Cockatoo Pt. 21

Alex jumped in, 'You have nothing to be sorry for Areeya. None of this was your fault and we feel so sorry you had to find out this way. We wish this had never happened.'

'It goes for me too, Areeya.'

She nodded and said, 'Thank you both, but I feel such a fool. I was taken in and should have realised something was happening.'

I said, 'I don't see how, Areeya. It's not your fault.'

Alex said, 'James, can you get us all a drink, please?'

I went to fetch beers and when I returned Areeya had her head on Alex's shoulder. We sipped our drinks for a few minutes, and then Areeya sat up.

'Sam told me everything about her and Tony, I guess you both knew the story now?'

We nodded and Areeya went on. 'What I don't understand is why she didn't just tell me, us, what was going on before it was too late.'

I said, 'I think she had got so far in, she could only see one way out. She thought she had to sort it out herself.'

'What are you going to do?' Alex asked gently.

Areeya didn't say anything for a while and then, 'Alex, I don't know. I feel sorry for Sam, having a brother like him, but she deceived me completely and I don't know if I could ever trust her again. She is staying on the boat tonight and then leaving for Bangkok in the morning. I need time to think about this. Above all, I need some sleep right now.'

She stood up and headed off into the flat into the second bedroom.Alex watched her go and started to cry, tears trickling down her face. I cradled her in my arms, rocking her gently.

'Come on,' I said, 'let's go to bed, I think we all need some sleep.' I led Alex through to the bedroom where we undressed and lay on the bed. We must have drifted off to sleep at some point, because I was woken by Areeya gently sliding onto the bed and laying next to me, with Alex on the other side. I groggily put my arm around her and she snuggled into my side. She leaned over and kissed me once and whispered, 'Thank you.'

I woke later to find I was spooning Areeya and Alex was doing the same to me. I was laying between the two people I loved most in the world, and I offered up a silent prayer that all would be well for us all. Alex woke me with a cup of coffee and, as I came to, whispered, ' Areeya's on the balcony. Did you know she slept with us last night.'

'Yes, she woke me when she slipped into the bed. I think she needed to be with someone after all.'

We took our coffees out onto the balcony, where Areeya was sitting, her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them. We bent down to kiss her and sat, content to quietly drink the coffee in the morning light. I reluctantly broke the silence. 'Areeya, I am going to see your father today in Bangkok to finalise the deal for the club buyout. Is there anything you want me to say to him?'

She thought for a moment, 'No thank you, James. I need to speak to him sometime today, but thank you for asking.' She sighed and then said, 'I am not going to sit here, how you say, moping. I am going to go down to Cockatoo and see what's been happening there. I have neglected it too much recently.'

I saw Alex raise her eyebrows, but I thought it would do Areeya good to get stuck back into some work.

'Will one of you talk to Nin about the assistant job?' I asked.

'Are you happy with Nin?' asked Areeya. Before I could say a word, Alex said, 'He wanted Pao as his assistant because he said her cock was nicer than mine.' She winked broadly at me.

Areeya giggled, a lovely sound in the circumstances, 'I don't think so, Alex. You just made that up,'

'Oh, it's closer than you think, Areeya.' Which earned me an arm punch from Alex. I needed to get going to make my flight to Bangkok, so I told them I would see them both later, and headed to the wet room. I was booked back on the late flight so wouldn't be back until well after 11. Alex offered to pick me up from the airport, but with the last ride I had with her in mind, I said I would get a taxi. It would allow her to keep an eye on Areeya as well.

I was soon on the way to the airport and in a couple of hours heading into Bangkok. My first call was to the bank to finalise the arrangements for the money transfer. Everything seemed to be ready for the payment to Kritsada in the next few days. I went on to my lawyers office to review the paperwork which he had gone through and agreed the final draft with Kritsada's lawyers. There was, of course, no mention of the added services which I had agreed with Kritsada. That was to be entirely between the two of us. My final call was to Kritsada himself where I waited for a few minutes before being ushered into to see him in his office.

'Ah James, it is so very nice see you as always,'

He came from behind his desk and shook my hand with his usual macho aggressiveness.

'I have as promised a little drink ready for us. Our wonderful GlenDronach, it is always a pleasure to have a drink with someone who enjoys it as much as I.'

He poured two generous measures from a crystal decanter and we sat down on the sofas in the corner of the office. He took a sip and he indulged in eye rolling and lip smacking which might have been comical in anyone else. I sipped mine and the smoky taste of the whisky worked it's usual magic for me.

'Sir, it is always a treat for me to drink this with you. It is sumptuous, isn't it?'

