NINETEEN
NIGEL STROLLED into the Huntsman and clocked a middle-aged man in a wrinkled shirt and creased trousers. He was sitting with a gorgeous girl about a third of his age, wearing tight, faded Jeans with designer rips in the knees and a top that teased.
On the table beside them was a chunky camera with an enormous zoom lens.
Nigel approached as the man and his companion stood up and smiled. "Mr Walker I presume?"
"Hello, Mr Gould."
They shook hands, each trying for the firmer grip.
"Harvey is fine. And I should call you….?"
"Mr Walker."
"….Very well then. This is my assistant, Bo."
Nigel shook her hand. "That's a strong grip."
"She's real tough. I'm an ex-marine. I taught her everything she knows. Take a look at her knives."
Harvey pulled up her top at the waist to reveal a set of throwing knives hanging from a black belt. Nigel noticed a cute belly-button piercing of a white flamingo on her toned stomach. He diverted his eyes back to the knives. "Would she ever use them?"
"You never know when you're in the red zone."
"Well, nice to meet you, Bo. This is my partner,
Pang - working partner that is."
The Thais waied, then everybody took a seat. Nigel's eyes flickered onto the table.
"That's Lisa my Leica9. She's ideal for outside shots, excellent zoom, definition, you can take shots without a flash; great for private surveillance."
"Very impressive."
"So you have two girls you want us to find?"
"That's right."
Nigel felt a vibrating in his pocket. "Excuse me, I have a call."
He rose and stepped away. "Hello?"
"Hello, Daddy…..You forget me already? I am Sung, your son's special friend."
"Oh, hi Sung. Did you find anything?"
"Not yet. It's difficult without good picture."
"I understand. We're looking now for a girl called Puku. We think she's the sister. I have her picture. We're also looking for her friend who works at Evita."
"I know that place. Who is friend?"
"Her name's Tee but we don't have her picture."
"Okay. I see what I can find out about Puku. Not forget to send picture."
"I'll do it now."
Sung hung up. Nigel was about to return to the table when his phone rang, again. "Hello?"
"Hello, Mr Walker. This is Pamon. I just heard that the case has been postponed for twelve days."
"Why? What does that mean?"
"It means they're not ready to charge him with a crime and he may still have time to make a deal."
"That's good to know. Can I call you back? I'm in a meeting at the moment."
"Of course. I'm sorry to have disturbed you."
"…Not at all. I'll get back to you later."
Nigel hurried back to Harvey. "Sorry about that. Where was I?"
"You were about to tell us about the two girls."
"That's right, but I better tell you why we're looking for them, first."
"That works for me."
"Then let me begin…."
'Who Wants To Live Forever' was playing on the jukebox. Harvey was on his third whisky, Nigel and Pang were drinking Chang and Bo was sipping on a diet Coke through a straw.
"….And that's how Mike ended up in prison."
"It sounds like a well organised scam."
"So, what can you do for me?"
"Normally this would be a simple pay-off case, but since Michael has refused to pay, it's become complicated. If it does go to trial and becomes a matter of public record, it will be more difficult to bury the paperwork and buy him out. His twelve days are almost up and if he hasn't paid by then, they have three choices: charge him, release him or extend the case for another twelve days."
"I just had a call from my lawyer and can confirm that the court date has been postponed."
"Maybe they want to settle. Could we?"
"I'd like to, but Michael isn't keen."
"Normally with the conditions of the prisons here, they can't wait to get out. People die all the time. Doesn't he want out?"
"Of course he does. He just doesn't want to plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit."
"Is he worried about a record?"
"…Amongst other things."
"I could make that go away, I know a guy…"
"He will not plead guilty. We still have twelve days to find these girls. That's where you would come in."
"If we find either of these girls, what makes you think they'll cooperate?"
"I'll talk to them," Nigel winked at Pang.
"Even if they agreed to drop the charges, the police captain would lose face."
"What does that mean?"
"It's like the worst kind of embarrassment."
"I'm not concerned with that."
Harvey's eyes betrayed a flicker of fear as he glanced at Bo. "I think I should meet Nincotte and see if we can still buy Michael out."
"Mike doesn't want to pay! I only need you to find these girls. I'll handle the rest. Will you help us?"
"Okay, I'll see what we can find, but please urge Michael to reconsider settling."
"I'll try. How much is your fee?"
Harvey pulled the creases up on his trousers.
"Ten thousand a day and nothing is guaranteed."
"That's fine."
Harvey sat back, content. Bo followed with her eyes as Nigel reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out an envelope of cash and laid it on the table.
"So, we're looking for Tee who's a friend of Puku who's a friend of Mia and the only girl who we don't have a picture of?"
"That's right, but we do know where she works."
Nigel handed over the card. Harvey read it and handed his card to Nigel. "I'll keep you informed and from now on, please leave all the investigating to us."
Nigel nodded. "I could use the break."
Harvey took the cash, rose then left with Bo."
Nigel paid the bill, said goodnight to Pang then returned to his room.
He entered his suite with an expression of relief, kicked off his shoes, picked up the phone and called home. "Hello? Doris?"
He could hear breathing, waited then coughed. "It's bloody hot here. I'm working with a Thai guy called Pang and a lawyer called Pamon. It's a crazy place Bangkok, but I like it. I love the food. It's a little spicy, but you get used to it and the people are so friendly. I'm staying in Stan's suite. It's better without Stan...Doris?"
He sighed. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I don't know what came over me. I'd like to blame the meds, but I'm not sure that I can. I was mad at Stan then mad at you for trying to manage me…. Are you there?"
He heard her sniff. He was meant to hear it.
"Michael's alone and afraid. I'm all he's got and I'm scared too. The great lawyer I'm supposed to be counts for nothing out here. I need your support. I need your forgiveness…..Doris?"
A soft voice whispered, "I'm here."
He was about to reply when a rippling pain ripped through his body. The blood from his face drained as his veiny hand clutched the excruciating pain of his chest. He dropped the phone and cried with the last breath he had left. "Help!"
"Nigel!" Doris yelled, but it was too late….he was gone….