Category: Travel

The cinema of my dreams – It continued in London – Episode 34

Evan and Juliet

…

I reviewed the CCTV tapes and worked out who the countess’s bodyguards were in the hotel, and remarkably traced them leaving the hotel by the back entrance, passing only one camera, one I suspect they didn’t know was there.  The reason, it did not belong to the hotel but the owner of the building behind the hotel.

They did not leave with the countess, so the question was, why?

I called the office and asked them to do facial recognition on the two, and then trace their movements, and if they left the country by conventional means.

There was no sign of anyone leaving before or after them.  Not for two hours on either side of their departure time.  It was another lead, which might lead nowhere.

I called Cecilia to ask her how her investigation into Vittoria was going.  She didn’t answer, so I sent her a text message arranging to have coffee at a French Pastry café near where I believed I would find Juliet.

I was still working out how I was going to bump into her.

The auditorium was off the Strand near Charing Cross station not far from the Victoria Embankment Gardens, and of course, a French Pastry café in Charing Cross Road I found quite by accident when looking for Foyles Bookshop.

I was still working on that plan when I stopped to have a coffee and a Mille Feuille.

The best idea is just to go and see if she is there and talk to her.  I doubt that she would believe that I just happened to be in the same place at the same time, and perhaps if I just told her the truth…

Whatever approach I made; it was going to be a surprise.

I stood outside the building for a few minutes, thinking if I waited, she might just turn up but she didn’t.  If anything, she would be inside, setting up for the following day.

Enough prevaricating, I couldn’t wait any longer.  I crossed the road and went in.  I hoped that it catered for visitors.  At the front desk, I asked whether the organiser of the session that was running in one of the lecture rooms was available, I was attending and had some questions, and she directed me to the hall.

When I entered the room I saw her standing on the dais, fiddling with a control that was in the process of displaying slides on the screen behind her.  She looked different to when I last saw her, and I couldn’t help but notice she had a presence about her, even if she was flustered.

Then she must have sensed someone had entered the room and looked up.  She recognised me immediately.

“Evan?  Is that you?”

“It is.”

I walked down the steps and stopped just short of the dais.

“What are you doing here?”

Good question.  I was still not prepared for this moment.

“I read in the paper you were leading a discussion on your pet subject of car accident victim’s trauma, where it was, and I didn’t feel we ended things back in Venice very well.  I was surprised to learn you were in London, and I was at a loose end.”

She looked me up and down with a curious eye.

“Someone I don’t think that’s, exactly true Evan.  I was told, in a roundabout way, that you were responsible for getting my brother out of the fix he was in, and coincidentally solved my problem too.  He was a rather creepy little man who was acting strangely.  Please, sit down.”

She crossed to the front row of seats, chose one and sat.  I sat two seats away.

“Yes, he needs to work on his people skills.”

“Then you are not who you purport to be.  Are you still living in Venice?”

“No.  There is nothing to keep me there.  I have a place here.  For the time being.”

“Are you working?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“Does it involve me?”

“Why would you think that?”

“I have been involved in several shall we say enterprises because of circumstances, all of which I have tried to put in the past.  I am not that person anymore, and thankfully some of the ghosts are just that.  You and I though, I’m not sure what we are?  Would you like to buy me dinner and talk about it?”

Was it an invitation I couldn’t refuse?

“Can you drag yourself away from this?”

“I have a computer guru. I’ll call him and ask him to make it work.  You can tell me what you’re up to, and why you need my help.  I’m assuming that’s why you’re here?”

© Charles Heath 2023

Searching For Locations: Disneyland, Paris, France

Whilst I found this tree house to be interesting, it seems to be far from practical because there was little to keep the wind and rain out, though I suppose, in the book, that might not be such a problem.

Be that as it may, and if it was relatively waterproof, then the furnishings would probably survive, and one had to also assume that much of the furnishings, such as the writing desk below, would have washed up as debris from the shipwreck.

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The stove and oven would have to be built by hand, and it is ‘remarkable’ such well-fitting stones were available.  It doesn’t look like it’s been used for a while judging by the amount of gree on it.  Perhaps it is not in a waterproof area.

