Shadow of Secrets

by Kacie Clement

  Filling her plate, she smiled at Grayson who was seated next to her and said, “Dig in, you're going to love the Manicotti.” As the serving staff filled their glasses with a cabernet to complete the meal, Grayson thought to himself, a butler, serving staff? What the hell don’t I know about Emma? After dinner, with the table cleared, and cups of cappuccino served, Howard started the conversation, “Grayson, I am delighted to meet you, Emma has said beautiful things about you.

  I look forward to getting to know you better, and I hope you will come to visit Emma and me in New Jersey soon.”

  Confused Grayson looked swiftly at Emma frowning. “You're leaving?” he asked. Emma replied, “I am not going anywhere, but you need to be aware of what’s going on Grayson, that is why we are here.” Grayson, with a quick look of anger, said, “Jack, is this why you have not returned my calls and disappeared today?” Jack responded, “Grayson, you need to listen to this.”

  Emma placed her hand on Grayson’s arm, saying, “Grayson, that is why we are here, all the pieces have just fallen into place. Jack and my dad were at the site confirming all our findings.

  Let me start at the beginning. Amongst the hundreds of boxes currently in my office, I came across the Power Purchase Agreements for the Navajo Project. A company called Clean Energy Solutions popped up, and I didn’t remember hearing of them before, and I saw that they were to receive a percentage of the profits for the duration of the agreement. When I asked Steve and Westley about them, they became somewhat evasive. Martin then met with me. I asked about the company and what role Clean Energy Solutions had on the project. Martin told me that the company was a consulting firm, and then quickly changed the subject, making me even more suspicious. I assumed that Matrix International was the only consulting firm with my job being the Project Business Consultant.

  Grayson shocked said, “Matrix International?” Looking at Howard with a look of suspicion, he continued, “You are Howard Graystone?” Looking at Emma, he continued, and you are his daughter. Why have you not shared this before now.” Emma, with a look of guilt, replied, “I wanted you to get to know me for who I am personally, not how most of the world sees me. A wealthy daddy’s little girl. Now Grayson, let me finish. We will talk later about who you think I am.”

  Emma continued the story, “Again my job was to be the Project Business Consultant, but I am doing the work of an administrative assistant, scanning files into a random server, no one else in the company uses, and those files I am entering into a fake server are already efficiently organized and scanned into the Green Touch Renewables Server.

  I asked my friend Amelia, who is an attorney, to find out who owned the Clean Energy Solutions Company. My dad here is a stakeholder in the company as well as Martin, Steve, and Wesley.

  Grayson glaring at Howard said, “Care to explain what role you play in this Howard?” Howard smiled, appreciating the fact Grayson, was quick to respond. Not many men stood up to Howard Graystone. He just might come to like this man for Emma. Howard replied, “Yes, I am a shareholder of Clean Energy Solutions. I met Steve Hawkins at an energy conference last year in New York. He told me about the project. It caught my interest, and I invested with the agreement my firm Matrix International provide the consulting services.”

  Howard's eyes taking on an ice-cold look, sternly looking at Grayson continued, “My profits are due to be allocated to the American Cancer Society for their research in a cure for cancer. We lost my wife, Emma’s mother, to cancer when Emma was a baby.”

  Looking at Emma and Jack, he continued, “Emma came this past weekend to confront me on my part in this mess. She had visited the site with Jack, and they determined that twelve of the twenty-five projects sights had larger turbines and would…” Grayson interrupted, “Increase their profits greatly for the next twenty years.” Howard's eyes seemed to shoot out shards of ice. Grayson thought quickly, “Well, I now know where Emma gets those eyes.”

  Continuing Howard said, “Yes the profits are much higher on those specific sites. I asked Jack to take me out there this evening after the crew left for the day. I wanted to confirm the findings, we have spent the last few hours going over the purchase orders and financial reports and have found that Clean Energy Solutions ordered the equipment for the project and that a check for four million dollars was cut to the company the other day, deposited and then a check was written to the Navajo Government.

