The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 52

The Great Imposters

When we arrived at Chalet Lafontaine, the sightseeing/shopping bus was still not back.  The storm was definitely subsiding, but it was still not safe to go skiing.  Timmy wanted to go out and see if we could build a snowman.  The snow was wet enough that it worked great.  Some of the staff joined us and we built two large snowmen and placed them as if they were guarding the front steps to the chalet.

We were having a snowball fight when the second bus pulled up in front of the chalet.  Timmy yelled, “Let’s let the stragglers have it.”

Timmy let a snowball fly and it hit the front window of the bus.  Antoine wasn’t so fortunate.  His snowball went toward the door of the bus and hit Mrs. Rosenberry smack in the face.  Mrs. Rosenberry was madder than a wet hen, “Randy, whip that kid.  He deliberately threw that snowball to hit me.”

Antoine tried to apologize, “Madame, I’m so sorry.  I meant to hit the bus.  I didn’t mean to hit you.”

“You little snot, I don’t believe you.  You’re just like everyone else around here.  You have no respect for other people.”

A voice from the back of the bus was heard,, “Yes, there are certain people around here who have no respect for other people.  Who was it that detained all the other passengers of this bus for almost forty minutes, because she found another bargain she just had to have?  Move, so we can get off the bus, or you’re going to be digging yourself out of the snow.”

After everyone was unloaded, Dad, Mother, Uncle Will and Uncle Archie motioned for some of our group, plus Kristina and Morgan to meet them in the master suite.  When we arrived, Uncle Archie started, “People, the Rosenberrys are not who they claim to be.  I had a call from the real Mr. Rosenberry, saying that they were unable to make the trip because their passports and tickets were stolen while they were waiting for the airplane at the airport in New York.  He thinks they might have been taken by some acquaintances of theirs.   We are trying to find some fingerprints of the so called Rosenberrys to identify who they really are.  We may need your help.  Watch for any opportunity to get something that might have their fingerprints on it.  Don‘t let on that anything is different; these people may be dangerous.”

I laughed, “This is going to be fun.  I have a plan to divert their attention while we get the dishes they are eating with tonight at dinner before they can mix them with the other guests at the in window.  Timmy, Kristina and Morgan, I want you to spill cold water on the four them as you pass by.  While you and some of the others pretend to be trying to help them, Grant, Tanner, Ben and I will be invisible and we'll collect the utensils that they have been eating with.”

Dad had the funniest look on his face, “Brian, you just told Kristina that you have special powers.”

Timmy giggled, “She already knew that.  She’s one of us.   She can talk to us without speaking.  Grandpa Nappy was related to her.”

Kristina added, “Uncle Napoleon was the patriarch of my mother’s family.  I guess he provided me some limited wizardry powers.  He made it possible for Gretchen and me to be here at this time, before he died.”

Mother asked, “Does Gretchen know about the special powers?”

Kristina shook her head, “No, she’s just along as my chaperone.”

Dad asked, “Kristina, did Monsieur Lafontaine tell you who the supreme wizard was?”

“He only told me I would meet the supreme wizard, and he mentioned the name Brian.  He also mentioned the names Tanner and Timmy.  I had no idea that I would be meeting them here at the chalet.”

The gong sounded for dinner, and as per usual, the Rosenberrys were some of the first in line.  The actors in the charade waited until the Rosenberrys were seated and had started to eat.  Coincidentally, the police arrived as Timmy, Morgan and Kristina spilled the water, and the Rosenberrys reacted as expected calling the three every name in the book.  The Rosenberrys were so busy berating Timmy, Morgan and Kristina that they didn’t realize their trays had been replaced.

We were to find out that the police being there had nothing to do with the fingerprints, which I thought rather odd.  It turns out that there were two complaints that shoplifters had boarded the Chalet Lafontaine bus that had picked up the people who had been sightseeing and shopping.”

The head of the police team reported, “We have two witnesses who observed two of your guests leaving the premises of their stores with merchandise that had not been paid for.”

Richard Rosenberry piped up, “It was probably the snots who said they were going ice skating.  They probably didn’t go skating at all.”

The leader of the police nodded, “Perhaps, you’re correct, young man.  We have two witnesses who observe the thefts.  Monsieur Larceveque and Herr Overmyer, we would like permission to have the two witness look at the guests and see if they can identify the person who took the merchandise.”

