Shadow of Secrets

by Kacie Clement

  Emma and Amelia settled around the table on the garden patio. Amelia poured two large glasses of lemonade that the cook had brought in earlier and said, “Okay, ready to get started?” Amelia opened her laptop, while Emma replied, “Yes, I am. Today let’s work on getting ready for meeting with the Tribal Council, here is what I want to do and the budget I developed before the accident to accomplish it, which will be financed by my dad solely.” Amelia turned her laptop around for Emma to quickly review the budget they had discussed previously. Taking a long drink of her lemonade, Emma enjoyed the fresh lightness of the glass. Amelia, reviewed the budget, and looking up at Emma, and said, “Howard is not going to like that amount, are you spanking him, my friend?” Emma set her glass down and said, “Well, yes, I am, but he deserves it. Now let’s get down to the specifics of the meeting and the agenda.”

  When they had finished their work, Emma took a quick rest before joining the others in the sitting room while they awaited the evening meal. Emma said, “I spoke with Jack, and he has returned from his vacation. Jesse had thought they would be safer at home and has armed herself with a shotgun at their house. I guess she is giving your men Carmine quite the time. Jack should be here shortly. I have invited him to dinner. I want to ask him to attend the Tribal Councils meeting and prepare him before Dad, Amelia, and I meet with the Tribal Council tomorrow.”

  Jack arrived promptly at seven p.m. for dinner at the penthouse. Howard was opening the door, and said, “Jack, great to see you, come on in, everyone is in the sitting area having a before-dinner drink.” Smiling Jack followed Howard into the sitting room. Looking around the room, Jack didn’t see Emma. Just as he was asking Amelia where Emma was, he turned to see Emma walk into the room with a large cast on her left arm.

  Surprised, Jack said, “What the hell happened to you?” Emma walked up to Jack, giving him a tender hug, saying, “Pour me a glass of wine, and I will catch you up on my latest adventures.” Pouring her a glass of her favorite wine, Screaming Eagle, Jack took a seat on the plush leather couch next to Emma. Jack turned on the sofa to face Emma, and his thoughts went back to the last few days when Frank, Carmine's man, informed Jack that an increase of protection was needed. Jack had asked at that time if something new was going on, but Frank was not forthcoming. Jack looked at Emma with deep concern as he asked, “Okay, you need to tell me what is going on. Why are you injured, did someone do this to you?” The room grew quiet.

  Jack looked around the room at the sudden silence of everyone and looked back at Emma, eyebrows raising. Emma was setting her wine glass down and turned herself on the couch so she could look directly at Jack, carefully pulling her leg up under her. “Well, it seems I have thoroughly pissed Martin Stevenson off. He worked with his bookie, Vito Marino to have my car broadsided attempting to kill me. However, as you can see, it was not a successful endeavor.” Jack was stunned and turned to look at both Howard and Carmine, saying, “Your men have surrounded my house, my mother is now wielding a shotgun, would you care to explain to me how you let this happen to Emma?” Jack stood up, ready to take both Howard and Carmine on physically. Carmine responded, saying coldly, “If you will excuse me, I have a call to make."

  Carmine walked out of the room, filled with anger but he too understood Jacks anger. Emma reached up pulled on the side of Jack’s blue dress shirt, saying, “Sit down Jack, it was my fault. I decided to sneak away from the guards.” Jack sat down on the couch, breathing heavily. Turning to face Emma, he struggled to even out his breaths while he waited for her to continue. Emma said, “This incident is on me Jack, but I am fine, my forehead is still blue with a wonderful shade of green coming through, I have to wear this godforsaken cast for six more weeks and participate in some physical therapy for a while, and the stitches in my tummy will be out in a few days. I am sore, but I am fine. However, Sgt Pepper did not survive.” She smiled at Jack, hoping that by keeping things light, it would help him calm down.

  Jack looking at Emma, sadly asked, “Emma if you needed to get out, why didn’t you call me? I would have picked you up.” Emma’s eyes were filling with tears, said, “I know you would. It was a rash decision I just needed to be alone with my thoughts, and my grief for Grayson.”

