General Fiction posted January 24, 2025 Chapters:  ...15 16 -17- 18... 


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Eleanor begins her search
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 17

by Begin Again


The acrid scent of burning fuel and charred metal lingered in the air as Eleanor stood near the edge of the wreckage. The crash site was alive with activity now — emergency responders had arrived, their flashing lights painting the dark road in flashes of red and blue. Firefighters worked methodically to douse the last smoldering flames, water hissing as it hit the twisted remains of Doyle's car.

A fire captain barked orders, his voice rising above the chaos. "Get that engine cooled! I don't want this thing reigniting."

Paramedics moved carefully around the scene, their stretcher waiting nearby. One knelt by Doyle's charred body, checking for the impossible — signs of life. Another attended to the second man — the thug who had been in the passenger seat — finding no pulse. The coroner's van idled nearby, its presence a quiet testament to the grim reality of the crash.

Charles stood beside Eleanor. She hadn't said a word since the responders arrived. Her gaze was on Doyle, whose body lay crumpled at the edge of the ditch.

A police officer approached the fire chief, his flashlight cutting through the smoky haze. "We've got IDs on them," he said, flipping open his notepad. "The driver was John Doyle, the infamous judge and escapee. The passenger's ID didn't come up in the system. It's probably a fake. He's likely one of Doyle's crew. No survivors."

The fire chief grunted. "Wonder what Doyle was doing back in Bayside. After someone sprung him from prison, you'd think he would have stayed far away." The chief shrugged. "Cost him his life, whatever it was."

Eleanor's jaw tightened. She hadn't wanted to be here when the authorities arrived, but couldn't leave yet. Charles, sensing her turmoil, placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

"Eleanor," he hissed, his voice cutting through the surrounding noise. "There's nothing more you can do here."

She exhaled slowly, her hands clenching into fists. "It should feel like justice," she murmured. "After everything Doyle's done, but it doesn't."

Charles didn't respond right away. He stood beside her, letting her process the chaos. The crackle of the firefighters' radios and the low murmur of the paramedics filled the silence between them.

Another officer, Detective DeLuca, arrived on the scene, his sharp gaze sweeping over the wreckage. He stepped toward the fire chief, nodding at the car. "Is it Doyle?"

The chief nodded. "What's left of him."

DeLuca sighed, his expression hardening. "And the passenger?"

"Gone too," the chief replied. "Not much else to report. They weren't wearing seatbelts, and the car flipped twice before it hit the ditch. We're ruling it an accident unless you tell us otherwise."

DeLuca grunted, scribbling in his notepad. "Accident or not, this man was a problem for a lot of people. I'll need statements from anyone who saw it go down."

"I've not heard of anyone. The man who called it in is over there — the blue sedan. He says it was burning when he arrived. He thought a semi might have pulled off the side road. Guess it happens a lot along this road."

DeLuca surveyed the scene. "Guess if there was a trucker, he didn't stick around."

"Guess not. You ask me, he did society a service. Or maybe Doyle was speeding and lost control. Either way, Bayside's lucky that he won't be destroying any more lives."

Eleanor stepped back into the shadows as DeLuca's gaze briefly swept the area. She was invisible, but she didn't need him asking questions — not now. Charles followed her, his expression calm but watchful.

As they moved further away from the wreckage, Eleanor spoke again, her voice low. "I can't leave Althea out there. She's terrified, and Cornelius will find her if I don't get to her first."

Charles nodded. "And I'll go to Jenna. She needs to hear about Donatelli and will need someone to hold her together."

Eleanor hesitated, her gaze flicking back toward the crash site. "I should be the one to tell her."

"You'll have your chance," Charles said gently. "But tonight, Althea needs you. — tonight, she'll have to settle for Dad."

She nodded reluctantly, the tension in her shoulders easing only slightly. "All right," she said. "But Charles — don't leave her until I get there. Promise me."

"I promise," he said, his voice steady. "Just make sure you find Althea before it's too late."

