Chapter Forty

We found Karl unconscious in the kitchen, along with two of his staff members. I said a silent prayer of thanks to that patron saint of mine and promised to never work her that hard again.

Hugh called Nick at the palace, and I heard obscenities through the phone. When Hugh ended the call, he looked at me with a grim expression. “You’re going to have to explain what happened here.”

I opened my mouth, and then closed it when I realized that Christian was still alive—barely. When he was turned over to palace security, he would start talking and, boy, did he have secrets to spill.

Finally, I shook my head. “They’re not going to like what they hear.”

Hugh walked over and kneeled in front of my chair. “We only have a few minutes—what do you want me to do?” I realized that Hugh was offering to do the unthinkable. Darkly, I thought it would be so much simpler if Hugh had pointed his gun a little closer to the chest cavity region when he’d taken a shot at Christian. But there was only so much I would ask of this man.

So all I said was, “You found me,” because it was enough.

And he replied, “All I had to do was follow the cameras.”

In the next moment, the emergency responders spilled out of the elevator, followed closely by more palace security officers, who bundled me up and swept me away without another word.

In the basements of the palace, there were administrative offices, the maintenance offices, and the security offices. This is where I was led, with a guard on either side of me, one at the back and one in the front with one hand on a radio.

They brought me to some kind of a conference room, where Thea and Nick were waiting, along with several other people who I recognized from my brief stay on Perpetua.

“Caroline!” Thea breathed a sigh of relief when she saw me, but it was me who should have been worried, because she looked ragged. The fluorescent lights did our fair skin no favors, but even then she looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in days.

“I thought you said you were going to take care of her,” I said to Nick, whose lowered lids said he was in no mood for my sass. So I moved on to more important things. “Has Christian arrived yet?” I needed to know what he had said.

“What happened, Caroline?” Thea was so angry she looked like she was about to spit nails—golden ones, of course. “Did he kidnap you?”

“Kidnap me? Why on earth would he do that?”

Almost as one, every set of eyes in the room rolled toward the palatial chambers above our heads.

“I’m not a princess,” I objected.

“Don’t be stupid,” a scratchy voice said from behind me. “You’re that and more.”

Hugh Konnor. Oh, how you slay me.

I closed my eyes tightly and let it all sink in. And when I opened them, I knew what I needed to do.

To protect my family. “Karl von Falkenburg simply invited me to dinner.” When Thea’s brow lifted in surprise, I said, “You can confirm with him if he’s talking again. I’m not really sure why Christian showed up. Maybe he wanted to kidnap Karl. He’s certainly worth more.”

I continued with the lies. “Anyway, he cornered me on the balcony, and I’m very lucky I had my pepper spray on me.” I wished I could see Hugh’s face, thank him somehow for ensuring that I was always protected. “Christian’s been a sick bastard who gets off with toying with this family and I, for one, am glad it’s come to a mostly peaceable end.” I sent an apologetic look to Nick. “Sorry about the bastard bit. I’m sure your mother was a lady.”

“She had me, didn’t she?” The ends of Nick’s lips flicked up and I had the distinct impression that he could see right through me.

But that was impossible. No one had all the pieces to the puzzle except me. And therefore, I was the only one who could find the solution.

“Has Christian said anything? Did he indicate that anyone else was responsible?” I let my eyes fall on Sybil. “For the medical records?”

She shook her head.

Thea cleared her throat and said, “No. He’s being treated by the physicians, but he’s acting like he took a vow of silence. He hasn’t said a word.” Her face was drawn, and I realized how difficult this must be for her, dealing with the man who she thought she’d have children with and then had traumatized her in so many ways.

I wouldn’t let my sister get hurt again.

“Well, then. I’m sure you all have very important things to finish up with law enforcement.” I turned to Sybil. “Can I steal a moment of your time? I have a recent astrology question that I need answered and we haven’t had a consultation in so long.”

Sybil kept her face disinterested and nodded like she couldn’t care less.

“Thea? Is this all right?” I asked, and my sister nodded wearily. “Please get some sleep soon.” I kissed her cheek and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “We need you healthy.”

Then I marched from the room with Sybil right behind me. I’m sure it looked very purposeful but, as soon as I left, I realized that I didn’t know where we could go next.

Sybil must have noticed my hesitation because she pointed down the hall to a door that led to a boiler room.

“Really?” I asked after the door closed behind us. I gestured at the steam pipes and tanks and valves. “Here?”

“It’s probably the safest room in the whole complex,” she noted wryly. “Too much noise and interference for anyone to hear anything.”

Interesting. I’d file that away for the next time I arranged a covert conversation. “I need a new secure email,” I said, going straight into the business portion of our meeting. “Preferably something that can’t be hacked into. Do you have any recommendations?”

She immediately named a provider. “It’s the best. Even government officials with access to top-secret channels use them.” Her lips twitched. “Unofficially.”

“Great. When I get my new address, I’ll need you to send me everything the hackers have got on me.” When I saw the approval in her eyes, I knew I was on the right track. “And then, I’m going to give you the password.”

Which earned me an immediate frown. “Whatever for?”

“There will be a draft email saved. If something ever happens to me or a member of my family, I need you to send it.”

Sybil’s sophisticated, calm air dropped. “What are you getting into, Caroline?”

“I’m taking care of my family,” I said simply.