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“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.”
Ellery turned to see who’d spoken. Chief Jensen stood next to General Raymond. Neither of them looked too happy with her.
“But Hattie is no murderer,” the chief continued. “Five years ago, Treven Rindlesbacher stabbed a young woman on a dare. Hattie’s friend. He knocked Hattie out and planted her on top of the body.”
Ellery cringed. Was he serious?
“My partner had a history with Treven. He’d beaten his teenage son, putting him in the hospital, and gotten away with it. He knew the guy was dirty and black to the core, and we both believed Hattie. We got her out of Augustine and she promised to never return. Treven got an accomplice to murder charge, but I secretly encouraged his insanity plea so nobody would believe him when he figured out who Hattie was and started screaming about her being the murderer.
“Then just a few weeks ago,” he continued, his dark eyes serious where the general’s glittered with frustration at her. “Treven’s father, William, set up an elaborate scheme to frame Hattie again and get his son free. He killed Franz Wengreen and did a really impressive job of having Franz rob Hattie of everything, getting her to an abandoned cabin in the woods with Franz, making it look like she murdered Franz out of anger, somehow destroying the recording device I had Hattie wear, keeping all of his prints off the knife, and covering the knife with Hattie’s prints.”
Chief Jensen pushed a hand at his hair. “The Rindlesbachers are brilliant, wealthy, powerful, connected, and think they deserve the crown. We made a quick decision to spirit Hattie away and fake her death. Steffan loved her so much he followed her and married her.”
He stopped talking, and all three men looked at her. Ellery looked around the room. It seemed everyone was looking at her. Disappointment, anger, betrayal? If Chief Jensen was to be believed, Ellery had been insanely duped by Naomi Rindlesbacher, Hattie was innocent, and Ellery had not only put Hattie and Steffan in extreme danger, but she’d ruined Raymond and Macey’s wedding day, the family’s only chance to be together for one happy moment, and lost everybody’s trust.
She said a prayer to discern the truth and, looking into Chief Jensen’s dark gaze, she could tell he was speaking honestly. The Rindlesbachers were the liars and murderers. Not Hattie Ballard, or rather Hattie August.
Her stomach turned over. What had she done?
She looked to Derek. He blinked at her as if not sure he truly knew who she was. Had she lost everybody’s trust? Would Derek desert her like her father had? Ellery had failed and messed everything up. This was much worse than wrecking a half-million-dollar vehicle.
Did Derek still trust and love her?
A loud rap came at the ballroom door. Everyone froze.
They all turned.
Prime Minister Henry Shule walked in, two uniformed policemen at his heels. The policemen looked to Chief Jensen. He arched his eyebrows and rushed to intercept them. Neither seemed able to meet his gaze.
“Gentlemen. We’re in the middle of a private wedding, as you can see.”
“Henry.” King Nolan strode forward. “I apologize that we kept the wedding small. I thought we’d spoken about Macey’s wishes?”
“Where is Hattie Ballard?” the prime minister asked. His voice was matter-of-fact and down to business. Ellery didn’t know him well, but it was clear he was extremely uncomfortable.
Naomi and her husband must have sent him here.
Trying not to be too conspicuous, Ellery’s gaze darted around. Hattie and Steffan were gone, along with Sutton and Liz Smith and Gage and Cassandria Remington.
She was so confused about what was happening and who to trust. She looked at Derek. His blue eyes pierced her to the core. She should’ve trusted him, but he also should’ve trusted her. If he had told her days ago that Hattie was alive, could they have avoided this mess? Would he have been able to convince her Hattie was innocent, or would she have thought he was deluded? She should’ve told him right at the beginning about Naomi and everything she’d said, but Naomi had been so convincing, and with the entire world and news and media shouting about Hattie being a murderer, it had been very easy to believe Naomi’s lies.
“As you can see, Henry.” Prince Tristan’s voice was calm and charming as ever. “Hattie Ballard is not here. It was my understanding that she was killed a few weeks ago.” He looked to the chief. “Chief Jensen. Weren’t you on that scene?”
