Thank you everyone for hanging in there with me. It's been almost three weeks since my last post. I appreciate all your reviews and encouragement to continue. Here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy! As always please leave a review.
"Yes, he is" Clarisse replied to Hans.
"Do you need an escort back to your rooms" Hans asked not liking the idea of her walking this Palace alone after Alex went missing?
"I have one. There they are" Clarisse replied as she pointed down the hall.
Hans looked and saw Pierre with his bodyguards.
Clarisse walked past him as she headed towards her son.
Hans knocked on the King's door waiting for his permission before entering.
Clarisse and her son hugged before they walked down the hall.
"How is father doing" Pierre asked?
"He is worried about Alex" Clarisse admitted.
"I am too" Pierre admitted.
"Yes, we all are" Clarisse replied as she placed her arm around her son's arm.
Rose Garden…
"Helena, have you thought about James possibly involved in this" Henry asked?
Helena looked at him shocked and replied, "no, he cannot be. He is far away from Genovia."
"Just because he is gone does not mean he is not still involved" Henry suggested.
"Well, if he is surely, Arthur would know" Helena questioned?
"I will call Arthur" Henry reassured her.
"Thank you. You know, I wanted Alex to live here but after this…" Helena said clearly upset, her eyes teared up as tears trickled down her cheeks.
Henry reached out and pulled her to him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he placed his head near her head and stated firmly, "I will find him and when I do, I promise you, this will never happen again. I will make sure your family is protected with more than one bodyguard. It is absurd the way they operate around here. Alex is an heir to the throne he should have a team as his brothers do."
"Rupert will not acknowledge him as an heir or as his son. Alex will never be protected as a royal" Helena stated knowingly.
"I am going to change that" Henry promised.
Helena wanted to believe him but, she had a bad feeling that if her grandson stays in Genovia, he would always be in danger no matter how many bodyguards they had.
"What are you thinking" Henry asked as he noticed she seemed distracted?
"What would you say if I told you that once Alex is found, I would rather we all forget Genovia and live in London with you" Helena asked hesitantly?
"What about Antoinette? I thought she wanted Alex to be here" Henry replied confused.
"Yes, but at what cost" Helena asked? She was not sure how she was going to convince Antoinette of this plan, but she would try her hardest to convince her.
Clarisse suite….
They arrived at the suite within minutes, Pierre bid his mother a good night. Security went inside her suite and looked in every room and closet as well as the balcony. Given all was clear, Clarisse went inside. Pierre left with his bodyguards. Standing outside her door were two other security members. Pierre wondered where Joe was.
Clarisse walked through her sitting room and into her bedroom. It was late so she decided to undress and take a shower without the assistance of her lady's maid. She did not need her help as she was not formally dressed. Turning the shower on, she took a shower and then put her dressing gown on. With a deep sigh she walked to her side bar and poured herself a strong alcoholic beverage. She did not drink normally but, tonight she wanted one. She sat down and took a gulp, making a face shortly after as she leaned back on her couch. She closed her eyes and thought, Rupert what are you keeping from me?
Pierre suite….
Joseph exited from the suite once Antoinette seemed calmer. Walking down the hallway he thought about what they were all going to do if the kidnapper did not contact them. The mere thought of that made his fists clench. Alex was a child and if the kidnapper was the same man who assaulted Hans, Leo was not going to fair well. They had to figure this out before anyone else gets hurt. Heading towards the security hub, he wondered if Shades was there. He was the only man he trusted.
King suite…
"Hans, any news" Rupert asked as he maneuvered over to him?
"No, nothing yet" Hans admitted.
Rupert sighed frustrated.
"I was hoping we could discuss an important matter" Hans asked?
"Yes, of-course" Rupert replied.
"It is about Henry" Hans said honestly.
"I think we both know he is involved in Alex's disappearance" Rupert insisted.
"If he is, what do you intend to do" Hans asked directly? He had to be clear on what the King decision was going to be.
"Well, since you ask, have a seat and pour us both a drink" Rupert stated.
Hans walked over to the side bar and poured them both a drink.
Moments later, Hans sat as they both took a sip.
"I have concluded that it is time that I assume control of the monarchy. My first order of business is, I am done negotiating with Antoinette, Arthur and Henry. Once Alex is found and we have Pierre's ceremony, Pierre and Clarisse will leave to visit Phillippe. Then we end this" Rupert said as he looked his HOS in the eyes making it clear that he was not speaking out of emotion.
