The Last in Line (The Royal Inheritance Series Book 1)

by Banks, Evie

  Leanne moped for a week, hardly saying a word to either George or Renee. Renee tried not to be hurt by it since her mother was often moody, but the extra sighs and force she used to angrily stub out her cigarettes told her that the makeup incident was still on Leanne’s mind. And so it was with some surprise that Renee answered a knock at the door one day and C.J., a man she knew as a guy her father often hired for repair work on the ranch, asked if her mother was at home.

  “Mama! C.J. is here,” Renee shouted. She wondered why C.J. wanted to talk to her mother since it was her father who paid him and he was out at an auction to look for a tractor.

  Leanne poked her head out of her bedroom door with a look of surprise. She went to the front door and Renee went back to watching television. Her mother spoke in a low voice. Renee turned the volume down on the television set in order to eavesdrop better.

  “You weren’t supposed to come until later when she was gone. What am I supposed to tell her?” said Leanne angrily.

  “That’s not my problem. You said you wanted to do this. Are you coming or aren’t you?” replied CJ.

  Leanne glanced over her shoulder at Renee who quickly pretended to be absorbed in whatever was playing on the screen. “Just give me a minute,” Leanne whispered to him and closed the door quietly. Leanne went back to the bedroom. Renee tried to make it look like she wasn’t watching her every move, but when Leanne came out with a suitcase and her big purse slung over her shoulder she couldn’t pretend anymore.

  “Where are you going?”

  Leanne rested the purse on the suitcase. “Renee, this is going to be hard for you to understand, but I want you to try, ok?”

  “You’re leaving.” Renee didn’t need to be talked to like a child. She felt fury boiling up inside her, but what came out was choked tears. “What about Dad?” she cried. “What about me? I’ll wear the lipstick, I promise!”

  “Honey, this isn’t about you or about any silly old lipstick,” said Leanne. “It doesn’t make sense now, but it will when you’re older. I just need more than this.”

  Renee was openly weeping now. “You don’t need me?”

  “That’s not it at all. You’ll understand when you’re older.” Leanne bent to give her a hug. Renee wanted both to push her mother away and hold her tightly to keep her from leaving. Leanne pulled out of her grasp. “I’ll always love you. Look after your dad.” She picked up her suitcase and purse and went to the door.

  “I hate you!” Renee screamed as the door closed behind Leanne. She ran to the door and yanked it open in time to see C.J. throw the suitcase in the back of the truck and get behind the wheel. He didn’t bother looking at her, but even worse—neither did her mother. “Don’t go! Mama, don’t leave!”

  The truck peeled away. Dust was still floating in the air when she lost sight of it and her mother. She crumpled to the floor of the porch and rocked back and forth. Tears flowed down her face and slipped through the cracks of the wood planks. George found her there an hour later, sitting with her arms wrapped around a porch post and her head resting against it. She didn’t look up as he walked up the porch steps, the heels of his boots made a thudding sound that reverberated through the empty spaces in her heart. She could feel him looking at her curiously. “Mom left,” she said. She felt hollow.

  “Where did she go?”

  With a sickening feeling, Renee realized she didn’t know. She dissolved into panicked sobs. “I don’t know. She left with C.J.”

  George ran back down to the stairs and jumped into his truck, driving away with an enormous roar of the engine. He didn’t return for two hours, by which time Renee had dragged herself inside and curled up on the floor in front of the sofa.

  “Renee?”

  Renee didn’t respond. He draped a blanket over her and then went to the kitchen and from the highest cabinet, the one that Renee couldn’t reach, pulled down a bottle of whiskey that had hardly been touched in five years. He took it with him into the bedroom that had been so recently vacated by Leanne and shut the door. She didn’t see him until the next afternoon.

  There was no word from Leanne and Renee got into the habit of making dinner and doing the shopping whenever George drove into town. George was even more silent than ever. Three weeks later there came word that C.J. had been seen slinking around town. George left in the truck to pay a visit to him and returned with a split knuckle and the name of a place. “She’s in Phoenix.”

  “But that’s not anywhere near Branson!” said Renee. She had convinced herself that was where her mother had gone, and had even formulated a plan to save up her birthday money from Nana Ross to buy a bus ticket there.

