Page 36 of The Study of Poisons
She headed back to her room but paused with her hand resting on the doorknob.
“Thanks,” she said to the door, unwilling to look at Valek.
“For the books?”
“No. The offer.”
And now it was time to say he was sorry. “You’re welcome.”
* * *
Valek hunteddown Margg in the morning, ambushing her as she left the dining room. “We need to talk.”
She frowned. “Now?”
“Now.”
“Here?”
“No. My office.”
From the number of sighs she released as she followed him, he knew she was annoyed. Too bad.
When they entered his office, he shut the door and rounded on her. “The entire kitchen staff is gossiping about Yelena being the fugitive. Who else did you tell besides Rand and his team?” When she opened her mouth, he added, “Don’t you dare lie to me. Did you tell Star as well?”
Margg pursed her lips at his icy tone. Then she huffed. “Yes. Star pays double for any information about that rat. You left that note out about her, so I figured you wanted me to tell Star.”
That would teach him not to think information was safe in his apartment. “What else have you told Star about Yelena?”
She glanced at her boots and then out the window.
This would be bad. Valek braced. “Out with it.”
“I told Star that Yelena would be at the fire festival tonight.”
Nothing surprising, and it reaffirmed that he needed to assign more of his corps at the festival to help keep Yelena safe. “Do you know why Star wants Yelena dead?”
“No.” Margg peered at him. “Why do you care? She’s disposable.”
A wave of fury rushed through his veins, but he kept his stone mask on tight. “I don’t care about her. Icareabout my operation with Star. There’s a reason behind the information I ask you to relay to her. You can’t give Star any additional information without checking with me first.”
“Then you should have said so.”
Valek fingered his new dagger. Just how upset would Ambrose be if he killed the housekeeper? “I shouldn’t have to. But, fine, I’m saying it now. What else have you told her?”
She squirmed under his scrutiny. He gave his flat stare in warning.
Finally, she blurted, “No one was approaching me about selling secrets, so I…wanted to gain Star’s attention. I…told the old goat about Yelena being out of commission for a few days and where to find her.”
Valek growled.
Margg rushed on. “I also told Rand, and that very night, he asked me if I wanted to sell secrets. So, it worked!”
He’d made a mistake involving Margg in this operation. “From now on, you are not allowed to deviate from the script. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“I also want the keys to my office and suite.” He held out his hand.
