Secrets of a Prince (The Princes of New Sargasso #3) - Carol Moncado Page 0,45
started. “She didn’t break any confidences, but told me I should make certain to be kind.”
Joss started to say something, but his brother held up a hand.
“I was going to, but Rosie reminded me there’s a lot I don’t know about Minnie and her life and why she’s acted the way she has at times or done the things she’s done. It’s easy to judge when you’ve never walked a mile in someone else’s shoes. I’ll do my best not to.”
Joss smiled at his brother, a weight lifting off his shoulders. “Thanks. That’s all either of us wanted.”
Maybe his family would accept her just fine.
The real test would be Kari when she returned in a couple of days.
Joss wasn’t about to try to lay odds on how that would go.
None of them came close to describing how Minnie felt about talking to the king’s attorneys or whoever she was supposed to meet with to tell them about the dinner party with her father.
She waited outside of a conference room she couldn’t see into. The king and... whoever were already in there.
At least she now had access to the palace’s stylist and personal dresser. The pantsuit she wore was nicer than any she’d ever had before, and it did make her feel more confident.
Joss had promised to meet her there, but he had an event earlier in the day and hadn’t yet returned.
Adding to the butterflies in her stomach was the knowledge that Gideon and Kari would be returning from their honeymoon sometime before dinner.
She’d have to face Kari and apologize for her behavior the summer before. Apologizing to Gideon would be easier, she hoped.
The door opened and a man she recognized as one of the king’s top aides stood there. “Lady Waterford, would you please join us?”
Minnie took a deep breath and tried to stall a few seconds longer, praying that Joss would show up before she walked in.
But she couldn’t wait long.
He didn’t show up in those few seconds, so she stood, smoothed the suit jacket over her stomach and walked into the conference room.
For the next two hours, Minnie told her story and answered their questions. Eventually, the lead investigator showed her some photo lineups.
She was able to identify Kari’s father and a couple of younger men as people who were at the dinner party. Not all of the people who were at the party were in the photos and not all of the people in the photos were at the party. Minnie figured the second part was on purpose.
The churning in her stomach had settled somewhat. They showed her a few more photos, including one that send cold shivers down her spine.
She tapped it with one finger, careful to avoid actually touching his image. “I know that man, but I don’t know why.” He definitely gave her the creeps.
“Think about it,” the lead investigator said. “Close your eyes, and see if anything comes to you. Where are you when this person makes you uncomfortable? What’s he wearing? What are you wearing? Does your clothing give any indication to where you might be? Is it hot or cold? Indoors or out?”
Minnie closed her eyes and tried to focus on anything except the man himself. “I think we’re outside. Somewhere casual, I think. At least I don’t think I’m wearing heels or a dress. I never talked to him that I remember, but he gives me the creeps. He was just kind of there. Around. Watching me maybe? I think maybe I saw him more than once.”
She shook her head as she opened her eyes. “I’m sorry I don’t remember more.”
“It’s fine,” the man reassured her. “But close your eyes again. I’m going to give you a list of places you’ve been. Think about each one and tell me if you saw him there, didn’t see him there, or aren’t sure.”
Minnie closed her eyes again and tried to relax as he read of a list of places.
The book release party.
A coffee shop.
A café.
New Year’s Eve.
A shopping center.
A party she attended several months earlier.
The train station.
The children’s library reopening.
“Maybe the children’s library,” she told him with a sigh. “It seems right but doesn’t at the same time.”
“Did you ever feel uneasy at any of those locations? Even if you couldn’t define why,” he pressed.
“Yes.” That much she knew. “I don’t know why though. At least sometimes at some of those places, but I don’t remember specifically seeing him.”