I stood to try and ease the pain in my knees, and then I saw it, the undeniable proof it wasn’t a dream. The black line The Man left on the desk stared back at me. I recalled the sight of his finger sliding through the wood and ran my own finger down the mark. I swore I could feel heat coming from it. How could it be real? None of it made any sense.
I stood there for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts, and The Man’s words ran through my mind. Are you going to continue on in your family’s footsteps, extending the legacy so many of the Williams’ had furthered before you, or will you choose another path?
What did it mean? What did he mean by continuing their legacy? My family had been helping people in that town and everywhere else for years. Why wouldn’t I want to continue helping others?
Then the words of my mother came back to me. Something more nefarious went on that day... What did she mean? If all of it was real, then none of it made any sense.
My desk phone rang. I picked it up without thinking. “This is Alec.”
“Good morning, Alec, this is Rachel. I have some troubling news.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Paul. He died last night.”
Chapter Seventeen
Alec Williams
Williams Estate – Private Home Office
Williams Point, New York
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? If this is some kind of sick joke, consider yourself terminated!”
“I wouldn’t joke about this. Paul died last night after leaving the Northern Division textile plant. Police officers were waiting in the lobby when I came into the office this morning. They had a license plate number their system showed registered to the company. When I couldn't get a hold of you, I took the liberty of asking your admin to run the number. She told me it belonged to the company car that Paul drove.”
Nausea hit me like a tidal wave, and I was immediately sickened. I threw up repeatedly in the wastebasket until there was nothing left in my stomach, and my body continued to convulse. I forced myself to stand up straight. My ribs acted like a vice around my lungs, and only allowed me to take short, shallow breaths of air.
After I steadied myself, I heard Rachel as she repeatedly said my name from the phone. I wanted to hang up and smash the phone, followed by everything else in my office, but I just stood there in shock.
“Alec, what’s happening? Are you still there?”
I wiped my mouth and picked up the phone. “Yes, I’m still here. Do they know what happened?”
“Uh. Well. This may be too hard for you to hear right now. Maybe we should talk about this later after you had some time to pull yourself together. How about I come over and we can talk about this face-to-face?”
“No, Rachel. I’m fine. Just tell me what happened. I need to know.”
“Okay. Well, the police said it appears Paul might have been driving erratically and likely speeding, based on the tire marks on the road. He lost control and hit a tree.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense. Paul never drives faster than the speed limit. He drives like an old man. I don’t understand...”
“I’m sorry, Alec. I hate to be the one to tell you this. I wish there was something more I could do to help.”
“Stop with all of that. Just tell me, where he is now?”
“Are you sitting down? You sound wobbly... It’s...”
“Just tell me! I don’t care how bad it is!”
“Alright. Paul’s car hit the tree with so much force, the gas tank ruptured, the car caught fire, and exploded. The police said he must have had a full tank because the fire burned so hot there is nothing left of him.”
I tried to wrap my mind around the news, but the shock of it overwhelmed me. “What do you mean nothing left? That doesn’t make any sense. Car fires don’t burn anywhere near hot enough to burn a body to nothing but ashes.”
“It’s like I said, the police said that is all they could come up with after they searched the scene for Paul’s body. They combed the woods all around the accident site, and there’s no sign of a body. The police can’t explain it at the moment, but they think the fire burned so hot and for so long before anyone made it to the scene that there is nothing left of him. What remains of the car has been towed, so the forensic officials can check to see if Paul had something in the car that could have added to the intensity of the fire.”
“How hard did they look for his body? How do they know if he was even in the car?”
“The company tracking program showed that Paul drove the car last night, coupled with the fact he never checked into his hotel room. Alec... It was a horrific scene. Not only was there no body and very little of the car, the fire damaged a large section of the road and burned up to a half acre of land nearby. Even the closest traffic sign was a crumpled pile of metal several yards up the road. The highway patrol has launched a full investigation and wants to talk to you as soon as possible.”
“Of course, but why? I don’t... I...”
“Paul had been at the plant earlier that morning and there’d been a chemical incident. The report is probably already on your desk. There’s no logic or reason behind it, but one officer even wondered if Paul had taken a sample of something off the premises with him, or inadvertently carried something flammable with him.”
“That’s ridiculous, Rachel, everything is tightly controlled. Paul wouldn’t just walk out of the plant with a gallon of some highly toxic and flammable liquid. He’s not an idiot.”
“I know, Alec, and I’m sorry. I told you it wasn’t logical. This whole thing is just so unbelievable, they don’t know what to make of it.”
“Stop talking. Just stop talking...”
I dropped the phone, and the room went dark.
I WAS AWAKENED BY A shake and the repeated calling of my name. My eyes opened to see Rachel kneeling beside me. It was a scene I had dreamt that way repeatedly over the years. Her long blonde locks cascaded off her shoulders, and she was still so beautiful even though she had a concerned look on her face. Then I remembered the last thing she said to me, and the daydream stopped. I felt like I was submerged underwater as I pushed her away and sat up.
