Shadow of Secrets

by Kacie Clement

  Carmine quickly asked, “Do you have him in custody?” With dread, the Sheriff responded, “No, we do not, but we do have an alert out for his license plate across the State. We're also watching the airport, bus and train stations.” Carmine responded, “Thank you for your help Sheriff, let me know if you find him. Please send me the ballistic report and then destroy it. I will let you know if I need any more assistance. Your payment should arrive within the hour.”

  Carmine hung up from the Sheriff. Dialing his pilot, he said, “Please have the plane ready in two hours for a flight to Flagstaff.” The pilot in disbelief said, “I am due to land in New York from Flagstaff in about an hour and a half from now. It is going to take me another two hours to fuel and do a maintenance check, but I will have it ready and stocked.” Carmine loudly said, “What do you mean you are due to land? Who gave the order to use my private jet?”

  With a wave of fear, the pilot responded, “Ms. Vittoria sir, she had me fly her and Mr. Graystone to Flagstaff yesterday and told me to wait until she was ready to return. She contacted me this morning and said they would be staying longer than anticipated and that I needed to return to New Your and be prepared to return immediately with you and twenty-five of your associates.” Carmine angrily responded, “Have the jet ready as soon as possible.” Hanging up, he called Frank his underboss, “Frank, have twenty- three of our associates at the airfield and ready to leave. I will explain everything in flight.” His next call was to Vittoria.

  Vittoria heard her phone ring, looking at it, she said to Howard, “It’s Carmine.” Answering, she said, “Carmine, I am glad you returned my call so quickly.” Carmine interrupted her in a harsh tone saying, “What makes you think you can utilize my jet at any time, Vittoria?” Vittoria with a small laugh, responded, “It is the DeLuca Jet Carmine, and last time I looked I am a DeLuca which gives me every right. Now calm yourself down and listen to what I have to say to you.”

  Vittoria began speaking to Carmine, “Carmine, I had Frank run me a dossier on the project team here in Flagstaff for me. I received it this morning, and it brought out some interesting information, dear brother. It appears…, Carmine interrupted her, “I already know that this construction manager an Artie McDonald is the one who murdered my son. Now I need you to...” Vittoria interrupted Carmine before he could go any further. “I have taken care of the arrangements Carmine, the entire 12th floor is reserved for you and twenty-five of our men. I have cars awaiting your arrival at the private airfield to transport you here.

  What time are you expecting to arrive? I will make the arrangements to have a meal brought in for the men and a family dinner to be ready to be served for us. I also have two of your men looking for this Artie McDonald as well.” Carmine frowned, thinking Vittoria, always one step ahead of me. He responded saying, “The flight will leave as soon as my jet is returned to me, fueled, and the maintenance check completed. We should arrive this evening in time for dinner. If you happen to locate this Mr. McDonald before I get there, let me know immediately, Vittoria. How is Emma?” Vittoria sadly responded, “She is having a tough time of it Carmine. She is resting now, but after our call, I am going in to check on her. I will talk to you when you arrive. Till then, have a good flight and try not to show your anger to Emma, Carmine. She doesn’t need that right now. She doesn’t know that this is the man who also took Antonio from us. We will talk more when you arrive.”

  Vittoria hung up the phone. Looking at Howard, she said, “I am going to check on Emma darling.” She raised herself from the sofa, straightening her silk blouse, she walked into the master suite. Looking around the room she didn’t see Emma, thinking she may be in the shower, she checked the bathroom, it was empty. Confused, she walked out to the Garden Patio off the master bedroom and didn’t see Emma there either. Her mind-twisting and turning focused on one thought, Emma had escaped the penthouse. Quickly walking into the great room finding Howard eating a Danish and finishing his coffee, he looked up, hearing Vittoria announce, “Emma is gone. I believe she has escaped the penthouse.”

