Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 14, 2025 Chapters:  ...34 35 -36- 37... 


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Zhang's in the Mix
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 36

by Begin Again


Vince Rossi snuffed his cigarette out in the overflowing ashtray. When the Feds had said they were finding him a safe house, this wasn't what he'd expected. It was temporary, but regardless, it was a cheap motel room that stank of mildew, booze, and cigarettes.

Rossi had lived in filth before, but in the last few years, he'd become accustomed to swankier places. This wasn't living. This was hiding.

The air conditioner wheezed against the sweltering heat, pushing stale air through vents caked with dust. The small television flickered, cycling through static-filled news stations, the volume barely audible. A half-empty whiskey bottle sat on the chipped nightstand next to a loaded revolver.

A knock on the door sent Rossi hustling across the floor to grab the gun, tucking it underneath his dark blue work shirt — the name Maxwell embroidered above the pocket. Gone were the days of hundred-dollar silk shirts and Italian suits.

The knock came again — three raps, a pause, and two more.

Rossi walked to the door, his hand still resting on the butt of the gun. "Yeah, who's there?"

A gruff voice answered, "Peter Cottontail."

Vince slid the bolt lock and opened the door, his eyes darting around the parking lot as Peter Cottontail slipped inside.

Vince dropped the gun on the table. "Are you looking to get shot, Terry? It's not Thursday, so I wasn't expecting you." Terry was an old friend from Vince's days in the business, a reliable source of information, and a fellow survivor in this dangerous game.

Terry picked up an empty glass, wiped it with his shirttail, and poured whiskey into it. He slammed the first one down and raised the bottle to Vince. "You want one?"

"Don't mind if I do since the Feds are paying." He grabbed another glass from the nightstand. Terry refilled his and then topped off Rossi's glass. Vince raised the glass to his lips, sipped, and asked, "What brings you here? You're taking chances of being seen."

"I shouldn't even be telling you this, but you deserve to know. If what I heard is true, Zhang will be too busy to bother you and me, at least for a while."

"What makes you think that?" Rossi took a bigger gulp of the amber-colored liquor this time. Thoughts of Zhang always put his nerves on edge.

Terry settled into the only comfortable chair and leaned forward toward Rossi. "Zhang found out where they're keeping Donatelli. Someone's got a leak."

"Impossible! That guy's got connections with connections. You mean he knows Donatelli isn't dead?"

"That's what I heard, and he's out for blood. He plans to clean house of just about everyone he suspects was involved."

"Meaning me?" Rossi tipped back his glass and finished the drink.

"I imagine your name is on the list, but not at the top. He's planning on taking out the detective and his family and, at the same time, snatching up the botched deal with the women."

"Women?" Vince raised an eyebrow. "You talking about Vito's smuggling deal?"

"Is he still in charge in New York? With half his guys getting caught by the Feds, I thought he'd be looking for a new place to hang."

"He might be. I only know about it because Doyle had his connections with Vito before Zhang decided to cut himself into the action and grabbed the judge and me."

"My source — Manny, a second cousin who works on the docks for one of Zhang's companies, overheard two dockworkers saying they'd be taking the boats out for a run soon — something about women being held in the tunnels. "Okay, but how'd you hear about Donatelli?"

"That's a good one. It was after hours, and a bunch of us were playing poker. This black town car pulled up outside the overhead doors, and this Chinese guy got out, dressed to kill. I'd never seen Zhang before, but some guys at the table had seen him around a time or two. You could have heard a pin drop when they saw him."

Terry took a long drink of the whiskey and leaned closer to Vince as if he were sharing a secret. "Those same two guys hustled their butt over there. The conversation was short, and Zhang got in his car and left. These guys started asking a few guys if they wanted to get in on some action. Said the pay was top rate, but so was the danger because Zhang wanted Detective Donatelli taken out. Of course, most of the guys thought it was a joke; after all, isn't he already dead?"

Vince ran his hand across his face and stared into the mirror, evaluating what he'd just heard. If any of this was true, his life wasn't worth a wooden nickel, Feds or not. Vince snarled, "How reliable is this Manny guy?"