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The dining table and the shelf in the background have that rough-hewn look about them

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A bit of man-made equipment here for drawing water from the stream

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And though not made in the era of electricity, there is an opportunity to use the water wheel to do more than it appears to be doing

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And tucked away in a corner the all-important study where one can read, or play a little music on the organ.  One could say, for the period, one had all the comforts of home.

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Skeletons in the closet, and doppelgangers

A story called “Mistaken Identity”

…

How many of us have skeletons in the closet that we know nothing about? The skeletons we know about generally stay there, but those we do not, well, they have a habit of coming out of left field when we least expect it.

In this case, when you see your photo on a TV screen with the accompanying text that says you are wanted by every law enforcement agency in Europe, you’re in a state of shock, only to be compounded by those same police, armed and menacing, kicking the door down.

I’d been thinking about this premise for a while after I discovered my mother had a boyfriend before she married my father, a boyfriend who was, by all accounts, the man who was the love of her life.

Then, in terms of coming up with an idea for a story, what if she had a child by him that we didn’t know about, which might mean I had a half brother or sister I knew nothing about. It’s not an uncommon occurrence from what I’ve been researching.

There are many ways of putting a spin on this story.

Then, in the back of my mind, I remembered a story an acquaintance at work was once telling us over morning tea, that a friend of a friend had a mother who had a twin sister and that each of the sisters had a son by the same father, without each knowing of the father’s actions, both growing up without the other having any knowledge of their half brother, only to meet by accident on the other side of the world.

It was an encounter that in the scheme of things might never have happened, and each would have remained oblivious of the other.

For one sister, the relationship was over before she discovered she was pregnant, and therefore had not told the man he was a father. It was no surprise the relationship foundered when she discovered he was also having a relationship with her sister, a discovery that caused her to cut all ties with both of them and never speak to either from that day.

It’s a story with more twists and turns than a country lane!

And a great idea for a story.

That story is called ‘Mistaken Identity’.

In a word: Dear

Yes, it’s that simple word that we use to call someone affectionately.

Or sometimes, with a little accent on the word; yes, dear and no, dear.

In other words, it’s a person regarded with deep affection.

It can also mean expensive, by saying, that’s a bit dear, isn’t it, when we’re really saying it’s way overpriced.

I can’t remember how many times I’ve said something is ‘too dear’ to the children.

Grannies tend to use the expression, ‘be a dear and…’, to get you do do something for them.

Friends, sometimes tongue in cheek, will say, ‘oh dear, I’ve upset you’, when that was exactly what they meant to do.  Friends you say?  Yes, friends indeed.

And then we always start a letter (always?  Who writes letters any more?) with

Dear John (oops, not one of THOSE letters)

Dear Sir/Madam

Of course, instead of swearing, you could simply say ‘Oh dear, you’ve let us down again!’.

And when you lose your job, which is happening a lot at the moment, it is said it would cost you dear, though sometimes it would be more appropriate to use the adverb, dearly.

It is not to be confused with the word deer which is an animal, the males of which have antlers.

There are a number of different types of deer, such as reindeer and elk.  In Canada, they are called caribou.

In Robin Hood’s day, killing deer brought you very harsh punishment.

And one of my favourite meats is venison, meat from a deer, which are farmed in New Zealand along with sheep.

Searching For Locations: Disneyland, Paris, France

Whilst I found this tree house to be interesting, it seems to be far from practical because there was little to keep the wind and rain out, though I suppose, in the book, that might not be such a problem.

Be that as it may, and if it was relatively waterproof, then the furnishings would probably survive, and one had to also assume that much of the furnishings, such as the writing desk below, would have washed up as debris from the shipwreck.

20140104_141622 (1)

The stove and oven would have to be built by hand, and it is ‘remarkable’ such well-fitting stones were available.  It doesn’t look like it’s been used for a while judging by the amount of gree on it.  Perhaps it is not in a waterproof area.

