Web of Deception

The New York sky glittered past the penthouse office floor-to- ceiling windows of Harding Businesses. James Harding stood erect with his silver hair precisely coiffered as he stared out over the city he hoped to picture. Loaded with vibrant reporters and glittering cameras, he headed to face the room. James started, his deep voice capturing attention, "Today, I stand before you not just as a businessman but also as a citizen worried for the future of our great city."

That is the reason I am announcing my US Senate nomination. The room radiated love and camera streaks grew stronger. From the sidelines, James' son Alex praised, his emerald eyes scanning the crowd. He wore a perfectly cut suit, every inch reflecting child and efficient COO. James continued his speech, outlining his vision for a safer, sans drug New York, and Alex's thoughts wandered. He considered the other outfit he would wear tonight when he turned into another person entirely in his storage room. "The medication pandemic is destroying our networks," James said fervuously. "As your senator, I swear to end this threat from our streets!"

Alex let out a sigh.

Want his father had known the truth. Father and son withdrew to James' private room following the Q&A session. "That worked out favorably, wouldn't you say?" Pouring two glasses of scotch, James asked. Alex said, "Totally, Father," sipping the drink. "You take care of this." James shook his son's shoulder. "I couldn't have done this without Alex.

Your assistance is quite useful. Alex grinned as he drove the guilt out of his reach. Father, constantly. I will act in the required way to help you to win." Alex left his sleeping girlfriend Sarah behind as he snuck out of his luxury apartment as evening fell. He headed toward an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, throwing off his fancy suit for unremarkable dark clothing. Inside he met a bunch of stern men. One among them nodded politely and answered, "Ghost."

Now totally suited as "The Ghost," the mysterious drug lord, Alex walked to the head of the table. He asked, "Report." Alex's mind flew while his lieutenants reported back on their activities. Under his direction was the exact illegal behavior his father had pledged to stop. He still felt the difference. Sarah Harding slumped over her workspace in a crowded police area across town, surrounded by blurry reconnaissance pictures and case papers. Her blonde hair was tied up in a haphazard ponytail and black rings lined her eyes. "Again, Harding, burning the midnight oil?" her friend, criminal agent Mike Rodriguez, questioned as he dropped a fresh espresso right in front of her. Sarah looked heavenward, thankfully. "Apologize, Mike.

I feel as though I am approaching something important. On her computer window, she pointed to a fuzzy picture. "This is the closest we have seen thus far with an obvious chance for "The Phantom." Should we be able to only identify him, we will fully disclose this whole scenario." Leaching in, Mike stared at the picture. "It still seems somewhat confused.

How could you be sure this is even his?" Looking determined through her blue eyes, Sarah "Call that gut. Though he has been three steps ahead of us for years, this man is getting more bold. At last he will make a mistake. Alex texted Sarah saying, "Working late again?" while she was talking. You miss me. Keep in mind dinner with Father tomorrow night. Sarah grinned, writing out a quick answer before returning to work. She didn't know the man she was hunting and the man she loved were the same man.

Alex closed the assembly back in the stockroom. "Keep a low profile for the next few weeks," he told his staff. "This Senate race is going to get quite hot. Any mistakes are unacceptable to us financially." Alex's right-hand woman, Elena Vasquez stayed behind when his men left. "Boss, are you sure on this? Your father's campaign is going to complicate things. Alex tightened his teeth. "Eleanor, I underlie control over it. Just keep yourself on target." Elena nodded, but her eyes suggested doubt. " ghosts, whatever you say."

Alex's head spun with the complexity of his triple life as he progressed home in the pre-first light hours. He was a loving son who supported his father in realizing his political ambitions. He was Sarah's loving boyfriend and backed her law enforcement path. He also went by "The Ghost," the most feared and elusive drug kingpin in the city. How long could he keep this many plates spinning at any one time? Just as Alex was getting back into bed, Sarah's alarm rang. She stood up, looking sleepily at him. " Hello, you!

When first entered?

