Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 7, 2025 Chapters:  ...28 29 -30- 31... 


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Tragedy in the Tunnels
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets

Veil of Secrets - Chap 30

by Begin Again


Maria's body trembled as she clung to Eleanor. Her words came between gulps for air. "Who — was he? And you — where did — you — come from?" She lifted her head to stare at Eleanor. "Am I having — a nightmare? Are you — a hallucination?"

Eleanor wrapped her arms tighter around the young woman. Now wasn't the time to explain that she was a ghost. She'd seen the collapsing tunnels, but she had to be careful how she approached things with the girl.

Instead, she held Maria while she listened to their surroundings. The storm had disrupted the energy, and the currents the wind and rain left filled the air. She could sense other people, but nothing was clear or specific. "Maria, how did you get here? Are you visiting someone and got lost?"

Maria shook her head. "I don't know where here is, but they trucked us a long way. I am from New York."

"New York? Gracious! Are you alone?"

"No! There are more girls and mean, horrible men. They were moving us through the tunnels. It collapsed."

Eleanor tried to connect with the other women, but the storm had disrupted the energy. "Can you show me where?"

Maria shook her head. "I think — I came from that way." She glanced around the field, spotting the tall oak tree in the distance. "No, I remember trying to focus on the tree, so I must have come from that way."

Eleanor looked at Antonio, who remained silent while she had questioned Maria. "I think they are in the tunnels that run along the cliffs. Those tunnels probably haven't been used since Miriam's first visit to the Vineyard. It's very dangerous down there."

"Can Garth use the digging equipment?"

"I doubt it. It sounds like the land is very unstable."

Maria nodded. "It was collapsing every few minutes. Some were buried. The women were trying to dig out but only had their hands."

Eleanor nodded. "Listen, Maria, Antonio will take you to the house. Althea will be there, and she will help you."

"No, I have to help the others. I can't leave them." She clutched Eleanor's arm.

"Trust me. I'll get the others out, but you should be somewhere safe in case Cornelius decides to return."

Maria nodded, not because she was sure she should leave, but because she didn't want to risk seeing Cornelius again.

Eleanor stood and pulled Maria to her feet. "Do you trust me?"

The young woman looked into Eleanor's eyes and nodded.

"Good. I want you to place your hands in Antonio's hands and close your eyes tight. He will take you to the house, and I'll explain everything later. Okay?"

Her gaze darted between Eleanor and Antonio, then she placed her hands on Antonio's. The coldness surprised her as it shot through her body.

Eleanor touched her. "It's only for a second, and then you'll be safe." She nodded to Antonio before telling Maria, "Close your eyes and take a deep breath."

A second later, they were gone.
 
*****
When Maria and Antonio vanished, the air seemed to thicken around Eleanor. The wind whispered through the grass, carrying the scent of rain from the nearby cliffs. She turned in the direction Maria had pointed, her translucent form barely disturbing the air as she moved.

The storm had disrupted the energy around the vineyard, making it nearly impossible for Eleanor to sense the location of the women in the tunnels. Yet, she persisted, stretching her awareness as she drifted across the land, the urgency of the situation pressing against her.

A flicker — faint but there. A pulse of fear. She'd felt it.

Then she heard it — a muffled cry, desperate and raw, carried by the wind.

Eleanor quickened her pace, her form shimmering in and out of visibility as she neared the cliffs. The tunnels lay abandoned for years, but Maria was right—this was probably where the smugglers had taken the women.

She moved carefully, stepping over jagged stones and fallen branches until she was closer to the cliffs. The ground was unstable, cracked from the storm's wrath. She knelt, placing her hands against the cool, damp earth, trying again to reach through the stone and mud barrier.

Once again, she felt faint whispers — struggling thoughts mixed with fear.

Then, a sudden burst of noise — panicked voices from beneath. Eleanor didn't hear them, but she felt them. She felt the ground shift. There was another collapse somewhere — hopefully, not on the women.

Inside the tunnel, the air was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe. Everyone was coughing and choking, and there was no longer any light.

The women huddled together in the darkness near the small opening where Maria had escaped. Now, several splintered beams blocked the entrance.

Tony, his frustration boiling over, ran a hand through his tangled hair. His voice was sharp and angry. "Why aren't they digging? We're going to die down here, thanks to the boss."

Mark leaned against a broken support beam. He exhaled heavily and shook his head. "Shut it, Tony. Pointing fingers won't dig us out. We need a plan."

In the corner, Jake and another smuggler huddled together, a flask exchanging hands. The acrid scent of whiskey curled through the air, momentarily drowning out the stench of death.

Jake took a long, greedy swig, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his lips curling into a lazy grin. "Might as well enjoy ourselves."

Lisa, sitting on the ground, wiped the sweat from her brow. When she turned toward Jake, her eyes burned with fury. "Are you serious? While you're getting drunk, we're all stuck down here! We need every hand sober to dig out!"

Jake staggered to his feet, his whiskey-dulled gaze locking onto Lisa with sudden hostility. "Watch your mouth, woman." He stepped toward her, his movements unsteady. Lisa flinched but held her ground, her fists clenched at her sides.

Then, before anyone could react, a deafening crack echoed through the tunnel. The ceiling above Jake gave way in a rush of stone and dirt.

A scream. A sickening thud.

Dust billowed around them, choking the air. When it settled, Jake was gone — buried beneath the rubble.

