Jade Cabral strides into the 21st century as a golden guy. Brilliant and beautiful, with a California cool and a Harvard education, he is poised for wealth and success in New York’s Financial District.<br><br>But Jade harbors a secret flaw, a thirst for revenge against Se?or Rodriguez, the California landowner who deprived his father – Se?or’s out-of-wedlock son, John Virgil -- of his family’s rightful inheritance and place in the world. Jade thinks if he succeeds in New York, he can make up for every loss and humiliation his family has endured at the hands of Se?or. That searing quest leads him into the arms of Nan Spencer, a lovely, fragile socialite, and to the top of the financial world, the Twin Towers, on September 11, 2001.

Seamless Sky

“Herb, come on, we’ll carry you down if we have to,” Jade offered.


“No, no, Johnny, I couldn’t. You go ahead. I’ll wait for the Fire Department.”


“Don’t be silly,” Lowell said. “We can do it.”


“No, no, I know. That’s what some guys did the last time in ‘93. Only I can’t go through that again. Not right now. I’ll just wait.”


He sat there with the serenity of the Buddha, gazing at Jade intently.


“It’s okay, Johnny. I’ll see you on the other side.”


Say goodbye, then,the voice inside Jade said. Okay, so goodbye. But he couldn’t bring himself to utter it.


“Right. I’ll see you later,” was all he could muster.


The group crowded around the elevators, but Jade, who figured they would return to the lobby in any emergency, headed for the stairwell instead.


“Lead on, Moses,” Lowell said, following.


“I’m not kidding. Every group needs a leader. As far as I’m concerned, you’re it.”


“Okay, I want you to start down the stairs,” Jade said.


Chapter 24