CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

 

Detective Sergeant Fred Hannam sat on the edge of the desk and flipped through papers recently emailed to him. Ben sat on a plastic chair against a wall facing the desk. They were at the Waverley Police Station, close to Ann’s block of flats. ‘He’s still alive.’

Ben shrugged.

‘You can’t go around doing this to people.’

‘I didn’t go looking for him. I was saving the life of my client’s personal assistant.’

‘So you have said in your statement.’

‘Who is he?’ asked Ben.

‘It’s probably best if you don’t know,’ said Hannam. ‘Hired muscle is all you need to know.’

‘He wasn’t all that strong,’ said Ben.

‘He was strong enough to take down Ms. Flynn.’

‘She’s a tiny thing,’ said Ben, recalling for a moment her bare breasts and muscular upper frame, ‘but she’s very fit.’

Hannam closed the file and placed it on the desk behind him. ‘This guy isn’t known for bodily contact. He’s known for silent action. Hit and run.’

‘You’ve interviewed Ann. I don’t know what he said to her.’

‘You must have questioned her,’ said Hannam.

‘She wasn’t in a fit state to be questioned after I dispatched Prince Charming.’

Hannam put his hands on his knees and leaned forward. ‘This is the second time you’ve done this.’

‘This week you mean,’ said Ben.

‘Your methods of dealing with criminals will not be tolerated any further.’

‘Do you think I could have talked his hand and knife away from her throat?’

‘Excessive force will not be tolerated for God sake!’

‘He had physically restrained her, cut off her bra, threatened to rape and kill her. Do you condone that kind of behaviour? Wouldn’t you call that rather excessive force?’

Hannam was silent.

‘We’ve been through this kind of thing before,’ said Ben. ‘Violent criminals understand one kind of law. Jungle law. They live by it and they damn well should die by it.’

‘The media are trying to get all over this,’ said Hannam.

‘I don’t speak to the media,’ said Ben. ‘You know how to handle them.’

‘The smarter of them sense that something is going down. Your name is being whispered in trusted circles.’

‘They can’t publish whispers,’ said Ben.

‘The hell they can’t!’

Ben was silent.

‘Your commercial tickets to Tonga via Auckland have been cancelled,’ said Hannam. ‘You and your clients will fly direct to Nuku’Alofa by charted jet, courtesy of the king of Tonga.’

‘When?’

‘Tomorrow. 6 am. I’ve arranged transport to the airport.’

‘I’ve booked accommodation in Tonga,’ said Ben.

‘We know what you’ve booked. There will be some minor changes to your bookings but they will remain basically intact. The powers that be feel that you should be allowed to do your own thing.’ Hannam smiled. ‘All this was against my advice I should add.’

‘You obviously have no confidence in my ability,’ said Ben.

‘My view is that you don’t have a bloody clue what you’re doing,’ said Hannam.

Ben got to his feet. ‘You could be right.’

 

The Hawker 900XP will carry 8 passengers comfortably with two pilots to ensure maximum safety. There is only one luxury padded seat per window with a wide aisle running the length of the private jet. Cruising speed at 31,000 feet is just over 800 km/h, depending on wind speed and direction and the range of the jet is just under 5,500 km (2,300nm) Sydney to Tongatapu is 3,583 kms and just after takeoff the Captain had explained that estimated flying time to Tonga was just over 5 hours with smooth conditions expected. Sophia sat across the aisle from Ann. Ben faced Sophia across a table which had been set up for him to use his computer, with internet access. A young female flight attendant named Vivien had been assigned to serve snacks and meals and ensure their flight was comfortable.

‘He’s going to get a dreadful shock when he realises I don’t know where the bloody necklace is,’ said Sophia, looking out at the tops of the puffy white clouds slowly falling away as the jet rose rapidly higher.

Ben glanced over the top of the computer screen at her.

‘What do I call him anyway?’ she asked. ‘Your Royal Highness?’

‘Your Majesty would be best,’ said Ben. ‘Royal Highness is a title for heirs, not the king.’

‘I’m going to call him George,’ said Ann.

‘The hell you will,’ said Ben. ‘If you don’t want to use his official title then you can call him “sir” and that should be alright.’

‘But his name is George, isn’t it?’

Ben glanced at her. ‘His name is Aho’eitu ‘Unuaki’otonga Tuku’aho.’

Ann shook her head. ‘I like George better.’

‘We’re walking on political egg shells here,’ said Ben. ‘This is not a visit to the local night club.’

‘So I see,’ said Ann, waving two hands towards each side of the luxury aircraft. ‘So we get into Tonga early afternoon and then what?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Ben. ‘My schedule was altered. We were supposed to be catching a boat to Fa Fa Island but that may have been cancelled as well.’

‘If we are going to have a meeting with the king as soon as we land,’ said Sophia, ‘it’s going to be a damn short one. I know what he wants but I don’t know where the bloody thing is.’

‘We play the cards as they are laid,’ said Ben. ‘We smile and are polite and respectful and we tell the truth.’

‘Do you still think I’m lying about the whereabouts of the necklace?’ asked Sophia.

Ben sat back in the plush chair facing her. ‘I don’t know.’

‘You don’t trust anyone, do you?’

‘No.’

Sophia looked across at Ann and back to Ben. ‘Both of us owe you our lives. That means something you know.’

Ben remained silent.

‘We’re not going to lie to you. We both owe you more than we can ever repay. Why do you think I agreed to this trip to the middle of the God damn South Pacific?’

‘I love the South Pacific,’ said Ben.

‘If they had more Sheraton Hotels and less things that want to bite you, so would I,’ said Sophia.

‘Tonga resists big international corporations,’ said Ben, ‘and I’m not sure I blame them.’

