Containment Of Secrets

Chapter 11

(Mallory's point of view)

"Rise and shine!" I say, shaking Braxton awake.

"It's only 10 am, let's get another hour of sleep."

"No, it's actually noon. You need to get ready for the day" I informed him. His eyes open, landing on my outfit. I had dressed in a black sundress, black sandals, and a sun hat with a bow tied around it. I let my hair hang loose in the back.

"Damn, Decker! You can really dress up when you want to." Braxton compliments.

"Thanks, but we really need to get a move on. Besides, I'll be hurt if you don't eat the food, I cooked for you this morning."

"Say no more!" Braxton quickly climbs out of bed.

~~~

Our first stop of the day was the grocery store. We knew if we really wanted to find out stuff without being caught, we needed to blend it. I push a cart around aisle after aisle pretending to shop, conversing with locals. Braxton followed beside me, doing the same when I would send him down another aisle for an item.

While Braxton looked for cereal, I stood by the baking supplies looking for a box of cake mix. I felt a tap on my shoulder, a man stood behind me dressed in a suit. He seemed very out of place. He cleared his throat, as he looked between Braxton and me.

"Honey, should we go with the knock-off brand or-." Braxton notices the man when he turns to look at me. He quickly sets the box of cereal down he had in hand, quickly coming over to my side. The man adjusted his glasses as he spoke.

"I have connections." The man whispers.

"To what?" Braxton asks.

"I heard the two of you conversing with locals. Specifically, that your wife would like to tour the palace of Wilachia?"

"Yes, it's our honeymoon and my wife adore the country. She would love to tour the palace. It was one of the reasons I brought her here." Braxton states.

"I might be your guy." The man says, as he looks around.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"I have a way inside, if you know what I mean."

"What is your name?" Braxton asks.

"Lawrence Dune, I am a part of the security team for the royal family."

"That's a stupid move, don't you think? Announcing who you work for? Are you not worried about jeopardizing the royal family's safety?" I ask.

"Listen, do you want in, or not? If so, meet me in ten minutes. I'll be waiting in a red car." He quickly turns on his feet, walking away.

"I don't trust him." I reply.

"Me either, but he might be the key to help us close this case."

"Should we meet him?"

"I say we should, but promise me this, Mallory. If things become too crazy, we have to back out. I mean it. I am not losing my life or taking a chance of losing you for some off- the-wall scandal."

"You got a deal, Braxton." 

~~~

"A red car." Braxton says, looking around. My eyes land on a red car parked in the very back, away from the rest of the vehicles. Braxton and I approach the vehicle, looking around as we did. Braxton reaches the car first, tapping on the window of the passenger door.

"It's good you know not to turn down an offer when you see one." Lawrence comments, as he rolls down the window.

"I came here for answers, not to play." Braxton spats.

"Braxton!" I whisper.

"I don't think you are in the position to be making demands, Mr. Detective. Either abide by the rules I make, or you and the lady detective, can consider this conversation over."

"How do y-." Braxton starts, but I cut him off. "Okay. We're listening." I say, leaning into the car.

"That requires you to get in." Lawrence replies. I go toward the back of the car, while Braxton goes for the passenger side. Braxton turns to me as I lay my hand on the doorhandle and whispers, "Good thinking, if he tries anything, you'll be behind him, and I will be beside him."

I get in, shutting the door. Braxton has not got in yet. I see Lawrence clicking his tongue, as he wiggles his index finger back and forth. "Not so fast, Detective. My rules, remember? Get to the back with your partner."

Braxton comes around to the other side of the back seat, sliding in next to me. He closes the door, nodding his head at me. Meanwhile, I slide my phone underneath my thigh to record the conversation. Braxton then turns his attention to Lawrence.

"If you work for the royal family of Wilachia, why would you betray them to let us on the inside?" Braxton asks.

"Detective Foyay, I have a job. That is to protect the royal family, but that does not mean I have to like them or agree with them."

"So, you want us, why?" I chime in.

"Just like the two of you, I have my own suspicions. Unfortunately, I did not focus my studies on the line of work you two finest do. So, I needed help from your side of things, and it happened to be that the two of you came to town at the right time."

"We are not here to be allies with anyone; we are here on business." Braxton replies.

"By being 'star-crossed lovers', everyone is seeing through the smokescreen."

"Watch yourself, if we come up missing, you will too." I warn Lawrence.

Lawrence chuckles, looking into the rearview mirror at me. "You should be the last one making such claims. You should be scared for even coming here."

"Why should she be scared?" Braxton asks.

"I'm not a gossiping hen, it will all come out, when the time is right."

"Like you said before, you have reasons, we have ours. How do we get in?" I ask.

"Don't worry, I have all that set up for you. After all, I didn't expect you to find your way around here, despite the background."

"What do we have to do?" Braxton asks.

"Just be ready by nine am sharp, tomorrow. I know how to find you two." Lawrence informs. Braxton and I quickly leave the vehicle. As we leave, I hear the window roll down from behind me once again. Lawrence calls out after me.

"Mallory!"

I turn around, walking back toward the car. Braxton stands off to the side, weary of what was going on in front of him. "Yes?" I replied.

Lawrence smiles with a wolfish grin and says, "Heavy the head that wears the crown." He then speeds off out of the parking lot. Braxton walks over toward me.

"What did he say to you?"

"Just some famous saying, the man talks in riddles."

"You can say that again."