Part 4 of 18

The next day, Island time

"Hmm, 'baguette'. What do you think?" Dwayne looks up to Camille and Fidel.

"Obvious," Fidel snorts, "They're hungry."

"No. They're in France. Dwayne, check Google. Anything odd happen in France 48 hours ago?"

"Nothing, really. Oh, here's a note about a near conflagration at a restaurant. It was the quick action of a passer-by that prevented total destruction. The mayor of the town is looking for the man to give him an award but the mysterious stranger vanished leaving only a folded white handkerchief behind with the head waiter."

"A handkerchief? Really?"

"Yeah. Weird, hey?"

"It was Richard! I'm sure of it! Well, now we know what to look for! Keep searching!"

Minutes later, Dwayne has found another odd news story, "Hey! Someone took out a gaggle of French cyclists in the hills above that restaurant that almost burnt down. Something here about tear gas and a red car and someone apologizing out the window as they drove past. Oh! And a white handkerchief handed to the lead cyclist by a mysterious mustached man!"

Camille blinks, "Mustached? You sure?"

"Yep. Three men were seen in the car. The one with lip fungus was in the back seat." Dwayne sits back and sighs, "Do you still think it was the Chief?"

"Let me believe it was so I can sleep tonight, OK?"

The two men share a worried look, "Um, OK" they both agree in the same breath.

On the way to Southern France, 48 hours earlier

Angus feels a bit like a ping pong ball, "Yes, sir. No, sir, not you, sir. You, sir." Johnny finally loses his temper and scolds him for being unable to emphasis WHICH sir he means.

From the back seat of the red car, Richard finally takes pity of the poor man and makes a suggestion, "Look, since I'm acting as the gofer on this mission whenever I'm not pretending to be you, Angus, why don't you just call me 'Rich'? It's familiar enough that I should remember to answer to it."

Angus pales at the impertinence, "Oh, sir! I couldn't. Really, I couldn't."

"Well, you bloody well better think of something!" Johnny admonishes. "Seconds count on a mission and we can't waste time deciding which of us you are speaking to."

"He's right," Richard agrees. "Besides, you would never call me 'Rich' once we're back home so it's all good."

Angus swallows and tries the name out, "Rich. Rich. Oh, it feels so strange."

Richard claps him on the back, "You'll get used to it." He leans back with a happy sigh, "Besides, ANY thing is better than Dick."

Johnny and Angus flash outraged looks at one another, eyebrows speaking volumes. Neither man dares to ask.

Southern France, Hotel Magnifique, Cap Antibe

Johnny is booked into a lovely suite of rooms. Richard (resplendent in bushy fake mustache that would do a walrus proud) and Angus are booked into a broom closet with only one bed.

"Oh, dear," Angus sighs, laying down his suitcase.

"Yes, indeed," Richard echoes then claps his hands together briskly, "Well, there's nothing for it. With any luck, we'll not be here at the same time. Come on, let's get dressed. It's almost show time!"

They quickly unpack and dress in identical clothes. Angus helps Richard out of his mustache. Richard goes down to collect the fax they'd requested and takes it out to Johnny. Angus tosses the rooms of everyone on their suspect list but can't find anything suspicious.

Slipping downstairs, Angus spies Richard and Johnny talking by a hedge. Going to the other side of the hedge, Angus gets their attention, "Psst, no luck with the rooms. I think the search needs a professional clue-finder. That would be you, sir… Rich. Oh, it sounds so strange…"

Johnny nods, "Richard, you go look everything over since you have the knack of ESP detecting." At Richard's look, Johnny chuckles, "I've heard the stories, dear boy. Your man Fidel is most boastful of your skills. Off you go. You have the list and the Master Key. Angus, I have need of your special skills in getting that cell phone. Meet me in back of the restaurant, please."

So it was that when Richard slips back down to the restaurant half an hour later to report his findings, he is just in the nick of time to prevent a fire-storm by the expedient of a sturdy leather shoe firmly pressed onto a flaming prawn. He sets his private scheme in motion by handing his handkerchief to the astonished head-waiter. Once back in his room, he fills his pockets with folded white handkerchiefs. If tonight was any indication of Johnny's technique, he is going to need every single one of these little white calling cards before the week is out!

End – Part 4