Rex Dalton Thriller series Boxset 2

by J C Ryan

  “My brother was killed, along with my sister and my parents, in a terrorist explosion in Spain a few years back. I miss them every day. And I’d like to take back every careless word I said that might have made him feel he wasn’t worthy. What you said—that Kraisee couldn’t help—it hurt him.”

  Narong’s face fell. “I didn’t mean…”

  “I know you didn’t. I’m just saying, sometimes you have to lose something before you realize how much it meant to you. I reckon at times like these, family should support each other and must be extra sensitive about each other. If you lose Sunstra…”

  Narong was instantly furious. “We will not lose her unless your reckless scheme backfires! Leave my relationship with my brother out of this.”

  Rex nodded and excused himself. Digger needed a run, and his play to get Narong riled up instead of despairing had worked. Maybe it would also help Narong to acknowledge his rudeness and change the dynamic he had with his brother. That would be a good thing. He only felt a little bad about using the ploy to achieve his own ends.

  A partner paralyzed by despair is worse than no partner at all.

  When he got back into the house, Narong was deep in study of the list of people who’d called the rescue coordination center’s phone number. As soon as he finished and narrowed the list to politicians and others who might have an interest in the Chevapravatgumrong land, they’d start visiting each one to question them and assess who might know something.

  As Rehka had said, it was a long shot. Maybe one of the people whose name Narong didn’t know was responsible, but they had to start somewhere. Rex knew it to be what policemen dreaded most, the painstaking attention to detail that turned up a clue, which led to another and another. Only they had a limited amount of time before their stall tactics backfired. For now, the ball was in the court of the kidnappers to supply proof of life, but once they’d done that the clock would start ticking again.

  Out of the more than one hundred names on the list, Narong knew about half slightly, but only a dozen or so did he know to be corrupt or in a position to benefit from his family’s land. The most expedient way of questioning them all was to start with the one whose home or place of business was nearest. That happened to be a minor bureaucrat within the Natural Resources department who lived nearby.

  Half an hour later, they left the bureaucrat’s home with Narong second-guessing the strategy. “I have made an enemy that I didn’t have before. It will have consequences.”

  “You can apologize later, Narong. What’s important now is Sunstra. We’re running out of time. Who on your list is someone who has tried before to get your father to sell, even if it seemed friendly?”

  Narong read over his short-list and pointed to one name. “I know this man has bothered my father before. He is the undersecretary of mining and development in the Natural Resources department.”

  “Then let’s go talk to him.”

  Fortunately, the man they were going to visit lived a short distance from where they started. Narong thought he might be in his office, though, which was in downtown Phuket. That turned out to be the case when they found only his wife and a servant at his home. They took polite leave of the wife without giving their names or indicating that they had some urgent matter to discuss with her husband. They left her with the message that it was nothing important, and they would phone his office and set up a meeting for later in the week.

  Arriving at the undersecretary’s office, at first, their errand was impeded by an administrative assistant who told them firmly the undersecretary could not be disturbed if they didn’t have an appointment. It took only five-hundred bhat to ‘remind’ the assistant that they did indeed have an appointment.

  The undersecretary sprang from his chair when they were ushered in. Another two-hundred and fifty bhat had ensured that the assistant wouldn’t remind the undersecretary of their appointment. After all, it was on his calendar, no?

  While the assistant scurried back to his desk to make sure the appointment showed up when the undersecretary looked later, Narong and Rex were advancing on the man in a threatening manner.

  Rex signaled Digger to be quiet, though. He didn’t want the dog’s presence to become an issue before it was really necessary, and besides, he’d promised Narong not to get in his way if it came to a fight. He allowed Narong to gain a step on him and take the lead in the questioning.

  Narong wasted no time in going on the offensive. “Where is my sister?” he demanded.

  Rex observed the undersecretary’s body language and expressions as he carefully arranged his face to appear surprised.

