Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 23, 2025 Chapters:  ...43 44 -45- 46... 


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The Hunt Begins
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 45

by Begin Again

The author has placed a warning on this post for language.

Sam poured the amber liquor into two highball glasses and handed one to his boss and the other to Jack Lexington.

Frank nodded to Sam. "Thanks, but pour one for yourself because this conversation might take a while."

Sam didn't question Frank. He crossed the room, chose a merlot, and poured it into a glass. Turning toward Jack and Frank, he felt like he was walking into a bullfight. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was deafening. Both men were chewing on Zhang's escape, and neither liked it.
Before Sam got comfortable, Frank snarled, "I can't believe he outsmarted us again. Having a getaway car waiting on some back road — just in case."

Jack stared into his drink. "Whether I like it or not, I must admit the man is thorough."

"How did he discover Donatelli was alive and in my hospital?" Frank slammed his fist against the arm of the chair. "I thought this place was an impenetrable fortress. Guess I got that wrong."

"He just outsmarted us, Frank, but I want to know how he found out Donatelli was alive?"

Sam sat, sipping his wine and listening. He was there as a sounding board after they'd bounced the conversation around. He preferred it that way. Two strong-willed, wise guys didn't need a third party muddying the water unless asked.

"Well, we can rule out the FBI. Garth kept the information of the sting under wraps until the last second. We're talking about Donatelli's life here. He wouldn't have shared information with anyone unless it were necessary."

"Okay, we take law enforcement out of the equation for now. Jin's dead, so he's not talking. That leaves Rossi and the coroner."

"My bet's on Rossi — he's a slimeball through and through."

"Yeah, but he didn't have to tell me about the hit, but he did. Of course, he had ulterior motives but too much to lose connecting with Zhang again.

"Namely, his life." Frank swallowed his bourbon and set the empty glass on the table. Sam quickly moved to get the bottle and refilled his boss's glass without being asked. Then, he topped off Jack's.

"I'm going to pay a visit to Rossi, and maybe you can reach out to any of your connections." Jack emptied his glass and stood. "Thanks for the bourbon, Frank." He nodded at Sam and started toward the office door.

"You going to see Rossi tonight, Jack? It's getting late."

"You're getting rusty, Frank. It's not too late. The night's just beginning, especially when you want to pay a surprise visit." Jack raised his hand, acknowledging his goodbye, and left.
 
*****
A black sedan sat idling across the street from the upscale safe house. Its windows cracked enough to let in the cool night air, allowing two FBI agents, Monroe and Davis, to endure another mind-numbingly boring surveillance shift.

Monroe lifted his half-eaten burger, now cold and slightly soggy, and sighed. "There goes another one." He shook his head and pointed with his burger down the street. "You ever think about how many families cram their kids into vans? Haulin' half the damn neighborhood to soccer games, dance recitals, or birthday parties."

Davis, sipping his lukewarm coffee, glanced at the street where a dark van rolled by, its headlights bouncing off the pavement. He barely gave it a second glance. "Yeah, well, those parents get to go home at the end of the night. We get to babysit a washed-up wise guy while eating mystery meat."

Monroe peeled back the bun and grimaced. "Yeah. Speaking of which, what do you think this was before it was a burger?"

Davis smirked. "Probably classified."

The van continued past the safe house, blending in with the late-night city traffic.

Monroe wiped his fingers on a napkin. "Hell, maybe that van's loaded with sweaty kids in cleats, all hopped up on Capri Suns and orange slices."

Davis snorted. "Or it's a bunch of exhausted parents questioning all their life choices."

Unbeknownst to them, Jack Lexington was already making his move inside that van, his actions a stark contrast to their mundane conversation.

At the end of the block, the van turned off the main road and slipped into a quiet alley. A rundown garage door creaked open just long enough for the van to slide inside. The moment the tires touched the cracked concrete, the door rumbled shut behind them.

Jack, dressed in a dark coat and gloves, pushed the side door open and stepped onto the garage floor.

His driver, Max, cut the engine and gave him a lazy glance. "You sure you don't wanna use the front door like a normal person?"

Jack smirked, straightening his coat. "That's the difference between you and me, Max. I know better than to trust the front door."

Max chuckled and leaned back in his seat. "I'll be here when you need an exit. Try not to get yourself shot, huh?"

Jack gave a two-fingered wave and disappeared through a door in the corner of the garage.