  Your tribal councilman Benjamin Takala received the cheque. The cheque, according to my banker, was cashed, with Takala depositing one million into his wife’s account. The remainder three million went into Martin Stevenson’s bank account.”

  Grayson stunned, said, “So Martin, Steve, and Westley all stand to gain personally from this, and you're saying Benjamin Takala received one million dollars? Jack, you confirmed this personally?” Jack stayed silent while nodding his in acknowledgment. Emma watched the range of emotions cross Grayson’s face. Softly, she said, “Grayson, we are here to come up with a plan to stop this from happening.” Grayson stood so fast his chair fell on its side, “I am ending this. First, I’m going to have a conversation with Benjamin Takala tonight and tomorrow morning I am going to the site and confirm the generator sizes for myself. Thanks for dinner, but I have to go.”

  Turning, Grayson quickly walked to the door. Jack jumped up to follow him. Jack stopped when Grayson looked him straight in the eye, and said, “No Jack, this is something I need to do alone. These are my people who are losing out of what rightfully is theirs; It’s my problem to handle.” Looking at Emma, Grayson said, “I will call you tomorrow, Emma, but you should have trusted me to tell me from the beginning what you suspected.” Turning Grayson walked out the door slamming it behind him. Emma, with tears filling her eyes, said, “There’s more he doesn’t know.”

  Howard, looking concerned, asked, “Emma, what is it?” Emma taking a tissue from her bag, blotted her tears. Looking at her dad sadly, she said, “I had a meeting with Martin today. He informed me if you go down with Clean Energy Solutions then I do as well as your accomplice, reminding me I am your daughter. Using the adage, two birds with one stone scenario.” Howard's eyes slanted, turning into steel, “Did he threaten you?” Emma shook her head back and forth, replied, “Not directly, but the implication was there, he informed me I needed to end my relationship with Grayson, and that has me worried. I am scared he is going to go after Grayson and Jack next.”

  Howard held his hand up to quiet Jack, who looked about to explode. Howard continued, “How did you respond to him, Emma.” Tilting her head to the side, looking directly at her father she said, “I asked him if he was sure he wanted to continue in this direction and that I would bury him if he did anything to hurt you or Grayson. Dad, how did you expect me to respond?”

  Howard rubbing his head in frustration, said, “Emma, you have to start thinking and not just react. That reaction may have caused a higher risk to your safety. Please leave with me on the red eye tonight for New Jersey. I will handle this.” Emma looked at her father angrily saying, “Oh hell no, I am not leaving. You know that ass told me to let the boys handle it and now here you are telling me you will handle this. We are all in this together. You can go home if you would like, but I am staying right here and following through with bringing an end to this project. I will be fine, Carmine has Frank following me everywhere, so I am perfectly safe.”

  Jack looked at Emma and said, “Frank?” Emma looking exasperated, said, “Yes, Frank. He is Carmine DeLuca’s, right-hand man. Carmine DeLuca is like an uncle to me. Soon, we will be officially related, but soon I imagine by marriage. Jack, can you give me a lift to my apartment?”

  Jack looking at Emma, stunned, said, “I guess I can.” Howard stood walking over to Emma, and he took her hand while saying, “Emma, I am worried about you, quit with this stubbornness and come home with me.” Emma stood, kissing her father on the cheek, said, “I will be fine dad, Jack will see me home, Frank’s is out front and dad, Grayson will make su
re nothing happens to me. I love you, and I will call you tomorrow after work unless something else pops up during the day, I promise. But I’m not coming home.”

  With a sigh, Howard walked to the door with Jack and Emma, opening the door, Howard looked at Jack, saying, “Get her home safely.” Raising his voice, he said, “Frank,” a man in a black suit and sunglasses suddenly appeared in the hallway. Jack surprised said, “Where did you come from.” Ignoring him, Frank said, “I will follow them home, Nick will be here while I am gone.”. Howard kissing Emma said, “Perfect, Emma be careful, do not interact with those three if you don’t have to.” Emma smiled and said, “I will call you tomorrow, Dad. “

  Jack driving Emma home to her apartment, watched the black sedan following closely behind them. He glanced at Emma and said, “Emma, who are you? Your father is one of the richest men in the world with ties to the DeLuca Crime family, and this project is quickly becoming a disaster, I am worried.” Emma stayed silent until they pulled up to the curb. “Jack see that SUV across the street. That is my protection courtesy of Uncle Carmine, and Thomas and Nick are protecting my dad. I want you to do something for me, Jack.” Reaching into her purse, she found the envelope she had placed there earlier. Handing it to Jack, she said, “This contains one hundred thousand dollars in cash, send your mother and your family on a well-deserved vacation. The money will cover the expenses, Jack.”

