Page 93 of Robin and Marian
“What? You’re taking his side now? You want me to be caught here after we got into the safe?”
Tuck looked startled. “Igot into the safe. You didn’t.”
Robin wasn’t waiting anymore. He pushed the stack at Tuck and scraped up Tuck’s forgotten fox mask from the floor, hoping that gave him some sort of anonymity. They tore from the room while he tried to decide what to do with the papers. The startled servants watched in shock as they ran through the halls, but as soon as Mrs. Koch heard the commotion had to do with Scarlett, she led Robin and his friends outside into the garden.
The stretch of grass beyond the grounds was covered in cars, and Robin stumbled over his feet when he saw it. The Mayfair had been a success after all. Headlights brightened the muggy night in a steady stream of light. This would put Guy in a murderous rage. Everything was working in their favor. As much as Robin wanted to push his cousin’s buttons, this only put them in more danger. Guy would have nothing to lose by just getting his revenge on them all. Robin was desperate to get to Scarlett before he did. And Alan? He’d better not touch his sister.
The trees in the gardens twisted eerily under the overhead lights. A few partygoers explored its depths, but mostly it was deserted, just the kind of place that Scarlett shouldn’t be.
They found her at the Blooming Tree, sobbing beneath it—she was barefoot, and wore her shorts and baggy nightshirt that she’d slept in. She’d clearly been out there for hours. “Oh, Scarlett!” Marian went to her friend and put her arms around her. Midge took her other side, squeezing her from behind. Tuck stopped short, looking unsure on what to do until he shrugged and joined in the group hug.
Robin stood outside of the circle. He pushed the fox mask to the top of his head. “Scarlett, you shouldn’t be out here.”
“Ishouldn’t be out here?” That only made her cry more, and he pulled forward helplessly, not sure how to comfort her. She stood and snatched at his collar and pulled him in for a hug too.
Feeling her soft cheek against his ear, he nudged past the others to get her to himself. “You don’t have to worry anymore,” he said. “We’ve got the papers. And… a lot more!” They could get the sheriff involved now. They could also show him some incriminating texts. He wasn’t telling her what they’d said.
“Oh, Robin!” Her tears slid all over the front of his shirt and she clung to him. Her heart raced against his chest. And then she let out a gasp, as she stared over his shoulder. Robin turned and saw Alan standing in the trees behind them.
“Scarlett.” Alan took an unsure step for her. The collar of his white shirt was ringed with sweat and his hair dripped like he’d been running around all night. Hewasthe tortured rock star.
His wife dropped her hands to her sides, her fingers playing with the frayed ends of her shorts. “You had an affair with Jana Prinz?”
“No, not her. I… I shouldn’t have been alone with her and… I thought maybe you and I were over, so I was angry and… I could’ve ruined everything.” Robin was surprised to hear it—Alan and Jana weren’t a thing? But why hadn’t Alan said something? Alan lifted his hands imploringly. “When I couldn’t find you, I was so afraid. I knew… I can’t live without you, Scarlett.” The tears on his cheeks glistened under the garden lights. “Can you love a stupid fool?”
Her chin lowered and it wrinkled with the strength of her emotions before she raised her face to meet his eyes. “Yes. Yes!” She pulled from Robin and ran to her husband, her red hair bouncing as she sped across the uneven grass to get to him. He held her close, his forehead pressing against hers as he drank her in with his eyes.
Robin’s chest tightened. The two were the most intense couple he’d ever seen. Alan would never deserve her, of course, but his sister so desperately loved him that Robin couldn’t think of a way to stop it. Midge definitely wasn’t happy. His frown stretched across his face.
Marian edged next to Robin. She took his hand. “I don’t think Scarlett is safe here.”
“She’s right!” Alan surprised him by saying. He breathed in deeply, still holding onto his wife. “I got a burner phone. I suspected Guy might try something and so I accused him of trying to kill my wife, and I really didn’t think he’d just say it, but he did.” His hands went to Scarlett again and his jaw trembled. “I thought that I was too late. Why would he just admit it?”
So Alan was the unknown number? At least Robin knew that he could trust him to keep Scarlett safe. “Tuck intercepted those texts,” Marian said.
Alan’s forehead wrinkled with confusion and he studied Tuck. “Who areyou?” Tuck enjoyed his secrecy and smiled a mysterious smile.
“I’m calling 911,” Marian said.
She dialed it while Alan shook his head. “I tried earlier. It was busy. This town’s too small or maybe everyone’s at the Mayfair, I don’t know…” Marian gasped when she discovered that for herself. “But I… I spotted the sheriff before I left to meet you at the Blooming Tree,” Alan said. “He was at the dock by the floats. By then I didn’t know who to trust.”
“We can trust him,” Robin said. Tuck nodded beside him. A little too vigorously.
“He wasn’t the only one I saw.” Alan’s voice lowered. “Guy is over by the carnival tents by the rides. I don’t know what he’s doing there, but he looked… different.”
Was he searching for Scarlett? Or was he doing something else? If he could kill his own cousin and send an innocent man to prison, he could be capable of anything. Even Richard could be in danger, or innocent bystanders.
“I’ll take Scarlett,” Alan said. “Someone has to get the sheriff.”And someone had to find Guy.
“Marian?” Robin pressed her hand. “Bring Midge with you and find the sheriff. Do not leave his side once you do. Tuck? You’re coming with me.” Tuck wasallin. They hit the garden pathway on their way out.
“Where are you going?” Alan called after him.
“We’re going after Guy.”
“No!” Scarlett tried to shout Robin down, but Alan held her tight, trying to sooth her. It was about the only thing he was good for.
“Scarlett, it’s okay,” Robin shouted at her. “We’ve got this.”
