by Drew Lindsay
‘We?’
‘You actually. I must be distanced from this.’
Hogzuk spat on the ground. ‘How many are you talking about?’
‘Three. A male and two females.’
‘What sort of male?’
‘Bodyguard. You’ll have to be careful with him.’
‘What else?’
‘We think one of the females knows where the necklace is and it’s probably in Tonga somewhere. She needs to talk.’
‘Damn risky. Big money.’
Sergeant Amasio stepped out of his open top jeep. ‘Yes, the money. How about we consider the fact that I could have you deported in a flash?’
‘How about I report you for what you are in a flash?’
‘Then I would have to consider you a serious security threat and you would have soldiers crawling over this scrawny patch of ground before you could scratch your arse.’
Hogzuk smiled through broken and missing teeth. ‘We’re bedfellows you and I.’
‘No we’re not,’ said Amasio. ‘I’m with the royal palace guard and you are a rat hiding in the jungle.’
‘What will you pay this time?’
‘One thousand dollars up front. You’ll have to hire a boat to get you to Fa Fa Island. The targets are staying there. I’ll provide you with all the necessary details.’
‘And on completion of the job?’
‘Two thousand dollars.’
‘So I’ve got to get past a bodyguard and extract information from two women and do this all for just three thousand dollars?’
‘One woman has the information we need. She has a personal assistant with her but you should be able to take care of her with your skills.’
‘When has this got to be done?’
‘They have a meeting with the king tomorrow. That meeting may result in negotiations for the return of the necklace going ahead. Perhaps the evening after tomorrow would be a good time to strike.’
‘Ten thousand on completion,’ said Hogzuk.
James Amasio looked at the shack. ‘Are you planning on extensive renovations or an overseas holiday?’
‘Both.’
‘My contact will not agree to such an outrageous fee.’
‘Then let your contact do the job himself,’ said Hogzuk.
‘Don’t push your luck Jake. You are here on borrowed time.’
‘Come inside and we’ll talk details,’ said Hogzuk.’
‘I’m not going into that rat hole. Five thousand dollars on completion. That’s as high as I’ll go.’
Hogzuk nodded.
‘Now you come here and have a look at some photographs,’ said Amasio.
‘I always knew that necklace would be trouble,’ said Hogzuk as he walked towards the military jeep. ‘I knew it the moment I stole it.’
‘You were well paid.’
‘I was ripped off,’ said Hogzuk.
‘You’re still living here in paradise,’ said Amasio. ‘You could always be sent back to wherever the hell you came from. American authorities want you quite badly, or have you forgotten?’
‘Alright. Show me the photos and then get the hell off my farm.’
‘My farm, remember?’ said Amasio. ‘I own this land. You just lease it. I can toss you out in a second.’
‘Bedfellows are what we are,’ said Hogzuk.
‘Dead man if you don’t do what you’re told,’ said Sergeant Amasio.
“****”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ben sat on the end of the timber lounge chair which rested in the white sand on the edge of the incoming tide. Ann sat cross legged behind him and Sophia sat beside him on another lounge. The sun was setting behind puffy white clouds and brilliant white and golden rays were spraying out in all directions into the ocean.
‘I used to sit here when he was gone,’ said Sophia. ‘I used to wonder if he would be back at night. Often he never came back. I’d see the afternoon boat come in and watch for him.’
‘He didn’t know what he was missing out on darling,’ said Ann.
‘He wasn’t missing out on much. He had his own local entertainment.’
Ben remained silent. Sunsets always reminded him of how few days of life were left. Each one marked one day less to live. He never thought about that until the day he watched the sun go down for the last time when he was 49. From that day on he watched each sunset with sombre feelings.
Ann put her hands on his shoulders. ‘Cat got your tongue mate?’
‘It’s quiet,’ said Ben.
‘The wind has dropped,’ said Sophia, glancing at him.
‘That works in our favour,’ said Ben.
