Day XXVIII - Story 4 - The Ash

This is a mystery starring my transsexual detective Alison Brickhouse. This takes place after she's left the CPD. The chapter isn't really finished, but it's what I have so far.

The Ash

“Alison Brickhouse.” I stated my name for the doorman. He checked his guest list.

“Yes, Ms Brickhouse. If you follow the ladder up to the second level you will find the party in the ballroom.”

I adjusted my lace shawl over my evening gown while I surveyed the large barge behind the little man in uniform. The barge had been transformed into a Prairie style houseboat.

“Where might I find our host?”

“Mr. Roche can usually be found in the parlor when the meal is not actually being served. If you go right through the ballroom you can find the parlor on the port side just aft of the ballroom.”

Ballroom, huh.

“Thank you.” I stepped gingerly over the short gangplank and onto the oak decking. As I ascended the stairs I caught him stealing a glance at my legs. I played with the idea of waving to him, but I decided to spare him. A stout, bald guy like that probably didn’t have good arteries.

The “ballroom” reminded me of the ballroom on Navy Pier. The deck of the barge went forward of the house’s first level and that first level provided a deck forward of the ballroom. The ballroom had French doors that opened on the deck.

An Asian couple in their early forties sat at a table on the deck. He was a captain in an army dress blue uniform.

Inside the ballroom a quintet played light jazz while two couples, one early forties-ish the other late twenties, danced. The older man was a balding and mustached, but attractive and fit middle easterner. His partner was a tiny, curvy blond in a hot red dress and stilettos. An African couple in their fifties stood at the self serve bar sipping wine. He wore a clerical collar.

I passed the band and the long table, set for dinner. My heels clacked on the parquet floor. I found the door to the parlor closed and I walked in.