"Damon? Where have you been, I've worried sick and why haven't you answered my calls?"
"I was laying the trap."
"What?"
"We need to stir the pot as it were, Elena. Somehow we have to find some evidence so I'm going to see if Mason is at the Grill. I'm going to rather casually mention Amber's diary to see if I get a rise out of him. I mean, Richard is his brother and you and I both know that if anything were going on, Mase will immediately go to Richard. "
"I agree Damon but isn't that like dangling the red cape in front of the bull? If Richard has some complicity in her death, he already killed once, maybe even twice. Please don't do this, Damon. It's too dangerous."
"I'll be careful, Elena. What I need you to do is to take the diary to Brady. Just don't tell him about my plan or he'll ruin it."
"Damon, please listen to reason. Let me come with you."
"No, Elena. I need to know that you're safe. Take the diary to Brady so he can lock it up... Oh, and Elena," I start to say, pausing a little to gather my courage, I love you, Elena."
"Damon?" she whispers but doesn't say anymore. All I can hear is her breathing. Taking a breath of my own, I repeat myself.
"It's true and it's been true for a very long time. I have to go. I'll give you a call later. Bye now," I add, clicking off the phone. Even though she didn't say it back, I know my words meant something to her. Our connection is so strong, I could almost feel her if I concentrate hard enough. Elena is so important to me. And I know that despite that she may think that I'm being reckless in this cloak and dagger affair we've gotten caught up in, I know her safety trumps everything else.
I really hope that Elena gets that diary safely to Brady. When I think that it could've been what got Ben killed, I feel goosebumps break out on my skin. Shuddering, I keep my mind focused on the task at hand. Hoping that Mason is here, I pull my car into the grill. After parking it, I make sure it's locked and then walk inside. And as luck would have it, there he is sitting at the bar, talking to Ric. Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and try to maintain an aura of nonchalance when I stroll up to the bar, taking a seat beside him.
"Damon, how are you, buddy?" he asks, giving me a friendly shove to my shoulder.
"Good, Mason. Yourself?"
"I'm doing great. We're raising funds from all over the state for my senatorial bid. I'm giving a speech in Richmond tomorrow. Speaking of Richmond, how's your dad?"
"He's doing great. If things keep improving, he may get discharged in a few days.
"That's good news. I'm glad."
"Me too, Mason, me too."
"But listen, I'll have to go upstairs to meet with some of my biggest donors." Turning to Ric he says, "Keep my place warm, this should only take a half an hour or so."
"I'll do that Mase," Ric says, giving him a nod when Mason goes into one of the back rooms. Rather than raise his suspicions, I visit with Ric a little bit too and then I go to one of the booth in the rear of the bar, near the room that Mason walked into. My booth is tucked back far enough that he won't see me when he exits but I'll be able to keep an eye on him. Needing to kill a little time, I take out my phone to give my dad a call.
"Hello?"
"Hi dad."
"Damon, it's good to hear your voice son. I miss you."
"I miss you too, dad. I'm working on something really important right now. That's why I haven't been over there for a couple of days. How are you?"
"Finn said my blood work looks great. Because of the immunosuppressive drugs that I now have to take, I'm going to have to really be careful with my health, like staying clear of sick people."
"I promise that if I get a cold or the flu, I'll get a motel room if I have to, dad. I'm not ready to lose you."
"I'm not ready for that either, Damon," he says. Taking a breath, I pick up my glass of coke and take a drink. I want to keep a clear head if I'm to play my cards right tonight. When I hear him yawn, I smile.
"You're tired?"
"I am."
"I'll let you go then. I'll give you a call tomorrow, okay?"
"Sounds good, Damon. Goodnight now," he says, then clicks off the phone.
"Night dad," I whisper even though he's no longer on the line. When I shove the phone back in my pocket, I happen to hear Mason's voice again. Glancing over my shoulder, I see him coming out of the room and walking backs towards the bar. Getting up, I start to walk over there, stopping suddenly when someone grabs my arm.
"You're Damon Salvatore?" the guy says.
"Yes, I am. Do I know you?"
"No, but the wife and I watch your show every week. Would you let me buy you a drink?"
"Sure," I agree although I know I will only sip at it. Taking a seat on the opposite end of the bar from Mason, the guy sidles up beside me, taking one of the seats that separate me from Mason.
"I really, really enjoy your show. I really like the creature episodes. They're fascinating."
"Thank you. I really appreciate your support."
"My wife is more interested in the crime files as it were. She used to babysit Amber and Ben Bradley when she was a teenager so naturally she's very interested in a resolution to their cases."
"We are definitely trying to find the killer or killers," I say, although it takes everything in me to keep from looking at Mason.