He lied easily, "Just a little while ago." "A big work effort. The state of your case is what? Sarah had glitter in her eyes. "We seem almost at a breakthrough here. This might be the best bust of my career." Alex kept his face calm even though his heart was racing. "That's just great, honey. That makes me glad for you. Alex lie in bed looking at the roof while Sarah got ready for work. He thought of his father's fervent anti-drug speech, Sarah's relentless search of "The Ghost," and his own business based on the same thing they both sought to eradicate. Later that morning, Alex looked over campaign plan papers in his Harding Industries office. One of his street-level dealers sent a note on his phone, "Feds closing in on the east side operation." Need fast extraction.

Alex's finger danced over the phone. His words might either save his troops or send them to the authorities. Which is it? The selfless Ghost, the loyal son? Before he could decide, he got a knock at his door. James came shining. "Alex, dear! Your child My just meeting with the Police Commissioner was rather interesting. We have found the right story for our severe on-wrongdoing stage, I believe. Alex grinned, his phone feeling like a live wire in his hand. "That's amazing, dad. Please let me know about it. Alex felt the walls of his neatly constructed life start to close in as James sent off into a world of increased police presence and tougher condemning rules.

His father's political ambitions, Sarah's research, and his own criminal empire were all running counter to each other. Someone would have to give something. Be that as it may, what? At what cost as well? Looking at the grainy picture of "The Ghost" in the precinct, Sarah had a gnawing feeling in the rear of her head. One of home was reminded of by the man's stance and his set of shoulders. She shook her head to discount the idea. Her judgment was being distorted by the obsession of the case. Her phone rang; Alex answered. "Hello, dear. Keep in mind that today dinner with Dad will be at seven. He has to look over wedding plans.

Forgetting her prior worry, Sarah grinned. I'm here right now. Please love you. Sarah went back to the picture on her screen as she hung it. The hazy picture seemed to sharpen for a short second to reveal a pair of shockingly matching green eyes. Sarah hesitated; the second passed. As the picture went back to its previous blurry state, she felt a residual discomfort that she couldn quite shake. Sarah had no idea; her life was about to flip upside down.

She would never have imagined the lines separating affection, constancy, and justice blurting in behavior. As the sun sank below New York City, three folks were getting ready for a family supper. Every one of them harbored secrets that would wipe out their world. James Harding rehearsed his campaign speeches while blissfully unaware of the conflict developing inside his own family. Driven to crack the toughest case of her career, Sarah Harding gathered her case notes. And Alex Harding looked in the mirror, considering which of himself would have dinner tonight. The scene was made for an effect of worlds. Who might be left standing in the ring of veils and secrets when truth at last became visible?

James' penthouse's lavish dining room set the scene for the Harding family meal. Crystal lights lit the mahogany table, which included exquisite cuisine the guests hardly touched. The environment was tense even if everything seemed normal. James held out his wine glass, eyes shining. "To family and the fate of our wonderful city." Sarah and Alex, who clinked their glasses, reflected the emotion.

Alex watched Sarah's eyes while they drank. Something fleeting: uncertainty? Before fading under her blue eyes of mistrust? "So, Sarah," James said, setting down his fork. "Alex tells me you're almost at a Ghost case success. Would you kindly forward any information to your forthcoming father-in- law? Sarah stopped and peered at Alex. "Well, it's all somewhat covert, but we managed to reach one of the Ghost's lesser-level activities.

We want it to push ourselves up the command ladder." Around his knife, Alex's hand grew just perceptibly tight. "Wow, honey, that is really great. You'll find this person in a second." James nodded kindly. "Wonderful, Sarah. If we have committed police like you on the force, my anti-drug efforts will really have a chance to clean this city. Alex's mind flew when the talk turned toward campaign tactics and wedding preparations. He had to fast alert his people. But how can he explain his actions without drawing attention?

Destiny stood in for his phone humming. Alex grinned and quickly looked at the screen. "sorry; I have to accept this. Crisis at the job. He stood and kissed Sarah on the cheek before walking out onto the balcony. When Alex was by himself, he changed. The loved son and committed fiancé had left. Low and frightening, the Ghost stood in his place. "Which of 'hide out's' parts was unclear?" From the other end, the voice shook. "Boss, we tried but the feds raided our east side warehouse, so we couldn't." They brought Mikey and a few others.

