Page 78 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“But you called the cops on them before Finn got there,” Harriet said.
“I did,” Estelle said. “It haunts me all the time because I never intended for things to work out the way they did.”
“It’s not your fault, Estelle,” Harriet told her. “Trudy and her husband chose to try and outrun the law.” She glanced around the room. “You said you had proof of Trudy’s threats to you?”
“I have much more than just proof of that,” Estelle told Harriet. “I wanted to give it to you to give to Finn before I went to prison for poisoning you.”
“You’re not going to prison for that,” Harriet said. “At least not if you help me figure out who could’ve wanted to knock me out and frame you.”
“Leon was the first person that sprang to my mind,” Estelle echoed Harriet’s thoughts. “He has his contacts and resources.”
“He also knows about the sleeping powder and could’ve found some somewhere,” Harriet agreed.
“I think Gloria still had some to help her father sleep when he was still alive,” Estelle told Harriet.
“Who on your security detail is loyal to Leon, though?” Harriet asked her.
“No one,” Estelle answered. “Everyone hates Leon as he is horrible to everyone.”
“Not even one?” Harriet looked hopeful for an answer.
“I doubt it,” Estelle said. “Why do you think it would be someone on security?”
“Unless you slipped into my room after it had been searched to find whatever it was that had drugged me and stripped all the linen off my bed to remove evidence,” Harriet told her, “the only other people that could’ve done that without raising suspicion would’ve been security as they wouldn’t have allowed anyone else into the room.”
“What?” Estelle’s face paled, and her eyes widened with concern and a flicker of fear. “No!”
“You know who did that, don’t you?” Harriet eyed her suspiciously.
“Oh no!” Estelle’s chest rose and fell as she started scrambling off the bed. “I need to get out of here.”
“How are you going to do that with a room full of guards outside your door?” Harriet asked her.
Estelle’s eyes met Harriets. “Will you help me? Please, Harriet. I can’t explain now, but..” She hopped off the bed, went over to her purse on the dress, and pulled out a phone. “Here. This is the phone. The passcode is Finn’s first and last name.”
Harriet stood and took the phone, putting it into her pocket. “Thanks, I’ll check it out.”
“There are also some other conversations you may find helpful on there,” Estelle told her. “But please, get me out of here, and it will all become clear.”
“I don’t think so!” The door swung open.
“Busted!” Harriet whispered. “Stay with me.”
“Princess Harriet, what on earth compelled you to scale your balcony and come here without security to talk to the prime suspect in your attempted kidnapping?” Murphy seethed.
“Are you out of your mind?” Finn stalked into the bedroom, his eyes blazing with a mix of worry and anger. “Have you any idea what we thought when we found you missing?”
“That I never do anything the easy way?” Harriet gave him a sweet smile.
“Oh no!” Finn shook his head. “Your cute little smile and big innocent green eyes are not going to work on me this time, Harriet,” he told her. “This isn’t a joke. Your life isn’t a joke, and we’re trying to keep you safe.”
“I know Estelle isn’t the one that drugged me,” Harriet said, taking a step back from Finn and toward Estelle. “I also knew that none of you would’ve let me talk to Estelle alone.”
“You’ve got that right,” Alex said from the door.
“We have no option now but to move Lady Estelle to another location,” Murphy told Harriet, anger flashing in his eyes.
“No!” Harriet stepped protectively in front of Estelle. “You will do no such thing,” she ordered. “I’ll go to Finn’s house and stay in his guest bedroom. But Estelle stays here with full protection at all times.”
