The Hunt Is ON

Chapter 3

The next morning Katie rushed to get to the emergency meeting. All the students were already gathered around. She looked around to see where Sam was. She spotted her standing next to a very harassed looking man. He held a clipboard and kept pushing his glasses closer to his face nervously.

" Listen everyone, now we all knew this would happen one of these days." The man said, lifting his hands in surrender. 

" You promised us we had at least six more months Jackson!" A female Doctor says towards Sam and the man.

" How are supposed to do our job while planning a STUPID party." One of the students said from the crowd. There were only about thirty people but the restlessness made them roar.

" Ladies and gentlemen please." Sam started to speak and the crowd died down. " Thank you. Now I understand we are short right now and we have been for a while. I really appreciate each and every one of you and all your efforts. 

Joe if you hadn't rushed out in your own truck, Misty and her kittens wouldn't have made it. Jess you went out in the rain and punched a bad owner and now Sergeant is a Police Dog. " Sam laughs and the crowd relaxes and chuckles with. " That may not have been the best way to handle the situation but if you can hurt an animal...sorry. What we do matters but it comes with a pricetag. It seems senseless to throw a party. 

I know we don't have the time. I will be working hard alongside you all. We need this Gala to be a success or we loose all we have built step by step."

"So how long do we have?" A student asks Sam.

" Three weeks and two days." A voice says from behind the crowd. The crowd drop to their knees. Katie suddenly felt like she had walked into a musical and didn't know the moves. Looking around and going down slowly, Katie followed.

There was no mistaking The Royal Couple. They didn't wear robes or crowns but didn't need to. The Queen had the same thick, silky blonde hair as Sam. Her hair however was expertly styled to look like it had taken five minutes. (Yeah sure

 like try it and come back in an hour ok.) She was strikingly beautiful (so not her Stepmom then)and looked twenty-five. 

The King had friendly eyes but his expression was unreadable. (This was so awesome seeing from who Sam got her traits) Sam went over to them and they smiled and hugged her. Katie wondered what that must feel like. To be wanted and to have someone happy to see you. She felt happy for Sam to have something so special. They spoke with Sam and a few of the Doctors. Then with a warm smile to the crowd they said goodbye.

Katie went over to Sam who looked happy and terrified at the same time.

"Wow...just wow Sam." Katie said smiling at Sam. Sam smiled but her eyes darted around nervously. She bounced from one foot to another. Either she needed the bathroom or this girl was in nervous-breakdown-mode.

"I...I can't be here right now. Sam said touching Katie lightly on the shoulder before turning to walk away. Katie knew Sam needed some alone time or was that just an excuse to be rude? The movies can't be wrong all the time, can they? She decided that she would give Sam a few moments and then go see how she was.

Katie entered the ICU ward nearly half an hour later. She saw Saw sit near a bed with her head on a dog's. She was about to enter when Katie noticed that Sam was not alone. 

" The point is you haven't made your choice and that means that your father and I make it for you." The Queen spoke in a calm voice that said 'Im a lady but don't try me.'

" I still have six months." Sam said still lightly petting the injured dog.

" And what do you suggest? We hold auditions to find you a wife? Darling girl six months isn't enough to know somebody. Even if you found someone, would they be the best choice?" The King said gently as he sensed tension between his wife and daughter.

" And by 'best choice' you mean of a high enough class." Sam said a bit sourly.

" This is not a debate my girl." The Queen stepped forward. " As Royalty we have a duty to our people. Every step you take is to be in their best interest. You have had you fun and played with the animals. At The Gala we announce who you will marry. I love you so much and that is why I must be firm." The Queen hugs Sam and strokes the dog. Then she walks towards Katie.

' What now, what do I do?' Katie thought as they came right towards her. Katie looked around and found a mask. As Sam's parents walked by she did a little bow and moved towards Sam.

" Weird weather we're having today." Katie said as she stood behind Sam. 

" A sudden hurricane if you ask me." Sam said with a humourless laugh. 

Katie didn't know what to actually say right now. She was still trying to digest the conversation that had just happened. She badly wanted to ask Sam about it. The sad fact was that they had just met. Sam was expected to get married soon and Katie had seen first hand how un-magical marriage had been growing up. Then there was the fact that she was ROYALTY and she was lower then middle class at best.

" So I see Rex woke up at last, you must feel some relief?" Katie tried the easy way out.

" Yeah I guess I should remember the small victories too. So how much of all that did you hear Katie?" Sam said as she finally looked up at her. 

" Something about marriage and six months?" Katie said carefully. Now that Sam had brought it up, Katie wasn't so sure she wanted to talk about it after all.

" Don't worry too much it's all just political nonsense. Marriage has always been an asset and not a romantic notion. I'm just one of many who has to think of her country. It's an honour to be able to make a difference." Sam Said in a way that made Katie unsure.

" So that's a really nicely rehearsed little speech but even you don't believe yourself." Katie said with a little smile that she hoped would lighten the mood. Sam just smiled and sighed. This was just something Katie couldn't possibly understand. 