"Yes, my King" Hans replied without any question or hesitation. He would do whatever his King, friend, asked without question. Helena words echoed in his mind but, he pushed them aside. Why should he care about her accusation? All he ever tried to do was help her. And all she ever did was hurt and betray him.
Security Hub….
"Ready to call it a night" Shades asked Charlotte as they sat together?
"Yes, I am really, tired" Charlotte admitted.
"I will walk you to your room" Shades volunteered.
"Thank you" Charlotte smiled.
They left the hub and walked down the hall but did not get far. Joseph was walking towards them with determination.
"Any news" Shades and Charlotte asked at the same time?
"No, not yet. Do you two have a moment" Joe asked?
They both nodded yes and went back inside the hub with Joe.
"I have been giving this some thought, and I believe the person who took Alex is one of the people responsible for crashing our security cameras and Hans, assault" Joe shared.
"Guys, the first time we thought someone who works here let someone else in to crash the security cameras but what if this has been an inside job all along" Charlotte said as she looked at both men.
"And what if all of this is connected to the shooting" Shades asked?
"If this is all connected to the shooting, then there is a good chance this all started at the trade negotiations. Arthur Mabrey was responsible for that; he was trying to blackmail the King so that he would vote the way he wanted. After that failed if we think back, he was here for the garden party; he could have planted a device for the hacker to use. We were all busy keeping an eye on Antoinette that we never thought to keep an eye on him. He had the means and the opportunity, and we all know he is behind wanting Antoinette to marry Pierre" Joe said convinced that he was right.
"Joe, that would mean that he is responsible for Hans being assaulted and Alex being taken from inside the Palace" Shades added.
"You could be right Charlotte; this may have been an inside job all along. The royal family are all in the Palace aside from Phillippe, and we…." Joe did not get to finish because Charlotte finished for him.
"We are all trapped inside with them" Charlotte said terrified at what this meant.
"And with no leads on who the enemy inside is" Shades added as he looked at Joe with concern.
"We have to get everyone out of the Palace in order to ensure the royal family is safe" Joe stated as they all walked out of the HUB determined to discuss the new plan with the Commander and the royal family.
Pierre suite…
Antoinette sat clenching her hands waiting on news for her son. She felt as if she were losing her mind as she kept staring at the clock. Why hasn't anyone called, she kept wondering?
The door opening made her get up.
Helena walked in.
"Any news mother" Antoinette asked hopeful?
"No, I'm sorry" Helena replied as she walked to her daughter who looked as though she was going to have a breakdown at any moment. As a mother, she understood perfectly.
Antoinette sat back down, her body trembling as she stared at the clock.
"Why don't you take a hot bath, and I will wait here by the phone" Helena tried to get her daughter to stop staring at the clock?
"No, I…I want to be here in case someone calls" Antoinette stated.
"Alright" Helena replied as she walked over and poured them both a drink. Carrying it over she handed one to her daughter and sat beside her.
Antoinette took a long gulp before she looked at her mother with tear filled eyes.
"I know you are worried sick but, we must remain positive. Someone is going to call" Helena tried to reassure her.
"When mother? When" Antoinette sobbed?
Helena put her glass down, took Antoinette glass and then hugged her daughter tight.
"What if…." Antoinette cried.
"Do not think it or say it. Alex is going to be fine, and he will come home to you" Helena said adamant as she held her daughter tighter.
Henry suite…
Henry walked into his room and went straight to his phone, dialing a number he knew by memory.
"Henry, what do I owe the pleasure, dear friend" Arthur asked as he answered his phone?
"We need to meet" Henry said straight to the point.
"When and where" Arthur asked?
"Tomorrow morning at the club" Henry replied.
"See you tomorrow" Arthur agreed.
Guest suite…
Pierre was laying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as his mind raced as to why no one has called yet. He knew kidnappers took time to call, would request a ransom but what if….no, he shook his head…. Alex is going to be okay; he will come home; someone will call his father or Antoinette.
His cell phone rang, the caller ID stating unknown caller, he grabbed it quickly answering, "Hello…. who is this?"
"We have the boy. If you want him back alive and in one piece, you will do as we say…" A distorted voice threatened.
