Ride The Wind

Chapter nine: In The Name of Honor

Joseph opened his eyes and closed them quickly. The pain was intense, he felt like the top of his head would come off if he didn't hold it on. He combed fingers through his hair.

"Ah, you're awake. How do you feel?"

"I've felt better, Shades. How did I get here?" The Palace Security hub was unmistakable, he'd spent enough time in this very office.

"Pyrus police dropped you off. Someone found you in the bushes, they thought you were drunk. There was whiskey on your breath. I thought you'd be more comfortable here rather than in a Pyrus cell."

"Thanks, Shades."

"I know you weren't drunk, so what happened? Were you mugged? Your wallet was found nearby...no money."

"I don't know for sure. I smelled something sweet so I'm guessing chloroform."

"Any description, any idea who it might have been?"

"None...male, young, taller than me."

"That describes half the men in Genovia, the other half are short, fat and balding...coffee, tea?"

"Thanks, but I think I should go home. Clarisse will be worried. There is something you could do for me."

^^J/C^^

It was two A M by the time Joseph returned to their suite, finding Clarisse asleep on the chaise lounge in front of a fire that had burned down to mere embers. They had spent many happy hours on the lounge, watching the fire or a program on the television or enjoying some quality time together.

She looked beautiful in slumber, make-up removed, clothing left for laundry. A trim leg had escaped her sky blue robe; a hint of matching nightie peeked out, teasing him. He hated to wake her, but it had to be done. He leaned down, kissing her forehead, closed eyelids and lastly, her full lips. She stirred, returning the pressure, her arms encircling his neck.

"Welcome home, Joseph." She whispered, opening her eyes. Seeing the pain in hie eyes, "What's wrong, Joseph?"

"I must ask you a question..."

She swung her legs off the lounge, reaching up to cup his chin. "Ask your question."

Joseph took a deep breath, "On the night of Rupert's assassination, do you remember what you said?"

"After twenty years...am I still a suspect? I said, 'Courage is not the absence of fear'. I said it minutes before the Arch Bishop placed that crown, still red with Rupert's blood, upon my head."

"In any investigation, family are eliminated as soon as possible. You were cleared later that evening. Clarisse, this is going to be painful but I have to ask..."

"What happened that night? Joseph, are you going to reopen that cold case after twenty years?"

"Strictly unofficial...it's a matter of honor...my honor."

She reached out, taking his hands in hers. "Then, Joseph, in the name of honor, let's open that cold, dark tomb together. What's our first move?"

"What did you see and hear that night?" A simple question with a complicated answer.

Clarisse took a deep breath, thinking how to answer. Her mind returned to that evening some twenty years ago. It had been cool but she had rejected the light sweater Rupert had held out for her.

"Unofficially, off the record, but you deserve a truthful answer...very well, Joseph, so be it."

"Rupert and I had a quiet dinner, by that I mean we didn't speak to each other. I had given him what he wanted: sex to produce an heir; I had produced two. I felt trapped in a loveless marriage. Beatings were his way to remind me that sex was my wifely duty, whenever he could squeeze me in between his other women. Oh, I knew of his 'indiscretions', what I didn't know was who or how many.

Rupert knew my garden was my refuge. I think he enjoyed invading it; we usually walked in the, my, garden after dinner and that night was no exception. I had come to hate those walks. We hadn't gone far, each step was agony, physically as well as mentally. How dare he intrude into my only retreat? If I had had a gun, I think I could have shot him myself! I stopped, blaming an upset stomach I turned and headed back to the palace. I never made it.

A shot rang out, shattering the quiet night. I turned to see Rupert crumble to the ground. I may have hated the monster I had been forced to marry but...I began to scream. Security surrounded me immediately, ushering me into the palace.

My mind was numb. I can remember only parts and pieces...Security mainly, then the maids leading this screaming woman (only later would I know she was me) into the Royal suite. I wondered why they were striping my dress off, replacing it with a gown. Eyes red from crying, my mind tried to come to grips with the assassination. No one said that Rupert was dead, they didn't have to put it into words...I knew.

And then...God in heaven! I was led, I couldn't walk by myself, to that horrid room where Parliament had gathered. All I wanted to do was to curl up and cry. Parliament had other ideas. It was explained, like I understood what anyone was saying, that I needed to take the crown; there were others that would steal the crown from the Renaldi line.

His body wasn't even cold and I was being asked, no, told, that I was now the next in line. I have a vague memory of the Arch Bishop placing the crown on my head.

I was Queen, with all the responsibilities, duties of leading a whole country and I had to be led away by the maids!

"Clarisse, how many shots did you hear?" Joseph wiped her cheeks free of tears.

"Only one, Joseph. One was enough."

"Only one more question, Love. You had just left the King when the shot rang out. I've been thinking, what if Rupert wasn't the target? What if you were the target?"

"That's two questions...I'd never thought of it that way. But Joseph, who would do such a thing?"

"That, Clarisse, is what we have to find out. First, we need sleep; we'll start our search tomorrow."

Joseph picked her up off the lounge, carrying her to their bedroom.

TBC