The Beach Hut on Plum Island

14. CHAPTER 14

Finn walked into the room after having walked Alex out of Estelle’s suite as Harriet’s words hit him about King Titus missing.

“Can I just say,” Estelle said, holding up her hands, “it wasn’t me.”

“I can vouch for that,” Murphy told them.

“I didn’t think either of you was involved,” Harriet told them and smiled at Finn. “Everything okay with Alex?”

“Yes, he had to fetch Emily from ice skating,” Finn explained, his brow creased. “Did you just say your uncle is missing?” Worry raced through him. “Did he do one of his disappearing acts again?”

Harriet shook her head and glanced around the room. “His private jet is missing too.”

“He wouldn’t leave without letting me know,” Murphy told them, then clenched his jaw shut as if he’d almost said something he shouldn’t as he pulled out his phone and checked it.

Harriet, with her eagle eye, picked up on Murphy’s slight blunder as well, Finn noted. Before she could interrogate him with her usual tact, Finn intervened.

“Shouldn’t you be with him at all times?” Finn asked.

“I’m the head of…” Murphy stopped and corrected himself. “As the former head of the King’s security, I have to be everywhere that I’m needed. I have a few select agents that are assigned to his guard duty,” he explained. “But the king always lets me know when he’s going somewhere—always!“ He looked pointedly at Harriet as he emphasized the last word.

“Murphy,” Harriet’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “Where does my uncle go when he slips off on his secret outings?”

“I’m bound by my oath of loyalty to the king,” Murphy told her. “As you know, as long as I’m employed by the Royal House of Joyce Isles, I cannot tell you.”

“Okay!” Harriet nodded. “Murphy, as you’re withholding secrets about the king’s whereabouts, you’re fired.”

“Harriet!” Finn and Estelle said in unison.

“No, Harriet’s right,” Harley stepped in. “I’m sorry, Murphy, but I’m going to have to take you in for questioning.”

“Where is it?” Harriet asked Harley. “I hope it’s not actual prison?”

“No,” Harley shook his head. “My uncle has a place.”

“You don’t want to know, Princess,” Murphy told her.

“No!” Estelle jumped in, her eyes wide with fear. “What has Murphy done?”

“It’s okay,” Murphy assured her as Harley handcuffed him.

“Are those really necessary?” Harriet asked Harley.

“If we’re going to do this, Princess,” Murphy said, “it needs to be done right.”

“I’m sorry, Murphy,” Harriet said, and Finn, although confused, saw the compassion in her eyes.

“This is the only way,” Murphy told her before he smiled at Estelle. “Please, listen to the princess and Harley. They’ll look out for you.” He looked from Harriet to Harley for confirmation.

“Of course,” Harley said with a nod and looked at Harriet.

“I literally scaled a balcony and evaded highly trained security detail to get to Estelle,” Harriet pointed out. “What do you think?”

“I think they just need you to say it,” Finn told her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “But to be clear, when Harley’s gone, you’re going to let me in on what’s going on here, right?”

“Us,” Estelle stated, looking at Harriet. “You’re going to let us in on this.”

Harriet looked at Murphy and Harley, who both nodded their consent before Estelle rushed to Murphy and kissed him.

“You’d better not rough him up!” Estelle glared at Harley.

“No roughing up!” Harriet’s eyes widened in alarm.

“It’s okay, Princess,” Murphy smiled before looking at Harley. “Let’s go. And be sure to double the guard for everyone in this room.”

“I’m already on that,” Harley assured Murphy as he led him out of the room.

When they were going, Harriet quickly closed the bedroom door and ushered them into the bathroom.

“What is it with you and bathrooms?” Finn asked her as she switched on all the faucets. “You’re wasting water.”

“I’ll do something to make up for it,” Harriet assured him. “Murphy taught me to always have a conversation in a bathroom with running water.”

