‘Rescued him, Agent Rutherford, from certain death. Pop would not spend money on the boy’s treatment. Murder seems to be much more profitable.’ Lee then asked the nurse, ‘This man, did he give a name?’
‘Yes sir. He gave us his American Express card to pay for the treatment. Douglas Brown. He’s staying at the Royal Star Hotel.
Lee smiled and again translated for Rutherford. ‘Mr Brown is staying in the same hotel as Mr Simm. How interesting.’
‘Chief, I think you’re stretching here. The man’s hardly likely to remain in the same hotel as his victim, and certainly wouldn’t pay for this kid’s treatment with a credit card that can be traced! Either this guy’s no killer or he’s incredibly stupid.’
‘Or incredibly caring. Stranger things have been known, Agent Rutherford. Perhaps he feels guilt for this lad’s condition.’ Lee turned back to the nurse and instructed her to ask his driver to join them and then to show Lek’s benefactor in. She did so.
‘Hi. I’m Doug Brown, the nurse said you’re the Chief of Police.’ Doug’s hand was out and Lee shook it, introducing himself but not Rutherford. Lee’s driver took up position at the door.
There was no hint of shock or concern in the man’s demeanour, no nervousness in his handshake, but Lee recognised him as the man who had allowed him a glimpse of guilt in the hotel elevator just twenty-four hours earlier.
This time Lee did not ignore his gut feel.
‘How is he, Doctor?’ Doug focused his attention on the child while the man repeated his assessment in English. Then Doug asked, ‘So when can he go home?’
‘Possibly tomorrow or the day after. He’ll return to the orphanage?’ The doctor looked to Lee to answer.
Lee nodded. ‘Mr Brown. I would like some assistance in my enquiries and would appreciate it if you would accompany me to my office.’
‘Why? Am I under arrest for helping a kid?’
‘No. I won’t arrest you unless I have to. Let’s just say, I’d like to speak with you.’
‘I have a lunch appointment. Can you get me to my hotel for midday?’
Lee studied Doug’s face, thinking the man was cool. ‘I would think so. Shall we go?’ He bowed slightly to the medic. ‘Thank you, Doctor. And the nurse. Please ensure she receives this.’ Lee handed some baht notes to the medic and led the agent, Doug and his driver to the car. ‘Please do not think of running, Mr Brown.’ Lee touched his holster as they reached the hospital entrance. ‘It would be rather embarrassing if I were to shoot an American citizen in front of the liaison officer from your embassy.’
‘Is that who he is? I was wondering. Hi!’ Doug grinned at Rutherford and said to Lee, ‘Why would I run? I’ve got nothing to hide.’
Lee did not answer but after the two Americans got into the back of the car he took the opportunity to whisper to his driver, and the man jogged off with his radio held to his mouth.
The Chief drove back to the office listening to the men behind him making small talk about their homeland. His brain was running on overdrive. The boy, although awake, was far from alert, his eyes continually drooping all the while Lee and the others spoke. If Brown was the murderer the child would surely recognise him as such, and if the murder had been the event responsible for the lad’s shocked state, wouldn’t the boy be fearful, show some reaction to Brown’s presence? And Brown looked nothing like a hippy, the suspect identified by the concierge.
Yet Lee’s gut feeling remained. Brown is guilty. Of something. He mulled it over as they reached his office.
‘Please take a seat, Mr Brown.’ Lee pointed through his doorway and then addressed Rutherford, just a murmur out of earshot of Doug. ‘Please make some enquiries of your police, FBI and National Crime Office. If this is our man I believe you will have something.’ Lee and Rutherford moved away from Lee’s office door as they spoke.
‘I’ll need a set of prints, if you can get them over to me as soon as possible. I’ve a feeling I’ve met this guy and want to speak to some of my people.’
‘You know him?’ Lee was startled.
‘I’m not sure, Chief. Let me make some checks. I won’t hold out on you, okay? And get me those prints.’ Rutherford hurried away.
‘Mr Brown, coffee?’
Doug nodded and Lee arranged it. The cup and saucer would later be dusted for fingerprints and the results sent to the US Consulate.
‘So please tell me. How did you come to take young Lek to the hospital?’ Lee sipped his iced tea and kept eye contact throughout.
