Mystery and Crime Fiction posted March 16, 2025 Chapters:  ...54 55 -56- 57... 


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Is The Chase Over?
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets Chap 56

by Begin Again


The whiskey burned going down, but Garth barely noticed. He gritted his teeth, locking his jaw so tight his molars ached. He'd gotten a bottle from the airport bar, and now he was wallowing in his anger in a secluded office behind the scenes.

His hand clenched the glass, but his mind was back at that window — watching Zhang's plane disappear. They'd had him, and just like every damn time before, Zhang slipped through his fingers.

A low growl rumbled from his chest as he threw back another shot. The alcohol did nothing for this kind of rage. He barely noticed when someone slid into the seat beside him.

Tango poured a shot before speaking, "Boss."

Garth didn't look at him but tried to shut him down with a snarl. "Not in the mood, Tango."

Tango leaned forward with his elbows on the table and sighed. "Yeah, well, I don't really give a damn. Feeling sorry for yourself isn't getting anything done."

Garth turned his head, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel, but Tango didn't flinch.

Instead, he reached into his jacket, pulled out Garth's shattered phone, and dropped it in front of him.

Garth stared at it. "That supposed to mean something? It's replaceable."

Tango nodded toward it. "Jack called."

Silence. A muscle ticked in Garth's jaw.

Before he had a chance to explode, Tango offered him a bone. "He's got a plane."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Garth took a deep breath, shaking his head. "I will not owe that smooth-talking bastard any favors. The office is working on something now."

Tango leaned in. "Listen to yourself. This guy has stepped up to help find Maggie and save Donatelli, and he deserves a little respect, gangster or not." Tango swallowed the whiskey and added, "Maybe you don't like owing people anything, but do you want Zhang?"

Garth closed his eyes and ran a hand over his face.

Tango knew he had him. "You can sit here and keep drowning in that whiskey, or you can get up and finish this. He's got a jet ready to go, right now."

Another long silence. Then — Garth shoved the glass away, grabbed his jacket, and stood without saying a word.

Tango knocked back the remaining whiskey in his glass and smirked as he followed him out the door.

*****
Outside, the cool night air hit Garth like a slap, but it cleared his head just enough.

Tango handed him his phone. "Talk to him."

Garth grumbled something under his breath but took it.

Jack answered on the first ring. His voice was smooth as ever. "I take it the cowboy's done pouting?"

Garth scoffed. "Screw you, Jack."

A loud burst of laughter rumbled through the line before Jack said, "Love you too, buddy. Now get your ass to hangar 123. We've got a plane to catch."

Garth hung up as an airport cart pulled up. "One of you guys, FBI Agent Woodman?"

Garth nodded, "That's me."

"Then my orders are to get you off your high horse and over to the plane, or it just might take off without you."

A smile tugged at the corner of Garth's mouth. He knew Jack would always be Jack. He figured that was how he'd gotten through all those underworld battles. He slid onto the seat next to the driver. "Let's go."

As the cart pulled away, Tango yelled, "Go get 'em, boss."

He knew Garth wasn't done yet. And this time — Zhang wouldn't get away.

*****
The scent of antiseptic filled the hospital room, but it did nothing to mask the thick tension. Donatelli's face was pale, his body weakened by injury and surgeries, but his grip around Jenna remained strong. Jenna had barely slept since Maggie had been taken — her eyes dark-rimmed, her expression hollow, filled with a torment only a mother could know.

Morning sunlight streamed outside, but inside Donatelli's room, it was dark. The blinds were drawn, and the couple remained locked in their grief, their whispered reassurances to each other growing weaker with each passing hour. We'll get her back soon. Yet neither truly believed it anymore.

The door opened, and a nurse entered, carrying a small dispenser of medication. "Good morning, dears. It's a beautiful day," she said with a gentle smile. Neither responded.

She moved to the window, pushing open the blinds, allowing light to flood the room. Jenna flinched, burying her face in Donatelli's chest as if the brightness was too much, too intrusive.

"There, that's much better," the nurse said, oblivious to their pain.

Before they could protest, the door swung open again. Frank stepped in, his face somber, his presence instantly shifting the air. Donatelli exhaled sharply, his arm tightening around Jenna as he locked eyes with his old friend. His voice was rough, almost pleading. "Give it to me straight, Frank. Any news?"

Jenna let out a strangled sob, her body trembling against Donatelli's. Dread curled around her chest like a vise, squeezing the air from her lungs.
Frank hesitated for a beat, glancing between them. "Are you sure?"

Before Donatelli could answer, a soft knock on the door interrupted them.
Sammy stood in the doorway, grinning. "You've got company."

He stepped aside, and Eleanor walked in, cradling a small bundle in her arms. A tiny pink hand peeked from the blanket, fingers curling in the air as if searching for something or someone.