Alex's thoughts hummed, weighing promise against tragedies. "begin the Zeta Protocol." I want everyone off the grid inside the hour. See if Mikey talks as well. Alex ended the talk, inhaled fully, and shook off the Phantom's mantle. Grinning, he went back to sit with his family. "Everything alright, young one?" James asked. Alex said, "Just a hiccup with our Tokyo branch," lying naturally. "I have nothing I can handle." Early the next morning Alex arrived to Harding Industries.

Genuinely working as COO, he spent the first hour carefully reading reports and answering calls. As it happened, he fled to a secret area behind his office as the workplace begged to life around him. Here, among scattered PCs and burner phones, Alex became the Phantom. He looked over data from his network as he assessed the damage from the operation. Though he would have to fix the releases quickly, it could have been more unfortunate. His office door banged on shocked him back to reality.

Alex returned to his work area rather quickly after finding the secret door. His coworker entered. "Mr. Harding, your dad's mission supervisor is hovering about for your 10 AM." Alex nodded and then changed gears once again. "Refund him." Alex moved between his several parts with ease, this cycle continuing all day. By late night, he had averted an emergency in his medicine field, guided his dad's most recent mission elevation, and shockingly figured out how to send Sarah roses "for no obvious reason." Still, the strain was building. Alex's phone rang as he left the office, Elena's message urgent. "We own a mole. Meeting this evening at shared spot.

Sarah slumped over her desk across town, surrounded by case files. Knowing the raid had turned up important information, she could sense the Ghost's neck becoming slackened. "Hardsiness!" Her skipper swung out his arm. "Suddenly, my office." Sarah rushed in, pulse thumping. Had she done anything improper? The captain's austere manner relaxed to a rare smile. "Wow, investigator, on the attack. About the Ghost's inner group, we have firm knowledge. I'm expanding your task team. You possess everything you need.

Excitement drove Sarah back into her study with fresh intensity. She was close enough to taste it. Alex moved approached a run-down metro station, the chosen gathering place for his inward group, as darkness fell. Elena and his top lieutenants met him with sad faces. "Report," Alex said, sliding into his Phantom part. Elena started to show. "The mole is in Jackson's group. We are quite sure it is either Martinez or Reyes." Alex's thoughts flew about. He'd thought both men were solid. "Buy them. Separately. I'll deal with this on my own. Alex's fake phone hummed as his lieutenants scattered to follow orders. Sarah went first. "Once more, sweetheart, working late tonight. Don't wait. Loving you. Culpability confused Alex's inner self as he wrote a compassionate answer. How long could he keep on like this?

James Harding appeared before a rapt crowd at a campaign gathering. Every syllable showed his intensity, and his voice ascended among the speakers. "The plague of drugs has ravaged our great city for a very long time. For the greed of few, families were split apart and lives were lost. As your Representative, I stand before you today committed to not rest until every single street pharmacist is in a penal jail! The group thundered in supporting praise.

The man running James's campaign grinned behind him. "Sir, they really are loving it. Your numbers are soaring. James nodded with a satisfied move. "Very good." We ought to drive this force along. I want to visit each town and area. People need to know I'm not playing around about this war. James had no idea, though, that the same criminal he swore to curb was his direct cousin. Throughout the evening, the three Hardings came into somewhat diverse situations; none of them knew how their paths would cross.

James commended the success of his task with his team and planned their finest lines of action in the war on narcotics. Sarah and her group studied evidence, connecting particles that brought them closer to the Phantom's real nature. Moreover, Alex, dressed as the intimidating Phantom, was ready to show the double crosser in his heart. Alex went to Reyes and Martinez in a dirty room beneath the city. The two men fought their honesty, clearly terrified. "One of you," Alex answered, voice absolutely icy, "has double-crossed me. Anyone who admits all right now could live to see another dawn."

Alarm growing, the two guys traded glances. Alex watched their looks warily, looking for any tell that might find the mole. Suddenly outside there was a noise. Elena came in pale, her face "Boss, there is business right here. Federal authorities, closing in rapid reaction. Alex's ideas flew. How got they to this place? Except unless... Martinez caught his eye looking as though he was reaching for something inside his jacket. Alex quickly pulled his handgun, ready on Martinez. "You have done a serious mistake." Still, the walls trembled with the might of a ramming ram before he could fire. New York Police: Nothing moves!