"My wife is still very close to the Bradley's. She also used to babysit for Aimee. If there's anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Actually we do have some leads that just opened up but we haven't been able to make them public yet. We're in the process of investigating and doing everything we can to make sure they check out. Once we verify its authenticity, we'll put our new evidence on the air."
"That's really good to know," he says, pausing a moment to look at his watch. "I need to get going. Keep up the good work, Damon. I really enjoy your show," he adds, offering me his hand to shake. Taking it, I tell him thank you for the kind words then watch as he walks away. Turning back around to face the bar, I lift my drink to my lips to have a swallow to quench my thirst and steel my nerves.
"Next thing you know, you'll be signing autographs for your fan club to fundraise with," Mason blurts out, laughing.
"You think?" I joke back, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
"I couldn't help but overhear you mentioning new evidence on the Bradley files?"
"Yeah, I actually found Amber's diary. There's some pretty explosive stuff in it," I casually mention, testing the waters.
"Well, I'm sure the parents will be pleased if you can find Ben's killer."
"Indeed they will. They really want the person or persons that killed their children to face the justice system. I really want to be able to resolve this case."
"Not that I had anything to do with the Bradley's but they are constituents and frankly I could use their votes so if there's anything I can do to help, do let me know."
"Actually.. Mason, there may be something you can help me with."
"Sure, name it."
"We want to have Amber's body exhumed to go over the autopsy again. Tobias, Elijah and Richard gave me hell today for mentioning the case at the end of my show. Maybe you could give Richard a nudge?"
"Yeah, I mean it's the least I can do. Do you still have the diary?"
"Yes, I do. It's in a safe place."
"Keep it that way," he adds, his voice cautious.
"Like I said, it's in a safe place."
"Well, Damon, I have to get going, I promised Meredith that I'd be home at a decent time. It's good seeing you, buddy," he says, giving my upper arm another squeeze.
"You too, Mase. And thank you so much. Keep me in the loop will you?"
"I will Damon. I'll try to talk to him tomorrow and then I'll give you a call or stop by the station."
"Sounds good. Bye, Mason." After giving me a tight smile, he says goodbye again and walks out. I watch as he walks past the front plate glass windows before disappearing. Taking a breath, I ask Ric for one beer to help relax my galloping heart. I don't know why I should feel so on edge tonight. Maybe it's because there are people who don't want this case solved whether it's Richard or someone else, I don't know but I do know that I need to watch my back and Elena's too.
"Thanks, Ric," I say when he slides it over to me. I sip on it for a little but when I see what time it is already, I quickly polish it off, tell Ric goodnight and then go outside to hop into my car. Rolling down my window, I drive home. Although I feel fatigued given all that happened today, I need to stay alert. Once I pull into the driveway, I go into the house and directly into the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. When I feel my phone vibrate, I pull it out of my pocket, smiling when I see that it's my grandfather.
"Papa, hi."
"Damon, where have you been?"
"Why do you sound so frantic?"
"Elena called looking for you. Lena said no one knew where you were."
"I stopped to talk to Ric and Mason a little bit. I just got home. I'm making a pot of coffee because I have some work to do yet."
"Elena mentioned to her grandmother that you left in a huff. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Papa, it's fine. Tobias and Elijah were upset with for bringing up the Bradley case at the end of the show."
"I'm aware, I actually watched it tonight. I won't be home, I'm going to stay here at Lena's tonight."
"Papa, don't do anything I wouldn't do," I tease, unable to hold in a laugh.
"Young man, I've seen a lot more action in my sixty six years than you ever will," he taunts. And I can imagine him raising his eye at me.
"TMI, papa," I chuckle.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, papa, I'm perfectly safe. Don't worry about me."
"Before I let you go, are you going to drive to Richmond to see your dad this weekend?"
"That's my plan. I'm hoping Elena will go with me again."
"Lena and I are going to drive over in the morning. We'll see you then."
"Bye papa."
"Goodbye, Damon," he adds before clicking off his phone. When I hear a car pulling up, I go outside to look out of the window. My mouth drops before forming a 'Grinch who Stole Christmas' grin when I see that Mason is here. I quickly take out my phone and shoot off a text to Elena.
"Mission accomplished, Mason just arrived at the boarding house."
After I click send, I turn off my phone again so I won't be bothered. I look up when I hear the door bell ring. Exhaling quickly, I walk over to the door, pull it open and step aside so he can come inside.
"Mason, this is a surprise. I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"I went to speak with Richard. I don't think he's going to cooperate anytime soon, Damon."
"What about you, Mase? You're pretty powerful in your own right. You know people that could give Richard a nudge right?"
