around to face him, his own fury rising. “I’ve had just about enough of
you, Bayerly! Can it, right now!”
“Fuck you!” Bayerly threw a clumsy, roundhouse punch in the general
direction of the side of Tombstone’s head. Tombstone blocked the punch
easily with his left arm, then snapped out with his right, catching
Bayerly squarely in the jaw. Bayerly sagged back, landing in
Kriangsak’s arms.
The two of them lowered the drunken officer onto the seat of the booth.
Kriangsak looked across the room, raised one slim hand, and gestured.
Tombstone saw two Thais in civilian clothes hurrying across the floor
toward them.
Bodyguards? Tombstone gave a mental shrug. Perhaps That army colonels
never went anywhere without their personal plain-clothes guards or
aides. He turned to the headwaiter, fishing in his hip pocket for his
wallet. “I’m terribly sorry for the disturbance, sir. We’ll get him
out of here right away.” He’d exchanged some of his money at the hotel
desk earlier that evening. He produced three of the purple 500-baht
notes–about sixty American dollars–and pressed them into the frowning
waiter’s hand.
For a moment, he thought the man was going to refuse. Then the money
vanished and the waiter smiled. “No problem, sir. Permit us to help.”
Two more waiters materialized to help Kriangsak’s men maneuver Bayerly’s
dead weight toward the lounge entrance.
Tombstone turned to face Kriangsak, who had drawn one of his men aside
and was whispering hurried instructions to him. “Koon krahp!” the man
said, all but saluting before hurrying after the entourage surrounding
Bayerly.
“I’m sorry to leave so abruptly, Colonel,” Tombstone said. “But I’d
better see him back to the Jefferson.”
“That is not necessary, my friend,” Kriangsak said. “Please! Sit
down!
I have given orders for my men to drive Commander Bayerly back to
Sattahip.
They will see to it that he gets back to your ship.”
“That is very kind of you, Colonel.”
“Not at all. Now, please! Sit down!”
“No. Thank you just the same, sir, but I really have to go.” The
confrontation had left him feeling weak. He needed air … a walk and a
chance to think.
Kriangsak looked across the room toward the lounge entrance. “Commander,
my men have already gone. If I cannot offer you a ride home, I insist
that you allow me to find you lodgings here in the city.”
“Actually, Colonel, I think I need a walk.” He hesitated. Suddenly, he
felt the need to see Pamela … to talk to her. This hero business, he
thought. It’s got to stop. Now! “There’s someone in town I need to
see,” he added.
“I will not take no for an answer, Commander.” Kriangsak smiled, his
teeth flashing white in the dim light. “I’ll tell you what. I have
some duties to attend to at the Ministry tonight … and possibly, just
possibly, I can talk to someone about your request.” He shrugged. “Who
knows? We might find a place for you on one of our planes.”
Tombstone’s eyes widened. “That’s very kind of you, sir.”
“It is nothing. Let me talk to some people I know. But please, tell me
where you will be. I will arrange for a driver to pick you up there
later.
Or if you prefer, I will arrange bachelor quarters for you at the air
base at Don Muang and call your ship. Is it agreed?”
Tombstone found it hard to resist the man’s friendly pressure. He
allowed himself a small smile. “Okay, Colonel. You win.”
“Excellent! Where can I meet you?”
“Well, my friend is staying at the Dusit Thani. You could reach me
there. I can leave my name at the desk.”
“Splendid. It’s almost eight. In … shall we make it two hours then?
Is that time enough for your meeting?”
“Two hours will be fine, Colonel. It shouldn’t take longer than that.”
Kriangsak rose, dropped several baht on the table, then extended his
hand again. “In that case, Commander, I will see you later.”
“Fine. Thanks for the drink.”
“Anytime, Commander. We’ll talk more later.” The smile broadened. “I’m
looking forward to it very much!”
1955 hours, 18 January
In the Americana Hotel parking lot