Mrs. Rosenberry yelled, “You can’t do that without our permission.”

Uncle Will nodded his head, yes, “Mrs. Rosenberry, as long as you are staying at the Chalet Lafontaine, the Swiss police can do as they have requested.  Brian, will you have the people who went to Palladium for ice skating please stand so the witnesses can see if you were at the scenes of the crime.”

The only people who stood were the Walters family. Michaud, Antoine, Morgan, Katrina, Timmy and me.  Both witnesses, who were women, shook their heads, no.  The older lady responded, “It was none of those people.  It was two young men who were a little older than the young man whom you called Brian.”

The head of the police force looked around.  “Brian, will all of your people please sit down.  We’d like for all of the young men between the ages of fifteen and twenty five to stand so the witnesses can look at you.”

Robert complained, “I can’t stand.  I sprained my ankle because of the poorly taken care of slopes.”

One of the other guests yelled, “Then how come you were walking around town without your crutch, if you’re so badly crippled?”

Robert stood after feigning much difficulty.  The police escorted the witnesses around the room separately and then took them back to the front of the room.  The policeman in charge asked, “Do either of you ladies recognize the person who took the merchandise?”

Both ladies nodded yes.  The older of the ladies pointed to Robert Rosenberry.  The other lady pointed to Richard Rosenberry.

You can’t imagine the yelling that went on when the head policeman announced, “I’m afraid we’ll have to take you two gentlemen into the station for questioning.  But first, we need to search your room.”

Mr. Rosenberry jumped up, “You have no right to search their room.  That‘s invasion of privacy.”

Uncle Archie was so cool, “The room is not the property of your sons.  It is the property of Timothy Benson.  Timmy, is it okay for the police to check the Rosenberrys' rooms?”

 

Timmy shook his head yes, “Dad, why don’t you go with the police and Uncle Archie to check the rooms.”

Dad stood, “We’d better take Mr. Rosenberry with us, so he can be a witness that we didn’t take anything or place anything in the room.”

Mrs. Rosenberry started to get up. “I need to go, too.  I don’t trust you people.  You’re all conspiring against my family.”

The head policeman frowned, “Ma’am, I have no reason to conspire against you and your family.  I’ll make sure that your things are not touched unless it‘s necessary.  No one else will leave this room until we return from the Rosenberrys’ rooms.”

The group was gone approximately five minutes when the policemen returned and announced, “Mrs. Lorna Kaufman, Mr. Richard Kaufman and Mr. Robert Kaufman, you are under arrest for being in possession of stolen goods.  After the police have inventoried everything in the two rooms, the other guests of Chalet Lafontaine will be able to claim the goods that these people have helped themselves to.  It seems that Mrs. Kaufman made a mistake when she helped herself to the garnet earrings that the owner gave his mother for Christmas.”

“I’ve had those earrings for years.  They were my grandmother’s.”

“That’s odd.  There is a date of 2010 and the engraving that says from T, B and T.  Mr. Kaufman is in the police car, awaiting your company.  Your personal belongings will be returned as soon as the rightful owners have received what belongs to them.”

I wish you could have heard the screaming and cursing that went on as the Kaufmans were taken from the premises.  Uncle Archie announced, “The Kaufmans' rooms will be secured until another group of police is present to conduct the inventory of what we found.  In the meantime, I need to contact the real Rosenberry family and let them know that their passports and other paperwork have been recovered and will be turned over to the American Embassy.”

I finally went to get some food and sat down beside Vicky.  To say that I wasn’t exactly welcomed would be an understatement.  She practically ignored my presence and ice dripped from her voice, “It sure didn’t take you long to find a new girlfriend.”

“Vicky, what are you talking about?  I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“What do you call Kristina?   She looks like a girl to me.”

“Lady Victoria, pull in the fangs.  They don’t become you.  Kristina and I had a fun afternoon, ice skating.  She’s a very good skater. I can assure you that there is no romantic attachment between the two of us.”

Uncle Archie and Uncle Will motioned that they wanted to speak to me.  I went to where they were standing with Dad and Mother.  Uncle Archie started, “Brian, we need you to go pick up the real Rosenberry family.”

