In Over Her Head by Elsie Russell - Parnasse.com

standing in the doorway.
"Ah! Managgia! She will think it is all his fault! I will go down
and explain to her!"
He started to rub his eyes, thought better of it and got up
painfully. Maia was at his side, unsure where to hold him, but he
valiantly stepped ahead and the three of them made their way back
down the service stairway to a burgundy and gold salon where the
grilling was under way.
Max was scrunched into a low chair that was too small for him,
looking like a naughty schoolboy as Signora Tivoglio prodded him with
questions, and he repeated his story, again. Two men, the little driver,
and Antoine the gardener/handyman, a dour fellow with a walrus
mustache and big tuberous hands stood at her side.
"Alessandro, carino, why are you not in bed? Max tells me this
malvivente, Ng van Hung, broke into rue du Dragon and abducted Ula,
and while that poor girl was having one of her episodes. Sei bravo, ma
per Ula, veramente."
Max rolled his eyes at Maia. Signora still didn't realize Ng had
bashed the door down, grabbed Ula, and destroyed Alessandro's face
before anyone had a chance to blink, or that Max had been in his
rooms with the stereo blasting away at the time, and had been stoned
out of his mind.
"Yes, Ula must have given Ng the security code and told him
where she was. Why he took her is a mystery, I think she was as
surprised by his actions as we were!" Max said with forced alertness as
Alessandro nodded stupidly.
"I must tell Dick!" Signora exclaimed, picking up the ivory and
gold receiver.
"No!"Alessandro made to lunge at the phone, but thought
better of it, clutching his side. "He has betrayed us all, including Ula.
He is a supreme egotist. This is the proof."
"Carino. We call." Her voice was final. She dialed Dick's
number on the rotary phone. Holding Alessandro's chin, she inspected
his swollen eye and the black stitches above and on his cheek, waiting
for the phone to be answered.
"Allo, Inèz? Beatrice Tivoglio. Pardonnez moi, je dois parler a
Monsieur Schwanz, immediatement. Il n'est pas la? Alors, Bon. Dites
lui que mon fils a été agressé et gravement bléssé par un employé d'Ula
chez les jeunes Muellers et que cet homme vient aussi de kidnappé Ula.
Oui, Ula, elle mème. Merci, Inez." She hung up. "Dinner at eight,
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