  Emma couldn’t believe her luck. She was able to distract the men at the door with a possible siting of a man with a gun in the lobby. Emma made it out the door without being seen and ran down seventeen flights of stairs to catch a cab out of the restaurant's kitchen door. Opening her car, parked at the Green Touch Renewables parking ramp, she got in and started the drive to her apartment. Her dad was going to be very angry with her when he discovered she was gone. I need some time to myself to figure out what the next step is. Distracted by her thoughts, Emma missed the turnoff exit for her apartment. Realizing this, she drove to the next exit ramp. She was midway into a left turn to enter the highway ramp, and she didn’t see the white Hummer headed at a high rate of speed racing towards her till it was too late. The Hummer hit Emma’s Volkswagen at a high rate of speed on the passenger side of her car. The lime green Volkswagen that held Emma rolled over for several rotations landing a thousand feet away in the brush. The Hummer raced up the ramp and disappeared onto the freeway.

  14

  When Emma regained consciousness from the accident, she slowly turned her head to see what worked and didn’t work on her body. She heard the ambulance sirens in the background. Feeling intense pain in her left arm, Emma, tried to move it. Not able to move her arm, she looked down to see the bone extending out of her upper left arm. Oh god, she thought, that is not good. She then wiggled her toes and tried to move her legs, finding them pinned under the steering wheel. Her whole body was in intense pain, but she could move her body, other than her legs. She felt something wet on her face near her cheekbone. Reaching up with her right hand to the spot, she pulled her hand away and saw she was bleeding. Placing her right hand on her forehead, she felt immediate pain, looking down she saw it covered in blood. Feeling woozy, her last thought as the Emergency crew was trying to open the broken door to her car, was what the hell just happened?”

  The emergency crew, after using the jaws of life to cut Emma out of the now-demolished lime green Volkswagen quickly loaded Emma on a gurney and placed her in the back of the ambulance. Five minutes later, the ambulance arrived at the hospital. The EMT's handed Emma over to the staff in the emergency room. One of the emergency crew handed the head nurse at the desk Emma’s bag saying, “Thought this might help in figuring out her identity. She has been unconscious since we picked her up. She’s lucky to be alive after that, looks like a hit and run, she was driving a lime green Volkswagen Beetle, her car had to have rolled over at least several times.“ The nurse, Maeve Reynolds, thanked him, opening her purse, she found Emma’s cell phone, quickly looking at her contacts she found one labeled DAD and called that number.

  Howard looked at his phone when it began to ring and shouted to Vittoria, “It’s Emma!” Answering the phone, he yelled into the phone, “Emma, where are you, you know it is not safe for you to be out running around on your own.”

  Hearing the strangers voice on the other end, he heard, “Sir, this is Maeve Reynolds, I am the head nurse at Northern Arizona Healthcare. We just took in a young woman that has been in a car accident and found this phone in her purse. Sir, do you have a daughter?” Howard's face fell, fear raging through his body, “Emma, is she okay? Tell me what’s going on.” Vittoria sat straight up, taking notice of Howard’s look of fear and listened to his phone call. Nurse Reynolds continued, “Sir, you have a daughter then, Emma is her name? Sir can you tell me what kind of car your daughter drives."

  Howard his mind racing had a hard time getting the words out and said slowly, “Emma drives a lime green Volkswagen something or another, it’s round.” Nurse Reynolds responded, “Yes, that is the car involved in the accident, could you give me her full name please and any allergies you know about.” Howard, collapsing on the sofa in tears, handed the phone to Vittoria. Vittoria said, “This is Vittoria DeLuca can I answer your questions please.” Nurse Reynolds responded, “Are you related to the victim, mam?"

  Vittoria a
gitated responded, “Yes, I am her stepmother, now please continue.” Nurse Reynolds looked at the phone in her hand, shocked at the woman’s clipped tone. “The gentleman I was talking to gave me the first name of our victim here, Emma, I need her full name, any allergies and suggest you get here to Northern Arizona Healthcare as soon as possible.”

  Vittoria, calming her fear, said, “Her name is Emma Graystone. No allergies, and we will be there shortly. Will you tell her we are on our way?” Nurse Reynolds replied, “She was unconscious when she arrived, the doctors are with her now. Please hold on.” Vittoria heard the nurse speaking to someone else. Irritated at the delay, she called loudly for the man at the door. While she was waiting, she said, “Have the car ready to leave immediately. Emma has been in an accident; we will be going to Northern Arizona Healthcare. Then I want a full explanation on how this happened on your watch.”