‘Sure. If that’s his name, Lek. I found him on the road by the beach. I was out for some air and a little drunk. I’m afraid I’m guilty of that! It was three or four in the morning when I found him. The lad was lying rigid, eyes open yet unresponsive. I thought maybe he’d been in a car accident or perhaps fallen from the tree above.’
‘And how did you get him to the hospital?’
‘Taxi.’ Doug gave a little smile. ‘And, no. I can’t remember the license plate, the driver’s name or the taxi company.’
Lee returned the smile. ‘Of course. Small details. I’m sure we’ll find the man. Tell me, why would you do such a thing? The expense, the hospital has already billed you several hundred dollars. You must be a very rich man, and exceptionally generous.’
‘I am a rich man, yes. But not that generous. It’s just that I’ve seen so much poverty since I’ve been here, kids on the street, stuff like that. When I saw the boy I just had to do something. It made me feel better about myself. You know?’
‘And how long have you been here? In Thailand?’ Lee watched carefully, spotted the lie.
‘Couple of weeks. I’m heading back to the US in a few days. Though I’ve met a lady and, well you know how it is!’ Doug spread his hands – honesty and openness signalled, but missing the mark.
‘So, if I have your room searched, we’ll find your tickets and passport?’
‘Sure.’
‘Good. I’d like to verify your travel dates.’ The door opened, Lee’s driver appeared. ‘Excuse me for a moment, Mr Brown.’
Lee went out for a few minutes and returned.
As he sat back at his desk he said, ‘It would seem there are no return tickets. No tickets at all, Mr Brown.’ Lee reached to his belt, unclipped his handcuffs and dropped them on the desk. ‘Would you care to explain?’
‘What? You’ve searched my room? Jesus! You can just do that here?’ Lee nodded as Doug continued, ‘Must’ve been stolen. They were there, in the bedside drawer. Looks like I’m in the right place to report the theft.’ Doug shrugged as he finished his coffee, as if the matter were not worthy of discussion. ‘Chief, I’m a patient man. I’ve no idea why I’m here. I did a good deed yet you’re treating me like a criminal. I did not abduct that boy if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I believe you did abduct the boy.’ As Doug flared and stood up to go, Lee added, ‘I also believe you may have saved his life. Please sit.’
Doug hesitated, then did as Lee bid.
Lee explained about Pop’s hideous crimes, about the link to Moo and Simm, his theory about a serial killer. ‘My men are overstretched, especially now with the number of bodies we’re unearthing at Pop’s house. Things happen on the streets that I regret. We cannot do many of the things I’d like to do as Chief of Police.’ Lee locked eyes with Doug, his tone accusing. ‘I believe the murderer is exacting revenge, a man who thinks he is acting as an avenging angel. The sort of man who can torture, can kill, without remorse if he believes he is being just. I’d like him to stop. Now.’
‘Sounds to me like he’s doing you a favour, cleaning up your streets, Chief. But I’m not sure why you think I can help. I found the boy. I helped him. Period. I’m not a killer.’ It was said with visible conviction.
‘What hobbies do you have, Mr Brown?’ The sudden change of tack took Doug by surprise and Lee achieved a moment of satisfaction as the man’s face displayed his confusion. Then anger.
‘What the hell is the matter with you? I like
to fish, okay?’ Doug held the policeman’s stare. Silence for a half a minute. More.
‘Do you use chalk for bait? My men found a bag of the powder in your room. Please explain.’ Lee watched as Doug shifted uncomfortably in his chair. It seemed the American’s confidence was ebbing.
‘I do some climbing as well as fishing. I use the chalk to dry my hands. It’s sweaty, the rocks are hot.’
‘I’ve climbed a little myself, Mr Brown. Using ropes and pitons. You, on the other hand, free climb. Yes?’
‘Sorry Chief, you’ve lost me now. What are you saying, that traces of chalk turned up on the murder victims? My chalk? I don’t think so.’ Doug swallowed hard, his tone defensive and aggressive at the same time.
‘Unfortunately, no. But we did find a rather large knife among your personal items, and it will have to undergo some extensive forensic tests. I take it you have no objection.’ It was not a request.