“You think we’re being listened to?” Estelle’s eyes widened. “Oh, no!” Her head shot toward the bathroom door. “It’s probably Leon. If he finds out about me and Murphy…”

“Relax,” Finn told her. “All the suites of Alex’s and the king’s guests get swept a few times a day for bugs.”

“That’s comforting and also very intrusive,” Harriet stated. “Anyway… Murphy can’t talk about anything to do with my uncle while he’s employed in the king’s security detail.”

“That’s why you fired him,” Finn realized.

“For the second time,” Estelle reminded Harriet.

“Okay, you don’t have to rub it in,” Harriet told her. “It was a necessity.” She looked at them. “Murphy is bound by his word to the king if he was taken into my uncle’s confidence. The only way to be able to get him to talk is if he no longer works for the king and in situations like this when the king is presumed missing or likely kidnapped.”

“Then why did you have to fire him?” Estelle asked, still not understanding, which Finn was so glad she had asked so he didn’t look like the stupid one.

“Murphy can’t be employed by the king,” Harriet explained, “to answer confidential questions about him.”

“What would stop him from going to the press and making what he knows about the king public if all it takes to break that oath was to be fired?” Finn asked.

“Murphy can only ever break the king’s confidence by divulging information to the current head of the king’s security,” Harriet told them. “Murphy isn’t even allowed to tell me, my parents, or my grandfather, or he’ll risk jail time or worse.”

“So if your uncle killed someone and confessed it to Murphy, Murphy can’t tell anyone except if he was fired and even then, he could only pass it to the next head of security.” Finn clarified.

“If he was taken in for interrogation by the head of security and the king’s life was in danger,” Harriet added.

“Oh!” Finn and Estelle finally understood.

“That’s an awful lot that Murphy has to carry around,” Finn said. His admiration for the man grew. “It also takes a lot of trust and confidence from the king to bestow on Murphy.”

“Yes.” Harriet nodded. “Murphy is the most loyal person in my uncle’s employ. That’s why I couldn’t understand why he’d let Estelle into my suite or take the linen from an active crime scene.”

“Then you realized there was only one person who had that kind of access to you, and that was Murphy,” Finn guessed. “Only you know how loyal he is to the king, and I’ve seen how he is with you, and even I don’t think that man would harm a hair on your head.”

“No, he wouldn’t!” Estelle clarified and looked at Harriet. “After everything you’ve done to Murphy, he adores you.”

“I know,” Harriet told them. “I’m very fond of Murphy too.” She smiled. “In order to alleviate his crimes for not being honest to the king about his relationship with someone of Estelle’s status, I had to do what I did.”

“Oh!” Estelle nodded in understanding, but Finn didn’t understand, and he frowned. Estelle saw his confusion. “Harriet was the one who found out about Murphy’s failure to disclose his personal status change, so she’s the one that gets to sentence him, so to speak.”

“This is all way too crazy for me,” Finn admitted. “Your royal rules and policies are vast, and I’m never going to learn them.”

“You don’t have to learn them all at once,” Estelle gave him a smile. “You kind of pick them up as you go and through the mistakes you make.”

“Then be thankful we’re living in the twenty-first century and not the dark ages where a slight like Murphy’s and Estelle’s could’ve got them both sentenced to death,” Harriet pointed out with a sweet smile.

A hornet delivering honey flashed through Finn’s mind as he watched Harriet. “Great!” he stated with a nod and wide eyes. “What happens now?” He pointed to the running faucets. “We’re wasting a lot of water here.”

“Harley will interrogate Murphy, but he won’t tell us about what’s said between them,” Harriet warned them. “So don’t even try to ask. But what will happen is that Harley will take over the investigation, and I’ll reinstate Murphy to help him.”

“Thank you.” Estelle breathed a sigh of relief as she looked from Finn to Harriet. “I’m sorry for everything.” She looked at Finn. “I’m sorry you thought I was stalking you and your family. I wasn’t. And hopefully, the phone Harriet gave you will give you all the information you need to see I’m telling the truth.”

