by Joyce
Chase and I ran across the King’s Highway and the Village Green where sprinklers were on despite the rain. I barely missed being drenched in them.
Detective Almond and several of his officers were already at the stage. Chase and I watched as paramedics loaded Rita on a stretcher into the back of an ambulance. Dozens of Village residents were also watching the early morning scene. The bright stadium lights had been switched on. They illuminated the concern on everyone’s faces to find another violent crime happening so soon after Isabelle’s death.
“Hope we didn’t wake you up, Bailiff,” Detective Almond snickered.
“What happened?” Chase ignored his sarcasm.
“It looks like another woman from the castle was attacked. I know Rita.” He glanced at me. “Maybe her illusive boyfriend who was also Isabelle Franklin’s lover did this. I had the paramedics put plastic bags over her hands to preserve any evidence. She fought her attacker.”
“How is she?” I questioned.
“She’s in bad shape.” Detective Almond consulted his notebook. “She looks like someone hit her in the head a few times—maybe with a baseball bat—and then roughed her up. Contusions. Broken bones. We’ll see after she gets the once-over at the hospital.”
I hated to point the finger at anyone for such a terrible crime, but I couldn’t keep silent. “I saw her a few hours ago with Sir Dwayne. They were at the hatchet-throwing game.”
Detective Almond wrote in his book. “The same man you were helping her try to protect, right? Funny how these things come back to us, Jessie. If it was, he’s a fast worker—already moving on to the next woman.”
“They weren’t arguing or anything. I think they were kissing.” I shrugged.
“Thanks. Maybe you and Rita should’ve thought Sir Dwayne might not be such a good guy, huh? I suppose they were on their way back to the castle.” He scanned the unusually bright landscape.
“Maybe.” I felt bad because I knew Rita had worked so hard to protect Sir Dwayne. She had such faith in him. But I had to acknowledge that Detective Almond could be right, and Sir Dwayne didn’t deserve her protection.
“What about the shoemaker with magic? Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Probably asleep at Fred’s house. You could check on him.”
“I will.” Detective Almond nodded to one of the uniformed officers at his side. The officer grabbed another man, and they walked quickly toward Fred’s house.
I hoped Bill was at home asleep. Maybe that would finally quell any questions about his guilt.
“You aren’t saying that about Sir Dwayne because it could get your shoemaker off the hook, are you?” Detective Almond asked me.
“No. I’m sure I’m not the only person who saw Rita and Sir Dwayne together. I wouldn’t do that anyway.”
Detective Almond told Chase he needed his security guards to watch the area as the crime scene team collected evidence of what had happened to Rita. Chase told him he’d stay there while they worked.
At least a dozen Village residents stood around in their pajamas talking about what had happened. Susan Halifax, the harpist from the Merry Mynstrel’s Stage, was discussing buying mace or a Taser with a few pirates from the Queen’s Revenge. None of them had seen what had happened to Rita.
Most were just worried about who was next.
Chase told everyone to go home. “There’s nothing else to see. Everyone is going to be exhausted tomorrow if you don’t get some sleep. I’ll let you know when the police have some idea of what happened.”
There was a lot of muttering, but everyone started to go back to their homes.
Detective Almond pulled me aside. “This Sir Dwayne lives at the castle, right? We didn’t see any sign of him when we searched the passageways—unless that was his shirt.”
“His position might be a bit shaky with Isabelle gone. I don’t think he’s been at the Village for long. Are you going to question him?”
“I think that would be a good idea if I can find him, don’t you?”
“Sure.” I knew he was making fun of me. “I was just trying to help Rita, you know.”
“Yeah. I know. But this is what comes of messing around in police business, Jessie. By the way, what were you doing out so late?”
“My brother Tony was about to take his vows as a Brother of the Sheaf.”
He held up his hand. “Enough said. Those guys are crazy. Always have been. Who’d live here and not get paid? I’ll let Chase know what Sir Dwayne has to say. Thanks.”
