KIDNAP
Later that day, Cavalier went for a lone ride on the family motorcycle, familiarising himself with No Man’s Land. He drove beyond the border point, pulled into a hotel and used a public phone to ring the American running the Chiang Mai plane-hire company.
‘Could you leave a Cessna at Mae Sot airport?’
‘Sure,’ the American said. ‘I’ll prepare a flight plan for you and notify the Mae Sot manager; when will you pick it up?’
‘Probably tomorrow night.’
‘The keys will be left in the ignition.’
‘Who do I see?’
‘After ten p.m., no one. The airport, such as it is, closes down at that time. There is no rule about flying out in a small plane. It will most likely be the only one there.’
*
Early afternoon the next day, Pin drove the family Toyota to her daughter’s school a few kilometres away, still in No Man’s Land. Cavalier insisted on going with her. Farn sat in the back seat, her eyes still showing considerable bruising. She was most concerned about her daughter’s actions, and agreed with Cavalier that this move was risky. Despite their protests, Pin, in an aggressive mood, was hell-bent on her mission. She had her bag packed and would go straight to the bus depot after taking her daughter.
Pin pointed out a lonely farmhouse, barely discernible among trees on a small hill about a hundred metres from the road.
‘That is where my ex lives in squalor,’ Pin said, ‘with about half a dozen of his crim cronies. And my daughter.’
A kilometre further on, they arrived at the preschool. About thirty children were playing in a yard outside the brick schoolhouse. Two female teachers could be seen sitting outside, watching the children.
‘You two stay in the car,’ Pin ordered. She tapped the gun in a pocket of her windcheater jacket, jumped from the Toyota and hurried about fifty metres to the children. She grabbed Far, who looked pleased and surprised. Just as Pin hastened back to the car with Far, a tall, bearded Thai with long, thick, unkempt hair emerged from one of several cars on the verge of the yard. It was Kun. He was followed by two other men. The three of them rushed to cut off her run. Cavalier jumped from the Toyota.
‘No, Kun,’ Pin cried, ‘no! I’m taking her!’
Pin stumbled. She and Far fell to the ground. Pin groped for her daughter but Kun and his companion were upon them. Cavalier reached them. Kun pulled out a handgun, forcing Cavalier to stop. Kun’s companion hoisted the kicking, screaming child onto his hip, as a third Thai came running to support Kun. Cavalier pulled Pin away. When Kun and his companions reached their car, she pulled out her pistol. Cavalier took it from her.
‘No!’ he said. ‘They have weapons!’
Kun’s car sped past. He was in the back seat. He aimed his gun, causing Cavalier to pull Pin to the ground a split second before three bullets ripped into the Toyota, just missing a crouching Farn in the back seat.
*
Cavalier and her mother were adamant—Pin had to leave Mae Sot. She admitted that she had to be back at work by the next day.
‘He will come after you,’ Farn insisted. ‘You must leave.’
‘You jump on that bus as planned,’ Cavalier said. ‘I’ll stay until later today.’
Pin, emotionally broken by the kidnap attempt, was in no state to argue. Her mother and Cavalier drove her to the bus. Gone was the brave person ready to fight for her daughter. The strain had been too much.
‘That’s a problem with bipolars,’ she whispered tearfully, ‘we can take on the world when we’re on a high. But when the lows hit …’
‘I think you should seek medication.’
Pin kissed him.
‘I mean it,’ Cavalier insisted. ‘You were very brave today. Braver than me.’
‘You’ve been supportive. That’s what matters.’
Cavalier didn’t respond.
‘Promise me you won’t approach Kun with money,’ Pin insisted.
‘Almost all people have a price. I think I understand Kun’s price.’
‘Vic, you mustn’t see him!’
‘I’ll stay until midnight, and take the last bus.’
After a tearful farewell, Pin, with Serena the doll underarm, left on the bus.
Farn drove Cavalier back to her house. She cooked a meal for him and they watched local TV with the rest of the family, hoping that the incident they’d been part of did not make the news.
Two policemen arrived after dark. Farn pushed Cavalier out of sight into a bathroom. They interrogated her, unaware she had been present at the schoolyard. Farn told them Pin had returned to Chiang Mai. She innocently asked what it was about. The police ignored her.
‘If there has been any trouble over my granddaughter,’ she said bravely, ‘I hope you are going to question her pig of a father!’
The policemen glanced at each other.
‘We have spoken to him,’ one said.
‘He is a bad man; a murderer!’ Farn said. ‘You should speak to him again, and ask him about how he beat me up! How he and his criminal friends abuse my granddaughter. She is only four years old!’
‘All right, calm down,’ one of them replied to appease her. ‘We shall question Kun about that.’
The policemen departed, with Farn shouting about Kun.
Cavalier prepared his backpack.
‘I may not return,’ he said. ‘It’s too dangerous for me. I can’t afford to be interrogated by the police.’
‘With police asking questions, even he won’t try anything here,’ she said. ‘He’s cunning. He’ll wait a week.’
Cavalier smiled and held her.
‘I want you to pick up your granddaughter from school tomorrow,’ he said, ‘and then bring her to Chiang Mai.’
She frowned and shook her head.
‘Kun will kill me!’
‘No, I think he’ll be with the police,’ Cavalier said.
‘He’ll kill me!’ she repeated.
‘Farn, listen to me please,’ Cavalier said, looking her intently. ‘Just in case Kun is not there, someone has to pick up Far.’
Farn seemed confused. She nodded agreement.
Cavalier asked if he could drive the motorcycle to the bus terminal. Farn said she would have her son pick it up the next day.
‘Everything is going to work out all right,’ Cavalier said, holding Farn. Then he repeated, ‘Just see your granddaughter tomorrow.’