"I don't care if it's on Wikipedia," Derek sputtered."These people are disrupting my business."
"Actually," Captain Steiner interrupted, "we'd like to speak with Miss Montclair alone.If you think your business is being disrupted, you can wait on the customers while we're talking."
I looked back and forth between them, my brain struggling to process what was happening."Look, I appreciate the whole international intrigue thing, but I really can't lose this job.Whatever you think I've done, it wasn't me."
"You haven't done anything wrong," she assured me."But we do need to talk.How much do you make here annually?"
The question caught me off guard."I'm sorry, what?"
"Your salary.How much?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business," I said defensively.Then, because she was still staring at me with those intense eyes: "Thirty thousand.I know it's not much, but it helps me save for school while I live with my parents."
Something passed between the two officers.A look I couldn't read.
"Those aren't your parents," Lieutenant Commander Vasseur said.
My head whirled."Excuse me?"
Captain Steiner shot her partner a sharp look that clearly said, "we talked about this."
"What he means is..."
"What the hell," I said, my voice rising, "are you talking about?My parents are Bob and Linda Montclair.They adopted me when I was two years old.They are my real parents.They're the most honest, loving people on the planet."
"We're not suggesting anything negative about them," Captain Steiner said quickly."But we need to explain the situation.Privately."
Derek stepped forward, his face twisted with anger."That's it.I don't know what kind of scam you people are running, but you need to leave.Now.Before I call the real police."
"The real police," Lieutenant Commander Vasseur repeated slowly, "would be very interested to know about your tax evasion, Mr.Williams.You have several years of unreported cash transactions.We did our research.Quite a paper trail."
Derek's face went white.It was glorious.Like watching a balloon deflate in slow motion.
"How did you get that information?"
Vasseur pulled out his phone."Excuse me for a moment."
He stepped away from the counter and made a brief call in what sounded like a French with a German accent.Meanwhile, Derek was practically vibrating with rage.Or maybe fear.It was hard to tell with him.
"I don't care who these people think you are," he snarled at me."You've got exactly two minutes to get rid of your friends here, or you're fired."
"I can't control what they do," I protested."I don't even know why they're here."
"Two minutes, Montclair."
I wanted to throw my apron in his face and walk out.But thirty thousand dollars a year was thirty thousand dollars a year.I needed this job, even if it meant dealing with Derek's power trips and impossible customers.
Lieutenant Commander Vasseur returned to the counter, slipping his phone back into his pocket."Problem solved."
Derek's phone started buzzing.He glanced down at the screen, and his expression shifted from anger to confusion to something approaching panic.It was like watching someone realize they'd accidentally sent a text to the wrong person, except worse.
"What?"He answered the call, listened for about ten seconds, then looked up at us with naked shock."I'm fired."
"Effective immediately," Vasseur confirmed."Princess Bettina of Valdoria has just purchased this establishment.It's now closed for the day."
The café went dead silent.Even the espresso machine seemed to pause in surprise.
Princess.Princess Bettina.Of Valdoria.