‘I told you, I fish. You’ll find shark’s blood on that knife, nothing more. Can I go now? I’m pretty pissed that your men searched my room. I don’t suppose you even need a warrant?’ Doug stood to go and this time Lee realised there was no argument, he was leaving. ‘Unless you’re arresting me, I’d like to get some lunch. A beautiful woman is waiting for me and, frankly, I’ve had enough of your bullshit.’
‘I’ll have my driver drop you at your hotel. Meanwhile,’ Lee opened the door and gestured Doug to go through. ‘I’ll keep your passport here. And Mr Brown,’ Lee paused and Doug turned to face him. ‘You are not to leave town without my permission. And believe me, whatever you think you’re doing, cleaning up my streets, I do not want any more murders here. Do you understand me? Or do I have to arrest you right now?’
‘Chief. I am not a murderer.’ It sounded like Doug meant it, for a moment the words tickled a doubt in Lee’s mind. Then Brown was gone.
Lee sat, pushed himself back in his chair and watched his ceiling fan, a constant aid to his thinking, the blades circling rhythmically.
If Doug Brown was his man, Lee was not even sure he wanted to arrest him. The question of the greater evil exercised his mind: should he punish this man, this avenging angel?
The fan turned circles along with Lee’s brain.
***
The morning sun was enough to make anyone hot, but it was Kate’s daydream that raised her temperature. She relived the highlights of last night, savouring the moments of rapture, the feel of Doug’s taut body, the heat of their passion. At last she had found a man worthy of spending time with. He had charmed her and Johnny over dinner, put his own desires on hold for her brother’s night out, and then made love to her in exceptional ways.
She wondered, was she in love? Certainly she was in ‘lust’. She giggled, remembering. And then a little niggling worry interrupted her reverie.
Four times, but only three condoms.
She would not allow herself to consider whether Doug had any diseases, but after her warning to Johnny, and the lesson she had learnt about AIDS the previous day, the niggle persisted.
Kate opened her eyes, the moment spoilt. Where was Johnny? It was almost midday. She picked up her towel, tied a sarong round her bikini bottom and went back to her room. She wanted to check Johnny was back and ready for lunch. With Doug. Her man.
Her men.
Kate fumbled in her clutch bag for her key and then realised she must have dropped it in Doug’s room. Damn. She would have to go to reception if Johnny was not in.
She turned to go to his door as the man’s fist connected with her jaw. She sank into his arms, unconscious, as he opened her door with a master key, dragging her out of sight, unseen.
He threw Kate on the bed and kneaded her breasts viciously, bruising the tender flesh. ‘Wake up you bitch!’ He ripped her bikini top off and bit into her nipple, wrenching with his teeth, a splash of Kate’s blood goading him on.
He slapped her face, trying to bring her round, but she was still out cold and though he was rigid, his member a throbbing wild animal desperate for its burrow, the fun he sought demanded she be conscious.
Fear was his aphrodisiac, sadism his pleasure.
He looked around and spotted a champagne bucket, filled it with water and tossed the contents at Kate’s face. She spluttered into wakefulness, shocked and then terrified. Her chest was agonised where the blood trickled from the bruised and torn nipple, her jaw pulsating with pain from the man’s uppercut. But worse, much worse was the tip of the commando knife almost touching her navel. A hand clamped her jaw tight, her head unable to move.
‘You listen to me, you little prick tease. You make a sound and I’ll cut you. Upset me even a little bit and I’ll slice your nose off.’ The knife moved to her face and she felt the cold point slide into her left nostril. Probing.
Her breath panted furiously as fear and adrenalin surged through her. She could not move her head, he held her tight as she tried to push back into the pillow, hands coming up involuntarily to thrust his shoulders away.
The tip of the knife was slipped out through the edge of her nostril with a flick of Sam’s wrist. Kate’s scream of agony was muffled by his hand and the pressure increased as he breathed halitosis into her pain. The blood ran into the back of her throat, a copper trickle, and Kate thought she would wet herself with fright.
‘I said no noise and I want you to do exactly what I say. Got it bitch? It’s only a little nick, won’t even leave a scar, but believe me, I will cut the fuckin thing right off if you squeal again. Now, can I take my hand away?’
