Mystery and Crime Fiction posted January 29, 2025 Chapters:  ...20 21 -22- 23... 


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Donatelli's life in the balance
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 22

by Begin Again


NOTE:
THIS IS THE FIRST HALF OF THE HOSPITAL SCENE.... CHAP. 23 FOLLOWS

The early morning hours were quiet, the kind of silence that signaled the end of a long, difficult shift. Pale light seeped through the windows, stretching across the empty hallway outside Donatelli's room. Most of the staff moved sluggishly, eager to clock out and leave the night behind.

Frank adjusted the collar of his doctor's coat, his broad shoulders straining against the fabric. The beeping of the monitors filled the silence, a cruel reminder of how fragile Donatelli's condition was. Tubes and wires snaked around the bed, keeping the detective tethered to life. Frank clenched his fists at the sight of his old friend, but his voice was steady as he leaned close.

"Hang in there, Matthew," Frank said, his gruff voice softening. "I'm not letting these bastards win. You hear me? You're gonna make it."

One of Frank's men, Marco, stood by the door and kept watch. The other, his right-hand man, Sam, hovered by the monitors, his face grim as he studied the readings. "We shouldn't move him," Sam muttered. "Not in this state."

Frank shot him a sharp look. "The doctors here said they've done all they can. I don't believe that for a second. My people are the best. They'll keep him alive."

Sam didn't argue, but the tension in the room was apparent. Frank turned back to Donatelli, his thick hand gripping the edge of the bed. The weight of the decision bore down on him — moving Donatelli was a gamble, but leaving him here was suicide.

The shrill buzz of Frank's phone broke the stillness. He fished it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen.

Jack Lexington.

Frank answered, his voice low. "Everything's set on my end. How about yours?"

Jack's voice was calm but laced with the confidence that only came with years of walking the edge. "We're ready. I've let everyone know what to expect. I've the honors of being one of Bayside's finest."

"You — a police officer? Matthew would love to see that."

"What? You don't think he'd approve?"

"Honestly, I'm sure he'd laugh his ass off." Frank chuckled, appreciating the moment of humor.

"You two can have a good laugh after this is over. For now, let's focus. As a police officer, I can relieve the guard outside Donatelli's room. Once I'm in position, I'll signal Rossi to make his move."

Frank moved to the foot of the bed. "You sure Rossi's going to play along?"

"He doesn't have a choice," Jack replied smoothly. "He'll enter the room, shoot the corpse we've prepared, and make his escape through the stairwell. Tango and his team will be waiting there to take him down."
 
Frank scowled. "Tango? Where's Garth?"
 
"He's embroiled in another mess at the Vineyard. Let's get through this first, and then I'll fill you in."
 
Aware of what was at stake, Frank brought his attention back to Donatelli. "And Zhang's men?" he asked, his voice dropping. "You know they'll be lurking."

"I'm sure Jin is here," Jack said. "I just don't know where. Keep your eyes open, Frank. This has to be perfect."

Frank exhaled heavily, his eyes fixed on Donatelli's still form. "Perfect, huh? Nothing about this is perfect, Jack. But we'll make it work."

Jack chuckled softly on the other end. "That's why I called you. Just get Donatelli to the helipad. I'll handle the rest."

Frank ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. He turned to his men. "All right, listen up. Marco, you're with me when we move Donatelli. Sam, you stay here and prep the corpse. Make it look convincing."

Sam nodded, pulling a vial from his pocket and a fake blood packet—setting to work on the body behind the screen—none of them asking where it had come from. "This'll fool anyone who doesn't get too close," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
 
Marco checked the hallway. "It's clear."

Frank moved to the head of the bed, glancing once more at the monitors. "Let's move fast. The longer we stay, the more time Zhang's people have to figure this out."

*****
Jack Lexington strode down the hallway in his police uniform, his steps measured and purposeful. The guard stationed outside Donatelli's room, a young officer with tired eyes, straightened as Jack approached.

"Change of shift," Jack said, flashing a fake badge. "Take a break. I've got it from here."

The guard hesitated, his gaze flicking to Jack's badge and then his face. "I wasn't told about a shift change."

Jack's easy smile didn't waver. "You weren't told about the FBI swarming this place either, were you? Orders from the top. Go grab a coffee."

After a tense beat, the guard nodded and stepped aside. Jack leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he scanned the hallway. His heart was thumping against his chest, but he kept his cool. He tapped the earpiece, his mind rehearsing the scene that was about to unfold.

"Rossi, you're up. Make it look real."
 
*****

Dressed in hospital scrubs, Jin stood by a gurney near the ICU entrance, blending seamlessly with the early morning routine. He nodded at two nurses who walked by, eager to end their shift. Though the halls were void of visitors, except for a grieving family nearby, his attention to detail had his sharp gaze analyzing every movement.
His cold eyes shifted to the elevator as the doors opened, and Rossi stepped out, pushing a janitorial mop and bucket. His palms were slick with sweat as he approached Jin and the ICU doors. Jin's gaze locked on him like a hunter sizing up prey.

Rossi exhaled sharply, trying to steady his nerves as he scanned his keycard, waited for the doors to open, and walked down the corridor, pushing his bucket. Ahead, Donatelli's room came into view. His heart pounded as he mentally rehearsed the plan.

