Chapter 18

Lady Stefflon Don was alone at home concocting plans to demystify the mystery surrounding the disappearances of her maid. She combed the length and breadth of Sicily and beyond in search of the kind of detective that existed only in crime Novels to hand over the piece of assignment but did not find any. She asked everyone around but no one seems to come forward with helpful information that could lead to a person with such credentials except Marco Roberto who came in at the dying minute. At long last, she hives a sigh of relief for finding someone that could lead her to her prize.

"Who could that person be?" Asked Lady Stefflon Don.

"Monsieur Rafeal Massimo knows him."

"Damn you and Rafeal," said Lady Stefflon angrily, almost running him down as she walks past him in furry. Marco Roberto ran after her heels and said to her, "madam, remember Cadfael, the one who played the starring role in that blockbuster crime detective book, titled 'One Corpse Too Many?"

"Yes, what's so special about him?" "I know of a sage gendarmerie downtown who could handle the undercover job masterfully more than he does." Lady Stefflon stopped and glared at him with a deemed eye. "Really?" She inquired, poking her fingers daringly towards him saying, "let's hope you are not telling me one of those cock and bull stories you are famous for." "You can bet on this one, madam." "Where can I lay my hands on this sharp-witted gendarme?" "I can arrange for a gather for two at the choicest place of your pick if you want it right away." "Okay then, I need it right now; let's convene at the Coral Reef Bar, 14:00 GMT, unfailingly." "Okay, madam."

Instead of settling in the magnificent open Bar at the Coral Reef, Lady Stefflon chose to recline in the homey driver's seat of the electrified Rolls-Royce. A classic Jet-black 1961 Phantom V and waited patiently for the arrival of the wise plain-clothes man. This was the hardest thing she would ever do and she seems not upset about it.

The wait almost took her an hour before a deteriorating Land Rover, trailed by a pall of dark smoke, drives in and parked facing her posh car. A tall bearded middle-aged man, wiry and looking forsaken by fortune alighted, buried in a light brown tuxedo and walks across the spacious parking lot.

"This must be the shamus," said Lady Stefflon Don vaguely. The disappointed damsel signalled him from her auto's headlamp twice. The tall man coded it and moved closer to the flashy car reluctantly. "Get in," said Lady Stefflon Don to him. Without uttering a word, she began to haul the car away from the busy Bar area.

One cannot tell the mood of her passenger, but from a layman's view, his silence tells that he was enjoying the smooth ride that appears like an assention into heaven. Neither of them spoke a word to each other until the breaks were slammed on the vehicle at an exhibition centre where everyone appears to mind their business.

"I got us here to save us from prying eyes," she started. "If I may ask, Mr detective, for how long have you been into this noble job, and whether you are capable of adapting to the brain-teasing kind of errand someone fingered you out to be able to handle without grumbling, Mr…?" "Rocque, Morley Rocque," he said.

"Well well, Mr Rocque, you've heard my question, don't you?" Asked Lady Stefflon with a determined look on her face. Mr Morley Rocque is a fast-talking gentleman, he zips through her questions with the appropriate answers and the old lady couldn't help but watch in amazement as the clear-headed man speaks.

"My great grandfather was once a detective and a good one for that matter. same has been passed down to my father. Now, I too am an accomplished detective with vast experience working for a private security agency. Therefore, cast the doubt you have about my suitability as an investigator away; I am up to whatever task that may come my way."

"Huzzah!" Exclaimed Lady Stefflon Don. "If what I've heard from you, Mr Rocque is anything to go by, I feel you should be the fact-finder that deserves to be awarded the plum assignment."

"Thank you Mrs Stefflon. What kind of a quest do you want me to embark on?" asked Mr Rocque with a raised eyebrow that would have ordinarily won him the heart of Mrs Stefflon if she weren't in one of her cast-in-stone mindset. She scrubs her cheek and withheld her breath and then released it out forcefully, 'foo!'

"I suspected something fishy has been going on in my house concerning my house help; she has been acting naughty in recent times. Let me give you a summary of the stunts and escapades I have observed about the young lady that has given rise to me wanting to probe into the unfortunate occurrences.

It would be unlikely in an aristocratic family of the civilized world to helplessly watch their loved ones show affection openly to their maids by moving around town together, dressed in weirdly skimpy clothes in a house filled with their husbands, even perching their hands on my daughter's waist-line as if they were equals. That insanity makes the good in me turns bad and wants to do the unthinkable. That's not all, Mr Rocque. Since this whole hogwash of an attitude began to happen, all has not been right with my husband; he was beginning to act like a playboy even at his age as a result of Matilda's attitudes. If I could battle with a bevvy of ladies in the past to keep my husband and triumphed over the enterprising whores, a lousy insider will not compete with me for my hubby and get away with it.

Mr Investigator, I think there's more to this story than what I already know. I expect you to go the extra mile to bring the hidden information to me."

"I've heard you, Mrs Stefflon. This lady in question, do you know of her whereabouts?"

"As I speak to you, she is nowhere to be found but a reliable source told me that she has travelled up north to a relative of hers in Turin, here is her picture. It's a small town, you can easily track her down with your expertise; make her divulge everything in her mind, and when you succeed, I may shower you with the golden nugget."

