by Malone, Nana
Finally, the reception area door opened, and a very stern-looking woman in a crisp navy blue uniform with a stiff collar walked over to us. “The queen shall see you now.”
Jinx and I stood and followed behind her because there was really no option but to do so. She led us to the interior room. I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t this. There were at least ten different people tapping away on computers. I didn’t expect to see a well-lit room with a view of the gardens. Somehow, I always thought an interior office would be dark and drab. This was well lit and pretty. And it led into the courtyard.
I wondered if anyone ever ate lunch out there. Probably. Queen Penny seemed to be the sort to encourage that kind of thing. She didn’t seem like she’d particularly like being forced indoors a lot. Then the old bird knocked on the interior door and opened it at the sound of Queen Penny’s voice.
We were ushered in, and immediately, I relaxed.
Penny stood. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she was wearing stained pink overalls with a T-shirt underneath that said, ‘Natural girls do it better. Why? Because they like it kinky.’ Her appearance apparently pleased Jinx too, because she laughed. I pointed out the shirt immediately. “Oh my God, I love it. I need one.”
We both eventually remembered our manners and curtsied. Penny waved her hand. “No, stop that.” She came over and hugged us both. “Thank you so much for coming. Thank you for calling me. Have a seat.”
I didn’t want to waste her time, so I dove right in. “Your Majesty, I appreciate you agreeing to see me. I hope it’s okay that I brought Jinx along.”
“Of course. I gave you my card because I wanted you to call.” There was another knock at the door and Penny called out. “Come in.”
A slim redhead, about Jinx’s height, strolled in.
“I swear to God, why can’t I just come in through the courtyard like always? That old biddy scares me.”
Queen Penny rolled her eyes. “You have taken down badass assassins. You can hack into any database in the world. And she scares you?”
The redhead shuddered. “Yes. I have delicate sensibilities.” She startled a bit when she saw us. “Oh, I didn’t know you had company.”
Queen Penny made introductions and turned to Ariel. “Actually, I wanted you here because I had a feeling that we might need your help.”
“Anything for you, buckaroo.” Ariel turned toward one of the oversized chairs and dropped into it then propped her feet up on the coffee table. And I also noted that she hadn’t curtsied. This was madness to me.
Penny turned back to me and nodded. “Sorry, go ahead. What do you need?”
“Well um, it’s just—" How should I even start? I’d come to see her about some pretty bizarre circumstances. I took a deep breath and tried anyway. “So, my parents and I have a difficult situation.”
Once I got started, it was surprisingly easy to tell the story. The lies and deceit, the stealing.
At key points, Jinx interjected to back up my evidence. “But my parents are my problem, and that’s not what I’m here about. I just—given our conversation the other day about Lucas and what my father is trying to do to him, I wondered maybe if they somehow tried to drag me into it. I don’t know. Ten thousand dollars appeared in my bank account yesterday, and I honestly don’t know what to do about it. Even if my parents just returned the amount that they stole from me, this is above and beyond. And they honestly have no reason to do so. Not to mention they don’t have access to my accounts.”
Ariel frowned from her slouched-down position on the couch. “Wait, so you had connected or shared accounts with them before?”
I nodded. “Yeah, you know, basic things. When you start your own bank account, you go with the family banker, or whatever, so I did that. It bit me in the ass though.”
Ariel nodded. “No shit. But now, the amounts have returned and then some.”
“I have a job now, so I am earning money. But not that kind of money. I’m not like my parents. I live on a budget. I’m frugal. I don’t really have any use for the pomp and circumstance kind of thing. It’s not really my deal. I don’t need much. I’m pretty simple actually.” I sighed. “Okay look, I’m a sucker for a nice pair of shoes. But beyond that, there’s not much I need or want. So I just want this money to go away, and if it’s going to come back and bite me in the ass, I’d rather have pre-emptively told you about it, I guess."
With the story finally told, I realized how silly it sounded. As if the Queen of the Winston Isles would have time for me or care about what I was doing. I sighed. “I’m sorry. I have wasted your time. This is silly. Jinx, let’s go.”
Jinx stared at me. “Are you joking? She can help.”
Queen Penny nodded. “First of all, this could well be connected to Lucas. It’s actually information I want and need to know, so you stay seated, and let’s figure this out.”
I stared at her. “You want to help me?”
She nodded. “Yes, please. Turns out I need intrigue in my life.”
Jinx, unable to help herself as usual, snorted. “Um, don’t you have a hot new husband for that?”
Ariel guffawed and slapped the coffee table. “Oh, I like her.”
Queen Penny laughed as well. “Yes. But, honestly, there’s only so much time you can spend naked. Eventually, I need to use my brain. I do love the charity work, and the art, and I do get to paint. But it’s shocking. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss being a proper Royal Guard. So this gives me something safe to do. Something my husband will let me do.”
I didn’t know what to infer from that statement, but when Ariel got a clouded expression, I guessed it was sore point. “Honestly, I just don’t know what to do. I only wanted back what was mine. But this is so much extra, so it feels like there’s a catch.”
