Royal Wedding Threat

by Rachelle Mccalla

  “I don’t know. I can tell you he’s been away from his office for several days, far longer than it takes to fly here, even assuming flight delays and missed connections. It raises my suspicions.” Jason clamped his mouth shut before he voiced what any of those suspicions were. Reviewing the photographs with his men, they’d brainstormed plenty of theories, including that Douglas Wright was the gunman, that he’d sneaked into Lydia previously and only now made his arrival known—but for what purpose, they couldn’t say, unless he was hoping to build an alibi.

  And since none of those theories had any evidence to support them, Jason saw no reason to distress Ava further. He’d wanted her to see the pictures, partly so she could confirm the man in the picture was indeed her father and not a doppelgänger flying in under the man’s name. And partly so she’d know what he knew and wouldn’t be caught by surprise if her father suddenly showed up.

  Which Jason feared the man might soon do. After all, Doug Wright’s only connection to Lydia was his daughter, Ava. But the man had been in the country for nearly twenty-four hours and had yet to attempt to contact her.

  What was he up to? Was he involved with his wife’s murder? Given the size of Kathleen Wright’s life-insurance policy, the man had stood to benefit greatly from her death, though the insurance company had apparently stalled on the payout. Which led Jason to the painful question he didn’t want to have to ask.

  “Ava?” He took her hand and glanced down the hallway to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “Do you have a life-insurance policy?”

  “I—I think I do. I always did. My parents opened one when I was young. To my knowledge it still exists, as long as my father has continued to pay the premiums.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

  Jason pulled her against his shoulder, hating that he’d had to ask such difficult questions. “I didn’t want to consider your father a suspect. I still don’t. But given that he’s just arrived in Lydia and you didn’t invite him—”

  “I haven’t spoken to him since my mother’s death. I can’t fathom why he’d be here, not for any good reason.”

  “We’ll do our best to get to the bottom of this. We don’t know where he went once he left the airport, but my men are watching for him, just as they’re watching for Tiffany and, of course, anyone wearing a Mariners baseball cap.” He cleared his throat. “I do have some good news—or what I hope you’ll consider good news.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I was puzzling over how to get the royal couple from the cathedral to the palace safely. We can put the rest of the wedding party and the royal family in the armor-plated limousines, but Lillian had her heart set on a horse-drawn carriage.”

  “I’ve been pondering the same question,” Ava admitted. “I’m told there are catacombs under the cathedral. Do any of them lead to the palace?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. Not in any sort of direct, easily accessible route, no. And I’d hate to use the catacombs for such a large event. They’re supposed to be kept a secret, though of course the royals and the guards know about them. Besides, if the prince and his fiancée will agree to my idea, we won’t have to resort to such an extreme measure.”

  “What’s your idea?”

  “Well over a hundred years ago—in fact, I believe it was in the same era as the assassination attempt on Queen Victoria that you brought up the other day—the reigning Lydian monarch took proactive measures against assassination attempts and ordered a bulletproof carriage. When bulletproof glass was invented, the carriage was retrofitted with windows large enough for the passengers to be seen waving to their subjects while still being protected from gunfire.”

  “That’s a fabulous idea, Jason, but the wedding is in two days. We can’t possibly have such a thing built—”

  “We don’t have to.” Jason squeezed her hand. “The carriage still exists. It’s in the museum of military history right here in Sardis.”

  Ava’s eyes widened. “But it’s a museum relic. Does it even still work?”

  “We can have the glass checked and replaced—that should be possible in two days’ time. Sardis has a fabulous glass shop. They did quite a bit of bulletproof work for us following the insurgent coup last summer. And the carriage should be fully operational. All we have to do is hitch up horses to pull it. The pair who were going to pull the open carriage should have no trouble making the switch. This model is a little heavier—”

  Ava cut off his words by practically leaping up at him, pulling down his face and planting a kiss on his lips.

  He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and relishing the feel of her before he self-consciously pulled back and looked around to be sure they hadn’t been spotted. The hallway was empty. “So you approve of my idea?”

  “I love your idea. I promised Lillian the wedding of her dreams. Thanks to you, she might still get it.”

  Jason beamed down at Ava, delighted that he’d brought a smile to her face in spite of everything else that was going on. “I hope so.”

  * * *

  Ava led Prince Alexander and Lillian out through the back courtyard doors. Jason had called to say the carriage was ready for royal inspection. The new windows had yet to be fitted, but he wanted the royal couple’s appraisal before he proceeded with the update.

  “What’s the surprise?” Lillian asked as they stepped outside and looked around.

  “Watch the vehicle gates.” Ava pointed just as the gates swung open.

  A pair of matching gray steeds stepped through, pulling the rounded coach, its domed top sparkling in the sunlight.

  “It’s a Cinderella carriage,” Lily gasped. “But I thought you said we’d have to ride in bulletproof vehicles.”

  “Darling, I believe it is bulletproof,” Alexander noted, clearly recognizing the carriage from the museum.