“Stop shaking me. I’m fine. What are you doing here?”
She fell back and landed on her hip with a thud. She winced in pain.
I brushed her off harder than I meant too. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t mean to do that.” I stood and helped her to her feet.
“I’m fine. I heard a loud thump after you stopped talking, so I rushed over here to see if you were okay. I kept calling your cell, but you didn’t pick up. I also knew you were going to be very upset by this news. I had to come. Please don’t be mad, but I just wanted to be sure nothing happened to you. I’m very sorry about Paul, and I hated to be the one to tell you.”
She stepped to me and started to wrap her arms around me.
I pulled away as if she were an angry, circling yellow jacket. “Don’t. I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t fine. I knew I’d never be fine again. I tried desperately to hold back from crying in front of her.
She backed up with her eyes plastered to the floor. I don’t think she’d ever experienced rejection before—she sure had never seen me step away from her touch. The war in the back of my mind over all the feelings I had for her was way too much on top of my shock and grief.
I hated myself in that moment because I wanted to melt into her arms for comfort.
And I hated her for being available.
I pushed those thoughts from my mind and focused on finding out what happened to Paul. “Tell me everything the police said.”
She cleared her throat. “There’s no more information than what I already shared. I don’t think you want me to repeat it.”
My mind couldn’t accept the new reality I was in, and I had to see the site of the accident for myself, no matter how painful it would be. “I have to go. I have to see for myself where it happened.” I made my way to the door.
&
nbsp; Rachel followed at my side. “Alec wait, please, you are in no shape to drive.”
“I don’t care. I have to do this.”
She chased me out into the hallway. “Alec, stop! Listen to me, your best friend just died, and there isn't anything you can do to change that. Please stop. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you right now, but please do not run off and do something stupid. Besides, you don’t even know the exact location of the accident. Let me help you. You’re in no shape to drive right now.”
I stopped. She had a point. My emotions and adrenaline fueled me, and it probably wasn’t a good idea to go charging off and get myself killed. My mind reeled, but I had a company to run—and a friend’s death to deal with. I had to get my mind clear.
And she was right. I didn’t know where it happened, and after her protest, I didn’t think she would willingly offer the location. I guess Rachel and I would be riding together, and that way I would have time to think about my next move. “Fine. Take me to where it happened.”
RACHEL TRIED TO MAKE small talk during the drive, but after her third attempt I told her I wanted to sit quietly. She said she understood. I had to keep my mind focused so my emotions would stay in check. Apparently, Paul was about two hours away from the plant he’d just visited when he crashed.
As we approached the site where Paul spent his last moments on earth, I didn’t need anyone to point it out to me. As I’d been told, the fire had completely scorched the area. What was left of blackened stumps and heat-wrinkled roadway stood out like a beacon of death.
Rachel pulled over and kept a respectful distance from the location. I stared in disbelief at the carnage in front of me.
“Stay in the car and give me a moment.”
She flashed a concerned smile. “Take as much time as you need.”
The charred, twisted remains of the once-massive tree loomed like a tombstone over the seared ground. Agony punched me in the gut, and guilt brought my head low. My lungs breathed in death, and exhaled pain. I fell to my knees and sobbed. My brother and best friend died because of me.
“I’m sorry Paul. It’s my fault you’re dead. I sent you out on this goose chase because I wouldn’t review the things my father left me. I killed you. You trusted me, and I sent you to your death.” I grabbed handfuls of crunchy, singed ground and squeezed until my palms came back bloody and black.
As I used my sleeve to swipe my eyes, I caught a glimpse of The Man from the night before. I jumped to my feet and searched the tree line but saw no one. My mind flashed back to the black mark The Man left on the desk.
Nothing makes sense... I need to get out of here... I’m losing my mind...
My cell beeped from my pocket. I instinctively pulled out the long-forgotten phone and saw I had a voicemail from Paul. Tears landed on the screen as I pounded the icon with dirty fingers and cursed the slow response. I swiped it across my pant leg and tried again.
The static, disjointed message rattled me to the bone.
“Alec, call...you...this...emergency... I”
And then the message stopped. I’m sure I heard the word emergency, but what was the emergency? Did Paul find something at the plant, or could he have had time to call when he lost control of his car? That didn’t sound possible. My stomach roiled. Oh God. Had he tried to call as he sat trapped in a burning car?
I rushed to the closest living tree and sagged against it in the shade. My tortured body had nothing left to lose, but it heaved anyway.
I had to find out what he was trying to tell me. If it had something to do with the plant, I had to know—and I had to be careful. No one could know about the voicemail. For all I knew, he’d proved his corrupt suspicions about the textile division and was run off the road for it.
The thought sent my overwrought mind into further upheaval. Dizziness made it hard to stand, and unthinkable images of Paul in that fire caused my vision to blur.
