The Beach Hut on Plum Island

13. CHAPTER 13

Harriet had been awake for nearly an hour, but the hospital staff had only let her sit up and have some water five minutes ago. Restlessness prickled under her skin. She needed to get out of this bed, out of this room, and find out who had drugged her and tried to kidnap her. Deep down, she had a sneaky suspicion of who it might be.

Just as she was plotting her escape from the hospital, Finn walked in. A smile split his lips as soon as their eyes met, which did crazy things to her heart.

“Hello, Princess. It’s good to see you awake,” Finn said. “You gave us all a huge fright.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Harriet assured him. “I bet Murphy’s saying this is karma.”

“Why would he say that?” Finn’s brow creased.

“Oh, because I’ve done that to him once or … uh… maybe twice!” Harriet grinned sheepishly.

“Ah.” Finn nodded. “But I bet you didn’t put enough on his pillow to nearly kill him.”

“Of course not,” Harriet said before his words sank in, and her eyes widened. “What?”

“There was enough sleeping powder in your hair to knock out an elephant,” Finn said. “Okay, maybe not an elephant, but there was more than there should’ve been.”

“Is that your roundabout way of trying to tell me that someone was trying to kill me?” Harriet’s eyes widened.

“Or put you in a coma!” Finn said.

“Lovely.” Harriet snorted. “It’s such a joy knowing someone wants to put me in a coma so they can kidnap me.”

“Do you have any idea who’d have that kind of access to your room?” Finn asked.

“I have no idea,” Harriet told him. “Besides housekeeping, the only people who have been in my room were you, me, and Estelle.” Her eyes widened. “She could’ve gotten sleeping powder.”

“Yes, we found a tin of sleeping powder in her room,” Finn told her. “Estelle is under room arrest at the moment at the Summer Inn Hotel. But we need to find out if she was working alone and ensure we have the right person.”

Something nagged at Harriet. “I don’t think it would’ve been Estelle.” She shook her head. “First, she’s not strong enough to kidnap me. Estelle knew there were guards at my door, and she’s already blackmailing me.” She shrugged. “I don’t think she’d try a stunt like that. I do think someone wants us to believe Estelle did it.”

“I guess,” Finn said. “But for now, she’s our top suspect.”

“Which is probably good, so the real culprit thinks their plan has worked,” Harriet smiled. “So we can go ahead with the Greece plan. I’m going to need to get out of here soon if we’re going to fly to the UK tonight.”

“Oh!” Finn pursed his lips. “All trips have been canceled,” he announced without preamble. “Alex and Daniella won’t be going to the UK. So, the original wedding party festivities are back on.”

Harriet’s mind shifted to her friends’ disrupted plans. She’d seen how excited Alex had seemed about going to the UK on an impulsive trip. Like her, it had reminded them of their younger years when they’d slip their protective details and sneak off to Paris or London.

“Now I feel awful,” Harriet stated. “I know we only suggested that so you could get to Greece, but Alex looked like he was really excited about it.” Her eyes widened. “Talking about Greece, how are you going to sneak off to go there now?”

“I have news about that, too. Your mother took control of that plan,” Finn explained and told her that Liam was going instead and that it was a much better plan because now they could keep the Gladstones busy.

“I hate to admit this, but my mother’s right and her plan is much better than ours,” Harriet huffed. “I hate it when that happens. But it’s so typical of my mother, you know. She swoops in and takes over. But she does it gradually like a silent plague spreading through your well-laid-out plans.”

“Your mother was only trying to help, Harriet,” Finn pointed out. “She wants what’s best for your family, too, and knows how important claiming back that land is to your family.”

“But trust me,” Harriet stated. “My mother has her own agenda bubbling in the background.”

“Maybe your mother is just looking out for her children!” Finn advised.

“Oh no!” Harriet gasped. “Don’t tell me she got to you!” Harriet held up her hands to ward him off. “Did she infect you with her sweetness and draw you in with her kind words before going for you jugular on making you into a Julie vampire.”

“Okay…” Finn raised an eyebrow. “If I didn’t know you worked in the entertainment industry, I’d be telling you that you watch way too many horror movies.” He shook his head. “And I don’t think I’ve been changed into a Julie vampire.”

“Mmm,” Harriet said, eyeing him suspiciously. “Time will tell.”