20140104_141556 (2)

The dining table and the shelf in the background have that rough-hewn look about them

20140104_141553

A bit of man-made equipment here for drawing water from the stream

20140104_141703 (1)

And though not made in the era of electricity, there is an opportunity to use the water wheel to do more than it appears to be doing

20140104_141539 (2)

And tucked away in a corner the all-important study where one can read, or play a little music on the organ.  One could say, for the period, one had all the comforts of home.

20140104_141800 (2)

The cinema of my dreams – It continued in London – Episode 32

Alessandro is still reticent

…

He paused by the front counter to talk to the manager who was running the desk now. Perhaps realising trouble was about to erupt in her hotel, trouble a hotel of this sort didn’t need.

She got a key from the office she came out of earlier and accompanied us to the mezzanine floor, unlocked a door to what was a small conference room and ushered us in.  She didn’t follow us in but closed the door behind us.  I did notice that Alessandro had two security staff follow us at a discreet distance.

In the time it took to get from the restaurant to the conference room, he had time to compose himself, and no doubt working on a story that I might believe.

He sat and gestured for me to do the same.  I thought about standing, it would nominally give me an advantage over him, but decided against it.

He gave me a hard stare, then said, “You tell me you are only called when the situation is serious.  Who are you?  I don’t believe for a moment you are a Detective Inspector.  They do not confront foreign natials at their table in a restaurant.”

“Believe it or not I am.  From time to time.  Who I am is irrelevant.  What is, is the whereabouts of your sister-in-law.  You were at the hotel when she arrived back from the Opera.  A matter of hours later she disappears.  Why were you here to see your sister-in-law?”

“If I tell you that is none of your business?”

“Let me tell you what I know about your business.  Firstly, you are associating with a woman by the name of Vittoria, who is allegedly responsible for two attempts in the countess’s life.  Secondly, the terms of the Count’s will pass the who of his possessions to you if the countess does not arrive at the law offices to sign the official inheritance documents.  Thirdly, you are on record saying quite vehemently that the countess should not, and will not if you have anything to do with it, inherit the family business.  Fourthly, had Vittoria told you that she had a daughter to the Count, and was blackmailing him until he died, culminating in the last attempt on the countess’s life.  Allegedly.”

Always, it was interesting to watch the expressions and responses of people when telling there a story that has a mixture of truth, supposition, and outright lies.  Alessandro was no different.  He started the story expressionless and was most likely going to stay that way.

The first response was when I mentioned Vittoria, with a look that wasn’t complete contempt, but a very deep dislike, though that might be for me mentioning her name.  I purposely didn’t say he was dating her, just associating, and it might also be at the mention of her name.

“Vittoria is, by the way, in London at the moment, and she is a person of interest in my investigation.  We know you have seen her several times in the last few days, so I will be talking to her at some point.”

The second response came when I mentioned the will, and that look was of surprise, whether he thought anyone know of the provisions other than family would be interesting.

“Am I under surveillance?”

“When reviewing the CCTV tapes during the time we estimate the countess went missing, and only via the CCTV in the hotel, in case the disappearance of the countess is not part of a wider attack on the Bernhardt family.  I notice you have your own security outside.”

“I would prefer they not accompany me everywhere, but it is necessary.”

“The countess’s security detail?  Are they still in the hotel.”

“Gone, with the countess, which is why I don’t think there is anything to worry about.”

“And if she doesn’t make it to the signing in five days?”

“Do you have any reason to believe she will not.”

“You have motive, and you had opportunity.  In my book that’s enough for me to have you arrested until you tell us what we need to know.  It’s the old story, if you have nothing to hide, you’d answer the question.  Stalling, dodging, and obfuscation only indicate guilt.  So, I will ask one more time.  What were do doing here after she returned to the hotel on the night of the opera, and where is she now?”

Another withering look in my direction, and he stood.

“I do not have to answer your questions.  Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”

He headed towards the door.

“Fine.  You will not be leaving the hotel, and I suggest you call your legal representative.”  /I pulled out my phone and pressed speed dial.  When one of the two men below answered, I said, “Pick him up.  You know where to take him.”