The faintest smile touched Eleanor's lips. "You always were better at the softer stuff."

"And you've always been better at the fight," Charles replied. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"I need you to promise me something."

Charles raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Stay with her," Eleanor said, her voice trembling just slightly. "Don't leave until she's ready."

"I promise," he said. Then, with an almost teasing grin, he added, "But you need to promise me something too."

Eleanor tilted her head, her lips curving faintly. "And what would that be?"

"Be careful," Charles said, his tone turning serious. "Cornelius isn't playing games anymore, and neither are the people he's tangled up with. Don't let your anger get the better of you."

Her smile faded, replaced by a look of steel. "I'll be careful," she said. "But if I find Cornelius —" She left the rest unsaid, but the fire in her eyes was answer enough.

Charles leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "That's my Eleanor," he said, his voice warm. "Go now. You have work to do."

Eleanor nodded, her steps purposeful as she turned and vanished into the night. Charles watched her go, the faintest hint of worry in his expression. He watched the paramedics load the bodies into the coroner's van before he faded into the mist, heading toward Jenna. He didn't like being the bearer of bad news, but it was necessary tonight.

*****.

The baby monitor emitted soft static inside Jenna's quiet home as Maggie slept soundly in her crib. Jenna was curled on the couch, flipping through photos on her phone, when a faint chill ran down her spine. She looked up, her brow furrowing.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice tinged with apprehension.

The air in the room seemed to shift, and for a moment, everything stilled. A figure began to form in the dim light of the lamp. Jenna's breath hitched as she recognized him.

"Dad?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is it really you?"

Charles stepped closer, his form shimmering faintly. "It's me, Jenna."

Tears welled in her eyes as she stood, her legs unsteady. "I thought I might never see you again. You don't travel like Mom."

He smiled, his expression filled with love. "I've always been here, watching over you and Maggie. And I'm so proud of you. But right now, there's something you need to know."

Jenna's heart clenched at the seriousness in his tone. "What is it? What's happened?"

"It's Matthew," Charles said, his voice heavy. "He's been shot."

The blood drained from Jenna's face. "What? How —"

"There's no time to explain," Charles interrupted gently. "Danni is with him, but it's bad. He needs you, Jenna. He needs you to be strong."

"Where's Mom? Does she know?" Jenna shook her head and mumbled, "Of course, she knows."

"She was with him, but duty called." Charles hoped to ease her distraught, but he only added fuel to the fire.

"Duty? Something more important than Donatelli's life?" Tears sprang into her eyes, and she turned away, choking on the bile in her throat. "He's Maggie's father."

"Jenna, you're upset. Don't accuse if you don't know all the circumstances."

"I'm sorry. It's just she's always in the middle of something."

"Jenna, she can't help Matthew with the gunshot wound. That's in the hands of the doctors, but Miriam, Travis, Althea, and now, Rebecca are missing."

Jenna thought she couldn't feel more troubled, but the thought of so many missing, including Rebecca, was overwhelming. "I — I didn't know."

Charles wrapped his arms around his daughter, pulling her tight. "That's because your mother, Danni, and Matthew shield you from so much."

"I feel so foolish. Do you know what happened?"

Charles shook his head. "I know Garth reached out to your mom, frantic because he couldn't find Rebecca at the mansion. I wish I had more to tell you, but for now, you must focus on Matthew."

Jenna swallowed hard, her mind racing. "You're right, Dad. I'll go to him. But Maggie—"

"She's safe here," Charles assured her. "I'll stay with her until you return."

Jenna hesitated, torn between her baby and the man she loved. But Charles's certainty gave her strength. She nodded, grabbing her coat and keys. "Thank you, Dad. For everything."

He smiled, his form glowing softly. "Go. He's waiting for you. Maggie and I will be fine."

As Jenna rushed out the door, Charles turned toward the baby monitor. Maggie's faint coos and soft breaths filled the room, and his expression softened. "You'll always have me, little one," he whispered, his voice full of love.