I was impressed that he’d thanked me so politely. That didn’t always happen.
I told Chase I’d see him later. I loved him, but I didn’t want to hang around watching the police work all night. Yawning, I headed toward the Dungeon.
It was hard to believe that Sir Dwayne would be stupid enough to throw Isabelle off her terrace and then turn around and attack Rita. He had to know he was on Detective Almond’s suspect list. Maybe he couldn’t control himself.
That was scary to think about.
“So what do you think really happened?” Wanda appeared at my side as I passed the Hands of Time clock shop.
“You must know already.” I hoped she did and would spill it.
“I missed it.” Her naked, blue form passed right through a trashcan. “I was watching some of the handsome new knights while they undressed. I was hoping one of them might be able to see me. I had a little dalliance in mind. It’s easier when they can see me too.”
“That’s too bad. It would be nice to get the right person out of the Village before anyone else gets hurt.”
“This should get your cobbler off the hook anyway. With the police going after Sir Dwayne, you don’t have as much to worry about. Except, of course, for him giving up his magic.”
“He didn’t really have elf magic,” I explained. “The things that happened were coincidences, I’m sure.”
“Then why did you take him to the dragon lady? Why ask her to take away his magic if he didn’t have any in the first place?”
Wanda couldn’t get inside Madame Lucinda’s tent, but she could hear plenty from people as they went in and out.
“He wanted to get rid of his magic.” I shrugged. “I helped him. Not because I thought he really had magic, but because he was so unhappy about it.”
“I see. A mere psychological ploy then.”
“What about Isabelle’s death?” I thought I might as well ask. “Did you see who killed her?”
“No, blast it!” Wanda’s blue face was disappointed. “I would’ve liked to see Isabelle’s face as she was falling. I never liked that little minx. Always looking for the next man she could steal. She and I crossed paths a few times through the years.”
We finally crossed the cobblestones and reached the Dungeon. Wanda had been forbidden to enter my home by the sorcerer who’d built it. He’d owed me a favor, and this was his way of repaying it.
“I guess this is it.” I tried not to smile smugly, but I couldn’t stop myself. Wanda had almost ruined my relationship with Chase before we were married. It was a relief that she couldn’t go inside.
“Jessie? I was wondering why you’re allowing Chase to spend so much time with that red-haired tart on the horse. Have you no sense of survival? The girl is at least ten years younger than you. I think you overestimate your charms.”
“I think you’re jealous and would do or say anything to break us up.”
“Perhaps.” Her face took on an ugly, sly quality. “But then, why is the new knight waiting inside the Dungeon for Chase? Ponder that, dearie.”
Wanda was gone with her usual cackle. I thought for a moment that she was lying just to get a reaction from me, but when I opened the door to the Dungeon to go inside, there was Katharina.
“Where’s Chase?” she demanded.
Chapter Thirteen
I’d tried really hard not to be jealous of Katharina. She was younger, beautiful, great body, awesome hair. And she was spending quality time with my hu
sband.
I knew that didn’t mean that he was cheating with her or that she was even interested in him that way. Still, it was hard to see her there at the steps to our apartment and not be uneasy.
I plastered a big smile on my face. If she was interested in Chase, she wouldn’t see that it bothered me at all. And I wouldn’t give him up without a fight! “Hello, Katharina. Chase is working. Can I do something for you?”
“No. I’ll find him later.” She started to leave.
“Why did you come here looking for him at this time of night?”
“Because my horse is sick. I don’t know what to do. I thought Chase might be able to help.”
She started to push open the door.
“Chase is working at a crime scene, but I can help you. We can find D’Amos. He’ll know what to do or who to call.” I was at my helpful, cheerful best.
“Why would you help me? I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how much you hate me and that you think I’m trying to steal Chase from you.”
I faced her. “And are you?”
She smiled, flicked her hair, and pushed her breasts out. “I would if I could. Chase is everything I’ve ever wanted in a man—and he looks great in his armor. But there’s no way he’ll look at me. All he talks about is horses, jousting moves, and you, Jessie. He’s totally crazy about you.”
