Contracts

by Matt Rogers

  King parked the jeep, and they got out in the late afternoon gloom.

  Slater’s breath steamed in front of his face. He had endless doubts about the mission still festering in his head, but now they were here in the middle of it, and there was no longer an opportunity for Violetta to reconsider.

  So we might as well get it done fast, then.

  He said, ‘This the place?’

  King stared up at the forlorn structure. ‘As far as I can tell.’

  ‘Parker’s the only one here?’

  ‘I think his guide is still with him.’

  ‘Is that wise?’

  ‘It’s only unwise if we have reason to suspect the guide’s involved.’

  ‘I don’t trust anyone.’

  ‘Nor do I.’

  ‘Does the guide speak English?’

  ‘We’ll find out.’

  ‘I can take him,’ Slater said. ‘You take Parker.’

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘I’m a little less … accommodating. And I think the guide’s more likely to know something than Parker is.’

  ‘I wouldn’t assume anything.’

  ‘Then we can switch halfway through,’ Slater said. ‘Good cop, bad cop.’

  King nodded slowly. ‘That might work.’

  ‘Then let’s get this over and done with.’

  They retrieved their all-weather duffel bags from the small storage compartment on the roof of the jeep, and trudged through the wet gravel toward the teahouse.

  Ten feet from the entrance, the door swung open in their faces.

  A white guy stood there, maybe fifty years old, carrying maybe thirty more pounds than he needed to. He must have been an athlete in the past — he still had the stocky, broad-shouldered build and overall poise of someone who knew how to move their body around. But there was a little too much fat under the stubble coating his jaw, and his hair had receded a decade ago. Nevertheless, his eyes were kind underneath the bloodshot surface.

  He’d been crying a hell of a lot, it seemed.

  Aidan Parker said, ‘Thank God you two are here.’

  Slater paused to scrutinise, to assess, to look for suspiciousness, but King didn’t miss a beat. He strode forward and offered a hand and said, ‘I’m Jason King. This is my partner, Will Slater. We’re here to help.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Parker said. ‘Honestly, thank you so much. This place isn’t exactly around the corner.’

  Slater watched King half-smile and shuffle past as Parker stepped aside to let him through.

  Slater stepped up.

  ‘Hey,’ he said. ‘I’m Will.’

  ‘Hey, Will,’ Parker said. ‘Thanks again for coming.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it. Where’s your guide?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Your guide. The man who brought you back here to wait for us.’

  ‘Oh — Sejun?’

  ‘I’d say so.’

  ‘He’s right through here. Do you need to speak to him?’

  ‘We’ll need to speak to everyone who was there. This is an ongoing investigation.’

  Parker hesitated. ‘Am I under suspicion?’

  ‘Everyone’s under suspicion.’

  From within the teahouse, King said, ‘We’re just trying to get to the bottom of it. I’m sure you can appreciate that.’

  ‘Of course,’ Parker said, but a look of befuddlement spread across his face, as if he were silently asking, Me? ‘Come in out of the cold, Will.’

  Slater moved straight past. He wasn’t courteous about it. In fact he made sure to brush by aggressively. When he was inside, he nodded quietly to King, telling him, We’re on.

  If he had to play the bad guy, he’d do a damn good job at it.

  There was no entranceway or corridor past the front door — instead, the entrance opened straight into this particular teahouse’s dining room. There were a cluster of European tourists in the far corner, hunched around a polished table, babbling back and forth. On the opposite wall, a couple of solo travellers hunched over their masala and ginger teas, stoic in their silence. It seemed they were preparing themselves for the trek to come.

  There was a Nepali couple — a middle-aged man and woman — behind the wooden desk, but they must have been briefed that King and Slater were en route. They just nodded politely to the newcomers, and went back to perusing the books.

  No one paid them much attention at all.

  Good.

  On cue, King said, ‘Aidan, if you’d like to come with me, so we can speak somewhere more private.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘And we’ll get Sejun along the way. Will would like to speak with him.’

  Parker seemed relieved. Which made sense. Better if the guide had to deal with the angry one rather than himself. Slater kept shooting him daggers all the way across the room, until he and King disappeared into one of the hallways leading to the sleeping quarters.

  King put a hand on Parker’s shoulder from behind, and guided him out of the main room. Then he turned and looked over his shoulder and nodded knowingly.

  Slater nodded back.

  A few moments later, Sejun appeared.

  21

  King quietly scrutinised Aidan Parker as they stepped into a small private dining room up the back of the teahouse.

  There were a couple of tables and a smattering of chairs, but everything was coated in a thin layer of dust, and there were supply crates stacked across one wall. A bulb hanging from the ceiling shone bright enough to illuminate all the nooks and crannies, but overall the space had the air of disuse about it. King had asked if there was somewhere to speak privately, and Parker had led him here.

  The man had been here for three days now, and obviously knew the building inside and out.

  Parker squashed himself into one of the benches and put his elbows on the surface of the table. King sat down across from him, in one of the thin chairs. It seemed it could barely hold his weight, and it creaked as he lowered himself into it.

  One of the staff — a young woman in her twenties — appeared in the doorway, shooting Parker an enquiring glance.

