Hungry Ghosts (25 page)

“My son is a reckless idiot. It’s amazing he hasn’t got himself killed.”

Nathon scratches under his chin before continuing. His self-control is impressive.

“To begin with, you are correct when you say we are not in a pretty business. But we do have standards, even if they are our own peculiar ones.

“
For your information, Miss Fletcher’s jailer is a female. I have visited her myself on a couple of occasions and I can assure you she has not been abused physically in any way. Neither has the other courier.  They are apprehensive for their safety, of course. But we are not barbarians.”

“I want to see her.”

“That may be difficult.”

My
hackles rise again.

“
Why?
”

My father clears his throat.

“The hostages are being exchanged this afternoon, David. I have already spoken to Chumbol and we agreed no useful purpose will be served by keeping them. It is a goodwill gesture on both sides ahead of the meeting between the families this evening. Part of the reason I am in Bangkok is to facilitate this gathering, to see if something can be worked out to prevent the situation deteriorating into a war between the Lamphongchats and the Sangukhons.”

“You mean you’re in Bangkok to use your relationship
with the gang leaders to stop them fighting each other?”

“Yes.”

“Rather than flying over here to get me out of a crap-hole, for instance?”

“Correct,” he replies without blinking.

“Nice.”

“And incidentally, you have to come to the meeting. We need to ensure the Sangukhons are going to leave you alone if you intend remaining in Thailand to play detective.”

I bite my tongue once more. When I trust myself to speak again, I say to Nathon, “So what happens at this hostage exchange?”

“Nothing much. There won’t be any senior people there from either side. It will be very informal. In truth, both families are more interested in getting
back their drugs that the couriers were carrying than in the couriers themselves.”

“What will the Sangukhons do with Rosie Fletcher once she’s handed back?”

“I can’t say.”

“I want to be there at the exchange.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to make sure she’s safe, that’s why.”

Nathon and my father trade looks again.

“Then I’ll come to your damned meeting this evening to clear up anything that needs clearing up.”

Nathon consults his watch. “I need to make a phone call. Then one of my men will drive you to Rosie Fletcher and you can attend the exchange
provided there is no interference from you
. I shall require your word on that.”

“The word of a shit-hurling private detective?”

“Quite so.”

“You have it.”

“Don’t do anything else stupid, David, will you?” my father remarks. “I think there’s been enough idiocy from you for one week.”

“Says the respectable drug-dealer.”

Nang shakes her head. Nathon smiles before continuing.

“I was going to suggest we all eat now, Edward, but if David is determined to
be at the exchange he will have to leave immediately.”

“Just get one of your kitchen staff to make me a sandwich and I’ll eat it on the way. And later we need to talk about my friend Bumibol Chaldrakun and what is going to be done about him,” I say.

“What do you want in your sandwich?”

“Anything but dead meat.”

While I’m waiting for the car, I return Kat’s call and give her an unspecific account of the reason for my radio silence and make suitably shocked comments about the events
at my house. She wants to know when I’m going to be back on Samui because now she’s feeling horny on hearing my voice. Uncharacteristically I’m
not
feeling horny on hearing hers.

2
7

Girl Talk

“How did it go with Edward and your
stepson?” asked Samorn Lamphongchat.

“I’m afraid your lounge reeks of testosterone,” Nang replied. “Honestly, sometimes I could bang their two stupid male heads together.”

Samorn was sitting in her room applying the finishing touches to her makeup. She still looked ‘beautiful’- as was indeed the meaning of her name in Thai – but since the diagnosis of her multiple sclerosis four years before, she had become frail and her small frame was wracked with tremors. On meeting with her that morning Nang had been shocked to see how far and fast Samorn’s health had deteriorated since their last visit. Her eyes no longer sparkled and she carried with her a profound sense of tiredness. Recurring depression was a characteristic feature of the progressive form of the disease, and sadness clung to her face like a ghostly mask. Samorn seemed worn down.

Lamphongchat’s wife, however,
battled to rally for the occasion.

“Families are a pain,” she said. “Kanya is my latest worry. She has that pining, lovelorn look girls always have when they have an unsuitable boyfriend.”

“
Does
she have an unsuitable boyfriend?” asked Nang.

“I’m not sure,” replied Samorn. “She’s very secretive these days. But if she does you can be
sure he will be someone who has no qualifications, lots of tattoos and rides a large motorbike.”

“Just the sort of man we would have liked when we were younger in fact.”

“Exactly. Let’s go and join the men. I’m hungry.”

The older woman
offered her arm as Samorn rose unsteadily to her feet.

Na
ng wondered how long it would be before hospitalization had to be considered.

*       *       *       *       *

Wayan tried hard to concentrate on what Da was telling her. She knew it must be important. Da sat next to her on the bed looking at her intently, and Wayan could see her friend had been crying and even now was controlling herself with difficulty. Tears threatened to brim over in her eyes. Jingjai was perched on a chair in the corner of the hospital room nodding encouragement, but behind the nervous smile lurked shock and apprehension.

Da squeezed her hand and put her fingertips to Wayan’s face, stroking her cheek tenderly. She repeated what she had said and looked to Wayan for acknowledgement. It was something about Jingjai and Mr
. Rorabaugh taking her to Bangkok to meet Mr. David. Wayan couldn’t think why she should be going to Bangkok as she had things to do around the house and …

Her body jerked as a flashback of the fight scene between Mr
. Sinclair and the large Thai man tore through into her consciousness. She felt a cold hollow in her stomach and her body began to tremble, as the images replayed. There was struggling and panting and then blackness and the phantom echo of a scream. She recognized the scream. It was hers.

“Mr
. Sinclair,” she said in a soft voice. “You told me something happened to Mr. Sinclair.”

