Depart the Darkness
Page 36
“I feel like a huge weight’s been lifted,” Miles smiled, as we hugged each other.
“Me too,” I agreed. “Just wait until Phillip and Aaron turn on the news tomorrow!”
Miles laughed as he spun me around.
“I can hardly wait,” he smiled.
***
Dillon’s video confession was all over the news by morning. Thanks to our skillful PR agents, Intersect management was lambasted for allowing Dillon to get away with what he did. Intersect security was scorned and ridiculed for persecuting Aaron, when he did the right thing and tried to tell them about the huge security breach at Intersect. It was accepted, as a matter of course, that the DOD would drop the case against Aaron, and go after Dillon instead. Talk about laying on the pressure! If they didn’t, they’d be ridiculed as badly as Intersect Security was. Whether that influenced their decision, or someone in charge had some sense, Aaron was exonerated of all charges and so was Phillip.
Since Phillip’s picture was plastered all over the news, and now he was safe from false charges, Phillip and his family chose to resume their identities. Not, however, before discussing the existence of the unknown mastermind who was behind the plot to steal classified medical research files.
The man was real. He was powerful. He was dangerous. So dangerous, Dillon Graves lucked out and was taken into the federal witness protection program. We didn’t know who the mastermind was, but evidently the federal marshals did, or thought they did, and thought Dillon could help them build a case against the guy. We learned this from one of our PIs, who heard it from a guy, who heard it from a guy… hardly reliable information, so I can’t say for sure that’s the truth. All we know for certain is that Dillon disappeared, leaving everything behind. So… either the feds got him, or the criminal mastermind did.
As for the mastermind, I knew he never threatened Phillip or his family. Chances were good that the guy wouldn’t seek dubious revenge against him. Phillip felt safe resuming their identities. Plus, there was practically nowhere they could go that Phillip wouldn’t be recognized. The media really did have fun running with the story. Phillip and Aaron were always portrayed as the innocent victims intent on doing the right thing, so no one minded too much.
Mr. Graves, Dillon’s father, resigned his position as Intersect director by noon, on the day the story broke. Intersect struggled to do damage control, creating a policy to prevent nepotism in the future. They fired everyone in security, along with Jadon Helms, the erstwhile project lead and Dillon’s lackey. Intersect also offered to rehire Phillip and Aaron.
I don’t think they broke any ribs laughing over the very idea of going back… we nearly did.
It didn’t take much convincing on the part of our team of lawyers, on behalf of Aaron Fellows, for Intersect to see the wisdom of settling out of court. We would’ve taken them to town if they didn’t. As it was… we took them most of the way to town. They’d think twice before allowing these kinds of shenanigans to occur at Intersect ever again. Did I mention they also lost the medical research contract?
It bothered us that we didn’t know who the mastermind was. We followed every lead to its corresponding dead end, and satisfied ourselves with the possibility that the federal marshals really did know, and were building a case against him.
We also consoled ourselves with the fact that if Dillon was in WITSEC, he wasn’t profiting from it. He’d receive a new career along with a new identity. Something entirely different than the one he chose. Chances were good that if he was still walking the earth, he was also scraping gum off park benches, cleaning out gutters, or… cleaning toilets. That would serve him right.
Miles and I took a few days off to recharge after it was all said and done, and our friends did the same. We relaxed at the estate, visited the puppies at the Service Dog Training Center, and had fun exploring our cave.
It was good to be back at the Lodge though, I thought, as Miles held the door for me and I stepped inside. I’m not sure which… I stopped abruptly.
“What do you see?” Miles asked softly.
“I think you know what I see,” I replied quietly.
“Then let’s do this,” Miles said. He put his arm around me, I put my arm around him, and we took our first step toward our next case.
Here we go again.
About the Author
Melissa R. L. Simonin writes the books she wants to read: good clean rated G romance, mystery, suspense, fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, historical, and Christian fiction, with main characters that inspire, who have senses of humor and are good at heart, and which leave one feeling encouraged and better for having read the book. Her characters have stories to tell, so she gets up early and stays up late, because she doesn’t want to miss a thing. Unless she feels like writing two or more novels simultaneously and giving up sleep entirely, she’s learned not to name characters until she’s ready to write, because once they have their names their stories begin, and there is no “pause” option.
In addition to racing to keep up with her characters, Melissa currently resides in Katy, Texas with Brad, her husband of twenty-six years; fifteen-year-old daughter Emily; cats Pandora and Star; Golden retriever and retired Diabetic Alert Dog, Independence; Arctic the White German Shepherd; and Squinty the teddy bear hamster.
While famous for burning cheese sandwiches when her characters are in the middle of a conversation, due to popular demand she usually serves the rest of the household un-burnt offerings, grocery shops on occasion, cleans when absolutely necessary, studies the Bible daily, relies on Jesus completely, listens to Citizen Way and Hawk Nelson frequently, and carries her laptop and immersive headphones with her wherever she goes.
Melissa’s current and ongoing series include The House of Bannerman, Mystery Lane, The Investigations of Jack Ryland, and Terms of Engagement.
Get the latest news on upcoming books and behind the scenes info you won’t find anywhere else, by visiting https://melissasimonin.com
also by Melissa R. L. Simonin
The House of Bannerman
Miles, House of Bannerman book 1
House of Shadows, House of Bannerman book 2
Darkness Falls, House of Bannerman book 3
The Lodge at Whispering Pines, House of Bannerman book 4
Depart the Darkness, House of Bannerman book 5
Mystery Lane
715 Mystery Lane, Mystery Lane book 1
601 Suspense Street, Mystery Lane book 2
423 Apprehensive Avenue, Mystery Lane book 3
The Investigations of Jack Ryland
Last Chance Inn, The Investigations of Jack Ryland book 1
Cottonwood Hotel, The Investigations of Jack Ryland book 2
Terms of Engagement
Terms of Engagement, Terms of Engagement book 1
Failure to Engage, Terms of Engagement book 2
Disengaged, Terms of Engagement book 3
Stand-Alone Novels
Camp Emmaus
Stonecastle Inn
Isle of the Crescent Moon
Hiding Treasure
Lochlan Museum
Uncertainly Yours, a Bannerman Foundation Mystery
Coming soon…
Ashes of Roses, House of Bannerman book 6
Gone in a Flash, the Investigations of Jack Ryland book 3