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Chapter 143 — The Wedding Bells
Christy and Jimmy were still sitting in the living room when Mason and Mary returned at home. Mary embraced her younger sister and sat down beside her on the sofa. Mason sat on the chair and Jimmy got on the couch next to Christy.
"I have the plan," Jimmy said, his eyes shining. "I'll hiding in the house and catch one who poses as Steve's ghost."
"It is unlikely that anything will come of this," Mason frowned. "Yes, you enough know the house but clearly the villain do also."
"What do you suggest?" Mary asked.
"Start with the personality of the pursuer. Christy, you must have a lot thought about him. May be you hears something familiar in his voice?"
"What? No, I do not. Not considering the similarities with Steve's tone," she admitted awkwardly. "Yes, I've thought about it. And I want to go back home! It goes against me if someone wants to force me out of my house. And the voice of Steve creeps. "Chri-esty... whe-ere... a-are... yo-ou..." she mournfully recited.
"This is perhaps the most inexplicable," Mary said. "If it's really Steve's voice... so who and when recorded these words? Why would he say that? Chris, you do not remember heard these?"
"No," Christy shook her head.
"But do you sure that it was his voice?" Mason persistently asked.
"Yes!" Christy blushed and turned away.
"Okay, can you describe it? What's kind of the tone? Joyful, sad, angry?"
Christy frowned, trying to remember as accurately as possible.
"He... a little hoarse... and as if he pulls words... like being drunk. But he never said me words like these. He always tried to intimidate me," she winced.
Jimmy moved up and rubbed her shoulders.
"We have a few opportunities," Mason stated. "First we can try to track down the villain. Although it will be difficult because the size of the estate. Quite possibly this man knows some ins and outs."
"And what else?" Christy asked. She did not see any another option.
"We can research people who were around Bassett. I already requested his file. Whoever he had to deal with Steve and talk him for a long time."
"One does not interfere. We can use both ways," Jimmy summed up. "I'll surveillance and Mason can hit the documents. One of these options must work out."
All agreed but Christy still did not like the idea have Jimmy alone in the house, vulnerable, open to attack.
However Mason offered the more rational way. He said that they must find the plan of the house and systematically search it. To check for any secret passage also.
"And you should still live with us yet," Mary said to her sister. "It's safer."
"For me. What about Jim and Mason?"
"No one follows us," Mason said. "No, Christy, this man obviously wants you."
Christy's shoulders dropped. She felt as if she were lead to execution. Mary tried to comfort her but no avail. Her younger sister gone to shell again.
* * *
In the next day Mason and Jimmy found out the plans of Jean Do (they turns out its name of the house). Jimmy was about to take the first floor but after long researching Mason stated that it's newer plans. They need to find older ones. There are the ruins of the some secret passage but it is not fully shown. As Jimmy's the next step was the Municipal Archive as Mason decided to visit Cruz.
"Eden asked you to come here?" Cruz asked with pretty grim.
"No," Mason frowned. "What's the matter?"
"Never mind. Do you want ask something?"
"Yes. What's the mess with McCormick? I hope that my mother did not suffer."
"Your... mother?" Cruz stared at him.
"Pamela Capwell Tonnell is the first wife of my father and my mother," Mason impatiently gestured. "So what was happened yesterday?"
Cruz staring at him for a moment and then flushed.
"The wife of Anthony Tonnell is your mother? Why did you tell me nothing earlier?" he snapped.
"Our family relationships do not concern you. So about my mother?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Tonnell are alright. That's all that I am authorized to say."
"McCormick?"
"He's dead."
"Can I see his dead body?"
"No.
"Why?"
"Mason, why do you want to do?"
"I want to be sure in his death. Previously it was rumored that he become food for worms but it was false. I want to be sure that he will not bother us anymore."
"FBI involved," Cruz gave an incomprehensible look. "They want to take his body."
"But it is still in Santa Barbara, is not it? Do me a favor--"
"Mason, he's dead. Dead like stone. I saw how he was killed."
"Cruz--"
He sighed.
"Well, I will try to do something."
"Thank you, Cruz."
* * *
Mason returned home just as Jimmy returned from the archive. They compared the plans and found that the secret passage surrounds the whole house's perimeter. It starts from the unnoticed door in the rear of the house and ended near the kitchen. It allows getting in almost every room of the first floor.
