Cocktails & Dreams

by Lilburne, Guy

  They had never discussed names and they had decided a long time ago that they didn’t want to know if they were having a boy or a girl. When he or she came along they would choose a name. Ling always thought that, once she saw the baby, inspiration would come to her. She looked down at the babies, suckling milk from her breasts. Danny sat on the bed next to her, his arm around her, his hand stroking her long black hair.

  “Darling, you want to know name of your children?”

  “It might be useful” laughed Danny.

  “Your daughter is called Kalaya. You like?”

  “Yes, it’s a beautiful name. What does it mean?”

  “It mean older sister.”

  Danny touched his daughter’s soft cheek and then put his finger in her tiny hand. She gripped it.

  “Hello Kalaya. You have a name now. It’s a beautiful name and it means older sister” he said. He kissed Ling.

  “Do you know our boys name yet?”

  “Yes, I know. Your son he called Tam. It mean twin.”

  Danny leaned down and kissed his son, still suckling at the breast.

  “Hello son, you have a name now too. Tam. It means twin.”

  Danny kissed Ling again.

  “They are lovely names Ling. They already look like our kids and they look like Kalaya and Tam.”

  Danny had assumed that Ling would be kept in for a few of days, because that was his experience from all those years ago back in England, but Ling wasn’t going to be in for a few days; it was just a matter of a few hours. They asked her if she wanted to stay overnight because they were paying privately, but Ling just wanted to take her family home. She wanted her own Mama to take care of her. So, after a few hours rest and sleep, the pickup truck was heading back to the farm with a couple of extra little people on board.

  “I’ll remember this day forever” smiled Danny.

  “I love you my darling” said Ling, giving Danny’s thigh a gentle squeeze.

  When they pulled up outside the house Danny saw his old friend Captain Gee Wattana sitting outside the house, with some of the ‘relatives’ who didn’t make it onto the back of the pickup truck for the hospital trip. The big Captain was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, but Danny knew this was business. Gee stood up and greeted Ling and her family with wais and a handshake and a hug for his friend Danny.

  “Gee, I’m always happy to see you, but I don’t think that you have come all this way just for a social visit” said Danny.

  “Ha! Always the detective” laughed Gee. “I need to speak to you, in private, Danny.”

  “Come inside and eat with us. Meet my new family, but we talk in front of Ling. There are no secrets between us.”

  They went inside the house. The air conditioning was a relief from the humidity and heat outside. The cream coloured ceramic tiles were cool under foot. Danny and Gee sat with Ling and several other members of her extended family on the floor. Two straw mats were rolled out and a feast of food in various dishes was placed out in front of them by some of the older women and younger children. Sticky rice in little wicker pots and bottles of diet coke with a bucket of ice was placed in the middle, along with an assortment of glasses in different sizes. The new babies were being passed around and receiving blessings and kisses and cuddles. A monk had already been sent for and would also bless the two babies.

  “Danny, have you seen the news about the murders in Patong?” asked Gee.

  “Yes I have seen it. Jesus! Bad news for Patong I think.”

  “Bad news for everyone. But yes, especially bad for Phuket; the people, the businesses, the tourism industry. We don’t want panic to spread.”

  “Well, good luck with that.”

  “Darling, Captain Wattana is here to ask for your help” whispered Ling.

  Gee nodded and smiled his thanks to Ling.

  “Yes, we need your help once again Danny. The police in Patong are getting nowhere with the murders and we now know they are looking for a serial killer. There is a lot of pressure being applied from all quarters, at all levels, to catch the killer and we need your help my friend.”

  Danny looked into the eyes of his friend. They were kind eyes, almost black like his hair. He was a handsome man and very tall, especially for a Thai. Danny didn’t want to let him down, but he didn’t want to leave his beautiful wife, his new family or his lovely friends and home. He looked down and slowly started shaking his head.

  “Gee, you’re a good man yourself.” His Irish brogue was deep and he sounded thoughtful and considered. “But I have a life now. I love my wife and I love my life. I’ve just had twins. I want to help you, but I can’t leave here now, not at this time.”

  “Danny, I know it is a lot to ask of you, but Thailand needs you to do this. Money is no object. I have been authorised to agree any reasonable price to secure your services. Name your price.”

  “It’s not about money Gee. I don’t want to leave my family now. But you remember Nok? She has a detective agency now in Patong and she is really good, as good as me. Why don’t you approach her?”

  “Danny, there is only one Danny O’Brien. You are the best person to have on the case. You have a track record and a lot of public support. Politically it will buy time and stop panic in people and businesses if you are on the case. There is a killer on the loose and he needs to be stopped. Danny. We need your help, please.”

  “Darling, I think you should do this. A serial killer in Patong is very bad. You could work with Nok and solve this problem” smiled Ling.

  “You’d be happy with me working with Nok?”

  “Yes, of course. She is my friend. I trust her and I trust you. Anyway, she can keep an eye on you, now you handsome farang, no drink and smoke, look good” she laughed.

  “Ling, I don’t want to leave you.”

  Ling gave Danny’s hand a squeeze as she spoke to the Captain.

  “Captain Wattana, you say money is not an issue?”