“Okay!” Finn nodded.

He was still not convinced of Estelle’s innocence with what was happening to Harriet’s family or her part in what happened to his family. Unlike Harriet and her mother, Finn wasn’t fooled by the poor little Estelle routine. The woman could wear many faces.

“Shall we get back to your suite, Harriet?” Finn asked. “I think we should order you something to eat and discuss your security in more depth.”

“Yes.” Harriet nodded and turned to Estelle. “I hope you understand, Estelle, that until all this is cleared up, you’re still under a sort of house arrest.”

“I know.” Estelle nodded. “I’d rather be here where you all can see I am not involved with whatever’s going on.” She sighed. “Even my calls are monitored, and my phone is in custody.”

“I’ll get news to you as soon as I can about Murphy,” Harriet promised. “Please listen to the guards, but if you have any doubts or feel unsafe, call me right away.” She patted her pocket. “Or call Finn right away, as I still don’t have my phone.”

“I will,” Estelle promised and hugged Harriet. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” Harriet told her.

Finn ushered Harriet out of Estelle’s room. She was stopped by one of the security detail in the living room.

“Excuse me, Princess Harriet, could I have a word in private, please?” the young man said.

Harriet nodded and looked at Finn. “I won’t be long.”

Finn waited patiently at the door while Harriet disappeared into the kitchenette with the young man. Their backs were turned to Finn, so he couldn’t see what they were doing or saying.

When she came back, Finn asked. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, it was just some things about visitors for Estelle,” Harriet told him. “I’ve sorted it out.” As they stepped out of the room and to the elevator, Finn hit the down button. “Where are we going?” Harriet asked him.

“I’m taking you for lunch at the Summer Inn Restaurant, where we can chat undisturbed,” Finn told her, stepping back for Harriet to enter when the elevator arrived. “I get the special booth reserved only for Liam, his friends, and family. There’s not much we can do until we hear from Harley about your messages, the sleeping powder, and your uncle.”

“Okay!” Harriet said. “I’m starving anyway. I won’t be any good if I’m hungry and can’t think straight.”

“I thought it would also be a good place for us to get through the phone Estelle gave you,” Finn added. “It will give us something to occupy our minds until we know our next move.”

“Are you sure you want me to do that with you?” Harriet looked at him, surprised. “From what Estelle told me was on there, it’s a lot of personal information about your late ex-wife.”

“No secrets between us, remember?” Finn reminded her, immediately being racked by guilt over keeping what he and Julie discussed a secret.

“Yup!” Harriet nodded and smiled. “And while we have no secrets. I’m sorry I ducked out of the room and went to Estelle’s.”

“Do you really think any of us in the living room didn’t think you were going to try and duck out?” Finn laughed. “We even had bets going on how you’d try to escape. We knew as soon as you were told you couldn’t get out of the room and had to be escorted, you were going to try to prove us wrong.”

“Murphy shouldn’t have brought reinforcements thinking I wouldn’t be able to escape,” Harriet pointed out. “He knows that when you do that, it’s like declaring war on the rebel inside me. I’m going to prove that I can, I will, and I’ll take a picture to show him I did.”

“Only you couldn’t take a picture because Sam has your phone,” Finn said, smiling. “And without your phone, you’re hard to track.” He kept eye contact so as not to look at the object he was about to talk about. Her necklace was given to her by her mother and father for her fortieth birthday, and she always wore it. “Luckily, Murphy and Harley know how to track you.”

“If you’re talking about the tracker in my necklace,” Harriet surprised him by saying, “I took that out of my necklace ages ago.”

“How did you know about that?” Finn stared at her in disbelief, stepping aside for her to exit the elevator when it dinged to a stop on the ground floor.

“Did they really think I wouldn’t find it?” Harriet asked with raised eyebrows. “Besides, I didn’t break the device; I just put it in my watch. It seemed to make more sense to do that. I don’t shower with my watch on, and I figured if the device shorted in the shower, I would be less likely to get electrocuted.”

