Page 68 of A Fierce Princess

I’m about to lose my mind as minute fifty-eight approaches. Serious Shannon is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s also a taskmaster. She’s rearranged my schedule, called in favors, and lined me up for several video appearances over the next week. When she finally closes her laptop’s lid, I slouch against the chair that I’m sitting in and sigh in relief.

“We’re done then?” I ask her.

“All done,” she says.

“Thank god,” I mutter as I rise and walk toward the door. Pete tries to keep a subtle ten feet behind me, but I find that even more annoying.

“Pete, just walk with me. You don’t have to act like my invisible shadow,” I protest. “If we’re indefinitely stuck together like glue, then you might as well walk next to me.”

He picks up his speed until he’s walking by my side. “So, where to?” he asks. Fortunately, while Shannon was lecturing me on video conferences, I devised a rather brilliant plan.

“Mr. Winters’s chambers,” I say. He rolls his eyes.

“Great,” he mutters.

“What was that?” I ask, almost gleeful.

“Nothing, Your Highness,” he says slightly louder.

“Uh huh,” I reply with a smirk.

We walk the rest of the way in silence. I knock on Logan’s door, and a moment later, he opens it.

“I’d like a word with you,” I say to him.

“Uh, sure, please come in,” he says, looking at Pete and then back to me. I turn to Pete.

“Is it acceptable if I have an audience with Logan in private?” I ask him.

He rolls his eyes. “Yes,” he answers.

“Good. I’ll just be a few minutes,” I say as I shut the door and quickly usher Logan into his bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Logan asks.

“I’m using you,” I say with a wink.

“Excuse me?” he replies.

“I need to use your passageway,” I say as I motion to the secret door in his bedroom that I used the other night.

“Oh, can I come with you?” he asks. I shake my head.

“I need you here to cover for me in case Pete knocks on the door,” I say to him.

“Anna,” he says.

“Logan, I just need to get my laptop. It’s running a search, a follow-up to my other one. I need to know where the signal is coming from now,” I say.

“But wouldn’t you expect it to be here, since Sten’s here, and we all think he’s the guilty party since he was down at the house?” Logan asks the obvious question.

“Yes, but something doesn’t add up. Why would Sten send a signal from a house where we knew he would be? It’s too obvious. I…it’s just a hunch, but I’m questioning whether he’s involved. Maybe he is, but maybe…just maybe, he’s not.” I say out loud the possibility that’s been in the back of my mind.

“You think it’s not Sten, then, Nancy Drew?” Logan prods. I roll my eyes.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“Fine, I’ll cover for you, but you better hurry,” Logan says. I start to walk away but he grips my arm and pulls me to him.

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