‘No one can get us on this island,’ said Ann. ‘Don’t be so paranoid.’
‘One of us has the other in sight at all times,’ said Ben. ‘No one wanders off alone.’
‘Once the king realises that we don’t know anything, we can all go home,’ said Sophia.
‘I’m starting to like it here,’ said Ann.
‘What about the geckos?’
‘I’ll get used to them.’
‘You’re sunburnt babe,’ said Sophia. ‘You take the first shower and soap up.’
Ann put her forehead against Ben’s back. ‘Do you want to help me soap up?’
‘Perhaps when you are a bit older,’ he said.
‘But then you’ll be really old and probably won’t know how to soap up a girl in the right way.’
‘Shut up Ann,’ said Sophia. ‘Leave him alone.’
‘Shower time and then dinner,’ said Ben. ‘Perhaps a bit less wine tonight. More visitors came in on the afternoon boat.’ He stood and reached into a part of the jungle to their right, retrieving three thick smooth poles, each cut to about a metre and a half long. He started walking back towards the fale.
‘Making a raft or something?’ asked Ann.
‘One stake for each door,’ said Ben. ‘The locks aren’t strong enough.’
Ann looked at Sophia. ‘He’s paranoid.’
‘His paranoia saved your arse,’ said Sophia.
Ann glanced at the spectacular sunset. ‘You’re right. I try and push that horrible incident out of my mind but all I can see is Ben taking down that filthy ape.’
‘That’s what he is good at darling. That’s his job. We both have to back off a bit.’
‘I’m horny. I can’t help it.’
‘So am I but it comes with these damn islands,’ said Sophia.
‘I want to soap him up and see what happens,’ said Ann, getting off the timber lounge.’
‘If he wanted it, he’d ask for it.’
‘He wants it.’
‘Then let him make the moves. I think he has other things on his mind.’
‘He sees a threat behind every tree,’ said Ann.
‘That’s why your friend Milba recommended him and I’m damn glad she did. We’d both be dead if he hadn’t been around.’
Ann walked to the edge of the calm ocean and kicked water high into the air. ‘I’m buggered,’ she said.
‘We’ll sleep tonight,’ said Sophia, getting off the lounge. ‘Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.’
There were two young couples in the restaurant and the lone man sitting in a corner. As Ben and his party ordered dinner, another older couple came and sat at a table opposite and a tall, attractive woman in her mid 30’s with pure white skin and short thick black hair entered the room, glanced briefly at Ben and selected a table at the far end of the room.
‘Sunburn on the way for that chick,’ said Ann softly.
‘She’s not here for a suntan,’ said Ben. He recognised her instantly.
‘You suspect everyone as being a damn assassin,’ said Ann. ‘Lighten up for God’s sake.’
‘What is someone like her doing in a place like this alone?’ asked Ben.
‘Relaxing,’ said Ann. ‘Perhaps she’s here to meet someone like Mr. Lonely over there.’
‘No,’ said Ben.
‘No. Just
like that?’ asked Ann.
‘I want the steak, medium rare with salad and chips.’ Ben got to his feet and picked up his glass of red wine. ‘I’ll be back.’
‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this,’ said Sophia as Ben walked towards the woman with the short black hair and magnetic hazel eyes.
She looked up at him as he approached her table. Her face remained expressionless but her lips were held tightly together in a half frown.
‘Hello again,’ said Ben.
‘You remembered?’
‘You are hard to forget. May I sit down for a moment?’ asked Ben.
‘Isn’t two women enough for you?’
‘They’re just clients,’ said Ben. ‘They don’t pose any threat to me. You on the other hand may pose a threat.’
‘Do I call someone to have you taken away or will you go away by yourself?’
Ben pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. ‘You can’t make a scene. You’ll draw unnecessary attention to yourself and I don’t think you want that.’
She looked into his blue eyes. ‘It was pretty stupid of me to just wander in here I suppose.’
