“Don’t move. You’re under arrest.”
Chapter 34
Pattaya
The policeman was sixty if a day, short and stout, a green beret tugged low over one eye, salt-and-pepper hair cut short. His name tag readSUWANNARAT.
“So I understand you are a businessman,” he said, taking a chair opposite Simon. “What line of work are you in?”
“Self-preservation, for one.”
The policeman eyed the two men lying on the floor with disgust and ordered his men to take them out. “Your present situation may put those skills to a greater test,” he said after they had left. “Name?”
“Ledoux. Simon Ledoux.”
“You’re sure?” The police officer removed his beret and set it on the desk, then his sunglasses on top of it. With the same precision, he unbuttoned his pocket and removed a piece of paper, folded in quarters. With care, he spread it on his leg. “You do remember that a photograph was taken as you entered the Spanish embassy? For your ID?” He held up the photocopy so Simon could see it. Simon said nothing.
“Every police officer in the country has one of these, Mr. SimonRiske.On order of the king. He’s quite upset, as you can imagine. Things like this reflect poorly on his country. Added to that, Colonel Albert Tan was a close friend. Practically a relative. Did you know that we only recently reinstated the death penalty? So far, the means used has been lethal injection. The king is talking of bringing back the firing squad just for you.”
“I’m flattered,” said Simon. “But you have the wrong man. I didn’t kill Colonel Tan or anyone else.”
“Says the sole survivor last seen fleeing the compound.” The policeman sighed. “Really, Mr. Riske. Give us some credit. Save your story for the judge, or perhaps the king himself. By law, he can involve himself in matters like these. You’ll have plenty of time to fashion something more credible than ‘You have the wrong man.’ A year until trial, at least. Five years until you’re executed. Maybe ten. We like to appear fair-minded. The king will make sure you serve your time in an appropriate location. There’s a prison up the river that we keep for our most special guests.”
“This is a mistake,” said Simon. “You know I’m not the killer. I was there to help my friend, Mr. De Bourbon. It was another man. Shorter than me. Mixed race. There are cameras all over the embassy.”
“Disabled. All of them. Another of your business skills, perhaps…along with beating up two of my men?”
“They were police officers? I didn’t know.”
“Of course not. Those two aren’t fit to wear a probationer’s uniform. They are my employees. We are sitting in my establishment. I’m the proprietor.”
“You own this place? The Awake Till Dawn?”
“And Awake Till Dawn 2 and 3.”
Simon sat forward. “You’re Sergeant Rudi?”
“Major Rudi these days. A bit old for the rank, but yes, I used to be Sergeant Rudi. I’m Ben Sterling’s friend.” The policeman told Simon to stand and unlocked his handcuffs. He held Simon’s wrists for a closer look. The skin was abraded where Shaka’s bonds had cut into him. “We didn’t put the cuffs on that tightly.”
“That’s another story,” said Simon.
“I’m sure we’ll come to it.”
“Did Ben tell you what I needed?”
“Passport and a way out of the country. He doesn’t realize the trouble you’re in. Do you have any kind of identification?”
Simon shook his head. “I’ve had a rough few days.”
Rudi removed a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket and shook one loose, tilting his head as he lit it. “Now I begin to see. Any preference for nationality?”
“Swiss, European Union, Canadian—I’m not certain where my travels may take me. I’d like to avoid any visa requirements.”
“Is there anything else you’d like? Say a flying carpet?”
“Just a passport. One that meets all biometric standards and won’t raise any red flags. Oh…and I need it today.”
Major Rudi considered this, a long drag, a look at his boots. He exhaled and looked at Simon with a new determination. “If I were able to help you, such a document would be quite expensive. Friend or no friend. Excuse me for saying, but you do not appear to be especially prosperous at the moment. The people involved to make such a document…if I knew where to find them…the short delay. Yes, extraordinarily expensive.” He dropped the cigarette on the floor and crushed it under his boot. “There is something else…”
