As Audrey made her way up the gravel road to Tiromoana she felt wonderful. The walk back only took twenty minutes. The road was deserted. Only a handful of residents lived on the kiwi reserve peninsula. Hihi was a quiet seaside resort. A small motor camp and camping grounds attracted a few dozen campers during the summer months. There were only a few hundred residents living in the area mostly on the surrounding hills overlooking the bay on the other side of the beach. Audrey was grateful for the seclusion of her property. She was looking forward to spending another evening with Joan. She hoped Mr. Serrano’s absence wouldn’t be noticed. After all, Audrey’s guests were always coming and going. She felt in her back pocket and felt grateful for Jose Serrano’s pistol.
C H A P T E R 2 4
Frankie had no choice. She called her contact in the police force to enquire about Ben and Steve. Detective Constable Willy Wiley was a regular client and she knew she was crossing the line, but she was desperate for information. “I can’t believe they were tied up in a drug syndicate. Was it weed or meth? “ She prompted cautiously.
“Coke.” Enough to put them away for some time” the detective divulged.”
Frankie needed more information. “How the hell did they get tied up with that?
“Don’t know. Only know that a tip came from Paremoremo. I understand members of the King Cobras were pissed. They, and the Head Hunters own the meth business in Auckland and also distribute cocaine. This new group was apparently setting up business in their territory. I wouldn’t like to be them right now. Once the Cobras get to them they will be minced meat.
“It must have been a big take to piss off the Cobras?”
“Yep. One kilo of pure cocaine, worth over $300,000 I understand.”
Frankie gasped. Only one kilo, thank God! They must have stashed the rest”. “Wow, that much!” she exclaimed. What idiots. Thanks Willy. Your next visit is on me. You know I don’t like drugs around my business. I appreciate your support.
“No worries, Frankie. See you next week,”
Frankie had to get in touch with Ben or Steve. “Where the hell is the rest of the coke?”
She called Ben’s Lawyer, “Rick, it’s Frankie. I just heard about Ben. Surely he is not tied up in the whole thing. Is there anything I can do?”
“Hi, Frankie. No. I can’t even get him out on bail. The cops are coming down hard on cocaine dealers. They don’t want the stuff in the country.“
“I have to go to Kerikeri tomorrow and thought I would pop by and see him. Can you get me a visitor’s pass? He might need a friendly face right now.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Frankie. Are you sure you want to get mixed up in this? Personally, I would stay clear. The cops will be keeping an eye on the guys. I have a meeting scheduled with Ben at ten thirty tomorrow morning. I will check with the prison manager and see what he can do. However, chances are you will have to go through the usual procedure - lots of red tape. Oh, and to make things worse, the guys have tested positive for drugs so you can only have a booth visit. I’m sorry Frankie but it is a slow process. It may take a couple of weeks or longer to get a one on one with them. Best bet is to have them add you to their telephone list. I am surprised Ben hasn’t done this already.
“I would sure appreciate anything you can do.” She said, resigned to the fact that a visit was not likely to happen anytime soon. Are the guys avoiding me? Have they done a deal with the Cobras from inside the prison? Fuck them! It is time to call Jose.
C H A P T E R 2 5
Jose wasn’t picking up his messages and had simply gone off the radar. Juan Diego was pacing up and down his patio overlooking the ocean in Mazatlan, Mexico. His Uncle, an infamous drug lord in Mexico ran one of the world’s largest drug empires and had heard about the situation in New Zealand. The cartel knew there were ninety kilos of cocaine missing and Juan instructed Jose to fly to the drop off site in the far north of New Zealand to investigate but he had not heard from him in over twenty four hours.
Jose’s success in setting up the profitable Australian operation had earned him the title of “Boss of the Oceanic region” and was now responsible for setting up the New Zealand operation. Juan knew he was working closely to establish a nationwide prostitution network. All was going to plan. The drop off and pick up were apparently successful. Now the fucking guys were in prison and the drugs were nowhere to be seen.