Alex's planet spun around. He was listening for the voice. Sarah: Time seems to stop at that moment. Alex stayed at the junction of his three lives, each one second from breaking. He could hear Sarah organizing her squad, her voice weighted with the triumph of a much awaited victory. He could see his father happily ignorant, giving another stirring lecture on street cleanliness. At last the Ghost was surrounded and here he was. Alex's hand stayed on his gun.

He had few seconds to decide. Surrender is Struggle? Fly away? Every choice had catastrophic effects. The entry broke off. A beam of flashlights burst into the black. Then Alex decided. Gun lifted as Sarah stormed into the room, her eyes locked with those of the guy she had been chasing years. The man she thought to be more knowledgeable than any other. "Alex?" she said, doubt scuffing across her features. The well built walls of lies fell apart that very moment. Son, fiancé, businessman, criminal-all of Alex's identities combined in a chorus of broken realities. At last the Phantom's curtain dropped, and the consequences would be quite important.

Sarah and Alex met eyes across the filthy room, and the world seemed to stop. Between them lay acknowledgement, treachery, and a thousand unresolved problems. But chaos descended before either could say anything. Martinez thrusted for Alex's gun right away, jumping all over the chance of distraction. In the next struggle, a shot tore apart the restricted area. Martinez fell to the ground, grabbing his shoulder.

Alex, his visage a mask of cool confidence, took advantage of the chaos. Grabbing Elena, he dove through a wall panel to vanish into the labyrinth of subterranean tubes of the city. Alex: Slower! Alex turned not looking back when Sarah's painful scream echoed behind them. He could not stand to. As they ran, Elena snipped, "What now, boss?" Alex's thoughts flew across her mind.

All he had built around him was disintegrating. One idea, though, caught out among the tumult: he had to guard his father. Grasping, "We stick to the plan," he said. But first we have to warn James. James Harding planned the biggest gathering of his mission yet, deliberately blind to the spectacular unfolding across town. The venue was filled and there was clear buzz. As James stepped on stage, the crowd burst in cheers. He exuded and accepted the respect. This was his second, the perfection of prolonged hard work. His words resounding from the speakers, "My fellow New Yorkers," he said "Today we find ourselves at a crossroads..."

His campaign boss frowned in the wings at a text message. "Sir," he whispered hurriedly to an aide. "Alex no longer keeps in touch to us. He should arrive here one hour before. The assistant gestured, worry all over noticeable. "I'll try him again." Returning to the tunnels, Alex and Elena came out onto an empty street. Alex using a fake phone phoned a number from memory. He barked, "Dad's security detail," when someone answered. "Be careful listening.

James Harding's life is under great risk. Right now you want him off the stage. He hung up the call before they could start asking questions. Elena gave a shake of her head. "A threat?" Alex had a dark face. "There will be in 10 or so minutes. Get it going. Elena nodded and pulled her own phone to start things moving. James was figuring his best spot at the gathering. "We will not stand back and watch as drugs contaminate our streets, schools, and-," The thrashing of the crowd cut off him. A man was headed approaching the stage one hand reaching into his jacket. James' security crew moved carefully and fast.

Two guards covered James while others gathered on the possible danger. But they arrived far too late. Collective screams from the crowd matched the sound of a shot. James stumbled backwards, a red mess flowering on his newly white shirt. Hired by Elena on Alex's orders to cause a diversion, the actual killer disappeared from the scene among the turmoil without anybody noticing. New understanding of the death effort traveled fast.

Every station carried breaking news on it in minutes. Actually struggling from the reveal about Alex, Sarah felt her reality slant further off its center as she heard. Her mind were a swirl of contradictory feelings as she headed to the hospital. She ran upon Alex already in the ER, messy but yet looking like a worried son. Their eyes locked, and momentarily the world disappeared. The dependable, caring man Sarah thought she knew, Alex, came to her briefly. She missed it though, and noticed a stranger, a liar, a crook there in front of her.