Jenna gasped. Her knees buckled. Before anyone could catch her, she collapsed to the floor. Eleanor didn't hesitate. She knelt, pressing Maggie into Jenna's trembling hands.

Jenna clutched her daughter to her chest, rocking her as sobs wracked her body. "My baby," she whispered over and over, pressing desperate, frantic kisses to Maggie's forehead.

Donatelli's throat tightened, his vision blurred with unshed tears. His hand trembled as he reached out, his fingers skimming over Maggie's tiny head before resting against Jenna's cheek.

Neither of them could find words — only the raw, choked sobs of a family finally whole again.

The moment shattered with the sharp ring of the hospital phone.
Frank grabbed it, listened for a second, then handed it to Donatelli. "It's for you."

Donatelli swallowed hard and lifted the receiver to his ear.

"I told you I'd bring her home."

Garth's voice was thick with exhaustion, but beneath it was something else — something steady, unshakable. "And the Cowboy always keeps his promise."
 
Tears streamed down Donatelli's face. His grip on the phone tightened. His voice was hoarse, unsteady. "I know 'thank you' isn't enough, but it's all I got."

There was a beat of silence, then a soft chuckle from Garth. "It was my pleasure," he said. "But I gotta go."

Donatelli wiped at his face, holding Jenna and Maggie tighter, unwilling to let them go. "Where to?" he asked, his voice rough.

"England," Garth answered. Then the line went dead.
 
*****

The jet was fast — faster than anything Garth had ever flown in. He'd barely had time to process missing the commercial flight before Jack had pulled some strings and whisked him onto this sleek, high-speed government bird like it was just another taxi.

Now, as the hum of the engines filled the cabin, Garth sank into the plush leather seat, rolling the tension out of his shoulders. He adjusted his Stetson, letting it dip forward just enough to shade his eyes. "I should be crammed into a middle seat on a transatlantic redeye right now," he muttered, stretching his legs. "What exactly am I sitting in?"

Jack smirked over the rim of his glass. "C-37A Gulfstream. Courtesy of a favor I called in at the Pentagon. Quieter and far more relaxing than crying babies and reheated pasta."

Garth gave a low whistle, taking in the cabin — sleek panels, dimmed lighting, and the kind of comfort that made him feel out of place. "Didn't think I'd ever fly in something like this. Must have been some favor."

Jack chuckled. "It was. This thing cruises just shy of Mach 0.9  — which means we'll be sipping coffee and eating doughnuts at Heathrow before your guy's flight even hits UK airspace."

Garth exhaled, running a hand down his face. Losing Zhang again sat heavy on his shoulders, but at least for now, they had a shot.

Jack raised his glass. "To catching bad guys in style."

Garth just shook his head and reached for the bottle. Chuckling, he added, "Bad guys chasing bad guys." He leaned back, eyes closed. Exhaustion pressed into him, but he knew sleep wouldn't come yet.

Jack poured another drink, swirling the amber liquid around in his glass before looking Garth's way. "I gotta say, cowboy, you've got a hell of a way of showing gratitude."

Garth cracked an eye open, tipping his Stetson back as he sighed, "Are you saying I owe you a big, warm, fuzzy bear hug?"

Jack smirked, lifting his glass and savoring the warm burn as it slid down his throat. "I think that might be stretching it a bit. I don't want your paws all over me, but I did risk my ass — more than once. Hell, I probably got a price on my head now."

Garth exhaled slowly, sitting forward, elbows on his knees. "Yeah, well, it's not the first time, right? If someone's got a price on you, I'll handle it. But first, we catch Zhang."

Jack's smirk faded. He studied Garth for a beat, then leaned back in his seat. "I'll take that as a thank you because I don't think I'm ever getting anything closer from you."

Garth ran a hand down his face, shaking his head. "I appreciate it, Jack. More than you know."

Jack gave a small nod. "Yeah, well, Maggie's safe. That's what matters."

That sat between them for a moment.

Jack, for all his money and power, had put his life on the line because of a little girl — and he refused to let Zhang win.

Garth finally met his gaze. "You didn't have to do all this."

Jack shrugged, taking another sip. "Yeah — I did. She's my family, too."

Silence filled the cabin.

Jack grinned. "Besides, what kind of world would it be if I let some fancy-ass Chinese trafficker get the better of a so-called mobster?"

Garth snorted.

Jack gestured toward Garth with his glass. "You don't think I'm going to let you take all the credit, do you?"

Garth let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. "Now that sounds more like you."

Jack winked. "Superheroes to the end."
 

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Current Characters -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
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and interested in Rebecca
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and deceased
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and now witness protection
Judge Alex Garland - the man trying to step into John Doyles corrupt shoes
Rosalie Jarvis - a lawyer currently on Zhang's payroll
Nathaniel Devereaux - International Art Dealer
Criminals - Good and Bad
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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