Criminal Case: Grimsborough

Chapter 43: Troubled Waters-Part 1

A couple days later, Marie was getting ready for the yacht party. After she put on a simple yellow sundress and a pair of black-strapped sandals, she went to the living room to meet with Paul, Scott and Oliver. As soon as she got to the living room, she saw Paul was wearing a grey suits and with a blue tie and Scott was wearing a brown suit with a green tie and Oliver was wearing a read onesie with denim baby shorts and light blue booties. Marie smiled at her adoptive family and said, "You guys look great."

"So do you Marie. I can't believe we were also invited to the blue party's yacht today," Scott said.

Paul then added in, "Well Martha happens to be an old friend of mine and when I heard that she's also running for mayor, I had to congratulate her."

It was then that Marie began to think on who to vote for once the campaigns are finished. Should she support Mayor Johnson or should she vote for his rival. Just then, the doorbell rang signaling that Jones had arrived and when Marie went to answer it, she slapped her forehead in embarrassment while Scott started to crack up like a hyena. Standing before Marie and her adopted family was Jones wearing a sailor suit and the only thing that came to Marie's mind was that Jones looked utterly ridiculous; he even looked more ridiculous when he wore that Miss Wonders outfit for part of the convention until Alex stepped in, but the image still scarred him after he switched outfits. Jones then smiled brightly at Marie and asked her, "What do you think of my new outfit Marie? Don't I look dashing?"

Marie put on a faux smile and lied, "Yeah babe, you look dashing alright." And then she thought, dashingly stupid!

Jones didn't think it was a lie and he thanked her and then he went on to explain, "It seems we've become really popular. First Mayor Johnson and now the blue party has invited us to Mrs. Price's yacht! I've always wanted to go sailing on the seas. With the wind in my hair and probably meet a mermaid or two."

"Hey Inspector Jones, if you want to meet a mermaid, I'll introduce you to Ariel and her fish friends," Scott said jokingly, which earned him a conk on the head from his father.

After that, Paul insisted that they should leave right away knowing that Martha Price is waiting for them. Soon, the lot of them exited the house to go to the shipyards where the yacht party was being held. After they got there, Marie was greeted by a woman with blonde cropped hair and green eyes and she introduced herself as Martha Price. Martha then said, "It's so nice to meet the police force's best member. I've heard so much from you Miss Marie and I would like to thank you, your family and your friend for coming to my little sea-outing."

Marie thanked her for inviting them and she said, "The pleasure is all mine ma'am."

Soon, Martha called another young woman over and she introduced her to Marie and told her, "This young lady is Isabella Fairchild, heiress to the Fairchild fortune. Isabella, meet Major Marie Holmes, her adopted father and an old friend of mine, Paul Greene, his sons Scott and Oliver and Major Marie's partner David Jones."

Isabella nodded a greeting at Marie and said shy sweet voice, "How do you do."

Jones blushed a deep red and told the young woman that they're doing fine in a quick voice. Marie let out a long sigh and thought, we're here for two minutes and he's already smitten by a pretty face. Soon, a horn blasted out which signaled the ship was about to sail and after the boat pulled out of the docks, the party started. A few minutes in, Jones decided to try and fish while Marie helped herself to a few cocktail wieners, cheese cubes and a few fruit pieces. A while later, Marie was leaning on the railing next to Jones with what seemed to be her sixth plate of appetizers and her fourth glass of champagne.

Jones took a deep breath of the sea air and he said, "You know what Marie? This is the life! Nothing, but the open sea, the seagulls, good food and friends and us and the fishes."