January 12 - Milano - A night at the opera

[Mephistophilis]

As Felicity comes into view, Andrew's face colours. Spluttering he says, 'You understand of course Miss Hayward that I...I mean to say I would never...' Unable to make up for what he has said and mortally embarrassed by the whole thing, Andrew sticks the pistol even harder into Faccia's side.

With his other hand he places it against the side of Faccia's face. 'I think we know a little of what they are capable of...' and he starts to whisper into Faccia's ear the initial phonemes from the ancient Turkish text he found in Makryat's shop. He is not trying to cast the spell, just make Faccia aware that he knows the spell and what it does, what he could do to Faccia's face if he had a mind to...

[Mr. Handy]

"Quite all right," says Felicity with a smile. "I of course have never received payment in return for my favours. I have far more money than I could ever spend anyway." She turns that smile on Faccia. "I'm sure we can make them see reason, one way or another. I can be...very...persuasive."

[robertod]

He sighs and takes on an incisive tone.
"Sir, you are wasting your breath with your threats. I don't have the power to ask them to do what I want. Between us and them, there´s only exchange of favors. We did favors to them and they did favors to me, to Mr. Conti and to Virginia Cavollaro.
Actualy... we are indebted to them. We promised to give them an object that they want. If they don't get what they want here in Milan, forget about asking them for anything else. I strongly advise you against talking to them. It is an organized Turkish sect, very powerful and very violent.
So... if you let us continue with what we were doing, maybe I can talk to them and maybe I can see if I can do something for your friend Caterina... but I can't promise you anything."

Assess honesty: he seems very decisive and truthful in what he says.

Clarence notices that a stone bust that appears to be of the Simulacrum statue lies on one of the shelves at the back of the room, in a spot they haven't searched yet.

[Mr. Handy]

"Ah," says Felicity. "Those chaps. I believe everything you've said about them. Well, we'll just have to get what they want. That will give us the leverage we need. Not that we'd let them have it, of course, but I know all about letting men think they could have something they have absolutely no chance of obtaining."

[aine]

Clarence realises his heart is suddenly pounding. Whilst Felicity prattles on, distracting the Italians, he pads quietly to the back recesses of the room. On the way, he looks out for a cloth, blanket or stage cloak that he can use.

[SaintMeerkat]

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"Oh, yes," Archie nodded, and then added to Felicity's statement.. "We've seen some of their handiwork in London. Nasty bits of work, indeed."

Archie thought he'd grown accustomed to Felicity's more scandalous sounding remarks, but he can't help but flush deeply when she mentions the last part. Archie's gun hand doesn't waver. "That's the new plan, signor." The last word was tinged with a hint of a wild fierceness that never would have been present before he embarked upon this task for his friend. It was almost as though the journey was chipping away at his sanity.

[robertod]

Faccia answers Felicity and Archie, with a look of concern on his face.
"It's better if you let us negotiate. If they know that you have what they want, they will try to get it with methods that you will be very unlikely to be able to counter. It is an organized cult with men scattered throughout Europe. You don't know against who are you maneuvering."

Meanwhile, the buzz of people running and speaking in Italian approaches along the corridor leading to the room. They appear to be from staff and seem alarmed about something.

Clarence finds a cloth among the things on the shelves. Approaching the object, he discovers that the bust of the simulacrum is now in front of him.

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps we could allow you to negotiate on our behalf," says Felicity. "Perhaps. But we would have to hold onto the item in question. You would have to explain that you are acting as a middleman on behalf of a third party, or you could perhaps say you have people who have it in a safe place. Caterina's voice would have to be restored before the item is handed over to them. That point is not open for negotiation. But if they want additional funds as a sweetener, that could be arranged."

[SaintMeerkat]

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Archie pauses for a moment. His pulse races as he recalls what a terrible job he did defending himself in the trial in that strange other dimension. Suddenly, for moment, the gun hand wavers but does not lower. Remembering the photos of the men from the news articles, Archie swallows and nods as Caterina instructs Faccia on the particulars.

