Hours later, Luke ran a hand through his hair. Piles of folders and documents littered his father's desk.Well, my desk now.
He was searching the files of every guard employed by the kingdom, as well as every employee within the walls of the castle. His father had kept few records, but nothing that was there gave off any red flags. He was no closer to having a list, as his grandmother called it, than he had been before he started.
And he needed to make sure the castle was safe for Sarah.
With a heavy heart, he headed to the infirmary to check in with Larisa. She was sitting in the corner staring at a photograph when he approached. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
He dropped down next to her. "Hey, are you okay?"
She flipped the picture around so he could see it. It was one of her husband. "Do you know that I never got any answers about his death?"
"From the war?"
She gave a quick shrug of her shoulder. "I think. Officially, he was a casualty of war. The only thing I ever heard from one of his friends was that he had been sick when he died."
"Sick, how?"
"I don't know. No one could ever give me an answer. But now with Grandma and her words about mother's death, and now father, how do I know that my husband wasn't poisoned? Is someone after our family?"
The same chill ran through his body. "I don't know, but I haven't found anyone to be suspicious of either. I asked Grandmother about her suspicion of Dr. Seneel, but I still can't tell if she just needed someone to blame or really thinks he killed her." He patted Sarah’s hand. “But it is rather far-fetched that someone sought your husband on a battlefield just to poison him.”
"I don't know. But if you're in love with this Sarah, you might want to protect her. If we do have an assassin on our hands, and they got my husband, they'll get to her, too."
It was already late afternoon as Luke stared out the window. "I'm going to get her, and I'm bringing her back here. She's the only woman I've ever loved, and she's my true mate. If anything happens to her, this kingdom will be without a king."
Larisa put a hand on his shoulder. "Then go get her already and hurry up about it."
He gave her a quick hug. "Hopefully I can find her. I only have a vague idea of where she lives."
"Well, you'll definitely not find her if you don't get out of here."
Luke tried to remember everything Sarah had ever told him about her home. Her family ran a ranch in Manitou Springs. That was as detailed as their discussions about it had been.
When he landed, he found Active Assets without any trouble after stopping in a convenience store and asking about a place to stay. He barely noticed the beautiful decor as he walked across the lobby to the front desk.
"Excuse me, uhh..."
"Mandy," the pleasant woman behind the desk answered. "How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Sarah Hale. Can you tell me if I'm in the right spot?"
Mandy's forehead creased as she gave him a once-over. "I know Sarah."
"Does she work here? Is this her family's ranch?"
"No, not quite. And who might you be?"
Another woman approached with the same quizzical expression. "I'm Danielle Hale. You're looking for my sister-in-law?"
"I am."
"Who are you?" she asked. He didn't detect any annoyance or attitude, she was simply curious.
"I'm... Luke," He wasn't sure how much to say because he had a feeling that Sarah hadn't said much about him at all because of his father.
"Is Sarah expecting you?" Danielle and Mandy stood shoulder to shoulder, and he suspected that he would be in deep trouble if they suspected that he was there to hurt Sarah.
"Not exactly, but it's extremely urgent that I speak with her."