Kate’s wide eyes blinked a teary consent and the man released her, his palm easing away from her mouth, ready to slap back in place if she started screaming. Kate gasped as the thug grabbed her throat, squeezing, his thumb digging deep. She grunted with pain.
‘First things first, Katie. Your little bruv is helping my boss with some things.’
‘Johnny?’ Kate managed to gurgle the question before the knife flashed at her nose, a hovering menace as his other hand tightened round her throat.
‘Only-speak-when-I-say.’ Kate nodded, the pressure on her throat easing as the man continued. ‘Yes, Johnny is doing some very special work for us. Seems the kid can do wonders with computers. My boss says he hacked into the CIA systems for you. Is that true?’
Kate gave another silent movement of her head, an almost imperceptible nod. Her mind was spinning, and the question that tore through her panic was – how could this man, and his boss, know about that?
‘Well, we’ll soon find out how good he is. At the moment, he’s unharmed. But I need you to make sure he co-operates. You’ll help us, won’t you?’ His leer tightened the sharp features of his face, and Kate’s heart cramped at the thought of this evil man harming Johnny. ‘You can say yes now.’
The knife glinted and Kate’s eyes dribbled hot tears.
‘Yes.’
‘Good. In a while you’ll be able to see your bruvver. But first we need to take a drive in my van. So we are going to have to get from here to the hotel car park, down in the basement. Without any shouting or screaming. Nothing to draw attention to us. Or I will carve you up. And I promise you I will kill your baby brother. You can tell me now that you understand and agree to do exactly as I say.’
‘Yes.’ Her voice sounded like a whimper even to her own ears. Through her terror she could see he was excited by his domination of her, he almost drooled over her breasts, his eyes captivated by her nipples. Blood lust in his face.
‘First we’re gonna check you and your brother out of the hotel. Then I’m gonna tie you up in the back of my van. You’re going to co-operate fully aren’t you Katie? No noise, no fuss, no hysterics.’
Her head twitched in agreement, her throat raw and her tongue too dry to speak. She was almost paralysed with fear. She could tell the man was a killer, and could feel his hardness as he kneeled over her, his crotch thrusting and rubbing against her own. Despite his words about needing her help with Johnny, she thought she was going to die. Was
certain of it and the panic welled.
‘Just to be sure we understand each other, and to be certain you know what I mean by co-operation, we’re going to have a little fun first.’ His hands, rough and uncaring wrenched her bikini bottom off and he rammed two thick dry fingers inside the place Doug had kissed and worshipped the night before.
Kate screamed and kicked out, the blow connecting with his swollen testicles, throwing him off her for a moment.
As she scrabbled to the opposite side of the bed her attacker bellowed in rage and pain, ‘I’ll kill you, you fuckin bitch!’ and lunged at her with the knife.
***
At 6.00am London time Gary Knight discharged himself from hospital and took a cab to his apartment with his girlfriend, Susie. She had convinced the hospital security guards she would behave and had spent the night by his bedside, watching over him as Gary eventually recovered consciousness. His liver had reacted badly to the massive overdose of cocaine and the doctor warned him to lay off, ‘Or you might not wake up next time.’ Gary decided there would be no next time.
He and Susie had spent much of the night talking about SimmpleTravel, Gary’s relationship with George Simm and what they were doing with their lives. Gary had come to some conclusions about what he should do next and he was now ready to face the Board at the meeting scheduled for this morning.
‘I’ll get the papers while you shower, okay?’ Susie stood on tiptoe, pressing herself to Gary’s chest as she kissed him before heading out.
Gary showered and thought to himself how lucky he was to be alive. If Susie had not found him he would have continued inhaling cocaine, he had collapsed with his nose buried in the pile of powder on his kitchen table, and would probably have died. Things had been bad for him this week, but not bad enough to contemplate taking his own life. He was not even mildly suicidal, he could not imagine the world without him in it.
Susie arrived as he pulled on his shirt. She held out the paper to him and said, ‘Sorry honey. It gets worse and worse. You sure you want to read this shit?’
‘Susie, I’ve got to. I have to know what they’re saying. The company is going to the wall and I screwed up. Lost my way. Okay. Now I’m back. Let me see that.’
The Hack Page 27
