Shadow of Secrets

by Kacie Clement

  Emma confused said, "Isn't that Steve's job?" Laughing, Martin responded, "It seems this will be the last project Steve works on, and I thought you might be in line for that position based on the detailed work you have done here." Martin tossed the files on her desk, spilling her Latte onto her checklist. Moving quickly, Emma tried to save the list while Martin came around the back of her office desk, "Oh damn Emma, didn't mean for that to happen."

  As Emma turned to grab some napkins out of her office drawer, Martin quickly pocketed her cell phone. Helping Emma clean up the mess, he said, "I'm so sorry Emma, I didn't see your latte. Take your time here; I don't need the projections for a few weeks." Emma agitated replied, "I have plan’s this afternoon, so I am leaving at lunchtime." Smiling, Martin said, "Good for you, we all need time to get away from work. Again, I am sorry, enjoy your day at the spa." Martin turning walked out of the office.

  Emma looking at files, sighed, thinking what the hell is he up to now? Sitting at her desk and looking over the records Martin brought in, she felt well at least this project look's legit. Checking her watch, she realized she better get busy; she only had two hours before Grayson was to arrive.

  10

  Emma looked up from the copy machine where she was busy scanning files when she heard a robust, Morning Emma. Finding Jack entering her office with a Mocha Latte in hand for her, she smiled brightly. "Jack!" Emma exclaimed, "Is that Latte for me? I could use a break." Brushing the hair out of her eyes, she sat down in her desk chair smiling at Jack sitting across from her, taking a drink of her Latte sighed saying, "You certainly are a lifesaver." Giggling, she continued, "Grayson is supposed to be here at noon, and I am trying to get a day's work done by noon."

  Jack looking at his watch and seeing it was ten thirty, said, "Have you heard from him? He should be on his way back by now. Hey, I saw your guy casually standing in the reception area reading the newspaper." "I know, right?" Emma said, "If he had his way, Frank would spend his day in my office, so I have banished him to the reception area." Dialing his phone, Jack looked at Emma and said, "I'm calling Grayson to see where he is." Emma laughed then noticed a frown come across Jacks face. Listening to Jack’s end of the conversation, a wave of fear engulfed her.

  "Artie? Why are you answering Grayson's phone? After a minute, she saw Jack look at her with a look she had never seen on his face before, "Yea, your probably right, he must have left his phone on the site yesterday, I didn't know he had been out there. Have you seen him this morning?" Holding the phone out so Emma could listen, Artie responded, "Nope haven't seen him, had a problem on-site three with the blades, wrong size, new ones were just delivered, but I had orders from the top to give the guys a day off while I waited for the delivery. Damn setbacks, what else can I say? When Grayson gets back from his trip, let him know I found his phone."

  Emma and Jack quickly looked at each other while Jack continued, "Trip, what trip?" Staring at Emma now, they listened to Artie's response, "Said something came up with his Mother unexpectedly yesterday, heart attack or something so he was leaving to go there said he would be back in a few days. Well Jack, good talking to you, but I have got to get this paperwork done. I didn't get the day off."

  Hanging up the phone, Jack started to speak, when Emma interrupted him, "Grayson was with us last night, and Jack, his mother passed when he was a child." Jack stood, looked at Emma, and said, "Something isn't right; I am going to the site." Emma standing said, "I am going with you."

  Jack shook his head and said, "No, Emma, I need you to stay here. I want you to go to the penthouse and stay there till you hear from me." Emma looking stubborn, said, "Now wait just a minute, Jack, I am going with you. I will call Frank, and he will go with us. Where the hell is my phone?" Searching her entire desk, she grabbed her bag from under her desk and explored it as well. "What the hell, where is my phone? I texted with Amelia after I arrived this morning," Jack looked at Emma, asking, "Who else was in your office this morning?" Emma surprised, looked at Jack with a frown, "Martin, he came in spilled my latte, helped me clean it up and left." Jack asked sternly, "Why was he here?" Emma looked at Jack pointing to the stack of files on the corner of the desk, said, "He wants to promote me into Steve's position on the next project and wants me to make the five-year projections."