Mr Morley Rocque maintains his stony looks and refused to show sign of excitement at her proclamation.

"The speedy outcome of the investigation will bring sunshine to your face, Lady Stefflon."

The elated old lady drove him back to his time-worn car and parted ways with him.

*****

There was a loud clamour for Ulan's attention by Alessandro from his sturdy, but no immediate response from Ulan

A while later, Ulan answered, "Yes, boss. I will be there in a minute!" The tipsy Ulan kept Alessandro waiting for another minute. He showed up swaying from side to side, finding it difficult to steady himself.

"Amigo!" Roared Alessandro, your eye looks dirty, man, have you been drinking?"

"No, boss, am still suffering from the hangover of the previous night's drinking spree."

"I see," said Alessandro, with his attention glued to the computer screen

. "Are you starving, boss?" "Not yet, Ulan. I want you to help me out with a knotty situation."

"Come on, honcho, I cannot help you solve a knotty situation when my head spins badly, except you want me to cause damage to your gig."

"What I want you to do for me does not require you to use your head but your mind, Ulan. If you can recall the embarrassing episode back at the restaurant, am referring to the Siberian Sweethearts."

"Don't tell me you have a crush on one of them, you better not because you are way out of their league," said Ulan with his hands thrown up.

"What do you mean, Ulan?" "Permit me to say, they are cheap commodities, boss man. With your five Rubbles, you can have them all for a whole night ride."

"That's the scenario am trying to get away from so that am not caught unawares."

"Aww!" Exclaimed Ulan, I now get the gist."

"We are now beginning to communicate, aren't we?" Asked Alessandro. "Listen to me, Ulan, you know I invited my new buddies: Natalie and Marcus over for dinner tonight but they wouldn't come alone because their female friends did not make the list of invitees. Here is my plot, Ulan: Would you get me a lady that is prettier than they are to pose as my wife, but only for the duration of the meeting?"

"Yup!" Answered Ulan in excitement. "After I have launched a cutie sourcing campaign on your behalf, you will be floating on cloud nine with the result, boss."

"Don't be ridiculous, Ulan. Go right away and fetch her to the house so that we get enough rehearsing time before the arrival of the guests."

Hours afterwards, Ulan phoned in to tell Alessandro that the lady he has chosen for him asks him to tell whosoever wants to see her that she isn't moving an inch if they cannot come to her.

Alessandro yielded to her demands and began the preparation to go to the mountain since the mountain cannot come to him.

He got himself dressed up casually and set out in the company of the chauffeur to an ancient dwarf settlement near a mountainous forest-of-snow and stopped at a stand-alone five-storey building.

"Here we are, said the driver. Alessandro felt like he was on another planet entirely.

"Is this how far Ulan has gone just to find a woman to play sixty minutes staring role? Anyways, he shrugs off the thought off his mind and followed his guide bumper to bumper until they found themselves in a head-on collision with not just a mind-numbing woman, but an exceedingly polished one sitting next to Ulan dressed in a purple Indian dress.

Alessandro salutes them but only Ulan responded to his greetings. "She understands no single word of English," said Ulan. He has to interpret every single word Alessandro has said all the time. Notwithstanding, Alessandro was warmly received by her.

"She is the shy type. What do you think, boss?"

"She is what exactly am looking for."

"I knew you will not be disappointed with my choice for you."

"Wait a minute, chef, what's all this with the lavish decoration, did you tell her I was seeking for her hand in marriage?"

Ulan was taken aback by the question but laughed it off, "Ha ha ha, though I assumed this assignment while heavily tipped with alcohol, I wouldn't have vied off on sensitive issue like this one. Omahley is a disciplined woman that likes to do things by the book, and nobody can take that foray from her; it's a kind of honour to you, don't you like it?"

"I love it, Ulan, but I think she has gone too far for my liking; let me state my position clearly in case you've forgotten, that am neither looking for a romantic partner nor a wife, that I wanted only someone to disguise as my wife on contract and for a limited time only." Omahley looked at Ulan inquisitively, "What's he explaining?" "He thinks you are lovely and can't wait to have you in his house." Omahley peers at Alessandro with a pleasant smile.

"This is what you ask for, right? Someone respectful and delicious," "yes, Ulan, but…" "don't worry, boss, I know what is at stake; I will handle everything well on your behalf. Look at her boss, she seems to be at ease in your presence, it's a sign that she has agreed to the deal.

"What's his name?" asked Omahley.

"She asks of your name, boss."

"Alessandro," he answered. "Can we go now, Alessandro? I am ready to play the role to the best of my ability. Nothing more in addition to that?" "Nothing more, Omahley."

Omahley spoke into Ulan's ears briefly and stood up. "Boss," called Ulan, "Omahley requested to be paid before moving out with you."

"I don't have a problem with that."Alessandro reached for his wallet and drew a hundred pieces of dollar bills and handed it over to her. Omahley looks at the wads and smiles. "Let's go and make things happen," she said through her interpreter then walks forward to Alessandro and gave him a warm hug. "The deal starts now; this and more you will expect from me." She said, then led the band out of the house.