*****
As Eleanor faded from the wreckage, she struggled to focus on the task at hand. She needed to leave Doyle behind and concentrate on saving the people she loved. Flashes of the match and how close she had come to crossing the line swirled in her mind. Then she remembered Charles' comforting arms, and she was grounded again.
 
A quiet strength was whirring inside her body when she materialized outside the shed.
She glanced toward the house and then quickly eased the shed door open. As she stepped inside, a piece of wood sailed through her head. She ducked and spun to see who her attacker might be.

Althea clutched another piece of timber, her hands trembling and her body language screaming fear. She yelled, "Stay back."

"It's okay, Althea. You're safe now," Eleanor said softly, stepping closer and calmly releasing Althea's fingers from the wood. "I'm here."

Althea's shoulders sagged, relief washing over her like a wave. "Eleanor," she whispered, her voice shaking. "You don't know how scared I've been. I thought — I thought he was going to find me."

Eleanor pulled the frightened woman into her arms, murmuring, "You're safe. Nothing's going to happen to you."

Eleanor noticed the hound dog sitting protectively at Althea's side, his golden-brown coat matted with dirt. The dog growled softly, his gaze fixed toward the edge of the trees as if sensing something unseen.

Althea's trembling hand smoothed over the dog's head. "I don't even know where he came from," she said. "He showed up after I hid here. He wouldn't leave. He just stayed with me."

Eleanor reached out, gently patting the dog. "He's smarter than most people I know," she said with a smile. "It seems like he knows when he's needed."

The tension in the shed eased momentarily, and Althea exhaled, her grip on the wooden plank loosening. Eleanor stood and offered her a hand, helping her to her feet. "We need to get you somewhere safe," she said firmly. "Come on."

Althea hesitated, glancing toward the dog, who had shifted his stance, his growls deepening. "What is it?" she whispered.

Eleanor froze, her senses heightened as the surrounding air grew colder. The dog's growl wasn't a warning but a response to something unnatural. Her gaze flicked toward the edge of the tree line, where shadows seemed to shift.

"Cornelius," Eleanor muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. She turned back to Althea, her voice sharp. "You can't come with me."

Althea stared at her, confused. "What? I'm not staying here! He'll find me."

Eleanor's tone softened, but her words were resolute. "He's already nearby, and I can't protect you if we run into him. I need you to stay here, where it's safer."

"But —" Althea began to protest, but Eleanor cut her off with a firm shake of her head.
"You'll be safer with police," she said. Her gaze darted toward the house, where a forensic technician stood near a cluster of evidence markers. "Wait here."

Eleanor stepped out of the shed and waved down the officer. He looked up, startled, but jogged over as she approached. "Ma'am?" he asked, glancing at her." This is a crime scene. You shouldn't be out here."

"She's a witness," Eleanor said quickly, gesturing toward Althea. "She's in danger. Stay with her until backup arrives."

The officer nodded, his expression serious. "Understood. I'll make sure she's safe."

Eleanor turned back to Althea, her expression softening. "Stay with him. You'll be all right," she said before adding, "I'll come back for you."

Reluctantly, Althea nodded, her grip tightening on the dog's collar as he pressed close to her side. "Be careful," she said.

Eleanor patted the dog's head. "You're in charge. Keep her safe." She gave Althea a faint smile before walking away.

*****
Hoping for word on Donatelli, Eleanor drifted toward the ambulance, her form fading into invisibility as she approached. Although flashing lights illuminated the chaotic scene, her attention remained fixed on Grayson. His body lay battered and broken on the stretcher, his breath shallow and ragged.

"Hang in there, buddy," one paramedic murmured, working quickly to try and stabilize him. "Just breathe. Don't try to talk."

But Grayson's lips moved, forming incoherent sounds. Sensing Grayson was trying to share something important, Eleanor slipped closer, her invisible form allowing her to lean in unnoticed.

"Cellar —" he rasped. "Althea."

The paramedic leaned down, straining to catch the words. "What's he saying? Something about a cellar?"

