Containment Of Secrets

Chapter 32

(Mallory's point of view) 

"Did you look at who may have taken her?" I ask Michael.

"No, there were so many people...they were all in a panic."

I grab ahold of his shoulders and say, "Hey, look at me." He meets my gaze.

"I will find her. I promise."

~~~

 The night came and went quickly, as Braxton and I stayed up all night trying to find clues as well as evidence that might lead us to Tennille. Michael paced back and forth in our father's old study as the children rested on the nearby couch that was not too far from Michael's eyesight.

Security was on high alert everywhere. Hazel and Thane came to the palace back with us to compare and contrast the evidence they had found. The four of us worked in the library gathered around one table as each of us provided a tip toward the case.

 "We established that the murderer is in the royal circle." Hazel starts off.

"How do we know though? What if the killer is making us think that the killer is of noble blood?" Thane asks.

"It can't be. Why would someone go through this much effort to commit murder? Besides, a commoner would not have the connections a noble has." Braxton points out.

"How can you be so sure?" Thane asks, as he leans forward in his chair. He gives Braxton a quick glare.

"A commoner would be messier. This murderer knows their way around the system. That is someone who has been killed before or has connections." Braxton replies.

"Has connections." I say aloud. The three of them look over at me.

I walk over to a nearby whiteboard hanging on the wall, picking up a dry erase marker as I begin to write all the main noble houses and the four kingdoms, "All these families have something in common that's been hidden in plain sight. What is it?" I ask the three of them.

"Money." Braxton answers.

"Land." Thane answers.

"Power, they practically run all in the same circles." Hazel replies.

"Correct, Valerie and her love affair were murdered. Valerie was one of the sisters that was born to King Boone and Queen Raleigh, who ruled over Mintoron."

 "I got one, Queen Khelani married King Benedict. Benedict's mother is Lady January." Braxton adds.

"Good point." I replied.

"You two found the secret cellar and the files at Lady January's place." Thane states.

"Which leads us right into the next topic. Which is Blakely, Lord Chanceworth's and Lady Serenity's son."

"What about him?" Braxton asks.

"Well, his half-brother's father is the founder of the Reign of Prestige. Conrad Davies has lineage ties to the noble family bloodlines. Conrad Davies was Lady January's half-brother. One night at a big social event, Lady Serenity was caught chatting it up with Lady January. Most people thought it was just politics, but it led to something else." Hazel sets down pictures of Lady January with Conrad talking to Serenity."

"Lady Serenity was talking to Conrad." Thane adds.

"Yeah, so? The nobles are known for gossiping." Braxton chimes in.

"This is not the gossip you think." Hazel states.

"She was having an affair. Lady January introduced the two of them at the party that night. After that, Lady Serenity and Conrad Davies were seeing more of each other behind closed doors. Chanceworth was never the loving husband, he was always out doing something or with someone else. Lady Serenity was bored and lonely. I remember the talk was Serenity did not come to the social gatherings for quite a while. Was it because she was pregnant with Conrad's kid?" I ask, as I turn to Hazel.