Ariel stood up then. “Okay, give your account numbers to me. I’ll have a look. If you think your parents are screwing with you, that’s one thing. But if it’s part of some plot to get back at Lucas, that’s a much bigger question.”
“I don’t know. Honestly, I wish I had the answer to that. It would make my life a lot easier.”
Penny smiled at me. “Well, you have us now, so you’re not alone. And we will figure this out. To be honest, I’m glad to have some other friends in the palace. Sometimes I feel like everybody is working, not against me, but working for the throne. I would very much like us to be friends.”
I smiled back. “I’d like that too.”
Jinx practically bounced off her seat like a jumping meme.
“Besides, it would give me another approved place I can go besides the palace. And, it would let me work on something. We won’t tell my husband, of course. This will just be between us girls.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Fine by me. I just want to know what the hell is going on.”
Ariel gave me a nod and a wink. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
For the first time since the money had shown up, I started to relax.
21
penny
“You still haven’t had the sit-down with hubs, huh?”
I straightened my jacket so that my recorder was better hidden. “Not yet, but we will. Just as soon as I have something to show for my efforts.”
“Just where does he think you are right now?”
I smiled sheepishly. “With you watching trash TV.”
Ariel laughed. “Penny, stop. You’re the bloody queen. Hell, your status as a guard is up in the air. You still have the right to see him. But I feel like Sebastian can’t possibly be thrilled about this. Besides, you’re mentally torturing yourself.”
I lifted my chin. “So far no one has gotten through to him. No one has been able to get him to talk. Maybe if I can get through to him, I can understand better who he’s working with and why.”
“He’s been questioned by our best interrogators. Ad nauseam. Ad infinitum even. You really think you can break him?”
“I mean, I can only hope,
right? We were together for a long time. Even if he was only pretending.”
Ariel stuck her hands in her pockets. “Tell Sebastian. You might not be hiding, but it feels like you're hiding. Just talk to him. He might surprise you.”
I sighed. “Okay, I will, all right?”
I didn't like the sneaking off. I didn't like involving Michael. I hated keeping something from Sebastian. But when I’d been told he had requested to see me, it was an opportunity I couldn’t give up.
But then he hadn’t said anything. Just bullshitted. Like I was the one person he wanted to talk to. I recognized he was trying to play me, so I thought, why not play him? Unfortunately to get anywhere with him, he wanted his pound of flesh.
And my brother was helping me. Even though I didn’t think he should. I was willing to risk myself and my sanity to talk to him. But I didn’t want Michael to go through this pain. I didn’t want Sebastian to go through it. I wanted to help, to take the pain from them.
Regardless, Sebastian would be pissed.
Better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.
Ariel let me into the room to see if the guard was making sure that Robert’s shackles were tight. When Robert looked up, he just looked bored. Maybe resigned was a better word. He simply sighed and sat there and stared at me. “My favorite visitor. Turns out my only visitor. You know my own mother won’t come and see me?”
“Seems maybe like you did this to yourself. So, are you going to talk tonight? I don’t have time to listen to your bullshit.”
He laughed. “You’re in a hurry today. Could it be that the idiot king finally noticed that you’ve been seeing me? Tell me, was he jealous? Did he forbid you?”
I inclined my head. “If you’re going to waste my time, I’m going. From now on, if you don’t give me something actionable, I’m not coming back.”
“Oh, now, now, don’t be like that. You know this is mutually beneficial for the both of us.”
I had to laugh at that. “I’m still not sure how this benefits me.”
“I promised I’d tell you what you want to know. You’ll get all the information.”
“Just when you dole it out. You're out of time Robert. If you have nothing to give me, I won’t be back.”
“You’re bluffing. No. You skipped our last visit. Where’d you go, Penny? What were you doing?”
“None of your business, Robert. But you are my business. Who else have you been talking with? And why do you hate this family so much?”
“I don’t hate this family. I just resent the fact that you’re fucking royalty and I’m not considered to be one.”
“You do understand that you tried to kill me and the king more than once?”
“I am a freedom fighter. I am the rightful heir to that throne.”
“Sorry. You’re delusional. Even if Uncle Roland would submit to the test, which he won’t, you have no claim to the throne.”
“What? And the bastard does?”
“Well, according to this little thing called the law, yes. That bastard also didn’t try to kill me, so there’s that, nor did he actually kill the previous king. That would be you. So that throne you had your eye on? No matter what, it would still be occupied by someone other than you, so you might as well give up whoever it is that you’re protecting. Whoever it is, I promise you, they’re not worth it.”
“Why are you doing their bidding? They don’t even want you in the family.”
“Is that what you tell yourself to make yourself feel better? To soothe your inner child who felt unwanted? You must get a kick out of these visits. I understand I’m the only one who sees you now.” I shook my head. “I probably see you more now than when we actually dated.”
He sniffed. “You look at that time fondly, do you?”