A stunned silence followed.

The remaining smugglers, their bravado shattered, slumped against the walls. Tony reached for the whiskey flask, his hands shaking. "May we all rest in peace."

Lisa, swallowing down the rising panic in her throat, turned toward Sarah.

Sarah whispered, "Can we fit through that opening?"

Lisa exhaled shakily, scanning the narrow gap where the collapse had left a sliver of hope. "It's tight, but it's our only chance. The timbers are in the way where Maria went out. Hopefully, she can find help. In the meantime, we take turns digging around the timbers."

The women, weary and battered, gathered around the small opening. Despite their raw hands and broken nails, they dug with unwavering determination, their muscles aching and their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they clawed at the loose rock.

The last collapse left a partial wall of dirt, mud, rock, and splintered wood separating the women from the men. It was a small comfort but one they could use to their advantage.

Huddled around the tiny opening, they took turns using their hands and splintered boards to chip away at the edges, pausing each time to check for any signs of the ground collapsing again.

A gust of wind filtered through the hole. The sudden rush of fresh air carried the faint promise of survival. It wasn't an escape route — not yet — but it was enough to remind them they were still alive. They gasped, their chests rising and falling. The air was thin, but it was something — a small victory.

Above ground, Eleanor stood at the cliff's edge, the wind tearing through her translucent form. She closed her eyes, stretching her awareness beyond the physical. She felt it — the energy shifting beneath the surface.

Fear. Pain. Desperation.

Eleanor pressed her hand to the ground, whispering into the night. "Hold on. Just a little longer."

Then a flicker of movement caught her eye. Lanterns. Eleanor sighed. It had to be Garth and his team.

She yelled, "Over here!" Of course, they couldn't hear her.
 
But the wind carried her energy, and Garth slowed, turning instinctively. His eyes narrowed, scanning the darkened landscape. "Did you hear that?"

One of his men shook his head. "Hear what?"

Garth frowned. He felt it. "It's Eleanor. She's found something or someone and called for us."

He raised his lantern higher, stepping forward. And then — his stomach twisted. He heard his name this time, but it wasn't Eleanor. The voice belonged to Rebecca.

*****

The women sat huddled in the darkness, their breathing shallow. The whiskey-stinking smugglers had long since resigned to their fate and slumped against the dirt walls. But the women? They weren't giving up.

Lisa pressed her hand to the cool, damp timber blocking their exit. She could feel the air and hear dirt shifting as it settled around them, but the wood was too heavy. They weren't getting out on their own.

Sarah whispered, "How long do you think we have?"

Lisa didn't answer. She wasn't sure. But then her head snapped toward Sarah, who was staring at her. "Did you hear that?"

Sarah nodded. "Someone's out there."

Soft at first, barely a breath against the still air. "Help is coming. Just hold on."

Lisa gasped. "Who — who's there?"

"I can hear you. We're getting you out."

Lisa's chest tightened, tears burning her exhausted eyes. "We're running out of time," she whispered, half to Eleanor, half to the silence pressing in on them.

Eleanor turned toward the lanterns in the distance. She had to move.
 
*****
 
Garth's pulse thundered in his ears.

He could feel Eleanor, her presence like a shift in the wind, tugging at the edge of his awareness. But at the same time — he felt Rebecca. Her voice was weak and distant but piercing straight into his soul. She was calling for him.

"Garth — help me —"

His breath hitched. His instincts told him to run — but where? Where was she?

Then, suddenly, Eleanor appeared in front of him.

Without thinking, Garth reached for her, his grip firm, desperate. "She's calling me, Eleanor. She's calling for me."

Eleanor's expression softened, but her urgency didn't waver. "I understand, Garth. But we don't know where she is. We have women trapped in that tunnel, and they won't last much longer."

Garth clenched his jaw. His fingers twitched against Eleanor's arm as if physically holding onto her would anchor him.

"But Rebecca —"

"Garth, I know your pain. But I can't tell you where she is. But I believe that we can save these women. Now."

Garth exhaled shakily. His mind was at war, but Eleanor wasn't wrong. If they didn't act fast, those women would die. He couldn't leave these women to die despite his love for Rebecca.

Tango had been standing back, waiting for orders. He'd seen his boss distracted before, but this was different. Garth wasn't there. He was spiraling.

Tango turned to Eleanor. "What do we need to do?"

Eleanor turned toward him, grateful that someone was thinking clearly. "We can't use digging equipment. The tunnels are too unstable. If we bring in machines, we could bury them all alive."

Tango nodded, already shifting gears. He turned to his men. "Hand tools only. No heavy machinery."

A younger agent hesitated. "Then how do we get through?"

Eleanor took a breath. "I'll show you."

She led Tango toward the collapsed area and gestured to the tiny hole where air still slipped through. "We dig a trench toward the hole, working slowly. No sudden shifts. We'll widen it without causing another collapse."

Tango examined the space, then looked at his men. "You heard her. We do this carefully. Move."

The team got to work, shovels and hands scraping away at the earth. Every movement had to be measured and deliberate.

Eleanor glanced at Garth. His clenched fists vibrated at his sides, his body trembling with the urgent need to leave. She reached for him, her voice softer now. "We will find Rebecca. But right now, this? This is what we can do."

Garth swallowed hard, then exhaled. "Then let's get it done." And with that, he picked up a shovel and started digging.
 

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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
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
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York mob
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