I leaned in. “Why don’t you let the footmen go? I think we’d all prefer to serve ourselves.”
“As you wish, Princess.” He went to handle that.
Birdie was shaking her head slowly. The spread was truly impressive. Three multilevel sandwich carousels, two full cakes, a tray of tartlets and petits fours, a display of cold meats, cheeses, and pickled vegetables with rolls and condiments for sandwich making, a chafing dish of meatballs, another of bite-size quiches, a tray of cookies with at least five varieties, a platter of assorted fudge, and a chocolate fountain with about fifty different things to dip in it. From fruit to bites of pound cake, nothing had been left out.
Ezreal had surpassed my expectations.
As the footmen left and he returned to us, I almost laughed. “You’re something else, you know that? You deserve a raise.”
He grinned. “I am paid handsomely, Princess.”
“Well,” Birdie said without taking her eyes off the food, “that’s good to hear, because if you orchestrated all this, you’re more than worth it.”
“Don’t wait on me,” I said. “Go on, fill a plate, I’m right behind you.”
As she and Sin headed for the table, I gave Ezreal’s arm a squeeze, then let my smile drop and lowered my voice. “I need to talk to my father later. Do you know where he’ll be in half an hour?”
“He’ll be in his office until five, but at six he and your mother are taking an evening off. Although I’m sure they wouldn’t mind your interruption.”
I glanced at the wall clock. It was nearly two. “I’ll go by the office directly after we eat.”
He shifted slightly, putting his hands behind his back. “Anything I can do to help?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. I need two things. First of all, does the palace keep a missing-persons file?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Not in so many words, but I’m sure I can come up with something for you. Missing from any particular date?”
“Yes. Since my naming ceremony.” That was a lot of years to cover, but we had no way of knowing when the skeleton had been placed in the carriage.
His brows rose. “I can do that. But it might not be until tomorrow.”
“That’s fine. The constable is working on it from her end, too, but I was wondering if there might be any differences in the two files.”
“Can I ask what this is in reference to? It might help me to know.”
I took a breath. “Please keep this to yourself—”
“Of course.”
“We found a skeleton in the Crystal Carriage.”
His brows rose, but that was as much reaction as I got from him. Ezreal was a cool customer. “I see. And understand. I’ll have that list to you as soon as possible. What’s the second thing?”
“I’d like a list of anyone who might have ridden in that carriage since my naming ceremony.”
“I can answer that without checking the records. No one. The last people in it were you, your parents, and your aunt and uncle. That’s it. The carriage hasn’t been used since that day.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. But in a way, that’s good.” There was no way any of us was the killer. If there was a killer and this wasn’t some weird natural-causes thing.
He nodded. “I’ll get to work on that missing-persons info. If there is anything else I can do to help, just ask.”
“You know I will. And thanks.” He was such a good man and a good friend. I was so happy he’d been promoted to palace steward. “Now I’m going to show that chocolate fountain who’s boss.”
He smiled. “Enjoy yourself.”
I did. So did Sin. But no one enjoyed themselves as much as Birdie did.
We ate and talked and ate some more until at last we were down to slices of chocolate mousse cake and coffee.
Birdie added creamer to her cup. “I could get used to this.”
Sin patted his stomach. “We don’t usually indulge like this.”
She grinned. “I figured some of this was for me.”
I lifted my cup, which held a mocha latte, and smiled. “I just wanted you to know how much we appreciate your help. Ezreal definitely took it to a new level, though, and I’m glad he did. You dropped everything and came up here on a moment’s notice. That’s above and beyond. So you deserve some extra special treatment.”
She blushed a little. “It’s what friends do. You’d do it for me.”
“I would.”
She sipped her coffee, then set the cup back on the saucer. “We should make a game plan, though. There’s a lot of wedding information I need. For example, what do you want me to tackle first?”
I didn’t have to think about that at all. “Nothing. Not today. Today I want you to relax and settle in. Then, tomorrow morning, we’ll sit down and get serious.” I looked at Sin. “Can you get started on giving Birdie a more thorough palace tour? I need to go see my father. I’ll join you when I’m done.”
He nodded. “I’d love to. What do you think, Birdie? Want to see the palace?”
“Absolutely.” Then she laughed. “After all this food, the walking will be good for me.”
“About that,” he said. “We use Segways.”
Her mouth came open. “For real? Those crazy people movers that they give tours of Nocturne Falls on?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“Is the palace that big?”
He snorted. “You have no idea.” He lifted his cup. “But you’re about to find out.”
I fixed a plate of cookies for my dad, because chocolate toffee chip was one of his favorites, then left Sinclair and Birdie to do their tour and headed to his office with the promise that I’d come find them when I was done.
The short walk only took me a few minutes, but I was hustling. On my way, I passed staff working on the palace upkeep. Normally, that was done after hours, when it would also be out of sight, but with the impending wedding and all the visitors that would bring, getting the palace into tiptop shape had become a round-the-clock activity.
Even with the wedding still a few months off.
Not going to lie, I felt a little guilty about so much work being done just because Sin and I were getting married. It was humbling and a great reminder of what an amazing life I led.
