Page 77 of The Devil Wears Orange
His mind spins at the thought of Levan. He hadn’t seen him, but he should have known.
Pop!The sound startles them, and Charlotte jumps. Looking back toward the castle, a fireworks display is being orchestrated to Switzerland’s national anthem.
Rashid disentangles himself from Charlotte, but she seems reluctant to let go. Even with all their planning, they knew time would be tight. The fifteen-minute fireworks show is enough to get them inside, with another distraction planned to get them out and down the mountain unnoticed.
In the moonlight, Rashid and Charlotte jog along the water’s edge toward a hidden entrance, Charlotte holding the skirt of her gown. A light shines on Charlotte’s face, and she shields her eyes. The light repeatedly flashes in code. It’s Rashid’s men in the boat, but where are the others? Rashid guides Charlotte in their direction and helps her board; the hem of her dress drags in the water. Only two of his men are here in the boat – Amir and Rami, the same ones he had sent to act as a conduit between himself and Jack. Amir signals behind them. Someone flashes in return. Once in the boat, Rashid scours the floor, fingers dance until they lock on a knapsack. He swings it over his shoulder and onto his back. Oars cut through the water, and they glide into the waterway beneath the castle while the fireworks drown out any noise they make. It’s an ingenious distraction meant to keep everyone preoccupied, including Banning’s men.
Rashid hopes.
Chapter 45
Jack looks at hiswatch. The fireworks display has entertained the guests for three minutes now, and it’s his cue to leave. He deposits a tray on a back table, scoops up dirty glasses, piles them on, and then floats through the ballroom. He hears guests outsideoohingandaaahingover eachpopandbra-ta-taton display. He spots Mr. Banning and, wherever he is, Jack assumes so is Mrs. B.
A guest congratulates Mr. Banning on the entertainment, but the host assures her it wasn’t his doing; it must have been a surprise from his wife. He looks around. “Ivonete? Ivonete, where have you gone?” To the person on his left, Mr. Banning asks, “Have you seen my wife? She was here moments ago.”
Jack escapes the crowd mesmerized by the lights in the sky and sneaks back into the kitchen, where he abandons the tray, then down the corridor to the hidden passageway. He turns a corner –almost there– his heart quickens, and a tinglingsensation travels through his body. So this is what adrenaline feels like.
“Mr. Blunt.”
“Yes.” Jack spins on his heels.
Mrs. Banning stands in the corridor behind him.
“Where are you going?” she says.
“I was...” Jack attempts at a laugh, “going to take a break while the fireworks entertained the guests. I’m afraid you caught me.”
“Yes, I did catch you,” she says and saunters toward him, hips swinging from side to side. On anyone else, the movement would be an exaggeration, but for Mrs. Banning, it’s simply her nature.
“I know what you’re up to,” she says, her voice clipped.
Jack is speechless, astonished that of all people, it would be Mrs. Banning to catch him, but how? And what exactly did she see him do?
Jack stutters, “I…I can explain...” He stops and stalls for time to invent an explanation to God knows what.
“Mr. Blunt, how can you explain hovering by the ladies’ room when you were to circulate the party?”
He briefly pauses and searches for a compelling lie. “There was a guest who fell quite ill, and I wanted to ensure she was fine.”
“Hmmm,” she mumbles and looks him up and down with penetrating eyes. “And was she?”
“Was she what?”
“Fine?”
“Yes. Her husband arrived, and when I saw her in good hands, I left.”
“I would think she’d have been better served in your hands.” Mrs. Banning leans in closer.
Instinctively, Jack edges backward until he hits the wall. “Well, I should return, Mrs. Banning.” He steps to the side to walk around her, but she throws an arm against the wall,trapping him. His eyes roam to the other side where he could escape, but she’ll probably block that exit, too.
“Do you like it here?”
Jack nods and offers a playful smile. “Of course. I am very grateful to be here.”
“Do you enjoy our rides?”
Oh God, this is torturous.