“Can we get back to talking about the sleeping powder in your hair?” Finn asked. “Can you think of anyone else who would’ve had access to your room to put the stuff on your pillow?”

“My question is, if it wasn’t Estelle, then how did they get the stuff?” Harriet wondered. “This brings me to my next thought: whoever it is must be close to the king. Because as far as I know, he’d be the only person who’d still have that stuff.”

Finn frowned in contemplation. “When I got to your suite, all the bedding had been removed.”

Harriet furrowed her brows, processing the information. “I’m still not convinced Estelle is behind this.” She bit the side of her mouth. “This seems more like something Leon would do, given his vast connections and his knack for evading restrictions, even from custody.”

“Harley told me on my way to see you that Estelle isn’t being very cooperative,” Finn told her. “She’ll only talk to you.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Harriet asked, pushed back the covers, and ignored the pain in her head as she threw her legs over the side. “Help me get out of here.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea before Daniella gives you the all-clear?” Finn asked worriedly.

“Trust me, I know what the powder does,” Harriet assured him. “Other than a bit of a dry mouth and headache, I’ll be fine.”

With Finn’s reluctant help, Harriet managed to discharge herself against medical advice. They drove back to the Summer Inn Hotel in silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the unfolding mystery.

When they arrived at her suite, however, frustration mounted anew. The room was spotless, and the evidence of any wrongdoing was erased by well-meaning housekeeping staff. Harriet felt a surge of helplessness.

“Looks like we’re at a dead end here,” Finn murmured, echoing her thoughts as he surveyed the pristine room.

“Is it wrong of me to want to call for clean pillows?” Harriet stood staring at her newly made bed.

“I don’t blame you,” Finn told her. “In fact, I think you should pack a bag and stay in my guest room tonight.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Harriet assured him as she started following Finn out of her room.

“I’m inclined to agree with Finn, Princess Harriet.” Murphy walked into the suite. “Or, I’ve been asked by your parents to bring you to the beach house until we know for sure it was Estelle.”

“No!” Harriet said in frustration. “I’m not letting someone chase me from where I live.”

“I will carry you if I have to and come back to pack some things for you,” Murphy warned her.

“Are we doing this easy way, hard way thing again?” Harriet’s eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms. “We’ve been over this.” She sighed. “You know you never win.”

“This time, I have reinforcements,” Murphy told her as there was a knock on the door, and Harley walked in.

“Oh, you traitor!” Harriet hissed as she gave Harley a scathing look.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but it’s for your own safety,” Harley told her unapologetically.

“And I know it’s going to incur your wrath, and we’re going to have to watch our backs for the rest of our lives,” Alex said, wandering in, followed by her brother.

“But we’re all here to back Murphy,” Gray told her.

“Oh, how sad is this?” Harriet said, her eyes narrowing as she eyed each one of them. “Four grown men ganging up against one little woman.”

“Harry, you’re not just any woman, though, are you?” Alex pointed out. “Right now, I know exactly what you’re thinking, and I’m telling you not to try it. We’re worried about your safety, so please just go stay with your parents, Finn, or you can stay at my house.”

“Fine!” Harriet sighed. “Do you mind if I change? I feel rather weird standing here in hospital scrubs. I’ll pack a few things.” She looked at Finn. “Would you mind making us some ginger tea?”

“Sure,” Finn said, kissing her forehead. “We’ll stop off at Estelle’s room on the way out to speak to her.”

“You said she’s been confined to her room?” Harriet asked him. “Where is her room?”

“One floor down and directly beneath yours,” Gray told her.

“No way!” Harriet said, frowning. “I can see why you’d think she was the one who did this.” She gave them a tight smile. “I’ll be back in a bit. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Harriet walked into her room and closed her door. She walked over to the dressing room, took a chair, and propped it beneath the handle as she knew they’d hear if she turned the key. Harriet walked into the bathroom and ran some water before quickly putting on a pair of cut-off jeans and a cotton shirt. She slipped on a pair of sneakers, pulled her hair back, and secured it with a band.