  ‘Masala tea,’ Parker said.

  ‘Two,’ King said.

  She nodded graciously and vanished.

  Parker lowered his head into his hands. King didn’t react. He still didn’t have a measure on the guy, and didn’t know whether he was doing it for dramatic effect or out of genuine misery.

  King said, ‘This must be tough.’

  Parker didn’t look up. He nodded, staring at the table, pressing his palms into the side of his head.

  King said, ‘I’m going to need to ask you some questions about exactly what happened. What you saw…’

  ‘I already told you everything,’ the man muttered.

  ‘You told someone. That someone wasn’t me. If it’s not too hard for you, I’d like to run through it again.’

  ‘I really don’t want to talk about it.’

  ‘I can imagine. But in this case, you’re going to have to.’

  He said it politely, but there was something undercutting his tone that Parker noticed. Which was ideal, because King had made sure to inject a certain … something into his voice.

  Just to let Aidan Parker know he wasn’t a pushover.

  Parker lifted his gaze and said, ‘Okay. Sorry. I haven’t been myself lately. I don’t mean to antagonise.’

  King held up both hands. ‘I wasn’t assuming anything, Aidan. I’m simply telling you we need to work together on this.’

  ‘I know, I know. Okay — what do you need to know?’

  ‘Walk me through it. Play by play.’

  ‘Raya and I were in the same room. When I went to sleep, she was there. When I woke up, she wasn’t.’

  ‘Did you hear her leave at any point during—?’

  ‘No. I slept all the way through the night. Didn’t wake up once. Didn’t hear a thing.’

  ‘Are you usually a deep sleeper?’

  ‘Not
really. Job stress and what not. In fact, back home I’m something of an insomniac. But I’d never exerted myself like that before. I wasn’t prepared for how hard the trekking would be. It sapped all the energy out of me. I slept like a log every night on the trail.’

  ‘So you’re assuming she got up to go to the bathroom and was snatched outside?’

  ‘I’m not assuming anything,’ Parker said, and for a moment King’s guard fell away. The guy had serious pain in his eyes — he was either a world-class actor, or honestly affected. ‘I can’t tell you what happened, or your superiors who contacted me earlier. If I knew anything, or even suspected anything, I’d tell you — I swear to God. But I don’t have the faintest clue. I don’t want to assume a thing, because what if…?’

  He trailed off, but King knew where he was headed. ‘What if you blame Perry but he turns out to be innocent?’

  Parker paused to ruminate, then nodded. ‘I understand he’s the prime suspect. But I just can’t bring myself to think it’s him. He’s been so loyal…’

  ‘You’d be surprised,’ King said, thinking back to all the betrayals he’d been privy to over the years. ‘Sometimes it’s the ones you least expect. Or, in this case, the one you most suspect…’

  ‘I don’t suspect him.’

  ‘You should.’

  ‘He couldn’t kill Winston like that.’

  ‘I mean, I’m sure he was physically capable. Whether he wanted to or not — that’s another thing.’

  ‘It’s not him.’

  ‘You’re certain?’

  Parker paused, and rubbed his brow, and finally said, ‘No. I’m not certain.’

  ‘There we go.’

  ‘But it’s unlikely.’

  ‘Most of my career is based on “unlikely.”’

  ‘So what are you going to do?’ Parker said.

  ‘Slater and I will set off on the same route you were heading along until we get further intelligence. Trust me — every asset we have available is scouring Nepal for signs of your daughter.’

  ‘That’s good to hear.’

  ‘You don’t sound relieved.’

  ‘I’m not an idiot,’ Parker said. ‘I know how most kidnap cases involving the government and private security often end up. I didn’t get where I am today by being a giddy optimist.’

  ‘And where exactly are you today? That seems … unclear.’

  ‘You know how it is,’ Parker said. ‘It’s black operations. There’s no official ruleset for anything we do.’

  ‘If you had to narrow it down to a single sentence.’

  Parker sat still. Thinking hard. Then he said, ‘It’s tough.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘If I told you, it’d be exposing something I’ve been trying to keep secret for a few months now.’

  ‘You’re going to have to tell me if you want the best chance of finding your daughter.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because it sounds juicy,’ King said. ‘And if it’s juicy, then there’s the chance it’s leaked. And if it’s leaked, then there’ll be people wanting to make some money off it.’

  Parker winced. ‘Maybe you’re right.’

  ‘What do you do, Aidan?’

  Parker took a deep breath.

  ‘I’m planning a move into politics.’

  King said nothing.

  Parker said, ‘The highest level of politics.’

  ‘What — you’re just going to come out of nowhere and make a run for President? You’re not even in public office.’

  ‘I have connections. I’ve spent my whole life doing work behind the scenes. There’s people in high places who appreciate that.’

  King bowed his head. ‘That’s dynamite leverage to the right person.’

  Parker seemed to know what he was going to say. ‘Perry didn’t know.’

  ‘You sure?’

  ‘I didn’t tell him anything.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean he didn’t know.’

  King said, ‘I’m guessing a move into politics at the level you’re talking about comes with a bunch of big political donors.’

  Parker paused, then gave a reluctant nod.

