Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 21, 2025 Chapters:  ...41 42 -43- 44... 


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A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 43

by Begin Again


The afternoon sun slanted through the vines, casting golden hues across the vineyard as Lenore walked across the land — remembering.

It had been years since she stood on this land, but the memories had never left her. She had been just a child, peering through the gaps in the crowd, her small hands clutching the cross Miriam had pressed into her palm moments before the rope tightened.

Her breath hitched as her eyes settled on the oak tree alone in the distance. This was where it happened.

The wind stirred through the branches, and for a moment, she could hear echoes of the past — whispers of fear, a woman's voice raised in desperate protest, the murmurs of the onlookers.

A chill crawled up her spine, but she did not turn away. Instead, she walked forward, each step carrying all she had witnessed and had never forgotten.

She stopped at the base of the tree, her fingers brushing over the rough bark. Miriam stood here.

Lenore exhaled, steadying herself against the wave of emotion that threatened to take hold. Then, the sound of hooves. She turned.

A mule stood at the edge of the clearing, watching her with dark, intelligent eyes. Her breath caught. She knew this mule.

"Willow?" she whispered.

The animal let out a soft huff, stepping closer. A voice, deep and warm, answered her. "Yes. He remains at her side."

Lenore's heart skipped. She lifted her gaze and found a man standing beside Willow, as if he had always been there.

He was tall, his dark hair dusted with silver at the temples, his presence calm yet powerful. His eyes — deep and warm — studied her with quiet understanding.

She knew that look. She had seen it before.

Lenore's fingers curled into the fabric of her shawl. "And you?" Her voice was quiet but steady. "Are you part of her past as well?"

The man smiled gently and extended his hand. "I'm Antonio."

Lenore stared at him, realization settling into her bones.

She knew his name, because she had heard Miriam whisper it. She placed her hand in his, and for the first time in decades, she wasn't just remembering the past — she was standing in it.

*****
Lenore stood with Antonio near the vineyard's edge. The estate felt alive, its history breathing through every tree and stone.

Antonio patted Willow's neck and turned to Lenore. "I'll take him to the barn, feed the chickens, and be back soon."

Lenore nodded, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That's fine. I think I'd like to walk the property anyway."

Antonio hesitated for a moment, his dark eyes holding something unreadable. "Don't go too far."

She gave a light laugh. "I've been walking this land since I was a child. I'll be fine." But the moment Antonio led Willow away, her steps carried her not to the vineyard, not back to the house, but toward the cottage.

She didn't know why. But she couldn't stop.

The small stone cottage stood like a forgotten memory at the vineyard's edge, its shutters slightly ajar, its door worn with time. A strange sense of familiarity wrapped around her when she stepped inside.

She had never been here before, and yet, she knew it.

Her eyes scanned the room — a wooden table near the window, a worn quilt draped over a chair, and herbs hanging from the rafters. Her breath hitched as she noticed small things that felt identical to what she had in her own home.

A connection. A thread through time.

Her fingers trembled as she reached out, brushing over the delicate embroidery of a cushion. Had Miriam and she always been bound by something unseen?

Then, her gaze landed on the mirror. It stood against the far wall, its surface dark and unmoving—cold and hollow.

Lenore stepped forward, drawn by something she couldn't name. Her fingers touched the glass. Cool beneath her skin. She inhaled deeply.

"Miriam," she whispered, pressing her palm against it. "I know you're here. Come to me."

Nothing. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Then  — a voice, dark and taunting, curled around her like a noose. "I warned you. You should not have come."

A chill shot down Lenore's spine. She turned slowly, her breath catching in her throat. Cornelius stood in the doorway. His presence sucked the warmth from the air, and the shadows in the room darkened around him. His eyes were filled with rage. "Now," he sneered, "Say goodbye to this world as you know it. Your life belongs with Miriam, forever behind the mirror."

Lenore squared her shoulders, her grip tightening around the cross hidden beneath her shawl. "I am not afraid of you."

His smirk twisted. "Miriam is waiting for you. Give me the cross."

Lenore took a slow step back. "Never."

His face darkened with rage. He lunged forward, his icy fingers clamping around her wrist.

She screamed.

The cottage walls seemed to shudder as if the very foundation rejected his presence.

He tossed her to the floor and pulled a small velvet bag from his coat. The black powder shifted like fairy dust.

"Enough of your meddling," he growled, pouring the substance into his palm. "Your life belongs to me." His evil cackling spread into every corner of the room.

Lenore's heart pounded. Her eyes widened as he swirled the powder in his hand. The moment the powder left his fingers —

The door burst open. Antonio charged in. The force of his entrance sent a sudden gust of wind spiraling through the room.

The black powder, meant for Lenore, swirled and backfired onto Cornelius instead. A roar of pure rage erupted from him. "What have you done?!"

The surrounding shadows twisted violently, his body convulsing as the curse turned against him. The mirror's surface rippled like water — then snapped open.

Cornelius screamed as something dragged him backward, his reflection warping and contorting as it pulled him into the glass.

A final, deafening roar and then he was gone.

Silence crashed into the room. Lenore gasped for breath, clutching her chest as Antonio steadied her.

A scream from the mirror — Miriam's voice.