  Jack walked around Emma's desk, taking her arm said, "Emma listen to me, there is no other project, it fell through two days ago, you are going to the penthouse, I am going to the site, and I will call you on the landline there as soon as I get on-site and find out what's going on." Emma looking at Jack, replied, "No, I am staying here till Noon. Grayson doesn't have his phone, and apparently, Martin has mine. I will have another phone delivered within the hour and will call you with the number. If Grayson comes back and we're both gone, being he may have left his phone he wouldn't know where we are. He is supposed to pick me up at noon and were planning on spending the afternoon together. Trust me he isn't going to miss that." Tilting his head, smiling slyly, Jack responded, "The afternoon, huh?" Frowning again, Jack continued, "Fine, but I want you to be your first call when the phone comes and let me know if Grayson shows up, I'm heading out to the site, he was pretty hot last night and I bet he paid a late-night visit to Benjamin from the Tribal Council, I will give him a call. Emma if Grayson isn't here by noon, I want you at the penthouse, I will Frank downstairs and put him on alert.

  Emma, tears filling her eyes, said, "Fine Jack. Did you convince your family to go on vacation.?" Jack still frowning, replied, "That's why I am late this morning; I took them all to the airport. I have to go. Call me as soon as you get that phone." Walking up to Jack, Emma hugged him while whispering "Find him, Jack."

  Jack left the office, and Emma wiping her eyes with a tissue glanced out her window that overlooked the outer office, saw Martin standing in the hallway conversing with Wesley. Martin looked at Emma smiled and gave a wave. Emma picked up her office phone and called the local Verizon store giving them full instructions on the type of phone she wanted, and that she wanted it delivered immediately. Pulling her credit card out of her wallet, Emma proceeded to give the Verizon Clerk the number of her card.

  In the hallway, Martin observed Emma on the phone, holding her credit card, and almost laughed out loud, thinking, that girl is dense there she is shopping from the office. Clapping Wesley on the shoulder, he said, "Let's say we go across the street to the pub for an early lunch." Martin and Westley walked to the elevator, leaving the 14th floor.

  Emma finishing her order, hung up the office telephone. Looking up, she saw Frank standing across the hall from her office. Standing and walking to her window that overlooked the Park outside, she prayed, "Please, Lord, let Grayson show up in an hour, let him be safe."

  Jack arrived at the site, ready to face off with Artie. Seeing no vehicles on-site, he entered the construction office, thinking Artie was in there working on paperwork. Finding it empty, Jack looked out the door again for signs of Artie's truck. Not seeing it, he decided to search the office and see what he could find. Searching through the files on the desk, Jack started opening desk drawers and came to a stop when seeing the Glock sitting in the drawer. Stunned, he stopped and thought, what in the hell? Jack slammed the drawer; his thoughts continued, where the hell is Grayson? Checking his cell phone, Jack looked to see if there was a message from Emma. Not seeing a text message, Jack walked out the door of the construction office, thinking, maybe I should drive over the site and see if there's anything that catches my attention. Walking to his truck, he jumped in and backed up facing the Mesa behind the construction shack. A blinding flash of sunlight hit him in his eyes as Jack started to put his truck in drive. Squinting his eyes, he thought, what the hell is that. Driving the quarter mile to the Mesa, Jack drove around to the side of the Mesa.

  Seeing Grayson's truck, he slammed on the brakes. Where are you buddy, and why did you park here? Looking inside Grayson's vehicle, he found it empty. Starting to walk around the truck, he was looking for anything
that would give him a sign as to why Grayson would park here; he saw nothing out of the ordinary — placing his hand over the top of his eyes to shield the sunlight. Looking back at the construction office and the construction sites beyond Jack thought, I need to check the project sites. Moving back to his truck, he started the drive to the construction site, beginning at the first of twenty-five sites he drove slowly by looking to see that everything was in order, arriving at site five he saw a tarp covering one of the three blades. Jack stopped, jumped from his truck, and walked over to the tarp. Pulling the tarp back, he found Grayson with a bullet hole to his head.

  Turning and bending over, Jack released his stomach contents with a fury. Standing and wiping his mouth, he turned back around to find Grayson in the same spot. Dead. Dropping to his knees, he spent the next ten minutes crying and screaming to the gods.

