Page 80 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“What did the messages say?” Harriet asked Murphy.
“Sorry?” Murphy frowned.
“What did the messages say?” Harriet repeated the question. “I’d like you to tell everyone in this room what the five messages said.”
“I…” Murphy’s gaze remained steady as he said. “I threatened you.”
“Why?” Harriet pushed him.
“Murphy didn’t send them. I did,” Estelle was quick to say. “I threatened you by blackmailing Finn. It was me.” She looked at Murphy. “I was the one who stole Murphy’s security card and let myself into your room the other day. I was also the one who removed the linen from your bed.”
“No, it was not Lady Estelle; it was me,” Murphy said more forcefully.
“I’m sorry, Murphy, but I’m going to have to take you into custody,” Harley didn’t look happy.
“Wait!” Estelle’s voice rose. “I really did steal Murphy’s key card to let myself into Harriet’s room. Murphy only took the linen because I asked him to, and I was the one who sent the five threatening messages. He was just protecting me.”
“But it’s not his duty to protect you, Lady Estelle. He’s on King Titus’s security detail, which means he is duty-bound to protect the royal family,” Harriet pointed out and turned toward Murphy. “Want to explain yourself, Murphy, before I call King Titus?”
“Please, Harriet, don’t do this,” Estelle begged her. “You know what will happen to Murphy.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He was protecting me.” She glanced at him. “Murphy and I have been dating for just over a year. We were planning on trying to find a way to speak to King Titus about us getting married.”
“Lady Estelle…” Murphy said, taking her hand. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay,” Estelle told him. “I know you took that linen because you thought I did that.”
“No,” Murphy shook his head. “I took it to be analyzed somewhere I knew no one could tamper with it or falsify evidence.” He smiled at Estelle. “I never for one moment thought it was you. Not even when we found the powder in your room.”
“Murphy’s in love?” Alex pursed his lips and nodded before looking at Harriet. “See, Harry, he’s not a cyborg after all.”
“I guess not,” Harriet said with a smile. “It’s just that I’ve never known him to be in a relationship, and that’s why I thought he might be part machine.”
“Wait a minute…” Alex’s eyes narrowed at Harriet. “You knew they were in a relationship. This whole scene was played out to get them to admit it.”
“And to exonerate Estelle.” Harriet saw the look of disbelief in Finn’s eyes. “Only two security details could’ve accessed my room or let Estelle into it. I knew it wasn’t Harley.”
“Oh shoot, I have to go,” Alex said and looked at Harriet. “Gray told me to tell you not to be difficult and to move into Finn’s guest room until this is resolved.”
Alex said his goodbyes and disappeared.
“Am I still arresting Murphy?” Harley looked at Harriet.
‘No,“ Harriet said, shaking her head. “We don’t know who sent those messages, but I doubt it was Murphy or Estelle, as they both admitted to sending five messages.”
“What do you mean?” Estelle asked.
“There was only one message,” Harriet told them.
“Actually, there were two,” Harley told her about the message that she hadn’t seen because she had passed out.
“Why wasn’t I informed of this?” Murphy’s eyes widened.
“We didn’t tell anyone,” Harley told him. “My uncle has Harriet’s phone and is trying to trace the messages.”
“That’s where my phone is!” Harriet realized she didn’t have it.
“Can Murphy have his job back?” Estelle looked hopefully at Harriet.
“If you’d both have just spoken to me,” Harriet told them, “things wouldn’t have gone this far. But I’m afraid I can’t give you your position back, Murphy.” She looked at Harley. “You understand your actions, no matter how honorable, are against protocol.” She looked at Estelle. “And you let Estelle get access to your keycard.”
