Chapter 164

With nothing but time alone with his thoughts, Will pieced together the events of the past year. Ever since allowing Grace back into his life, everything imploded on him. She was a bomb, detonated to go off and destroy him. Knowing what he knew of Denis now, what had she suffered before running from him? Had he changed her into the crazed, desperate creature she became? Or had that change begun much sooner? Grace was a princess, destined to become the queen. They were going to take over the city together. She would rule at his side.
But as he thought about what that life would have been like, he understood why things would have never worked. She was always going to become what she became. There would be no satisfying her. She would always need more, demand more. No amount of love would ever be enough. He would never have been enough for her. She would have never contributed or enriched his life in anyway and eventually they would have ended up exactly as they did. But sadder still is that he would have denied it.
It was inevitable, this turn of events. He knew that now. His mind was clear, and he saw things with new eyes. Things didn’t seem right. Denis, Ghost… whoever he was hadn’t been this sloppy before. Captain Whitlock said something about reaching his endgame. If that was the case, they had more reason to be scared. Ghost was behaving like a cornered predator. One that was prepared to kick, claw, and kill his way out. There was no way he didn’t know they’d discovered his identity by now. Things were about to come to their dramatic end. He could feel it.
“Alex did well,” Sam said during his visit. “He handled that reporter like a true professional.”
“His wife was coaching him,” Will smiled. “She’s the real genius in that relationship. But yes. He’s got a way with a crowd. Always has.”
“We will get you out of here,” Sam assured, noticing the subdued way Will spoke. “Your Emma assisted greatly with gathering information. She helped prove your innocence in the bombing. And I heard that she and Alex are also going to assist in the purchase of the land parcel.”
“Yes, she is amazing,” Will smiled.
“What’s wrong, William?”
“Something just feels wrong,” he said. “It’s too easy.”
“That’s interesting. Damon was just expressing similar sentiments. Let me fetch him.” After a few moments, Sam returned with Captain Whitlock a few paces behind him.
“You smell it too, huh?” the captain asked.
“Yeah. It was such a half assed plan. For someone who has never been seen at all, why would he risk something like that?”
“It feels like a taunt,” the captain agreed.
“But why would he take such drastic measures for a mere taunt?” Sam asked.
“Why indeed,” the captain said. “Ghost is someone who plays the long game. He knows every possible outcome of any moves he makes.”
“What could he have hoped to gain from such a stunt?”
“Well, let’s back track. After the bombing, what happened? Will was locked up and accused of terrorism. But there was no way those charges would stick. He had to have known that. It took some time to gather evidence because he had the foresight to tamper with the station’s CCTV footage. But not Big Sal’s. Maybe he wanted to have locked up and out of the way. But what for? What could possibly…”
All three men looked up at each other. Their eyes wide with realization.
“The land grab,” Will whispered. “If his whole intent is to destroy me, this was all a diversion so that I would lose that land and Stewart Industries would go under!”
“And we played right into his fucking hands!” the captain shouted. “Shit! We have to get you out of here!”
There was still tons of red tape they had to cut through. If they released Will now, both men would be without a job.
“He’s going to buy up that land, probably try and kill you, and then flee to Costa Rica.”
“Well then, gentlemen. I do believe we should keep our voices down,” Sam whispered. “There may be some sort of informant about. Eyes and ears within the walls.”
“That’s true,” the captain motioned for the men to scoot closer towards the cell door. “Here is my plan. I’m going to say that you two are pressing charges for how Will was treated and unjustly accused and arrested without any evidence. That should move the formal release along. I’d be surprised if we don’t get the green light to spring you before the end of the day.”
“Good plan. I’ll make an official statement,” Sam said.
“Perfect. I’m going to wait until the graveyard shift to release you. If there is anyone in here that’s watching for Ghost, they’d want to be in here when there are the most people about. It’s easier to blend in that way.”
“That’s why you’re the best,” Will smirked.
“And don’t you forget it. If either one of sense something’s wrong, we’ll need a signal. A code. That’ll be our cue to get the hell out and get Will to safety.”
“It’s haunted,” Will said. “That’ll be the code. ‘It’s haunted’.”
