| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted January 26, 2025 | Chapters: |
...18 19 -20- 21... 
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From the Frying Pan Into the Fire
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets
Veil of Secrets - Chap 20
by Begin Again
Rebecca stumbled through the vineyard's darkened paths, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The ground was a blur as the moonlight struggled to break through the dense canopy of trees along the cliffs. Her bare feet throbbed, scratched, and bruised from the unforgiving terrain. Twigs snapped underfoot, and sharp stones bit into her soles, but she didn't dare to stop.
Cornelius's cold and mocking voice echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the terror she fled. Miriam's frantic scream for her to run had carried her deeper into the unknown — unfamiliar terrain.
The wind carried faint sounds — the distant crash of waves against the cliffs, muted cries of terror, and voices — each making her flinch. She wasn't sure if it was real or if her fear had conjured it, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was close, closing in on her like a predator stalking its prey.
Her chest heaved as she pushed herself harder, darting between rows of twisted vines, the scent of damp earth and overripe grapes clinging to her skin. Somewhere in her frantic flight, she had lost her shoes, and the torn hem of her dress snagged on the brambles, slowing her down. She yanked it free with trembling hands as her pulse pounded in her ears.
She stopped abruptly, her body shaking as she crouched low behind a gnarled vine. Her fingers dug into the dirt as she strained to hear over the sound of her labored breathing.
There it was — voices. This time, she was sure they were real.
They were distant at first, muffled and indistinct, but they grew louder, more defined. Rebecca's heart leaped into her throat. Was it Cornelius? Had he found her?
She stood and ran further into the shadows, praying she'd escape.
*****
The crumbling remains of the old workers' shed sat deep in the vineyard's overgrown outskirts, shrouded in shadows and tangled ivy. Once a bustling hub for vineyard workers long ago, it had become nothing more than a forgotten ruin — a perfect place for the smugglers to hide their activities.
Tonight — it wasn't forgotten. Instead, it was alive with evil.
One of Vito's roughnecks stood near the shed's entrance. He lit a cigarette, his eyes scanning the darkness of the surrounding vineyard. "Hurry up," he muttered, flicking ash to the ground. "The vans will be here soon."
A match flared, and another man lit a cigarette. "Calm down. We're ready." He inhaled and watched the smoke curl upward.
"Just stay alert. We aren't in the Big Apple anymore."
From the corner of his eye, he thought something moved. He stiffened and peered into the dark. At first, he thought it was nothing — a trick of the shadows or an animal darting through the underbrush. But then he saw a figure running between the tall grasses and overgrown vines.
"Hey!" he shouted. "There's someone out there!"
The other men froze, their heads snapping toward him. "What are you talking about?" one of them growled.
"I saw someone running. Over there!" He pointed toward the tree line, where Rebecca's fleeting silhouette vanished into the darkness.
"Shit," the leader muttered, grabbing a flashlight. "Whoever it is, they're not supposed to be here. Find them. This could mean big trouble."
Rebecca's breath came fast and shallow as she darted through the grasses, her bare feet skimming over the cold, uneven ground.
"Over here!" one of the men shouted, his flashlight landing on the torn piece of Rebecca's dress snagged on a branch.
Rebecca bolted, her heart pounding as she ran mindlessly through the night. The ground beneath her feet was rough and unforgiving, each step sending sharp jolts of pain up her legs. She didn't care. She had to keep moving.
"Don't let her get away!" one of the men yelled.
She chose an outcrop of rocks and tall grass to hide. She thought she was safe —hidden — but now the beam of a flashlight sliced through the darkness, sweeping toward her. Panic clawed at her chest.
The bushes near her hiding place rustled, and a flashlight beam sliced through the darkness, landing just inches from her foot. She pressed herself harder against the rock, her entire body shaking.
"There's nowhere to hide out here," the voice said, his tone sharp and cruel. "Are you sure you saw someone?"
The other man laughed darkly. "Maybe he saw one of those ghosts." Several others laughed as well.
"Shut up! All of you! I know what I saw. Someone's out there."
Rebecca clenched her fists, willing herself to stay silent, but her heart hammered so loudly in her chest that she was sure they could hear it.
Then the light swung toward her, and she saw their faces —hard and unrelenting. "There she is!" one of them barked.
Branches scraped at Rebecca's arms, and her dress tore further as she scrambled over a fallen log. Her foot slipped, and she crashed to the ground, gasping as the wind was knocked from her lungs. She pushed herself up, desperate to keep going, but it was too late. Rough hands grabbed her, yanking her to her feet.
