Chapter 39: I want you to know the truth Part2.
Kai’s POV:
The helicopter flight from South Bay to North Bay was just over 40 minutes. A far cry difference than driving. We landed at one of my family ports and immediately got into the SUV. Ramone pulled out of the garage and headed straight for the restaurant we were set to meet Tyler’s informant at. He’d set up a meeting at a restaurant my family owned called Velta. Cameron booked one of the VIP rooms, we needed to make sure we had complete privacy. I wasn’t sure who this ‘mole’ was, but I needed to make sure they could be trusted.
“We’ll be at our destination in 10 minutes sir.”
Ramone announce taking me out of my personal thoughts.
“I just received a text from my informant; she just arrived at the restaurant.”
She?
So, his informant was a woman.
I nodded at both men as we grew closer to our destination.
“So, are we going to interrogate this informant?”
Tyler let out a light chuckle. I’m sure for Doug and Parys this all seemed like something out of some soap opera.
“No, she’s a willing informant. She actually came to us. Well…she came to your mom first.”
???????
What!!!
I stared at Tyler in disbelief.
“MY mom? What do you mean? Who is this lady??”
Before Tyler could answer, Ramone announced we’d just arrived at the restaurant.
We all stepped out of the car; as Ramone handed the keys to the valet, I looked around the area. It had been years since I’d been to North Bay. For some reason, I had an instant bad taste in my mouth. It was as if the hell Gracie went through was rooted into the air here making it unbearable to breath. I wanted this to be over as quickly as possible so that I could get back home.
Cameron had me put a medical face mask on so that no one would recognize me before entering the restaurant. As we made our way to the hostess table, a small man greeted us with a smile.
“Welcome to Velta, do you have a reservation.”
Cameron handed the host his phone so that he could verify the specialized reservation. The man’s face instantly lit up when he saw we’d booked the VIP room.
“Y-Yes! We’ve been expecting you and your party Mr. Lewis! One of your guests have already arrived. We sent her to the room already. Is that alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”
The man smiled nervously as he led us to the VIP on the second floor.
As we all entered the room, Cameron thanked the host and provided him with a hefty tip.
“T-Thank you!!! Thank you so much!”
Everyone walked over to the table, the room was dim lit, but I could still see the middle aged woman sitting in the corner. She stared out of the window as everyone sat down. Even without makeup and expensive clothing, she was attractive. But there was a hardness to her face and the lines around her somber eyes told a 1000 tales. Maybe this would be tale 1001. Tyler and I walked over to her, she turned her head slowly; smiling while making eye contact. As she stood, she began to speak.
“Mr. Green, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Tyler shook the woman’s hand while exchanging greetings. She turned to me and smiled warmly.
“And you are?”
I took my mask off exposing my stern expression. Extending my hand, I replied.
“I’m Kai Christiansen; Graceland Teagues’ fiancé.”
The woman’s eyes widen with shock. I wasn’t sure what Tyler told her, but he clearly hadn’t told her ‘I’ would be the one meeting her today.
“K-Kai…Chris….how…I thought you…”
“As you can see, I’ve made a full recovery.”
“Yes…I can see that.”
She stared at me with a shocked expression; Tyler cleared his throat to grab our attention.
“Kai…this is Zelma Fynch. The Rochesters’ head maid.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!!! Their head maid!! SHE was the one that exposed the Rochesters? Why?
As if reading my mind, she smiled lightly.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions Lord Christiansen. When you’re ready, I’d be happy to explain myself.”
I looked at Tyler who nodded his head in agreement. Trusting his judgement, I gestured for Zelma Fynch to head to our table.
Doug and Parys stood up as she walked over.
“Ms. Fynch, this is Douglas Craimer and Parys Marquette.”
Her eyes widen once more, she’d clearly heard of each family. I understood her nervousness; she was currently in the room some of the world’s most prominent and powerful families. There wasn’t much House Christiansen couldn’t do or have access too. I’d hoped she understood the severity of the situation.
As we all took our seats, four waiters entered the room to take our orders. We all ordered drinks, but I handed a lunch menu to Ms. Fynch.
“This is one of the best restaurants in North Bay Ms. Fynch. It’d be a crime not to try their dining.”
She took the menu from me, hands slightly shaking. She was scared. Good.
After detailing the menu, she settled on a cuisine chicken dish. I allowed her a few more moments to settle before I began my interrogation.
“Ms. Fynch, my associate has already shown me the report as well as informed me much of what you told him. So, we don’t have to start from the beginning. I wanted to meet you face to face because I wanted to know the face of the person willing to put themselves at risk for my fiancé.”
“Obviously there is some skepticism on my end, you are the Rochesters’ head maid after all. So, I need to know…why are you doing this?”
She smiled lightly at me.
“Mr. Christiansen…have you ever seen the light dim from a person’s eyes? As if all the promise those eyes held, suddenly faded into an abyss?”
I was confused by her question; but nodded no. She scoffed slightly.
“Well, I have. A twelve year old little girl was told she would be reunited with her long-lost family. When she arrived, her eyes were filled with love, excitement, happiness. Promise. Over the years however, I watched those same beautiful eyes slowly dull, sink, and disappear.”
I didn’t need a crystal ball to know she was speaking of Gracie. That family had damn nearly destroyed her.
“And then…one day I saw a fire in that same girl’s eyes. A fire that screamed they weren’t going to destroy her! A resolve to fight!”
She slammed her hand slightly on the table and took a deep sigh.
“I recognized that look Mr. Christiansen. I recognized it because I’d had once had that same resolve….When my father decided I was to be payment for HIS debts. I realized it was either fight…or die.”
We all sat in silence, I couldn’t begin to imagine what this woman experienced in her youth.
“The Rochesters…they saved me. Gave me salvation. I came to Kingston with nothing. No education, no money, no real experience. Every job I applied too…they all turned me down. Until I applied for a maid’s position for one of North Bay's most affluent households. I knew they were going to tell me no. Tell me I had no experience. Turn me away like the others. Instead, for reasons I’ll never know…Mrs. Rochester decided to give me a chance.”
Her voice was wrapped in guilt as she spoke of her employers. Obvious confliction for her betrayal.
“I was loyal to them. For over 25 years…I was loyal! I loved my employers; I loved their children. And even with their imperfections….I loved my job. Because it gave me my freedom.”
I stared at Zelma Fynch with a puzzled expression. If she felt this way…why was she here.
“Ms. Fynch, I appreciate you for sharing this with me…but I have to ask. If THIS is how you feel...why are you her-”
“Because they were going to do to her what my father tried to do to me! Sell her!!”
She cut me off before I could finish my question, the tears began to stream down her face. I could see the pain in her eyes.
“Even after everything that poor child did. All the humiliation she endured…trying to get that family to love her…it still wasn’t enough! They treated her like cattle instead of a daughter. I’d watched it for over seven years Mr. Christiansen. I watched that light dim…”
Parys handed her a napkin so that she could wipe her tears.
“But then…then one day…there was…that shine!!! It was slowly coming back...and there was just no way I could watch them destroy it again. So, you see…I HAD to help her!”
I nodded my head to her response. I understood. Suddenly, Parys spoke.
“Ms. Fynch…I don’t doubt your words…they are filled with an emotion I’ve never experienced. Thank you for that. But I hope you understand; Gracie is our family…she means a great deal for a lot of reasons. How do we know we can trust you?”
She looked at Parys with a warm expression and smiled.
“Because we all want the same thing…for Graceland to have Justice.”
My eyes widen; she was right. Everyone is this room wanted one thing above everything else…Justice for Gracie.