"He's a good guy. He's working the docks because he's got five mouths to feed. I slip him a few extra bucks whenever I see him. I don't think he'd feed me a line unless it were true. He sounded worried when I talked to him."

Vince mulled over everything he'd just learned. This might be his ticket out of this place if he played his cards right. If he didn't, he'd probably be dead anyhow. "Thanks for the info, Terry. I owe you one, but you better get out of here before the Feds send one of their goons to do their daily check."

"Yeah, you're right. You can't be too careful. Watch your back, Vince, because Zhang's probably got a target on it." He cracked open the door, checked the parking lot, and slipped out, pulling the door closed.

Vince shoved the bolt lock into place seconds later. He poured himself another drink and settled into the chair. He needed to think this through. If Zhang had found out where the Feds had hidden Donatelli, there was no doubt in his mind that he also knew where they had him holed up. If he worked it right, he should be able to get a fat upgrade, and the faster, the better.

He reached under the mattress and pulled out a burner phone, another gift from Terry. He'd done the guy some favors back in the day, and luckily for him, Terry hadn't forgotten.

He knew the number by heart — old habits don't die. He dialed and waited. The line rang twice, and then Jack Lexington's icy, crisp voice answered. "Yeah."

"It's Rossi."

"Have you lost your mind calling me? And where did you get the phone? No, don't answer that. I don't want to know."

"I've got a hot piece of news you might be interested in."

"Tell it to the Feds. You're their guest, aren't you? Or have you skipped out on that, too?"

"I don't trust the Feds; besides, this would mean more to you."

"What could you possibly know that would interest me? Just because we did the job together doesn't put you back in good graces with me."

"Does the name Zhang do anything for you?"

Jack paused and took a long drag on his cigarette. "It's a name I could do without."

"Me, too. Thanks to you and your friends, he's got a target on my back."

"You put yourself in that position, Vince. Not me."

"Yeah, I suppose. But right now, I'm trying to make up for it. I've heard about a big hit and what Zhang's next move is."

Jack smashed his cigarette into the ashtray, swallowed some water, and forced himself to ask, "This big news, what's it got to do with me?"

"Not so fast. I want something in return."

"News flash — you're living off the Feds now."

A snarky laugh came through the line. "I wouldn't put a flea-infested cat in this dump. I want out."

"That's something you'll have to take up with them, not me."

"I know you, Jack. You've got pull. And what I've got to tell you is worth far more than I'm asking for — just get me into a decent place. One that's safe."

"Say, I do — what do I get?"

"You'll be saving a lot of lives, including the detective. Nice bit of fluff as you retire."

Jack took a slow drag from his cigarette, letting Rossi sweat on the other end of the line. If this was a setup, it would be a damn good one.

"Nobody said I was retiring, but okay, I'll bite. Supposing I do pass along your request for better living arrangements, it doesn't mean you walk free. Understood?"

"It's a deal. Just get me out of this place."

"Then spill it — and this better be worth it or the deals off."

Vince cleared his throat. "It is. Zhang's making a move. Today. He's taking out Donatelli. But that's not the job. It's a cover."

Jack's gut twisted. "Go on.

"They're taking his kid." Jack went completely still. His grip tightened on the phone. His breathing slowed, and controlled rage settled into his veins. "How do you know?"

"Does it matter? If I'm lying, you'll take me out. If I stay here, Zhang will have me dead by morning."

Jack's jaw clenched. Then Rossi dropped the second bombshell. "That's not all."

Jack's voice came hard and sharp. "Then spit it out."

Rossi exhaled. "The tunnels."

Jack's stomach dropped. "What tunnels?"

"The ones at the vineyard. The ones nobody's supposed to know about. The missing women. That's the escape route. Zhang's men are moving them today."

Jack felt like he'd been gut-punched. If this was true — If Zhang's people were already positioned — this wasn't just an attack. This was a damn takeover.

Jack pushed back from his desk, already grabbing his gun. "Where is Zhang hitting first?"

