Page 75 of Payback

Edward shot the man a cold look and crossed the room. “I came as quickly as I could.”

I jumped out of my seat and wrapped my arms around his neck. Edward’s familiar cedar and cypress scent engulfed my senses and wiped away the last of my tension. It was one thing to hear that the gunshot wound hadn’t been fatal, but it was another to see him in the flesh.

“How did you find us?” I murmured.

“Henry’s been keeping me updated throughout the evening.” He pressed a kiss on my lips. “I’m so glad you’re unhurt.”

A knock reverberated on the door. The bodyguard opened it and stepped aside.

“Mrs. Trommel?” A different paramedic stepped into the room. “I’m afraid I have bad news. Despite our best efforts, Mr. Trommel died at ten-fifty-five.

Mom clapped both hands over her face. “No… No!”

“I’m very sorry,” said the paramedic.

“Can I see him?” she asked.

“Yes… Of course.”

When we left Mom’s suite, police, paramedics, and hotel staff still occupied the hallways. Mom intertwined her fingers with mine, and we walked together with Edward, Henry, and Blake at our backs. My heart beat a steady thrum, and I kept my breaths even. My mind couldn’t decipher whether the situation was fortunate or fucked-up.

Rudolph Trommel was dead.

Beaten to death by Mr. Carbuncle.

I’d have thought that with Rudolph gone and Mr. Carbuncle finally arrested, my heart would soar and steps would lighten. But guilt roiled through my stomach, filled my chest and made the back of my throat ache as though I had spent the entire night screaming. Rudolph had suffered a brutal death, and it was entirely my fault.

My gaze darted to Mom, and I gulped. How would she react if she knew I had been the reason why Mr. Carbuncle had come to Elfwynn House? Would she understand, or would she believe I was as twisted as Rudolph had suggested in the limo?

The policeman outside the door to Rudolph’s second room opened the door. Rudolph lay on top of the bed with his satin rob splayed open. Someone had kindly placed a towel over his genitals, but a plastic breathing tube remained in his mouth.

Mom clapped her hand over her chest and gasped. “I didn’t think he would look so bad.”

“Mr. Carbuncle wouldn’t stop hitting him,” I whispered. “Then, three of the bodyguards jumped Mr. Carbuncle, and a fight broke out on top of Rudolph.”

She pressed her lips together. Eventually, she spoke to the corpse on the bed. “That must have really hurt… Just like when Mr. Carbuncle abducted Emilia.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the boys, who exchanged puzzled looks.

“We’ll never go on that honeymoon you wanted to Bora Bora.” Mom shook her head, voice choked. “Emilia won’t get the chance to see your doctor associate in Moldova, but I’ll make sure she gets that Ivy League education you promised, the internship, and the job.”

I bit down on my lip. It almost sounded like she was gloating.

Her lips curled into a smile. “Goodbye, Rudolph. My daughter and I will take good care of your empire.” She turned to us, eyes bright. “Have you eaten? The room service menu here is excellent.”

* * *

On Monday morning, we staggered into the dining hall, red-eyed and delicate from spending Saturday night and the whole of Sunday at a suite in Elfwynn House. According to the boys, Edward’s room was a mess of plaster from the shooting, and a team of maintenance staff would need a day to patch it up. After having alcohol with every meal, including breakfast, and finishing off the evening with champagne and cigars that Rudolph had bought for a thousand dollars apiece, I was ready for an English breakfast with lots of tea.

As we took our seats, Mr. Weaver crossed the room and stood at the dais. Next to him was Dr. Asgard and a nurse from yesterday’s blood drive. “Good morning, Elder House. It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that your housemaster was shot on Saturday and is in critical condition at West Mercia Hospital.”

My shoulders drooped, and a pang of sadness filled my chest. The one time Mr. Jenkins had tried to stand up to someone in the wrong, he had received a gunshot wound. If he ever returned to teaching, he would become more reclusive than ever.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors cleared his throat. “I am impressed with the number of people who donated blood, but I have delicate news related to the endeavor. Dr. Asgard, if you please.”

The doctor stepped forward, clasping his hands over his stomach. “As many of you are aware, we took samples from each person who donated blood, and these samples underwent screening for infections, antibodies, and viral markers.”

Silence spread through the dining hall. I leaned forward, trying to anticipate the nature of this delicate news.