'sumptuous, that's a lovely word to describe it. I will use sumptuous in the future.' He rolled the word around a couple of times to get used to it, and I could picture him using it to impress his Thai friends.

'Now, to business, James. We have to sign the papers and then the agreement is finalised. I want to ask you if this is what you want to do. It is still possible to back out, if you so wish.'

'That's kind of you, but I do want to go ahead. Areeya and Alex are both happy with the arrangement and so am I.'

'That's splendid, James.'

He pulled out a Mont Blanc fountain pen and signed both copies of the paperwork, then handed me the pen to do the same. I signed and thus became a business partner in a Ladyboy Cabaret. How things had changed. We took our copies of the paperwork and he leant back and looked at me over the top of his glass.

'James, I must say again how very impressed was with the way you handled the journalist. That could have become very difficult, but your actions yet again prevented anything bad. There are, unfortunately, some enemies of mine, competitors and so on, who would have been happy to see me embarrassed. Thank you.'

He raised his glass in a toast. I responded and said, 'thank you sir. It was in all our interests to see that he did not come back again,'

He nodded and frowned, 'Let me move on to how you might be able to help me. As I hope you know, I regard you highly. You have a rare ability to act when others wouldn't and you also have a clear mind. I think you would be very useful to me in a troublesome matter.'

I was still wondering how, but I said, 'If I can be of help, then I would be happy to do so.'

'I have a problem in my interests in the entertainment industry here in Bangkok. I have several clubs and bars in Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy and Patpong. Over the past few weeks I have become convinced one of my people is being disloyal. I am not only losing revenue but I believe the same person is also leaking information to my competitors. I have a shortlist of people who it could be, but I need someone I can trust to find out who exactly it is.'

'Sir, but I don't know anything about the business.'

He smiled, 'Yet that didn't stop you investing in it, James. I need someone who I can trust, who is very smart and can think and act on their feet. You, my friend, have proven that already. I also have a cover story for you. I need to upgrade my business systems to help us become more efficient, even the sex business needs to have good technology. I think it's what you do, no? You would have free rein to look into the businesses in order to complete that project. It would allow you to get an inside view of my businesses and to observe my people.'

'Kritsada, I am very flattered, but are you sure?'

'James, I am very sure. I don't expect this to be for free, James. There would be a contract for the systems project which is very real, by the way, and there will be a bonus involved if it goes well.'

'How quickly do you need this done?'

'Very quickly, James. If you could start next week, I would be very happy. Perhaps you could spend two or three days here to meet the people and do an analysis of the systems and give me a first report? You could also use the time to do some research on your new investment. We have some very good kathoey shows here in Bangkok.'

I paused, it didn't seem too difficult, the cover story would work and I could combine it with my new business project. The extra money would be useful too.

'OK, Sir, if you think I can do it, I'm in.'

'Splendid, James, let's drink to it.'

We clinked glasses and it was done.

'Thank you, sir. I'm sorry I do have to dash, I wanted to buy some gifts for the girls before I fly back to Samui tonight. If that's all, I can be on my way?'

'Yes, yes. I will be in touch with you shortly to make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, I hope your new project goes well. I had great faith in the idea myself. I am sure you will make it a great success.'

We shook hands and said goodbye at the lift and I headed down to the street level. I was going to get a taxi to the Siam Paragon Mall and as I walked over to the taxi stand I felt someone bump into me, and something hard was pushed into my side. I turned round and there were two Thai men in suits behind me, one had something in his hand which he was pushing into my side. The other took my arm and began to walk me towards a large black car with tinted windows parked by the pavement. The one holding my arm said, very quietly in excellent English, 'Sir, it is very important that you come with us. My colleague has a gun in your side, any resistance will be painful for you.'

It all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to react. They opened the back door and pushed me inside and as my eyes adjusted to the sudden shade, I saw there was somebody else in the back seat.

'Please do not be afraid, my name is Inspector Jandaeng, from the Royal Thai Police.'

My heart was thumping in my chest as I tried to take in what had happened. I thought for a moment I was being kidnapped by gangsters, but it was the police who had snatched me from the street.

'What the hell is going on? Why have you kidnapped me?'

'Come, come, hardly a kidnap.'

'Your men stuck a gun in my side, and forced me into the car, what else would you call it?'

He smiled, 'I'm sorry if they startled you, but we didn't want to cause a big scene.'

'But why am I here at all? I haven't done anything?'

He was still smiling, but when a Thai smiles, it doesn't always mean it's funny.

'We had a talk with a fellow countryman of yours before he boarded his flight to London yesterday, Mr Tony White. I believe you know him.'

Fuck, I thought to myself, this wasn't going to be good news.

To be continued