Chapter 6 #2
“We have no hard evidence that the painting is part of the plot, Storme.” Virek scowls at me.
“The charity is clean, and I’ve got someone tracking the sales to see if anything goes where it shouldn’t.
I can’t afford to let you chase down every little hunch when we already have a solid lead somewhere else.
One you’re in prime position to follow. Blackmere didn’t bid on that painting, so it’s—”
“Tobias Northam doesn’t have the money he was bidding,” Hex says and rolls his eyes. “His father’s title is a strong one, but as far as I know, Bellgaard doesn’t trust his son with any of the family fortune.”
Virek clenches his jaw. “Irrelevant conjecture.”
“Bellgaard invited me to his dinner party for a reason.”
“He said it himself that you stopped his son from spending money he doesn’t have.”
“Then why would Northam bid on that painting the way he did?” I ask, looking at the prince instead of my boss. I almost forgot about that bit of information, and my mind starts spinning as I finally start to process what happened at the art auction.
Hex shrugs. “He wouldn’t. He hasn’t thrown money around like that since his father cut him off. Years ago.”
“Do you know who he was bidding against?”
Grimacing, he shakes his head. “I’ve never seen him before, so he likely isn’t part of the nobility. But he was clearly working with Northam to drive up the price.”
That doesn’t help us much, but at least I won’t have to waste time sorting through our files on the aristocrats of Candora to try to find him. “He could be an estate manager or steward,” I say, though there are so many other possibilities.
“Possibly,” Hex agrees, sending a thrill of pride through me. “Or he’s a member of the anti-royalists and assisting Northam with the exchange of funds.”
I sit up straight. That would make sense, especially if Northam doesn’t actually have the money he was bidding. He could be a middle man or a fall guy. “What if he—”
“Ahem.” Virek waits until we both look at him, and then he sighs heavily. “We will look into Lord Northam along with anyone else who purchased paintings tonight. As for you, Storme, your focus is Blackmere. Don’t go chasing whims because you have a feeling. Do you understand?”
Based on the fury in his gaze, he’s not really asking if I understand the words he just said.
He’s making sure I know what’s at risk if I keep fighting his authority.
He can’t sack me, but he can pull me off the investigation and do his best to convince the RIA director to let me go when he returns to Candora.
I can’t give Virek more reasons to get rid of me. Wilting, I bow my head and nod.
“And you, Your Highness,” Virek says. “You are used to having freedom to act how you’d like, but we have a process here.
I need you to follow it so we don’t put any of our agents—or you—at risk.
These events aren’t games of make-believe, and our goal is to protect your family and the monarchy they’ve led for generations. Can I trust you to do as you’re told?”
Hex takes so long to respond that I look up at him, shivering at the sight of his tight jaw and tensed muscles. His anger is quiet. Restrained. But there’s no mistaking his feelings about Virek right now. “Understood,” he growls, which isn’t technically an answer to Virek’s question.
It must be good enough for Virek because he waves toward the door. “You’re both excused.”
All in all, that could have been worse, but unease churns in my stomach as I lead the way out of Virek’s office to my desk.
How am I supposed to do my job and still keep my job?
For whatever reasons, Virek is ignoring leads that might actually take us closer to the answers we need.
I can’t definitively say he’s wrong about Blackmere, but neither can I say he’s right.
We need to go deeper, but I can’t do that if Virek is so determined to tie my hands behind my back.
When the prince and I reach my desk, I turn to face him. “Why did you bid on that painting?”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Because you seemed to think it’s important.”
He bought it because of me? Just how closely was he watching me tonight? “I think it was,” I tell him, hoping he agrees with me so I can feel less alone in this. “I won’t pretend to be an expert in art, but there was nothing remarkable about that painting.”
“‘From Skies to Seas,’” Hex mutters as his thoughts start whirring behind his eyes. “Parts of a whole having purpose.”
“And the bid started so much higher than the others.”
He nods. “I noticed that. And Northam’s opponent looked less determined to outbid him than he was to drive the price higher.”
If Hex saw the same thing I did, then it can’t just be a hunch. “Exactly. The only time either of those men showed any real emotion during the action was when you and I joined in.”
“When we either got in their way or helped their plan move forward,” he says with a frown. “But which is it?”
One of the other agents sneezes, and Hex and I both flinch. For a moment, I forgot we weren’t alone in the room, and I don’t really want my coworkers listening to me speculate behind Virek’s back. But neither am I ready to drop this conversation.
“Let’s go for a walk, Your Highness.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “It’s almost the middle of the night.”
It’s not even ten. “Best time of day, in my opinion. There’s something comforting about being in the shadows.”
Hex studies me for a moment, long enough that I’m sure he’s going to refuse and head back to the palace.
But then, to my complete surprise, he smiles in a way I don’t think he’s ever smiled at me before, and it feels like all of my worry momentarily melts away beneath the warmth of the gesture. “Lead the way, Storme.”