“It was Farcus’s name that got my attention,” she explained. “I know King Max’s brother’s name is Farcus, so when the queen said ‘losschlagen Farcus’ several times in a very urgent way, I started listening closely. It felt as if she were arguing with this Steffen person, or perhaps just trying to persuade him. I haven’t had a chance to look to see what losschlagen means.”
Albert crossed his arms in front of him. “It means do away with.”
“She wants to do away with Farcus?” Adelaide felt her own eyes grow wide. “As in kill him?”
He frowned. “It does sound very extreme, but it’s not impossible.”
“Who is Steffen?” she asked.
“The queen has a brother-in-law named Steffen,” Anton explained. “He is her deceased husband’s brother. She’s always been quite close to him.”
Albert pointed to Adelaide. “You also said she mentioned your name.”
“Yes,” Adelaide checked the notes on her phone. “She used another word I’m not familiar with, but I tried to write it down phonetically.” She attempted to pronounce it.
“Beseitigen?” Anton repeated.
“Yes. That sounds right,” she confirmed. “What does it mean?”
“It’s similar to losschlagen. It means eliminate. To remove something.”
“Like me?”
“You’re certain she said these things?” Albert asked, his eyes locked on hers. “That you heard her right, Adelaide? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I heard her use Farcus’s name several times in that vexed sort of urgent tone. My name only came up at the end of the conversation.” Adelaide didn’t admit that the way the queen said her name sounded like she’d tasted poison. “She didn’t sound quite so urgent, but she was intense.”
“She wants to ensure the crown for Prince Georg,” Anton told Albert. “That has to be the motivation.”
Albert nodded, his eyes downcast. “So it seems.”
“So she’s gotten Farcus out of her way. And Steffen is involved somehow.”
“The good news is that Farcus must still be alive, but it sounds like the queen wants him gone permanently.” Albert faced Adelaide, his brow creased. “And perhaps you as well.”
She simply nodded, trying to absorb what felt like a weird old movie plot as Anton grasped her hand and turned to his uncle. “Is Adelaide safe in the palace?”
“Possibly not.” Albert was already dialing something on his phone.
Adelaide blinked. “Really? Do you honestly think the queen would go to such extremes? What if she were found out?”
“Queen Johanna is a very driven woman. We’ve suspected for some time she is romantically involved with Steffen,” Albert said. “And like Farcus, Steffen has been missing for a couple of months now.”
“Which no longer seems coincidental.” Anton’s brow furrowed with concern.
“What about Prince Farcus? Will he be safe?” Adelaide’s stomach was tying into knots.
“We need to take Queen Johanna in for questioning,” Albert said solemnly.
“And examine her cell phone records,” Anton added.
“What about Georg?” Albert turned to Adelaide. “Did you hear his name mentioned in that conversation?”
She shook her head.
“I will call the chief of police right now,” Albert told Anton as he stood. “You stay here with Adelaide. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
Anton nodded, still holding on to Adelaide’s hand. She offered him a grateful smile, but everything about this felt so surreal. At the other end of the room, Albert talked into his phone.
“We must be very clandestine,” Albert said, instructing someone to send the police chief to the palace immediately. “Send a couple of plainclothes officers with him. And no sirens.” He told them where to meet, then hung up. “You two stay in here with the door locked. Don’t talk to anyone. I will attempt to locate the queen and her son without tipping them off. Then I’ll talk to the chief.”
Albert left and Anton locked the door behind him. He crossed the room, then sat down across the table from her with a perplexed expression.
“What if I’m wrong about this?” Adelaide asked quietly. “What if I misheard her?”
“I suppose it would be embarrassing . . . but also a relief.”
“Do you really think the queen is capable of something so diabolical?”
“Not personally. But she could hire someone.” He shook his head. “With power-hungry people, anything is possible. And we know she likes money. King Max used to keep her spending under control, but since he became ill, the budget seems to have gone by the wayside.”
“What if they can’t find her?”
“That crossed my mind too, but the police chief should know what to do.” Anton squeezed her hand again. “Try not to worry. What will be will be.”
How could she not worry? If the queen wanted to knock off Farcus and possibly Adelaide too, it seemed unlikely she could commit these crimes without assistance. But who would she be working with? Adelaide doubted it would be Georg. But she understood why Albert had told them to stay put and speak to no one. Other than Anton, Albert, and her father, Adelaide wasn’t sure who could be trusted in the kingdom. It seemed a great deal of risk and trouble in order to gain power over such a tiny principality. But, not for the first time, Adelaide felt she was in over her head. With Anton still holding her hand, she closed her eyes and silently asked God for help and for protection—for all of them.
CHAPTER
Thirteen
Not surprisingly, the queen was not in the palace. And Georg, according to Albert, seemed completely and believably oblivious. “This is the plan the chief is hatching,” Albert told Anton and Adelaide later in the afternoon. “We want you to attend tonight’s party as planned. We will all be there. Some in costume. We will all do surveillance. If anyone sees anything suspicious, they are to text this number.” He set down a card, allowing Anton and Adelaide to copy the number into their phones. “Then everyone on surveillance will be notified.”
“So the queen will just freely move about the party?” Anton asked.
“Yes. The chief hopes she will connect with her cohorts. He already has phone records that point to certain players. He is optimistic we will wrap this all up in short order.”
“Really?” Adelaide asked. “Is there a chance Farcus will be found?”
“Our investigators are on it. They traced the queen’s last phone call to the Vienna area,” Albert explained. “They suspect Farcus may be at the family villa.”
“But wouldn’t he have called?” Adelaide asked.
“Not if he’s being held against his will.” Albert pocketed the business card. “And our investigators have checked the villa numerous times. It’s closed for the season. Quiet as a tomb.”
“Hopefully not Farcus’s tomb,” Anton said quietly.
She cringed at the thought. “Poor man. I hope and pray he’s still alive.”
“Does the king know about any of this?” Anton asked.