Rachel knew she was in the right place. The Frederick in that room had to be her target. It was just a matter of gathering as much information as possible, then setting up an ambush along the road.
"And what do you propose to do? Challenge him to a spelling bee?" mocked the man who was talking to her target.
"Don't be stupid, Carver. I propose that we smuggle in enough explosives to blast the whole keep to the moon. We bring it in bit by bit, and stash it in a hidden room in the wine cellar. Malyers dug it out under my orders, about ten years ago. He was there for a year posing as a glass-maker. All the while watching Danny's predecessor. Once Danny Rupert and his minions are gone, we can distribute the power evenly. No more high baron."
"Isn't that a bit extreme, Busk? I mean, I don't like him holding all the cards. But assassination and mass murder?"
"I don't like it either. But I received an anonymous package, with information suggesting that the Pizza Baron is going to attempt to become the first king of North America."
She briefly thought about sabotaging every vehicle there, as well as taking out as many as possible with her crossbow. Were they not all plotting Danny's downfall, and possible demise?
"I can't do it... It would upset the balance of power too much. With so many barons dead at once, we could have a civil war." she thought, regretting that she didn't dare end this threat once and for all.
"I need to see proof of this so called plan before I'm willing to back anything so deadly, Busk. I might not like Danny Rupert, but I don't want to see him and his people dead either."
Rachel nodded, his words confirming that she had made the right decision. She wouldn't harm the other barons. But was Frederick lying, or had he been fed false information? That would bear investigating.
"I'll bring it next time, Carver. I'm tired. Unless anyone else has something to add, I am going to have a drink, then retire to my room.."
She stayed another twenty minutes, but the meeting was over. It was well into the wee hours of the morning. Nobody would be interested in further discussion about the plot for a while.
The master spy quietly slipped away, and found Busephalus. Once they were on the road, she galloped. She didn't know what Frederick was driving, so she set up her ambush only five miles from his estate. The other barons would have branched off long before then.
She cut a large tree, so it fell into the road. A few nails to blow out the tires, strategically placed several hundred yards away from the tree, guaranteed that any guard detail would be split. One team would clear the road, while the others worked on the tires and protected the Fruit Baron.
Soon enough, dawn came. She had just finished, when she heard a motor. It turned out to be a grey Cadillac.
Once the guards were suitably distracted with the cleanup, she used a slingshot to take out the men guarding Frederick, as well as the Fruit Baron himself. They dropped so suddenly, that they didn't have a chance to cry out.
She quickly tied them, and dragged her target into the brush. With some difficulty, she hoisted him onto Bucephalus' back. The powerful horse easily handled both of them.
There hadn't been an opportunity to talk with the Fruit Baron, but she had heard enough to have a theory about who and what had sparked his scheming. Rachel was headed home, mission accomplished.
"Let me go!" roared Frederick Busk, as he banged on the reinforced door. Two guards stood outside of his room, and one left as soon as he awoke.
Knock knock
"Yes, come in." replied the Pizza Baron, putting aside his empty plate, which still held the aroma of pepperoni.
"Danny, the prisoner is awake." the guard said solemnly. He had seen more guard duty in a month, than all of last year.
"Thank you, Vance. You and Ken can have the rest of the day off. Go get some pizza, Charlie just took one out of the oven a while ago for me. Pepperoni."
"Thanks so much, Danny." he replied, brightening.
Danny slowly rose from his chair. "Before you go, please bring Rachel here. We will keep our guest company for a while..."
Cover image is from Canva, using their gallery