Harriet left the bathroom, pulled the door closed, locked it, and put the key in the dresser drawer before stealthily sneaking out the balcony door that led off her bedroom. She couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was off about her attempted kidnapping. It didn’t make sense to her. Sleeping powder on her pillow, the fire alarm, and then someone being able to strip her bed of all the evidence while the hotel was teeming with security. This seemed like an inside job to Harriet. It was possible that Estelle could’ve put the powder on her pillow when she’d broken into Harriet’s room. But Harriet doubted Estelle could’ve gotten back into Harriet’s room to remove the evidence.

Her mind turned over everything she’d learned since she’d woken up in the Plum Island Clinic as she carefully swung over the balcony, hoping she wasn’t going to slip and land right back there.

“You should’ve used some sheets to do this, Harriet. They always use sheets in the movies,” Harriet muttered as she managed to swing herself onto the balcony below. “I do hope Gray was right, and this is Estelle’s room.” She breathed a sigh of relief as she landed without breaking any bones and managed to slip unnoticed toward the door to the bedroom. “Oh, please, please, let this be Estelle’s room, or I’m going to end up in a cell beside Leon.”

Harriet tested the door, and it was unlocked. She slid it open and stepped in. Relief washed over her when she saw Estelle sleeping on the bed. Harriet snuck up to her, putting a hand over Estelle’s mouth as she woke her. Estelle woke up trying to scream, but Harriet put her finger over her mouth to indicate that she didn’t want her to.

“I’m here to ask you some questions,” Harriet whispered. “If I take my hand off your mouth and you scream, I’m not the one who’s going to get into even more trouble when I tell them you sent me a message to come here.”

Estelle nodded, and Harriet lifted her hand.

“What are you doing sneaking in here like this?” Estelle’s voice was low as she glared at Harriet. “You could just have walked through the front door. Everyone will let the princess in, especially as I told them I’d only speak to you.”

“Then I wouldn’t get the truth from you anyway,” Harriet told her. “Because I think we both know there was no way anyone would let me be alone with you.”

“True.” Estelle nodded. “Aren’t you taking a huge chance being here alone with me now?” She glanced at the door. “Obviously, no one knows you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought you’d tried to drug and kidnap me,” Harriet told her, sitting on the bed beside Estelle. “Why did you insist on talking to me?”

“I wanted to ask you not to tell them that I tried to blackmail you,” Estelle told her. “I’m sorry about that. I was desperate, and I wouldn’t really hurt Finn. He’s been through enough.”

Harriet’s brows shot up as she watched Estelle, and it seemed like she actually meant that. “You said that you wanted to be the duchess and run Gladstone Acres.” Her eyes narrowed. “When you were a duchess, you could have your pick of rich men. But that wasn’t entirely true, was it?”

“No! I’m not even looking for money or a relationship, for that matter. I just want to be free! I’d never have actually gone through with the blackmail,” Estelle told her. “I just wanted my aunt out of my life and to be with someone who could help her out of the financial mess my uncle and cousin had gotten her into.”

“You were very convincing with the whole way you acted that scene out,” Harriet pointed out.

“I’m sorry, Harriet.” Her eyes were filled with remorse before they darkened with emotion. “You have no idea how much I’ve always admired you. You never let anyone keep you in a glass box. You’d just bash right through it, taking no prisoners.” She shook her head. “Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to just run away? But I’m always reminded of how my uncle and aunt took me in and gave me their name. And I know they’d never stop looking for me, or worse, I’d end up on the FBI’s most wanted list on some trumped-up charge my cousin would’ve manifested.”

“They actually tell you how much they’ve done for you and so on?” Harriet looked at her in disbelief.

“That’s the watered-down version of the many different guilt trips they’d love to throw in my face,” Estelle hissed. “Gloria has been so desperate to get money so as not to lose that stupid estate that since a marriage for me to Gray or you to Leon is off the table, she’s started going through her little black book.”

“What’s in Gloria’s little black book?” Harriet asked.

“A list of all the eligible men out there to marry me off to,” Estelle told Harriet. “I spent eight years married to a horrible man because of her and my uncle. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I had to keep giving them money. Then, when my late husband died, and the money dried up, they started looking for new matches for me.”

“Estelle!” Harriet said. “Why did you let them do that to you? You’re a grown woman. They can’t control your life.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Estelle’s eyes blazed with hate, but Harriet understood it wasn’t for her. “But I’d rather live in fear knowing where my enemy is than live in fear waiting for them to catch me.”

“I don’t understand,” Harriet frowned. “I thought you loved your family.”

