned back toward the room.
"Rebecca?" he called again, though he knew it was futile.
The air shifted suddenly, growing colder. Garth froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun at his side.
A faint shimmer of light flickered in the corner of the room. Garth's hand tightened on his weapon as the figure of a man began to take shape.
"What the —" Garth muttered, his eyes narrowing.
The man's form became clearer — a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a kind but weathered face. His eyes met Garth's, calm but serious.
"Don't be alarmed," the man said, his voice low and steady. "I mean you no harm."
Garth raised his gun slightly, his FBI instincts kicking in. "Who are you? And how did you get in here?"
"My name is Antonio," the man replied, his tone calm. "I'm Rebecca's grandfather."
Garth blinked, his grip on his weapon faltering. "Grandfather? That's impossible. He's —"
"Dead," Antonio finished. "Yes, I know. But I'm here because Miriam called me to help her."
Garth's breath caught as he studied the figure. There was no denying the faint glow surrounding Antonio or the way his form flickered faintly at the edges.
"Right," Garth said slowly, lowering his weapon slightly but keeping his guard up. "If you're here to help, then tell me where Rebecca is."
Antonio's expression darkened, and his form flickered. "That's what I'm trying to find out. I went to check on you when you arrived at the house, and when I returned, she was gone. I believe Cornelius Webb is involved."
Garth's jaw tightened. "Cornelius? The same Cornelius who's been dead for years?"
"The very same," Antonio replied. "And if we don't act quickly, Rebecca could be in grave danger."
Garth stared at him for a long moment, his mind racing. Finally, he holstered his weapon, his voice grim. "All right. Let's figure this out. But if you're not telling me the truth."
"I am," Antonio said firmly. "And time is running out."
 Recognized |
Flash Summary and Characters -
Prologue -- Bayside's darkest criminals escape during a staged bus accident
Chapter 1 - Eleanor senses trouble at the Vineyard and discovers Miriam is missing
Chapter 2 - Rebecca meets her new neighbor, Grayson Webb , and the New York Mob realizes they have been double-crossed by the Chinese, Zhang Wei
Chapter 3 - Garth and Donatelli piece together forensic findings, and Eleanor finds a child's shoe at the Vineyard that belongs to a missing boy.
Chapter 4 - Eleanor searches for clues as to where Miriam may be, and Cornelius Webb holds Miriam captive within the mystery mirror
Chapter 5 - Miriam's lost soul begs Antonio to help her, and at the Vineyard, he is confronted by Cornelius Webb. Grayson Webb takes advantage of Rebecca's fears and makes his first move to win her heart and steal the Vineyard.
Chapter 6 - Cornelius's spirit clashes with his nephew -- both determined to claim the riches hidden beneath the grounds of the Vineyard , and Althea Cascio is alone in a motel -- fearful that the NY Mob will murder her son, Travis, if she doesn't do what they want concerning the Vineyard
Chapter 7 -- Althea gives the will and birth certificate to the lawyer saying she is part heir to the Vineyard and Eleanor bumps into her and senses something is not right
Chapter 8 - Antonio finds clues to the missing boy and finds Miriam trapped in a mirror and Cornelius dragging her away
Chapter 9 - Eleanorgives the backstory to Donatelli and Garth
Chapter 10 - Grayson steps up his game between the mob and Zhang
Main Characters -
Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Trevor's murdered bride, Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love
Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and potentially interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and escaped prisoner from Joliet State Prison.
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and escaped prisoner
Grayson Webb - grand nephew and recently inherited the Webb Estate
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York Mob
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Prologue -- Bayside's darkest criminals escape during a staged bus accident
Chapter 1 - Eleanor senses trouble at the Vineyard and discovers Miriam is missing
Chapter 2 - Rebecca meets her new neighbor, Grayson Webb , and the New York Mob realizes they have been double-crossed by the Chinese, Zhang Wei
Chapter 3 - Garth and Donatelli piece together forensic findings, and Eleanor finds a child's shoe at the Vineyard that belongs to a missing boy.
Chapter 4 - Eleanor searches for clues as to where Miriam may be, and Cornelius Webb holds Miriam captive within the mystery mirror
Chapter 5 - Miriam's lost soul begs Antonio to help her, and at the Vineyard, he is confronted by Cornelius Webb. Grayson Webb takes advantage of Rebecca's fears and makes his first move to win her heart and steal the Vineyard.
Chapter 6 - Cornelius's spirit clashes with his nephew -- both determined to claim the riches hidden beneath the grounds of the Vineyard , and Althea Cascio is alone in a motel -- fearful that the NY Mob will murder her son, Travis, if she doesn't do what they want concerning the Vineyard
Chapter 7 -- Althea gives the will and birth certificate to the lawyer saying she is part heir to the Vineyard and Eleanor bumps into her and senses something is not right
Chapter 8 - Antonio finds clues to the missing boy and finds Miriam trapped in a mirror and Cornelius dragging her away
Chapter 9 - Eleanorgives the backstory to Donatelli and Garth
Chapter 10 - Grayson steps up his game between the mob and Zhang
Main Characters -
Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Trevor's murdered bride, Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love
Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and potentially interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and escaped prisoner from Joliet State Prison.
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and escaped prisoner
Grayson Webb - grand nephew and recently inherited the Webb Estate
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York Mob
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