Finn couldn’t help but chuckle. Harriet really was extraordinary. “You’re a delightful nightmare.” He couldn’t help but kiss her on the forehead and had just stopped himself from kissing her lips. “Come on, let’s get you fed and go through the footage on this phone.”

The moment Finn stepped into the restaurant, he was greeted by the host, who took them through Liam’s personal booth. They gave the waiter, who was not far behind the host, their refreshment order. Harriet declined a menu and ordered a pizza and salad. Finn ordered a burger and salad.

“I hope they hurry with our order,” Harriet told Finn as they slid closer on the round seats of the booth. “I’m starved.”

“I’m also hungry,” Finn admitted, putting the phone on the table. “Do you know the passcode?”

“Yes, it’s FinnShaw,” Harriet told him, making his brows shoot up.

“And you say Estelle’s not a stalker,” Finn said.

“Well, let’s find out the truth,” Harriet said as Finn typed in the passcode.

“There’s hardly anything of this device,” Finn noted.

“There. A folder that’s labeled family photos,” Harriet pointed out. “Let’s see what’s in there.”

“Another two folders,” Finn said, frowning. “Family and Friends.”

“Let’s click on family,” Harriet suggested. “If I was going to hide anything, I’d do it under that folder.”

“Okay.” Finn nodded and clicked on the folder.

After navigating through a maze of subfolders, they finally found what they were looking for. There were loads of videos, voice conversation recordings, messages, and emails. When they clicked on the first one, which was a voice recording marked FS with a date, they couldn’t get into it.

“It’s password protected,” Finn told her.

“Try the password we used to unlock the phone with,” Harriet suggested.

Finn tried that, but it didn’t work.

“Try the password and the date of the file,” Harriet suggested.

Finn tried it, and it worked.

Finn looked at Harriet, impressed. “How on earth did you figure that out?”

“Look how Estelle has labeled each file,” Harriet pointed out. “After the FS, at the end of each file, there is a date.”

“Estelle obviously knows you’d figure that out,” Finn said.

“Yes, because that’s how she’d lock her secret coded diaries,” Harriet said with a grin. “And before you say anything, I was investigating a case in which I was sure Estelle was the culprit.”

“I’m not even going to ask, except for how old were you?” Finn raised his eyebrows.

“About fifteen, I think,” Harriet told him.

“Okay!” Finn nodded.

They listened to the voice recording, and Finn’s heart slammed against his rib cage when he heard his late wife’s voice. She was speaking to Estelle and threatening Estelle that if she told Finn anything about what she’d seen, Estelle would be sorry for what she’d done.

Something about those words struck a chord, and he remembered the text message Harriet had gotten the previous night; you’ll be sorry for what you’ve done. But he knew it couldn’t have been Trudy as she’d been dead for seven years. It wouldn’t have been her late husband because he’d been dead for seven years as well. There was no one else connected to Trudy alive that could’ve sent that message.

A thought nagged at him as he wasn’t quite ready to rule Estelle out of being the one to have sent the messages. She’d managed to hide the phone they had from the security detail. What was to say Estelle didn’t have another burner phone somewhere. She was also dating the head of the king’s security team, so how well did they search Estelle’s room and possessions?

Trudy’s mother also liked to use that phrase, but both she and her husband had passed away a few years before Trudy’s accident. Estelle and Trudy had been friends, so it still all pointed to Estelle. Finn thought better than to voice his suspicions as Harriet was adamant that Estelle wasn’t involved. He watched her listen intently to the voice recordings as they went through them. Harriet had such a gentle heart, and even though she wasn’t trusting, she still gave people the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

“Did you hear that?” Harriet asked, her eyes wide.

“Sorry,” Finn suddenly realized he’d been staring at Harriet with his mind full of thoughts of her that he hadn’t heard the recording at all. “Can we play it again so I know if we’re on the same page?” Nice save, Finn.