  ‘So if Perry found out, he knows you’re now swimming up to your eyeballs in cash.’

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘But you could be. If you phrased it nicely to the donors.’

  Another pause.

  Another reluctant nod.

  King said, ‘It’s the bodyguard.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘You’re not looking at it objectively, then.’

  Parker bowed his head again, and took his face in his hands, and a guttural sob wracked him from head to toe.

  King watched closely.

  And a lightbulb went off in his head.

  In an instant, he knew Aidan Parker was faking it.

  22

  Slater knew within a couple of minutes that he wouldn’t get the information he needed.

  He sat Sejun down at one of the tables in the communal area. The guide was shy and reserved, but accommodating. He seemed to know only a smattering of English, but he didn’t look down or look away to accentuate the language barrier. He kept his attention squarely focused on Slater, and clasped his hands together in his lap, and sat up straight, and waited for the first question.

  Slater played the bad guy, but almost immediately realised he wouldn’t need to keep up the shtick for long.

  ‘Sejun, right?’

  The guide nodded. ‘Yes. That is my name.’

  ‘Tell me about the missing porter.’

  ‘Of course, sir. His name Mukta. He with company for three year, but he take other job sometimes.’

  ‘Is that normal?’

  ‘Yes. Porters work for different company. They take any job they offered. Not much money, you know? Need to keep getting…’

  He trailed off, snapping his fingers together, scrunching up his face, searching for the right word.

  ‘Consistent work?’ Slater said.

  Sejun nodded excitedly. ‘Yes. That’s it. Consistent. They need work all the time, to make enough. Very difficult work.’

  ‘Don’t you do the same thing?’

  Sejun half-smiled and shrugged his shoulders. ‘I no carry pack. That’s hard part of job.’

  ‘What did you think of Raya?’

  Sejun hesitated. ‘Of girl who was taken?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Very nice. I sometimes hear her and father … arguing.’

  Slater raised an eyebrow. ‘Is that so?’

  Sejun waved his dirty palms. ‘Yes, but not father who do this. I know that for sure. They argue about … father not being home. Not make father want to get rid of her, you know?’

  ‘Her father is always at work? That was her problem?’

  ‘Yes. She not happy. She want to see her dad.’

  Slater nodded. ‘Understandable.’

  ‘Yes. I think so too. I have little girl. I away a lot, on trek. But this is what I must do. You know? I must provide.’

  Slater gave another nod.

  Sejun said, ‘Do you think I have part in this?’

  Slater thought about how to respond, and then ultimately said, ‘No. I don’t.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because if you were guilty you wouldn’t be here. You have no reason to be here, other than caring for your client’s wellbeing. You could have disappeared along with the rest of them and put your head down until this all blew over. But you didn’t.’

  ‘But maybe I stay to take suspicion away…’

  Slater half-smiled. ‘I don’t think so, Sejun. And you don’t either.’

  The guide shrugged. ‘You and your friend — you go find her?’

  ‘We’re going to do our best.’

  ‘I wish I help more than this. Do you want me come with you? No worry about payment. I hope she safe. Want her to be safe.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you, but we’ll be okay.’

  ‘You know route?�
�

  ‘Not well.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘I don’t want to offend you, but we’re probably going to have to set a pace that’ll be hard to match.’

  Sejun raised a suspicious eyebrow. ‘I hear this before. Sometimes tourists think they can go fast. But these mountains … hard to go fast.’

  ‘We’re not most tourists.’

  ‘Yes, I see. Okay. You need something from me?’

  ‘Tell me what you think of Parker.’

  ‘He is good man.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘I spend time with him here. Three days. Whole time, he no seem bad. He care about daughter. He want her to be safe.’

  ‘Has he done anything that’s made you suspicious?’

  ‘No. No suspicious. He is telling truth with what he says.’

  Slater nodded, somewhat relieved. ‘Thank you, Sejun. I trust you.’

  ‘I’m glad. I don’t like to be suspected. I not bad person. I try to do right thing.’

  ‘You have,’ Slater said, and offered a hand. ‘Thank you for staying here with him. It sounds like he needed the support.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Slater slid out of his chair. ‘I’ll be right back. Need to check in with my friend.’

  ‘Good luck.’

  He patted Sejun reassuringly on the shoulder on the way past.

  He found them in a back room. Parker had his head on the table, seemingly wracked with emotion, and King was sitting across from him, bolt upright, watching and calculating.

  When Slater appeared in the doorway, King looked up.

  Parker didn’t.

  King said, ‘Glad you showed up. I need you here.’

  Slater said, ‘Why?’

  ‘Because he’s overacting.’

  Parker’s head bolted off the table, shocked.

  23

  Before Parker could utter a word, King said, ‘Shut up.’

  He added a certain aggressiveness to it.

  Parker obliged.

  King ushered Slater over, who took the seat beside him. Together they stared daggers at the greying, slightly-overweight man across from them. Parker didn’t know where to look. He stayed quiet, tears in his eyes, alternating between gazing into space and glancing briefly at each of them. But he couldn’t hold eye contact. Their gazes were withering. He paled in the face of it. It was fairly obvious he’d never been more uncomfortable.