“Actually, I don’t think of that time at all. It was like a million years ago. Anything you said or did to me then is almost as if it happened to someone else. I have a new life now. Does that bother you?”
“I don’t actually care about what happens to you. But when your husband is off the throne, I’d be more than happy for you to come see me and tell me exactly how it feels to be on the outside again.”
“Well, that’s never going to happen. But you’re allowed your little delusions, I suppose. Robert, don’t you see I’m trying to help you? If you talk to me, cooperate, give me something we could actually use, I can make you more comfortable. I can get you different accommodations. But if you keep doing this, you’re going to stay here in this prison. You could be kept in solitary. No books, no more outdoor time. You don’t want to live like that.”
The Winston Isles didn’t have a super max or anything. Most of the time the criminals were kept in regular old jails for the extent of their terms. That jail was hosted on one of the smaller islands. A very small, state-of-the-art prison was located on the main island though. It technically wasn’t too far from the palace, but it might as well be on Mars in comparison.
Most of the prisoners had access to a full library, comfort, and education, so they could do something with their lives when they left. Unless the prisoner was trouble and antagonizing the other inmates and the guards. Then they spent a lot of time in solitary. But even solitary confinement there was like a small studio apartment.
“I like being alone.”
“Robert, help me help you. All these little notes from Michael, they’ll stop.”
His eyes went wide. “You want me to tell you what I need?”
“Yes. Maybe I can help get it for you. There are other lives at stake. Fair enough that you hate me and you hate Sebastian, but there are people in play who haven’t hurt anyone. The longer you sit here silent, the more likely you are to get caught in the crossfire. Is that what you really want?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what I want. This is bigger than all of us. At some point soon, there will be a reckoning. And your precious husband, his family, they won’t be the in the palace anymore. What in the world will you do if you’re no longer a queen?”
I was getting nowhere with him. Now I understood even more why Sebastian didn’t want me coming. I knew it made me return to him frustrated and irritated with Robert. But I had to keep trying because he was our best lead. He was a true believer, whatever it was that he believed in. He wasn’t giving anything up.
“That’s right. Run back to your husband. Enjoy being the queen while you can. Something bigger than all of us is coming. And when it does, God help you all.”
I stood and pushed back my chair. Sebastian and my father were right. This was futile. I was only hurting myself by coming here. “Goodbye Robert.” I made a point not to look back at him as I left.
* * *
Lucas
Roone was difficult to find. I waited until the next morning to see if I could sweet talk Ethan into giving me Roone as an assigned guard. But it wasn’t Ethan I found. It was Penny, pouring over some papers on her father’s desk.
“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”
“Penny.” I spread out my arms, and she stood from her father’s desk and sashayed over, letting me wrap my arms around her.
“You, sir, have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Let me guess. Sebastian mentioned you’ve been talking to Bryna a lot. Am I persona non grata with my sister-in-law too?”
She shook her head. “No, you are always persona grata with me, because when I needed you once, you were there. But she’s hurt.”
“I know. And I will fix that. I have a long list of people to make amends to, but right now, I’m trying to locate Roone.”
“I know my dad had him on assignment.” She picked up a tablet and scrolled through it, and then she stopped. “He’s due back today. Actually, he should be back by now. I assume you know where his quarters are.”
I nodded. “I just wanted to confirm. Thank you.”
“Cut Roone some slack. His whole thing is all about being good at his job. Without that, he feels lik
e he’s nothing. When you bailed, you basically made that all true, so he might need some time.”
“I know. But I have to try.”
Penny was right. I found Roone just as he was returning. He saw me approach and paused at his door before turning the knob and walking in. I followed him quickly. “Roone, wait up.”
He closed the door in my face.
“Real mature.” I opened it again without knocking.
He frowned at me as I stepped through the door. “Are you insane? I could have shot you.”
“Yeah, but I know for a fact you always put your gun in your weapons case immediately, so I felt pretty safe walking in. Also, Sebastian says you can’t shoot me.”
“Well, you know, accidents happen.”
Marcus, on the other hand, grinned and gave me a hug. “Lucas, welcome back.” Marcus glanced between Roone and me, and then he said. “You know, I’m just going somewhere that’s not here.” Once he left, it was just me and Roone.
Roone crossed his arms. “So, what do you want?”
“Dude, I just came to talk to you. I sent you a bunch of texts. Did you get them?”
“Yeah, I got them. I just didn’t want to do anything about them.”
Shit. “Fuck, man. Sorry. I know I left you hanging, ok?”
“Look, Lucas, we’ve been through this. I explained to you why you can’t do certain things, and you did them anyway. Doesn’t that get old? At some point, you have to stop telling people that you care about them and actually show them by not being a complete dick.”
“I know. I know. There were a lot of things in play, stuff I wish I had explained then. But I fucked that up. I just hope you can forgive me. That doesn’t just take a minute, I know. But I’m back. I’m right here. I’m not running. And whenever you’re ready, I’d like to tell you why I ran.”
