Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

“He has not come back yet. He has gone to find out if Thomas met with any of his friends, but God knows what he has found,” Oliver sighed.

Sir Hugo shook his head in disbelief. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Thomas has gotten connections to lie for him.”

“I don’t think he knows any doctors,” Elspeth murmured. She dabbed at the tears in her eyes. “But then I didn’t think my brother was the kind of man who would put me through this for a lie.”

“He wasn’t even injured, was he?” Aaron asked the room at large.

“Doesn’t look like it.” Oliver’s voice was rife with disgust.

“Damn him,” Elspeth hissed. “How did he get a doctor to be so deceptive?”

“Maybe he knew someone who would sign a death certificate,” Oliver suggested. “I mean, a doctor could recommend the coffin wasn’t opened because of the state of the body and nobody would think to question it.”

“We have obtained an exhumation order for Thomas’s grave,” Phillip informed them. “At first light, the gravediggers are going to go and dig up the coffin. The doctor is on standby to examine the body – if there is one, but I don’t think it will be necessary now.”

“From the sound of it, Thomas is alive and out there somewhere, and he has been back to check on his sister,” Niall said.

“Why, then, once he saw us in the house, didn’t he make his presence known?” Elspeth cried.

“Because he might suspect we would go back to our investigation, and lambast him for wasting our time,” Aaron warned. “He has lied to get me here, don’t forget.”

“He knew you would

feel duty-bound to help,” Elspeth whispered.

“I would help you anyway,” Aaron assured her. “He didn’t need to create this mess.”

“But you were always busy,” Elspeth warned.

“I think we have to call off the doctor until we can be certain there is a body in that coffin,” Sir Hugo murmured, hoping to change the subject away from the brewing argument.

“It was Thomas I saw the other night, wasn’t it?” Elspeth asked Aaron, her eyes silently pleading with him to be honest with her.

“Looks like it,” Aaron sighed. “While I am glad he is alive, I will not accept there was no other way he couldn’t have resolved this matter that wouldn’t create the distress his actions have caused us. I will never forget the moment I received that note informing me of his death. God knows what you must have felt, Elspeth.”

“Grief,” Elspeth snorted. “God only knows why I should give a damn, though.”

Sir Hugo’s face remained grave.

“What are they?” Niall asked, nodding to the papers Sir Hugo held.

“I want you all to look at these drawings. I have had a sketch artist draw them for me.”

Everyone studied the eight pictures Sir Hugo placed across the centre of the table.

Aaron rested a hand on Elspeth’s waist while he looked at the drawings. His concern grew when he noticed Oliver and Jasper looking at the pictures then at Elspeth then back at the pictures.

“See the resemblance?” Sir Hugo asked carefully.

“They all look like Elspeth,” Oliver whispered.

“What the Hell? Who are they? What does this have to do with Frederick and Voss?” Niall demanded.

“Apart from the different eye colours, and a slightly longer nose on one of these young girls, they are all startlingly similar to Elspeth, are they not?” Sir Hugo asked his men. It wasn’t really a question. The proof was before them.

“They are the kidnap victims,” Aaron said after several moments of thoughtful silence.

“What?” Oliver tipped his head.