A kidnapped son



'"HOME AGAIN, SKYLAB, it must be your turn to put the kettle on?" As it was always Skylab's turn, there was a good chance it was her turn again.

Kev, Skylab's English boyfriend, was a gentleman. They had known him to take his turn with jobs around their home; it was just that no one could remember when.

Skylab liked looking after her man. It was the Thai way. Skylab was not her real name; her grandmother gave her the unusual nickname because she would not sit still as a child; she hadn't changed.

"Skylab! Have you seen this?"

He held his arm aloft, flapping the newspaper's pages. The Bangkok Post is one of two national daily papers written in English. Skylab, carrying mugs of steaming tea, moved near his cluttered desk.

"No, what has happened now? Don't tell me Tottenham Hotspur lost?"

"Very funny! No, a gang stopped the Cha Am mayor's car and shot him!"

"Oh God! He has been trying to stop that new casino from opening. I bet it's got something to do with that."

"I thought you didn't gamble."

"I don't!"

"You just offered me a bet."

Kev grinned in his impish way. He enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend unless the topic of marriage cropped up! They would get married eventually. But not now!

Kev carried on reading.

"A passing motorcyclist witnessed the murder. He said a man with a bad limp shot the mayor. And then set him on fire!"

"How terrible; I hope he died straight away from the bullet. Imagine the pain if you burn to death!"

"It says that other members of the gang looked away. Especially when the killer set the driver alight, too!"

"I bet the hitman is mad!"

"You gambling again?"

"Shut up!"

They had only just returned home after being called out on a mission of mercy for a lady they hardly knew.

~

Two days earlier, the office phone rang.

"Hello, can I speak to Skylab?"

"Speaking, how can I help?"

"Don't you expect you to remember me? We met in Pat and Mike's Headrock Bar a few months ago. I was with my son, Jimmy. You are more likely to remember him!"

Pat and her boyfriend Mike, great friends of both Skylab and Kev, ran a popular drinking place. Mike was originally from Wales; he left the country at his father's request. It was not thought that Mike would help the family's accountancy business if his talent as an under-the-radar chemist became known to the company's clients! Pat is Thai; she was born in England and schooled at one of the United Kingdom's best ladies' schools on the South Coast. Her father had been the Thai Ambassador to London.

Now, Pat and Mike ran one of Kev and Skylab's favourite bars. They were great hosts and often held themed parties and various off-beat functions, St. David's Day in this case. Complimentary beer if you came dressed as a dragon! Several serious drinkers, including a young lad named Jimmy, took Mike up on the deal. Who looked spectacular in a red outfit with a long tail and a giant mask. The only problem was that the mouth wouldn't open wide enough for the wearer to drink bottled beer. Naturally, Jimmy removed the headgear.

"Sorry mate, no free beer for you."

"What, why?"

"The rules say you must be fully clothed to get the free beer!"

"But that is not fair!"

Remembering the Welsh national day and the dragon with no head got Skylab thinking back to the evening with Pat.

"Let me think?"

As Skylab silently signalled to Kev for some assistance.

"I remember you because of your unusual name, sorry. But I also remember you told me about your job and how you like helping people."

"Yes, I remember. You are from Liverpool, is that correct?"

"Bootle, born and bred, that's me."

"Sorry I can't remember your name, but how can I help?"

"Call me Mags. Actually, it is Margaret."

"Anyway, you didn't call to talk about names."

"No, much more serious, I'm afraid. They have kidnapped my son!"

Skylab's eyes widened, her jaw dropped.

~

Kev had lived in the seaside resort of Hua Hin for over five years. In the first year, a plane nearly crashed into him at Bangkok's airport; he had been shot at and had a grenade thrown at him. The grenade attempt on his life was when his best friend, Nick, was killed. But even after all that, he loved Hua Hin and Skylab. But, they are not married, a topic that rises to the surface too often. Kev is not religious, so getting legally married is just a piece of paper. However, to Skylab, it is far more critical.

Life was comfortable; they were running a successful business. Naturally, it was not all smooth.

Kev and Skylab's business together is to help find suitable accommodation for overseas visitors, either long-term or for people looking to retire here. Or spend a few days enjoying the beach. Several visitors were passing through. At the moment, more ex-patriots were hunting for a change in their lives. People were looking for something to occupy themselves long-term. Bars appear to be a popular choice. They wanted businesses with or without living space. People also ask Skylab to provide services for town folk, usually ex-pats, who need visas, translate documents, and provide general advice to the increasing number of 'falangs' or foreigners moving into the region.

The town they call home, Hua Hin, is a seaside resort south of Bangkok. Because of never-ending road works and the wider vehicle ownership, the trip takes over four hours. The new folk wanted to live in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

If you look at a map, picture a triangle. Bangkok at the peak, Hua Hin takes the left point while Pattaya the right.

Pattaya, more famous for its raunchy nightlife, was better known. The city was just across the bay. It is often deemed too loud, too busy, and sometimes dangerous - not the best place to settle in. Therefore, Hua Hin and the next town along the beach, Cha Am, were the picks for people wanting a more relaxed, worry-free existence.