Suddenly, the tingling in his arm seems unbearable. "Let me guess. Evil men who can perform powerful magical feats, open gates to travel across great distances and other dimensions, and incinerate people with a couple of words and a gesture? I am pretty sure we do."

"Now, as Caterina says, we must have the item, and you must restore Caterina. Or..." The gun remains steady.

[aine]

Clarence whisks the cloth over the bust and picks it up. He looks for another exit.

… and says in a clear voice, in English,
“It’s a bust, old chap, time to rumble, tickerty boo.”

[Mephistophilis]

Andrew keeps his pistol firmly against Faccia's side but stops reciting the ancient Turkish words. He's not convinced they can trust the man, and certainly not Makyrat's cult. But he looks between Felicity and Clarence, trying to discern their intentions.

[SaintMeerkat]

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When Archie hears Clarence's signal, it only takes a moment for him to decode it. He keeps the pistol pointed at Faccia as he starts to back away, but keeps the man targeted.

"It's been an absolute delight. We must do this again sometime. On the other hand..."

[Mr. Handy]

"Then it's agreed that you'll negotiate on our behalf," says Felicity to Dr. Faccia. She backs away toward the door, making the pistol disappear under the folds of her dress but keeping it within easy reach. "Ciao."

[Mephistophilis]

Letting the others begin to make their exit, particularly Clarence, Andrew swings around and backs out of the room, throwing his coat over the pistol which he keeps levelled at Faccia and his men. 'Please don't disappoint us. You really don't want to upset me.'

[robertod]

Mr. Faccia nods. At that moment, the approaching voices get louder as the group of people gets closer. Five persons arrive, shouting in Italian. They are two members of the staff who work in the set design and three security men.
"Mr. Faccia! Mrs. Cavollaro was found in the costume room. Something happened to her. They took her to the hospital. What's happening here?"
Faccia responds.
"Nothing much. We have to take care of some business here and we have just finished talking with these gentlemen and this lady. I'm happy to know that Miss Cavollaro has been found."

Leaving the storeroom and going towards the exit, the investigators find out that Caterina was indeed taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the show has started again on stage. As they walk, everyone notices that Clarence remains a little behind and has a shortness of breath.

Clarence clearly senses that his breathing is shorter since he put his hands on the Simulacrum bust.

[Mr. Handy]

"Well done," Felicity says to Clarence, beaming. "Let's catch the rest of the performance. I'd hate to miss it, and we have to make sure we take Virginia to her sister afterwards."

[aine]

Clarence nods with a grimace and shifts the wrapped bundle he was carrying to the other arm.
“Must be all the excitement- it’s quite taken my breath away!” He smiles at Felicity. “I was looking for a quieter exit but let’s drift out with the crowd, hmm?”

[Mephistophilis]

Andrew remains on high alert, looking around the crowd, hypervigilant for signs that Faccia or his men have changed their mind and are coming after them. He keeps a hand on the gun.

[robertod]

The investigators assist the rest of the show, which resumes without incident. The final scene arrives. The scenography of the stage represents the interior of Radamès' tomb.

Radamès believes he is alone, but a few moments later he realizes that Aida has hidden in the crypt to die with him. The two lovers accept their terrible fate, confirm their love for each other, say goodbye to the world and its sorrows and wait for the dawn, while Amneris cries and prays over their tomb during religious ceremonies and dance of joy of the priestesses.

When the curtain closes, thunderous applauses from the audience explodes. Everyone is amazed by the splendid performance of Caterina's replacement. When leaving the theatre, Virginia is mobbed by admirers and journalists. She is escorted by about ten men who probably followed her from behind the scenes. They help her and make their way through the crowd with the clear intention of protecting her. The investigators recognize some as Faccia´s gangsters. They look very alarmed on their faces. One of them walks with his back tilted, pressing a hand on his side, as if he had been injured.

[Mr. Handy]

"Looks like someone may have handled the chest," says Felicity, indicating the man with the hand on his side. "At least some of us should follow them. We need to keep track of Virginia."