"Got you," a man sneered, his breath hot against her ear. Rebecca struggled, kicking and clawing, but the man's grip was unrelenting. Her necklace snapped from her neck in the scuffle, falling to the ground unnoticed.
"Enough," the leader snapped. "Get her to the shed. We've got to get her and us out of sight. Someone might be looking for her."
Rebecca bit down hard on the hand near her face, earning a sharp curse. But her small victory was fleeting. A heavy fist slammed into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She collapsed, coughing.
They shoved a rag against her mouth, muffling her cries. Rebecca's mind swam as they hauled her forward, her feet dragging against the ground. She caught a fleeting glimpse of the crumbling old shed ahead, its roof sagging and walls overrun with ivy. One of the men kicked open the door, revealing the dark, foreboding entrance to the tunnels beneath.
The flicker of a lantern cast eerie shadows on the rough stone walls, and the metallic scent of damp iron filled her nostrils.
They pulled her deeper into the tunnels, their grip unrelenting. Finally, they stopped in front of a rusted cage welded into the stone floor.
"Put her in," one of the men barked.
Rebecca's panic surged as they opened the cage, ripped the rag from her mouth, and shoved her inside. The door slammed shut behind her, the lock clicking into place. She threw herself against the bars, her voice hoarse as she screamed, "Let me out! Please, you can't leave me here!"
*****
Unbeknownst to anyone, Travis huddled in a narrow crevice, his small body pressed so tight against the jagged rocks that he could feel the cold seep through his clothes. The air was damp and stale, thick with a rancid mixture of mold, rot, and something metallic — blood, perhaps. Every shallow breath made his chest ache, but he dared not take a deeper one. Any sound, even the faintest gasp, might betray him.
He had watched the dim lantern lights sway and flicker from his hiding spot, high above the tunnel floor, growing closer with every passing second.
He'd peeked through a gap in the rocks just in time to see the two men dragging a woman between them. Her dark hair clung to her face, damp with sweat and tears. She looked defeated; her clothing was disheveled, and her arms were limp.
The men had stopped near the rusted cages lining the far wall. One of them yanked the heavy iron door open with a loud screech that echoed through the cavern. Travis flinched, his nails digging into his palms as he watched the woman stumble forward, barely catching herself against the bars.
"Get in there!" one of the men had growled, shoving her roughly inside. Their voices sent chills down his spine when the menacing voice barked, "You've earned yourself a place on the boat!"
The woman cried out as she fell to her knees on the cold, filthy floor. The sound echoed, raw and piercing, before being muffled by the clang of the door slamming shut.
"She's a looker." The taller man smirked, his slick hair shining in the flickering lantern light. "A shame we don't have time to enjoy this one."
The other man laughed, stepping closer to the cage. He reached through the bars, his filthy fingers brushing her cheek. The woman recoiled, scrambling to the far corner. "Feisty," he sneered. "But she won't be for long. Where she's going, the men don't tolerate disobedience."
Travis pressed his hands over his mouth to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. His heart pounded so hard he was sure it would give him away, its thudding louder than the men's cruel laughter. Consumed by fear, he squeezed his eyes shut, hoping they would leave.
"Let's go," the taller man said at last, his tone laced with impatience. "The others should be arriving soon."
The two men turned away, their lanterns casting grotesque shadows on the walls as they moved down the tunnel. Travis's entire body trembled as he waited until their footsteps faded into silence. Only then did he dare to look again.
The woman was slumped against the bars, her shoulders shaking as quiet sobs racked her body. She looked so small and broken that it sent a wave of pain crashing over him. He wanted to help her, to do anything — but he was just a kid. And he was terrified.
His movement shifted slightly, causing a small pebble to dislodge and tumble down the rock face. It clinked against the stone floor, faint but distinct. His breath caught as the woman's sobs hitched, and she lifted her head, her tear-streaked face turning toward the sound.
For a moment, their eyes met. Travis froze, paralyzed with fear. Then, as quickly as the connection had formed, he retreated deeper into his hiding spot, praying she wouldn't call out and the men wouldn't return.
But her whispered words reached him, nonetheless. "Please help me."
Travis bit his lip, tears welling in his eyes. He wanted to answer, but his throat felt filled with stones. All he could do was watch as the woman slumped back against the bars, and her tears streamed down her face as the reality of her situation settled over her.
 Recognized |
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
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. 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
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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