Grayson's eyelids fluttered, and his voice slurred as he mumbled, "Start there — tunnels — Zhang — mob." His breath hitched, and his chest stilled.

The paramedic's head snapped up. "We're losing him! No pulse!" He checked his watch. "Time of death —"

"Not yet," Eleanor whispered to herself.

Before the paramedic could finish the proclamation, Eleanor's hands glowed as she pressed them to Grayson's chest. The paramedics didn't see her, only the faint, shimmering light that seemed to hover over his body.

"Grayson," she said firmly, her voice steady and commanding. "You're not done. Not yet."

A ripple of energy surged through her hands, a gentle shock that made Grayson's body jolt on the stretcher. The paramedics froze, startled as the monitor beeped.

"Holy — what was that?" one muttered, his wide eyes fixed on the sudden change. His hand wavered as he pointed at the light. "Am I seeing things?"

Grayson's eyes flew open, and his breath rushed out in a gasp. His startlingly clear gaze locked onto Eleanor briefly before he spoke.

"The tunnels—" His voice was raw. "They run under the vineyard from our estate — smuggling — human trafficking." His eyes closed. Eleanor wanted more. The green orb glowed as she touched him again.

His eyes flickered, and his hand reached out to Eleanor, almost as if it were floating. His voice was weaker as he stammered, "Zhang Wei and the mob — fighting for the tunnels. They're moving people. Start in the cellar."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed as she absorbed the revelation.

Grayson slumped back onto the stretcher, his energy disappearing as he gasped. "Stop, my uncle."

Eleanor whispered, "I will. Go in peace, Grayson."

As the paramedics placed the paddles on his chest, jolting him, he took one last breath, and Eleanor felt his soul departing. The paramedics stared at each other, unable to comprehend what had happened.

Finally, one of them looked at his watch while the other pulled the sheet over Grayson's face. "Time of death —"

Eleanor stepped back, her hands falling to her sides. The glow around her faded as they loaded Grayson into the ambulance and slammed the doors shut.

Grayson's words echoed in her mind. The cellar. The tunnels. The mob and Zhang Wei.

She heard someone's radio squawk. "Detective DeLuca," the officer said into his radio. "Before expiring, the patient mentioned tunnels on the Webb estate, a smuggling operation, and possible entrances near the cliffs."

There it was — confirmation of what she had suspected all along. Eleanor's mind raced, piecing together the scattered threads. Cornelius, the smuggling, Rebecca's disappearance — it was all connected. Her jaw tightened as she turned away from the ambulance.

"Thank you, Grayson," she murmured under her breath.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and vanished into the shadows, her course set. Whatever lay beneath the Webb estate had to be stopped and if Rebecca was there, she'd find her.

Now, she needed to get to Garth and the Vineyard.

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Summary:
Eleanor discovers Miriam is missing and trapped in a mirror by Cornelius Webb, whose schemes threaten the Vineyard. Rebecca meets Grayson Webb, a manipulative descendant of Cornelius, while a missing boy tied to the Vineyard raises the stakes. Althea Cascio, connected to both the Vineyard and the Mob, fears for her son as Grayson abducts her under Cornelius's orders. Antonio, Miriam's first love, returns to help and reveals the Vineyard's dark history to Rebecca. Eleanor and her allies work to protect the Vineyard as Grayson's alliance with Zhang collapses, leading to betrayal, violence, and a confrontation between Grayson, Doyle, and Cornelius. Donatelli is wounded during Doyle's escape, leaving the group fractured as the danger grows.
Donatelli is critically wounded by Doyle during a confrontation. Danni, Eleanor, and DeLuca rally to save him, but chaos ensues as Rebecca goes missing. Eleanor tracks Doyle, confronting him after his car crashes. Her fury burns hot, but she ultimately spares him, only for fate to seal his end in the wreckage's flames. Overwhelmed by the night's tragedies, Eleanor is grounded by Charles's comforting presence, renewing her resolve to protect those she loves.

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
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