The door led down a set of narrow concrete steps, the air growing colder and mustier with each step. At the bottom, a metal door with a reinforced lock stood waiting. Jack pressed his palm flat against it. He smirked to himself. "Still here after all these years."

Years ago, when Jack set up this safe house for emergencies, he ensured it had an extra layer of security — a hidden underground tunnel leading from this garage to the basement of the safe house.

He punched in a six-digit code, and the door unlatched with a mechanical hiss.

The tunnel, a dark and damp passage, stretched about a hundred feet underground, reinforced with bricks and steel beams. Dim lighting flickered from motion sensor bulbs mounted along the walls, casting long, shifting shadows as Jack moved.

His footsteps echoed slightly, but he knew the sound wouldn't carry. Within minutes, he reached another door — the basement of the safe house.

Jack twisted the handle, stepped inside, and ascended a short flight of stairs.
The unmistakable scent of cigars and expensive whiskey greeted him when he stepped into the main living space.

Vince Rossi was lounging in a leather chair, sipping a drink, looking as comfortable as a man who didn't have the FBI watching his every move. A luxury silk robe draped over his frame, and the television flickered with some late-night talk show.

Rossi glanced up at Jack's sudden appearance without a hint of surprise.
He smirked and lifted his glass. "I was going to say I didn't hear you knock, but then I remembered this house belongs to you."

Jack stepped forward, brushing a bit of tunnel dust from his sleeve. "Yeah, and so does the top-shelf whiskey you're drinking."

Rossi ran his hand across his chin and chuckled. "You got me there." He raised the glass and took a long swallow as if he was mocking Jack.

Jack took a step closer, his expression shifting. "Let's cut the pleasantries, Vince."

Rossi sighed, swirling his drink. "Yeah, yeah. I figured this wasn't a social call."

Jack smirked. "What gave it away?"

Rossi gestured. "The fact that you just crawled out of a damn tunnel like some kind of mafia Batman."

Jack cracked his neck. "Then let's get to it."

"What about? I haven't seen any good movies. The least you could do is have Netflix."

"If I don't get some straight answers, Vince, you'll find yourself back in that flea-bitten motel."

"Alright! What's got your drawers in a wad?"

"The attack on Donatelli at Frank DiVito's place. It wasn't public information that Donatelli was alive or where he was being stashed. So, tell me, Vince, did you make a call?"

"Attack? I was right here, Jack. What are you talking about?"

"Not that attack. The one Zhang pulled off at Frank DiVito's place. It wasn't public information that Donatelli was alive or where he was being stashed. So, tell me, Vince, did you make a call?"

"Me? Do you think I'm stupid enough to get back into bed with Zhang? I'd be dead in a heartbeat."

"I think you'd do whatever keeps you comfortable. Maybe you like your bread buttered on both sides."

"Listen, Jack, I might be a lot of things, but suicidal ain't one of 'em. It wasn't me."

"Then who was it?"

Rossi sipped his drink. "Let's just say Zhang has friends in high places."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "You mean law enforcement?"

Rossi smirked, "Or higher."

Jack growled, "I don't have time for games, Vince."

Rossi leaned forward. "I'm not saying Zhang's involved with what I'm about to share, but he might be. I heard something — a judge has been working both sides of the law. My cousin saw him at the docks. What law-abiding citizen would be down there, especially at night?"

"Who is it?"

"I don't have a name, Jack. I gave you all I got."

"I'm gonna find out if you're lying, Vince. And if you are —"

Rossi grinned and raised his whiskey glass. "I'd expect nothing less."
Jack disappeared back into the tunnel — leaving Rossi shaken but still smirking. He raised his glass, muttering, "Happy hunting, Jack."
*****

Across town, three men dressed in black donned their masks and slipped through the back door to Bayside's morgue. Silently, they moved down the hall, muffling their footsteps.

The leader raised his hand to halt, then peered through the slats of the blinds to make sure their target was alone. Satisfied, he motioned it was okay and shoved the double doors open.

The lead thug, Carlo, pulled out his gun as he approached the coroner and the body on the table. "Hello, Doc. The boss sends his regards."

The coroner barely had time to look up before the silencer coughed, and his head jerked.

A second of silence followed — then a dull thud as his lifeless body slid to the floor.

The coroner had talked once. Zhang wasn't about to let him talk again.

"Alright," muttered Leo, one of the other enforcers. "Let's get him on a table."
They grabbed the dead weight of the coroner, hauling him toward an empty autopsy table. Carlos grabbed the nearest sheet and pulled it back —ready to make space for the body.

