I shook my head. Pierre had never been the brightest, but I’d thought he was smarter than this. “Is it possible he’s a patsy?”
Catarina thought it over. “It’s possible,” she said at last. “He was definitely involved, but someone is manipulating him. House James was leaning on him, threatening all sorts of ruin. Perhaps someone was leaning on them. We don’t know, yet.”
“Where is Pierre now?”
“He’s in ‘protective custody.’” She made air quotes around the words. “He still seems to think he’s going to walk. I managed to persuade Marta to wait for Director Bishop’s return before going to Father.”
“Does Hannah know?” I asked.
Catarina nodded. “I briefed her. We managed to snag Pierre quietly, but she deserved the truth. She certainly wasn’t heartbroken, but she’s beating herself up.”
I knew exactly how she felt. Relief mixed with an equal measure of guilt. Mine for letting Gregory die; hers for not seeing what Pierre was doing.
“How do you want to do this?” Ferdinand asked.
I closed my eyes, trying to process everything I’d just learned. We had enough to destroy Pierre, but we needed to know if his family was in on it, and if House James was in league with House Rockhurst. And if we had more leaks.
“We have to tell Father,” I said. “He needs to know, and he’s going to be furious with me, so giving him something else to focus on is a win. We need to see what else we can dig up on who was manipulating Pierre.”
“Are you going to tell him I was in a Rockhurst mine?”
“Not if I can avoid it. I don’t want to give him a reason to accelerate the conflict. I’m going to blame Silva and the Syndicate, with a hearty dash of MineCorp blame thrown in for good measure.”
Ferdinand nodded. He looked grim and determined. The short hair made him look harder somehow, a stark contrast to the expensive suit.
“How do I look?” I asked.
“Fierce,” Cat said.
I’d take fierce any day. Now it was time to live up to the description.
Chapter 30
The soldiers had disappeared, but Ian was deep in conversation with a beautiful, statuesque woman. She had inky black hair and deep brown skin. I hadn’t dealt with Deputy Director Marta Stevens much, but I got the impression that she was smart and driven.
Ian turned as we approached. “Did Lady Catarina bring you up to speed?” he asked.
I nodded and smiled in greeting at Marta. “It’s nice to see you again, Deputy Director Stevens. Thank you for helping my sister.”
She inclined her head. “I am glad you have safely returned, Lady Bianca. It was my pleasure to assist Lady Catarina.” Her serious facade cracked into a grin. “You better keep an eye on her, though. She’s too smart for her own good.”
“She’s too smart for all of our goods,” I said and nudged Cat’s shoulder. “I was hoping she wouldn’t find out.”
“Too late,” Cat said. “That’s what happens when you all run off on adventures and leave me behind to pick up the pieces.”
Her tone was light, but there was a thread of seriousness underlying it. Marta’s teasing comment could also be taken as a warning. I met the other woman’s eyes and she nodded, very slightly.
I knew Catarina felt stifled on Earth. We’d tried to shelter her as much as possible from House business, which meant she hadn’t had as many opportunities to get out and see the universe. I would need to change that or she would take matters into her own hands, for better or worse.
I turned my attention back to the upcoming meeting with my father. “Ferdinand and I are going to see Albrecht. I plan to recommend that we keep Pierre in custody and keep digging. Someone is manipulating him.”
“I agree,” Ian said. “I will go with you. He’s demanded my presence as well. He’s waiting in his study.”
Of course he was. Very little got past Albrecht von Hasenberg. He hadn’t ruled a High House for nearly twenty years by luck alone. He wasn’t a figurehead; he was House von Hasenberg.
“Good luck,” Cat said. “I’m definitely not going with you. But I’ll find you later if you survive it.” She kissed the air next to my cheek then disappeared with Marta.
Ferdinand, Ian, and I made the trek to Father’s study. By now he must know that Ferdinand had returned, but still he let us come to him. I sank deeply into my public persona. Father wouldn’t be won by emotion. Logic and facts would win the day.
The study door slid open as we approached. He was expecting us.
The room was ornately decorated with real wood paneling and heavy, carved furniture. It smelled faintly of cigar smoke and expensive alcohol. Father sat behind a massive wooden desk, watching us with a blank expression. Ian and Ferdinand bowed. I curtsied.
“Father,” Ferdinand murmured.
At the sound of Ferdinand’s voice, Albrecht’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
“The Syndicate removed my tongue.”
“Can it be fixed?” Ferdinand didn’t flinch at Father’s cold tone, but I did.
“I don’t know,” Ferdinand said.
“Go see what the doctors can do for you,” Albrecht said. “I will speak to you later.”
Ferdinand bowed and left the room. Lucky man.
Albrecht moved his glare to Ian. “How did the Syndicate snatch my heir out from under your nose?”
“Ferdinand had three bodyguards with him. All three died defending him. The Syndicate had an inside spy. Pierre von Hasenberg fed them information. He seems to be working on behalf of House James. We have him in custody and he’s confessed. We believe he is being manipulated, possibly by House James, possibly by someone else. We are still looking into it.”
“I expect a full report on my desk by the end of the day. Dismissed.”
Ian glanced at me and I inclined my head. His presence would likely make Father even more disagreeable than usual. He bowed and left.
Father and I stared at each other in silence. “My prodigal daughter returns,” Albrecht said at last. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Did you really think I was a traitor?”
He scoffed. “Of course not. I’ve known about Ferdinand and Evelyn for months. I am not surprised you figured it out.”
“Then why order me detained?”
He stared at me for long enough that I figured he wouldn’t answer, but I’d learned patience. I waited him out. “You needed a push.”
I digested that nebulous statement. He could mean any number of things, but I decided to interpret it my own way. “It worked far better than you could’ve imagined,” I said.
His eyebrows lifted, but I knew he wouldn’t bother to ask, just as I wouldn’t ask what he meant. We were two of a kind.
I let him wait for several long seconds before continuing, “Ian and I are dating.”
Father laughed harshly. “No daughter of mine is going to date the help. Fuck him if you must, but be discreet.”
“I’m going to marry him.”
Red crept up Albrecht’s cheeks as true anger kindled. “No, you will not. I already have a man for you.”