  “It is—or it will be, once the windows are replaced with newer glass. We don’t want to take any chances. Do you like it?”

  As she spoke, the horses came to a stop in front of them, and the footman hopped down from his perch behind the vehicle to come around and open the door.

  “I love it. It’s perfect!” Lillian let the footman help her inside, and Alexander stepped in after her.

  “Take it for a spin,” Ava instructed them. “Let me know if we need to replace the springs.”

  Jason stepped to her side as she spoke. “It sounds like Lillian approves,” he noted with a smile.

  “I’m so glad she does. Your idea was inspired.”

  “I had another idea I hope you’ll approve of.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Dye your hair brown.”

  Ava hadn’t been expecting him to suggest anything of the sort. It took her a moment to absorb what he’d said. “But all the vendors recognize me because of my hair. That’s part of why I dyed it red in the first place—to make me easily visible.”

  “I don’t want you to be easily visible.”

  The horses pranced a wide turn along the loop at the end of the courtyard and pulled the carriage to a stop again in front of them. The footman hopped down to help the royal couple disembark.

  “Think about it?” Jason’s voice softened. “I know it sounds extreme, but I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

  Ava met his eyes and saw sincere affection simmering there. Not trusting her voice, she simply nodded, waving goodbye to him as she stepped toward the royal couple. There wasn’t time to discuss his suggestion further. She was always busy in the last two days before any wedding. Given that Alexander was a prince and the media had arrived en masse to cover the event, she had to make sure everything was as perfect as it could be.

  The fact that someone was trying to kill her complicated things even further.

  * * *

  Jason arrived at the Sardis Cathedral early th
e next morning with a team of his men. The wedding rehearsal wouldn’t begin until later that afternoon, followed by a dinner for the wedding party back at the palace. The wedding party would travel by armored limousines, including the royal couple. The carriage was still in the shop and wouldn’t be ready until the next day.

  But before anyone arrived, Jason and his men would do a thorough sweep of the cathedral. He’d arranged for the Sardis Police Bomb Squad to meet them later with their dogs. He wasn’t about to take any chances, not with lives—especially Ava’s life—in danger.

  The cathedral was every bit as familiar to him as the palace. He could picture the layout of the entire floor plan, including the subterranean crypt. If anything looked out of place, he and his men would spot it.

  Decorating crews had been working on the cathedral for the past two days, draping twinkle lights and tulle, placing candles ready to be lit. Everything was in place except the flowers, which would arrive early the next morning. Jason already had a team assigned to make sure no one sneaked in while the florists were at work.

  At all other times, the building was to remain locked. He positioned guards at the front and rear entrances to make certain nothing was disturbed. They’d been in place in rotating shifts for most of the week. He’d taken every precaution he could think of, and yet Jason couldn’t shake the fear that it wouldn’t be enough.

  He met the bomb squad near the rear doors and assigned his men to accompany them through the building. Just as he stepped after one of the teams to shadow their work, his phone rang.

  “Captain Selini,” he answered.

  “Douglas Wright is at the main palace gate.” The transmission of Oliver’s voice broke up as he spoke, making it difficult for Jason to be sure of what he’d heard. Realizing the thick cathedral stones were probably messing with his signal, he stepped outside into the back alley and small rear parking area where several news vans were already parked. Fortunately he didn’t see any sign of their crews—they were probably around front or interviewing locals for their insider perspectives.

  “Douglas Wright?” he repeated. “Ava’s father?”

  “Yes. He came asking for Ava—”

  “Is she in a secure location?” Jason could make out the words much better now, though he didn’t like what he was hearing.

  “She’s inside the palace, meeting with the reception crew. Paul and Sam are watching her. They’ve been informed of the situation, but I’ve instructed them not to tell her just yet—and to keep her from leaving the building, if possible.”

  Jason appreciated Oliver’s apt understanding of the situation, including his assessment of Paul’s and Sam’s likelihood of keeping the wedding planner from leaving if she’d made her mind up to go anywhere. He’d agreed to let her come to the cathedral for the rehearsal, but only while he was at her side. “Is Doug Wright armed?”

  “They’re performing a pat down right now.”

  “Can you detain him? Or transfer him to my phone so I can speak with him?”

  “He’s agitated. He’s scuffling with them.” Oliver sounded like a ball-game announcer calling plays. “I’m watching everything on the security screen. What’s that? He tripped Milos. He’s running. Elias is after him.”

  Jason held his breath. He could guess what the outcome would be. Elias had already passed retirement age, but the faithful royal guard had insisted on serving at least until the recruits from the army were properly trained. With Milos down, there was every likelihood Ava’s father could escape.

  At the same time, Jason couldn’t let them leave the gate unguarded. “Dispatch more guards to cover the gate.”

  He heard Oliver do just that. Men could reach the gate from headquarters in seconds if they ran. Jason had full staff in place, and even the men who hadn’t been assigned to the wedding shift had volunteered to work double shifts. Manpower shouldn’t be a problem, but Jason hadn’t expected to need extra men at that gate.