‘You knew I would recognise you immediately,’ said Ben.
‘Yes.’
‘You are not a careless woman by any stretch of the imagination,’ said Ben.
‘You are not a careless man. You deliberately confronted me in a non violent way at the Hunter residence. That is not the usual behaviour I expect from people like you Ben Hood. I’m confused.’
‘Whoever sent you here wasted their money. ‘The girls don’t know where the necklace is.’
One of the Tongan women brought a glass of chilled white wine to the table.
Ben noted the change in her facial expression. She was now clearly relaxed but still watching him intently. ‘You have a few scars on your neck. Been in a few scraps?’ asked Ben.
‘You have a scar on your cheek and another on your left hand. Have you been in a few scraps?’
‘You don’t miss much.’
‘You know my name,’ said Ben. ‘What’s yours?’
‘I don’t have to tell you my name.’
‘Did you register here under your real name?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Your client won’t get the necklace back,’ said Ben. ‘Joseph Hunter hid it away. It’s probably in Tonga somewhere but I don’t want to be tripping over people with devious motives.’
She maintained eye contact with him but said nothing. Ben glanced at her hands. ‘You have Karate calluses on both hands,’ he said.
‘So do you.’
‘Others will become involved. They won’t just turn up like you and hope for the best.’
She remained silent.
‘The king of Tonga will interview Sophia Hunter and her assistant tomorrow.’
‘What do I care?’
‘If you know anything about me, you would be wise to not try anything beyond your capability.’
‘You have no idea of my capabilities.’
‘A touch of honesty,’ said Ben.
This time she smiled. ‘I don’t understand why you act this way towards me.’ She glanced at Sophia and Ann. They were both watching intently. ‘Did they send you to annoy me for a dare?’
‘They don’t know who you are.’
‘Neither do you.’
Ben picked up his glass of wine and stood. ‘You’ve got a nice face but you could do with a suntan.’
‘I didn’t bring suntan lotion.’
‘Came over in a hurry eh?’
‘Spur of the moment decision.’
‘You can borrow some of ours. We’re in fale Fatai on the southern side.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ she said.
‘I just saved you a heap of work,’ said Ben.
‘I may just take you up on your offer.’ She smiled again. ‘Just when you think you’ve met them all, along comes one that is full of surprises.’
‘I’ve ripped the place apart,’ said Ben. ‘It’s not there.’
‘Oh that thing you mentioned?’
‘Yes.’
‘Such an interesting conversation Mr. Hood.’
‘We’ll probably see each other again here and there,’ said Ben.
‘It’s possible but I’m not staying long.’
‘Watch your back.’
‘Thank you for the advice.’
Ben walked back to Sophia and Ann. Their dinners were just being served.
‘So?’ asked Ann, trying to avoid looking at the woman.
‘Nothing. She told me nothing but she’s a Karate expert and she’s not here for a holiday.’
‘You know her, don’t you?’ asked Ann.
‘We’ve met before.’
‘Outside my house?’
‘Yes.’
‘So we had better watch out for her,’ said Sophia.
‘She’s on the back foot now,’ said Ben. ‘I don’t think she will try anything stupid, although I did tell her which fale we were staying in.’
‘Was that wise?’ asked Sophia.
‘She may need to borrow some of your suntan lotion.’
Sophia and Ann stared at him.
Ann sipped some wine. ‘Do they teach this in bodyguard school?’
‘They don’t have a bodyguard school,’ said Ben.
‘Well that’s bloody obvious,’ said Ann.
‘Once we’re all locked in and the poles are against the door handles, no one from the outside can get to us without making a hell of a noise.’
‘You could cut through those damn walls with a pair of garden shears,’ said Sophia.
‘It would take too long and make too much noise,’ said Ben. ‘You’re both safe, okay. If she had been intent on doing something nasty she wouldn’t have just wandered into the restaurant.’