And that's when they saw it.

A cadaver, chest split open, the cavity stuffed full of plastic-wrapped bricks.
Leo stared at the bags, then let out a low whistle. "Well, well —" He pulled a knife from his pocket and sliced into one of the bricks. A fine white powder puffed into the air.

Carlos's expression hardened. "That son of a bitch."

"The doc was double-dipping," Leo muttered, rubbing the powder between his fingers. "Holding back on whoever was running this."

Carlos glanced at the dead coroner and then at the drugs. "Change of plans — a bonus for the boss."

Leo nodded. "Take the doc's case. Doesn't look like he will be using it."
Carlos started putting the bricks in the doctor's briefcase and began covering up the two cadavers again.

Leo headed out the side door — just as Jack Lexington turned the corner.
They passed each other in the hallway.

Leo, acting casual, nodded in acknowledgment like they were two guys just going about their night. Jack didn't think much of it — yet. He stepped into the morgue, his footsteps the only sound in the sterile room.

Something felt off. He glanced around. The place seemed empty, but the faint smell of gunfire hung in the air. Then he spotted blood on the floor.

"Son of a —" Jack muttered, moving closer. He moved to the table and lifted the sheet. The coroner was stone dead, with a bullet wound in the forehead.
Jack sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. "And here I was, hoping for a quiet night."

Eleanor materialized beside him. She looked at the body, then at Jack. "Well, you've got some explaining to do."

Jack jerked slightly but recovered fast. "You ever announce yourself like a normal person?"

Eleanor smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"

Before Jack could respond, the door swung open again. Eleanor disappeared.

DeLuca stepped inside, flipping through a folder. He barely glanced up before he stopped in his tracks, eyes locking on Jack standing over the body.

A beat of silence. Then DeLuca's gun was up and aimed at Jack.
"Step away from the body, Lexington," DeLuca snapped.

Jack groaned, raising his hands slightly. "You know, I get real tired of this routine."

DeLuca narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jack smirked. "Oh, you know — just admiring the city's commitment to violent crime."

DeLuca wasn't amused. But before he could press further, Eleanor materialized between them.

"Put the gun down, DeLuca," she said, exasperated. "Jack didn't do this."

DeLuca startled slightly. "Jesus, Eleanor!"

Jack smirked. "Yeah, see? She does it to everyone."

DeLuca, recovering, gritted his teeth but didn't lower his weapon. "And why exactly am I supposed to believe he didn't do it?"

Eleanor gestured toward the side office. "Because," she said, "there's two thugs in the doc's office. The other one already left with the goods."

DeLuca's head snapped toward the office door. He took a slow step forward, gun raised. "Come out of there, hands where I can see 'em."

Silence.

Jack muttered, "Yeah, I don't think they're gonna —"

The door burst open, and gunfire erupted. Jack and DeLuca dived behind an autopsy table as bullets ripped through the air.

Eleanor, meanwhile, went on the offensive. She vanished instantly and reappeared inside the office, standing right behind the gunmen. "Hello, boys."

Their eyes bulged in disbelief. Carlos stammered, "How'd you get —"

She grabbed the nearest tray of organs and sent it flying across the room.

SPLAT. 
 
A liver hit one thug straight in the face.

The guy stumbled back, firing wildly, his shot going nowhere near his target.
Jack peeked over the table. "Did she just —"

SPLAT.

Another guy got a kidney to the back of the head.

Eleanor, now enjoying herself, grabbed a tray and chucked it at both guys.
Jack stared. Breathing heavily from dodging bullets, DeLuca just muttered, "What the hell?"

Eleanor vanished again.

The men, confused, were wide open.

Jack popped up and fired — winging his gun hand. The second guy, still wiping liver off his face, turned to run, but DeLuca tackled him hard.

Jack waved his gun, shaking his head. "Well, that was unorthodox."

Eleanor reappeared, brushing imaginary dust off her coat. "You should try it sometime. Very effective." She smiled and added, "Book 'em."

DeLuca, still catching his breath, muttered, "I need a damn vacation."

Jack smirked, nudging him with his boot. "Come on, admit it wasn't the worst thing you've seen."

DeLuca just groaned, reaching for his cuffs. "Let's get these guys processed before she throws another pancreas at someone."

A mischievous grin crossed her face as she tossed Jack a towel. "You might want to get that red glob off your jacket."

Eleanor winked and disappeared.

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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
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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