Ch 29:Long live the queen
Written by Kavya and Concept by Sidhant First go to previous blogs if you have not already....
To pass the time, Daniel and Shree decided to visit Oxford Street to see the famous Christmas lights. Conveniently, the hospital was also on this street. Their timing was impeccable; popstar Hiley Cyrus was performing that evening. The 27 LED light curtains, composed of 220,000 individual lights displaying a kaleidoscope of Christmas colors, were a spectacular sight. Grabbing hamburgers, they joined the throng of people. An hour quickly passed, and it was time to go to the hospital. Throughout their time on Oxford Street, Shree had been unusually quiet and withdrawn. Daniel repeatedly asked if she was alright, but she offered little response. He couldn’t fully grasp the complex emotions of a sister who had recently rediscovered her brother after six years, only to part again.
At the hospital, Dev was already waiting. He informed them that Lady Petricia was still unconscious, adding, “The doctors expect her to wake up any minute now.” Shree offered Dev a hamburger, saying, “Here, Detective—I’m sure you haven’t had anything to eat.” Dev accepted it and began eating as his phone rang. It was Hershel, reporting that Lady Petricia’s husband, Sam, hadn’t been seen at his office since her supposed death. His current location was unknown, and all attempts to locate him had been unsuccessful. Dev was about to put down his hamburger, but Shree encouraged him to finish it. Moments later, Lady Petricia stirred and woke. Too weak to speak clearly, she managed only fragmented phrases as Dev sat beside her: “Sam…torture…me…bring…flowers…want…kill…queen.” She then lost consciousness again.
This revelation made finding Sam even more critical. He was now the prime suspect for planting the replica egg. Lady Petricia’s cryptic words also strongly suggested he posed a direct threat to the monarchy. They needed to find him, and quickly. Shree had a plan, though she was hesitant to share it. Seeking Dev's approval, she asked if she could speak. Having recently regretted dismissing Shree’s earlier observation about hearing someone in the locked room, Dev immediately agreed. Pleased by her brother’s newfound trust, Shree outlined her idea: “Sam visits Lady Petricia every other day. Since he didn’t come yesterday, as the guard confirmed, he’s likely to come today. We should relock the room and restore everything to how it was. But instead of Lady Petricia, we put a police officer inside dressed in her clothes. Since Sam doesn’t know she’s been rescued, he’ll come as usual, and we can catch him. We should also replace the guard; he seemed unreliable.”
Dev and Daniel thought it was a clever plan, but its success hinged on keeping Lady Petricia’s rescue a secret from Sam. Dev immediately contacted the Queen’s office, explaining the situation and the plan. They assured him they would maintain secrecy. The trap was set. With night having fallen, they would soon know if it worked. Dev returned to his office to analyze the available information and send a report to his advisor, Mr. Put—Dev was Mr. Put’s key source, providing information for his cryptic radio messages. The other three took up a position in a building opposite Lady Petricia’s house to monitor the situation.
Their wait was short. Within fifteen minutes, Sam arrived, carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers. He entered the house, went upstairs, unlocked the room, and began speaking. Using hidden cameras, the three watched and listened. “My dear Lady,” he said, “you know how much I love you. I hate seeing you like this. I brought your favorite flowers. All I need is for the Queen to be dead. I don’t want to hurt you. The monarchy doesn’t deserve its privileges; it’s our money. This phone tells me that every day. I have the perfect plan now. Join me. I asked you to help me with the egg. The phone told me to kill you with it, but I decided to fake your death instead. That way, when you help me kill the Queen, no one will suspect you. Who suspects the dead? I even arranged a body double. But you refused. I know you’ll come around. You’re just upset or scared. This phone knows everything; it has the perfect plan. Last time it was an egg full of rendel; this time, it will be something else, placed in one of the most important rooms in Buckingham Palace. Boom. Join me, or it will be too late. I might have to really kill you.” Sam then reached out and placed a hand on the shoulder of the figure in the bed, turning her around. Realizing it wasn't Lady Petricia, he drew a gun, but before he could fire, Hershel, positioned in the opposite building, shot him in the leg. Sam immediately fainted from the impact, delaying their interrogation.