  “That’s correct………within reason of course” he smiled at Ling. He knew she was considering the offer and she would be his best ally to get Danny on the case.

  “My village is very poor Captain; it’s a village that needs things.”

  “Yes I understand. What does the village need?”

  “Hang on Ling, I don’t want to go” said Danny, sensing that Ling was about to agree a price for his services.

  “Darling, just let me tell the Captain what the village needs. I think this is important and may be good opportunity to every persons.”

  “Khun Ling, please continue” said Gee.

  “My village is poor; government spend no money here. In last year 12 people die trying to cross busy four lane road that cuts through the village. Old people and 3 children. My village needs a bridge.”

  “A bridge is no problem, I can have work started tomorrow” said a smiling Captain Wattana.

  “The temple is the most important part of the community, but it is old and built of wood. The village needs a new temple, a big temple to be proud of.”

  “You want a new temple?” the smile was fading slightly, but he nodded agreement.

  “The temple should have other buildings; proper homes for the monks, a nursery for the children, a school and rooms for people to stay who need help or protection.”

  “Wow! You want a big temple……..and a school.”

  “And a bridge” smiled Ling. “And the school will need to be properly equipped. When the government starts to build all this they should employ the local people to do the work. It will need to be all written in an official contract and work will start within a week.”

  “I can agree in principle, but I would have to get these projects costed and authorised. That’s a lot of money Khun Ling.”

  “It’s the cost
of having Danny solve your murder case, and then of course he will be working with Nok’s detective agency. You will have to pay whatever her working rates are and any expenses. You said that people at the highest level want this case sorting out and want Danny on the case. Please feel free to make a phone call and get the authorisation you need to agree this deal. After all, it is for the community. The new prime minister can make a lot of merit with both Buddha and with the people. These are good projects.”

  Captain Wattana smiled, nodded and punched a number into his mobile phone as he got up and wandered outside to talk in private. It was still very hot, but the sky had darkened again and the rain came down as suddenly as it had stopped before, cooling the air slightly. Ling spoke in Thai and told everyone what had just been discussed. An air of excitement filled the room. Danny could see that this was important to these people. A couple of the older women started crying with happiness at the thought of what could happen in the village. After several minutes Captain Wattana came back into the house. He sat down and nodded to Ling.

  “A new bridge, a new temple with a school and the other buildings. And we pay for Nok’s detective agency. I can have an architect here to meet you and draw up plans tomorrow. Work will start within 4 days.” He looked at Ling expectantly and then at Danny. Ling looked at Danny for confirmation and Danny shrugged his shoulders, resigned to taking the case and leaving his family for the sake of the community.

  “OK Captain Wattana” she smiled. “We have a deal.” They wai’d to each other and everyone else in the room started to clap and hug each other.

  “Danny, I thank you for this. When will you start?”

  “Give me a couple of days and I’ll go and see Nok. Then we will both go and see your uncle. Is he still in charge down there?”

  “Yes, I will tell him the good news. He will be expecting you.”

  Chapter 13 Patong.

  Danny flew all the way from Udon Thani to Phuket on AirAsia. That way he didn’t have to change at Bangkok, as he would have done with all the other domestic airlines. The taxi ride from the airport into Patong brought so many memories flooding back to Danny, both good and bad, as the vehicle weaved its way over the hills surrounding the beach resort town. Danny suddenly felt as if he had never been away. He had decided to stay at the Holiday Inn Resort Hotel, seeing that the Thai government was paying, and his initial impression of the hotel was a good one, worth every one of its four star status. He rang Ling to check on her and the babies and promised that, after this case was over, he would take them all away on holiday with Mama, Am and Om. Before the phone call was over they had agreed on the holiday destination of Hua Hin, because the King lived there and Ling had always wanted to see it.

  Danny unpacked and checked out the view from the balcony, looking out over a beautiful pool. This was a quality place. He had fresh flowers in his room and fresh fruit. He was also told that the fridge bar in his room was complimentary and would be re-stocked free of charge each day, but, as Danny had been tee-total for the last seven months now, this little perk was wasted on him. He decided to take a swim in the huge pool before he tried to find Nok’s detective agency. He knew that Ling had spoken to her on the phone, so it wouldn’t be a surprise, but it would still be lovely to see her again. The water was cool and refreshing. Overhanging palm trees gave some shelter from the blistering sun. The sky was cloudless and blue, but there was little doubt that it would cloud over and rain later in the day. It was the rainy season after all and outside each door of the hotel the staff had left two large hotel umbrellas to remind everyone. It was only ever the farang holiday makers who would get caught out in the rain; the Asian holiday makers and business people were more used to rainy seasons. After a swim in the pool he went into the poolside spa rooms and gym. He took a sauna and spa bath before he showered and had the best massage he had ever had from a mature Thai lady called Pee. A taxi collected him from the hotel and did a big circuit around the one way system, turning right along the Beach Road, right onto Bangla Road and right back along Rat-u-Thit Road towards the Holiday Inn Resort hotel, before turning left into a little Soi and stopping outside a ‘Family Mart’ shop. To the left of it was a reinforced grey metal door, which was already open for access onto some stairs. Wedged above the door and under an air conditioning unit that was dipping water was a sign in big red letters ‘The Great British Detective Agency.’

