Chapter 9 - Dee

As I look at my father again, I choke down the lump in my throat, while I blink back the tears fighting to escape.  Even though I want to sit and hold his hand, I need to do my job first.  Being a good daughter unfortunately needs to come second.  Right now, my job is top priority.

I have to talk to the Queen and find out exactly what was happening the day of the attack. 

I turn my teary eyes back to my mother and motion towards the couch along the side of the room.  “Let’s sit.  I need to talk to you.  But first, how are you holding up?”

My mother’s shaggy hair and worn face tell me everything, regardless of what she says. 

A small smile appears on her face as she sighs.  She walks to the couch and sits down, while patting the spot next to her.  “I’m getting through it.  However, I wish your father would wake up.  Each minute that passes by with no sign of him waking up is like slow torture.  I wish that there is a button that I can push, and he would magically wake up.”

I know what she means.  Even though I can’t physically be here in the room that much, I watch the cameras when I can and whisper words of encouragement.  I know that he can’t hear me from my office, but it helps me to feel connected with him.

I smile and sit down next to my mother.  The leather couch squeaks as I shift and turn towards her.   

I take a deep breath.  “Mother, did father tell you what he did the day of the attack?  We have information that leads us to a conclusion that I don’t want to accept, but I must.  If father told you anything before the attack, I need to know everything.”

My mother tilts her head slightly before she hums, “Yes.  We talked about everything.  You know that we have an agreement not to keep any secrets.  The family’s past issues that have arisen have all been because someone was keeping secrets from the rest of the family.  What do you need to know?”

I nod.  “Good.  Can you tell me if father told anyone about the changes to his schedule that morning?  I already know what the staff was told from our communications with them.  However, I need to know who else knew about the changes.”

My mother raises an eyebrow.  “Your information is telling you that it is someone close to us that has leaked the information outside the castle.”

I can’t quite tell from her tone if that is a question or a statement.  My mother is smart, and she often picks things up easily. 

I nod my head.  “Yes.  Now, can you please tell me everything that happened that morning and with whom you or father have talked about the change in his schedule?  Don’t miss any detail.”

A slight frown forms on my mother’s face as she nods her head.  “Well, your father and I both knew something serious has happened.  Your father didn’t ask what you had found out for you to change his route and schedule, but we have been the King and Queen long enough to know what it meant.  So, we were very careful to only tell his executive assistant, Edward.  We didn’t even tell your brothers. 

How did it the information get past Edward? 

He has been one of the most loyal people that we have around us.  I don’t think that Edward would say or do anything.”

I agree.  I also have seen the multiple times where Edward has shielded my father from an attack.  Even on this latest attack, Edward is the first one to push my father back into the bullet proof car, before jumping in himself. 

I have watched the videos.  I’m sure that if Edward could, he would have been a few seconds faster and would have stepped in front of the bullets protecting the King. 

No.  Edward isn’t the leak, but clearly it is someone close. 

I shake my head.  “I don’t think it is Edward either.  However, this does confirm that it is someone close to the family.  Where did you have those conversations at?  Did you talk about these changes in the castle or over the phone?”

My mother’s tired eyes glance towards my father, as she sighs.  With her eyes still focused on my father, she softly mumbles, “We were in his home office within the castle.  You know what that means?”

Before my mother’s words are completely out of her mouth, I hiss, “Bugs.  Someone has planted bugs in father’s office.  I will ask Max to take a crew and sweep the castle for devices.  If we have any luck, we will be able to trace them back to whoever is behind this whole thing.”

A tear slides down my mother’s cheek.  She nods and mumbles, “They have to be very close.  The office is searched every week.  Nothing has come up before.  Does this mean that the person is able to remove the bugs before your staff does the search and then replaces them once the security staff is gone?”

That is a good question.  I wish I would have the answer to it, but it does give us a starting point. 

I put my hand on my mother’s arm.  “I don’t know, but I can guarantee that I will find out.  I have a starting point now.  I’m going to get to the bottom of this whole mess.” 

I pause for a second.  Is my mother ready to handle my hunch about Katherine?  This new information does resolve my suspensions about Katherine.  If anything, this helps to solidify my hunch. 

However, I can’t jump to conclusions without solid evidence and right now, I don’t have any concrete evidence that Katherine is the master mind.  I need more time, but I’ll prove it. 

“Mother, I need to also let you know that Uncle Charles and I have agreed to not exclude anyone, including my sisters-in-law.  The only ones that are officially excluding are you, father, and my two brothers.  Everyone else is a possible suspect.”

With my mother’s eyes still on father, she sighs again.  “I understand.  You can’t leave any stone unturned.  Do you have any hunch of who it might be?  If you are including Katherine and Irene, I can also assume that you have a hunch about one of them or both of them.”

I nod my head.  “Yes.  My gut is telling me that it is Katherine, but I don’t have any evidence.  Give me time though and I’ll find the evidence that I need.”

My mother turns her attention back towards me and lightly pats my leg.  “Sweetie, you know that you can’t use your own hatred for someone to pass judgement on them.  You need to keep a clear mind.  When you find the evidence, let me know.  Until then, I want you to keep your opinion to yourself.  I’m sure that Charles will agree with me, even if you already have given him your opinion.  He knows how dangerous it is to let your own feelings for people sway your logical decision.”

Well, I can’t argue with her.  However, soon, I’ll have the information that I need, and I’ll be able to tell my mother that I’m right.  Katherine is behind this whole thing.  But I still can’t figure out her motive.  Brandon is the next in line to throne which means that Katherine will be the next queen.  So, it seems a little off to push it along sooner than what will naturally happen. 

I slowly nod.  “I understand.  I will try to keep my personal feelings out of this.”

As my mind replays my thoughts about Katherine, my mother lightly pats my leg.  “Sweetie, I also want you think about trying to find someone.  After all this is resolved and we have the culprit behind bars, I want you to try and take some time to find someone that makes you happy.  I don’t want you to end up like Charles.  He has spent his whole life as the hidden prince and serving his family from the sidelines that when it is his turn to relax and enjoy life, he is alone.  I don’t want you to be alone at the end too.  Plus, I want to be able to spoil your kids while I can.”

What?  Me settle down.

I haven’t even dated anyone.  How can I settle down with someone?

Let’s hope that she forgets about this after we have the answers to the attack.  However, I have a feeling that my mother won’t let this topic slide by.