Page 23 of Legacy Ascended

"Nothing."

"You've gone a weird color."

"I've been shot, Mateo."

"Yeah," he says, "but that's not it."

Frances comes down the track before we leave, with Benny a little behind him and Elise beside him.

“Klaus is going to blame them for letting me out,” I say.

“He already does.”

“You better make sure they are protected. No retaliation for helping me.”

“No one will punish Benny or Elise. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again in the morning with the whole valley listening.”

I look at Benny. He gives me a small nod.

“And the man with the pistol?”

“Alive. Under guard.”

“Keep him that way.”

Frances’s eyebrows lift slightly.

“He knew where that service door was,” I say. “He had a gun, and he pointed it at your children. I want to hear what he says when somebody asks him why.”

“So do I.”

“Then don’t let Klaus get to him first.”

“He has two guards with him. Neither is Klaus.”

That will have to be enough until I can stay upright without help.

Frances glances toward the vehicles. “We’ve closed the service door and posted guards, but no one has touched the weapon or the room where he was held. We will question him and examine the evidence.”

“Good.”

Elise steps forward with a briefcase, a backpack over her shoulder and a ledger tucked beneath her arm.

“I’m coming with you,” she says.

I look at everything. “What’s all this?”

“The records Frances promised you. My family’s account of what happened to Victoria, the household ledgers, and the letters that survived with them.”

“The originals?”

“Yes. Every item is listed in this ledger, and I’m not letting any of them out of my sight.”

I look at Frances. “You agreed to this?”

“They were preserved for you,” he says.

“All right,” I tell Elise. “You’re coming.”