“Just go, Simone,” her father said, a hint of pleading in his voice. “I can’t do what I need to do and worry about you.”
She took a step back. “I’m sorry, Father. I will stop you, and then I will ensure you are arrested and pay for your crimes.”
“You can’t stop this.”
“I daresay that you are underestimating me. You always have,” Simone said.
Her father put his hand out but dropped it to his side with a sigh. “Then this is a goodbye,” he responded before he spun on his heel, disappearing into the crowd of people.
Simone remained rooted in her spot until she heard Caleb’s voice coming from behind her. “What did your father want?”
“To say goodbye,” Simone shared, turning to face him. “We have to stop him. My father isn’t going to stop until everyone is dead.”
Caleb’s eyes grew determined. “Leave your father to the other agents. They will no doubt arrest him the moment he leaves the ballroom. But we must find Victor, and quickly. I have searched the ballroom, but I have seen no sign of him. Let’s go search the gardens.”
“I thought Kendrick already sent agents to do so.”
“He did, but they might have missed something,” Caleb replied.
Simone bobbed her head. “I think that is a brilliant idea.”
Caleb knew of the precariousness of the situation they were facing. If they didn’t stop Victor in time, the consequences would be dire.
He glanced at Simone and saw that her jaw was set in determination. He had meant what he had said earlier about her being brave. She was the bravest person that he knew. What she had experienced these past few days would havebrought most people to their knees, but not Simone. She stood taller, grew more steadfast.
He was grateful to have Simone as his partner.
Simone’s eyes roamed over the gardens as they stood on the veranda. “I don’t see Victor, or Juliette, for that matter.”
“They have to be out here,” Caleb said. “No doubt they are hiding until they release the grenades.”
“Perhaps we should go down a path,” Simone suggested.
Caleb looked at the many paths in the gardens and asked, “Which one?”
As Simone looked thoughtful, a rustling of bushes came from down the far path, the one that was shrouded in shadows. “I think it is fairly obvious.”
“It is no doubt a trap,” Caleb said.
“What choice do we have?” Simone asked. “If Juliette or Victor are trying to contact us, we have to go see what they want.”
Caleb glanced over his shoulder at the ballroom, knowing his friends were somewhere inside. Surely they would notice his absence if he left the veranda. But Simone was right. They had to investigate the noise, knowing what they knew.
Simone headed down the path without a hint of hesitation. Caleb followed closely behind, his pistol in hand, and his eyes alert. He had an uneasy feeling about this. It was just too convenient that they heard that noise when they did.
As they approached the bush, Juliette stepped out onto the path, holding a pistol in her hand, a smug smile on her lips. “I see that you got my message.”
“We did,” Simone said, coming to a stop. “What is it that you want?”
“For starters, I want Mr. Bolingbroke to put his pistol on the ground and for you to remove your dagger from the folds of your gown,” Juliette replied.
Caleb brought his pistol up, pointing it at Juliette. “I do not think so,” he responded. “You drop your weapon.”
Juliette turned the pistol towards Simone. “I know you would rather shoot me than talk but would you really risk Simone’s life?”
Uncertainty pierced his very soul as he shifted his gaze towards Simone, who looked upon him with fierce determination. He had seen that look before. Simone had a plan and he needed to trust her. He crouched down and tossed his pistol onto the path as Simone did the same with her dagger.
Juliette gestured with her pistol towards a cluster of trees just off the path. “Now I would prefer to have this conversation in private,” she said. “Go on.”