"We may chase him for weeks and all the same, he'll escape from us!" Jimmy threw away the pencil in frustration.
"I can offer something," Christy said after pausing. "Just shut the passage and that's that!"
"It may still be useful to us," Mason shook his head. "No, it's better to call the cleaners and to bug it under that guise so we will be able to trace if someone uses the passage."
"I wonder where our pursuer knows about it," Mary said thoughtfully. "Even we had to digging in the archive to find out."
"New plans were kept in the house. Perhaps he does not know the whole passage's way."
"Maybe--"
But Mary frankly doubted. She still had the feeling that Christy's pursuer was someone familiar with their family. She mentally went over all the family friends but no one seemed to her a suitable candidate.
She tried to ask her sister, but Christy shook her head: "It's just some crazy man!"
Mason and Jimmy have the same opinion.
Eden and Cruz's wedding day comes. Mary was wrapped up in Capwell's house doing last-minute preparations. Charlie and Brandon hanging around and getting in way.
Mason spent in the office for the whole day; with his bad luck he just got full hands of business contracts. But he manages to be in time and even bid farewell his younger sister just before the official ceremony.
"I thought you'd change your mind and run away at the last minute," he ironically said. "It seems to me that you did not put up with traditions, Eden."
"Well, you also not so far gone from traditions, Mason. Although as I can recall it's was you who solemnly swear that you'll prefer to skydive than to standing at the altar."
"I think I was completely drunk then."
Mary giggles.
"I can not imagine that someone want to be married jumping with a parachute."
"Yes and kiss the bride must be uncomfortable," Mason kissed her cheek. "Well, I and you fortunately had no such problems."
"What for to kiss the bride?" Charlie's head popped up.
"When you get married so you will know," Eden laughed and strictly asked: "You have the ring?"
"Here!" Charlie presses his palm to the pocket.
"Charlie, have you seen Chip and Sam?" Mary worried. She left Mickey in the nursery where the nurse had to change him to the official suit but the older kids just slipped away on the sly.
"Yes! They are begging Rosa for cookies!"
Mason raised his hand and looked at his watch.
"All right, so soon my little sister will fly out of the nest," he kissed Eden in the cheek. "Be happy! Promise?"
"I promise," Eden hugged him back and quickly walks away toward the gazebo.
Mason turned around and goes to meet Mary who was carrying Mickey in a black tuxedo and led by the hand Chip. Samantha ran skipping on the other her side.
"Come on," Mason took Mickey on his hands and Samantha immediately grabbed Mary's free hand. With the arrival new baby brother she was deeply annoying by the lack third hand of her mom. Like Chip did.
The ceremony went perfectly. Just Mickey was trying to move on his grandfather's knees all the time but Mason kept him successfully.
Finally the priest pronounced the sacramental: "By the authority given to me by the State of California, I now pronounce you are husband and wife. Kiss each other, my children."
Charlie presses his palm against Samantha's eyes. She angrily threw his arm away.
"Uncle Charlie, I see nothing!"
Mason clearly hemmed and Mary glared at him.
The ceremony was followed by a flurry of congratulations and the celebration. When Eden and Cruz departed to their Hawaii honeymoon Kelly suddenly noticed the absence of Brandon. He attended at the ceremony but after nobody saw him.
However the mystery was solved quickly. Brandon was found in one of guest rooms and he was with Gina. CC firmly shoved his ex-wife out and ordered Brandon to go to his room.
"Lord, why you cannot let them to see each other even today!" Mason could not resist looking after the sad little boy. "What do you want to do? To break him apart?"
"Gina is bad for Brandon and you well know about," CC said.
"She loves him! For God's sake why you're forcing him to sneaking around just to see his own mother?"
"If Gina really loves him she can find a job. You aware why I took Brandon from her. She owed his school more than six months!"
"And you did not bother to help her."
"Help Gina? Of course I did not."
"Father, if you would continue to go on, I will have to apply to the court in the interests of Brandon. Yes, you got custody but you can not forbid the boy to see his mother."
"I can if I think it's in his best interest."
"It is unlikely that the court will accept your arguments like these."
"Mason, what you're doing? Do you want to go against the family? And be moved from your company position?"
"Not against the family but against you. I do not want to but I want not to watch how you're breaking Brandon.'
"Mind your own business and nobody gets hurt."
