Search the office

With so much at stake, Stewart decides he needs to move quickly, but he also needs to be thorough. Dangerous things are happening, and where there is treason, **** is rarely far away. He will need as much information as possible.

He looks at the closed office door. Norbier used a key to unlock it, but in his haste to leave, he seems to have neglected to lock it again on his departure. Stewart turns the knob hopefully, and to his relief, it opens.

Stepping inside, he looks around carefully. The vial of liquid, now two-thirds full, is on the desk. Stewart examines it and places the vial in his pocket.

He checks the desk drawers and see nothing of particular interest. In the wastebasket there is a single crumpled piece of paper. Retrieving it, he sees written in a feminine handwriting, “803 Hemlock Way. Midnight. 20,000 gold pc.” He folds the paper and puts it in his pocket as well.

Seeing nothing else on the desk, he is about to leave when his eyes are drawn to the fireplace. The fire is extinguished, but the corner of a piece of paper stands conspicuously out of the ashes. He retrieves it and finds that it is a partially-burned oil painting. Carefully blowing the ashes from it, he sees that it is a representation of the royal family from about ten years ago. Stewart sees his pre-teen self, wearing a small crown, standing between his parents, who each have a hand on his shoulders. Duncan, wearing a gold ringlet on his head, stands to his side, and Adella, wearing a tiara, sits next to Mother.

Holding it to the light, Stewart sees something else. It looks like someone has drawn another figure into their midst, but the ashes and charring make it impossible to see it clearly. He is concerned if he tries to brush away any more of the ashes that he will ruin it beyond recognition. Carefully, he folds the paper and puts it in his pocket.

After another search of the room he is satisfied there is nothing more to be found there.