  Jack taking the envelope, looking at Emma, replied, “I think your right if this blows up, I don’t want my family in the crossfire here. Emma, I don’t need this money.” Emma smiled brightly at Jack, “Keep it, tell them to take a vacation on me, Jack, it’s just pocket change for my shopping habit.” Emma opened the door of Jack’s truck, and with a wave at Frank parked across the street, she headed for her apartment and a good night’s sleep.

  Entering her apartment and locking the door behind her, she sat down on the end of the bed and dialed Grayson’s number. When he answered, Emma, said, “Grayson, are you okay? You’re not angry with me, are you? I wasn’t keeping things from you; I was trying to figure it all out before I talked with you.” Grayson was silent for a moment and responded, “I know Emma, but you cannot keep things from me any longer, I love you Emma, but we need to work together as partners in this.” Emma sadly responded, “I love you to Grayson, we should talk about this, can we have lunch tomorrow and take the afternoon off?” Grayson chuckled, “Tell me, what do you have in mind for the afternoon?” Emma smiled and shyly said, “I think it’s time to take this relationship to the next level, your place or mine?” Grayson, laughing, responded, “Definitely yours; I should be back from the site by then.” Emma smiling said, “It’s a date then. Be careful tomorrow, Grayson”. Grayson quietly responded, “I will, I love you, Ms. Graystone, don’t ever forget that.

  I am looking forward to exploring every inch of you tomorrow afternoon.” Emma giggled, “As I am you, call me when you get back to the office, goodnight, Grayson.” Placing her phone on the side table next to her bed, Emma crawled in under the covers to dream in anticipation of what the next afternoon would bring.

  Waiting for his flight, Howard called Carmine DeLuca and updated him on the latest happenings with Emma, the Project and his impressions of Grayson Blackfeather.

  9

  Grayson arrived at the Navajo project just as the sky was showing the first signs of daylight with shades of pink, orange, and yellow covering the horizon. Determined to check the wattage of the generator for himself, he decided to start at the farthest construction site and work backward. Turning his headlights off, he proceeded to the most distant project site and began his investigation.

  Grayson reaching site twelve found his anger was rising; in fact, every other project site had different size generators. Getting out of his truck, he found it was getting lighter, and no longer needed his flashlight. Looking at the sky, Grayson saw the sun was breaching the horizon, walking over to the project site to check the generator, Grayson was jotting down the model number, serial number, and wattage when sensing movement behind him. Turning, he found Artie MacDonald, the Construction Manager standing behind him a few feet away.

  Artie asked, "What are you doing here, Grayson? It's a little early for you to be on site. Jack with you?" Grayson solemnly looking at Artie responded, "Too early for Jack, just checking the equipment, needed some model numbers for the never-ending paperwork." Artie looked at Grayson suspiciously. "Could have called me for that, Grayson, you didn't need to make the trip out here." Grayson smiled "I could have, but I wanted to take care of it myself, and it's a beautiful morning so I thought the drive would be worth it. You guys are moving fast, so I wanted to get them before they were all up and running."

  Artie looking around to ensure no one had yet arrived on the site looked at Grayson seriously saying, "Why don't you tell me why you're out here, Grayson?" Raising an eyebrow, Grayson replied, "Then I guess you won't mind explaining why every other site has different size generators?”

