Dick Wogan – Private Investigator - Part 4

Dick had never been happier. His business was booming and he had money in the bank, and the bank manager off his back for the first time in a long time! The phone rang, and he didn’t even hesitate to answer it, something he’d been reluctant to do while he owed money here and there! “Hello, yes, Dick here. I see, that’s very interesting, yes, thanks, I’ll meet you in the usual place later for a drink! Thanks again for checking for me”!

 “Lynn, Lynn” he shouted as he turned round, loud enough to frighten the socks off his assistant who had just entered the room! Good job he didn’t shout any louder or it could have been embarrassing! “You gave me such a start!” she said. “Never mind Lynn, I have some good news. I might have a lead on your missing locket. I’m meeting someone tonight who thinks he might know where it is!” “That might have to wait a while” said Lynn “We’ve just had a call from one of the town’s leading businessmen, Wan Hung Lo, he owns a chain of Chinese restaurants.” I don’t think I recognise the name Lynn” said Dick. “Oh he used to be called just Wan Lo, but changed his name after he had the unfortunate accident when his bicycle seat collapsed one day!” she replied. “Anyway, he has a collection of rare fuchsia plants which he keeps in his restaurants, and it looks like one of his prized possessions has gone missing. He’s offering £5,000 if you can get it back!” Dick let out a long low whistle! Once it had gone, he closed the door, and turned to Lynn “That’s a lot of money, we better get over there straight away!”

Arriving at the “Golden Chow” restaurant, they entered to be greeted by Su Li Lo, Wan Hung’s daughter. “Welcome Golden Chow, table for two?”! “Oh no, I’m Dick Wogan, and this is my assistant Lynn, we are here to see your father about a missing plant”. Su Li immediately bowed. Dick though it a little strange that she should pick that particular moment to play the cello. He waited until she had finished, then she spoke. “So sorry, I take you my father now!” Su Li led them to the back of the restaurant, through the kitchens, and on the way she looked back and asked “Did you say you name Dick?” “Yes” said Dick as they reached a large oak panelled door and Su Li knocked loudly. “Come” resounded from inside the room, and Su Li gestured to Dick and Lynn to wait there while she went in. She conversed with her father in fluent Mandarin, which neither of the pair waiting at the door could understand, but no one could mistake her marked pronunciation of “Deek” followed by great laughter between her and her father.


“Come in please” said Su Li as she beckoned to the pair to enter the room. They were greeted by a large Chinese, probably mid 60s. “Number 64, Duck and Cashew?” enquired Dick. “Very good, yes, help yourself” said Wan Hung. “No thanks” said Dick I’ve just eaten, and Lynn similarly turned down the feast. “I hear you may be missing one of your prized plant collection” said Dick, “What can you tell me about the fuchsia?” “Who you think I am, Mystic Meg” boomed Wan Hung, as he and Su Li burst into uncontrollable laughter again! “No, I mean, did you have the fuchsia here in this restaurant?” Wan Lo couldn’t contain his laughter again as he splurted out “I ruddy hope so, I’ve a good few years left yet!” Su Li apologised for her father and explained that he was quite the joker, and only the day before he had played his best joke ever on the chef, when he had taped firecrackers to the bottom of all his woks, and he had been subjected to a series of explosions when he switched on the gas to cook the lunch time menu that day! He had spent the day traumatised and was still shaking when he went home for the night.

She said her father had arrived at work this morning and noticed that his rare triple headed orange flowering trailing fuchsia was missing from its pride of place in the glass container by the door. She explained there are only three known plants of this variety in the world, and they are worth many thousands of pounds.

 “I think I know where the missing plant is” said Lynn, “Who has the locker in the hall between the kitchen and the office?” “That belongs to the chef, Fu Ling Yu!” said Su Li. “Su Li, bring him here now!” boomed Wan Hung. Su Li almost ran to the kitchen and brought Fu Ling to the locker. “現在打開它”barked Wan Hung. It didn’t take an expert to translate as Fu Ling fumbled for a key in his pocket and hurriedly opened the locker. There was the prize flower, sitting in a saucepan, but otherwise undamaged. Fu Ling blurted out that he had taken it to get back at Wan Hung for the firecracker joke, “Only problem, Wan Hung hire private Deek to search for it before I get chance!” Fu Ling, Su Li and Wan Hung started giggling again, and Wan Hung said “I forgive you Fu Ling!” He reached into his pocket and brought out a wad of cash, which he gave to Dick, but not before he said “Here Deek, for you” and disappeared into the office in fits of laughter.

Dick and Lynn headed back to the office. “Sorry we haven’t had time to check out your locket yet, but how did you know where the plant was Lynn?” “Well, when Su Li said the flowers were orange, I remembered that the padlock on the locker had traces of bright orange on it, so I guessed it was the pollen from the plant and that Fu Ling Yu must have held the fuchsia in his own hands, because the fuchsia was bright, and the fuchsia was orange!”

         Raymond Chandalier