“Of course.” Harriet nodded and played the recording over, making Finn’s heart pause a beat.

Finn will bring me my documents at the border. We’ll stage a fight, and then you can throw the bags he’ll think are my clothing into his trunk. Trudy was talking to her. That way, he’ll be the one going over the border with them.

Trudy, you can’t do that to Finn. Estelle’s voice came through the recording. Haven’t you done enough to what was once your family? Speaking of family, what do you think is going to happen to your children if Finn goes to jail?

They are not my kids,Trudy sneered. Those little monsters did nothing but ruin my figure and be ungrateful.

You know, Trudy, you’re on your own,Estelle said. I want no part of this. I didn’t want to be here to begin with, and you promised this was about a belated celebration for your wedding renewal vows, not another run into Mexico to stock up on your illegal sports enhancement pills.

Oh, stop being such a buzzkill, Estelle.Trudy told her. Why do you even defend Finn? He took out a restraining order on you.

That was because you told him I was a crazed stalker who was endangering your kids, you, and him. After all, I was besotted with Finn,Estelle hissed.

Oh, right!Trudy laughed. But he got a restraining order without even trying to get your side of the story.

That’s because you’re such a convincing liar that I think you convince yourself your lies are the truth,Estelle said.

Oh, come now, Estelle.Trudy’s voice softened. It’s not like Finn’s going to get caught.

Because of you and your scheme to get his company and find a way to pretend to leverage the kids that you didn’t want custody of anyway, and you tricked him into taking a drug test for you,Estelle reminded Trudy. This will be his second drug-related offense.

What are you an attorney now?Trudy asked.

Actually, yes, I am,Estelle said. As you well know, you’re always getting free legal advice from me.

And how did you get that law degree of yours again?Trudy asked her. By me helping you with money and a cover so your weird family didn’t know you were actually going to college and getting a degree.

Money and favors I have more than paid back to you over the years,Estelle reminded Trudy.

Where do you work at the moment?Trudy asked.

You know where I work, Trudy.Estelle said. Why are you even asking?

I just wanted to remind you that I have both your work and family on speed dial,Trudy told her. What would your work say if I sent them the picture of you carrying one of my duffel bags of pills? Trudy paused for a while. Or how would your family feel to know that you’re a lawyer working at night at a pro bono law firm and that you’re estranged from that old man you’re married to?

Fine!Estelle said. You win. But I’m sorry. I’ll find my own way back to the States. I don’t want to be around you at the moment. I don’t recognize you anymore, Trudy.

Suit yourself,Trudy said. But don’t try anything stupid like warning Finn. Just remember I own you.

“Oh wow!” Harriet’s eyes were wide when the recording stopped. “Your late ex-wife seemed to be a delightful woman.”

“She wasn’t like this when I met her,” Finn assured Harriet. “I’m sure Estelle must’ve doctored this.”

He found himself once again rushing to Trudy’s defense. Finn didn’t know if it was because he was trying to defend his choice of a wife and mother for his children or because this wasn’t the Trudy he’d fallen for.

“Of course,” Harriet said, her eyes flashing with anger. “You want to keep blaming Estelle because it’s easier than admitting the woman you fell in love with was a monster.”

“Trudy wasn’t a monster!” Finn snapped and immediately regretted it when he saw Harriet flinch back and raise her brows. “I’m sorry.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is a lot to wrap my head around.”

“I know,” Harriet said, her voice soft and filled with compassion.

Finn looked at her. “If this is real, then I owe so many, including my kids and Estelle, apologies.” He shook his head. “They told me Trudy had all these different sides to her, and all I saw was the one side.”

“None of us want to see the bad in the person we fall for,” Harriet told him.

She paused when the waiter brought their food and drinks. When the waiter disappeared, Harriet shared her romance with Leon, which didn’t do much to appease Finn’s guilty conscience as he already knew the story. Finn felt like his world was suddenly balancing on a fragile bubble of lies and secrets, waiting for the bubble to get too heavy and burst.