  “Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he exclaimed. “Why would I know who your sister is, not to mention where she is. Who are you, anyway?”

  Narong’s fists were clenched as he took another step forward, getting right in the undersecretary’s face. “Mee Noi, you know very well who I am. You know my family, and you definitely know my sister. I’m only going to ask you one more time. What interest do you have in my father’s land, and what have you done with my sister?”

  Mee Noi, whose name meant Little Bear, which at this stage, might as well have meant ‘Little Shaky’, took a step back and tried to bluff an answer again. “Oh, Narong! Now I recognize you. But I still don’t know what you mean. What’s this about your father’s land? And your sister?”

  Narong’s patience, not long in the first place, was exhausted. He drew a fist back and punched Mee Noi square in the face. Blood spurted from the man’s nose, and he let out a small cry. Rex immediately backed up to the door. He felt it bump against his back as someone tried to get in to respond to the cry. But he was more than a match for the slightly-built assistant, so the door would open only an inch.

  Over his shoulder, he said, “No worries, just a small accident. The undersecretary just bumped into something—all is good here. Nothing to worry about.”

  His assurances must have satisfied the assistant, who stopped trying to open the door. Rex leaned back and closed it all the way, then locked it.

  Meanwhile, Mee Noi had snatched a handkerchief out of his suit pocket and staunched the flow of blood. “You’ll pay dearly for that,” he snarled.

  Narong answered, “I don’t think you understand the situation. If you don’t tell me where my sister is immediately, I have a good mind to pitch you out that window. Your assistant is cheaply bought. No one will ever know why you decided to jump out the window.”

  Mee Noi deflated like a pricked balloon. “Wait. There’s no need for violence. I do not know where your sister is, but Ritthirong Kachonpadunkitti may. Go and ask him. And by the way, I have no interest in your father’s land.”

  “I know you’re lying. If my sister is harmed, I will return to finish this,” Narong threatened. “And if Ritthirong has been warned before we get to him, I’ll do the same.”

  “I promise,” Mee Noi stuttered. “I have nothing to do with this, and I’ve forgotten Ritthirong’s number.”

  “I’m sure your assistant will have it.”

  Narong nodded once, gave Mee Noi another stern look backed up by shaking his fist in the man’s face, and turned toward the door. Rex kept an eye on Mee Noi, in case he had a weapon in the desk. When Narong reached him, he flipped the lock on the door and opened it, backing out in Narong’s wake after Digger also went through.

  On the way out, they got the telephone number and address for Ritthirong Kachonpadunkitti from the very cooperative assistant.

  Downstairs, Rex asked if Narong knew Ritthirong.

  “Yes. He is one of my patients, in fact. Mee Noi was lying when he said he wasn’t part of this. Ritthirong is a mercenary, not a politician. If he’s involved, my sister is in physical danger, and you were right all along. He would have no compunction in having his own sick fun with her before killing her, whether or not my father complies with the demands.”

  Without commenting on Narong’s medical practice and how he knew so much about a dubious
patient, Rex let Digger into the car and got in himself. They’d been using Narong’s car, since he knew his way around the city. Now he headed northwest, toward an area where the tsunami of 2004 had taken thousands of lives. Rex kept to himself the worry that loss of life had happened again only yesterday, or the day before. He wasn’t certain, so much had happened since the sirens woke him.

  Another half hour of driving brought them to the outskirts of a populous area almost due north and across a bay from the village where Sunstra’s parents’ beach house had been. Though it was only about nine miles from the center of Phuket according to Rex’s mapping app on his cellphone, the roads didn’t go directly there, but meandered as if they’d been laid out by a young puppy. Their drive along the coast was hindered by detours around low areas where the tsunami had left floodwaters trapped by higher land between them and the sea.

  By the time they arrived in Naka Thani Village, Narong was nearly crazy with his worry about what was happening to Sunstra. He was driving recklessly enough that Rex felt the need to warn him to slow down within the village, before he killed a pedestrian.

