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Cinders of the Conspiracy
By: Edward J. JansenUpdated just now
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Chapters: 14
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In the shadowy depths of a small industrial town in 1923, Silas Granger, a 35-year-old disillusioned journalist turned private investigator, struggles to rebuild his life after years of regret. When Eleanor Wickham, a resilient 28-year-old widow, approaches him with cryptic documents she found among her late husband’s belongings, Silas is drawn into a dangerous web of corruption, betrayal, and lies. The documents point to Caleb Hartwell, a powerful 50-year-old industrialist, whose empire hides a dark conspiracy tied to bootlegging, bribery, and murder. As Silas and Eleanor dig deeper, they find themselves hunted by Jasper Crowe, a ruthless 37-year-old enforcer, while seeking help from the morally ambiguous 45-year-old detective Wyatt Draven, who holds pieces of the truth but may be playing both sides. With time running out, their fight for justice takes them from smoky speakeasies to secluded estates, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation that could bring the conspiracy to light—or bury them in the ashes.
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Chapter 1
Ashes of the Beginning.When Eleanor Wickham woke up, her nose were filled with an overpowering odor. Her mind was cloudy as her eyelids fluttered open, but she was startled awake by the stinging, bitter flavor of smoke. She bolted upright, panic rushing through her veins. Unsettling shadows that danced to a macabre beat were cast by an odd orange glow that flickered across the walls of her bedroom.There was a lot of heat and fear in the air. Her heart thumping like a drum, she staggered to her feet. Every second the muted crackle of flames became louder as it reverberated throughout the home. She opened the door to her hallway and was met by a blast of intense heat, which made her skin wet with sweat.The walls' borders were kissed by flames, their flaming tendrils devouring everything in their path. Eleanor was unable to pause and ponder as the smoke gnawed at her lungs, making her breath catch. Her shaky hands were reaching for the little wooden box that had been her husband's las
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Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 14
An Ally in Shadows.As if to stabilize herself, Violet's fingertips traced across the polished mahogany bar as she stepped behind it. Except for the bartender cleaning glasses and the occasional chuckle from the back rooms, the speakeasy was mostly deserted now. With a deep exhale, she raised her gaze to Silas and Eleanor, her keen eyes sweeping their faces.At last, she stated in a measured, low voice, "There's a shipment." "Hartwell has a significant arrival at the docks. Something more than whiskey. Something more substantial.With his elbows resting on the counter, Silas leaned forward. "How are you aware?"Violet grinned, but it was a fake smile. "Because I set it up."Eleanor tensed. "You're involved in his scheme?"Violet gave an eye roll. Don't be naïve, my love. In this city, you can't operate a speakeasy without closing deals. Additionally, for men like Hartwell, survival comes before wants.Silas scowled. "When will it be shipped?""Tonight, tomorrow. Midnight. Pier 17. Wit
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 13
The Speakeasy Connection.Only a flickering lantern above a rusting steel door indicated the speakeasy's entrance, which was concealed behind a boarded-up storefront. A mingling of sensuous jazz and murmured discussions filled the air inside. In between the faint light of low-hanging chandeliers, smoke curled from cigarettes and cigars.Eleanor clung to his side while Silas rearranged his coat and looked around the room. "Remain vigilant," he whispered to himself. "Violet Prescott is more than just a bar owner. She is the head of an empire.Eleanor's gaze strayed to the bar, where a woman swirling a glass of whiskey was leaning against the counter wearing a sleek, dark-red dress. Violet Prescott's blond locks framed her piercing, perceptive eyes.Violet smirked and tipped her drink as if she could sense their eyes, then slid toward them with a smooth, deliberate gait.She purred, her voice as soft as ancient bourbon, "Well, well." Hawthorne, Silas. I didn't believe you were stupid eno
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 12
A Narrow Escape.Eleanor's raspy breath was muffled by Silas's hard palm over her mouth as he slammed her against the warehouse's chilly steel wall. In the dim light of a single hanging bulb, shadows danced beneath them. The two men's voices were piercing and suspicious as they prowled like wolves."You also heard it," someone whispered.The other gave a grunt. "They might have been rats."Sensing the tremble in Eleanor's veins, Silas tightened his hold on her wrist. His breath warmed her ear as he drew closer. "Remain motionless."She nodded, small gulps rising and falling in her chest.Eleanor felt her pulse thumping with a sudden collision. The contents of a crate spilled into the concrete after one of the men kicked it over. The air was filled with the strong smell of whiskey as glass broke.The first man growled, "Damn it." "If anything is missing, Hartwell is going to kill us."The second guy moved toward the containers. "Then, let's confirm that nobody else is present."Silas's
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 11