  Jack took Emma’s hand in his, squeezing it gently with a severe show of love. Maeve entered the room and announced that dinner was ready. Emma smiled at Jack and said, “Help a girl up?” Jack laughed and stood to help Emma off the plush couch. Emma once standing, picked up her half-empty glass of Screaming Eagle guzzled down the last of her wine. Placing her glass down on the table, Emma smiled at Jack and held her right arm out to him, saying, “I’m hungry, let’s go eat. I have a proposition for you.” Jack was taking her arm with a raised eyebrow, replied, sarcastically, “You are always hungry. A proposition? That sounds scary lady.” Reaching for Jack’s hand, they both walked into the dining room, Emma smiling brightly, responded, “Oh, but Jack, I think that you will be rather fond of my idea.” Jack grunted, knowing most of her ideas, got them in hot water.

  A dinner of broiled salmon with a myriad of side dishes was served and enjoyed jovially by everyone. With the meal finished, and coffee poured, Emma, said, “I want to talk about tomorrow’s meeting with the Tribal Council.” Jack was looking across the table, stunned, said, “Your meeting with the Tribal Council? Emma, is this another one of your ideas?”

  Emma glanced over at Howard when she heard him chuckle over Jack’s remark, giving him a look of annoyance. Howard shrugged his shoulders as if he was saying What? Emma turned back to direct her attention to Jack said, “Yes, Dad, you, Amelia, and I are meeting with them in the morning.” Leading the conversation to the whole group at the table, she continued, “Amelia and I met this afternoon and completed the legal documents needed to go with my plan.”

  Howard was sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest, and he wanted to hear how she plans to do this before he gave her the plan they would use. Emma, knowing when her father crossed his arms like that, he was not taking her seriously. Emma looked at her father raising her left eyebrow, which was now her distinctive look of defiance continued, “I am going to end this fiasco once and for all. The Tribal Council Meeting is the first step. I am going to ensure that the Navajo Project is completed on time and implemented.” Looking directly to her father, she said, “Because of your lapse of good judgment, you are going to pay for the all expenses of this project until completion, including those not yet paid. That amount is ten and a half million dollars.”

  Raising her hand to stop Howard from interrupting, Emma continued saying, “Amelia has drafted a contract in that effect, between yourself, the Tribe, and Harris and Graystone. Our new company will be overseeing the term of the contract. Amelia will go over the contract with you tonight.”

  Looking around the table, Emma continued, “The terms I have given Chief Blackfeather to be on the agenda at the Tribal Council Meeting include, that the new Jack Thomas Construction Company…” Emma seeing Jacks look of confusion and knowing he was going to explode, held her hand up towards him to stop him from talking. Continuing, she said,” Jack’s new company, in which I am a silent partner.” Emma looked at her dad and Carmine raising her left eyebrow in defiance daring them to say anything, knowing that Carmine was Howard's silent partner.

  Emma directing her attention to the whole group continued, “His Company will complete and implement the project and will be paid to do so.” Emma glanced at her father as she had said this, continuing she said, “Eighty percent of the Power Purchase Agreement profits, will go to the Navaho tribe starting day one of implementation the other twenty percent will go to Jack’s new company. Jack’s new company will ensure fifty of their tribal members will go to a training school in overseeing the maintenance of the turbines. The project will is to be renamed, as well.”

  Emma looked around the room for reactions, she saw Vittoria smiling proudly, Howard and Carmine were looking at each other in astonishment, Amelia was
taking notes, and Jack looked like he was trying to breathe.

  Emma looking at Jack, said, “Take a breath, Jack, it will all be okay.” Looking around the room, Emma said, “Dad, why don’t you, Vittoria and Carmine go into the sitting room and get the champagne ready. Amelia and I would like to have some time with Jack.” Howard, with a tone of defiance, said, “Now Look Emma, I have some input here on this plan as I am writing the check, and you will ….”

