Page 50 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“Then both of you’d be hanging from the rafters.” A sharp, pinging noise followed Fredericka’s words.

“What are you doing?” I tried to peek at the cell beside me but couldn’t see it.

“I’m trying to find a way out of here. Can’t either of you open locks?”

“Only Caiyan can do that.” But then it dawned on me. We still had our keys. Did Jake overlook the fact we had our keys, or had he planned it that way? “Wait. I’m still wearing my key. They didn’t take our keys.”

“Good luck summoning your vessel in this mousehole,” Ace said.

“I can summon Caiyan.”

“He’s not going to come here. They’ll arrest him,” Fredericka said.

“Maybe that was their plan all along.” Or maybe he’s the one Potts has searching for the treasure. I pushed the thought aside. If I could summon Caiyan, maybe I could also summon other defenders. I closed my eyes and mentally cried help to Al. If he divulged intel about Caiyan’s whereabouts to Itty, he might help us escape.

“The Scot could wear a disguise,” Ace suggested.

“Where’s he going to land in the most secure prison in the world?” Fredericka rattled the levered food passthrough.

The burley guard turned toward us. “Keep it down.”

“Hey, handsome, if you unlock this cell, I’ll show you a good time?” Fredericka motioned him over.

The guard ignored her.

“What about a good time with me?” Ace stuck his hands through the opening and made a vulgar motion.

The guard walked over to Ace and pointed his weapon at the door. Ace pulled his hands inside. The guard retrieved a set of keys from his pocket and closed and locked his hole. He put the keys back in his pocket and returned to his post.

“Nice try.” I gave Ace a morale-boosting double thumbs up.

“Thanks, Hon. Guess I’m not his type.”

“You’re not a Bull Moose,” Fredericka said, and everyone laughed.

“Freddy, you made a funny.” Ace wiggled a finger at her. I could only imagine the annoyed face she gave him.

A few hours went by. Precious hours I needed to save Marco. The guards changed. The Bull Moose handed his keys over to a new guard who wasn’t as big as the moose. He stayed at his post no matter the tricks we tried.

I gave it one last ditch effort. “I’m being restrained against my wishes,” I shouted at the guard. “You’re committing a felony.”

“Stifle it,” the guard yelled at me.

A jingle sounded in the corridor, and the guard spoke to someone.

I pressed my face against the glass but couldn’t see who it was. I heard the jingle again and recognized the clickety-clink of stackable gold bangles.

“The prisoners are allowed to have a visitor.” The sweet sound of Itty’s voice carried down the hallway.

“Itty,” I called out. Ace came to his window.

“I wasn’t told they could have visitors,” the guard huffed.

“Were you told they couldn’t have visitors?”

Another huff from the guard.

“I’m Italina, Countess of Kelty, descendant of Laird Broch Dùn Teilbh, sister to Laird Broch Dun Troddan, and daughter of the Duke of Fiefdom.”

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