  Hearing Nurse Reynolds begin to speak again, Vittoria listened. “That was the doctor, Emma is going into surgery, and we need her father’s permission to do the procedure.” Vittoria looked at Howard, sobbing into his hands. He looked up and shook his head, yes. Vittoria spoke into the phone, “You have permission, we are on our way and will want a full report when we arrive Nurse Reynolds.” She hung up the phone, taking Howard's arm, she said, “We must go, the car is downstairs.” They hurried out the door and made their way to the waiting car.

  Meanwhile, in the Emergency Room, Emma still unconscious, the Doctors quickly discovered her broken arm and determined there was internal bleeding. The nurse was entering the last of seven stitches into her forehead. The head doctor looked at the nurse and said, “Get whoever is on call in orthopedics up to the surgical room, we're going to have to find the bleeding first, take care of that, and then they will have to pin her arm back in place. Also, alert CT that we are going to need a brain scan as soon as possible.”

  Arriving at the hospital, Howard and Vittoria quickly found the nurse's desk. They asked for Nurse Reynolds. Instead, a man in a white coat turned and said, “I am Doctor Harris; you are the family of Emma Graystone?” Howard responded, “Yes, I am her father, where is she is, is she okay? I want to see her now!”

  The Doctor took a step back. Impacted by the anger coming from Howard, he quickly took in the situation. The Doctor had seen photos of this beautiful woman beside him, that is Vittoria DeLuca from the DeLuca crime family which explains the two armed gentlemen, standing at the entrance door “Sir, let’s take a seat over here so I can explain what is happening with your daughter. She is alive but in critical condition.” Taking a seat in the waiting area of the emergency room, Doctor Harris continued, “We had to take Emma to surgery, she has internal bleeding, a possible traumatic head injury and her left arm has a compound fracture. We will need to have the bone pinned back into place. She is stable, but she also had a deep cut in her forehead from broken glass. She also has a small cut to her cheekbone. The CT scan did not show any direct injury to her brain, but until she regains consciousness, we cannot give an all-clear on any traumatic brain injury.”

  Howard let out a long breath, giving thanks to God, she was alive. He asked, “How long before we can see her.” Doctor Harris responded, “She will be in surgery for a few more hours, but if you go to the fifth floor, you will find the waiting room for the surgical unit. I will go up to surgery and get an update and meet you there.”

  Vittoria said tersely, “Is there a private room we could use Doctor, there are certain safety circumstances, I don’t have time to explain.” The Doctor looking at Vittoria, said, “I will talk to Nurse Reynolds immediately and have her escort you to a private waiting area.” Vittoria thanked him and turned her attention to Howard. Just a few minutes later, a plump older woman with her bright red hair pulled up into a bun, dressed in a nurse’s uniform approached them. “Mr. Graystone?” She asked.

  Howard looked up quickly, “Yes, I am Howard Graystone.” Nurse Reynolds smiled gently, “Howard, Mam, I am Nurse Maeve Reynolds. I will take you to your waiting area. Patting Howard's hand gently, she continued, “Come along now; let's get you set up in the waiting room.” Howard felt comfort from that gentle pat on his hand; he quietly took Vittoria’s hand and followed Nurse Reynolds to the private waiting area on the fifth floor. Upon entering the room, Nurse Reynolds looked at both Howard and Vittoria saying, " I have contacted Emergency Services, and the attendant who was first on the scene is on his way here to answer any questions you may have. Doctor Harris will be here shortly with an update. There is coffee brewing there in the corner for you. If you need anything, please ask the nurse at the desk outside, and she will page me personally. Try not to worry, Mr. Graystone, we are a level one trauma unit, and she has the best doctors and nurses taking care of her.” Nurse Reynolds smiling at Vittoria, turned walking out of the room.

  Vittoria walked over to get Howard a cup of coffee, adding some cream and two packages of sugar. Handing Howard his cup of coffee, she said, “Drink this Howard, you are going to need the caffeine to get through the day. I am going to step over to the window there and call Carmine. He should be just getting ready to take off, and I want to try and reach him before they are in the air so that he can come straight here.” Howard, shaking his head yes, took a drink of the hot coffee.