  Deep down she knew it wasn’t her father’s fault that Leanne had left, but she was going to act like it was and no longer sat on the fence rail watching him train the horses. She knew that the real culprit was herself. She hadn’t been the type of daughter that Leanne wanted. Renee decided to change that so that when her mother came back—she wouldn’t allow herself to think the word “if”—Leanne would decide to stay. She began spending hours in front of the mirror curling her hair and applying eye shadow, mascara and lipstick. The boys began to notice, just as her mother had said, but they were older and not the ones from her class.

  Already at a loss as to what to do with his motherless daughter, George let her have her freedom. When she stopped coming home at night he tried the opposite approach of grounding her, but nothing worked. Whenever she met a new boy she got the same feeling as when she used to saddle a new horse; you never knew what was going to happen. She wanted to keep that feeling going. Needed to keep that feeling going.

  Out of the blue, about four months after leaving, Leanne called. Renee answered it. When she heard her mother’s voice her heart almost stopped. She wanted to hold the phone to her ear forever, but instead she just handed it over to her father when he asked who it was. George spoke quietly so she couldn’t hear. He seemed as desperate to hear her voice as Renee, but then he got louder and more agitated. “That is absolutely shameless,” she heard him say. He slammed down the phone and stood there, face to the wall, shoulders hunched like an old man, breathing heavily.

  “What did she say?” Renee finally ventured.

  “She wanted money,” said her father. He walked out onto the porch and slammed the door. He was doing a lot of that lately. Through the window she saw him spark a match and light a cigarette. The sash was up and she heard him utter a low oath. She knew he would give Leanne the money despite her betrayal. That made Renee hate him for being weak and hate her mother for being a user. She hadn’t even asked to talk to Renee.

  Every six months or so after that the phone would ring and Renee would see her father’s back stiffen. She heard the chatty, overly exuberant voice pouring out over the line. Her mother’s voice was so loud she could hear it even when she went into another room and closed the door. Always Leanne would talk about interesting things she’d seen or a great band she heard, but would be evasive about who she was with or how she was making a living. Every conversation would end with the same request for money and the promise that it would be the last time she asked for it, she just needed to get on her feet, to find herself. Renee took to walking past her father saying, “Don’t do it.” But he always did.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  BRITCHFORD GAMELY AGREED to serve as a decoy so that they could pick up Leanne at the airport. He arrived at the hotel at one in the afternoon and then very conspicuously departed an hour later, pausing to respond to the reporters that swarmed around him. While everyone was thus distracted, Renee, Cassandra, Roberts and Chase slipped out the back to a waiting minivan with tinted windows. Renee wore dark glasses and hid her hair under a newsboy cap.

  “I’m going to kill her,” said Renee as Harry maneuvered the van away from the hotel. Her fury at her mother had not abated during the night, not even after four ibuprofen tablets and a whiskey chaser, which was helpfully provided in the mini-fridge of her room. Taking it would pr
obably tack on another £100 to her room bill, but she figured it was worth it.

  “We can make anything look like an accident if you really want to get rid of her,” said Chase offhandedly as he looked out the window. “You’d be amazed at what can be staged or covered up.”

  “Like what?” asked Renee, intrigued.

  “I’m sorry, that’s a state secret and you are not yet privy to them.” Chase smirked. He could tell it was killing Renee not to know.

  “That is very disturbing to learn. I’m sure I can have you disemboweled for your rudeness.”

  “Don’t take it so bad. The Americans are even better at it!” His eyes twinkled mischievously.

  Renee decided not to take the bait. There were some things she was perhaps better off not knowing.

  Traffic was minimal and they approached Heathrow Airport quicker than she would have thought possible.

  “When Grandma gets here, do I have to give her a hug?” Cassandra asked suddenly.

  “You have to be polite,” said Renee.

  “But you said hugging her only allows her to get her claws into your back pocket and rob you blind. I heard you say it to Mr. Britchford. You also said the police should hide the crown jewels because Grandma will try to pawn them for Bingo money.”

  Chase tried to cover up his laughing fit with a cough.

  “Do you need a cough drop, Mr. Chase? I have one in my purse,” said Cassandra.