Because of its increasing popularity, bars, offices, and homes for people wanting to rent or buy were often in demand, and Kev and Skylab were busy. Another line of their services was advising on and offering building works, which they passed on to Skylab's cousin, Dam. He is a capable young man, well trained as a construction engineer. Unlike Kev, who is better at talking rather than doing! Dam runs a successful business offering simple repair work, from building extensions to building houses. Kev, Skylab, and Dam work together from a centrally placed office near the crossroads at the main junction in the middle of town.

Kev and his girlfriend have acted as agents for finding pretty much anything. Now, they were about to add another string to their bow: working as a kidnapper go-between.

~

Skylab was a Bangkok girl, she had grown up and been schooled in the capital city. She had been moved down to Hua Hin by her uncle, who had befriended the young Englishman and given him a start in the town. Her first task was to teach Kev to speak Thai. She had to work for the family. The Hua Hin side of the family-owned and ran a guesthouse directly opposite her office. She had qualified as an English language teacher in Bangkok. Her uncle was a Second World War hero. He served with the Brits in Burma. The well-respected man had offered her a first job, part of which was helping out in the guest house; the other part of her work led to her falling in love while trying to get Kev to speak Thai.

~

"Kev has picked up the telephone's extension; he needs to hear what you say."

"Hi, Mags, it's Kev; please tell us exactly what happened."

"I got a call from Jimmy late last night. He sounded terrible. 'Mum, I'm blindfolded, and there are several people around me, hitting and prodding me. They want one thousand pounds, or they will kill me. That's what he said, then shouted, 'no police'. What do you think?"

"Extremely worrying! But you must go to the police. We work in property, not crime."

"I am not sure about talking to the police; I've no confidence in the Bobbies in Liverpool, let alone in Thailand."

There were a few seconds of silence while Skylab exchanged glances with Kev. Mags carried on.

"Pat and Mad Mike told me you are involved with more than just property."

"Okay, maybe we have been drawn into other things, not on purpose, I assure you. Let me recommend that you tell Mr Black from the British Embassy what has happened; he would suggest you talk to his colleague Captain Wattana, a senior officer in the special branch based in Bangkok."

"I'll do whatever you say. May I ask another favour? Could you talk to them for me, please? After all, you know them?"

~

The Embassy man had become their friend over the previous years as they got drawn together sorting out Kev's worries!

"Mr Black, how are you? It's been a while since we spoke. We have a British man down here who has been kidnapped from his guest house!"

"Oh no! As if we don't have enough to do! I'll call Skip for you."

Police captain Wattana was also captain of Black's cricket team, hence the nickname Skip - another helpful man for resolving dangerous situations.

"Ah, Kev, how are you? It's been a while since we last talked. Black told me you wanted to talk to me?"

People are often surprised by Skip's love of all things English. After spending a year with London's Metropolitan Police, he fell in love with village cricket and cream scones.

Before Kev could get a word in, Skip continued.

"You must be happy with the Test scores? Have you seen any of the matches? Oh, and I hear you want to join our cricket team?"

"I've only seen the scores in the paper, cricket is not on our television! And yes, I'd love a game with you guys. But more importantly, we have a kidnapping to deal with."

"Black did tell me, but very briefly. It seems he is swamped. Is this kidnapping of a foreigner, a first for Hua Hin? I wonder!"

"I've never heard of another case. They have taken a young English lad as a hostage. Under duress, he called his mum in Liverpool, demanding one thousand pounds for his release."

"Not very much?"

"No, not really, I guess they normally ask for more?"

"Indeed, they usually ask for millions of Baht. Whatever you can find out, please inform me. It will be invaluable."

"Hello, Mags; I've been in touch with the Embassy and a senior policeman you can trust. They need to know more. Some details about Jimmy. About his home here, where he goes, people he mixes with, things like that."

Kev was unsure whether to mention the next question, but he did so.

"Also, has he ever been in trouble with the police in England?"

"As a kid growing up? In Liverpool? They nicked him for thieving, nothing serious. Naturally, I will do anything I can to help."

"First, we need his address. We will go and look around. To see if the kidnappers left any clues. May tip us off, who they are or where they may be."

Skylab asked, "Were they Thais or English?"

Mags told Kev all she knew. She had only heard Jimmy speaking; he didn't say what nationality they were. She also offered to pay for Skylab and Kev's time and any expenses. Even with a young lad in danger, Kev couldn't help rubbing his hands.

Skylab shouted across the office.

"Kev, Skip is calling."

"Look, Kev, I wouldn't normally ask this, but as we've worked together before, and I know you are a capable person, can you pop around to his address and see if there are any obvious clues? If there are, I'll send one of my men down."

Skip wanted to say, 'The local force doesn't like it if I tread on their toes, but honestly, I don't trust them to do their job properly. Usually, they are too busy playing cards. Naturally, I didn't say that!' He was far too polite to say what was in his mind.

"Okay Skip, I'll get on to it straight away."

~

Jimmy's address showed he had been living in a relatively new four-storey guesthouse in Soi Bintaban, the town's bar street.

Odd how it all panned out. The town planners didn't imagine this small road would get so busy. The street of nightly pleasures had been built up, grown in size, and excelled in this Soi. Soi, meaning 'lane', and Bintaban translates as the 'way of the monk'; in other words, where a monk goes to collect his alms each morning. The main temple in Hua Hin is at the bottom of Soi Bintaban.

Certainly not the ideal name for the area where tourists go to find their 'paid for' friends.