The Killer Queen

Larson’s reputation was severely tarnished, and he held the party just to turn the tables.

He had meticulously laid a trap throughout his sprawling estate, waiting for the moment Palmer would fall from grace and be absolutely

staying

“Palmer, didn’t your old man ever teach you that you need hard evidence in everything you do? I’m just as heartbroken over Eamon’s accident as anyone. Today’s gala is to clear the air, I had nothing to do with his tragedy!”

Larson’s voice boomed across the room, his arms raised high to ensure everyone heard his declaration

“You’re saying Uncle Eamon’s fall from grace has nothing to do with you. Then who’s it tied to? Palmer’s question was the cue Larson had been waiting for

“Who else would benefit from our dear Eamon’s downfall? Surely, you’ve got a clearer picture than I do, Palmer?”

Palmer chuckled nonchalantly, “Actually, I brought a surprise for you, Uncle Larson. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it”

“A surprise?” Larson was confused.

The grand screen in the banquet hall showcased Larson’s rise to power. To ensure his innocence and influence on all the participants, he even played a clip of Larson shaking hands with a former head of state.

With a clap from Palmer, the video on the screen shifted from Larson hobnobbing with military bigwigs to Eamon, who was covered with blood.

A collective gasp rose from the audience. They were clearly shocked by the gruesome sight of Eamon. Eamon was lying in a pool of blood, his eyes bulging and face pale, and muttering a haunting phrase over and over, “Larson, I’ve been nothing but good to you! Why would you do this to me? Trying to frame Palmer with my death–ha! nl be waiting for you in the hell!”

Eamon’s bitter and resentful words echoed throughout the hall,

A voice piped up next to Noella. “Yikes, that video is seriously creepy.”

All Eamon left was that sentence, while the video just looped inside the hall. That, coupled with Eamon’s enraged expression, was indeed hard to stomach.

Noella tumed to see Malvina, stuffing a cream–filled pastry into her mouth with little concern for decorum.

“How’d you get in here?” she asked.

“Just grabbing something from Luther”

Noella eyed Malvinas casual hoodie and jeans topped with sneakers – hardly gala attire. And above all, it was a wonder she got past the front door.

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“How’d you manage that?” Noella pressed.

Malvina nodded towards Ulrich, now engrossed in the video, “Ran into Dr. Schnabel on my way here. He brought me along!”

Ulrich cut an elegant figure despite his lack of formal wear, his black trench coat exuding a scholarly charm that drew attention.

Ulrich, analyzing Eamon in the video, came to a conclusion, “Looks like someone wanted to torture him and make him bleed out. What a vendetta! And they’re brothers, no less. Astonishing.”

“His ulna, distal radial joint, and the humerus have more than one gunshot wound, but none of them critical. Larson is a good shot,” he added.

Larson was in a state of panic. He scrambled to shut off the video, but the damage was done. The quests‘ gazes had changed. What was this gala really about? Flaunting the murder of his own brother and pinning it on Palmer?

Noella feigned concem, “Beckett. Do you think Larson’s trying to intimidate us? Like we’re going to end up like that if we don’t play ball with him or something.”

Malvina was quick to dismiss the notion, “No way! Larson’s not like that. He only takes shots at his own kin, Poor Palmer though, taking such a heat at his age. It’s not good for the spine”

Beckett nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry. We’ll steer clear of Larson. The Schnabel family’s loyalty lies with Palmer alone. I also wouldn’t dare cooperate with a man who could kill his own brother”

Their words echoed through the crowd and stroked their chords

Could it be that refusing to cooperate with Larson would lead to a fate worse than Eamon’s?

Larson was desperate, his forehead beading with cold sweat. Nevertheless, he was unable to appease the throng of guests.

“Palmer, is this your idea of a ‘gift? You slow Eamon and left him for dead. You’re heartless!”

Palmer surveyed the room with a smile, “The man Uncle Eamon mentioned wasn’t me.”

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Malvina covered her mouth dmmatically, “Oh my! Is this what they call framing someone?! Someone’s gonna take the fall and that’s a huge one!”

Noella cast a pitying glance at Palmer. “You might want to get your spine checked after this. That’s too burdensome for you”

“Sure, I listen to Noella.”

in we’re not

Noella’s enticing eyes, which were filled with disdain, settled on Larson, “If we decide not to work with Larson, does that mean leaving today?”

Beckett frowned, “That’s not going to happen. Larson wouldn’t do that.”

As they played off each other, the suspicion in the room thickened. Was this gala a ploy to force their hand? And would they end up like Eamon if they refused to cooperate with Larson?

Larson has nothing to say

Palmer actually made this kind of video in order to pull him down.

Larson gritted his teeth and even his cheeks were getting some, “You’ve all got it wrong! This video is forged. The video must be made by someone who’s trying to frame me. I’d never hurt my brother!”

Malvina took another bite of her pastry, “I saw the throng around the hall when I came in. Are you saying we’re not free to leave?”

The room was abuzz with whispers and confusion. Larson had people posted outside?

One guest stood up, “Larson, I have urgent matters at home and I must attend to my group business. Excuse me!”

“Mr. Hugh, please wait! It’s all a misunderstanding. My men are here for your safety, and nothing more…”

But Mr. Hugh was already striding away, leaving Larson in a frenzy of damage control.

Beckett, gripping Noella’s hand, let out a sardonic laugh.

“Noella, let’s hit the road, seems like Larson’s got his hands full today.”

“Sure.”

Noella tumed around to call out for Malvina and Ulrich to join them, but realized that the duo had vanished into thin air behind her.

Palmer glanced towards the balcony, “Your brother Ulrich and Malvina have gone to hunt down Luther, and they told us to head back

first.

Beckett raised an eyebrow, “When did that little rascal get so chummy with Ms. Gruber? When I asked him this morning to come with

he was moaning about being wiped out from a string of surgeries so he didn’t have the energy to get up.”

He said he was wiped out? The guy was just seen helping Ms. Gruber over the balcony!

Anytime you needed Ulrich to lift a finger, he’d groan like it’s the end of the world, but if you put Ms. Gruber in the picture, he’d got so much strength to spare!

Larson approached Palmer and tried to grab his wrist, but Palmer sidestepped with a nimble move, leaving Larson nearly face–planting into the ground.

“Palmer! You can’t leave today!”