The time was eight fifty-five in the evening when Thaddeus drew back his shirt sleeve to look at his watch. Erica had divulged as much about her club's party rituals. The distance to the address on the card was going to be a long one, nearly at the city limits. It was best he left an hour early to arrive there at the hour Hilda had given him; the party, Erica told him, wouldn't begin until then. Thaddeus had worn his only black suit with matching tie and coat and after four attempts had finally found himself a cab willing to take him there, though for an exorbitant price. Thaddeus still thought it was a foolish waste of time. He should be out there following on the fragment of lead he'd gotten regarding the missing kid's whereabouts instead of undertaking this night mission. He unarguably cursed himself for indulging in his whims. It wasn't like he didn't have a choice. A sixth sense simply told him there was more to the case he had in his hands to know that something murky existed between Constance and her sister Hilda. Whether or not it was responsible for her son being missing, he couldn't arrive at a conclusion yet. But it was there, too glaring to be unmistakable.
The bright lights of the city slid past the cab's windows, somehow they enticed him to return home where he figured he ought to be. He took out the envelope Hilda had given him and once again looked at the card that bore the club's password. FIGARO. Didn't sound like anything he'd heard before. Erica told him the patrons of the club preferred anonymous discretion. He would be given something to wear over his eyes to prevent anyone knowing him and him too of anyone that was there. He got a feeling however that one person there already would sniff him out easily. Hilda.
He reclined in the backseat and half dozed while the taxi drove along heading towards the main highway that would further lead to the turnpike and from there out of the city limits. It was like driving towards Loftus Garden, except this trip, he knew, was going to be even longer a journey than that one. On the news the chief of police had declared that the cops in the city were directing their resources towards looking into the matter of her missing son; nothing had been said about her giving a statement about it, and the press people weren't sure if to take the news any serious than it ought to be or drop it and move on to something else. Whoever it was that had made it known to them had undoubtedly overplayed his hand, Thaddeus thought to himself.
He asked himself why did he even bothering. The way she had spoken to him before she left his pad made it known that it was final between them. He didn't need to be continuing with the case anymore. Or was he even really still on the case as he presumed he was? His eyes deepened into a light sleep.
When next he opened his eyes Thaddeus couldn't recognise where he was. For a moment he thought he was lost and that the driver was taking him down a road he could never recall ever been through before. He asked the man if they were still on the right track; the driver reassured him that they were. Thaddeus returned to his seat and marvelled at the sight of the tall elm trees that lined the sides of the road, looking more like guarding sentinels. Ahead, the lights of the taxi followed the snake-like route of the road which seemed to lead further into nowhere. There were no lights around or sign of any homes. Where they still in the city?
Then came a pair of lamp lights as they went round a fork in the road and the lights led towards a castle-like gate. The taxi drew to a stop in front of the gate which bore the street's name and house number as that which was written on the address Hilda had given him. Thaddeus stepped out of the cab and settled the bill then watched the taxi turn around and its red lights disappeared from view as it drove back whence it came from. Thaddeus approached the gate and saw two men standing there in dark coats with a car idling beside them. Neither said anything to him though their eyes never left him. Behind them a driveway led further into the compound.
"Good evening," said Thaddeus.
"Good evening, sir," one of the men replied in a guttural voice that sounded European. "Are you here for the festivities or are you lost?"
"I'm here for the festivities."
"Good. May we know the password?" the other man asked. He too sounded European.
"Figaro," answered Thaddeus.
"Very well, sir," the first man replied.
Instantly the gate swung open for him. Thaddeus stepped into the compound.
The other man opened a car door for Thaddeus. "Please," he indicated. "The car will take you to the house. Have a wonderful evening."
Thaddeus slipped into the car. The man closed the door and the car drove off.
The interior of the car was dark; he couldn't make out the driver because of the glass divider between them. The car rolled on smoothly along the driveway which went in a circular route around a concrete building block. It went past a second gate where two other men in long coats stood watch and then Thaddeus was able to make out the majestic building that stood at the far end of the driveway. It resembled that of the Loftus Garden except by all standards this was much bigger, much opulent in gothic style and design. A pair of Greek columns lined the front of the structure, looking like something leading into the Acropolis; bright lights illuminated the compound with dazzling display. The front of the driveway was lined with limos, Aston Martins and other exotic type of four wheels. Thaddeus's car pulled in front of the building and someone opened the door for him. The man asked for his invitation envelope, of which Thaddeus gave to him. The man then gave him a black mask to wear and bid him welcome. Thaddeus went up the stairs and a door opened for him and he went inside.
He stepped into a wide foyer that looked more like a vintage cloakroom. There were other men in long coats standing there and all of them wore masks just like he did. There were several couples standing there, handing their coats and jackets to the men who stowed them away in hidden closets and then another one of the men ushered them through another doorway. One of the men helped Thaddeus of his coat and gave him a room key, on the fob was the number five. He indicated towards the doorway where the other couple had gone into. Thaddeus went in that direction, slipping the key into his pocket.
It was a lengthy corridor and were it not for the fixated lights on either side of the wall it looked like something that led down towards a cavern. Thaddeus followed the couple in front of him, the woman wore a lovely evening dress while the man wore a tux and like him they both wore different facial masks. At the end was a lone man also in a mask who opened a door for them.
The room was large and awash with lights from numerous chandeliers. Thaddeus moved aside from the doorway and ran his eyes everywhere, trying to take adequate note of it. The walls were covered with flowing maroon curtains with tall columns interspacing the room. At the far end of the room was a raised dais with a podium though at the moment on one stood there. Soft music piped into the room through hidden speakers. There were couch chairs scattered about and everywhere people stood or sat together in groups or singles, men and women, making conversation and drinking from wine glasses. Some of the women wore spandex outfits and knee-length boots. Some of the women were young and others middle-aged, though he couldn't tell from the masks they were all wearing. As he sauntered amongst them, picking up a glass of champagne from roving naked damsels carrying glass trays, he sensed some of them turning to ogle him. One or two of them he spied talking to their mates glanced at him over their men's shoulder as they danced to the music and gave him a wink. One of the women was bold enough to approach him in his tracks. She wore a black beret under a short-cropped red head with a net blouse that revealed her ample cleavage with erect nipples jutting through with spandex short skirt and she was wearing a mask that looked like it was made out of fish scales. She muttered hello to him and took his wine glass from his hand and sipped from it then gave it back to him. Her hand went to his crotch and felt for his erection. Thaddeus in turn grasped one of her tits and pinched her nipples. She seemed to enjoy it.
"Such a handsome black man you are. I can't wait to have you," she leaned towards him and whispered into his ear before moving along past him. Thaddeus's eyes followed her romp as it bounced away from him. She turned around and smiled at him before turning to speak with some other company of female friends.
Thaddeus realised only too late that he was the only black man in the room. He looked here and there and didn't spot any other like him. He picked another wine glass and several couples hovered by him and made light conversation, nothing revealing about whom they were or what they did in the outside world. Thaddeus looked here and there and couldn't spot anyone he knew, not even Erica, if actually she was here which he figured she was.
"I thought it was you," a woman's hand came over his shoulder. He turned around and looked at the blonde-haired beauty wearing a cut-out purple outfit that hid little of her naked figure.
Thaddeus recognised her right away from the sound of her voice and that smile coating her fiery red lips. "I'm glad you came," she stretched herself to kiss his cheek.