Page 20 of Queen of Ruin

That’s the crux of the situation: I did care what Darren thought of me and perhaps, just perhaps, that was why I was so angry at him. An anger that has faded now to almost an echo.

Bailey’s quiet for a moment and I almost take it as my sign to get out, but then he speaks. “I worked for Senator Walker, not Darren.”

It feels like we were both being loyal to Kerry for different reasons.

I nod, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror one last time before he gets out to open the door for me. The wind whips my trench coat around my calves. I tighten the belt against my waist and make my way inside.

Nothing could have prepared me for the rotunda of the National Archives Museum.

When I was in elementary school, we took a field trip to the state capital in Phoenix. I remembered sitting on the bus, giddy at the fact that I didn’t have to be in a classroom that day. I was going to see something important. It didn’t disappoint, and maybe I was the only kid to cling to every word of our tour guide, but it was the soaring dome ceilings and the murals that gave me this feeling of being a part of something bigger.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Audrina Elwood catches me gaping at the murals, and I quickly close my mouth.

Her silver hair is pinned back, and she’s wearing an impeccably tailored beige dress with a collar that exposes enough to see a delicate gold chain around her slender neck. She seems to blend into the room, whereas I stand out with my bold blue trench coat and black high heeled boots that are loud against the tile.

“Yes,” I say, trying not to seem so… simple.

She smiles at me sweetly and takes my hand, her thumb brushing over my wedding band. “This is interesting,” she says, inspecting the gold band with dice for a diamond.

I retract my hand. “Darren’s an interesting man,” I say.

Audrina laughs. “That is true.”

We pass a large crowd of people lined up behind velvet ropes that lead to a display that I only catch a glimpse of as we pass.

“Is that the Declaration of Independence?”

“Yes, feel free to stay and look afterwards.”

I crane my neck to look further, but we’re too far away for me to see anything substantial.

Audrina shows the security guard her credentials, and he steps aside.

“I’m so glad you decided to be involved with the charity,” she says over the noise of my loud heels hitting the tile as we make our way down the long hallway. “It was only right that a Walker be on the board, and Darren isn’t cut out for charity work.”

“Well, I’m not sure how much I can commit. I’ve never done this kind of charity work before,” I explain.

“What kind have you done?” she inquires, picking up on my meaning.

“I’ve volunteered at a food bank for the past few Thanksgivings.”

She stops in front of an office door. “That’s wonderful, especially on a holiday.”

She smiles and then opens the door. Behind a desk is a woman not much younger than Audrina.

“Bethany York, this is Evangeline Walker,” Audrina introduces us.

She stretches out her hand. “Yes, Darren’s wife, so nice to officially meet you. We didn’t get a chance at the charity event.”

“Very nice to meet you.” As I shake her hand, I can’t help remembering the game Darren and I played at the charity event.

“Darren said you were retiring.”

Bethany doesn’t look old enough to retire, but I don’t suppose she works here for the money. Her office is decorated with a delicate looking yellow wallpaper that brightens up the space – especially with all the dark wood furniture.

She gestures for me to take a seat on the couch adjacent to the desk.

“That’s true. My tenure ends just before the holidays.”

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