The enormity of this event was a little crazy if I let myself really think about it. But I’d arrived at my father’s office, and there was a much more important matter to discuss.
I knocked, then went in. Mrs. Greenbaum, the woman Ezreal had hired to take his place as my father’s assistant, was at her desk typing away with a headset on. No doubt transcribing something.
She stopped and looked up, removing the headset as I entered. “Good afternoon, Princess.”
“Hi, Mrs. Greenbaum.” She wasn’t Ezreal, but she was wonderful in her own way. Exceptionally organized, quick on the keyboard, and she made the best lingonberry scones I’d ever tasted. “Is my dad in his office?”
“He is.” She reached for the intercom with her eyes still on me. “Shall I buzz him for you?”
“No, it’s okay. I can just go in. Unless you think he needs the warning.”
“He’ll be happy to see you.” She gave me a little smile and started to slip her headphones back on but left one ear uncovered. “There are scones on his conference table.”
“Lingonberry?” She did, on occasion, make other varieties.
“Mm-hmm.” She smiled. “With vanilla glaze.”
“I picked the right time to visit.” I was stuffed from that fabulous tea, but that wasn’t going to stop me from having a scone. Then I glanced down at the plate of cookies I’d brought. “I guess he won’t want these.”
She shook her head. “I bet he will. What father turns down a thoughtful gift like that?”
“That’s kind of you. Thank you.” I knocked on his door. Behind me, Mrs. Greenbaum started typing again. “Dad? It’s me, Jayne.”
“Come in, honey,” he called out.
I opened the doo
r. “Hey, how are you? Hard at work? I brought you some cookies.”
I shut the door behind me, then took a seat across from the slab of glacier he used as a desk. There were three organized stacks of files and papers in front of him. The one directly in front of him was the smallest.
“I’m good. Mostly working hard. This kingdom doesn’t run itself, you know.”
“I know.” Just like royal weddings didn’t plan themselves.
“How are you?”
“Better.”
He looked at the plate in my hands with anticipation. “Any chocolate toffee chip?”
“That’s all I brought.”
He patted an empty spot in front of the stacks. “Right there.”
As soon as I set the plate down, he took a cookie and bit into it.
My brows went up. I really hadn’t expected him to eat any. Not with Mrs. Greenbaum’s scones at his disposal. “You’re not stress-eating, are you? What’s going on?”
He shook his head and sighed around the mouthful of cookie. “Nothing.”
“Which means it’s something you don’t want to tell me about.” I crossed my arms. The little wisps of icy vapor in the air were a sure sign something was bothering him. “What is it? Did you already hear the news?”
His eyes rounded, and I thought I detected the slight hint of panic. “What news? Please tell me you haven’t called off the wedding.”
“What? No. Why on earth would we do that?”
“Never mind. What’s the news?” He lifted the cookie to his mouth again.
“We found a skeleton in the Crystal Carriage.”
He stopped midbite. “A real one?”
“Yes. That would have been a pretty sick prank otherwise.”
“True.” His gaze tapered. “Who is it?”
“No idea, but the constable is searching her missing-persons reports. Ezreal’s looking into palace records for the same reason.”
“Yikes.” He finished the first cookie and took a second one. “I guess that’s why you’re here.”
“Yep.” I glanced over my shoulder at his conference table. The plate of scones was within arm’s reach, so I helped myself to one. The tart aroma of the lingonberries and the sweet fragrance of the vanilla glaze were already making my mouth water. “I wanted you to hear it from me, not through the grapevine.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Do you remember anyone being reported missing in the last thirty years?” I bit a pointy end off the scone. It practically melted in my mouth. Amazing.
He thought while he reached for a third cookie. He was definitely stress-eating. Nice to know where I got it from. “Not that comes to mind immediately.”
“Like I said, Ezreal is going through palace records to see if he can come up with anything, but if you can’t remember anyone, then he probably won’t find anything either.”
“Do you think the cause of death was accidental?”
The tone of his voice told me that’s what he was hoping for. I shrugged. “No idea. But who would accidentally die in the carriage? If it was one of the footmen, we’d have missed him. Really, if it was anyone we knew, we would have missed them.”
“True.”
“Plus, it was just a skeleton. No clothing. Nothing else.”
My father grimaced. “Like it was dumped there?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged again, trying to keep things light. “Anyway, the ME is examining the remains, so we should know something soon.”
He finished chewing another bite. “Dr. Charming is a good man. A little odd, but good.”
I sat up. “Odd how?”
My dad took a fourth cookie. Yep. This was stress-eating at its finest. “You know how highly intelligent people are. A little…cerebral, I guess.”
“Huh. Well, he is a doctor.”
“Right.” My dad shook his head. “Who on earth could that skeleton be?”
“Hopefully, we’ll known soon. Hey, while I’m here, I have another question for you. Why did the tours of Hangar Nine stop?”
My father ate half of the cookie in his hand, thinking. “I’m not sure, actually. In fact, I guess I didn’t know that they had.”
“Well, that’s what Tianna told us. She’s the one who took us through and handled the approval paperwork for us today. She said it happened before she was hired, and I think she’s been there about twelve years.”
