Page 113 of Ascending

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but while you were in St.Rais, you only worked part of the time.”

“That’s true, but I have more vacation time saved up. I only need a week.”

“Is everything okay at home, Palmer? Is that what this is about? Something personal?” he asked.

“No, everything’s fine at home,” she replied. “I just need a week.”

“A week?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ll go to Jersey first.”

“Yeah,” she agreed.

“And then only a week?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I get my reporter back?”

“Yes,” she repeated again.

He glared at her and said, “Okay. One week.” He held up his index finger. “Then, you’re back for good, Palmer. I want your best, so figure out or fix whatever you need to get your head back in the damn game.”

Palmer let out a deep breath and said, “I will. Thank you. Really. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Give me the words I need to fill my gap.”

“I will.”

???

“They caught him, Palmer,” Elizabeth shared on the phone later that night.

“They caught him?”

“Yes. He was on a boat about to flee, and they found him. They got himandthree of the other leaders of the anti-monarchists. He’s behind bars now.”

“Really?” Palmer asked, sighing with relief. “You’re safe.”

“As safe as Icanbe; not everyone wants a Queen. But as far as we can tell, they’re the only faction that’s gotten violent over it.”

“Has he talked at all?”

“Just nonsense. His father blamed my grandfather for supporting the war and suggesting to Parliament that St.Rais join the cause a long time ago, and he’s carried that blame.I’dalways heard my grandfather tried to keep us out of the war and that Parliament was the reason the country had gotten involved. I guess their family lost three boys, and my father was so much like his own, and the world seems poised for another war these days; he worried that we’d be forced to get involved in a war that wasnotour own again. That’s about all he’s said so far.”

“But he’s in jail?”

“Yes, he’ll spend the rest of this life there, and so will the rest of them after the trial. Albert told me they have more than enough evidence to convict.”

“That’s great news, babe,” Palmer said.

“I feel so much better knowing I don’t have to worryasmuch about Victoria and David.”

“Or yourself?”

“That too,” Elizabeth said, and her voice told Palmer she did feel better just knowing those guys were locked up.