  Chase grinned. “No, I feel great right now. Thanks for that one, kid.”

  Renee watched the scenery whizz by. She hated the idea that her minivan and her mother’s airplane were drawing closer and closer to each other every second. She noticed that Roberts was being unusually quiet during the journey and had been so all morning. “What’s with you?” she asked him irritably since this was all his fault anyway.

  Roberts cleared his throat. “Your mother. You don’t suppose she means to…make a pass at me, do you?”

  Renee gawked at him. “Why would you think that?”

  Roberts looked uncomfortable. “On the telephone yesterday…she asked if I was married….It’s not that I wouldn’t be flattered,” he went on quickly, “but I would be unable to fulfill my duties to my Queen if I was involved with the Queen’s mother in a social way. It would create a conflict of interest, you see.” Roberts looked down and his cheeks turned pink. Despite her annoyance, Renee wanted to laugh, but could see that Roberts was serious. This was the funniest thing she’d heard in a while.

  “Don’t worry. She flirts with anything that has an Adam’s Apple. You’re not required to reciprocate.”

  “Oh. That’s a relief,” said Roberts, but his face fell a bit. “Well, here we are then. We made good time.” This time it was Renee who looked disappointed.

  No one noticed Renee as the four of them plus Harry strolled through the airport. It was wonderful to be among people again, to be just another face in the crowd. Everyone was in such a rush to make their flight or greet arrivals, no one had time to look around except for the travelers who had layovers or long waits and they were buried in their books or too tired to do anything other than try to make their hard, plastic seat into a comfortable bed with a sweater tucked behind their heads for a pillow. Renee wanted to use her blessed anonymity to do some browsing in the shops and have a meal in a restaurant, but a scan of the arrivals board showed that Flight 294 from O’Hare was twenty minutes early. That was twenty fewer minutes Renee would have to retain her sanity.

  Renee became more tense as they approached the correct gate. It had been six years since she had last seen Leanne. She steeled herself to hear a long monologue from Leanne regarding the glories of living in Reno, her latest get rich quick scheme, the music scene there, how she was going to make it big soon, and the various hucksters and shysters who were going to make that happen. She’d heard it all before and it always ended with a request for money. Only this time she couldn’t just hang up or claim she didn’t have any money, not when the whole world had her pegged as the next heir to an enormous fortune.

  Passengers began to stream out, tucking their passports into pockets and wheeling large bags. One after another the arrivees greeted their families or took a business like look at the signs and headed for the taxis or tube station. Finally Renee saw her, or rather heard her. There was no mistaking that ear-piercing trill informing everyone within earshot that Lord, that flight was horrendous, but that male flight attendant sure was cute. From among the tired travelers, Renee caught a glimpse of bleached blonde hair piled up on top of the head that showed a good inch of dark roots. Underneath it all she saw Leanne who looked the same as she remembered, only heavier and more lined. She wore the same blue eyeliner and eye shadow she always had and her white denim jacket was spangled with studs and rhinestones. Lord have mercy, she wore rhinestones to London, thought Renee.

  “There she is, that’s my daughter. I told you she was gorgeous, didn’t I? And it’s so good to see my granddaughter Catherine again!”

  Leanne swept a terrified looking Cassandra into a tight hug and kissed her on the cheek leaving a red lipstick imprint.“It’s Cassandra,” she muttered, but Leanne had already released her and moved to hug Renee. Cassandra slunk back to hide behind Renee, who noticed that some of the other travelers were watching her with interest. A couple nudged each other and said, “It is her!”

  “Mama, who did you tell people you were visiting?” said Renee, nervously.

  “I told them I was coming to live with my daughter who was about to become the most famous person in the world. Don’t worry,” said Leanne in an exaggerated whisper, “I didn’t tell them who you were, I just said that they could find me at the biggest house in London.”

  Behind Leanne, people were starting to crane their necks to see what was causing the backup and then their faces began to light up with recognition. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” Renee urged quietly, but Leanne spied Chase and Roberts who were standing slightly behind Renee.

  “I know who you two are without even having to ask. You’re the ones I spoke to on the telephone!” She went up to Chase and chucked him under the chin with a long red fingernail even though he was taller than her. His hand moved involuntarily towards his concealed holster. “You’re the sweet thing who wouldn’t tell me his name. Come on now, you can tell Mama.”