Tears ran down Da’s cheeks and Jingjai looked away.

Da edged closer on the bed and put her arms around Wayan, hugging her and rocking slowly.

“Mr
. Sinclair’s dead, isn’t he? You told me, I think,” she whispered in Da’s ear.

Da pulled back and observed her. Concern was written large across her face as Wayan
touched the bandages around her head.

“Does your head hurt?” she asked.

“No,” Wayan replied.

“Listen, Wayan, don’t be upset but there are two policemen here to talk to you about the other night. You mustn’t worry though. I’m going to be with you and so is Jingjai. We won’t let them upset you, I promise. But they need to ask you a few questions. If it gets too much just tell me and I’ll send them away. All right?”

Wayan nodded. She felt fuzzy and light-headed.

“I don’t remember much.”

“I know.”

“Then we’re going to get you out of here as soon as possible,” said Jingjai. “I’
ll be taking you to Mr. David. He’ll look after you.”

“Mr
. David always looks after me,” Wayan whispered. “That’s why I love him so much.”

*       *       *       *       *

Kat’s phone rang. It was Nittha Rattanakorn.

“Have you heard about the murder at David’s house?” Nittha asked excitedly without any preamble.

“Yes,” said Kat, wincing at the way the other woman spoke so familiarly about the Englishman.

“And David has disappeared. I’ve been calling his cell phone but there’s no answer. I can’t think what’s happened to him. I hope he’s all right.”

“He’s fine,” responded Kat coolly.

“He’s –” Nittha stopped in
midstream. “He’s
what?
He’s
fine?
Have you spoken to him?” She sounded distinctly put out.

“Yes, he called me a little while ago. He’s been in Bangkok.”

“Well, he hasn’t been answering
my
calls.”

“He said he’s only been taking important calls. He’s on some highly confidential business trip apparently.”

“Did he take
your
call?”

“No, Nittha, I didn’t call him. He called
me
.”

“Oh, I see,” Nittha replied, trying – and failing – to keep the resentment out of her voice.

“I’m sure he’ll call you when he gets the chance.
Men
, eh?”

“Yes.
Men
. Well, it wasn’t important.”

“As for the murder, my husband’s men are investigating it and making good progress. David is in daily contact with Deng. I’m sure you’ll understand I can’t talk to you about that. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

There was a short, huffy silence at the other end of the phone. Then Nittha said, “Of course. Well, I’d best get on. I have things to do.”

“Lovely to hear from you. We
must
do lunch again soon.”

“Yes, we must.”

Nittha hung up.

Delicious
, thought Kat.
Just delicious
.
I’ll sleep well tonight
.

*       *       *       *       *

Anna couldn’t sleep. Again.

The clock on her bedside table glowed five thirty.

I may as well get up
, she thought, and threw back the bedclothes.

She had already been up several times in the night. Jenny had a high temperature and would not be going to school that day. Anna would work from home on her laptop. With the saving in commuting time she’d be more productive anyway.

She pulled on her robe and checked on Jenny. Her forehead still felt warm but she was sleeping serenely.

I need a coffee
.

The cat was back at her usual place gazing in through the kitchen window, but showed no interest in coming inside.

Just as Anna was about to sit down with a freshly-made cappuccino, she heard the ring of her cell phone and rushed back upstairs to answer it before it woke her daughter.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Anna.”

“Philip?”

“Ah, yes, I’m glad I’ve caught you.”

“Caught me? Do you know what time it is here?”

“It’s … um … ah, right. Sorry.
Mea culpa
.”

“Never mind, I was up already as it happens. Give me a minute to get downstairs. I don’t want to wake Jenny.”

“Good. All right. Listen, Anna, I’m in Hanoi.”

“What are you doing there?”

“I needed to fly out of Phnom Penh quickly. I had word that one of the local gangsters was going to try to grab me.”

“Oh, my God. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, but I may need to stay out of Cambodia for a while.”

“Are you in transit back to the UK?”

“No. There are some leads I can follow up while I’m in Vietnam. One of the crime families I’m investigating – the Lamphongchats – are reputed to have an operation here.”

“Are they connected to the people who were going to pick you up in Phnom Penh?”

He laughed. “No, that’s a different lot.”

“Jesus, Philip, you should be more careful.”

“I’m fine. Although there are times I’d rather be doing what your brother-in-law does; getting paid for watching pretty Thai girls without any worries that anyone is trying to kill me.”

Right
, Anna mused.
Except that if David doesn’t call me today someone will be trying to kill him.

I will.

“I’ll email you a couple of rough chapter drafts later. Just in case.”

“Just in case of what?” Anna asked, alarmed.

“I’m being melodramatic.”

“Well, don’t be melodramatic. It’s not funny, and it’s the sort of thing my brother-in-law would say.”

Damn
.

“I’ll speak to you later.”

“Tell me where you’re staying. Let me get a pen and paper. It’s best if I keep tabs on you.”

“This is precisely the reason I’m not married. I’ll send you my hotel details in the email.”

“Philip –”

He had gone.

The sound of a yawn from the kitchen doorway made Anna look round.

“Jenny, what are you doing up?”

“I heard you on the phone, Mummy.”

“Sweetheart, come here. Let me feel your head.”

“Was that Uncle David?”

“No. You still feel warm.”

“When is he coming next? I miss Uncle David.”

“Me too.”

“He said he’d buy me a pony.”

“I don’t think he did, Jenny.”

“He did.”

“If he did, he’s going to be in real trouble.”

“Next time he rings can I talk to him?”

“Of course you can. Now drink some water for me.”

“I think Uncle David should come and live with us.”

“Oh, you do, do you? Why is that?”

“Because then you won’t be so sad.”