Page 81 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“That’ wasn’t Murphy’s fault,” Estelle pointed out again. “It was all my doing.”
“I should never have left the card in a position where it could be taken,” Murphy took responsibility for his actions. “It’s okay, really.” He smiled at Estelle.
“Wow!” Harriet nodded. “So you do have feelings inside your cyborg heart.”
Murphy smiled and shook his head. “I know this is a weird thing to say, considering all the pain and suffering you’ve put me through over the years of knowing you.” He gave a soft laugh. “But it was always an honor to take over your protection detail when you visited the island or the king was in town. You made my job challenging, but there was never a dull moment, and you always made sure I was okay in the end.”
“Thank you, Murphy,” Harriet told him. “But while I can’t give you your position back yet, I can reinstate you under supervision.” She smiled at Harley. “What do you say, Harley?”
“I say you’re making the right decision, Harri…” Harley sighed. “Princess.”
“Harriet will do fine,” She told Harley. “Please don’t get weird with the Princess stuff.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Harley breathed a sigh of relief. “It would get really weird with you and Jennifer being business partners.”
“Exactly,” Harriet agreed.
“Does this mean Murphy still has a job?” Estelle asked.
“Yes,” Harriet and Harley said in unison.
“Are you comfortable with his temporary assignment until all this mess is cleaned up?” Harriet said.
“Yes, I’m happy with that,” Murphy said. “Thank you, Princess.”
Harley was about to say more when his phone rang. “It’s your brother.” He looked at Harriet and answered the phone. “Hello?” He nodded and handed the phone to Harriet. “It’s for you.”
Harriet frowned as she took the phone, “Gray?”
“Where are you?” Gray’s voice was laced with urgency. “I came to the clinic, and they told me you’d discharged yourself.”
“I was fine, and you know I don’t like hospitals,” Harriet told him, and her frown deepened. “What’s wrong?”
“Please tell me Uncle Titus is wherever you are,” Gray told her.
“No,” Harriet said, her heart starting to pound as alarm bells began to ring in her head. “Why?”
“He’s gone missing,” Gray told her.
“But hasn’t he been doing that a lot lately?” Harriet reasoned. “He’s probably doing one of his disappearing acts.”
“No, this time it’s different,” Gray told her. “He hasn’t been seen since he left the clinic five hours ago.” He paused. “And his jet has gone.”
“Maybe he went home to Joyce Isles?” Harriet said.
“Without his pilot, staff, and clothes?” Gray asked.
Harriet’s head shot around, and her eyes met Murphy’s.
“What is it?” Murphy asked.
“King Titus has gone missing,” Harriet told them.
CHAPTER 14
Finn walked into the room after having walked Alex out of Estelle’s suite as Harriet’s words hit him about King Titus missing.
“Can I just say,” Estelle said, holding up her hands, “it wasn’t me.”