“I’ve been forced to be grateful to them for taking me in and giving me a home,” Estelle told her. “But the truth was they were waiting for me to turn twenty-one when I was supposed to get my trust fund from my parents. But the joke was on my uncle and aunt, as my father had nearly gambled that all away. What was left was supposed to be for me to go to college, but my uncle and cousin took it.”

“Estelle…” Harriet’s heart went out to the woman. “Why didn’t you ever just tell us this? We could’ve done something.”

“No!” Estelle shook her head. “You couldn’t. My real mother’s mother was in a nursing home, and her well-being fell to my uncle. My grandmother was the only one that I could talk to, and the only person left that loved me, and they held her over my head like the sword of Damocles.”

“So you became a horrible person and pushed everyone away,” Harriet said. “Latched onto Leon and became a nightmare instead of reaching out for help.” She shook her head.

“It was easier just to go along with it,” Estelle told Harriet with a look of defeat in her eyes. “I learned how to shut off that part of me that cared until I met Finn. I learned how to operate without breaking the thread of horsehair that held that sword over my head.”

“Is that why you put sleeping powder on my pillow?” Harriet’s eyes widened as she wondered if she’d been wrong and it had been Estelle.

“No!” Estelle shook her head, and her face scrunched up in despair. “Where would I even get that stuff from?” Her brow creased. “It’s been banned on Joyce Isles for years. I didn’t even know there was still any left. And you know how much I hate drugs and stuff like that after… Well, you know the incident where Gloria tried to take her life.”

“Yes.” Harriet nodded in understanding. “She has you to thank for being alive. Although that story was very suspect.”

“I know.” Estelle nodded. “It went through my head numerous times.”

“That’s why I didn’t think it was you,” Harriet admitted before moving the subject back to Finn. She needed to find out what went on between them. “What were you saying about Finn?”

“As you know, Finn’s late ex-wife and myself were friends,” Estelle told her. “But as soon as Trudy became a famous skier, she changed. Trudy had always been competitive, but she became even more competitive. Suddenly, everything with her became a competition.”

“Why did Finn get a restraining order against you?” Harriet asked.

“I found out that Trudy had been having an affair with her coach a few months after Maggie was born,” Estelle confessed. “Not only was she having an affair with the guy, but they were also plotting to steal Finn’s company. I also found out that Trudy was taking sport-enhancing supplements, and she and her coach were selling them as a side business.”

“Seriously?” Harriet looked at Estelle, searching her eyes for signs that she was lying.

“Yes.” Estelle nodded. “In a secret compartment of my purse, there’s a mobile phone. On it are the messages between Trudy and me. Including her threats that if I went to Finn, I’d be sorry.” She gave a self-mocking laugh. “And I was, as Trudy made me out to be a crazy groupie type stalker fan of hers and Finn’s.”

“Why didn’t you just send him the evidence?” Harriet asked.

“I couldn’t get within ten feet of him or his kids,” Estelle told Harriet. “Then Trudy tricked Finn into taking a drug test for her. She made sure I couldn’t get to him to warn him it was all a setup.”

“Trudy set Finn up to deliberately take the fall for her?” Harriet stared at Estelle in disbelief.

“Trudy was a star. She no longer needed Finn, and she wanted his company,” Estelle added. “I was the one who tipped border patrol off about Trudy and her new husband to them having the sports-enhancing drugs in their car.” She closed her eyes. “I never meant for them to die. I just didn’t want her to set Finn up again.” She shook her head. “Trudy lied about her passport being stolen. She knew Finn would help her. When he got there, she and her new husband were going to stage a fight, and she was going to ask him to take her home.”

“At the border, they were going to load her luggage into Finn’s car, which would actually have been the drugs,” Harriet guessed.

“Right before they were about to go over the border, Trudy and her husband were going to stage a big romantic reunion while Finn went over the border with drugs,” Estelle explained.

“It sounds like Trudy hated Finn.” Harriet frowned. “Why?”

“Trudy loved being the center of attention, but when the kids came along, they shared her attention,” Estelle told Harriet. “Trudy didn’t like that. Then, she got all the attention she needed from her coach. But she also wanted the successful company Finn had built. When they ran that into the ground, Trudy tried to offer Finn a share in it if he’d help them get it back on track, but Finn refused.”

