Lucy shot a look at her brother but also laughed. “Paid companions come in many forms, you know. Sometimes a young woman will travel with an elder aunt, or a family friend.”
“Equally as amusing,” Miles said, his mouth turned up in a grin. “And what did your ‘nonverbal communication’ tell you?”
Emme glared at the lot of them, even Madeline, who sat next to her and tried to cover her own mirth. Emme’s lips twitched, and she huffed out a breath. “I am prepared to tell him very verbally to cast you all out into the corridor.”
In truth, once he had the information the others had come to deliver, Oliver planned to do that very thing. Emme was tired, he was tired, and the hour grew late.
“Isla,” he said as the laughter died down, “what did you learn from the man you took to the ground?”
She took a breath and sobered. “I questioned him before the police arrived, and he described the man who had hired him to lob the device through the window—‘the one with the curtain drawn back’—as soon as he caught sight of a woman walking with the aid of a crutch.”
All levity in the room settled. Oliver couldn’t bring himself to look at the hurt he knew he’d see on Emme’s face. “With the intent to kill her.”
Isla shook her head. “I don’t think so. He said he was to scare the woman, throw it when he saw her, not when he could hit her with it.”
“So to frighten me,” Emme said, “and everybody else in attendance. What if Miles hadn’t been there? What if someone had been hurt because of me? I know you’ll all say it’s not my fault, but if I weren’t here, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“Perhaps not,” Miles said, “but likely, yes. The cocktail would have been thrown at someone else who represents the ISRO. The organization has risen to tremendous influence in the last year alone, and is ultimately the biggest threat to the Committee’s existence.” He paused, then added, “This is not your fault.”
She bit her lip, and her knee bounced twice before she winced and stilled. “Nevertheless, I believe it in everyone’s best interest if I remain in this room until the final night of festivities.”
“Oh, Emme,” Madeline breathed. “You have worked so long for this.”
Emme reached over to clasp Madeline’s hand. “And it will all be for naught if the whole thing is blown to kingdom come.” She sighed and looked at Oliver. “I shall have Carlo present the address tomorrow on the history of the ISRO and its current mission. Perhaps if I remain scarce, the next couple of days will pass uneventfully and I shall still be able to address the final assembly before they vote to pass an international accord. Hopefully, they vote to pass it.”
“They will pass it, Emme,” Hazel said. “In the meantime, once I’ve finished my presentation tomorrow, I shall keep you company here.”
“Likewise,” Lucy added, and Isla nodded.
“No, no. You must all go out and enjoy it for me. Please. I caught only a glimpse of it today, and perhaps I can sneak out in a day or two, but I need you all to see everything and tell me about it.” Emme smiled, but it was strained.
“Tomorrow evening, then.” Lucy’s tone was firm. “We will bring the celebrations to you. Leave everything to me.”
“Excellent.” Emme nodded. “And you’ll join us, Maddie.” She looked at her stepsister.
“Yes,” Isla added. “It is lovely to see you here, Maddie.”
Madeline blushed. “I’ll make every effort.” She glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Oh, mercy. The hour is late.” The blush faded from her face, and she looked ill.
“Miles!” Lucy jumped up from her seat. “Thank you, Madeline, for noting the time. We must go but shall see the rest of you tomorrow.” She planted a quick kiss on Emme’s cheek, and Miles nodded to them all before making a quick exit with Lucy.
Madeline looked in confusion after them as she stood. Oliver realized that while Emme knew of Miles’s condition as a predatory shifter, she would not have told her family. He thought to make an excuse for their hasty departure, but Madeline said quietly to Emme, “I must be back in my room. Lysette will have noted my absence by now.”
“Yes, very well. The sixth floor.”
Madeline nodded. “We return to the lodge tomorrow evening following dinner with Father’s associates at a restaurant down the street.”
Emme reached up and grabbed her hand. “Visit with us tomorrow night before you leave, if possible. I shall be in touch.”
Madeline nodded, squeezed Emme’s hand, and left. The Picketts and MacInneses also made their farewells as Gus entered Oliver’s room with Josephine. Leaving Emme in the young maid’s capable hands, Oliver brought Gus up-to-date with news of the perpetrator. Gus had little to report other than having heard continued rumblings about a planned attack sometime during the week.
Oliver called Conley to compare notes and learned that Bryce Randolph, the head of the Predatory Shifter Regulations Committee, had indeed hired the man to throw the cocktail through the hotel window when he saw Emme. Randolph had taken to the shadows; a team had been tasked with his arrest.
Oliver felt fortunate so much law enforcement and military presence had descended upon the city; this latest disturbance was now heaped upon the usual round of increased activity visited upon a host city. In addition to several thefts and two minor assaults, six missing persons reports had been filed in the prior twelve hours.
At length, Josephine left via the connecting door between rooms, as he had instructed everybody to contact Emme through him. The door between their rooms was still ajar, and he poked his head inside to see Emme seated on the couch in a robe, legs drawn up and arms wrapped around them. She stared into the fire, barely blinking.
He knocked on the doorframe. “May I?”
She lifted her head, gesturing to the