He called in Felipe and Andres, and instructed them to get their asses down to New Zealand and sort the mess out. “Track down Jose and the brothel woman. I need to know yesterday what is happening down there. Do what you have to do to secure the coke.”
Their business depended on keeping the line of command confidential. Each individual operation had a boss. Jose was responsible for this fuck up. The brothel woman had screwed up too. Her guys were in prison and the drugs were missing. Felipe and Andres would track down the drugs and take care of any business.
The prison gangs in New Zealand were known for their violent drug wars. Gang war was like the cartel wars in Mexico. Few survived. It was a risky but profitable business. He tried Jose’s cell one more time. It went straight to voice mail.
C H A P T E R 2 6
Audrey looked up as two Hispanic men in white t-shirts and black jeans entered her office. “Good afternoon. Can I help you? She asked.
“I see you have a vacancy? Would you have two rooms? One of the men asked.
“Yes, actually. I do. How long are you wanting to stay? The cabins are only available for two nights. Then, I am sorry, I am fully booked.”
“Two nights will do OK,” the other man said.
Audrey handed them registration forms and asked them to sign the guest register. They obliged looking intently at the previous guests.
She read their names. Felipe and Andres Lopez. Mexico.
“What brings you gentleman to Hihi?” she asked
“Thought we would do some fishing,” the shorter man replied. You don’t know where we could hire a boat?”
“I will see what I can do. It won’t be easy. It is peak season right now.”
The men took their keys and she heard their car drive over to the Seaview and Bush Cabins. They were trouble. No doubt looking for their missing partner and the missing drugs. It would appear the whole bloody world knows this is the last place the drugs were seen.
She made her way over to their Cabin and knocked on the door. “Sorry to disturb you.” She said when he appeared in the doorway. She could see several bags open on the floor exposing an arsenal of guns. Fuck. They mean business! “I talked to my neighbor, Bruce Bromley who hires out his boat on occasion. She said feigning complete unawareness to what she had just seen. “He said that he would be willing to let you hire it tomorrow morning. Here is his number.” She handed him Bruce’s number. She reached down and picked up a six-pack of beer. She smiled. “A welcoming gift. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
C H A P T E R 2 7
Joan looked out her window and watched as the two men got out of their car and walked towards the cabins further down the ridge. They look like Mexican drug dealers. She laughed at the absurdity of it. Too much time with Ben and the boys. She wondered why Audrey had let them stay. A couple of days ago she had seen another seedy guy walk into the Kiwi cabin. She hadn’t seen him since and presumed he had checked out when she noticed the vacancy sign above his cabin door.
The last few days had been wonderful. Audrey had insisted she not pay for her cabin. “You are my guest,” she had said. Joan repaid her by helping with the laundry and minding the office when Audrey had to go into town for supplies. They had become good friends. Audrey had even asked her to stay for the summer. “To keep me company,” she had explained. “It is lonely out here in the wop wops.”
The only problem was Joan needed to start earning some serious cash. She had a mortgage to pay on her home in North Shore and with Ben locked up she didn’t have any money coming in. Joan didn’t like to think of herself as materialistic but she
did like the finer things in life: a weekly manicure and pedicure, yoga classes at her local gym, hair and facial appointments monthly. It all added up.
Maybe she would go back to her old trade. She had been extremely successful as a high-class escort. In fact, she had met her first husband, Paul while working. He was a regular client. That was fifteen years ago when she was only twenty-seven. She looked in the mirror. I haven’t lost my looks or my figure. Women my age make good money in the business today. My clients will just be fifteen years older than they were before. Holy Shit! That would mean they are nearly dead!