  “I can’t,” Narong muttered. “What if he…”

  To distract him and get an idea of what they were walking into, Rex asked Narong how he knew of Ritthirong and his status as a mercenary.

  “I have a lot of ex-military patients,” Narong answered. “Because I’m ex-military myself, they come to me from all over Phuket Island, and even beyond. Some have injuries from skirmishes or from training accidents that have lifelong consequences. For some, I’m a sympathetic shoulder to unburden themselves of bitterness and resentments they still carry from their military service. Ritthirong is unusual in that respect. He is not bitter or resentful, but he lost a foot to a training accident, and the stump occasionally needs care.”

  “I don’t understand,” Rex said. “He’s disabled, but still a mercenary?”

  “I said he lost a foot, not that he is disabled. He does not let it stop him. And I know of his occupation because he brags about it. Because of doctor-patient confidentiality, I cannot report him to authorities.”

  Rex thought for a moment, then said, “So he’s not just a thug. He’s a hit-man, with military training, and a cunning one at that.”

  “Precisely. Let me repeat my warning to you. Don’t get in my way. If he attacks us, stay back, so I can defend myself, and you by extension.”

  Rex nodded. “Just one favor. I know you’re anxious about Sunstra, and so am I. But Digger needs a run, and I think we need some planning. Pull over.”

  “No, there’s no time.”

  “Listen. You admitted I was right before. Stop now. The dog needs a break and we need a plan. You can’t just storm in there half-cocked.”

  Narong reluctantly agreed and pulled over next to a park, under the shade of a large tree. They all got out of the car, and Rex took Digger off the leash so he could have a runabout and do his thing. While they waited for him to come back, Narong took up his argument again.

  “I don’t know what plans you think we can make. I’m going to knock on the door and gain entrance with some ruse. You stay outside.”

  Rex began by placating Narong. “I stayed out of the way at the undersecretary’s office, didn’t I?”

  “You did well, and it was helpful when you kept the assistant out of the office. But this is an entirely different matter. You could be badly hurt. I can’t have you distracting me. I will have my hands full and won’t be able to rescue you. This is about my sister. In fact, I think it would be better if I leave you and your dog here while I take care of matters.”

  Rex had just about enough of Narong’s arrogance. It was obvious Narong was not thinking clearly. There was nothing wrong with healthy confidence. But the way Narong was acting, he was about to get himself and maybe Sunstra killed.

  It was time to set Narong straight.

  Rex looked Narong in the eyes and spoke soft and measuredly. “No, I won’t stay outside, and I won’t be left here. I can help, and I will. Get over it.”

  Rex expected an argument. What he didn’t expect was for Narong to take a swipe at him with a closed fist. He parried it automatically, and the fight was on.

  If Narong was surprised at a ‘disabled’ man knowing how to fight, he didn’t show it. It soon became clear he was a Muay Thai master. Without missing a beat when Rex countered his punch, Narong twisted at the hips and came up with a vicious knee aimed straight for Rex’s jaw. Rex twisted out of the way, grabbed the knee and pushed back. He didn’t want to injure Narong, although he could have done so with ease. His goal was only to stop his senseless aggression. By the sounds of it, to take on Ritthirong they’d both need to be in top physical condition.

  From the corner of his eye, Rex saw Digger charging and yelled, “Stop!” Digger took a few more steps before coming to a stop. Rex was fully engaged with Narong, who hadn’t reacted to the command, recovered from Rex’s push, and moved in again.

  This time, he was more cautious and didn’t try to kick at Rex. Rex’s parries were lightning-quick, and maybe Narong had enough reason operating to know he’d end up on his back if he used his feet again. Instead, he protected his face and head with raised arms and approached in a boxer stance.

  Rex’s fighting style used a blend of techniques from the various martial arts at which he was an expert. If he’d needed to disable Narong, he would’ve used Krav Maga. The philosophy of which was to disable an opponent with force as quickly and efficiently as possible—even pre-emptively. Rex was ruthlessly effective at it, and he could have killed Narong in less than a minute if that had been his mission. But it wasn’t.

