My Christmas On You... A Nine Days of Christmas Inspector Gloria Mystery DAY TWO
Day 2: The Tailors
Gloria couldn’t help smiling when she got out of the car and stood looking at Monrovia’s most famous ‘fashion houses’ as they liked to refer to themselves. Divine Designs and The Palace of Fashion stood across from each other on a busy junction in Congo Town. Divine Designs had gone for a stylish black and white colour scheme while The Palace looked as if someone had sprayed it with every available colour and then added a small forest of plants and flowers. They both had signs up proclaiming them to be either the best in Africa or the worlds leading fashion experts but the mannequins in their window displays looked tired and dusty.
As she approached Divine Designs the doors opened and Richard, her own tailor, stood welcoming her with open arms. ‘My dear, you have finally decided to update your outfits, wonderful.’ Despite sounding like a mature matron in charge of a fashionable salon Richard was in fact a young man who worked as a jobbing tailor around town but with huge ambition and matching self-belief.
‘Richard, you working here now?’ Gloria smiled at him and went into the shop.
Hmm, we all have to do what we have to do Gloria. I’m just here until I can get my own shop open.’
Despite the dusty window display Divine Designs was cool, dim and tastefully furnished inside. Rows of mannequins draped in cloth or finished outfits were placed around a large, carpeted space with rails of finished dresses and shirts lining the walls. Richard ushered her to a soft chair and offered her coffee.
‘Now my dear, how can I help? You looking for some new designs for the season?’ Even upbeat Richard sounded doubtful as he said this, looking at Gloria’s baggy t-shirt and jeans.
‘No, listen there’s been an incident down at the Bathhouse.’ Richard pulled his chair in closer and raised an eyebrow. ‘Someone has stolen all the costumes and the jewellery for the Christmas masque parade. And the names of these two fine establishments came up as people who might have an interest in supplying new costumes at short notice.’
Richard’s expression was mock outrage tinged with the hint of a smile. ‘And you thought you would come here first Gloria?’
Gloria put up a hand as if to protest but Richard was in full flow. ‘Yeah, you’re probably right my dear, definitely the right area, but absolutely the wrong establishment.’ He waved his arm in a grand gesture and pointed to the door. ‘Any roguery, trickery, fashion thieves... you want to look across the road.’
‘So, your rival in other words?’
‘Trust me my dear, that overblown con artist is no rival to Divine Designs.’
Gloria finished her coffee and stood. ‘You know what Richard, I’m going to trust you on this, well at least that you’re not hiding all that stuff here. Who’s in charge over there?’
Richard sucked his teeth loudly and made a face like he had swallowed a kittely pepper whole. ‘In charge?’ He sucked his teeth again. ‘Go see for yourself like anyone is in charge over there.’ He shrugged. ‘Ask for Madame Dwede Myluckwillnotrunout Constance.’ Gloria glared at him. ‘Well, that’s the name she uses Gloria.’
‘Hmm, if she gets me vex, today might be the day her luck does run out.’ Richard half smiled and gestured to the door.
The wall of heat hit her wiping out the temporary relief the air conditioner had given her. Any hope that it might be revived across the road was dashed as she pushed the shop door open. The Palace of Fashion was stiflingly hot and humid. No air conditioning here then.’
Madame Dwede, if such she was, was an enormous woman sitting at a desk fanning herself vigorously. She was dressed in an outfit as bright as the shop décor. She glared at Gloria.
‘Hmm, so you not find nothing you like across the road at that yammy yammy place eh?’
Gloria put a hand very firmly in the air. ‘Leh we not talk too plenty ma, before I come die in your hot pepper shop eh?’
To her surprise a grin spread across the other woman’s face and she let out a loud laugh. ‘Ok, ma, you talk and I will listen.’
Gloria explained again about the missing costumes but Madame Dwede was shaking her head. ‘Tha small boy across the road tell you to come here? Hmm, come see wickedness. He want to spoil my name and my business.’
Gloria, whose resentment at having to spend her holidays investigating a crime was growing by the minute, stood up. ‘Let me just have a look around then?’ To her surprise Madame Dwede just waved her arm in the direction of the back of the shop. ‘Go see.’
Gloria walked through a forest of loose flowing material and opened a door at the back. The back store was large, clean, and completely empty of anything. Not a piece of furniture or material. She jumped when she turned to find Madame Dwede had silently crept up behind her. ‘You see? Nothing here. All my designs are in the shop, to be seen and admired. Spare materials are kept under the front desk and the work on new orders is done over there.’ She indicated three empty sewing machines sitting in a corner.’
‘No contracts?’
Madame Dwede sniffed. ‘It’s too early for the Christmas orders yet. Next week will start to get busy again.’
‘Right, so you don’t need a big contract to save your business then? Like providing all the costumes for the Christmas parade, for example?’
‘Eh, eh eh, I’m not saying I don’t need work but I’m not the only one. That parade is not just fancy outfits. What about all the decorations, all the jewellery? Since the war, and the Ebola, everyone’s business is down.’
‘The jewellers?’ Gloria nodded her head. She had forgotten what a big production the annual parade had become, and how many people benefitted from it. She looked at her watch. It was after four. So tomorrow would be jewellery day then.