It would be his first time in Thailand. Colin crammed as many Thai words and phrases into his mind as he could during the long flight. It helped keep his mind off Angela. As they neared their destination, Colin stared down at the thick green jungles and crystal blue waters. His fingers itched to paint it.
When he landed in Bangkok, he headed for the red light district, navigating his way through the busy streets to the arms dealer Abernathy had dug up. Despite the smog in the city, an aroma of spices made it smell like an exotic heaven, matching the rich culture all around him. But he wasn’t there for tourism and pleasure. He pulled a ball cap low over his forehead to hide his face and entered the side door of a bustling street market.
To an older woman with suspicious eyes, he said in Thai, “I need to see Daw.” He probably slaughtered the pronunciation, but she gave a jut of her chin toward a man handling an icy vat of fish.
The man stood when Colin approached, and without a word wiped his hands on his apron and motioned for Colin to follow him into a back room.
“You have money?” Daw asked when the door closed behind them.
Colin pulled out the wad and Daw snatched it with greedy hands, counting.
“What you want?” the man asked.
“A handgun.”
He pulled out three handguns of different calibers for Colin to choose from. He took the 9mm semi-automatic and disassembled it to be sure everything was in good condition before nodding and reassembling, stowing the gun at the back of his pants under his shirt. He bought a couple of clips, loaded.
“If it doesn’t work, I’m coming back for you,” Colin warned.
“It work. I try myself.”
Colin pulled a picture of Fernando from his pocket, but Daw turned his head and held up his hands, saying, “I do not involve myself in your business.”
Fair enough. Colin slid the picture back into his pocket and asked, “Where can I find a whore house?”
Daw didn’t blink an eye at this. He rattled off an address and opened the door for Colin to leave. It was the quickest, easiest acquisition he’d ever encountered, and he could only hope the rest of his stay in Thailand followed that pattern.
The tiny middle-aged woman who greeted him at the address he’d been given wore a large, fake smile. She bowed her head to him and waved a hand toward the scantily clad girls lined against the wall. Some eyed him coyly, others brazenly.
Colin pulled out the picture and the woman froze as she peered down at it, the smile disappearing.
“You looking for friend?” she asked in broken English.
“No,” Colin said. “Not a friend. Do you know where I can find him?”
She shook her head tightly and clasped her hands in front of herself. “I am business woman.”
Of course. Colin knew all too well that it was often difficult to get “business people” to talk. He pulled another wad of Thai bills from his pocket.
“May I speak to a few of your ladies?” He inclined his head toward the women against the wall.
The woman grabbed for the money and stuffed it away. “Be fast.”
Colin approached the girls, feeling a natural tingle of arousal when the first put a hand on his chest and cocked a knee to rub his leg. He held Fernando’s picture out to her and she stepped back, shaking her head.
“Do you know this man?”
Again she shook her head, dropping her eyes. He held the picture out for all the girls to see. The fear and loathing in their eyes showed they all knew of him.
“Tell me where to find him and you’ll never see him again.”
They exchanged looks of hope and suspicion, a silent conversation. Finally, the meekest stepped forward and blurted in a tiny voice, “He take the girls to rooms by the the parks next to Royal Palace.” Her eyes got big, as if she couldn’t believe she’d said it.
“By Wat Po,” another added. The small girl gave her a grateful look.
“Rooms?” Colin asked. “Like a hotel?”
The two of them nodded. Then they all dropped their eyes nervously.
“Thank you,” Colin said, feeling right fucking chipper. “Have a lovely day.”
He tipped his head to the mistress and left. Here I come, motherfucker.
Colin scouted the Royal Palace area looking for possible hotels or rooms where Fernando might take girls. He found three possible alleyways—shady places. It was a large, busy area, so he’d have to keep a keen eye out. He bided his time until nightfall.
By midnight, when he still hadn’t seen Fernando, he had to be proactive. He received hostile looks from a set of drug dealers at a corner, but paid them no mind, heading straight for a prostitute in a black mini skirt. He stood close enough to her to hide the fact that he was pulling out a picture between the two of them. In his other hand he held out money.
“Where is this man?” Colin asked.
She swallowed and swayed on her heels, turning her bloodshot eyes away with a tight shrug. Fine. Colin moved to the next.
This girl bit her lip and shot a glance past him to the two dealers who were inching closer.
Fuck.