  Rex’s Tai Chi expertise was a more effective method for what he had in mind. Its philosophy was more or less the exact opposite of Krav Maga, which was to stop aggression and not to disable the opponent.

  Eventually, after Rex had dodged, parried or ducked all of what Narong threw at him, and receiving a few light blows from Rex in the process, Narong dropped his arms and stepped back.

  As if they’d been engaging in a formal sparring match at a dojo, he bowed in Rex’s direction—with a stupefied look on his face.

  Rex returned the gesture.

  Narong, still befuddled, spoke first. “You are not what you seemed.” He used a quiet, calm tone. Gone was the arrogance and anger he’d spoken with before. If he wasn’t exactly humble, at least he was no longer cocky.

  Rex extended his hand, an invitation to shake hands with a worthy opponent. Narong took it firmly. “I think you’d better tell me who and what you are.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “THAT’S NOT RELEVANT to our situation,” Rex answered. “In fact, if you ever talk about this or what we do next, we’ll have another fight, and then I won’t hold back.”

  The intense stare from Rex’s dark eyes that accompanied those words apparently convinced Narong to swear to secrecy. “I won’t. Believe me. Tell me this, though. Are you a tactical expert?”

  “Among other things,” Rex answered calmly. “Now, shall we get down to business? We need to reconnoiter before we go barging in like raging bulls and get Sunstra killed. Once we know who is in the house, where they’re deployed, and what kind of firepower they have, then we can plan how to get in.”

  “Okay. But… what if she’s not there?”

  “Narong listen to yourself! For a man with such high education and specialist military training, you ask stupid questions. Stop thinking about the what ifs until we have established the facts.”

  “But… What if they don’t agree to give proof of life?”

  “Didn’t you listen to what I just said? Well, if you really want to know, and I hate to say it, Narong, but the only reason to refuse is if they can’t. If they’ve already killed…”

  “Stop! I can’t hear that. Let’s do it your way, and may your Christian God help you if the delay costs her life.”

  “Narong, I thought we’d settled this. Your threats do nothing but annoy me, and w
e don’t have time for that. Let’s go.”

  With an uneasy truce established and Digger keeping a wary watch on them, they got back into the car and approached the address where Ritthirong lived.

  Rex was unconvinced they’d hold Sunstra there, but it was the only lead they had.

  He had Narong park about a block away.

  “How will we discover everything you want to know?” Narong asked.

  “We’re going to watch the house for the rest of the day, and then I’m going to send Digger in closer for a look inside.”

  “But what help will that be? He can’t tell you what he sees!”

  “Just trust me. He’s also not what he seems, and you aren’t to talk about that, either.”

  By now, Narong was thoroughly confused about his companions, but he had enough time to compose himself and enough reason to relent and go with what Rex suggested.

  “All right. How do you want to watch the house?”

  “I’m going to find some place where I can watch the back and the grounds. You get a little closer in the car, but try to pick a place where you won’t be observed. Watch the front, make a note of who comes and who goes, whether they’re carrying anything out or in, whatever you see, and report it to me. Give me your cell phone number. And by the way, silence the ringer. We don’t want to call attention to you if someone from the house happens to be passing by. I’ll do the same.”

  Rex would have paid a lot of money to have the same kind of comms setup he had with Digger. However, he neither had any spare equipment for a human nor the time to go and buy it. He had only Digger’s night rig in the backpack he’d left the house with. They’d need it in an hour or so when it got dark.

  He was making himself comfortable in a tree that overlooked Ritthirong’s back yard when he felt his phone vibrate. He answered and said “Go,” very quietly.

  Narong’s voice came through. “I just heard from my father. The kidnappers have agreed to provide proof of life. He managed to get them to agree to bring it to him in person. They’re going to meet him in Bangkok in three hours.”