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“How about this?” The woman tapped her manicured fingernail against her lips, diamond rings glittering despite the sun being behind the buildings. “We’ll have the chauffeur take a walk, and you can sit in the driver’s seat with the keys in hand while I sit in the passenger seat. It’ll be quick, I promise.”
Ellery thought it over. It sounded okay. If they wanted to kidnap her, they would simply pull a gun and force her into the car. She shrugged and walked around to the driver’s side. The door opened and a young man climbed out, looking her over. She’d seen that look a thousand times. The ‘you’re beautiful and do you want to make out with me’ kind of look. She felt cold and like a piece of meat. No wonder she was so drawn to Prince Derek and his classy self-control.
“Give her the keys,” the woman instructed. “And go for a walk. We need five minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The young man reached back in, pulled the keys from the console, and handed them to her. He gave her a smile and a wink, hurried around to help the older lady into the passenger seat, and sauntered off down the block.
Ellery clutched the keys and slid into the driver’s seat, leaving the door open.
“Please shut the door,” the woman said.
Ellery obliged, but kept her hand on the door handle. She didn’t really think this wealthy Augustine woman would traffic her, but she’d heard of crazier stories. Her eyes trailed over the leather seats and shiny dash with gadgets she wouldn’t know what to do with. The chauffeur was one lucky dude to get paid to drive this around. She’d love to drive anything. Prince Derek offering to let her drive his Bugatti still made her stomach hop happily.
“I told you I’ll make it quick. I am from Augustine, and I need a favor from you.”
What was it with Augustine people asking favors of her?
“My name is Naomi Rindlesbacher.”
Ellery lifted a hand. The name Rindlesbacher sounded familiar but she couldn’t remember why at the moment.
“You may have heard about Prince Derek’s brother Prince Steffan disappearing after a woman he’d fallen in love with stabbed a young man at a remote cabin and tried to frame my husband William for the murder?”
“The gorgeous billionaire Hattie Ballard killed that man and then she died in a Polaris Razor explosion.” She had seen all of this on the news. You’d have to be in a coma not to see it. Of course Ellery was very interested as it was related to Derek’s family. Prince Steffan and the now-infamous Hattie had apparently fallen in love but she was truly a murderer who thought she was above the law. The story had made the headlines of international news, but Steffan and Hattie were the one topic Derek hadn’t chatted much about.
More of the story came to her and she remembered the name Rindlesbacher now. “And your son Treven was released from prison because Miss Ballard framed him for a murder five years ago,” Ellery continued. It was such a crazy, unfathomable story, and yet it had happened. Looking at the pictures of Hattie Ballard, she seemed spunky, fun-loving, and infectiously happy.
“Yes.” Naomi studied her, her dark eyes serious. “That woman…” Her voice was full of venom, and Ellery couldn’t blame Naomi if Hattie had framed her son and her husband and murdered twice in their presence. “Hattie Ballard is still alive.”
“No.” Ellery’s eyes widened in horror.
“Yes.” She nodded. “She tricked Prince Steffan into falling for her, helping her fake her death, and escaping with her. She is not onlynotpaying for her crimes, but we’re certain she’ll come after one of the royal family next.”
A shiver prickled Ellery’s skin. The royal family. Derek’s family. A protective surge ran through her. If Hattie Ballard was alive, she’d better stay away from Derek and his family. Ellery didn’t know what she could do to protect them, but she would do everything in her power. She might not be able to date Derek, but he meant the world to her.
“Hattie Ballard is a brilliant, billionaire masochist who thinks she’s above any law. I honestly think it’s all a game to her. It’s a sad truth that some deranged individuals in my economic sphere get bored and engage in harmful distractions to feel anything.” Naomi shook her head morosely. “The way she set up Treven to take the fall for Jane Presley’s death and almost succeeded in framing William for Franz Wengreen’s murder was as skilled and disturbing as anything I’ve ever seen. Imagine your son serving five years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.”
Ellery couldn’t imagine, and she felt bad for the lady, her son, and her husband. “I’m terribly sorry that happened.”
“So am I.” She gave a soft little sigh and then changed subjects. “Are you and Prince Derek dating like the social media people are wont to share?”
“No. We’re friends.”
The lady studied her as if she didn’t believe her, but continued, “If you care for him and his family, you’ll help me expose Hattie Ballard as the manipulative fiend she is. Prince Derek told you his sweetheart of a mum, the queen mother, was murdered?”
“That was Hattie Ballard too?” Her voice squeaked and her stomach rolled uncomfortably. The American billionaire heiress sounded even worse than all the news had made her out to be. If she really was alive and manipulating Derek’s brother and possibly going to hurt one of his family members, that was sickening, repulsive, abhorrent.
“We have some evidence that makes it appear so. I wouldn’t put anything past that woman.” Naomi paused, wringing her hands. “Prince Derek’s family has been through so much, and you could help protect them from a murderer hurting someone else they love.”
“How could I do that?” Ellery’s stomach churned. She was no investigator, and she didn’t want to be around some murderer. She also didn’t want Derek or his family to lose anyone else.
“Stay by Prince Derek’s side. Go to the wedding. Let me know if Hattie comes, what she says and does, and anything else you find irregular at the castle.”
“How did you know I was invited to the wedding?”
“I just assumed. I’ve heard you and Prince Derek are close.”
The chauffeur was approaching. Naomi waved him on and he walked past.