Shadows in the Warehouse.The warehouse stood out in front of them, skeleton in the moonlight. Silas guided Eleanor to the entrance, his movements slow and methodical, and the air was heavy with the smell of iron and saltwater.He checked the address against the coded message and said, "This is the place."Eleanor rubbed her arms against the chill and let out a breath. "It appears to be deserted."Silas remarked, "Looks lie."They walked up to the rusty metal door, which was scuffed from years of uselessness. When Silas tested the handle, it groaned and swung inward into a void of darkness.Through the darkness, a flashlight sparked to life in Silas's grasp. In the stuffy air, dust particles swirled and settled on top of the crates that were heaped carelessly along the walls.Beside him, Eleanor moved in, her gaze sweeping the room. "Where is everyone if this was Hartwell's operation?"Silas looked around the floor. In the dust, footprints. new. It had been visited recently.As he mov
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 10
Chapter 10: A Warning in Blood.Silas realized there was a problem as soon as he pulled open his office door. The air had an unwelcome presence and seemed heavy and oppressive. Behind him, Eleanor paused, gasping for air as she looked over the ruins.His desk was toppled, the drawers were torn off their hinges, and papers were all over the floor. Broken fragments of the light were strewn all over the hardwood table after it had been knocked from its stand. It had been looted, deliberately and with violence.With strained muscles and eyes that darted to every dark nook, Silas entered. He said, "Stay close," as he felt an invisible weight pushing against his chest.Eleanor clutched the hem of his garment with her fingers. "They had a search in mind."Grimly, Silas nodded. "They were also in a terrible rush."He looked about the devastation, looking for something that didn't belong. Then he felt his stomach knot. The contents of the safe, which was concealed under a pile of old books, w
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 8
Beneath the Surface.Tension and cigarette smoke filled the air in Silas's office. His desk was cluttered with newspapers and empty whiskey bottles, which were illuminated by the dull glow of a desk lamp that created flickering shadows on the peeling wallpaper. With her arms encircling her, Eleanor stepped close to the window and looked out at the street below."Any chance we're not being followed?" Muttering, Silas tossed his coat onto the chair and then sank down on the edge of his desk.Eleanor let out a loud sigh. "They wouldn't be in a rush if they were pursuing us. However, I can't get rid of the sensation that someone is observing."Silas gave his temple a massage. He was troubled by the night's events—the brawl, the chase, and the key they narrowly kept. He opened his desk drawer and took out the ledger, turning the battered pages. A persistent reminder of what they had left behind at the motel, the smoke clung to the paper.Looking out the window, Eleanor turned. "We must hav
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 8
Room of Secrets.With careful but methodical movements, Silas inserted the key into the lock. The slight scratches surrounding the lock were a quiet tribute to its past, and the tarnished brass doorplate read 214. Standing right behind him, Eleanor's eyes darted to the dark hallway and her breath was shallow.Silas pushed the door open as the latch snapped, revealing a dimly lit room. The slight mustiness of inactivity blended with the subtle scent of stale cigar smoke. The room itself was simple, consisting of a desk with one chair pulled out, a dresser, and a bed that was well made. It was simple, but it exuded a sense of secrecy."Are we sure this is the right place?" Eleanor murmured.With a nod, Silas entered. A minor scuff mark on the floor near the window, an ashtray full of lipstick-stained cigarette butts, and a small stack of papers on the desk were among the features he saw as he looked around the room. Shutting out the unpredictable world outside, he locked the door behind
Last Updated : 2025-01-23Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 7
Ambushed in the Dark.The passageway was chilly, and the stifling silence was drowned out by the distant buzz of cars. With their backs to the brick wall, Silas and Eleanor breathed in unison and shallowly. The footsteps that had previously followed them ceased, and a dense silence took their place.A man with an intimidating silhouette in the low light stepped out of the shadows. He took a step closer, a stray gleam of moonlight striking the shine of a sword. His eyes were calculating and his face was keen, like a predator evaluating its prey.The man's voice sounded like gravel scraping metal when he muttered, "I'll say this once." "Close the case. Leave. Or I'll make sure you two don't go anywhere ever again.Beside Silas, Eleanor stiffened, her fingers clenching his arm. Unfazed, Silas straightened, his features etched in stone. "Threats don't work on me," he said in a tone that was surprisingly composed. "You've wasted your evening if you came to frighten us away."The man gave a
Last Updated : 2025-01-23Cinders of the Conspiracy Chapter 6
The First Lead.The ledger was stretched out in front of Silas as he leaned over his beaten desk. His brow's deep furrows were accentuated by the yellow glow of the faint light from a hanging bulb. Sitting beside him, Eleanor stared at the page as though she were expecting it to provide answers.Silas mumbled, tracing a column of numbers with a calloused finger, "There's a pattern here." "These payments are too consistent to be arbitrary."Curiosity sparked Eleanor to lean closer. "What are they trying to say?"Silas's mouth formed a thin line. Hartwell's and other smuggling activities depend on reliability. To keep things going, he is paying someone, someplace. Everyone has a cost, including ports, suppliers, and law enforcement.Eleanor turned to look at the scribbled names. "Are you able to determine the destination of these payments?"Silas acknowledged, "Not all of them." However, this one is connected to a speakeasy in the downtown area. I've seen it before, but the name is code
Last Updated : 2025-01-23
