I have just finished making my report to the election committee. We are in the Colonel’s office. Something has changed in the dynamics between the Americans and Vikorn. Given my in-depth knowledge of the Colonel, I would say that his strategy of playing the humble old man upstaged by the high-rolling ex-CIA professionals has run its course. He sits today in the only chair with arms, much in the posture of an emperor. The three Americans seem strangely cowed, and the older man, Jack, has been relegated to the sofa with the others. The atmosphere has hardened during my recital of the facts, but I have a feeling the balance of power changed some time ago.
When Jack clears his throat to speak there is a tone of resentment, even pique. “Well, I guess we missed a few tricks here,” he says. Linda grunts. Ben looks at the floor. “Looks like you were right all along, Colonel.”
“Yep. You sure played your cards close to your chest, sir. I have to admire you for that.”
“Fact is,” Jack says, warming to his theme, “you showed us the best double-double shuffle in the history of double shuffles.”
“I’ll second that,” Ben says, shaking his head.
“Amazing,” Linda says. “We thought it was the Beijing faction that was pushing the organ-trafficking theme to get you elected in an incredibly clumsy way, which was almost certain to backfire. I must say you made no effort to disabuse us of that mistake.”
“Never guessed there really was an organ-trafficking syndicate operating right here in Thailand.”
“Created and run by your archrival.”
“All you needed was to have your man sniff it out. Now it’s all over the media exactly three days before your inevitable election.”
“Not only that, your only serious competitor gets himself snuffed by his own man. Nothing can stop you now. Either you’re some kind of world-class genius, or lucky as hell.”
Vikorn turns his head to look at me. “Isn’t that what I told you when I gave you the case? That I wanted the sacred soil of Thailand to be free forever from this evil curse?”
“Something like that, Colonel,” I agree.
Vikorn sniffs. Then, right in the face of these three resolute nonsmokers, he takes a long, fat cigar out of his desk drawer and lights up. He prowls over to the window to gaze out onto the cooked-food stalls. After a couple of minutes he turns back. “Well, if you all will excuse me, I have the BBC in half an hour and CNN this afternoon-”
“Sure thing, Colonel,” Jack says, standing. He walks up to Vikorn’s desk. “By the way, I’ve recently started my own corporation-time to strike out on my own. After all, with my experience and contacts, I don’t really need partners. You’ll see on the card a list of affiliates, which enables me to cover most of the world. The affiliates are all run by the highest-caliber professionals, mostly ex-CIA or World Bank. I would be proud if you were to consider me one of your friends whom you can call on any time of the day or night.”
Vikorn looks up at him, shrugs, and accepts the card. Linda and Ben seem to be hanging back. As soon as Jack closes the door behind him, they both stand with obscene deference.
“Ah, Ben and I talked things over, Colonel, and we decided we were both just the right age to start our own corporation and use our extensive contacts and knowledge while we still have the youth and vigor to represent our clients no matter how tough and demanding the assignment,” Linda says.
“Damned right,” Ben says.
Linda hands Vikorn her new embossed card (high-quality stiff vellum in cream and gray; very tasteful and discreet), then she and Ben back out of the room waiing.
Now there is only me left. With some ceremony I fish the black Amex out of my wallet and place it on the desk in front of him. He gives a nod and smile of recognition, clearly expecting me to leave the room immediately. Instead, I sit down again. Now the Colonel cannot understand why I don’t just make myself scarce so he can prepare for the BBC. I will do so in a minute, but I have one last question. He stares at me, with perhaps just a touch of nervousness. Finally he says, “So?”
“There is only one thing, sir. That you answer the question you know I’m going to ask before I ask it.” I smile.
I suppose if what I’m looking for is proof of life, I’m in luck. I’ve not seen him erupt for years now, so it’s quite a treat, in a way, to watch the blood rise to his face and a furious sweat break out on his forehead. He is quite capable of grabbing his pistol and shooting me, so I stand up and make for the door. He is too quick and jams it with his foot. Iron hands grasp the lapels of my jacket: he crosses his wrists, and twists until I’m choking. “No, this whole case was not an elaborate revenge on Lilly Yip for humiliating me in a squalid little bet we had half a decade ago. Got it?”
“Sure, Colonel,” I manage, half throttled. He throws me against the wall and jerks his chin at the door.
I leave the station and cross the road to sit at one of the stalls and order some somtam. Chanya and I are still working on our battered relationship, so I fish out my cell phone. “Hi, did you know it’s Saturday? Doing anything tonight?”
She gives a token laugh. “Actually, we’ve been invited to a grand opening. Want to go?”