  Standing once again, Jack dialed the local sheriff's office to notify them of Grayson's death. He needed to call Emma, looking at his watch, he saw it was just noon, and he still hadn’t gotten a message from Emma with her new number. She wouldn't be at the penthouse yet; she's not safe. Wondering what he should do, he remembered the man, Frank who was guarding Emma had given him his number, he quickly texted that number, saying, get Emma to the Penthouse now, things have developed. She is not safe."

  At twelve-fifteen, Emma had received her new phone and was sitting down to open the box to set up the new phone when Frank stormed into her office. "Get your bag we are leaving now and going to the penthouse." Emma looked at him, saying, "What? I am not leaving till Grayson gets here." Frank came around her desk, grabbing Emma’s arm, saying, "Jack just texted me, things are starting to develop, and we are leaving now, he will come to the penthouse." Emma gripped in fear, said, "Grayson, did he find him?" Frank nearly dragging her out of her office, said, "He just said things are developing and that you are not safe, let's go."

  In Franks SUV, Emma said, "Give me your phone. I'm calling Jack." Frank glanced at her and replied, "I need to call Carmine." Emma frustrated continued, "You are not calling anyone, you are driving, give me your phone now. You can call Carmine when we know what's going on and not a minute before."

  Jack looked at his phone; Frank was calling. His first thought was something happened to Emma, quickly answering he said, "Is Emma okay? Did you get her to the penthouse?" He heard Emma say with a strength in her voice he hadn't heard before, "It's me, Jack, Emma. Have you found Grayson? What is going on that I needed to be whisked away to the penthouse, I suggest you give those answers to me now, Jack."

  With a deep breath, tears filling his eyes and spilling over down his cheeks burning his skin, Jack said quietly, "Yes, Emma, I have found him. Emma, he's gone, he's gone." Emma raising her voice, sternly replied, "What do you mean he is gone? He went on this trip that Artie was talking about?" After a long moment of silence, Emma continued, her voice raising even more, "Jackson Thomas, I suggest you tell me what is going on, or I will….." she heard a quiet voice say, "He's gone Emma, he's dead, someone has shot him."

  Emma sat back in her seat, stunned, staring at her phone. Frank glancing at her, said, "Emma, we are almost there is everything okay? Emma?" Putting the phone back to her ear, she said quietly, but sternly. "I want you at the penthouse within the hour, Jack. I will speak to you then."

  She heard Jack continue to tell her that he had to wait for the sheriff's department. Emma replied, "One hour, Jack, I will cover you with the Sheriff, now get moving." She hung up the phone. Emma called the Sheriff's department talking to the sheriff directly where she informed him Jack would be available at a later time to give his statement and that it would at the Matrix International Penthouse. The Sherriff acknowledged the request, knowing that if he didn’t follow his orders from Ms. Graystone, his monthly payment from Carmine DeLuca would not continue, and possibly his life.

  Returning the phone to Frank, she said, "You may now call Carmine and let him know we need increased protection." Frank pulled into the parking ramp, stopped the SUV looking at Emma, said, "Can you tell me the reason I should arrange for extra protection?" Getting out of the vehicle, Emma put her sunglasses on. Looking at Frank, she said harshly, "Tell him because I said so. That is all". Frank walking around the vehicle to walk Emma safely to the Penthouse, replied, " Yes, Mam."

  Walking into the penthouse, Emma turned towards Frank and said, "You will wait outside the door for the reinforcements. I want two stationed on the outside of the building, watching to see who enters; I want one stationed on each floor at the elevator doors and two outside the Penthouse door. Outside this door is where I want you now, so please go to your post and take care of what I have asked you to do and I want things in place within the hour." Emma dismissing him walked over to the bar filling a glass with ice and strong Kentucky Bourbon. Taking her drink, and the bottle of Bourbon, she opened the sliding doors to the covered patio garden that was outside of the master bedroom. Emma sat there, stoically refilling her glass when needed. After three healthy drinks, Emma proceeded to set her phone up for use. The first call she made was to her father, "Dad? It's Emma."

  Howard picked up his cell phone, wondering why an unknown number was showing up on his phone. Answering, he was surprised to hear Emma on the line. "Emma, who's number is this, what's wrong?" Emma refilling her glass with Bourbon, taking a drink said, "Dad, Grayson has been murdered, and I have had Carmine increase the protection.” She proceeded to tell him the orders she put forth with Frank.

