The Shot: Traincoach of Death, Book 1 by Leona Bushman Read Free Book Online Page B

noose?”
    “We have our reasons; some of which we have already stated.”
    “I see.”
    “You don’t. You’re only beginning to, but we can’t say more now. Keep in touch, Bill.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty,” he responded, but the click in his ear told him the king had hung up already.
    “This is a fine kettle of fish,” he mumbled as he rejoined the search. He caught sight of Victoria, and his body sprung to life. Good thing the king had agreed to his suit.

Chapter Six
    Hours later, they were able to leave. However, the perpetrator remained free. No one could explain how the assailant escaped, but she had managed it. Also, Victoria’s backpack remained missing. They had scoured the station, looking in bins and lockers, to no avail.
    The Detective Inspector gave her a funny look as she readied to board the train. “I will be in contact, my lady,” he said, putting a hand out for a shake. Without warning, he pulled her in by the hand and gave her a hug, whispering into her ear. “Be careful, lass. Don’t trust anyone on this train. Listen to your instincts. They’ll serve you well.” Then he pulled away from her and turned to her father.
    “Thank you for your patience, Sir Hastings. We will endeavor to find out who wants to sabotage your trains and hurt your daughter. Good evening,” he said before leaving.
    “What did he say to you?” the Earl demanded of Victoria. She only shook her head and boarded onto the family car. She would have to tell him something, but it bought her time to think.
    Bill came up behind her, then her father followed. “Well, Victoria!” the Earl commanded.
    “Father, please,” she said and held her hand to her forehead. “I have a headache. It has been a rough day for all of us. He just told me to be careful. Apt words after being shot at, don’t you think? I’m going to lie down. Can you please have a plate of dinner brought into me? I’m not up for public dining tonight. Thanks.” Finished, she turned and left. Victoria ignored the calls after her, and since her voicelet lay in ruins, he couldn’t bother her with it.
    When Bill offered to replace her voicelet with one on his account, she had said yes without knowing why. Her father had said he would get hers replaced with the insurance, and she withheld the information regarding the other one on the way. Why didn’t I tell him I was already getting a voicelet on my own? Probably because she did not want her father to get excited about her sharing televocal lines with Bill.
    For now, it didn’t matter. Lily’s calls would be the only thing she’d miss until her father’s replacement voicelet arrived. She put her regular laptop onto the bed tray and leaned back against the headboard. She went online and cancelled her credit cards, reported the theft of her mini laptop to her insurance, and did one other small task—sent out a virus targeted at her own software.
    Back when her sister attempted to drag her into all kinds of trouble, she began to suspect that her father kept too close an eye on her through her voicelets, and later, her mini laptop. She had taken precautions and asked a hacker friend to make her a specialized virus. One she could use if her mini laptop ever disappeared, or she thought she was being spied on. What could her father say when he could no longer spy on her through the device?
    Victoria pressed enter and sat back. With her voicelet from Bill, she would be able to do more. What if Bill tells my father he’s replacing the device? She jumped up and raced to her door, walking until she found Bill. Once she reached him, she stuttered. Her original thought to ask him to come to her room for a private chat had more to do with secrecy than anything else. However, when in his presence, it occurred to her how it would sound to others, which only made it harder for her to ask without a squeak in her voice. “Hi, uh, can you help me with something?”
    He nodded, excused himself from the people he was