Police In Private
CAMILLA WAITED OUTSIDE THE police station. A tourist policewoman came out. Camilla walked across towards her.
'Excuse me, can you spare me a minute? I guess that as you are tourist police, you can speak English?'
'Yes, how can I help?'
'First, please accept this small gift for your favourite charity. Then do me a favour. I noticed the set of golf clubs in Officer Ajaan's office. Please ask him to call me at my hotel. Here is the telephone number and my room number.'
Camilla gave the female officer her best smile. She also handed her an envelope containing cash and a piece of paper with her details.
'Tell him I need some help to get my handicap down, amongst other things.'
The smile got bigger and was catching. Finally, the grinning lady pocketed five hundred Baht and went back indoors.
Camilla guessed she would meet her contact reasonably soon, so she returned to the hotel and waited.
At the station, uniforms were talking, 'Sir, excuse me, but that pretty girl.'
She turned and pointed out of the window, thin air.
'She was just there, anyway; she wants to discuss her handicap.'
'What are you talking about? Is she injured? No one is there, and if she's not limping, I'm not a golf teacher?'
'No, sir. Let me explain more; she is exquisite and likes you. Here are her hotel and room numbers.'
'You don't think I would waste my time on something like this, I hope?'
'No, Sir.'
She carried on with whatever she was doing.
When she was out of sight, Ajaan cleared his desk and searched for his next conquest.
There was a gentle tap at Camilla's door.
'Come in. Please make yourself at home.'
The mini bar was opened, and a beer or tonic water was offered. The policeman chose the beer. He sat holding his brew expectantly and looked Camilla up and down approvingly.
'I'll get straight to the point and not waste your time. I assume you can speak English as a senior officer in a tourist town?'
A confused nod from the officer met her.
'No, I don't want advice on my swing, and I don't want sex, at least not with you.'
'Then what do you want?'
'I know you are a drug dealer.'
Aggression and worry showed themselves in equal measure. First, a double slap in the face for the policeman, now looking around for a hidden accomplice or a tape recorder.
'Please calm down. You being a dealer is good. I need to make a large purchase.'
She carried on, 'Don't waste my time by denying it. This deal will make you rich. It is too good to miss.'
When the dealer/policeman was sure she was a big player, he allowed her to continue with the deal's details.
'What? How many?'
'Oh, too rich for you?'
'Not that, but I can't get that amount instantly.'
'Then what do you suggest?'
'I must make a call.'
'Go ahead then, don't worry, I won't cut you out of the deal. You can speak Thai, and then I won't understand.'
'The deal is with a "falang" and will be conducted in English.'
'That is what I hoped,' she thought to herself.
'Joe, I have someone with me, a beautiful girl, who wants to buy a huge quantity of our goods.'
'Really? You have checked, and she is not with the police. Haha, I'm only joking. I mean the real police, the international ones.'
'She is a big dealer from Bangkok.'
'Yeah? How come I've not come across her before?'
'Do you want to speak to her? Then you can ask her yourself.'
The phone was handed to Camilla.
'So, young lady, who are you? Who are you working for?'
Now Camilla was on the spot; she hadn't expected a grilling. Luckily, she worked for an international press agency. She went through old press details in her memory.
'I expect you've heard of Mickey "The Grief" Jones?'
'And?'
'I have been working for him. He wasn't happy when I said I wanted to go it alone. He must have seen competition coming from me. So he said if he ever saw or even heard of me working in London, he would put me through a mincer. You know he would. So I tried overseas.'
'Right, but to prove you know Mickey, what is unusual about him?'
Now she was thinking, casting long and deep, what the hell it was that set him apart from other criminals.
'He is a real gent, lovely voice. He went to a posh school.'
'Yes, what else?'
She remembered just in time.
'He had a little finger missing. Or should I say half of it? He had it cut off to show his loyalty to the Japanese Yakuza. He did it in penance for his younger brother who cheated at Baccarat.' The article came flooding back. She continued.
'Not forgetting his extensive tattoos. Which are Japanese style.'
'That proves you know him, and it does not prove that you are "safe" to do business with.'
'What more do you want? I can get Mike as a customer for you. Would that help?'
Now, it was Joe's turn to consider the offer. He knew their production was down. How much should they rely on Mad Mike's ability? Could they supply the whole of London? It was too good a chance to miss. He must ask his boss.
'Please put Ajaan on again.'
'Yes, Joe, what do you want me to do.'
'We may arrange a deal. Call me tomorrow at 3 pm.