"What happened?"

she asked, her voice almost above a whisper. On his face Alex wore a mask of worry and tiredness. To everyone else, he would have seemed simply as a grieving kid. But by now Sarah knew better. From the computation in his eyes and the minor strain in his stance, she could feel his next movement under preparation. Alex replied, his voice laden with persuasive feeling, "I don't know." "I was on way to the rally when I got the call. Should he fall short, God, Sarah..." He trailed off and ran his hand through his hair, clearly hopeless.

Sarah thought the performance was amazing. She had given in to this show how often? Before she could answer him, a doctor emerged from the operation room. "Mr.- Harding?" Alex and Sarah turned, and one could feel strain. Your father is steady, the doctor said.The bullet went through no important organs. He is quite lucky. < Sarah knew this time that Alex's relief look was real. Whatever his other traits, Alex loved his father. As word of James's recovery spread, the media frenzy took off.

Reporters wanting family comments were all over the hospital. Alex, always acting as the committed child, took elegant and balanced care to tend to the press. "My dad is a contender," he said with steady voice. "This terrible attack won't stop him from pursuing his principal goal of increasing the security of our community. All things considered, it simply serves to forward our goal." The group ate it right away.

In a few hours, HardingStrong started to trend nationwide. James was already planning from his bed in the hospital room. "We want to profit by this," he told his mission chief. "The vote of sympathy might help us to win." Sarah found Alex by alone in the clinic canteen as evening fell. The only individuals in the room were them; the strong fluorescent lights made odd shadows. We need to talk, Sarah murmured in a low, dangerous voice. Alex nodded hard, difficultly reading.

"Not quite here."

Ten minutes from now meet me on the roof. Watching him go, she felt a shiver run down her spine. She was going to challenge the man she loved about his two-fold life. She thought she knew him. She was advised, though, by a persistent voice in her thoughts that she might not be ready for the information about to come out. Ten minutes later Sarah opened the hospital roof door.

Her face was met with cold night air, a wonderful escape from the sterile clinic. Alex stayed at the brink, his back to her shaped against the city horizon. Sarah was briefly impressed by how small he seemed in relation to the expanse of the city the one he had been surreptitiously controlling from the darkness.

" WHY?"

Loaded with damage and betrayal, the word escaped her lips before she could stop it. Alex turned, the moonlight bathing his face. The mask of the devoted son or loving fiancé vanished. Before her stood the Apparition, working out, dangerous, yet some way or another still the man she loved. Starting, "It's complicated," Sarah stopped him. She snapped, "don't." "Alex, you dare tell me any more lies? I expect reality.

Every last trace of it. Alex's shoulders listed, like though an amazing weight had fallen on them. "Reality," he said again, a nasty smile covering all the rage. "Sarah, is it true or not that you are sure you can handle it? Moving forward is the only true choice from now on. for each other as well. Sarah straightened her shoulders and gathered her will. "try me." For the first time since she had known Alex, Sarah felt his raw vulnerability. Alex drew in a long breath. It started long before I met you, he said. "Before political ambitions of my father and before Harding Industries became into what it is today.

It started with a choice to protect my family at all costs. As Alex's story unfolded, Sarah felt her world spin once more. Lines separating good from bad, love from duty, hidden with every word. But the rooftop entranceway opened before Alex could finish. James' head of safety rushed out, his face white. Alex is your father. He has become quite ugly." At that exact moment, the Ghost disappeared and a terrified son took its place. Alex's quickness and lack of a backward glance at Sarah left her alone on the roof with more questions than answers.

Sarah knew she stayed at a junction as she watched Alex's receding form. Her fate as well as the future of the whole city would be affected by the next line of direction. She was unaware that the forces meant to decide for her were already on motion. Elena was rebuilding the Phantom's realm in the shadows of the city, preparing for a fight that would envelop them all. James Harding's eyes too fluttered awake in a private hospital room, sharp with the information that would challenge the fundamental basis of the Harding dynasty.

There was a confrontation starting that would leave none hurt. Dawn breaking over New York City would cause the borders separating comrade from enemy, love from betrayal, justice from revenge to disappear completely.