I tried not to sigh or act in any way as though I was relieved by her words. But I felt pretty good about her confession. Of course Chase was in love with me. I never doubted our love, or him.
Or at least I hadn’t doubted it much.
“Let’s go find D’Amos,” I encouraged as I opened the door. “He’ll know what to do for your horse. If it makes you feel any better, Chase would do the same thing. He loves horses, but he’s not a vet.”
“All right.” She carefully inclined her head. “Thank you, Lady Jessie.”
“Just Jessie. Do you go by Kate or Kat sometimes?”
“No. Just Katharina. Someday I hope to be Lady Katharina because of my daring exploits as a knight and jouster. Is that how you got your title?”
“It’s a long story,” I told her. “We’ll talk on the way.”
D’Amos wasn’t awake or ready for visitors, but he graciously dressed and accompanied us to the stables to take a look at Katharina’s horse. I hadn’t realized that Katharina had received special permission to bring her own horse to ride on the Field of Honor.
Something else Chase hadn’t mentioned.
I could see the stadium lights were still on at the other side of the Village so I knew Chase and the police were still working. I hoped Rita would recover as I walked with D’Amos and Katharina, not really listening to their conversation about the horse and its symptoms.
Thinking about Rita made me think about Sir Dwayne. From what Rita had confided—and seeing Sir Dwayne chastised by Isabelle—maybe it was possible he was the killer. Maybe Rita had confronted him about it and he’d lashed out at her. It would make sense in a terrible way.
I didn’t know much about him, but he’d always struck me as being a bully. Look how he’d been with Bill at the museum. He hadn’t been at the Village long. And maybe I was wrong for feeling that way about him. I knew Bill faced problems being new here too. I didn’t want to be quick to judge just because I didn’t know him.
It must be nice to be like Detective Almond and absolutely know for sure—even when you’re wrong—that you’re right.
We’d reached the stables with their particular pungent odor. The horses were unsettled by the storm and D’Amos switching on the light. We walked to the stall where Katharina’s horse was being kept. The poor chestnut stallion lay on the hay-covered floor, not moving.
“Can you help him?” she asked D’Amos.
He knelt down close to the animal. “Let me take a look at him. If I can’t help, we have a vet on call for the Village. He takes care of most of our animals.”
Katharina wasn’t sure about that. “Foxfire is an Arabian thoroughbred. I don’t know if I trust him to some vet who takes care of goats and elephants.”
D’Amos moved his hands carefully over the large horse. “That’s up to you, but he’s a mighty fine vet. I trusted him when I was the director of the zoo in Columbia, and I trust him now.”
She nodded. “I guess that’s okay then. What do you think is wrong with Foxfire?”
He didn’t respond as he checked the horse. I sat on a nearby bale of hay and watched them talk to the horse as D’Amos listened to Foxfire’s heart and checked him for other problems.
I’d brought my cell phone with me. I wasn’t working, and thought I might need it. Some days it was weird even having one because I used it so rarely. It rang a few minutes later when Chase got back to the Dungeon and couldn’t find me.
I explained the situation about Katharina’s horse to him. “I knew you’d get D’Amos so that’s what we did.”
“Do you need me to come up there?”
“No. I think you’ve done enough for one night. Get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay. Thanks, Jessie. I told you Katharina wasn’t so bad.”
I didn’t mention her moment of stark honesty with me. There was no need to keep the bad blood going between us. I wanted Chase to know that I trusted him. I hoped I could always feel that way.
The sky was turning light as I left D’Amos and Katharina at the stables with Foxfire. D’Amos had called the Village vet and remained there when he’d arrived. Katharina was questioning every move they made as the poor horse was examined.
I’d finally decided there was nothing more I could do to help. I might still be able to get back to sleep for a while. I hoped Chase had been able to get some sleep. I wished I could find a good second-in-command for him too. It was an idea worth contemplating.