Lenore and Antonio spun toward it. Inside, Miriam stood trapped, and Cornelius was beside her, his eyes now burning with even more fury. He was imprisoned, but so was she. 
 
Lenore rushed forward, her heart hammering. As Miriam struggled to release Cornelius's hold, she pressed a cross against the inside of the mirror.

Lenore's breath hitched. She pulled her own cross from beneath her dress, matching the movement. The moment the two crosses aligned, light exploded from the mirror.

A wave of warmth swept through the room and a brilliant glow followed.
 
Miriam stumbled forward, falling into the real world — free at last.

Antonio caught her, gently lowering her onto the couch. Miriam breathed. Her body was weak, trembling from her imprisonment, but her eyes found Lenore's, brimming with tears.

Lenore dropped to her knees beside her, taking Miriam's hands in hers. The moment felt suspended in time — two women, bound by fate, finally reunited.
A single tear slipped down Miriam's cheek. "I knew you would come."

Lenore brushed it away gently. "I was always meant to."

The warmth in the room deepened — a shift in the air. Outside, the wind stilled. The house no longer trembled. The shadows no longer clung to the walls. Cornelius was gone and Miriam was free.

A presence stirred at the doorway. Lenore and Antonio looked up. Eleanor stood there, her face beaming with delight. She had sensed the shift, just as they had. Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "It's done."

Antonio nodded. "He's locked inside the mirror, never to haunt these fields again. The land can be at peace."

Miriam's smile suddenly gave way to sadness and fear. "And Rebecca? And the boy? Did — did he harm them?"

Eleanor knelt beside Miriam, taking her hand in hers. "Rebecca and Travis are safe. They've had quite the journey, but now they are resting at the house. As soon as you find your strength, we shall go and see them. I know they will be thrilled to see you again."

As the household stirred with the aftershocks of Miriam's return and the end of Cornelius — Eleanor, Garth, and the others made their way to Rebecca's room, expecting to find her resting. When they arrived, the bed was empty.

Panic flared briefly before a sound — laughter — echoed from down the hall. They turned, following the sound through the hallway until they reached another warmly lit bedroom.

Inside, Rebecca was seated beside Althea and Travis. They all laughed at something Travis had said. The sight stopped Eleanor in her tracks, and her chest tightened with emotion.

Miriam tapped on the door and stepped inside. Rebecca's eyes widened as the trio turned to see who was there, and she gasped, "Grandma." Tears flowed from her eyes as she reached for Miriam, sobbing, "You're safe. Thank God you're back."

A moment later, everyone rushed forward, pulling Rebecca, Miriam, and Travis into tight embraces.

For a long while, the room was filled with shared laughter, murmured reassurances, and tears that spoke of healing. They felt the warmth of being whole again, the power of their emotional connection mending the wounds of the past.

*****

As the sun dipped behind the vineyard and the cliffs, casting golden hues over the rolling landscape, the grand kitchen of the estate came alive. The air filled with the warm aroma of garlic, simmering tomatoes, and fresh herbs as Antonio rolled out fresh pasta dough, his hands moving with effortless precision. Across from him, Miriam stirred a pot of sauce, tasting it with a careful tilt of her spoon.

"You've been away too long," Antonio smirked, watching her with teasing eyes. "You've forgotten how to make a proper sauce."

Miriam raised a brow, feigning offense. "Oh, is that so? And who do you think taught you how to cook?"

Antonio chuckled, shaking his head. "Your grandmother. You just took the credit."

Miriam swatted at him with a wooden spoon, sending a tiny splash of sauce onto his shirt. Antonio sighed dramatically, wiping it off. "This is what I get for haunting an estate instead of a fine restaurant in Florence."

Miriam's playful demeanor softened as she met his gaze. "I never thought we'd have this moment."

Antonio nodded, a bittersweet smile touching his lips. "Neither did I. But here we are."

They stood together — not as memories or regrets, but in the beautiful present.

*****

The long dining table in the grand hall gleamed under the glow of candlelight. Bowls of handmade pasta, fresh bread, and Antonio's legendary chicken parmesan covered the table, the feast a testament to tradition, renewal, and family.

Rebecca, Garth, Lenore, Eleanor, Travis, Althea, Maria, Tango, and Danni gathered around, their laughter and conversation filling the room. Antonio poured wine, giving each guest a generous serving.

"A toast," he declared, raising his glass.

Miriam followed, her voice filled with warmth and hope. "To family, to love, and to new beginnings. May our future be as bright as this moment."

Glasses clinked, their collective joy echoing through the house. For once, the past did not overshadow the present — they were together, sharing a moment untouched by old ghosts or unfinished battles.

As the meal carried on, Travis animatedly recounted childhood stories, making Rebecca laugh in a way she hadn't in years. Garth watched her, admiring how the shadows that once haunted her expression had finally lifted.

When their eyes met, something shifted between them, something unspoken but deeply understood. He leaned in slightly. "You look happy."

Rebecca's smile softened. "I think I finally am."

Beneath the table, Garth brushed his fingers over hers, a silent question lingering in the touch. This time, she did not pull away.
 

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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
Danny Veraci -a dear friend from the past and casino owner
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