barbarians — which I suppose is true of many examples they see of us. It’s a racist society, too, as are most. Darker skin from the north is lower class, and there is tremendous class consciousness. Lighter skin, like yours, would be viewed as superior. But if you’re a foreigner, you’re almost subhuman from their standpoint — although part of the weird self-hatred that’s endemic to the culture is that marrying a white man or woman would be viewed as elevating one’s station in life. Mainly because it’s a society that worships money, and most white foreigners have more money than the average Thai.”
Jet shook her head. “I’m not planning on marrying anyone here.”
“I’m telling you this because you need to recognize that, in this environment, you’re the minority, so you have little chance of anyone opening up to you. Even though you look like you could be part Thai, you don’t speak it, so you’ll be treated like a
“I appreciate the background, and I’ll watch my step, but I still don’t like the idea of dead weight tagging along with me.”
“Rob’s not dead weight. He’s anything but.”
“He’s a kid.”
Edgar smiled grimly. “So are you.”
Jet conceded the point. “I probably have more experience than the average fifty-year-old agent.”
“Perhaps. Obviously, Arthur is hoping that will make a difference. Time will tell.”
“Let’s head over to the far shore,” Jet said, and they adjusted course. “So what’s your plan for meeting this Rob tonight?”
“If it’s okay with you, I’d say hook up at a restaurant. A crowd. Although I know you’re staying at the Dynasty. The Die-Nasty, the locals call it.”
She was annoyed that he knew where she was staying, but then remembered. “That’s right. The tracking chip.”
“I’m the only one who has access to that info.”
“Except for Arthur. And whoever is doing the actual tracking. Which is three more people than I’m comfortable with. It’s a stupid idea. Invites disaster.”
“I’m afraid it’s not subject to debate.”
“I know.”
It took them six minutes to cross the pond in the swan boat, and when they bumped land Jet scooped up the satchel and stood.
“Sorry about the sandwich remnants,” Edgar said. “I also stuck a cell phone in there for you. I’m speed dial number two. There are no other numbers on it.”
“I guess since I’m one huge GPS tracking beacon right now, I don’t need to worry about the cell phone being a liability.”
“Freeing, isn’t it?” Edgar’s smile had no trace of genuine humor.
“I’ll call later to find out where my dream date is going to take place tonight.”
“Give Rob a chance. You may find that he’s not so bad.”
Jet stepped onto the shore and disappeared into the crowd of pedestrians moving around the water on the perimeter path.
Edgar fished a phone out of his windbreaker.
“How did it go?”
“She agreed to the meet, but I think she’s suspicious.”
“Of course she’s suspicious. She’s not an idiot,” Arthur said.
“She wasn’t happy.”
“No, I bet she wasn’t. Do you think we’ll have a problem?”
“Too soon to know. I read her the riot act about the locals. I hope she’s as good as you say or she’s going to be eaten alive before she gets within a hundred miles of the jungle.”
“She is.”
Chapter 11
Raffle’s was bursting with diners lapping up the faux-British atmosphere. Black-and-white photographs of David Niven in cinematic triumph adorned flock-papered walls that brayed a shade gaudier than the hues of the green and pleasant land it strove to emulate. An insufferably arrogant hostess showed Jet to a table, in keeping with the behavior Thais believed would be authentically representative of the UK. Jet didn’t have the heart to break it to the girl that the food there was generally regarded as horrible. Let her have her moment.
A young man with neatly-trimmed hair and a deep tan stood as she approached, then waited until she took a seat before joining her. She looked around, confirming that nobody was within earshot.
“So you’re Rob.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rob said, affecting an obviously fake smile.
“Sure it is. What have you been told about me and why I’m here?”
“Just what you would expect.”
“Then you should know I don’t work with a partner.”
“It was mentioned.”
“Yet here you are.”
“Don’t hold back. It’s okay to let me know how you really feel.”
A waiter approached and asked what she wanted to drink. She ordered a bottle of mineral water and returned her gaze to Rob. He was a good-looking young man, fit, with a deceptively ordinary face — she wouldn’t have given him a second glance in a crowd. Brown hair, brown eyes, no scars or distinguishing features. Put a pair of glasses on him or a mustache and he would be a completely different person.
“It’s no secret that I’m against this whole idea. But I don’t have much say in it, apparently, so here we are,” she observed.
“That being the case, what’s for dinner?”
They considered the menu, and when the waiter returned with her drink, they ordered.
“We can’t just sit here and not talk,” Rob said, taking a sip of his beverage.
“Sure we can. Everyone will think we’re married.”
“Hmm. So, what’s the first move?”
“You tell me why I should ever see you again once I leave this restaurant.”
“Well, let’s see: I speak Thai, know Bangkok well but am not known in the circles you’ll want to travel, can hold my own in any situation…and because you have instructions to work with me.”
“Rob. Let me make this as clear as I can. I have no instructions. I have a man with a melted face asking me to consider using you as an asset for a short time while I’m in Bangkok. So, sweetie? It’s not the way you think it is.”
The entrees arrived after a tense back and forth. They ate in silence, Rob sulking and looking almost as unhappy as Jet did. When the bill came, he paid, then Jet stood up abruptly.
“Thanks. Come on. Let’s take a walk, and I’ll fill you in on where I’m at.”
“Yes, master.”
“I think that would be ‘mistress’.”
They exited the restaurant and strolled side by side, and she brought him up to speed on her thoughts. Once she’d finished, he nodded.
“I agree with the thinking that I can help on this. If we pose as a couple looking to swing, we’ll have an easier time in the clubs. In the meanwhile, we can put feelers out to all the informants and spread some money