  Artie with a sneer, replied, "That isn't any of your business, Chief, you’re playing in something that could get you hurt." Incensed by the racial comment, Grayson took a step towards Artie, "So tell me why you left New York and ended up here in Navajo Country, the middle of nowhere. Jack was doing a fine job overseeing things, and then suddenly you show up and take over on Martin’s command. These generators have a direct influence on the profits of this project, and it is my people who do not benefit from this. You and Martin do though right? Didn't think I would see the Purchase Power Agreements, or that anyone else would?" Artie smiling with disdain, "So you and your little hotshot girlfriend think you have everything figured out, do you? Do you know everything about that little fine piece of ass, like that fact she was going to marry a mobster? Maybe it's time you start sharing Emma, I could have some fun with her, and as a bonus, the little girl is wealthy."

  Enraged, Grayson started towards Artie to rip his head off over his comments about Emma and stopped when he saw Artie pull a Glock from his back and point it straight at him. Grayson enraged said, "What the hell are you doing Artie? Do you think a gun is going to stop me? You're not going to get away with this. I won't let you.”

  Artie laughing looked at Grayson and said, "I already have, and now I am going to have a piece of your Emma too." With that, Grayson started to move angrily towards Artie. Artie raised the gun, shooting Grayson point-blank in the head.

  Artie bent over to check that Grayson was indeed dead, he pulled his body behind the stack of turbine blades thinking that he would hide him till we can dispose of his body. Covering the turbine blade, and Grayson’s body with a large tarp, Artie drove Grayson's truck back towards the construction office and parked it behind the mesa just a quarter of a mile away thinking no one would notice it there. Walking back to the construction office, Artie placed the Glock in the drawer of his desk and heard the crew pulling up to the site.

  Hearing the construction crew arriving for the day’s work, he stepped outside, greeting the men with a cheerful hello. "Hey, guys it seems we have a problem on Site five, so we need to take the day off till we can get it resolved. The blades are the wrong size and are supposed to be delivered later today. I got orders to give you the day off with pay. I have a truckload of paperwork to catch up on so I will be here today to oversee the delivery."

  As soon as the last man left, Artie picked up his phone and called Martin, "Hey, we have a problem." Martin setting his cup of coffee down on his desk agitated, saw Emma coming off the elevator with a latte heading for her office. Acknowledging her with a nod of his head, he said into his phone, "What problem is there now?" Listening in disbelief to Artie's end of the conversation, he screamed in his phone, "You did what? Are you insane? Didn't New York teach you a thing? You are supposed to be keeping a low profile out here, and what my sister sees in you I will never know. Don't you think someone is going to wonder where Grayson went? Where is his body?"

  Artie tired of being subjected to his brother-in-law'
s rantings said, "Don't worry about it, I gave everyone the day off with pay, and once it gets dark, I will dispose of his body. You handle his little piece of ass on that end, say you sent him on a trip that will give us a couple of days to come up with an explanation or maybe they will find his body on the reservation, and we won't be connected. I will find a good place for his eternal rest in peace." Martin angrily responded, "Get it done."

  Sitting hard in his chair, Martin realized he couldn't share this turn of events with Steve and Wesley if he had any hope of surviving this mess. That dumb son of a bitch took out Carmine DeLucas son in New York last year when they still stood to gain millions from that project. All he had to do was keep on task overcharging the project run by his high school buddy, Howard Graystone. Filled with hate, Martin thought back to their days in high school, where Howard always got what he wanted, including his girlfriend, Christine. She should have been his wife, not Graystones. His crazy sister convinced him to her husband, Artie on the reservation with him. Once this project was complete, Artie needed to disappear once, and for all, he is too impulsive to have around. Now, what should he do about Emma? Just looking at her reminded him of his Christine and all that should have been his. One way or another he was going to destroy Howard Graystone.

  Arriving at her office, Emma placed her latte on her desk with her phone and stuck her bag under her desk. She began checking her list for the files she wanted to scan this morning, thinking I should have this done in short order and Grayson should be here by noon. Smiling in anticipation of the afternoon, she dreamt about last night; she looked up when Martin knocked on her door, with an arm full of files. Entering, Martin smiled, "Good morning, Emma, I have a special project for you today. Your work has been exemplary, and I would like you to prepare the financial projections for the next project."