“That’s correct.” Elliott’s fingers tightened on the file folder. “Whoever is behind this theft is in your inner circle or is part of the Escobar family.”

“Or both.” Alejandro selected a tie and draped it around his neck.

“You think someone from our family is conspiring against you?”

“No, but the timing of last weekend’s attack is highly suspicious.” Alejandro turned to face the mirror and proceeded to knot his tie. He wished he could cancel the dinner with his prime minister tonight, if for no other reason than to analyze this new information. “It has to be someone who knows I’m dying.”

“Even your children don’t know that.”

“Which means our suspect list should be minimal.”

“I’ll have security start a deep background check on the medical staff.”

“And the staff working in the residence.”

“Of course,” Elliott said. “What about the robberies? How much vulnerability does that create for the royal family?”

“There’s only one reason for someone to steal the agreement,” Alejandro said. “Someone in the Escobar family knows of its existence but doesn’t have access to the details it entails.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The procedures for the change of power is very specific. The rules of parliament to be enacted, the place it would occur, even what day of the week the petition can be submitted. These details were put in place to prevent a potential impostor from trying to lay claim to the Escobar family’s rights.”

“Then it might not be one of Escobar’s heirs behind the thefts,” Elliott said.

“Or it’s a member of the Escobar family who hasn’t been given the details.”

“Perhaps it’s time to look up the Escobars and find out where their families are now.”

“See if you can locate them. I agree that it’s time to make a call.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” He bowed and left the room.

Alejandro slipped on his suit jacket and moved into the living room. He was debating whether to move the dinner with the prime minister from the dining room to his private quarters when his phone rang again. A bubble of panic surfaced when he saw King Eduard’s name light his screen.

“King Eduard, is everything okay?”

“Yes, your daughter is fine,” Eduard answered, giving Alejandro the most important information first. “She is, however, anxious to come home.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. My royal guard is working on increasing our security as we speak.”

“I wondered if I might offer some assistance,” Eduard said. “I know you are short-staffed after the shooting, and I have someone I’ve relied heavily on during our recent troubles. He’s very good.”

Though Alejandro’s knee-jerk reaction was to reject the offer, Eduard was right. He was understaffed, and no matter how much he wanted all of his daughters home, he couldn’t risk it until his security had been fully analyzed and enhanced. “What specifically did you have in mind?”

“I know this isn’t an easy thing to share, but if you could let my man look at any video feed you have from the night of the shooting, as well as your security protocols, he can help determine where the weaknesses are and develop a plan to overcome them.”