‘I had trouble sleeping on Fa Fa Island,’ said Sophia, crossing her long legs. ‘Something was chewing at the side of our fale and the birds kick up such a row at the most inconvenient hour of the morning. That wouldn’t happen at a Sheraton Hotel.’

‘To each his own,’ said Ben. ‘This is not a damn holiday. We’re following a trail that may just lead to something extremely important.’

‘What if the king throws us into prison for not giving back his necklace?’ asked Sophia. ‘Their prisons could be worse than the ones in Bali and they are crap from what I’ve seen on the TV. You wouldn’t send your dog there.’

‘He’s not going to throw us into prison,’ said Ben.

‘How the hell would you know? It’s his fucking country!’

Ben was about to answer when Vivian walked towards them from the forward compartment of the jet. ‘I’m serving snacks in a few minutes,’ she said with a heart warming smile. Can I take your order for a beverage?’

‘I’ll have vodka and orange juice straight up,’ said Sophia.

‘Same,’ said Ann. ‘Please.’

‘No they won’t,’ said Ben. ‘Coffee and milk for both with no sugar. I’ll have the same with one sugar.’

Sophia uncrossed her legs and sat back with her arms folded. ‘Just one drink for God’s sake! Ann and I are up tight and we’re in a luxury jet and neither of us has to drive at the other end. Anyway, the invitation was specifically addressed to me so I can choose what I want to drink on this bloody private jet and I’m having vodka and orange juice!’

Vivian was now looking somewhat uncomfortable. She looked at Ben.

‘Coffee with one sugar for me,’ he said. ‘The ladies may have what they wish.’

‘Are you enjoying your flight?’ asked Vivian.

‘No,’ said Sophia. ‘I hate planes.’

‘We’re having a lovely flight thank you,’ said Ben. ‘Don’t mind her. She’s a grump.’

‘I am not!’

‘Then give us a smile.’

Sophia forced a smile that didn’t quite work. Vivian walked to the forward galley with a very genuine smile on her face.

‘I like to know exactly what is going to happen and when it is going to happen,’ said Sophia, staring at Ben. ‘You have taken me out of my comfort zone.’

‘Were you in your comfort zone when that big Leb put a gun to your head?’

Sophia unclipped her seatbelt and stood. ‘I’m going to the ladies room.’

‘There’s only one toilet,’ said Ben. ‘It’s unisex.’

‘I don’t care what sex it is…where is it?’

‘Down the back,’ said Ben.

She gave him another forced smile and walked aft without a comment.

‘She likes you,’ said Ann. ‘She doesn’t usually like anyone.’

‘God help me if she hated me.’

‘You’re right there. She knows she’s safe with you and that’s important for both of us right now.’

Ben returned his attention to the laptop.

 

‘He’s on the way to Tonga,’ said Rodney. ‘He’s in a God damn private jet.’

‘Are you paying for that darling?’ asked Rose as she walked into her husband’s book lined office.

‘The king of Tonga requested an audience and he paid for the transportation.’

‘So he should,’ said Rose.

‘Ben put another one in hospital last night.’

‘Who?’

‘Some creep attacked Sophia Hunter’s assistant in the basement car park of her unit in Clovelly. Ben showed up and did his usual tap dance and from my inquiries, the most recent victim is fighting for his life.’

‘Victim?’

‘Rose…please. He’s not even out of the country on this particular assignment and he’s already put two men in hospital and got the media running wild.’

‘Did he put the husband of your client in the morgue dear?’

Rodney didn’t answer.

‘Did he or your client steal these royal jewels?’

‘Why can’t he just subdue these clowns and tie them up or something?’

Rose walked behind her husband and placed her hands on his shoulders. She massaged his tensed muscles and tendons. ‘Calm down. He knows what he’s doing.’

‘I choose to disagree! He doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing most of the time!’

‘Now you just settle down and leave Ben to do what he does best,’ said Rose.

‘There’s a frightening thought.’

‘You gave him this assignment.’

‘I need a drink,’ said Rodney.

 

‘We have a problem Isaac,’ said Nancy Fiumara.

Isaac put the phone to his left ear. That ear seemed to be more receptive to sound as the years moved on. Following years of habit he had automatically put the phone to his right ear but he knew from the tone of Nancy’s voice that he should clearly listen to everything that she had to say. ‘That is not what I pay you for.’

‘I picked one of the best in this country. Hood took him down.’

‘Is he alive?’

‘Barely. Some kind of brain damage from the fight. I didn’t even get a chance to pay the guy.’

‘He failed so pay him nothing!’

‘Yes.’

‘So what is our problem as you seem determined to describe it in the plural?’

‘Special unit police seemed to have picked up the connection and are all over the hired help.’

‘That cannot lead back to me.’

‘It may lead back to me,’ said Nancy.

‘Are you going to give me up dear?’

‘If they dig deep enough, they may find a connection.’

‘I can’t afford for that to happen,’ said Isaac Ford. ‘I feel you should know that I have re-established a connection with my jeweller friend and we have reached an agreement.’

‘Are you saying that you don’t require my services any longer Isaac?’

‘I no longer require your services Nancy. It would be wise for you to destroy any possible piece of evidence that may link us together.’

‘I need to protect myself.’

‘You will protect yourself by destroying anything whatsoever that connects us and keeping your mouth shut,’ said Isaac.’

‘And if I choose to make a deal with whoever may visit with a silver, blue and white badge?’

‘You may not live long enough to enjoy your deal with the police.’

‘I know where you are Isaac. You can’t make this kind of threat against me. I have already engaged the services of another highly trained professional.’

‘I’m not where you think I am Nancy.’

The call was disconnected.

 

 

“****”