“Why me?  Why not send someone older?”

Dad surprised me, “Brian, you’re the chief wizard so it should be you.  Your Mother and I are hesitant about you going alone but it would cause less questions among the other guests if you were the only person who wasn’t present.  It seems that Vicky and Tanner couldn't care less if you were around.  The only person who would miss you would be Timmy and I’ll talk to him.”

“Gees Dad, you sure know how to build a guy's ego.  How am I going to convince this family whom I don’t know that they are to come with me?  I don’t even have a driver’s license, so why would they go any where with me?”

Uncle Archie answered, “Jaime and Shamus will be arriving in ten minutes.  Here are the pills so the Rosenberrys don’t realize what is happening.  They will get their own passports and airline tickets to get home at the embassy tomorrow.  It took some finagling to arrange that.  I had to call in a marker from an employee at the embassy to arrange it.” 

“Let me assure you that you will really like the real Rosenberry family.  It took me until today to remember who the Rosenberrys were.  They were some of Nappy’s favorite guests.  I’ve already explained to Mr. Rosenberry that the new owner’s parents were staying in the owner’s suite and he had no problem with that.  Jaime and Shamus are approaching.  I’ll have Justin deliver you to the landing area.  Here’s everything that you’ll need.”

“While you’re gone, I’ll explain that you went to pick up the real Rosenberry family, at the airport.”

“Aren’t people going to think it odd that I’ve gone to meet the Rosenberrys.”

“We’ll tell everyone that you knew the Rosenberrys from one of your trips, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

The carriage with the white horses arrived and I handed the directions to El Dorado, Kansas to Jaime.  I had no idea where the heck El Dorado, Kansas was.  I don’t know how Jaime did it but we were landing in a back yard that was covered with snow.  I made myself invisible and went to the sidewalk before I reappeared. 

I went up to the door and was greeted by a guy who appeared about my age, “Hi, I’m Ricky.  You must be Brian.  I’ll say one thing: you certainly are punctual.”

I stuck out my hand, “I’m Brian Benson.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.   Are you ready to go?”

“Dad and Rob are getting the rest of the luggage right now.”

When the four Rosenberrys were assembled, I pulled out the pills.  I
have some air sickness pills.  Thank goodness for them.  The flights were really bumpy with all the fronts in the area.  I have one for each of us.  As soon as the Rosenberrys had taken their pills, Shamus and Jaime helped me load the passengers and luggage.  I made sure the house was secure and we were on our way back to Switzerland.

When we arrived in Zurich, Shamus and Jaime helped Justin and me unload the luggage and get the Rosenberry family situated on the Chalet Lafontaine Express.  When Justin started the engine, the Rosenberrys began to awaken.

Rob looked around, “Are we in Switzerland?  That has to be the smoothest flight I’ve ever been on.  How did the luggage get here.  I don’t remember carrying it.”

I giggled, “I guess you’re one of those people who works best when they’re sleep walking.  We should be at the lodge in about thirty minutes.  Uncle Archie and Uncle Will will have everything ready for your arrival.  You’re fortunate that you weren’t here today.  The weather was so bad that there wasn’t any skiing in the area.  The forecasters are predicting a perfect day for skiing tomorrow.”

When we arrived at the chalet, we had more help than we needed.  Uncle Archie greeted the guests.  “Welcome to Chalet Lafontaine.  I see that Brian was able to help you get here safely.  Brian, why don’t you introduce Robby and Ricky to the other young people while I introduce their parents to the adults.  The staff has made pizza for a snack for this evening.  We thought maybe the Rosenberrys might like a snack to hold them until morning.”

 

As I introduced the two guys, I noticed that there was something different in the way Ricky and Vicky greeted each other.  I thought to myself, ’Guess who’s going to get paid back for accusing me of being interested in Kristina in a romantic way.’ 

To be continued...
 

Editor's Notes:  I strongly suspect it is not a good idea to piss off Brian.  Vicky will most likely not be too happy to get a taste of her own medicine.

Didn't I say that the Rosenberry family that caused all that trouble was going to be sorry. Well, I think they will be spending a bit of time in a much less elegant facility than the chalet.

I think the real Rosenberrys will be much more friendly.

I, of course, am ready for more.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/07/11