“Unless—think about it,” the monk continued, his gaze fixed on her with newfound clarity. “Jasper could have been the one to give you that moon Magnolia. And if that’s the case, then guess who saw that picture sitting on your nightstand?”

Ariel’s breath caught in her throat. She envisioned Jasper walking into her room, a white flower glowing in his hand, his eyes sweeping across the dim room until they landed on her small bedside table. There, prominently displayed, was a picture he had never seen before...

She blinked rapidly, nearly giving herself whiplash as she looked up at Leroy. “If it was him... but we don’t know that,” she said, biting her lip in uncertainty. How could I have been so careless?

Leroy stared down at her, unconvinced. “I guess Warner might have thought it would be amusing to add one more heart to his collection.”

Ariel gave the monk a playful shove, and a grin broke across his face. “I am no victim of Mr. Warner’s. There’s still a chance it was... was—”

“Noah?” Leroy suggested helpfully.

Ariel could see the twinkle of amusement in his eyes and hear the relief in his tone. “Maybe…”

“Nah. It’s Jasper. In fact, he might have given you that moon Magnolia purely as an excuse to break into your room.”

Ariel quickly stifled a small, disappointed voice that shouted no! and ignored the heat creeping up her neck. Fixing Leroy with a pointed look, she said, “One theory at a time, monk.”

“Oh. Touched a nerve,” Leroy remarked with a hint of amusement.

Ariel stretched, her hand reaching for his arm. “Hmm? What was that, Leroy? Your shoulder bothering you?”

The monk swiftly sidestepped her reach. “I was saying, I think it’s time we commence Operation Becca.”

“Operation... Becca?” Ariel repeated thoughtfully, letting her arm fall to her side.

Leroy’s gaze shifted towards a large house that loomed before them, fronted by a rare tree and a pond. A flash of gold—Miss Marlowe—was near enough that every breath seemed to carry the scent of coffee. She was conversing with Jasper, her words just out of earshot, though her smiles suggested she found the conversation amusing.

“Operation Becca,” Leroy reminded, noticing the fiery look in Ariel’s eyes. “We need Miss Marlowe alive if we’re going to get any answers.”

“Leroy!” Ariel protested, jabbing him in the side. “What do you take me for?”

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“Ouch— I don’t know, ask my feet and shoulder.”

Ariel crossed her arms, scrutinizing the monk from head to toe. “Taylor’s right; you are sensitive.”

“No, what’s sensitive is our mission,” Leroy corrected, casting a dark glance toward the priestess before turning back to his partner in crime. “And what exactly is that...?”

Ariel’s eyes followed Miss Marlowe as she strolled beside Jasper and Max, the sun shining brightly next to gathering storm clouds. “She knows something about our mysterious Becca. Maybe there’s something in her house that could help us? We should really come up with some code words…”

Crossing her arms tighter across her chest, Ariel forced herself to look away from Miss Marlowe. “Code words?” she echoed absently.

“If either one of us finds out something, we should say ‘apple.’ That way, we’ll know—”

Ariel blinked and looked at the monk. “Apple?”

“Yes, it can’t be obvious. And if either of us is compromised—”

Ariel grabbed Leroy’s forearm, halting them just short of Miss Marlowe’s front gate and the rest of the GPI. “Compromised?”

The monk looked down at her, his expression serious. “Ariel, let’s be realistic. Agents get compromised all the time—”

“Serious? Leroy, our code word is apple.”

“And ‘chicken’ is our word if we’re compromised.”

“Leroy?”

“Yes, Ariel?”

“Are you hungry?”

“If I am, it’s your fault,” he said, pulling his arm from her grasp and moving toward the gate. “Remember... chicken,” he repeated, almost as an afterthought.

Ariel watched the monk’s retreating figure before shaking her head and steeling herself for Operation Becca. Chicken.

As Ariel crossed the threshold of Miss Marlowe’s property, the dusty grounds of Magnolia Midlands gave way to pristine stone. Staring at the path she was to follow past a shimmering pond, Ariel felt a sense of surprise and tranquility. It was as though she had crossed an invisible line, leaving the chaos of the village behind. There was a stillness here she had not experienced, even in the garden with John.

Moving with unusual quiet, Ariel ventured further into the oasis. Her reverie was abruptly shattered by the sound of heels clicking against the slate. She tore her gaze away from the majestic tree that dominated the space above the pond to face Taylor, who stood before her with a slight smile.

“It’s a peaceful tree,” Taylor said simply, glancing at the pine.

Ariel nodded thoughtfully, watching the branches sway gently in the breeze. “What’s not peaceful is taking orders from Jasper. I’m no babysitter. He’s waiting, so let’s go,” the priestess continued, already turning back towards the house.

Ariel took one last deep breath, drawing in as much serenity from her surroundings as she could before plunging into the world where she hoped to find apples and avoid being chicken.

The two of them reached Miss Marlowe’s house, and Ariel’s resolve hardened as she gazed upon the heiress. What do you know...?

“So we’re gathered now,” Miss Marlowe said by way of greeting, her sharp blue eyes shifting to Jasper beside her. “Will you be starting, or shall we have some coffee first?”

Ariel felt the hot sun at the back of her neck and pursed her dry lips, fervently wishing that Jasper would choose the coffee option.

“We’ll start,” Jasper said firmly.

That Jasper.

“Very well. Should I give another tour?” Miss Marlowe wondered, glancing toward Ariel and Leroy.

“There’s no need for that. You can show Thompson to your office where that face appeared in the window. Max, set Ariel up with a thermometer and take her to the back half of the house,” Jasper ordered.

Something in the tone of his voice made Ariel tense.

Max...?

Drawing on her reserve of calm, Ariel mustered a smile and faced the Chinese man, trying to ignore the memory of their odd earlier exchange.