  “It’s Chase, Ma’am. Lovely to meet you. I can see where Mrs. Krebs gets her good looks and sense of style from.” Chase winked at Renee as Leanne giggled and pretended to smack him in the chest for being such a flirt. “You young things,” she said. Renee glared at Chase. Sense of style, indeed! He would have to pay for that one.

  Leanne moved on to Roberts who took the initiative by bending low to kiss her hand. “Enchanté. You must be that bewitching woman I spoke to on the phone yesterday.” Leanne’s mouth fell open and she blushed. “We are all so glad you are here.”

  “Well, I had to come to support my Renee. I don’t want to be in the way or anything,” said Leanne and hazarded a glance at her stony-faced daughter.

  “In the way? Pish, nonsense!” said Roberts. “You, Ma’am, have a very important role here, seeing as you are the Queen Mum, after all.”

  This time, Leanne was truly stunned and it was a moment before she found her voice. “The Queen Mum!” she said rapturously. “I knew it. I always knew I was something special.”

  “It’s because of Dad,” said Renee, irritably. “You didn’t do anything special.”

  “I had the good sense to marry him, didn’t I—and bring you up right?” said Leanne. Before Renee could enumerate all the ways Leanne had let down both her and her father, Leanne pushed her large carry-on into Chase’s arms and handed the suitcase to Roberts. “Let’s get out of here; I could eat the ass out of a rhinoceros!” She walked down the ramp and Renee and Cassandra—who was still keeping her distance from Leanne—followed. Renee stopped and turned around. Chase and Roberts hadn’t moved. “What’s wrong with you two?” she asked.

&
nbsp; “Your mother…” said Chase.

  “Pinched my bottom,” said Roberts.

  “Oh, she got you too?” said Chase. He leaned backwards to take a look. “Well, it’s a nice one. That woman has stealthy hands, I tell you. Of course, Mr. Enchanted here isn’t complaining.”

  Renee pulled her hat down farther and left them to bicker and tease each other. She was aware of the whispers and quiet clicks of camera phones. A hundred pictures had probably already been taken. They needed to get out of her quick before Leanne could cause a scene, something she was often prone to doing. Leanne had already latched onto the beefy arm of Harry who kept silent except to answer “Yes Ma’am” or “No Ma’am” as the occasion required. Renee hoped her mother wasn’t sexually harassing her security guard. She hurried to catch up. Leanne was talking loudly about her singing “career” and then began talking over her shoulder as if Renee had been part of the conversation the whole time.

  “That man who came to hear me sing at the bar was so nice. He said he could get me some gigs in London, but he sure did ask a lot of questions and then when I saw him on TV, it all clicked.”

  “What man?” asked Renee, absent-mindedly. They were almost to the parking area, almost to the security of the minivan. She looked backwards and noticed that some of the travelers were trailing their little group.

  “He was asking a lot of questions because he said he wanted to use my background as a way to promote my music, but a lot of the questions were about you and your father. I thought it was a little weird at first, but then when I saw them talking about you and him on the tee-vee, I realized he wants to use my music as a way to promote himself. The man with the scar.”

  Renee felt that cold trickle of dread. Bretton. Bretton had gotten to her mother. He had been hunting down her relatives and acquaintances to find out about her. He had gone all the way to Reno to do so. Who else had he gotten to? She quickly flipped through the rolodex in her mind to determine if anyone she knew could have provided critical information to Bretton. Nana Ross? But Nana Ross was elderly and in the hospital. Brenda? But Brenda had already sniffed him out at the diner. But even if he reached her friends and acquaintances, what could they tell him, really? Her job? Waitressing was now a thing of the past. Her favorite color? The blue of her baby’s eyes the first time they blinked up at her. Her financial hardships? She used to watch a neighbor’s child and got paid in plates of tamales and boxes of diapers, that’s how hard it was. But so what?—lots of people went through lean times. There wasn’t anything he could attack her with or surprise her with, was there? Nothing came to mind. Her life was an open book that was already splashed across the tabloids. She breathed a little easier and decided to tell Chase about it later. It wasn’t urgent.