Nothing seemed real. I’d lost my mind and my friend. I’d seen my dead mother and some guy wrapped in a storm cloud.
Conspiracy theories rolled through my brain. I was drugged. I was pranked. I was mentally ill.
I was nothing.
I started back to the car. I slammed the car door harder than I should have, and Rachel and I sat in the numbing quiet.
“Here.” She uncapped a bottle of water. “You need this.” She dug in her purse and pulled out a protein bar. “And this. You haven’t eaten and you’re dehydrated and disoriented.”
She was right about that.
She put the water bottle near my lips. “Drink.” She paused. “Do you want me to take you home, or would you like to stay a little longer? Uh... We could get something to eat first. I can stay in one of your guest rooms so I’m close in case you need something. I already have a bag packed in the back of the car. I don’t want you to be alone right now, and if you’ll let me, I would like to be the one that’s there for you.”
I met her warm, inviting gaze. I had longed to hear those words from her for years. An overwhelming desire to gather her toward me took root in my mixed-up mind. I could pull her across that seat and do with her what I wanted. Something compelled me to take what she offered and more—right at that moment.
My mind grew foggier as I reached for her. At the moment we touched, a jolt of electricity drove up my spine and caused me to sit up straight. For the first time since I’d known Rachel, a new desire replaced the old one.
I wanted to resist her. More importantly, I could resist her.
A still, small voice, no more than the hint of a whisper reached my ears from the far corners of my trashed brain. Tell her no, she isn’t what she appears.
I jerked again. Now I was hearing things?
Suddenly, the compulsion ended, my head cleared, and the desire to take all of Rachel departed as quickly as it had come.
I’d become immune to her beauty and her charm, and I only wanted to be alone and mourn the loss of my brother.
“Take me home. I have a lot to do.”
Chapter Eighteen
Alec Williams
The Site of Paul’s Accident
Industrial Corridor – Outside Williams Point, New York
RACHEL APPEARED VISIBLY shocked at my rejection.
She faced forward. “I’ll contact his family for you and get them here.”
“You don’t need to do that. Paul doesn’t have any family. His parents are dead, and he doesn’t have any brothers or sisters. I will go through his contacts and reach out to his other friends. I’ll take care of it.”
Rachel pulled out on to the road to begin the drive back. “Please know that I am sincere when I say that if you need anything, and I mean anything, please let me know.”
She took a hand from the steering wheel and placed it on my left knee. I stared at it for a moment, and the desire to take her raced through me again. I had always wanted her to do that, to feel the warmth of her sweet caress. The jolt to my spine came back stronger and caused my shoulders to tense. The voice in my ear returned as well.
Don’t trust her. She’s not what she appears.
I glanced at her hand and flashed an unwanted look as I twisted away from her in my seat.
She pulled away and attempted a quick smile that just seemed awkward.
She turned her eyes to the road. “I haven’t told anyone in the company yet. I thought you would like to be the one to let everyone know. Everyone really seemed to like Paul.”
“Yes, he was a great friend. I want to be the one to break this news to everyone. I will draft something official tonight, but I know someone somewhere has probably already gotten wind of this. We need to get out ahead of it for the sake of the company.”
“I can help with th—”
“I said I’ll handle it.”
The car ride home seemed to last forever, and I was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. I looked forward to going to sleep in spite of the encounter the night before.
Everything that transp
ired that day was one long nightmare that had no end. If I could go to sleep, maybe everything would be back to normal when I awakened.
Rachel turned up the driveway and stopped at the front door.
“I’m very sorry again about Paul. I wish I would have gotten to know him better.”
That was a total lie. She never liked Paul, and I didn’t want to hear her false sentiment. “I’m going to take some time away from the office.”
“That is a good idea. Again, I just want to say I could keep you company if you’d like.” She paused as if waiting for me to beg her to stay.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Understood. Please contact me later if you need assistance with the press release. I’ll be back to check on you in the morning.”
“That won’t be necessary either.” I unlatched my seatbelt. “Listen to me. You know the company in and out from working with your father, so while I am away, I want you to report everything that goes on to me. Know this: You have no authority to make any decisions or change anything I have put in place. You also can not hire or fire anyone while I am gone. All I want you to do is report to me anything of mention, and you can do this via email. I want to be left alone. I’m not trying to be rude, but I already have everything I need at my home. Do you understand?”
She looked completely deflated. “I understand, Alec.”
“Good. I will be out for the rest of this week and the next. Thank you for the ride.”
“You’re welcome.”
I got out and turned and stuck my head in the car and looked her dead in the eye. I thought she was about to cry. “I meant what I said. Report to me anything of note. This is your chance to show me you have actually changed. I will be watching.”
“Yes, sir.”
I made my way to my office to make myself a drink. As I downed the first of many, my gaze fell on the mark The Man left on the desk.
The glass slipped from my hand. The Man was real, and the evidence of his existence stared me in the face. My meeting with him really happened.
The Man Wrapped in Darkness Page 11
