My Christmas On You... A Nine Days of Christmas Inspector Gloria Mystery DAY FIVE
Day Five: The Team
Gloria ran through in her head which of her team she could call on and couldn’t think of anyone. Her deputy, Moses, had gone up country with his wife and family to their village, as had most of her team. There hadn’t been many normal Christmases recently, the war had been followed by insecurity and poverty, then there had been the Ebola outbreak followed by the Covid pandemic. Most people had been glad to get away, in fact she had encouraged them to get out of Monrovia and get a break but it meant she was on her own. Except for Lawrence, her boyfriend and Head of Traffic Division. He would have to do.
She arrived at the Boakai family home to find Lawrence sitting outside under the shade of the small makeshift palaver hut. His initial grin faded as she approached and sat down. ‘Hello Glo, why do I have a feeling that you are here on work, even though we are both on holiday.’
Gloria smiled back. ‘You guessed well Lawrence. But if you are too busy to help...’
Lawrence put his finger to his lips and pointed to the window. Gloria peeped in and saw what she knew to be the Retired Ladies Book Club in full session. Even through the glass and over the noise of the air conditioner she could hear Mrs. Gray, the bishop’s mother, loudly telling the others what she thought of the choice of book – not a lot apparently – they were supposed to be discussing.
‘Do they ever like the book choice the others suggest?’
‘Never. They should really all just come and talk about whatever book each of them is reading rather than getting everyone to read the same book. Mrs. Kromah always thinks the book is unsuitable, the bishop’s mother always thinks the characters are unreal and my mother always says there’s not enough about Liberian culture in the book – even last month when the book was actually called Culture and History of Liberia..’
Gloria laughed. ‘Then you won’t mind giving me some help with an investigation?’ She explained the whole thing as quickly as she could.
Lawrence looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. ‘You know what Glo, I will help but I don’t think we have much time so why don’t we split up? You get on with the search for the costumes and I will focus on the jewellery. You find some more people to help you and I will go talk to my usual chaychaypoley network and get the street gossip. What about those street kids you know, why not ask them what they’ve heard?’ Gloria nodded uncertainly. Any time she involved anyone else in an investigation, usually her nephew Abu, they ended up in hospital or being attacked. ‘Just go and talk to them. Ehn you saw them on Center Street?’
‘OK, but I don’t want them getting hurt. But it’s a good idea and I’ll see anyone else connected with the parade. Those friends of mine John and Sarah Kaba, the ones who run Pizza Heaven, they were supposed to have a food stand at the parade this year. And there’s others.’ She thought about all the people who had an interest in the parade going ahead, and all the others who didn’t get permission for a food stand or to be a supplier or entertainer. This parade had become huge without her really realising it.
They both stood. ‘I’ll see you back here then in a few hours,’ said Lawrence. Gloria groaned at the thought of driving around questioning people under the baking sun. It would take more than a few hours she suspected but she nodded agreement.
John and Sara were both happy to see her but they were also angry and when she asked about the parade and had they heard anything they both sucked their teeth at the same time. ‘That parade you asking about Gloria? You didn’t hear. We were cancelled. Two days ago, we were cancelled after working so hard to get a place.’
‘Why they cancel you? That doesn’t usually happen?’
John looked like thunder. ‘We heard different. People told us that the process to get a stand or a contract to supply something has got more and more corrupt. And even when you are successful, and that costs money Gloria, one way or another, but even when you get it, it is very common for it to be suddenly cancelled.’
‘And not get any of your money back of course.’
‘Of course not, because officially no money has changed hands. They just come up with some excuse and that’s it. We hear you actually have to be family to get a contract these days.’ He laughed. ‘Some things never change eh!’
Gloria shifted a bit uncomfortably. If it had been anyone else this would have made her friends suspects, a bit of revenge theft, but she knew they were not capable of it.
‘And this happens to lots of people?’
‘Yes, they always let a couple of ‘outsiders’ keep their contract but most people no. So if you are looking for people with a motive to spoil the parade they are many, but if you need someone brave enough to actually steal the costumes from the Bathhouse, well that’s something completely different. That would have to be someone very brave, or very desperate, someone whose whole business or their whole life depended on it.’
Gloria stared at John but said nothing, she knew he would not be able to keep quiet.
‘Ah Gloria, you’re doing that thing again aren’t you? Waiting for me to say something.’ Gloria raised an eyebrow and smiled. ‘Alright, alright, but you didn’t hear this from me.’ He looked over at his wife but Sara just rolled her eyes. ‘The biggest loser this year was Sammy Wiseman.’
‘The guy who owns those new hotels and restaurants?’ Gloria had heard of him but never met him.
‘Yes. He won the contract for all the catering for the parade for the week and to be a prime provider of accommodation. Huge thing especially with all the overseas visitors expected. The contract is supposed to have cost him a fortune and then all the catering arrangements as well. He has borrowed a lot of money from some dangerous people. And a few days ago the parade committee apparently discovered some problem with his suppliers and withdrew the contract, giving it instead to local traders in Westpoint. Now there’s a desperate man for you.’
‘Thank you John. That sounds like a very good place to start.’