Containment Of Secrets

Chapter 7

(Mallory's point of view)

"Alright, we are here." Braxton says, as he pulls into the driveway at our desired destination. I get out of the car and head up the walkway. I reach the door first, ringing the doorbell. Braxton follows behind me. The door opens within seconds revealing a man that looked to be in his twenties.

"Are you Joey Snow?" I ask him.

"Yeah, who's asking?" He says, as he observes me from where he stands.

I hold out my badge and say, "I am Detective Decker, and this is my partner Detective Foyay. We came here to ask a few questions. Questions that inquire about the last yacht party you attended."

He steps aside from the door to let us in. Once we are in, he closes the door behind us. "Is there anything I can get you all to drink?" He asks.

"I'll take water too." Braxton replies.

Joey leaves us in the foyer area. Braxton looks at the nearby pictures on the wall, while I stare straight ahead. I felt Braxton's eyes on me, he seemed eager as if he wanted to ask me something.

"What?" I ask him, I stare straight ahead.

"You looked like you saw a ghost this morning. Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine."

 "You don't seem fine."

"Trust me, I am."

"Sure...."

Joey steps back into the foyer. "Your waters are ready."

"Thank you."

"Yes, thank you." Braxton states. Joey nods, leading us into the kitchen. We sat down at the island with our glasses of water. Joey sits down across from us.

"What do you want to know?" He asks.

"Did you know any of the people at the last party you attended?"

"No, but I can tell you this. They were rich elites and not the typical kind, more like royals."

Braxton looks up from writing in his notepad and asks, "like kings and queens?"

"Yeah, but possibly a step down from those."

"Did you catch any names?" I ask Joey.

"No, but the yacht is called 'Maintaining Majesties'."

"Never heard of it." Braxton replies, shrugging his shoulders.

"Is there anything else?" I ask.

"No. Not right off hand." Joey replies.

I reach into the pocket of my jeans, pulling out my contact card. I hand it to Joey. "If you can think of anything else, call me."

"Will do."

I stand up, following Braxton to the front door. Joey suddenly calls after me. "Wait!" I turn around to see Joey running up to me with a world history book in his hand. He flips through the pages hastily; he stops in the middle of the book. His finger skims over the text before he flips the book around to me, pointing toward a picture.

The picture was a group of people standing out on a dock watching a yacht pass by. In small letters, I saw the name of the yacht painted on it. The name was 'Maintaining Majesty'. In front of the group, was a couple holding hands.

The picture showed a red-headed lady with her back to the crowd. She stared out into the waters looking at the yacht. Beside her, was a clean-cut, sandy blond, uniformed man. He masculine form stood tall and protective-like in the sun, as he clutched her hand. She held something in her left arm, something that seemed very dear to her. I squinched my eyes attempting to see what it was. I lean closer toward the picture wishing suddenly, I could vaporize into that time. 

Absent- mindedly, I turn the page. My heart rate speeds up, I drop the book in surprise. I quickly pull myself out of the current fog I was in, leaning over to pick up the book. I hand it back over to Joey.

"Thank you." I turn on my heels to leave.