Before the door closed, Jin pushed the gurney into the ICU, stopping to get a drink from the fountain. His eyes narrowed as he glanced toward Rossi, who was closing in on the room.

Through the slightly ajar door, Jack Lexington stood in a police uniform, leaning casually against the wall. Jin's lips curled into a faint sneer. A police guard might complicate things — for Rossi. Not that it mattered as long as the job got done.

Rossi pushed the mop and bucket toward Donatelli's room, each step feeling heavier as his nerves threatened to undo him. The early morning stillness of the ICU only heightened his unease. As he approached the door, a nurse entered the hallway from a patient's room, her sharp gaze zeroing in on the mop bucket.

"Hold on," she said, her tone tinged with suspicion. "What are you doing here? Nobody notified the nurse's station about any cleanup in this room."

Rossi froze, sweat running down his back as he struggled to respond. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Inside Donatelli's room, Jack Lexington had been monitoring the hallway through the small window in the door. He caught the exchange immediately, his sharp instincts warning him that Rossi was about to botch the cover. Jack stepped to the door and cracked it open, his voice smooth and authoritative.

"It's okay," Jack said, leaning partially out of the room in his police uniform. He gestured toward the mop and bucket. "I spilled coffee just inside here a few minutes ago. Didn't want to make a mess for you to clean up after a long shift, so I called maintenance."

The nurse hesitated, her gaze flicking between Jack and Rossi. "No one told me about this."

Jack gave her a practiced, disarming smile. "It wasn't worth making a big deal over. You've been working hard enough tonight, and I didn't want to bother you with it."

The nurse studied him for another moment and sighed. "Just don't take too long. This room has restricted access."

"Understood," Jack said with a polite nod. "Thank you."

The nurse turned back toward her station, leaving the hallway quiet again. Jack's expression hardened as he locked eyes with Rossi. "Get in here. Now."

Rossi entered the room cautiously, his steps slow and deliberate. He looked at the figure on the bed, motionless and frail. The sight made his stomach churn, but he knew he had no choice.

A moment later, Jack followed him into the room, his face a perfect mask of calm. He closed the door behind him and turned to Rossi. "You know what to do," Jack said. But you're going to need a little help to sell this."

Rossi raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Jack smirked faintly. "I'm the cop who let you in. If they find you with the gun, this whole thing falls apart. You'll knock me out, grab my weapon, and do the job. I'll play dead while you take the shot. No gun to tie you to the scene, no loose ends."

Rossi hesitated. "You serious?"

Jack stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Zhang's not playing games, Rossi. Do it my way, or you're as good as dead."

Rossi exhaled shakily and nodded. "Fine."

Jack turned his back slightly, presenting the side of his head. Rossi hesitated, his mind racing, but the weight of the situation left him no choice. He swung the mop handle with a sharp crack, hitting Jack hard enough to send him sprawling onto the floor. Jack let out a low groan, staying perfectly still as though unconscious.

Rossi bent down quickly, pulling Jack's gun from its holster. His hands trembled as he stood, the weapon feeling impossibly heavy in his grip. He turned toward the bed, his breathing ragged.

His chest tightened as he raised the gun, aiming at the body under the sheet. The suppressor muted the shots to dull pops as fake blood splattered across the sheets.
 
Rossi fired again for good measure, leaving the corpse untouched otherwise.

The door opened behind him, and Rossi spun just as Jin entered. The enforcer's eyes swept the room, taking in Jack's crumpled form and the bloodied bed.

"It's done," Rossi said, his voice tight. "The cop tried to stop me, but I handled it."

Jin stepped closer, his imposing frame crowding Rossi's space. "Handled it, huh?" he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "You didn't think Zhang would let you walk away, did you?"

Rossi's mouth went dry as Jin drew his weapon, the silencer glinting faintly under the dim hospital light.

"Wait —" Rossi stammered, stepping back, but Jin's cold smile cut him off.

Before Jin could pull the trigger, a faint pop sounded behind him. He froze, his expression shifting to one of surprise as blood blossomed across his chest. He staggered, his gun slipping from his hand, and crumpled to the floor.

Sam stepped out from behind the privacy curtain, his silenced pistol still aimed at Jin's fallen form. Wasting no time, Sam crossed to the bed, pulled out a vial of acid, and splashed it over the corpse's face. The chemical hissed and bubbled, filling the room with a sharp, acrid stench as smoke curled from the disfigured flesh.

"Move!" Sam hissed, shoving Rossi toward the door.

Rossi didn't need to be told twice. He bolted, his legs moving on pure instinct, as Sam followed close behind. They burst into the stairwell, Rossi's breath ragged as he descended the steps two at a time.

On the landing below, Tango and his FBI team waited, their weapons drawn. Rossi skidded to a stop, his hands shooting into the air.

"Don't shoot!" he gasped. "I'm unarmed!"

Tango's sharp eyes flicked to Sam, then back to Rossi. "Where's Jin?" Tango demanded.

"Dead," Sam said curtly. "He tried to take us out."

Tango nodded, motioning to his men. Two agents grabbed Rossi, cuffing him roughly, while another swept past them toward the stairwell above.

"You better hope Jack's alive," Tango growled, glaring at Rossi. "Because if he's not, you're not making it to the station."

Rossi said nothing, his shoulders slumping as the agents hauled him away. Behind him, Sam lingered for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he glanced up the stairwell. His thoughts were with his boss and Donatelli.

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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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