Excuse the break in the time line. The next chapter will pick up where the last chapter left off.
"Oh, we'll find her alright, but you, Agent White will have no more part in it."
With that, the Queen of Hearts waved her hand dismissively.
"His head, ma'am?" the Ten of Clubs asked, as calmly as if he were asking if she'd like a cup of tea.
"Of course, what else, his foot?"
Agent White had felt so smug, sitting there in the waiting room, ring box in hand. He had even responded, almost mockingly, when the Ten of Clubs had said, "You're late."
"I know... I'm sorry." In a voice that indicated that he was anything but sorry. And with a twitch of a self-satisfied smile.
But it had all come crashing down, not twenty minutes later, when the queen had uttered the words, "What a charming practical joke." And he had realized that the girl still had the ring. And naturally, she had been the one who escaped. They had noticed the empty box when they had landed the scarab, and wondered where she had fallen out. But it hadn't mattered. Oysters didn't tend to survive very long in Wonderland.
However, her escape was now his death sentence. He had seen the resigned look on the king's face, and knew that the king would not step in to save him this time.
Unless...
"I have information."
The Nine of Clubs hesitated. In like manner, the spades that were walking two paces ahead stopped and turned toward him.
"What kind of information?" Nine looked Agent White over suspiciously.
"The valuable kind," he said pointedly. "It's about the Resistance."
Nine stared at Agent White's haggard white face, his twitching lips, his twitching head. Trying to determine if this was a ruse or something worth getting the king for.
Finally he motioned the suits over. "Take him to the holding room. I'll get the king."
Agent White's lips twitched up slightly as he was locked into the empty cell to wait for an audience. This information he had learned in the oyster world, while following the prince, would be valuable indeed if it would spare his life. Maybe get him a retirement in the countryside instead of in a coffin.
...
The king wore a pleased expression as he walked back into the throne room. This might prove to be just the distraction his beloved queen would need while she waited for them to bring her favorite assassin to her. Might stop her pacing. And might save a few more heads.
The Queen of Hearts noticed his expression immediately. "What is it? Tell me," she demanded.
"Of course, my lovely. I have a delicious piece of information for you."
"Out with it!" She was still in a vile mood, and it was getting worse by the moment.
"I've found out the identity of another Resistance insider." The king smiled, just a little smugly. Her eyes immediately registered her interest. "He runs one of your tea shops. Out in the city. The Hatter."
The Queen of Hearts eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?" The Hatter was one of her best sellers. He turned a remarkable profit on the teas, while keeping her subjects appeased, and his tea shop serviced much of the upper city. That, and he was charming and complimentary, and had always shown the proper respect.
"Yes, my queen. The White Rabbit spotted him in the oyster world, aiding the Resistance."
"Is that so?" She mulled this new information over, then a cruel smile played on her bright red lips.
"I think the tea shop might just be Mad Marchy's first stop."
What do you think? I had always wondered how the assassins knew to go to Hatter's tea shop first.
