camps and probably school years on the stage as well. His pleading frown, those puppy-dog eyes, were nothing but the product of lots of training. I even wondered if the heartbreaking story about his father laying on the guilt had been bogus, too.
“Okay, if I wasn’t the guy you saw in the Forbidden Zone, then who was?” Dash had smoothly shifted into playing the part of righteous prosecutor.
It just so happened that Ian chose that moment to come down the hall with two other princes on their way to the stables. Seeing me, he lit up with that winning grin of his, and I couldn’t resist going all tingly. On any other guy, that Prince Charming costume was dork galore, but on him it was seriously sexy.
“Hey, Zoe. You look awesome, but what’s with the dress? Not working today?” He turned to Dash and did that guy-grunt thing, nodding his chin. “Hey.”
Dash nodded back. “Hey.”
Ian said, “What’s up?”
“Just talking.” Dash backed off, the chicken.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re just talking. Seems like something’s going on. You okay, Zoe?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. It’s nothing.” Though I could tell that Ian suspected Dash was again trying to force me to come clean to the Queen.
Dash slid his gaze from Ian to me and back to Ian again, gauging our reaction, adding two and two. The first buzzer buzzed, the cue for everyone to get in their places. Ian and Dash would have to run, since the stables were a good mile of hallway off.
“See ya later?” Ian asked, finding my hand.
I closed my eyes. Don’t. Dash will use it against us!
It was too late. Ian cupped my face and kissed me in front of everyone, including Dash. When we broke apart, Dash was giving an evil smile, a threat that said: I’m gonna make sure you two get yourselves so disqualified.
There was nothing I could do about Dash, and Dash couldn’t do anything about us, not as long as he was in the park playing Prince Charming to Valerie’s Sleeping Beauty. So I shoved my worries aside and got on with life.
After the first-shift cast members left for the park, I took the elevator in Our World to the basement, which was two levels below ground, damp, and cold. I’d been to the file room only once before, to fetch a box of purchase orders, but I’d never been in the vault, where the really important papers were kept. And, being slightly claustrophobic, I’d never had any burning desire to go there, either.
The door to the vault looked like your average supply closet, which I opened with my master key. Inside, however, a combination lock hidden behind a false thermostat opened a steel door. After I unlocked that, I flicked on a light switch and sighed. Floor-to-ceiling metal shelves crammed with boxes, five of which, at eye level, were marked PUD:1,001.
I started with box number one and flipped through each page, keeping an eye out for what the Queen described as a progress report from our parent company, Die Über Wunderbar, on official corporate stationery marked July 25.
It actually didn’t take as long as I’d feared. The memo was right on top. I gave it a quick read to make sure I’d found the right one.
As far as I was able to glean, PUD:1,001 stood for the proposed 1,001 Nights Theme Park & Adventure Land, a huge Fairyland expansion plan aimed at attracting “mature teenagers and young adults” with “thrill-a-minute” rides that were sure to “brand” Fairyland Kingdom as a destination spot for theme-park enthusiasts worldwide.
I definitely wasn’t supposed to be reading this, but I couldn’t stop. I mean, a theme park based on The Arabian Nights? It was brilliant! I especially loved the names of the “anchor” attractions and their ridiculous, hyperbolic characterizations.
SINBAD’S SEVEN DEADLY SEAS: 1 boat. 30 seats. 100 Terrorizing Waves. As close to experiencing the perfect storm without heading into the open ocean. Through the magic of modern technology, guests face imminent peril, as for 6 terrifying minutes the boat lists in both directions, submerges, and finally capsizes. (*Not suitable for those with heart conditions, nervous disorders, epilepsy, or weak stomachs. Guests must be age 16 or older.)
ALI BABA’S 40 THIEVES: Think Prince of Persia was challenging? Try fighting 40 armed thieves in a closed-door cave for real. At stake, all the gold you can handle . . . and your life. (*Not suitable for those with heart conditions, nervous disorders, epilepsy, or weak stomachs. Guests must