“I believe that’s right.” My dad pushed the button on his intercom. “Mrs. Greenbaum?”
She buzzed back. “Yes?”
“See if you can find out why the tours of Hangar Nine were discontinued.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I loved how things got done around here. “She’ll probably have to speak to the school superintendent.”
“Probably.” My father pointed his cookie at me. “Now there’s a strange man.”
“Oh? How is he strange?” I thought for a moment. “Dr. Bitterbark, right?”
“Yes, and he’s well named. Although I don’t know if he’s bitter exactly, but he’s a cold fish. Very walled off, if you know what I mean.”
“That’s kind of a weird disposition for someone who works with kids. I mean, sure, he’s got to oversee the school system and make sure everything is running smoothly and standards are being met, but you’d think he’d be a happy enough sort.”
“Right, well, I suppose he’s nice to the students, but on a broader social level outside of work, he tends to keep to himself. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” My father leaned back. “Some of that might be because he takes care of his mother. Has for years. She’s been unwell for nearly as long as he’s been working for the North Pole school system. So he really doesn’t get out much.”
“Unwell how?”
“She’s got Grater’s lung disease.”
I stared at him blankly. “She was a miner?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“I thought that was exclusive to the elves who worked in the mines.”
“It’s possible to get it without working there. Some of the bakers get a version of it if they inhale too much flour.”
“But like you said, that’s a version of it. That’s not really Grater’s.” I lifted one shoulder. “I just think it’s odd, that’s all.”
“You’re not wrong. But I’m pretty sure it was Dr. Charming who diagnosed her. You want to tell him his analysis is off?”
“Nope. Not when I need him to concentrate on identifying that skeleton.” I ate the last bite of scone and spoke around the crumbs. “So what’s really going on that you’re eating those cookies like they’ve been prescribed to you?”
He sighed, then frowned with the realization I wasn’t going to let this go. “Your mother. And your aunt. And this wedding.”
I barked out a laugh. “Welcome to the club.” I lifted my index finger toward the ceiling in triumph. “But my secret weapon arrived today.”
“Oh?”
I smiled. “Birdie Caruthers. She’s going to wrangle this whole wedding mess into shape. You’ll see.”
“She does that, and I’ll give her the keys to the kingdom.”
I stood up, ready to go. “She’d probably settle for the keys to a bakery.”
“She can have those too.” He cocked one eyebrow. “You really think she can help? Your mother and your aunt are strong forces to reckon with.”
I snorted. “Mom and Aunt Martha are like gentle breezes compared to Hurricane Birdie. It’s all going to be fine, you’ll see. She’ll find a way to deal with them that is thoughtful and appropriate and somehow gets me the wedding I want.”
“I hope so.” He exhaled and another stream of ice vapor curled through the air. “Because at this rate, I’m not going to fit into my suit for the wedding.”
I grinned. “I guess I shouldn’t have brought you those cookies. And because I love you so much, I’m going to take those scones with me so you won’t even be tempted by them.”
“Jayne.”
I ignored the little warning in his voice and picked up the plate as I headed for the door. “Enjoy your night off with Mom. Have a salad maybe.”
I slipped out before he could say another word, then a new thought wiggled into my brain. Barely a thought. A wisp of one not fully formed. I stopped beside Mrs. Greenbaum’s desk.
“What can I help you with, Princess?”
I shook my head, trying to capture the tiny seed of an idea that had just come to me. “Hang on…”
But whatever had begun to take shape was gone like the ice vapor in my father’s office, leaving me with nothing more than a feeling. I tapped a finger on her desk. “Do me a favor, Mrs. Greenbaum?”
“Anything.”
“One, keep making these scones.”
She grinned. “Always.”
“And two, did you call about the cancellation of the Hangar Nine tours yet?”
“Not yet. Would you like me to do that now?”
“No. Hold off on that until further notice.”
That half-formed, almost-idea feeling stayed with me on my walk to meet Sin and Birdie, who were already back at our quarters, information I got from asking the various staff members I passed.
But the feeling remained just that—a feeling. I still couldn’t name what had made me think now wasn’t the right time to dig into the shutdown of the hangar tours. Obviously, a part of my brain thought there was a connection between the ending of the tours and the body in the carriage. Could there be? Sure. But what was it?
I went wild and put the craziest possibility into words. The superintendent had killed whoever that was in the carriage and had then canceled the tours to keep the body undiscovered.
Okay. But that really was crazy. For one thing, if he was the killer, why would he hide the body in the carriage? That wasn’t a great hiding spot.
Except that it had been for the last thirty years.
Still, he’d had to realize the body would be discovered now that Sin and I were getting married. Unless he didn’t know about the tradition of a royal having to approve the carriage for use. Was that possible? Maybe.
If he thought the carriage was prepared only the week before the event, then he’d think he still had time to move the body. Still an odd place to keep the skeleton of someone you’d murdered. Sure, burying the body was out of the question. The ground was far too hard. A typical NP burial really meant internment into one of the many mausoleums. Cremation was another option. So hiding or destroying the body was the only choice.
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