Joan was working the sex trade a couple of years before prostitution became legal. Keeping under the police radar was difficult but not impossible. She worked for a woman who treated her well and protected her from the cops. Since 2003 when the law changed, the whole business changed with it. She could openly advertise her services and control her own destiny. She was known as Black Diamond. She wondered what Audrey would think of her murky past. Maybe she would confide in her. Ask for her advice even. Joan knew she was bisexual but her preference was definitely women. She was attracted to Audrey and knew Audrey was attracted to her. But Joan didn’t want to make the first move. Maybe Audrey was not into women.
Tonight the two had planned to light the new fire pit and toast marshmallows. Joan was looking forward to sitting under the vast Milky Way in the dead of night with just the aroma of Chanel no. 5 perfume. Audrey always wore that particular scent. She said that it was Marilyn Munroe’s favorite perfume. Joan liked that. Audrey did look a little like Marilyn - all blonde and buxom and slightly neurotic.
She watched Audrey carrying a pack of beer over to the guys. Careful, Audrey they look a little dangerous to me.” She wanted tonight to be special and was pleased that the cabin had a full size bath. She poured in bath salts and her favorite lavender oil and turned on the remote control. The news was still full of Ben, Steve and the guys and the big drug haul in Northland. Joan was surprised she hadn’t heard from Ben. Not a word. Guess he has nothing to say to me. What a shit he turned out to be.
C H A P T E R 2 8
Audrey awoke at dawn. She had a premonition that today was going to be a day she would always remember. She turned to face Joan sleeping so peacefully beside her. It had come so unexpectedly. One minute they were staring up at the stars and the next minute they were all over each other. She had never kissed a woman before. Joan felt so delightfully soft, sensuous and wonderful.
The loud banging on the office door interrupted her thoughts. Who the fuck is making all that din so early in the morning? She threw on her robe and opened the sliding doors. She could see the two men standing impatiently outside the office. ”Can I help you?
“We are just off to pick up the boat.” They called back. “Do you have a dozen beer we can buy from you?”
“Just a minute, she replied. They could have arranged this last night.
With beer in hand the two guys returned to their car and headed off down the driveway. Bruce’s house was a hundred yards up the road. He owned the only sandy beach in the area it was where he launched his boat. Bruce was the biggest gossip she had ever met and she knew that he would be telling the guys all about the big drug bust next door.
Audrey wasn’t aware that Bruce had been watching Ben and the guys since the first day they went out in their boat. He had seen them pull into Audrey’s beach but the shoreline was blocked from sight. He wondered why they had spent so long so close to shore. When he heard about the drug bust he thought maybe they were using the beach for importing and exporting the stuff. He watched them the next day but they seemed legit enough - just fishing and getting boozed. His nephew, Jimmy, was the cop that arrested them. He was proud of his nephew, a good cop. He had told Jimmy about the beach stop. The coastguard did a search of the beach the next day and found nothing unusual, but Bruce was on high alert. Strange things have happened in the bay since his blonde neighbor moved in more than a year ago.
When he met the two guys Audrey had sent over to hire the boat he was immediately suspicious. Their English was excellent but their appearance was tough and mean. Bruce had read about the Mexican cartels and how they were spreading their reach like tentacles across the globe. Australia was now in the cocaine business. He wondered if they were entering the New Zealand market and worse, entering the market through his back yard.
He put the boat in the water and parked the trailer nearby. They said they didn’t need a skipper so he simply stood on the beach and watched as they loaded in a couple of bags and headed off out into the bay. He was surprised when they headed back towards Audrey’s beaches. What are they doing there? Fishing, my ass, these guys are on a mission. I knew her beach was involved. He picked up the phone and called Jimmy.
C H A P T E R 2 9
Detective Bromley hung up the phone and lay back in his chair. It wasn’t over. He knew it. His uncle has aroused his interest. Two Hispanic guys staying at Audrey’s place had just taken Bruce’s boat out and were nosing around the beaches nearby. Looking for what? More drugs? He called the coastguard and gave them a description of the boat and said to keep an eye on it. “Don’t board the boat or arouse their suspicions,” he had said. The last thing he wanted was to scare them off. Jimmy liked a good puzzle. This drug business was just the beginning of something big. He was sure of it.