“Nice play on words. That’s the code. If any one of us hears that, we get Will out and run. But we have to make sure and do it discreetly. Make it seem like it’s protocol.” Captain Whitlock slid a key over to Sam. “This will unlock the cell. Only use it to get him out if it’s emergency. Otherwise, let me be the one to let him out. Will, if someone other than either one of us lets you out, run. I will not instruct anyone other than Sam to let you out. Understand?”
“Understood,” Will nodded.
“I’ll get to work on that right away.”
The two older man left Will alone on his cell. Despite the adrenaline he felt pumping in his veins, keeping up a silent and stoic façade was easy. It had been his default setting for years.
He sat back on the bench and tried to distract himself with thoughts of a shower and a change of clothes. Stubble began to sprout on his cheek. Emma would demand he shave again.
“Excuse me,” he heard an argument erupt towards the front of the station. “You can’t go back go there.”
“You are no one to tell me what I can and cannot do!” A shrill voice countered. That voice sent waves of nausea through Will. It was probably the last voice on earth he wanted to hear. But if she was there, that could only mean one thing.
“Do you have any idea who we are?” a man’s voice added. Fuck. Both of them. The commotion went on for about another minute. The man and woman broke through the gaggle of officers that tried to stop them and pushed their way towards Will’s cell.
“What the fuck are you two doing here?”
“That is no way to speak to your parents!” Julia screeched. “We came all this way to see you and make sure that you’re okay and this is the reception you give us? Such an ungrateful child!”
“For the love of…” Will ran his hands through his hair to keep from punching her through the bars. “Cut the damn act. Why are you here? How did you even know I was here?”
“Whether you like it or not, you’re our son,” Franklin said, deadpan and monotone as usual. “We received a letter and were informed you were incarcerated for killing an officer.”
“I see,” Will scoffed. “You’re next in line for the company. You want to be sure I get locked up so you can break into your piggy bank and get your payday.”
“Nonsense! We were merely concerned about you.”
“Holy shit,” he laughed. “Listen to me and get this through you thick skull. I. do. Not. Believe. You. You aren’t fooling anyone. The only thing I ever meant to either of you was dollar signs.”
As he was speaking, a thought occurred to Will. A way to capture Ghost and to be out his parents for who they were once and for all.
“Someone has to lead, and it’s clear that you are unfit to do it,” Franklin smirked. “I suppose I will have to take on the burden of being the CEO now.”
“Oh no, poor you. Don’t expect any help from me,” he quipped. Sam approached them.
“You two are not on the approved visitation list. I’ll need to ask you to leave.”
“We just wanted to see him again, before he’s sent off to prison,” Julia dabbed her crocodile tears with a handkerchief. “I’ll never know where I went so wrong.”
“I do hope the prison guards don’t harm you too much. But I do suppose you’ll be met with some sort of vigilante justice there. Then perhaps that cocky attitude of yours will be taken care of.”
“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” Will walked up to them slowly and made a show of wrapping his fingers around the bars. “Me out of the way, and your hands as far as possible from it.”
Captain Whitlock watched the exchange from his office. His phone was in his hand, with Alex on the line who was listening to the conversation.
“What are you insinuating?” Julia huffed, her nose in the air.
“You didn’t receive a letter. You knew I was in here. You probably helped. You were probably in on the plan the entire time. The only reason you’re here is because Robert didn’t leave you anything either when he died. And the only way to secure your payday is through me. But you couldn’t sit and wait. You needed to come over here and try to tell the world what wonderful parents you’ve been. So that when I die, no one will suspect you of anything.”
“How dare you!” she grasped at her pearls with the most show of indignation. “What wild accusations! We would never do such a thing! All I have ever done is my best to raise you!” She was getting louder and louder. “To stand there and accuse us of working with that man… why it’s preposterous!”
Franklin’s eyes went wide at her words. Bingo.
“Your father and I may not have been perfect—
“Julia—”
“We did our best to teach you right from wrong!”
“Julia—”
“And then you have the gall to accuse us of being accomplices to that man, especially after what did to your uncle…”
“JULIA—” Franklin roared. “Shut up!”