  Vittoria walked to the other side of the room and dialed Carmine's number into the phone. “Carmine, its Vittoria.” Carmine, who was walking up the steps to board the plane, replied, “Just boarding the jet Vittoria, do you have an update on this Contractor?” Vittoria, stabilizing her self on the window sill, replied, “Carmine, Emma has been in a car accident, she is in surgery now and in critical condition. We are at the Northern Arizona Healthcare facility, come here as soon as you land.” Waiting for Carmine to respond, she continued, “Carmine, are you there?” Carmine answered coldly, “Is she going to make it Vittoria?” Vittoria quietly replied, “I don’t know Carmine; we are just waiting for an update from the doctor.” Carmine continued, “How did this happen? Where were the men?” Vittoria felt her brother going down a path he didn’t need to go down, replied, “Carmine, it isn’t the men’s fault, you know our Emma when she wants something, she finds a way to get it. She wanted space, and she found a way to take it. She escaped the penthouse for lack of a better word. You know how that girl is Carmine, but that doesn’t matter now, all that matters is that Emma survives this. Get here as quick as possible Carmine, Howard needs you.”

  Settling into his seat, Carmine responded: “I am on my way.” Hanging up his phone, he screamed at the pilot standing in the doorway, “We leave now and have a helicopter on standby when we arrive to get me to the roof of the Northern Arizona Healthcare facility.” It grew silent on the plane, and within two minutes the DeLuca jet was in the air heading for Flagstaff Arizona.

  Vittoria crossed the room back to Howard, seeing that he was saying goodbye to someone on his phone. “Howard, who were you speaking to do dear?” Howard looked up at Vittoria, standing in front of him, replied, “I called Amelia. Emma would want her to know. She is catching the next flight out and will send me her travel plans so we can have someone pick her up from the airport.” Vittoria sat next to Howard, taking his hand, “Yes, she will want Amelia here.” She was about to continue the conversation when Dr. Harris walked into the private waiting area. “Mr. Graystone, Ms. DeLuca, Emma has made it through the surgery and is being moved to the ICU for continued care.” Howard let out a large breath of air, “How is she? Did they find the bleeding?"

  Dr. Harris continued, “Yes, she had a small rupture in her liver from blunt force trauma. Her left arm has three pins holding the bone together. She is in stable condition but should recover nicely. You have one strong girl there, Mr. Graystone.” Vittoria. holding Howard's hand tightly, said: “When can we see her, Doctor?” Dr. Harris smiled and said, “Emma should be waking up in just a few hours. Why don’t you have something to eat and come back. I will call you if anything happens in the meantime.” Just then, the emergency atten
dant who was first on the scene at the accident walked into the room.

  Vittoria’s eyes narrowed, saying, “You must be a member of the emergency crew, please take a seat at the table there. I will get you a cup of coffee.” Vittoria turned and addressed the Doctor, saying, “Thank you, Doctor.” She proceeded to pour the emergency attendant a cup of coffee. After walking Doctor Harris to the door, Howard approached the Emergency Attendant, shaking his hand and thanking him for saving his daughter.

  Vittoria with a fresh cup of coffee, took a drink, and asked, “What is your name?” The young man looked at her and replied, “It’s Paul Manion Mam.” Vittoria acknowledging him with a nod, started by saying, “Can you tell us what happened Paul?” Paul, observing Vittoria and Howard, replied, “Yes Mam, I arrived on the scene and found Ms. Graystone’s car approximately one thousand feet from the where the accident happened. It appeared as though her car had turned over several rotations. We used the jaws of life to get her out of the car and transported her here. One man did talk to me who saw the accident and said it was a white hummer that had broadsided her.”

  Digging in his pockets, he pulled out a small torn piece of paper that held the license number for the Hummer involved. Handing the little bit of paper to Vittoria, he continued, “I forgot I had this, we got another call for a five-car pile-up on the freeway. It has been a busy day. Here is the license number for the Hummer." Holding his hand out for the piece of paper to be returned, he went on to say, "I better call the Sheriff’s Department with this." Smiling sweetly, Vittoria removing cash from her bag and handing it to the young man across from her, said. “Please Paul, you have had a long day, we are scheduled to meet with the Sheriff shortly, I will see that he gets this and if he has any questions, I am sure he will be in touch with you. Thank you for coming in to speak with us today.” Paul took that as a sign to leave, with a glance at the wad of hundred bills in his hands, he nodded his head in agreement, turned and walked out the door without another word.