Albert left and Anton locked the door behind him. He crossed the room, then sat down across the table from her with a perplexed expression.
“What if I’m wrong about this?” Adelaide asked quietly. “What if I misheard her?”
“I suppose it would be embarrassing ... but also a relief.”
“Do you really think the queen is capable of something so diabolical?”
“Not personally. But she could hire someone.” He shook his head. “With power-hungry people, anything is possible. And we know she likes money. King Max used to keep her spending under control, but since he became ill, the budget seems to have gone by the wayside.”
“What if they can’t find her?”
“That crossed my mind too, but the police chief should knowwhat to do.” Anton squeezed her hand again. “Try not to worry. What will be will be.”
How could she not worry? If the queen wanted to knock off Farcus and possibly Adelaide too, it seemed unlikely she could commit these crimes without assistance. But who would she be working with? Adelaide doubted it would be Georg. But she understood why Albert had told them to stay put and speak to no one. Other than Anton, Albert, and her father, Adelaide wasn’t sure who could be trusted in the kingdom. It seemed a great deal of risk and trouble in order to gain power over such a tiny principality. But, not for the first time, Adelaide felt she was in over her head. With Anton still holding her hand, she closed her eyes and silently asked God for help and for protection—for all of them.
CHAPTER
Thirteen
Not surprisingly, the queen was not in the palace. And Georg, according to Albert, seemed completely and believably oblivious. “This is the plan the chief is hatching,” Albert told Anton and Adelaide later in the afternoon. “We want you to attend tonight’s party as planned. We will all be there. Some in costume. We will all do surveillance. If anyone sees anything suspicious, they are to text this number.” He set down a card, allowing Anton and Adelaide to copy the number into their phones. “Then everyone on surveillance will be notified.”
“So the queen will just freely move about the party?” Anton asked.
“Yes. The chief hopes she will connect with her cohorts. He already has phone records that point to certain players. He is optimistic we will wrap this all up in short order.”
“Really?” Adelaide asked. “Is there a chance Farcus will be found?”
“Our investigators are on it. They traced the queen’s last phone call to the Vienna area,” Albert explained. “They suspect Farcus may be at the family villa.”
“But wouldn’t he have called?” Adelaide asked.
“Not if he’s being held against his will.” Albert pocketed the business card. “And our investigators have checked the villa numerous times. It’s closed for the season. Quiet as a tomb.”
“Hopefully not Farcus’s tomb,” Anton said quietly.
She cringed at the thought. “Poor man. I hope and pray he’s still alive.”
“Does the king know about any of this?” Anton asked.
“Not yet.” Albert frowned. “We don’t want to worry him until we know more.”
“Yes, of course.”
Albert pointed to Adelaide. “Anton will go with you to your room. Pack an overnight bag with the things you’ll need for tonight’s festivities. You are not safe at the palace for now.”
“What about the king?” she asked. “Is he safe?”
Albert pursed his lips. “We see no reason the queen would want him gone. Not just yet.”
Adelaide nodded. “That makes sense. But do you really think she’s that worried that I could replace him?”
“Yes.” Anton opened the door for her, and they waved goodbye to Albert. “That’s why we must keep an eye on you.”
Although assured the queen was not in residence at the moment, Adelaide still felt like looking over her shoulder as she and Anton went to her room. He waited outside her opened door while she quickly packed everything she needed, then she remembered that her gown wouldn’t be delivered until five. She asked Anton where to have it sent.
“We’ll pick it up on our way,” he said quietly. “We don’t want to disclose where you’ll be staying.”
“This is kind of exciting,” she said as he drove her through the village a little while later. They’d picked up her party dress and then stopped by his apartment where he got his own things. “I feel like we’re in a spy movie. My mother loved James Bond. I was never much of a fan, but now I wish I’d watched more.”
