Chapter 34
Maggie stepped through the door and into the Kalakala's Rose Room. She met Rachael and a sobbing Tiger Print. She took the key out of her pocket and turned it over in her palm. Was she correct? Did she really know who had killed Meerkat? There was only one way to know for sure.
Rachael ran up to Maggie and threw her arms around her. Pulling away, she looked Maggie square in the eye. “How did it go?”
Maggie looked over Rachael's shoulder at Tiger Print sniffing into a handkerchief. Maggie just nodded. Rachael understood the full weight of what the nod meant. Maggie let go of Rachael and stepped up to Tiger Print, slipping down onto the bench beside her and hugged her gently.
“I'm so sorry, Tiger,” Maggie said as Tiger Print sobbed into her shoulder. “If I'd known what he was planning, I'd never have...”
“I know, I know,” Tiger Print bawled.
“Gandalf was such a great man,” Maggie continued. “Everything that has happened – everyone that made it here today safely owes him a debt. The sacrifice that Gandalf made is immeasurable. No one will totally understand it.”
Tiger Print broke off the hug, pulling herself straight and trying to regain some composure. “I just don't know how I'm going to...” she began and broke out in a new wave of tears.
Maggie pulled herself to her feet, the large, flat key still in her hand. Rachael stepped into her place, wrapping Tiger Print in a warm hug.
Maggie looked at the key, feeling its teeth. “I'm afraid there's one last thing that we must do, Tiger, before this is all over,” she said solemnly.
“Oh no,” Rachael interjected. “There can't be anything so important that she must do it now. Leave the poor woman alone.”
“No, I'm sorry,” Maggie continued. “It's a terrible burden for me to ask this of you right now, Tiger, but I have to insist. The door that this key goes to...”
“Maggie,” Rachael scolded, patting Tiger Print on the back. She was genuinely angry, disappointed in Maggie.
“Oh, don't worry,” Tiger Print pulled herself away from Rachael's hug, collecting herself. “No, no, I'm okay. You have Gandalf's key, ah?” Tiger Print said, looking up at Maggie through bloodshot eyes.
“Yes,” Maggie nodded. “Now, if you can show us the door that it opens...”
“Yes, yes...” Tiger Print said, climbing to her feet. She plodded in her bare feet for the aft stairwell, dabbing at her cheeks with her handkerchief. Maggie limped to follow. Rachael reached up and took Maggie firmly by the arm.
“Really? Right now? You have to do this now?” she seethed.
“Trust me,” Maggie said, pulling her arm free of Rachael's grasp. She limped off, following Tiger Print.