Page 65 of The Divide that Binds Us

Evangeline nods, shivering with a half-suppressed groan.“It would help Alice out, but how would we report back without revealing we know what Alice was investigating?”

“Beats me!”Billie shrugs.“But you know me!I’ve got a plan!”

Evangeline listens to the scheme for the evening: smile, don’t be awkward, make small talk, express appreciation for the King, crack jokes, get away to use the bathroom approximately three times, and don’t bring up other monarchs.

It’s easy enough for Evangeline to remember, but there’s just one nagging question she still needs to ask.

“Billie?Are we...the bad guys?”

She waits for some kind of a reaction, but Billie’s face is unchanged when she simply utters, “No.”

It’s not enough to quell Evangeline’s loud mind now, but she can’t bear to ask any more questions that’ll make the vibe weird.

Both in uniforms, Billieand Evangeline exit the taxi when it parks at the valet it shouldn’t have gone to.The driver seems cluelessly excited about driving here.Evangeline leaves a generous tip with a warm smile.She tucks her overgrown strands behind her ears again and sighs heavily, looking up at the monstrous building that appears to have possibly mutated with a castle.

The evening air is chilly, even through Evangeline’s coat, but they’re greeted by the host of the King, Roon.He rushes out in a navy suit and leather slacks, jacket buttons undone and tie loose around his neck.

“Dear me, King Remington never told me what time your arrival would be!”Roon says with a slight distressed squeak.He sports a bulging vein in the middle of his forehead that becomes more apparent the more his neck strains when he speaks.

Roon escorts them through the stone walkway, adorned with rosemary shrubs and landscape lights mixed in.Two Guards wait at the double doors into the royal estate, so Evangeline shoves her intrusive thoughts aside.

Just as they’re welcomed with a salute by the Guards, she sees their hands.The back of one Guard’s hand remains bare, but the second Guard has a small A about the size of a coin on the back of hers.Evangeline meets her eyes and is welcomed with an unblinking glare from the suspicious Guard, followed by a creepy smile.She eyes the other Guard who is cheerfully smiling and nodding as everyone walks in.

“What does A stand for?”Evangeline whispers up to Billie.“Something already feels wrong.”

“I would say Alice but that’s not funny,” Billie snickers.Evangeline nudges her ribs.“Ow.Well, I dunno.Doesn’t stand for Mildred or Remington, obviously.Maybe a partner?”

Roon continues guiding them through the maze of what is the King’s labyrinth of historic paintings, picturesque long halls, squeaky gold tiles floors, crispy clear chandeliers at every turn, and ornate wall panels.He’s babbling at high speed about the menu, but Evangeline is watching all the passing Guards armed and hanging around.She rubs her arms to keep her shivers at bay.

Their final destination comes to another exhausting set of brass double doors that reveal the low, warmly lit dining room.The mahogany table seats twelve people in black sumptuously padded, high-back chairs.

“Remember,” Billie whispers beside her.“We each get three bathroom breaks.Any more looks suspicious, so six total.”

“And then what?”Heat engulfs Evangeline’s throat.This isn’t how she thought the rest of her day would go, and that Billie of all people would keep her calm.“Bust down the doors and call her out?”

“Shh.We need to figure out if she has some connection to the deaths.”

Evangeline sighs.“Right.Diving deep into the dragon’s belly.”

Roon seats them across from each other at the middle of the table.Evangeline assumes the two chairs at opposite ends will be for King Remington and maybe Mildred, so she’s surprised when they enter the room in full royal attire and sashes to sit next to them.Several more royal officials enter the room and take their seats at the table, all happily chatting amongst themselves.Remington is next to Evangeline and squeezes her shoulder.

“A bright and starry evening to you, ladies!Master Azul and Commander Rebecca usually come to dinner once a month, but both had scheduling conflicts.I thank you for coming in their places.”He gestures toward Billie too, who looks constipated from sitting beside Mildred.“So, whom do I have the pleasure of dinning with tonight?”

“Evangeline—” She chokes on her spit but recovers quickly.“Springtown, sir.Evangeline Springtown.”

Everyone turns to Billie.

She waves sheepishly with a grin.“Billie Castor!”

Remington has tiny eyes that frequently disappear when his big cheeks rise from his hearty ginger-mustached smile.Mildred sits across from him and Evangeline, poised like a buff cat ready to pounce.Her hair is thin and wild as if she tried to add volume to it, but it looks like she was electrocuted instead.

Roon hurries around the table placing a menu card in front of each plate placement.Much to Evangeline’s relief, they offer vegetarian alternatives to the five-course meal—starting with bread and salad.

“These are my loyal subjects and apprentices.”Remington gestures across the table at the other eight random people who are still paying them no mind.“I figured they could take the night off and relax at this cozy dinner.”

Be cool.Be cool.Be cool.You got this.Evangeline reminds herself.

Jazz music oozes from the walls causing Evangeline to whip her head around in fascination.

---