His first stop would be at Audrey’s place. He wanted to know who these guys were. From where? How long they planned on staying?
He was surprised when he pulled up to her office. It was deserted. No note on the door. Her car and a red Toyota were parked nearby. She’s around somewhere. He walked over to the cabin sites and saw a car parked outside the Pine Cabin at the far end of the ridge. When he approached the guests, a young couple, they informed him that they hadn’t seen the Audrey or any of the other guests. They were just heading off to Cape Reinga for the day.
He knocked on the cabin door, also, no answer. Maybe they are down on the beach? He left his card. I should have called first.
He made his way next door to chat with Bruce. They sat on the deck and drank coffee and watched the fishing boats coming and going. A few pleasure boats were making tracks in the still water. There was no sign of the Hispanic guys. Bruce thought they were still anchored off Audrey’s beach. He hadn’t seen them leave. They had been there now for over an hour. Why?
Finally they saw Bruce’s boat coming towards the beach. But, when they were within a few yards, they suddenly took off towards the open sea. They must have seen my car. Something sure scared the shit out of them. A few minutes later they saw the coastguard following in their wake.
“Gotta get back to the station,” said Jimmy. “Let me know when they get back. Don’t touch anything on the boat. I’ll send out the forensics team to run prints and check the boat for any signs of cocaine.
“Right you are”.” Said Bruce loving every moment of the intrigue.
C H A P T E R 3 0
Audrey was falling for Joan in a big way. It was a new experience being intimate with a woman. Her long slender legs, perfect buttocks, small waist and perky breasts were what Audrey always wanted but could never achieve herself. Joan was just blessed. Their night of passion flowed over until mid morning. They had heard the detective’s car drive up and they hid like schoolgirls when he knocked at the door. Today Audrey was not going to let anything interfere with her sheer bliss. They waited until he left and poured glasses of champagne and orange juice. Audrey never liked cooking and was pleased that Joan not only loved to cook, but was quite an accomplished chef.
Gourmet omelets and fresh salsa accompanied more champagne for a brunch on the lawn. They watched as boats aimlessly crossed the bay. A couple of locals were fishing off kayaks not far from shore. She saw the coastguard circling the bay. I wonder what they are up to? Hopefully Mr. Serrano has not surfaced. They watched with interest as the coastguard stopped by the kayaks. A few minutes later they were off and heading for the open sea.
Although she could have driven her car down to Rocky Beach she wanted to ensure that Mr. Serrano had not washed up at Honeymoon Beach. This entailed the usual five-minute track down the hazardous cliff face. As they broke through the concealed entrance to the beach, Audrey gasped. Fuck! There’s the red rope!
“Looks like a rope has washed up” said Joan, heading over to take a look.
Audrey followed her and watched as Joan pulled the rope towards shore. It was like déjà vu. Audrey couldn’t breathe. She knew what was at the end of the rope. He should have washed out to sea. What are the chances of him being washed up on the same beach from which he departed? Joan had made quite a neat circle of rope as she continued to wind it in. The rope seemed to be stuck. Audrey grabbed the rope and together they pulled. Suddenly it broke free and they fell backwards onto the rocks. Nothing! There was nothing at the end of the rope. Audrey looked at the end and knew that it was no accident that Mr. Serrano was not attached. The rope had been cut.
C H A P T E R 3 1
Earlier Felipe and Andres had anchored the boat at Honeymoon Beach and swum to shore. “Look, there’s a rope,” shouted Andres. He grabbed one end and tried to pull it to shore. It was attached to something heavy. It’s the coke. They must have stashed it here. Felipe dove down into the water and followed the rope. He took a deep breath and headed for the end of the rope at the bottom of the sea floor. Andres saw him break the surface in horror! “Its Jose, man. He’s fucking tied to the end of the rope!”
The Murder Trail: The Audrey Murders - Book Three Page 5