© Charles Heath 2023

Searching for Locations: The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Sorry, reminiscing again…

It was a cold but far from a miserable day.  We were taking our grandchildren on a tour of the most interesting sites in Paris, the first of which was the Eiffel Tower.

We took the overground train, which had double-decker carriages, a first for the girls, to get to the tower.

We took the underground, or Metro, back, and they were fascinated with the fact the train carriages ran on road tires.

Because it was so cold, and windy, the tower was only open to the second level. It was a disappointment to us, but the girls were content to stay on the second level.

There they had the French version of chips.

It was a dull day, but the views were magnificent.

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A view of the Seine

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Sacre Coeur church at Montmartre in the distance.

Another view along the river Seine

Overlooking the tightly packed apartment buildings

Looking along the opposite end of the river Seine

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 13

I came across this photo:

This is like so many roads off in what is known as the Gold Coast hinterland, that tract of land between the ocean and the mountain range that runs along the eastern side of the country, known as the Great Dividing Range.

This is the road that runs behind where friends of ours live, and runs on down into a valley where a river runs, and when the rains come down, floods.

It’s hard to imagine that a few hundred years ago all of this would have been tropical jungle, and intrepid explorers would be making their way north or west, just to see what was there.

I imagine in another 100 years, all of this will be gone, given over to housing, shopping malls, and factories, and anything that resembles country living will have been moved out to far beyond the mountain range and towards the what is called the ‘red’ centre.

Or over that time there is a reckoning with mother nature, and if there is, I know who I’d put my money on.

But, as for a story…

…

It was quite literally the road to nowhere.

You just had to follow it until it disintegrated into a dirt track, and then for another 20 miles before you finished up at a rusty gate attached to a dilapidated fence that surrounds the a house that was cleverly hidden behind a grove of trees, the only place I knew as home. We had no phones, no television or radio, no real contact with the outside world.

Until, one day, my fairy godmother came and rescued me.

Yes, it felt like that.

Little had I realized that there were any other people in our family, and it took until the death of my parents to find out I had grandparents, and a much larger extended family.

There had been, according to my father, no reason to leave. Or for anyone else to come, and the few that ventured to end of the road, found there was nothing to see, and no reason to stay.

For all intents and purposes we didn’t exist, and, oddly, I was content with that.

Until I decided to venture further afield, run into two people, a man and a woman, both of whom said they were related to my father, and ask me to take them back with them to meet my father,

A bad choice, but I didn’t know it at the time.

Not until my father ran them off at the point of the gun he always had with him.

He knew who they were, and it surprised me to see the change in him, from the strong silent type, to a man greatly afraid, though he would not tell me of what.

He just told me to lock myself in my room, and not to come out for anything.

I heard him leave, but not come back.

It took three days before I left that room, to find I was completely alone in the house. Outside, it was a different story. There, half way between the back door and the barn were the two people I’d brought home, both dead. A little further away were my parents, also dead.

And another man, who was leaning over my father.

I stopped when he looked up in my direction.

“You must be Jake.”

How did he know my name? I nodded, warily watching him in case I had to run.

He went from body to body, checking to see if they were still alive, then stood and turned around to look at me.

“Do you know what happened?”

“No.”

“Do you know who the other two are?”

I assumed he was referring to the visitors.

“No. The man said he was a relative, asked me to bring them here.”

“How did you…”

Escape? “My father told me to hide and not come out.” If this man was associated with the other two…

Perhaps he saw my trepidation.

“I’m a friend of your father’s, a policeman. You were supposed to be safe here.”

We were, until I brought the harbingers of death. “Not any more,” I said.

…

© Charles Heath 2021

Searching For Locations: Disneyland, Paris, France

Whilst I found this tree house to be interesting, it seems to be far from practical because there was little to keep the wind and rain out, though I suppose, in the book, that might not be such a problem.

Be that as it may, and if it was relatively waterproof, then the furnishings would probably survive, and one had to also assume that much of the furnishings, such as the writing desk below, would have washed up as debris from the shipwreck.