  “They’re at the gate. Milos is up—they waved him on. He’s running.”

  “What now? Where is Doug Wright?”

  “He’s beyond the range of my cameras. I’ll try to get Elias on his earpiece.”

  Oliver’s voice became faint as Jason heard him addressing the guards who’d been stationed at the front palace gate. Jason prayed his men would detain Ava’s father. He couldn’t imagine why the man would approach the gate only to run away. Was it a ruse, an attempt to pull the guards away from their posts so an accomplice could sneak inside?

  “They lost him,” Oliver said with defeat. “He had a car.”

  “Was a driver waiting?”

  “No. He drove off. Elias was too far behind to stop him, and by the time Milos reached them, it was all he could do to take down the plates.”

  “Run the plates.”

  “It’s a rental.”

  “Of course it is. Find out who rented it and get back to me. I’ll finish here. Don’t let on to Ava what’s just happened. I’ll tell her when I get there shortly.” Jason winced as he ended the call, already dreading what this new complication might mean and how Ava would react to it.

  She’d handled everything so far with grace and poise—but then, she was a wedding planner. It was her job to remain unruffled no matter what went wrong. Even when gunmen had infiltrated the palace grounds during Duchess Julia’s titling ceremony, Ava had kept the reception flowing smoothly, so that only a few irate guests had discovered they were locked down inside the ballroom.

  Ava was highly skilled at holding everything together on the outside, even when she was falling apart inside. He realized that now that she’d let him see past her armor. But behind her poised facade she was terrified—and not just for her safety and everyone else’s. Every time he’d had to call into question the motives of someone she’d loved and trusted, he’d watched her deflate a little, taking the blow and recovering quickly, though she’d never quite bounced back completely each time.

  All these deceptions had taken their toll on her. Jason wasn’t sure how much more she could handle, especially without faith in God to comfort her. He’d been praying more and more, not just for her physical safety, but also for her spiritual well-being. It hurt him to see her hurting. When she found out her father had come looking for her, it would only hurt her that much more.

  And yet he had to tell her. She needed to know what had been happening, or her father might surprise her the next time, and she’d be too shocked to respond. Ava deserved to know. She would insist on knowing if she suspected anything had happened.

  Jason headed back inside to let his men know he was going back to the palace a little early. He wasn’t looking forward to this conversation and the hurt it would cause Ava, but he couldn’t put it off. The wedding would take place the very next day. All the pieces Ava had so carefully laid out were ready to fall into place.

  But what about the pieces the killer had put in place? Would they fall in due time, too? And would they take Ava with them this time?

  FIFTEEN

  Ava saw Jason approaching and glanced back down at her schedule, checking the time to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. She excused herself quietly from the meeting, which was nearly over anyway, and met Jason near the doors.

  “You’re supposed to be at the cathedral,” she reminded him. “Did you find something?”

  “The cathedral looks clear. The dogs were just finishing their search.”

  “So why the visit?” Ava would have liked to tease him about not being able to stay away from her irresistible self, but she wasn’t in a joking mood, and something about his expression seemed to indicate he didn’t have good news to share. Uneasy fear raised goose bumps along her skin.

  “Your father came to the front palace gate looking for you. When the guards tried to pat him down for weapons, he ran.”

  Ava
closed her eyes, processing this new development. When she found her voice again, she met Jason’s eyes and found comfort there, enough for her to find her voice. “What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Less than half an hour.”

  Ava looked up at the ceiling a moment as she tried to evaluate this new development. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “There’s not much we can do. Everything is in place for the wedding. Your father drove away in a car rented out yesterday under his real name. Considering that he rented the car without using a fake name, I instructed Oliver to ask all the local hotels if they’ve let out any rooms to a Douglas Wright. I imagine most of the hotels have been booked full well in advance of the wedding, but he has to be staying somewhere.”

  “You should circulate Tiffany’s name, as well.”

  “Yes. Oliver included her name with his request, along with an image of a Seattle Mariners baseball cap.”

  “I’m sure the hotels are all very busy with the crowds in town for the wedding.”

  “Yes, but they tend to respond quickly to our inquiries. We only ask questions when security is at stake, and none of the hotels want any problems, at their hotel or anywhere in town. The insurgent coup last summer nearly killed our tourism industry. If it hadn’t been for the royal weddings, we might never have bounced back.”

  Ava felt a reluctant smile tug at the corners of her mouth.

  “What is it?”

  “You make it sound as though these weddings have saved the tourism industry.”

  “Yes, they have,” Jason insisted, looking a bit surprised that she hadn’t known. “Ava, many people in our kingdom depend on tourism for their livelihood. By creating beautiful weddings, you’ve restored their jobs and their way of life.”

  In spite of his glowing words and the ardor with which he spoke them, Ava couldn’t feel happy. “If the killer strikes tomorrow, that would ruin everything—not just for me and the royal family, but for all those hardworking—” Her voice caught, the awfulness of it all too much for her.