Page 46 of Broken Crown

“Thank you, Ms.Fisher.How did you know my brother?”

“To be honest, I didn’t really know him.We only spoke once.”

“Can you tell me what about?”

“Jack Sloane.”

The instant she says that name, my pulse kicks up, my mind racing with dozens of different scenarios.I quickly dig a pen out of the box and uncap it, scribbling down Reagan’s name below her number in my brother’s notebook before writing Jack’s name.

“What about him?”

“Apparently, your brother had been going through Jack’s phone records and saw a call to me a few days before he died.Jack, that is.Not your brother.Although, I guess your brother also called me a few days before his death, too.I…” She trails off, obviously unnerved by this revelation.

“What did you tell Adam about your phone call with Jack?”I press, pulling her attention back to me.“I understand it’s been quite a few years, but any information you have could help.”

I don’t tell herwhatit could help with.Thankfully, she seems to know enough not to ask.

“I have a feeling I’ll remember that phone call with Jack for the rest of my life.He didn’t sound like the Jack I knew.”

“What was your relationship to him?”

“We went to college together.Tried dating before we realized we were better as friends.”

I continue making notes about practically everything Reagan says, not wanting to forget a single detail.

“And how did Jack sound when you spoke during that last conversation?”

“Uneasy.Crazed.Said he found something in his father’s things.A video he took the night he died.You know who his father was, correct?”

I nod.“I do.Did Jack tell you what was on the video?”

“He wouldn’t say.Like I mentioned, Jack didn’t sound like himself.Said he didn’t know who he could trust.Who might have tapped his phone.He sounded like one of those conspiracy theorists, which was unusual for Jack.He was normally even headed.Kept going on and on about some huge coverup involving the royal family.Whatever he found certainly unsettled him, so I offered to reach out to my cousin, who worked at the palace.Thought if there was something that involved the royal family, maybe someone who worked for the royal household could help.”

“What did he say to that?”

“He was grateful.Relieved, even.”

“And who’s your cousin?”

“Gianna Vale.”

I stiffen, nearly choking on my own saliva.“Your cousin was Gianna Vale?”

“Yes.”

I blink, my brain spinning with theories.Yes, this could simply be a coincidence.

But I’m starting to think there are just too many coincidences to write them off as nothing, especially since Gianna died just a few weeks after my brother.

“Did you ever learn what came of his conversation with Gianna?”

“She claimed he never showed up to the meeting I arranged, which wouldn’t surprise me.Jack wasn’t thinking clearly in the days before his death.It was almost like he was having some sort of psychotic break, which makes me wonder if there ever was a video or he’d just imagined it.And now with the latest news about his sister…” She exhales a shuttering breath.“That poor family has suffered tragedy after tragedy.”

“They certainly have.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.But that’s all I spoke with Jack about during that phone call.All I told your brother, too.”

“You’ve actually been extremely helpful,” I assure her.“I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.And for answering your phone in the first place.These days, most people don’t.”

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