"Yes, I do, Damon but tell me, why are you so invested in this? It's not like the Bradley's are the upper echelons of society or anything so what is it?" he asks which raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
"Why don't you tell me how you really feel, Mason. Just because the Bradley's don't run in the same circles doesn't mean they shouldn't get the justice they deserve. Besides..., these parents lost two children. And I believe that in addition to Ben, Amber was murdered too. I don't know how the killer made it appear to be suicide but I don't believe for a minute that she would've killed her child too."
"Why do yo think that? How do you know she even wanted it?"
"Because I've spent a lot of time talking to her parents. They knew her better than anyone."
"Are you sure about that?" he asks, his voice indifferent.
"Yes, I'm sure."
He stares at me for a few moments before walking over to the fireplace and running his hand along the mantle. I watch intently as he picks up a picture of my dad in uniform when he still worked as a cop and looks it over before setting it back down.
"It would be a shame if something happened to your dad, after surviving such a harrowing surgery and all."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, feeling a chill surge up my spine.
"Not a thing, Damon? Why do you suddenly think that Amber was murdered?
"It's just a hunch I have."
"Do you always run families through the wringer based on your hunches?"
"Mason, what are you getting at?
"Not a thing, Damon. Do you have something to drink?"
"Sure, I could use one myself. What'll it be?"
"Vodka if you have some?"
"Of course. I'm a bourbon man myself but my grandpa likes Vodka."
"Good man. I hear he's hot and heavy with Elena's grandmother?"
"Actually they're engaged to be married but with everything that happened with my dad, they had to put their wedding plans on the back burner for now."
"Shame," he says, his voice indifferent.
Staring at me while I pour our drinks, I can't help but think that something is very wrong here. He's acting very strange, very different from when I saw him earlier this evening.
"Mason, you're being very cryptic. Why did you come over here tonight?"
"I want the diary, Damon."
"Why? And why would you think that I'd give it to you?" I ask, my mind going a mile a minute because I think that I may have prematurely judged Richard.
"I won't allow my brother's career to be destroyed by a two bit reporter," he snaps, throwing back what's left in his tumbler. When we're almost toe to toe, he veers off towards the bar, stopping to refill his tumbler.
"Mason, what's really going on here?"
I watch intently as he swallows back another glass of vodka. Pausing long enough to set the glass down, he spins around, his stare menacing.
"Look Damon, I might as well be honest with you. You won't be alive to tell anyone anyway," he laughs, his voice and laugh sinister sounding.
"What?"
"I had the affair with Amber. It was my baby. She was going to expose me which would've meant the end of my career. I couldn't allow her to destroy everything that I've worked so hard for."
"You killed Amber?"
"I did and now sadly you're going to have to die too, my friend," he smiles before continuing, "Somethings aren't meant to be tampered with, Damon. That's the last lesson you're ever going to learn."
Setting his glass down, he starts walking towards me, I take a step back for every step he takes forward until I can't back up any farther. Next thing I know he's trying to force bourbon down my throat. With everything in me, I fight back, giving him a shove. When he loses his balance, falling to his knees, I'm too stunned to even move for a millisecond till I feel the adrenaline start to pump wildly through my veins. Nearly panicked and afraid for my life, I look around for some kind of a weapon. Hurrying over the mantel, I pick up the fireplace poker, brandishing it like a sword. My eyes dart all around him, concerned that he may be concealing a gun or a knife. Standing up, he comes after me again so I make a run for the door. I almost reach it when he grabs onto the scruff of my neck, stopping me in my tracks. Without hesitating, he spins me around and lands a knockout punch to my right jaw. It's enough to make my head spin and my eyes water. Lightheaded and teetering, I crash to the floor. Before I can even try to shake myself out of my stupor, he straddles my middle. With my vision blurred, I can't tell what it is but he has something in his hand.
"I'm sorry it had to end like this buddy, but I can't let you end my career either," he sneers and in the next moment, I feel a sharp prick in my neck. Almost immediately my chest seizes up and I feel like all the air is being sucked from my lungs. I can't move, I can't even blink, I can't scream and I can't breathe. My state of panic reaches def con ten when It hits me right between the eyes... I'm going to die.
Things are looking rather dire for Damon. Starved of oxygen, brain damage starts to occur in mere minutes.
Thank you, Eva. Lots of love and big hugs and thank you for everything you do.
Chapter title: 'My Last Breath' by Evanessence.
My dear friend, Florencia7 updated 'Let There Be Light' a few days ago. It's a great story and she writes DE so beautifully.
'Arms of the Ocean' by insightfuldamon updated recently too. It's a page turner.
Please remember to click the review button. They mean a lot to me.
Be safe and have a lovely day.