  Emma, looked at Howard while replying, “The only thing you will do or have any say in is what pen you will use to write that check. Now if you will excuse us.” Vittoria, took Howard's hand pulling him into a standing position, saying, “Howard, Carmine, I believe the girls have a business to discuss with Jack, let us retire to the sitting room and have a drink.”

  As they were leaving the room, Amelia was pulling the file for the new Jack Thomas Construction company out of her briefcase that she had sitting next to her chair. When everyone was out of the dining room area, Emma looking at Jack with seriousness, said, “You are much too good at what you do to be working for someone else. You told me that this was your dream.” Smiling, she continued, “I am prepared to help you make that dream come alive, though on certain terms, Jack.” Jack stammered in response not quite believing what he was hearing, “Terms, what kind of terms Emma.” Emma holding back a smile sighed deeply and continued, “Jack, I am a businesswoman, I am prepared to invest eight million dollars for your startup of the Jack Thomas Construction Company. That should be enough for you to not only purchase the new equipment needed but the staff you will need to be successful.” Amelia stood and walked around the table, slapping Jack on his back and with her other hand, gently closed Jack’s mouth at the same time.

  Emma smiling continued saying, “I know it seems an abundant amount Jack, but I have contacted a few of my contacts, and they have jobs they would like you to start. There will be three new jobs you will need to start within three months of the completion of the Navajo Project. The locations of those projects are Florida, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. You will have to expand immediately hiring your management teams, and purchasing the equipment needed. My financial terms are as follows. You will pay me back in the amount of ten million dollars, of which will be written in the contract to be paid in installments annually from that year’s profits. Once I have paid in full, Amelia will do the paperwork giving you one hundred percent ownership of the company. Amelia has the Partnership contract here for you to sign and the documents needed to file the business license first thing in the morning. After the Tribal Council meeting, Amelia will go with you to complete the opening of the bank accounts you will need. They only need your signature, and the money is available immediately for you to start.”

  The room remained silent for a few minutes while Jack tried to control his emotions. Tears of disbelief in his eyes, he looked at Emma saying, “I can live with those terms, so what are you naming the project?” Standing, Emma walked around the table to Jack. Jack stood, holding his arms out to hug Emma. Stepping back after the hug, Emma gently smiled at Jack, saying, “You will have to attend the Council meeting to find out. Amelia will go over everything again with you now, getting your needed signatures. I am going to go to bed, tomorrow will be my first day out of this place finally, so I want to get a good night’s sleep.”

  Holding her hand out to shake, Jack grabbed it immediately, listening as Emma said, “I love you, Jack Thomas, you have been a good friend to me and a great lifelong friend to Grayson. Watch for a Gray Hawk Jack, Grayson’s spirit is in the Hawk.” Emma still holding Jack’s hand continued, “When I was considering this idea, a Gray Hawk flew by three times, I think he was telling me this is the right thing to do, but not to make it easy.” Smiling, Emma kissed Jack’s cheek and left the dining room to go to the sitting room to say goodnight to the others.

  16

  Emma joined the others, Vittoria, Howard, Carmine, Amelia, Frank, and Maeve in the dining room at six am for a quick breakfast of Danish and coffee before their scheduled departure for the Tribal Council meeting in Window Rock, Arizona. Emma poured herself a cup of hot coffee and chose an apple Danish from the myriad of choices set before her on the table.

  Looking at her father, she asked, “The Limo should be here in an hour. It’s a three-hour drive, but we should make it in time for the meeting. Afterward, I would like to visit the Window Rock Monument and then go back to my apartment to gather a few personal things."

  Howard briskly responded by saying, “Emma, why your apartment? I have scheduled movers to come in this Friday and pack the apartment up for your move to Las Vegas.” Emma grinned, “Thanks Dad, with everything going on, I hadn’t thought about making the arrangements for packing the apartment up. Thank you for handling that, but I wanted to pack up some personal items I want to take with us.” With a look of tiredness coming over her face, she continued, “But I will take two men with me, and I won’t be too long."