  Danny smiled to himself when he saw it. Nok had come a long way from the days when she worked in Moons Bar, where he had first met her. He paid the driver the hugely overpriced fare of 200 baht, for the 30 baht ride that would have been charged to a Thai. He didn’t tip on principle and the driver mumbled a ‘Khob khun khrap’ (Thank you), but it wasn’t sincere.

  Danny opened the door into the small reception area and saw the very pretty Meiwa sitting behind her desk. She was eating som tam (spicy green papaya salad), a BBQ chicken leg and a small plastic food bag of warm sticky rice, which she had just bought from one of the vendors at the top of the soi. She had a glossy Thai magazine spread out on the desk in front of her. Danny saw his photo on the framed newspaper hanging up behind her and two of his medals in the glass case next to it. He smiled again when he saw Nok’s name engraved on her office door.

  “Jesus! Private Investigator, is it?”

  Meiwa hurriedly wiped her hand on a tissue and wai’d to Danny. He wai’d back and it was a beautiful wai. Meiwa knew straight away that he was Danny O’Brien. Nok had told her that he would be coming, but, now he was standing there in front of her, he made her heart race. He was slimmer now than he was in the photographs that Nok had shown her. The chubbiness in his face from years of alcohol abuse was gone. He had a square jaw. His face was scarred and battered from a lifetime of tough fights, but his eyes were deep blue, even bluer than Nok had described, and they sparkled. He was handsome. The tummy that used to overhang his trouser belt in the photos, like an over ripe papaya, was now gone and he was taller than she expected. She felt herself blushing and hoped that Danny would not notice how attracted to him she was.

  “My name is Danny O’Brien. I’m a friend of Nok” he smiled at a flustered Meiwa.

  “Yes I know. My name is Meiwa. I’m a friend of Nok too and I also work here. Nok is shopping, but she will be back soon.” Meiwa made a sweeping gesture with her arm towards the food on her desk. “Would you like to eat with me while you wait?”

  “No thanks, I’m grand, but I’ll have some water if there is any.”

  Meiwa jumped up from behind her desk and asked Danny to sit down. She dashed down the stairs to the shop next door and came back a few moments later with a cold bottle of water. She handed it to Danny.

  “Oh, thank you” he smiled. “I didn’t know you had to go out for it. I could have gone for it myself.”

  “Mai pen rai kha.” (You are welcome)

  Meiwa started clearing away the uneaten food.

  “Meiwa, please finish your food.”

  “No, it OK. I eat later” she smiled and wrapped the food up before putting it inside one of the drawers of the metal cabinet, just as Nok came into the reception.

  Nok dropped her two designer shopping bags containing another two pairs of new shoes, made a loud ‘whooping’ noise and jumped into Danny’s arms. She had her usual wide smile. Danny laughed and swung her around and they kissed each other’s cheeks.

  “Tee rak I miss you very much. Wow! You look good now; now handsome man, mak-mak.”(Very much)

  “Haha! You look good too Nok. Beautiful as always.”

  “I think my sister Ling take very good care of you.”

  “Oh, Ling is your sister now is she?”

  “Yes sure, she sister me. She marry my best friend and make him happy, so she sister me.”

  They both laughed and hugged. Meiwa just watched the reunion and smiled.

  “Tee rak, the Ch
ief of Police, Colonel Wattana, ring me. He hire the Great British Detective Agency as consultants on serial killer case. I get good deal. He pay a lot of money as long as you work with me.”

  “I know Nok. Who else is on our team?”

  “You, me and Meiwa. This is team. What else you need?”

  “There is an old friend of Ling’s, called Suzie. She is a ladyboy and she dances at Simons Cabaret. I think she would be useful to have on the team, seeing that the victims so far have all been ladyboys.”

  “Sure, can do, no problem. The police pay everything we need. Colonel Wattana want me to ring him and have meeting when you arrive. He want to make press release.”

  “Jesus! Him and his press releases.” Turning to Meiwa he said. “Can you ring the Colonel and tell him we will see him in two hours, but first me and Nok are going to go and see Suzie and see if she will come on the team.”

  “You know where she live?” asked Nok.

  “Yes, she is Nok’s old roommate.”

  “OK, we go on my bike.”

  They went on Nok’s bike, weaving through the traffic and making turns into various sois at Danny’s direction, until they got to Lings old bungalow room; the middle one in a row of seven. Suzie’s motor bike was parked outside. Danny knew she would be sleeping at this time of day because she worked late as a dancer at Simons Cabaret. They had to knock for several minutes before a sleepy Suzie, wrapped in a short towel, tall and elegant, opened the door letting in the hot air and sunlight. She hugged Danny without saying anything and looked at Nok through half closed eyes.

  “Ling ring me and say that you come back to Patong. Thank you for come to see me” she whispered with a tired voice.

  “Suzie, this is Nok. She runs the Great British Detective Agency and we are going to act as consultants for the police in the ladyboy serial killer case. We want you to work with us.”