20140104_141622 (1)

The stove and oven would have to be built by hand, and it is ‘remarkable’ such well-fitting stones were available.  It doesn’t look like it’s been used for a while judging by the amount of gree on it.  Perhaps it is not in a waterproof area.

20140104_141556 (2)

The dining table and the shelf in the background have that rough-hewn look about them

20140104_141553

A bit of man-made equipment here for drawing water from the stream

20140104_141703 (1)

And though not made in the era of electricity, there is an opportunity to use the water wheel to do more than it appears to be doing

20140104_141539 (2)

And tucked away in a corner the all-important study where one can read, or play a little music on the organ.  One could say, for the period, one had all the comforts of home.

20140104_141800 (2)

The cinema of my dreams – It continued in London – Episode 33

Alessandro finally tells

…

Alessandro had his hand on the door handle, the door open, and about to walk out.

“You have to be kidding?”

“I’m not.  Their instructions are to drag you out of her with maximum exposure.  I did inform several media outlets that there was likely to be a high-profile arrest at this hotel this morning, so it will hit the internet very soon after.”

“There are rules…”

“I don’t play by the rules when dealing with liars, Alessandro.  Your last chance to get out of this with some dignity, otherwise it’s out of my control.”

Of course, the number one rule I’d broken was not to play bluff with men like Alessandro because if he called it, I’d be in so deep it would take a week to dig myself out of the shit pile Rodby would throw me in.  This was exactly the rogue behaviour he hated.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if Alessandro did, it would get Rodby off my back.

He stepped back in and let the door close.

This was a man who couldn’t afford a shit storm.  And whatever it was he couldn’t tell me must have severe consequences.

“Heidi called me the morning of the day she went to the opera and told me she saw me with Vittoria in a newspaper, and said she had information about her, that she needed to see me in person.”

“Before that call, what did you know of Vittoria?”

“Not a lot.  She had presented herself, whether it was a deliberate act on her part, or by accident, to me at the casino at Monte Carlo some weeks ago, at a function.  She used a different name and looked different then.  She said she had seen me in the media talking about one of the charities the family donates to and wanted to know more about it.  We met a few times over dinner, but nothing intimate.  She once again accidentally ran into me in London, and we had drinks.  I perceived her to be trouble.”

“Where were you when she called?”

“In Vienna.  I got on the first plane to London and got her about 10pm.  I got to the hotel just before she arrived back from the opera.  She said she had not expected to see me until the morning.  We went up to her room, and she told me basically what you just told me about this Vittoria.  I did not know about the daughter of the Count, nor do I think Heidi does.”

“Then what happened?”

“We went down to the bar and had a few drinks, because that news was quite shattering, and I needed a few to steady the nerves.  I had yet to arrange a room, which I did when Heidi called it a night and went to her room.  She did say she might have to leave early the following morning, but we would meet again at the legal office.  That was the last I saw her.  And until your fellow officers came to interview me, I did not, and still don’t believe she is missing.”

“Have you seen Vittoria in the last day or so?”

“Once the following morning, and only as she was leaving, very hurriedly I might add.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“I didn’t ask, and by that time, I didn’t care.  Do you know who this alleged daughter is?”

“Only that she has a daughter by the Count and had irrefutable proof.  I would get your legal team prepared because it might become an issue because she might become the legal heir in the countess goes missing.  After all the terms of the will state that the line of succession is wife, then children, with no specific codicil that the child be legitimate.”

“Which if you said is correct, and I will have it checked, that removes my motive.”

“Unless you are working with Vittoria and the child.  You may not be, but appearances can be taken either way.  I suggest that you make enquiries as to where the countess might be.”

He still might know, but I was beginning to think he didn’t.  Nor did I believe he was working with Vittoria.  He made his feelings for her quite clear.

But Vittoria, where did she go?

“Thank you finally for your cooperation.  Next time anyone asks you a question, just answer it.  Other investigators won’t be as lenient with you.”

I called the men and told them to stand down.

© Charles Heath 2023