" We should use this Gala to both get into the palace. The palace isn't open to the public except for once a year. With everyone running around, so can we. We might even catch the person who's been interfering with our security technology." Sam said trying to steer the conversation away from what might cause an argument.

Katie gave Sam a look but decided to play along. " So even though you actually live there we're going to sneak in?"

" Pretty much." Sam said with a sweet smile.

+++

Ten of the med students were chosen to go to The Palace to help with preparations. The Security Section had to get to know the area and daily operations. The Caterers were an army of fifty Chefs and two hundred of their essential staff. 

" These things are planned at least a year in advance. There are people whose entire career it is to make sure we are either safe, fed or well entertained." Sam explained to the group as they entered the ten-foot-high iron gates. Katie had been selected to go with of course so bonus. Unfortunately that had meant that Barbara could come with too.

" If ants could be people then this would be what it looks like." Katie muttered as she stretched to see out the window. The bus had enough space. Barbara had non the less squeezed next to them both on a double seat. 

Everyone else enjoyed lounging on seats. Katie didn't want to bother anyone so she sat like a sardine. If they hadn't arrived when they did then that awful perfume of Barbara would have killed her. Or was that the stench of desperation?

They all hit the ground running the moment they stopped there. Things in boxes were being carried back and forth. Gardens were being pruned and cut. A distance away a stage was being built. There was enough space to host ten thousand audience members with loads of space to spare.

" All this and there's still weeks to go?" A student says to Katie as she almost drops a box of glasses.

" It would help if we had cars or something. It's a mile both ways" Katie replies glad not to have to deal with broken glass as well. On her way to find something at the drinks table, she spots Sam. Katie walks over to where she had just seen Sam but when she gets there, she doesn't see her. She was gone. A hand gripped her wrist and pulled Katie into the building. 

Once again Sam was kidnaping her. She let Katie up a few stairs and into an elevator. Katie smirked as she realised that Sam had chosen the glass elevator. The only way to get closer was to take advantage of her fear of heights. Katie moves closer to Sam and delights to see her nervously try to look away. 

" You know I am super afraid of heights." Katie says with a wicked glint in her eyes.

" Don't worry I've got you." Sam grabs Katie Dramatically and they burst out laughing.

The elevator bell dinged as they reached their floor. Katie looked around in wonder at the size and beauty of The Main Hall. The ceiling seemed to touch the sky and was painted in vivid detail. Gold fixtures lined the floors and framed the painting. Each section must have taken years to paint just by looking at the sheer size of it. 

" Close your mouth before a fly gets in there." Sam said as she stalked off leading the way. They walked across the room that surprisingly didn't echo. 

" Good evening Princess. May I ask who is with you please?" A voice said and they both turned to see where it had come from. A man almost as wide as he was tall stood nearby. How did that house of a man go unnoticed?

" And what is your position and badge number, may I ask?" Sam replied.

" Vice Head of Security Princess. Badge number 3110200242." The officer stood at attention and stated.

" This is Katie." Sam introduced with a  hand gesture. She's new with us at the hospital and shows real talent. I wanted to give her a better look of The Palace. We've been busy all day we really can't walk the grounds!" The Officer seemed satisfied with that and let them proceed.

On the other end of the room they went through a door that led to a smaller room.  There were several monitors and a desk. They sat on two camping chairs the security team usually sit at. Tonight they had their hands full watching the party planners. 

Sam logged into the system and found footage from the night. About three minutes before the fire it cuts to where the house is engulfed in flames. The footage that shows who did it had already been tampered with!

" It's not on the main system. It's only been  a week." Sam takes her phone from her pocket and dials the number to the security company. After a few security questions she drops the call with a frown. " They have the same footage whoever did this knows their stuff."

" Guess it isn't that easy in real life." Katie replies sadly. The day had been so busy and now this news had just taken the wind out their sails. 

" This person must have hacked the system. Luckily for me I have a collage friend with crazy computer skills." Sam says as she gets up quickly. There was nothing that would stop her from proving Katie innocent. 

Katie got up at the same time and as she looked up, she realised Sam's face was inches away. She puts out a hand and gently touches Sam's cheek. Sam looks into Katie's eyes as she moves closer. The moment their lips meet its insure who had kissed whom first. They kissed tenderly as they moved to the exit holding each others hands.

Sam pressed Katie's back against the wall nearby, the door slightly open letting in more light. The stream of light seemed to put them in the spotlight. Sam kissed a trail down her neck to her collarbone. Katie's head fell back to give Sam better access.

 When Sam claimed Katie's mouth they lost balance and fell out the open door. Lights flashed like lightning around them and they put their hands up to give their eyes a break. There were five people with cameras in their face. 

Sam sat there dismayed. Tomorrow her parents would see their half-naked daughter with a more naked girl they had never even seen on the cover of every newspaper front page.No doubt the papers would find out Katie had been arrested for arson. And that it had been her parent's shop that has burned down. All Sam had wanted was to clear Katie's name and in the process spend more time with her. There was only one way they were both going to get out of this alive...