The maintenance people were already up and moving around the Village to get repairs done early. Branches were littering the cobblestones. Almost everything that hadn’t been nailed down had blown somewhere it didn’t belong. I noticed that the Kelli’s Kites sign had blown down. It was on top of the Frenchy’s Fudge roof. The fountains were filled with debris. It looked like a big job.
I was glad I didn’t have to do it.
My brain was on autopilot as I walked into the Dungeon. All I was thinking about was snuggling up to Chase in bed before he had to go back to work. The image made me almost walk right into another person waiting in the lower Dungeon where the fake prisoners moaned and complained during the day.
I stopped short, thinking that we needed to start locking the outside door as well as our apartment door. Then I realized who was hiding there. “Sir Dwayne?”
Chapter Fourteen
He put his hand across my mouth and brought me close to him, a small gun between us. “Quiet. The police are looking for me. I knew they wouldn’t come here because this is where the Bailiff lives. ”
I made a few snuffling sounds since I couldn’t actually speak. Chase was in the apartment, but there was no way to let him know what was going on.
“I figure I’ll hold out here until ten when the Main Gate opens and then I can sneak out in the crowd.”
It was a good plan. With all the actors trying out for parts and thousands of visitors streaming into the Village, the police would have a hard time spotting Sir Dwayne. I’d noticed that he’d changed clothes. Instead of his usual elegant raiment that routinely matched what Isabelle wore, he was wearing street clothes—jeans and a Myrtle Beach T-shirt.
“You showing up is actually a benefit. The police will be looking for one man, not a couple. You don’t mind going out of the Village with me, do you?”
His blue eyes stared into mine. He kept his hand on my mouth. I nodded my head to let him know leaving with him was fine. I started looking around for anything I could use as a weapon. If I could stun him, I could probably get away.
My cell phone rang. It was Chase—I had a special ringtone for him—Chapel of Love by the Dixie Cups.
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I realized that Chase wouldn’t think anything of not being able to reach me since he knew I was with D’Amos at the stables. He’d go about whatever was in store for him that morning, maybe try to call again on a break. He wouldn’t even question it until I was gone with Sir Dwayne.
It was a sobering thought. I could be miles away by then.
Sir Dwayne took my cell phone from my pocket and smiled when he saw Chase’s face on the screen. “You’re the Bailiff’s girl, huh? That’s interesting.”
I tried to tell him that I was Chase’s wife, but it sounded more like mumbo jumbo. The screen went dark. Chase was probably up and getting ready to go out.
“Maybe we better go a little further into the Dungeon. We don’t want the Bailiff to see us before I can get out of the Village.”
Sir Dwayne was surprisingly strong. I wouldn’t have thought so since I’d pegged him as a dandy with his fine silk clothes and elegant demeanor. I could tell by the way he held on to me as he dragged me to the back of the Dungeon that he could’ve easily lifted Isabelle and thrown her over the edge of the terrace.
The cells in the Dungeon were made of flimsy material. Keeping them together relied more on visitors not wanting to get too near the sad, disgusting look of the prisoners than any real foundation.
Sir Dwayne kicked one of the cell doors open and pushed both of us inside past the prisoner who only called out for help during the day when the Village was open. The prisoner watched with frozen eyes as my captor shoved me to the dirty floor and fell on top of me. His one hand still covered my mouth, and his other arm held me.
“Let’s be quiet now,” he whispered. “We wouldn’t want to hurt your boyfriend.”
I didn’t want Chase to be hurt, especially since Sir Dwayne only wanted to escape the Village. I figured we’d hide here until Chase was gone and then I’d sneak out with him. I hoped Sir Dwayne’s actions with Rita and Isabelle were only because they had relationships with him. He didn’t really know who I was, and it was better to keep it that way.
It was only a few minutes later that Chase came out of our apartment and locked the door behind him. He glanced around the Dungeon area, shrugged, and then turned on the special effects in the prisoners’ cells. He probably didn’t expect to be back before visitors came through the Main Gate. The Dungeon was a popular stop.
