door.
The reporter followed. “I understand that Your Highness actually hates being in the United States and is rushing through this goodwill tour in an effort to return home as soon as possible?”
Amos stopped and turned. “I don’t know where you get your information, bud, but I can honestly say that I’d rather be in the good old U.S. than anywhere else in the world.”
The reporter was writing furiously. “Then why have you avoided most of your appointments with our state legislature?”
“Hey. You’ve got it backward. From what I hear, those guys in the capitol don’t want to talk to me.” Amos shrugged. “What can I say?”
Charles took his arm again and whispered, “I think you’ve said quite enough.”
Dunc passed the prince in the hall of the capitol. “How’s it going, Gus?”
“Not well. By now, I had hoped to locate some evidence of the conspiracy. So far, all I’ve done is run for coffee. How about you?”
“I’m on my way to Senator Grafter’s office. He forgot his briefcase, and I have to get it for him. You can come with me if you want.”
The prince looked relieved. “It sounds better than going for more coffee.”
The senator’s secretary unlocked the door. “Let me know when you boys arethrough in there. He likes to keep it locked up tight.”
Dunc looked around. “The senator thought he left his briefcase on the floor by the coatrack. But I don’t see it, do you?”
The prince walked around the desk. “Here it is.” He picked up the leather case and started back around. The latch flew open, and papers went everywhere.
Dunc rubbed his chin. “You know, Gus, you and Amos may be more alike than you realize.”
The prince knelt and started putting things back into the case. One of the papers caught his attention. “Dunc, look at this.”
Dunc scanned the paper. “Now, why would a state senator have a letter in his briefcase about a possible oil strike in Moldavia?”
The secretary opened the door. “Are you boys having trouble?”
“No, ma’am. We just had a little accident. We’ll have it picked up in no time.” Dunc started stuffing things back into the briefcase.
“Here, I’ll do that.” The secretary pickedup a handful of the papers. “Senator Grafter sent word that he found the document he was looking for. He doesn’t need his briefcase after all.”
The prince shot Dunc a worried look.
Dunc reached over to help straighten the rest of the papers. “I was just wondering. What does the senator do when he’s not here? I mean, what kind of job does he have?”
The secretary looked surprised. “At one time he was the president of his own oil company. Everyone knows that. But he resigned when he was elected senator, so there wouldn’t be any conflict of interest. Now he completely devotes himself to serving the people who elected him.”
“That’s very interesting.” Dunc headed for the door. “Well, we better get back. The senator may need us.”
They walked down the hall and ducked into the nearest rest room. Dunc checked to make sure no one was listening. “I’d say we now have a major suspect.”
The prince nodded. “Senator Grafter. It looks as if he’s after our new oil strike. Butwhat I don’t understand is, why is he trying to discredit me in the bargain?”
Dunc tapped his chin. “Does your father have any enemies?”
“I’m sure he does. Most monarchs do. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t think the senator is working alone. Someone from your country has to be feeding him information. Someone who wants to make you and your father look bad.”
The prince drew himself to attention. “I’ll have my country’s special police force investigate this right away.”
“Great. In the meantime we’ll keep an eye on Senator Grafter.”
“I wonder if we should call and check on Amos?” the prince asked.
Dunc smiled. “Amos isn’t really good on phones. No, I think it would be better if we checked on him in person.”
The
The reporter followed. “I understand that Your Highness actually hates being in the United States and is rushing through this goodwill tour in an effort to return home as soon as possible?”
Amos stopped and turned. “I don’t know where you get your information, bud, but I can honestly say that I’d rather be in the good old U.S. than anywhere else in the world.”
The reporter was writing furiously. “Then why have you avoided most of your appointments with our state legislature?”
“Hey. You’ve got it backward. From what I hear, those guys in the capitol don’t want to talk to me.” Amos shrugged. “What can I say?”
Charles took his arm again and whispered, “I think you’ve said quite enough.”
Dunc passed the prince in the hall of the capitol. “How’s it going, Gus?”
“Not well. By now, I had hoped to locate some evidence of the conspiracy. So far, all I’ve done is run for coffee. How about you?”
“I’m on my way to Senator Grafter’s office. He forgot his briefcase, and I have to get it for him. You can come with me if you want.”
The prince looked relieved. “It sounds better than going for more coffee.”
The senator’s secretary unlocked the door. “Let me know when you boys arethrough in there. He likes to keep it locked up tight.”
Dunc looked around. “The senator thought he left his briefcase on the floor by the coatrack. But I don’t see it, do you?”
The prince walked around the desk. “Here it is.” He picked up the leather case and started back around. The latch flew open, and papers went everywhere.
Dunc rubbed his chin. “You know, Gus, you and Amos may be more alike than you realize.”
The prince knelt and started putting things back into the case. One of the papers caught his attention. “Dunc, look at this.”
Dunc scanned the paper. “Now, why would a state senator have a letter in his briefcase about a possible oil strike in Moldavia?”
The secretary opened the door. “Are you boys having trouble?”
“No, ma’am. We just had a little accident. We’ll have it picked up in no time.” Dunc started stuffing things back into the briefcase.
“Here, I’ll do that.” The secretary pickedup a handful of the papers. “Senator Grafter sent word that he found the document he was looking for. He doesn’t need his briefcase after all.”
The prince shot Dunc a worried look.
Dunc reached over to help straighten the rest of the papers. “I was just wondering. What does the senator do when he’s not here? I mean, what kind of job does he have?”
The secretary looked surprised. “At one time he was the president of his own oil company. Everyone knows that. But he resigned when he was elected senator, so there wouldn’t be any conflict of interest. Now he completely devotes himself to serving the people who elected him.”
“That’s very interesting.” Dunc headed for the door. “Well, we better get back. The senator may need us.”
They walked down the hall and ducked into the nearest rest room. Dunc checked to make sure no one was listening. “I’d say we now have a major suspect.”
The prince nodded. “Senator Grafter. It looks as if he’s after our new oil strike. Butwhat I don’t understand is, why is he trying to discredit me in the bargain?”
Dunc tapped his chin. “Does your father have any enemies?”
“I’m sure he does. Most monarchs do. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t think the senator is working alone. Someone from your country has to be feeding him information. Someone who wants to make you and your father look bad.”
The prince drew himself to attention. “I’ll have my country’s special police force investigate this right away.”
“Great. In the meantime we’ll keep an eye on Senator Grafter.”
“I wonder if we should call and check on Amos?” the prince asked.
Dunc smiled. “Amos isn’t really good on phones. No, I think it would be better if we checked on him in person.”
The
Similar Books
The Blackham Mansion Haunting (The Downwinders Book 4)
Michael Richan
Carola Dunn
The Actressand the Rake
A Textbook Case
Jeffery Deaver
The Protector of Esparia (The Annals of Esparia Book 1)
Lisa M. Wilson
The Green Mile
Stephen King
Unintentional Virgin
A.J. Bennett
Celtic Moon
Jan DeLima
Afternoon Delight
Kayla Perrin