"Frank's hospital. They're going to finish the job on Donatelli and kidnap the kid. Another team is going to move into the vineyard for the women."

"How are they going to do that without being seen? The vineyards open field."

"Boats."

Jack smashed his cigarette into the ashtray, exhaling through his nose. Boats. That changed everything. He didn't hesitate. "You better pray this isn't a trap, Rossi."

"If it were, we'd both already be dead."

Jack leaned back in his chair, the phone still warm in his hand.

The air in the room was thick with the scent of burnt tobacco and old memories. He dragged a hand down his face, exhaling slowly, forcing his pulse to slow. He didn't need or want this fight. He was supposed to be retiring—living the good life.

One last deal. One last favor. That was the plan. Then it was over. But here he was, staring at the same fork in the road.

Rossi's call had opened something inside him — something he might never close again — if he lived through it.

Donatelli was one thing. He had done his part there. Had bled, fought, and nearly killed to set things right. And now this? His grip tightened around the phone.

Another job. Another war.

He'd spent years standing on the edge of a knife with Frank. Rivals. Enemies. But the moment Maggie had come into the world, something had shifted.

Jack wasn't sure what to call it. They weren't friends. But they weren't enemies anymore, either.

And Maggie — Good God — Maggie.

His blood ran in her veins. He had saved her life with the transfusion, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he'd known even then — she was family.

He didn't need this fight. But he didn't have a choice.

Jack released a slow, measured breath, picked up the phone, and dialed.

Frank picked up on the first ring. "Yeah?"

"We've got a problem."

Frank's voice was tight, controlled. "I'm listening."

Jack's jaw clenched. "I just got a call from someone I shouldn't have."

Frank's gut twisted.

Jack didn't wait for a response. "There's a hit planned. On Donatelli. On you. Maybe even on me."

Frank gasped, then controlled his voice again. "How's anyone know he's here? He's supposed to be dead."

"Zhang must have been willing to pay something big for the information."

Frank's mind was racing. How had Zhang infiltrated his place, or was there a leak with the Feds or, heaven forbid, Donatelli's own crew? Frank was so quiet that Jack asked, "Frank, are you still with me?"

"Yeah, I'm here, but I better get this place locked down."

"Wait, Frank. There's more."

Frank's fingers curled around his phone. "Then what the hell is it?"

Jack didn't hesitate. "They're planning on taking Maggie."

Frank went still, like a cat ready to pounce. Then his chair scraped back violently as he stood. He yelled for Sam, hoping he was just outside his office.

Jack wasn't finished. "Something is going down at the vineyards too."

"Garth and Rebecca's place?" Frank shouted as he spun around, pacing.

"I don't know about that. My source just said the Vineyards. Sounds like Zhang has picked up Doyle's old tricks. Trafficking women."

Frank was already moving, switching his monitors, scanning every feed. "How sure are we that this isn't a setup?"

"I'm not." Jack's voice was steady. "But if it's real, it's happening now."

Frank's eyes flicked to the surveillance monitors — nothing yet.

Seconds later, Sam burst into the room. His face was pale, his expression grim. "Boss. You need to see this."

Frank didn't even hang up. He just turned back to the monitors. A convoy of SUVs were moving up the mountain road.

Jack's voice came through the phone, calm but sharp. "Talk to me, Frank."

Frank's grip tightened. "They're already here."

Jack exhaled. Frank was already issuing orders."You focus on the vineyard. I'll handle the hospital."

"I'll call Garth, but I'm coming to you. You don't have the manpower that Zhang does. The helicopter will have me there in thirty minutes."

"If Zhang's using the water to move those women, they'll need to cut him off before he even gets near the open sea."

Jack pushed a button inside his desk drawer, and the bookcase moved, exposing an artillery of weapons. He snarled his last words to Frank, "Don't let them get to that little girl."

The phone line went dead.

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Recognized


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
Amelia - girl in the caves
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Maria - a woman escaping the tunnels
Lenore - an old woman with a wolf dog and magic
Ashley, Lee Ann, Kristen - women caged in the tunnel
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
Smugglers from New York
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