‘I hope you appreciate whose arses are on the line here mate,’ said Sophia.
‘More than you know,’ said Ben.
Voices came from the bar as a new group of people arrived on the island. Lesilei welcomed each one in her usual warm way. Drinks were served as the two new arrivals sat at the bar. Ben took little notice of the couple as he ate his dinner. A soft sea breeze blew through the open louvres. Tongan singing came faintly through the speakers. Ben glanced briefly at the woman with the thick black hair as she slowly ate her dinner. She appeared totally uninterested in him or his dinner companions. She puzzled him and attracted him.
It was a moonless night. Ben and the girls walked back to their fale along the beach. Ben kept his LED torch on low power. Millions of stars were visible in the cloudless sky and the jungle which grew right down almost to the water in places was full of rustlings and squeaks as the hundreds of birds began to settle down for the night. Leathery wings occasionally flapped overhead as the fruit bats moved through the coconut trees. Sophia walked slightly ahead while Ann kept close to Ben’s side.
‘I’m a bit concerned about this meeting with the king tomorrow,’ said Sophia.
‘It will be fine,’ said Ben.
‘Will you be with me?’
‘I’ll be around somewhere,’ said Ben. ‘Just go with the flow.’
‘Are you totally satisfied that there is nothing in our fale that would lead us to the whereabouts of the necklace?’
‘I’ve been over every inch of it,’ said Ben. ‘I’m starting to think that your husband didn’t leave a clue as to where he hid the necklace. He was obviously confident he could complete the delivery himself.’
‘Do you really think it’s here in Tonga?’
‘He knew there were others trying to get their hands on it and he brought you here for an unexpected visit just weeks before he was killed.’
‘And I was stupid enough to think he wanted to re-kindle something between us, until that Tongan bimbo arrived.’
‘I’m going to try and make contact with Ms. Loa Tei very soon,’ said Ben.
‘You had better watch her. I wouldn’t trust her.’
‘Perhaps we’ll have time to visit tomorrow,’ said Sophia.
‘I think it best if I speak with her alone,’ said Ben. ‘I sense a rather short meeting with the king and then I may pay Ms. Tei a visit at her chemist shop if you can give me directions.’
‘She would shit herself if I walked in,’ said Sophia.
‘That’s why I don’t want you there.’
‘How do you intend on loosening her tongue?’ asked Sophia.
‘I don’t know,’ said Ben.
This time Sophia remained silent.
‘I can give you an idea what he might do with her,’ said Ann.
‘Did I ask for your opinion?’ asked Sophia.
‘I often give it even when you don’t ask for it,’ said Ann.
‘Much to my discomfort on occasions,’ said Sophia.
‘It’s the God given right of us indigenous people,’ said Ann. ‘We’ve been told to hold our tongues for far too long.’
‘Are you listening to this shit?’ asked Sophia.
‘She may have a point,’ said Ben.
‘Not in her case she doesn’t.’
‘No chooks and coconuts tonight,’ said Ben.
‘Boring,’ said Ann.
Ben slept fitfully. There was no moon although the starlight cast shadows across the lawns at the front of the fale. He kept all the curtains open and the louvred windows slightly open. Soft wind through the coconut palms and the occasional rustle from the jungle would obscure the sound of anyone who knew how to move stealthily. The door leading to the girl’s bedroom was secure, as were the two doors leading to the main lounge and bedroom where Ben was located.
Safe in the knowledge that he had covered every possible breach of security surrounding their fale, Ben started eventually to drift into sleep. As he initially dozed he had visions of Sophia and Ann flipping a five cent Tongan coin and he smiled. He had laughed when they finally told him the significance of coconuts and a chook. He had met some wild ladies in his time but these two definitely ranked up there with the wildest.
“****”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Koki parrot watched Ann closely from its perch in the tree almost above her head. They had finished breakfast and she had been game enough to hand the bird half a slice of passionfruit when it landed on the table in front of her.