CC walked past Mason and disappeared into the deep of his study. Mason silently cursed.
"Are you okay?" Mary came to him. "Did they find Brandon?"
"Yes. He was found. Are you ready to go?"
"Not quite yet, I just need to change Mickey--"
The knock on the door of CC's study. The patriarch irritably raised his head.
"Come in."
The door opened and Charlie appeared. CC's sight softened.
"What's the matter? I 'm busy right now."
"Sir... I mean, father... I want to ask you... Allow Brandon to back to his mother."
"Charlie, Brandon lives here and there are reasons for. This adult's business. Go to the bed."
"No!" Charlie tensed like waiting for the jump. "Why you keep them apart! I'd give anything to be back to my mom. Just she does not want me! She left me forever! Brandon's mom loves him!" his voice soared. "Allow her to take him, please!"
"Charlie, go to your room," CC voice sound steady but firm. "Brandon's mother has some shortcomings about you do not aware. So you're continued to live with your ??brother."
"Father, please!" Charlie's lips trembling, but he's manages. "Why do you hurt him?"
"Nobody hurts. Charlie, go to sleep. You do not have much time before starting your school."
"Come on," Mason quietly said from the door. "It's useless, Charlie."
He cocked his head and stared at CC. Mason thought the boy would give in but to his surprise that CC Capwell was one who looked away. But he said nothing. Charlie turned and walked out the door.
Mason put the completed contract on the table before his father and without any words went out after Charlie. The boy's leaning against the wall hiding his face and his shoulders shaking with silent tears.
Mason patted his youngest brother on the shoulder. The boy turned his tear-stained face to Mason.
"Why he is like that?" Charlie breathed. "He does not care! About me and Brandon, about everybody! He's like a stone!"
"He is CC Capwell," Mason winced. "Come on."
He takes his brother by the hand and led downstairs. Charlie jerks in surprise.
"The father said to my room."
"I thought it was better for you to spend the night with me and Mary. I'll let Sophia to know, I'm sure she will not mind."
Charlie beamed and with all haste run to the car. Mason sighs and goes to his stepmother. He just told her about the conversation between the father and his youngest son and informed that he takes Charlie to his own home. Sophia agreed that it would be better.
The road to home was not easy: tired kids was fussing, Charlie was grimly silent. Clenching his teeth Mason driving and thinks that his father crossed the line and he must use forcible means. Mary can see his face and decides not to ask about. And very soon becomes clear that his bad mood have something with CC.
At home they have full hands to put to sleep children but with Mrs. Rold's help finally all four children were gone to the beds. Even Charlie fall sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Mary walks downstairs and sees Mason who had the glass of brandy in his hand. She silently poured the same for herself and blissfully sank onto the couch.
"Tired?" Mason sat down near.
"Dreadful. Today the kids were absolutely unbearable. Mason, what was happened? Why you took Charlie?"
"My brother decided to show his generosity and put in a word for Brandon. Asked my father to allow Brandon go back to Gina. As you can guess CC Capwell did not bear for being pointed by some little boy.
"And you wisely decided to hide him here?"
"It's not just about Charlie. No news that my father uses Brandon as the weapon against Gina. But today he outdid himself."
"You and he had a fight?"
"I said that I was going to sue him in court in defense of Brandon."
"And you really go to do?" Mary tried to understand his reaction.
"Play against CC Capwell can have unfortunate consequences," Mason got up and walks to the window.
"But you already played against his father earlier."
"Then I had nothing to lose," he turned his head toward her. "And now I have you, and Mike, and Chip and Sammy."
"And Charlie. But in fact you are thus Mason Capwell. It's not you if you not tried to help Brandon."
"Do you realize that we can find out us in the doghouse then?"
"I'm not afraid of your father."
"Do you think you can stop him if he wants to destroy me?"
"Mason, he is your father."
"He is CC Capwell. And he hates me for a long time."
"Do not be silly. He loves you."
"Yeah, just adores," Mason smiled bitterly. "Okay, it's all meaningless."
"Did you already make ??the decision?"
"Tomorrow. Tonight I have other plans."
"And what's?"
"Oh, all sorts. Very, very various... Very, very--"
"Mason, shut up! And kiss me--"
"Our desires agree," Mason muttered in her ear. "But it's better to doing them in the bedroom. We would not want to shock Mrs. Rold."
"You're right--"
"I'm always right--"
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