“So setting him up for drug charges again was payback?” Harriet looked at Estelle in disbelief.

“No, it was leverage,” Estelle said. “Their plan was to blackmail Finn into fixing the company.”

“But you called the cops on them before Finn got there,” Harriet said.

“I did,” Estelle said. “It haunts me all the time because I never intended for things to work out the way they did.”

“It’s not your fault, Estelle,” Harriet told her. “Trudy and her husband chose to try and outrun the law.” She glanced around the room. “You said you had proof of Trudy’s threats to you?”

“I have much more than just proof of that,” Estelle told Harriet. “I wanted to give it to you to give to Finn before I went to prison for poisoning you.”

“You’re not going to prison for that,” Harriet said. “At least not if you help me figure out who could’ve wanted to knock me out and frame you.”

“Leon was the first person that sprang to my mind,” Estelle echoed Harriet’s thoughts. “He has his contacts and resources.”

“He also knows about the sleeping powder and could’ve found some somewhere,” Harriet agreed.

“I think Gloria still had some to help her father sleep when he was still alive,” Estelle told Harriet.

“Who on your security detail is loyal to Leon, though?” Harriet asked her.

“No one,” Estelle answered. “Everyone hates Leon as he is horrible to everyone.”

“Not even one?” Harriet looked hopeful for an answer.

“I doubt it,” Estelle said. “Why do you think it would be someone on security?”

“Unless you slipped into my room after it had been searched to find whatever it was that had drugged me and stripped all the linen off my bed to remove evidence,” Harriet told her, “the only other people that could’ve done that without raising suspicion would’ve been security as they wouldn’t have allowed anyone else into the room.”

“What?” Estelle’s face paled, and her eyes widened with concern and a flicker of fear. “No!”

“You know who did that, don’t you?” Harriet eyed her suspiciously.

“Oh no!” Estelle’s chest rose and fell as she started scrambling off the bed. “I need to get out of here.”

“How are you going to do that with a room full of guards outside your door?” Harriet asked her.

Estelle’s eyes met Harriets. “Will you help me? Please, Harriet. I can’t explain now, but..” She hopped off the bed, went over to her purse on the dress, and pulled out a phone. “Here. This is the phone. The passcode is Finn’s first and last name.”

Harriet stood and took the phone, putting it into her pocket. “Thanks, I’ll check it out.”

“There are also some other conversations you may find helpful on there,” Estelle told her. “But please, get me out of here, and it will all become clear.”

“I don’t think so!” The door swung open.

“Busted!” Harriet whispered. “Stay with me.”

“Princess Harriet, what on earth compelled you to scale your balcony and come here without security to talk to the prime suspect in your attempted kidnapping?” Murphy seethed.

“Are you out of your mind?” Finn stalked into the bedroom, his eyes blazing with a mix of worry and anger. “Have you any idea what we thought when we found you missing?”

“That I never do anything the easy way?” Harriet gave him a sweet smile.

“Oh no!” Finn shook his head. “Your cute little smile and big innocent green eyes are not going to work on me this time, Harriet,” he told her. “This isn’t a joke. Your life isn’t a joke, and we’re trying to keep you safe.”

“I know Estelle isn’t the one that drugged me,” Harriet said, taking a step back from Finn and toward Estelle. “I also knew that none of you would’ve let me talk to Estelle alone.”

“You’ve got that right,” Alex said from the door.

“We have no option now but to move Lady Estelle to another location,” Murphy told Harriet, anger flashing in his eyes.

“No!” Harriet stepped protectively in front of Estelle. “You will do no such thing,” she ordered. “I’ll go to Finn’s house and stay in his guest bedroom. But Estelle stays here with full protection at all times.”

“Lady Estelle is confined to her room with security here,” Murphy snapped, his eyes narrowed. Harriet saw he was getting impatient, and he kept glancing at Estelle. “Princess Harriet, you should also not be talking to Lady Estelle without someone present.”

“Can everyone please give Murphy and me the room, please.” Harriet’s voice was sharp and commanding.

“Harriet…” Finn looked at her curiously.

“I need to talk to Murphy alone.“ Harriet gave him a tight smile.

Finn looked at her for a few seconds before ushering everyone, including Estelle, from the room.

When the door clicked shut, Murphy stood calmly waiting for her to talk.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Harriet said to Murphy, who’s eyes widened in shock.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Murphy said with a hint of caution. “Are you accusing me of drugging you?”