  Continuing the conversation, she said, "Dad, things just got real, I need you to come to Flagstaff. Bring Vittoria; you are going to be here a while. We are taking care of this once and for all. I want you to text me your flight arrangements, and I will arrange a guard to pick you up from the airport."

  Howard stunned into silence, did not respond immediately. "You say Grayson is dead? I am coming, and I do not want..." Emma stopped him saying, "You are not telling me what do any longer, from here on in, I make the decisions, text me your flight details as soon as you have them, and I will see you soon." With that, Emma hung up her phone and finished her drink.

  Vittoria looked across the table at Howard in the sunroom as they were finishing their lunch, asked Howard, "What is wrong, Howard, you are white as a sheet." Howard looked at Vittoria his eyes turning to ice. He looked at Vittoria and said, "Start packing for an immediate long-term trip to Flagstaff, Emma is in danger." Hearing his cellphone, he answered the phone, "Carmine" Listening; he responded, "Yes, I just talked to Emma. Grayson Blackfeather is dead." Vittoria dropping her glass of wine, stared at Howard stunned, listening intently, she heard Howard continue his conversation, "No, I don't have the details, didn't Frank say what happened?" Quiet for a moment, Howard responded, "Vittoria and I are leaving on Matrix Jet within the hour."

  Vittoria could hear her brothers voice raised from her place at the table. Sitting straight up she took the phone from Howard's hand, speaking she said, "Carmine, I am going with Howard, you stop and listen to me now, Emma needs us all right now, Grayson is dead, in the same manner as Antonio. There is no telling what she is going to do next if she is going above your head to issue orders to your men. Now you stay in New York, and you let me handle this Carmine. You are not the only DeLuca in this family; I am perfectly capable of handling this. I will let you know what we need after I access the situation. Goodbye, Carmine."

  Vittoria hung the phone up and while handing the phone back to Howard said, "We will take care of this Howard together.” Picking up her phone, she dialed the DeLuca Families private pilot, saying, "This is Vittoria, I would like you to gas up the jet and pick Howard Graystone and me up at Newark Liberty airport as soon as possible, and we will be going to Flagstaff." Quiet for a few seconds, "Thank you, we will be there in two hours." Hanging up her phone, she looked at Howard, and said, "Now let's go upstairs to pack, I should have enough here to get me through the week, we can get everything else we need in Flagstaff."

  Howard, with a sad smile, said, "I
t's nice to have a woman who can take charge, but when Emma takes charge, I get scared Vittoria, she sounded so cold and calculating." Vittoria took Howard's hand. Together they started the walk up the grand staircase to the master bedroom upstairs. Vittoria stopped midway up the stairs and turned to Howard saying, "You have underestimated Emma, my love, she is her father's daughter, when faced with heartbreak, like you she takes control of the situation. The girl has inherited your strength. It's time to let her lead. Let her show you the woman she had become. "

  11

  Waiting for Jack to arrive, Emma took a sip of tea from the pot she brewed. She had enough alcohol in her system, and she needed to keep a clear head. Opening her laptop, she attempted to skype Amelia, fully doubting she would be able to connect with her during the workday. Surprised when Amelia joined, Emma began to cry. Amelia, with great concern, said, "Emma sweetie what's wrong? Are you okay? What's happened?" Catching her breath, Emma responded sadly, "It's Grayson, he was found murdered this morning. Oh, Amelia, what have I done?" Amelia, with a look of utter shock on her face, said quietly, "You didn't do anything, Emma, now tell me what happened." Emma, with a catch in her voice, responded, "That's just it, I don't know what happened. All I know is Jack found him on the project site this morning. He had been shot and is now dead. Jack called the local authorities and is now on his way here; I am at the penthouse, I just needed to talk with you, I don't know what to do till Jack gets here. My father and Vittoria are on their way in the DeLuca Company Jet and should be here within a couple of hours." Amelia quietly responded, "Emma, I am so sorry. I know you loved Grayson, and to have this happen is devastating. Do you want me to come, I can take my Dad's jet and be there tonight."