Whispered Music (London Fairy Tales #2)(75)

“The Labyrinth is the most sophisticated roller coaster created to date.” Cara spoke with passion and pride whenever she talked of her work. What would it feel like to have that sort of passion about your work? “Even the queue’s one of a kind.”

“The castle?” Lexy asked.

Cara nodded. “The castle’s the queue.”

“You should print that on tee shirts,” Lexy said. “Maybe you could make money off the hideous thing after all.”

“Forget it. I’m not offering you a job in marketing.”

“Like I’d work for you.” Lexy walked toward the castle steps. “Let’s ride.”

****

A double beep rang out when they were steps away from the castle’s entrance.

Cara rolled her eyes and reached for the walkie-talkie at her waist. “Give me a minute, will you? The joys of park ownership...”

While Cara stepped to the side, Lexy looked up at the castle. In the afternoon light, the plaster appeared rose-colored. Odd color choice for an abandoned castle, she thought. Weren’t all castles gray? Of course, even gray stone wouldn’t make the castle look any better. Outrageous to think she remembered it from somewhere.

And then something even more outrageous happened. The castle winked at her.

Of course, it wasn’t a real wink. It was just sunlight bouncing off a tower window. Or something.

Great. I’ll never forget the ugly thing now.

She stared at the castle and waited.

It winked again.

What’s taking Cara so long? Can’t someone else run the park for a few hours?

But Cara stood alone, hand covering her mouth. Her shoulders shook.

“Cara?” Lexy walked back over to her.

“It’s Dad,” she whispered. “They think it was a heart attack. I have to go.”

Cara’s dad, Cornelius North, was a fit and trim, formidable sixty-three-year-old. It didn’t seem possible he’d have a heart attack.

Lexy put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. Memories of her own parents’ death five years ago rushed back, but she tucked them away. “Come on. I’ll drive.”

“You can’t. You leave for Seattle in the morning. You have to stay here.”

“I can’t let you go by yourself.” Lexy knew Cara was right. Cara’s parents were three hours away at a political fundraiser. Lexy couldn’t drive to the hospital. She didn’t have time.

Cara took a deep breath. “I won’t be by myself. Mom’s called a car.” They’re not even sure he had a heart attack. It was probably bad shrimp.” She took out her phone, checked the display, and stuck it back in her pocket. “You stay here and explore. Then call me on the way to Seattle and tell me what you think.”

“I hate the thought of staying here while you go to the hospital.”

“I know you’d come with me if you could, but you can’t.” Cara brushed away a lone tear. “I’m sorry…and on your last day.” More tears appeared at the corner of her eyes.

“Don’t think about me.” Lexy pulled Cara into a hug. “Let’s pray before you go.”

A few minutes later, Lexy stood by herself at the entrance of the castle. She didn’t feel like riding a roller coaster anymore. Didn’t feel like being at a theme park. Instead, she wanted to curl up on her couch and bury herself under a fluffy blanket.

But Cara would want to know what she thought of the park. And Lexy’s couch and blanket were on a moving van headed West.

She took a deep breath and walked into the castle.

****

At one point, the entrance hall had been opulent, and Lexy wondered if Cara had dust imported for the sole purpose of degrading the castle further. Woven tapestries of crimson and emerald adorned the walls, but even the linen’s tattered edges failed to disguise their richness. Above her, a ceiling that might have been gilded whispered of grand days gone by. All in all, Cara’s team had done an outstanding job of portraying a ruined showpiece.

She walked along the back of the room where windows overlooked a weedy rose garden. She wondered if it took more work to keep a garden up or ensured it stayed perfectly unkempt?

A smiling employee stood in front of a closed door at the back corner. She wore a muted green dress covered by an ivory apron. “I just let a group go down,” she said and opened the door. “If you head down the stairs, you should catch up. Be on the lookout for the missing infant princess. We think she was taken out that way.”

Through the door Lexy discovered a dark hallway. Not even a dirty window had been added to offer light. Instead, electric torches illuminated a wooden staircase. Somewhere in the background, water continuously dripped with a soft ping. Dust tickled her nose, and she sneezed.

She hurried down the stairs and tried to ignore the rustling noises surrounding her. Guests didn’t rustle.

A young man dressed in a period costume waited at the foot of the stairs.

He bowed. “Come, my lady. It is time.”

****

Two wooden doors and three dark hallways later, the roller coaster still wasn’t in sight, and Lexy questioned Cara’s one-of-a-kind queue.

“I had no idea this place was so big,” she told her guide. When he didn’t comment, she tried again. “Is the ride much farther?”