“No!” Harriet shook her head. “But you were the one who took the linen off my bed after you heard I’d been drugged with sleeping powder.”

“Why would you think that, Princess?” Murphy’s gaze was calm as he kept eye contact.

“Because you were also the one who let her into my room earlier that day,” Harriet guessed. “When you realized she may have been the one to have drugged me, you also knew because the powder was in my hair that it was put on my pillow.”

“Do you have any evidence to back up your accusations?” Murphy asked.

“I’m sure I can get it,” Harriet informed him. “I’ve known you for a long time, Murphy.” She shook her head. “It’s not like you to let someone into someone of the royal family’s room or try to get rid of evidence.” Her eyes narrowed as she assessed him. “It’s crazy what love does to a person, isn’t it?”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at, princess,” Murphy told her.

Harriet nodded and walked to the door, opened it, and called Estelle.

“What are you doing?” Murphy spluttered.

“Is everything okay?” Estelle walked into the room, glancing at Murphy.

“Why did you send me those five threatening messages last night, Estelle?” Harriet accused her.

“What?” Estelle frowned. “I never sent you any messages last night.”

“Sam Donovan says differently,” Harriet told her. “In fact, he said the messages came from this room.”

“It was me!” Murphy said. “I sent them.”

“You sent that message to Harriet?” Finn’s voice came from the door, and all eyes swiveled toward him. “Harley,” he called from the door.

“Stop!” Harriet’s voice boomed through the room, and everyone froze. She turned her attention to Murphy. “As a member of the royal family who feels threatened by a member of the royal protection service, I hereby relieve you of your duty as head of royal security.” She looked at Harley. “I now appoint you, Harley.”

“You can’t do that!” Estelle said, her voice filled with panic.

“The Princess can do that,” Murphy told Estelle.

“Harley, please arrest Murphy and take him into custody,” Harriet commanded.

“Wait!” Estelle said. “Murphy, please tell them you were lying.”

“Murphy was also the person who let Lady Estelle into my suite uninvited the other day.” Harriet caught Murphy’s eyes. “He also removed the linen from my bed after I’d been drugged.”

“Murphy, is that true?” Finn’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

“Yes.” Murphy nodded. “I let Lady Estelle into the Princess’s room, I removed the linen, and sent the threatening messages to her.”

“What did the messages say?” Harriet asked Murphy.

“Sorry?” Murphy frowned.

“What did the messages say?” Harriet repeated the question. “I’d like you to tell everyone in this room what the five messages said.”

“I…” Murphy’s gaze remained steady as he said. “I threatened you.”

“Why?” Harriet pushed him.

“Murphy didn’t send them. I did,” Estelle was quick to say. “I threatened you by blackmailing Finn. It was me.” She looked at Murphy. “I was the one who stole Murphy’s security card and let myself into your room the other day. I was also the one who removed the linen from your bed.”

“No, it was not Lady Estelle; it was me,” Murphy said more forcefully.

“I’m sorry, Murphy, but I’m going to have to take you into custody,” Harley didn’t look happy.

“Wait!” Estelle’s voice rose. “I really did steal Murphy’s key card to let myself into Harriet’s room. Murphy only took the linen because I asked him to, and I was the one who sent the five threatening messages. He was just protecting me.”

“But it’s not his duty to protect you, Lady Estelle. He’s on King Titus’s security detail, which means he is duty-bound to protect the royal family,” Harriet pointed out and turned toward Murphy. “Want to explain yourself, Murphy, before I call King Titus?”

“Please, Harriet, don’t do this,” Estelle begged her. “You know what will happen to Murphy.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He was protecting me.” She glanced at him. “Murphy and I have been dating for just over a year. We were planning on trying to find a way to speak to King Titus about us getting married.”

“Lady Estelle…” Murphy said, taking her hand. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay,” Estelle told him. “I know you took that linen because you thought I did that.”

“No,” Murphy shook his head. “I took it to be analyzed somewhere I knew no one could tamper with it or falsify evidence.” He smiled at Estelle. “I never for one moment thought it was you. Not even when we found the powder in your room.”

“Murphy’s in love?” Alex pursed his lips and nodded before looking at Harriet. “See, Harry, he’s not a cyborg after all.”