  Vittoria, nodding her head in acknowledgment, said, “I will have Frank, and two of his closest men accompany you, Emma. Take all the time you need.” Carmine setting the chocolate Danish down he was about to enjoy looked at Vittoria sternly, “Sister, you again are now ordering MY second in command to do things? It is well past time you and I have a conversation on our family’s chain of command.” Vittoria laughing looked lovingly at her brother, saying, “It’s a new world brother, as women we have come out of the kitchen. Yes, we will have that conversation, and things will become clear for you. After all, we are both the elder DeLuca’s in our family. We each have our responsibilities.” Carmine shook his head, realizing that the conversation they were to have soon would not be one he would enjoy. Picking up his Danish in resignation took a bite and nearly choking when Maeve raised a fist in the air, said, “You go, Vittoria, time for women to start running things in this world.”

  Everyone around the table broke out in laughter. Emma, wiping the tears from her eyes, said, “Oh Maeve, we are going to get along just fine.” Howard and Carmine glanced at each other, echoing their thoughts, what is happening here?

  Four hours later the rented black Limo pulled up in front of the Tribal Council meeting area in Window Rock. Window Rock being the seat of government and the capital of the Navajo Nation was home to the Window Rock Monument. A large red-sandstone rock, that had a hole in the middle of it, hence the name Window Rock. Getting out of the Limo, Howard looked around, saying, “Where the hell are we?” Looking around, he saw a small circular stone building with large beams on top, one pointing in each direction; East, West, North, and South with a large sandstone hill behind it. Emma, smiling said, “Relax, Dad, it’s okay, I see Jack’s truck is here, so let’s go inside and get things taken care of.” Emma led the way with Amelia, and her dad following behind her as they entered the Tribal Council building.

  As Emma walked through the door in a light organdy sundress, flat white sandals and her long blonde hair flowing freely, Chief Blackfeather, Grayson’s father, was sitting in his right full place, at the center of the Tribal Table.

  Hearing the door open, Chief Blackfeather looked up from the agenda he was reviewing and thought he was seeing a vision walking toward him. This woman took his breath away with her beauty, and in those blue eyes were a window of pride and intelligence. No wonder, his son was in love with this woman. Standing, he walked around the table to greet Emma and the people with her.

  Walking up to Emma, he introduced himself. Holding out his hand, he said to Emma, “You must be Emma Graystone, I am Chief Blackfeather, Grayson’s father.” Chief Blackfeather watched the range of emotions pass through Emma’s eyes, that he was sure she didn’t show often. He saw the deep pain in her eyes. Emma, taking his hand and pulling him into a gentle hug, said quietly so only he could hear, “I want you to know I loved Grayson with my life, I will never forget him.” Releasing the hug, Emma turned to introduce her father, Howard Graystone and Amelia Harris, friend, and business partner. Chief Graystone warmly wel
comed Jack Thomas before showing them to their seats and patted Emma's shoulder before returning to his position to call the Tribal Council meeting to order.

  Calling the meeting to order Chief Blackfeather conducted the roll call of the six-member council and asked Council Member Atsa Begaye to give the invocation. Atsa Begaye stood saying;

  Will you bow your head as I pray?

  Dear wise and loving Father: First let me say, “Thank you” on behalf of all who are gathered here today. Thank you for your many and abundant blessings. Thank you for life itself, for the measure of health, for the need to fulfill our callings, for sustenance and friendship. Thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work and for the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities. Thanks’ as well for the freedom to embrace you or the freedom to reject you. Thank you for loving us even so-- from your great and gracious nature.

  In the scriptures, you have said that citizens ought to obey the governing authorities since you have established those very authorities to promote peace and order and justice. Therefore, I pray for our lost brother and son, Grayson Blackfeather, for those who are here today honoring our brother and son. For this assembled council. I am asking that you would graciously grant them:

  Wisdom to govern amid the conflicting interests and issues of our times,

  A sense of the welfare and real needs of our people,

  A keen thirst for justice and rightness,

  Confidence in what is proper and fitting,

  The ability to work together in harmony even when there is honest disagreement, and

  Personal peace in their lives and joy in their task.