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They entered the ballroom and everyone seemed to stop and look at them, give them kind smiles. Oh, great.Nowthe king and Sutton Smith were catching her eye. Luckily, she and Kiera had survived.
Soon Hattie would be arrested, and Derek’s family would be safe. That was some solace.
Derek and Steffan strode to them. Derek was coming. He would protect her. He loved her.
“Steffan,” Kiera said excitedly. “Hattie was showing me her secretive knife holder that you bought her to keep her safe from the evil William if he dares show his face. Can I get one too?”
“Knife holder?” Ellery squeaked out.
Hattie’s eyes lit up. “Do you want to see?”
She tugged her skirt up and tugged a knife out of the holder, the metal gleaming in the light of the many chandeliers and the sunlight streaming in from the massive windows.
Ellery was living in a nightmare.
“No!” she screamed. She hurled herself at Hattie, tackling the woman to the ground and successfully grabbing the knife from her hands.
She heard screams and cries of surprise all around, but she had the knife. Scrambling back to her feet, she pointed the knife at Hattie, who still lay on the floor, apparently stunned.
“You stay there,” Ellery threatened. “I won’t let you kill anyone else.”
“Me?” Hattie asked, sitting up, her dress twisted around her legs.
“I said stay.” Ellery’s voice trembled too hard to be convincing. What was she doing? She wasn’t some military ops person. Where was Macey? Sutton? General Raymond?
“Elle?” Derek’s voice rose above the rest of the clamor.
“She’s a murderer, Derek.” Ellery didn’t dare take her eyes off of Hattie. “She’s killed two people that we know of, and maybe even your mom.”
Hattie’s eyes were wide. Steffan rushed to her side and helped her up.
“Who are you?” he demanded, turning a fierce glower on Ellery. “And how dare you come in here and accuse my wife of murder?”
“She is a murderer.” Ellery’s voice was getting desperate. “Naomi Rindlesbacher told me everything.”
“Naomi Rindlesbacher?” Steffan said in disbelief. He cuddled Hattie close and then glared at Ellery again. “You’re in league with that woman?”
“I just sent her a message. Her people will be coming for—”
The room exploded in a cacophony of upset voices. Somebody ripped the knife from Ellery’s hand. She whirled to see the groom staring her down. General Raymond August. “You’re working for Rindlesbacher?” he demanded. He was one intimidating dude.
“I … I …” How to explain if they all believed Hattie?
“It’s okay, Elle. I’m here.” Derek’s arm came around her. She leaned into his strength. He stared his brother down. For her. Never before had a man stood by her side and supported her when things got hard.
“Stay away from Elle,” Derek threatened. “She is innocent and not to blame here.”
Ellery’s body calmed. Derek believed her. He’d protect her.
“Derek, Hattie Ballard murdered Jane Presley and Franz Wengreen,” she rushed to explain. “Naomi said she might even have murdered your mom.”
“Elle.” He turned her to face him. “Naomi Rindlesbacher is a conniving liar. She’d lie to St. Peter to protect her murderous son and husband.”
Ellery shook her head and stepped back. She thrived on his support and trusted him like she’d never trusted anyone, but right now she needed to think clearly and keep him and his family safe.
“No, Derek,” she said. “You’ve been deceived by Hattie. Naomi told me all the police evidence shows she committed those murders. They even had to release Naomi’s son from prison because of the hard evidence against Hattie Ballard. All the media back up what Naomi told me. Hattie has all of you convinced of her innocence because of how good you all are and how beautiful and sweet she appears.”
“Hattie’s not sweet. She’s a spitfire pain in my butt.”