“I guess not,” Harriet said with a smile. “It’s just that I’ve never known him to be in a relationship, and that’s why I thought he might be part machine.”

“Wait a minute…” Alex’s eyes narrowed at Harriet. “You knew they were in a relationship. This whole scene was played out to get them to admit it.”

“And to exonerate Estelle.” Harriet saw the look of disbelief in Finn’s eyes. “Only two security details could’ve accessed my room or let Estelle into it. I knew it wasn’t Harley.”

“Oh shoot, I have to go,” Alex said and looked at Harriet. “Gray told me to tell you not to be difficult and to move into Finn’s guest room until this is resolved.”

Alex said his goodbyes and disappeared.

“Am I still arresting Murphy?” Harley looked at Harriet.

‘No,“ Harriet said, shaking her head. “We don’t know who sent those messages, but I doubt it was Murphy or Estelle, as they both admitted to sending five messages.”

“What do you mean?” Estelle asked.

“There was only one message,” Harriet told them.

“Actually, there were two,” Harley told her about the message that she hadn’t seen because she had passed out.

“Why wasn’t I informed of this?” Murphy’s eyes widened.

“We didn’t tell anyone,” Harley told him. “My uncle has Harriet’s phone and is trying to trace the messages.”

“That’s where my phone is!” Harriet realized she didn’t have it.

“Can Murphy have his job back?” Estelle looked hopefully at Harriet.

“If you’d both have just spoken to me,” Harriet told them, “things wouldn’t have gone this far. But I’m afraid I can’t give you your position back, Murphy.” She looked at Harley. “You understand your actions, no matter how honorable, are against protocol.” She looked at Estelle. “And you let Estelle get access to your keycard.”

“That’ wasn’t Murphy’s fault,” Estelle pointed out again. “It was all my doing.”

“I should never have left the card in a position where it could be taken,” Murphy took responsibility for his actions. “It’s okay, really.” He smiled at Estelle.

“Wow!” Harriet nodded. “So you do have feelings inside your cyborg heart.”

Murphy smiled and shook his head. “I know this is a weird thing to say, considering all the pain and suffering you’ve put me through over the years of knowing you.” He gave a soft laugh. “But it was always an honor to take over your protection detail when you visited the island or the king was in town. You made my job challenging, but there was never a dull moment, and you always made sure I was okay in the end.”

“Thank you, Murphy,” Harriet told him. “But while I can’t give you your position back yet, I can reinstate you under supervision.” She smiled at Harley. “What do you say, Harley?”

“I say you’re making the right decision, Harri…” Harley sighed. “Princess.”

“Harriet will do fine,” She told Harley. “Please don’t get weird with the Princess stuff.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Harley breathed a sigh of relief. “It would get really weird with you and Jennifer being business partners.”

“Exactly,” Harriet agreed.

“Does this mean Murphy still has a job?” Estelle asked.

“Yes,” Harriet and Harley said in unison.

“Are you comfortable with his temporary assignment until all this mess is cleaned up?” Harriet said.

“Yes, I’m happy with that,” Murphy said. “Thank you, Princess.”

Harley was about to say more when his phone rang. “It’s your brother.” He looked at Harriet and answered the phone. “Hello?” He nodded and handed the phone to Harriet. “It’s for you.”

Harriet frowned as she took the phone, “Gray?”

“Where are you?” Gray’s voice was laced with urgency. “I came to the clinic, and they told me you’d discharged yourself.”

“I was fine, and you know I don’t like hospitals,” Harriet told him, and her frown deepened. “What’s wrong?”

“Please tell me Uncle Titus is wherever you are,” Gray told her.

“No,” Harriet said, her heart starting to pound as alarm bells began to ring in her head. “Why?”

“He’s gone missing,” Gray told her.

“But hasn’t he been doing that a lot lately?” Harriet reasoned. “He’s probably doing one of his disappearing acts.”

“No, this time it’s different,” Gray told her. “He hasn’t been seen since he left the clinic five hours ago.” He paused. “And his jet has gone.”

“Maybe he went home to Joyce Isles?” Harriet said.

“Without his pilot, staff, and clothes?” Gray asked.

Harriet’s head shot around, and her eyes met Murphy’s.

“What is it?” Murphy asked.

“King Titus has gone missing,” Harriet told them.