Bangkok Noir

“Because I like to see a man’s eyes when he is talking to me. The eyes, after all, are the windows to the soul.”

The Israeli took off his glasses, folded them and put them into the inside pocket of his leather jacket.

“Thank you,” said Inspector Zhang. “And if you would be so good as to give me your passport.” The bodyguard reached into his pocket and handed the Inspector a blue passport. “How long have you been in Mr. Srisai’s employ?”

“About eight weeks.”

“And your predecessor was killed?”

The Israeli nodded. “There was a car bomb. The bodyguard was driving. Bodyguards should never drive. Drivers drive and bodyguards take care of security. Mr. Srisai did not take his own safety seriously enough.”

“Your predecessor was Thai?”

The Israeli nodded again. “They are not well trained, the Thais. They think that any soldier or cop can be a bodyguard, but the skills are different.”

“And your skills, where do they come from? You were a soldier?”

The bodyguard sneered. “All Israelis are soldiers. Our country is surrounded by enemies.”

“More than a soldier, then? Mossad? Did you use to work for the Israeli intelligence service?”

The Israeli nodded but said nothing. Inspector Zhang flicked through the passport.

“So you are a professional,” said Inspector Zhang. “As a professional, what do you think happened?”

“He died. I failed. And as for being a professional, I doubt that anyone will employ me again after this.”

Sergeant Lee appeared at Inspector Zhang’s side, taking notes. “And you saw nothing?” asked the Inspector.

The bodyguard turned to stare at Inspector Zhang with eyes that were a blue so pale they were almost grey. “If I had seen anything, do you think I would have allowed it to happen?” he said.

“Obviously not. And equally, you heard nothing?”

“Of course I heard nothing.”

“So what do you think happened, Mr. Gottesman? Who killed your client?”

“He had many enemies.”

“So I gather. But are any of those enemies on this plane?”

“He didn’t see any while we were waiting to board.”

“But you would have been in the VIP lounge, would you not? So you wouldn’t have seen everyone.”

“True,” said the Israeli. “But the only people in the forward cabin are those with business-class tickets. It couldn’t have been anyone from the rear of the plane, could it?”

“I agree,” said Inspector Zhang. “Now when was the last time you saw him alive?”

“I went to the toilet shortly before landing. I came back to find that journalist pestering Mr. Srisai. Then I read a magazine. Then the stewardess came around to tell us to fasten our seat belts, and when she checked Mr. Srisai, she realised something was wrong. She fetched the guy in the suit, and he said he was dead and covered him with a blanket.”

“You didn’t check for yourself?”

“They told me to stay in my seat. They said there was nothing I could do.”

Inspector Zhang nodded thoughtfully. “Was he an easy man to work for?”

The bodyguard shrugged. “He liked to do things his own way.”

“So he was difficult?”

“I wouldn’t say difficult.”

“There was an argument at security back at the airport, I’m told.”

“It was nothing. A misunderstanding.”

“About what?”

“The metal detector beeped. They searched him. I think it was his watch that set it off. He wears a big gold Rolex.”

“And there was an argument?”

“He didn’t want to be stopped. Men like Mr. Srisai, they are used to getting their own way.”

“And while you were in Singapore, where did you stay?”

“We moved from hotel to hotel, changing every few days. Last night we stayed at the Sheraton.”

“Because Mr. Srisai was concerned for his safety?”

The bodyguard nodded. “He said there were people who still wanted him dead, even though he had left Thailand.”

“But nothing happened during the flight to give you any cause for concern?”

“That’s right. I was stunned when they said he was dead. I don’t know how it could have happened.”

Inspector Zhang handed the bodyguard his passport. “You say that you have only worked for Mr. Srisai for two months.”

“That’s correct.”

“But I see from the visas in your passport that you only arrived from Israel two months ago.”

The bodyguard put away the passport. “That’s right. I was hired over the phone and flew out to take up the position.”

“But you had never met before then?”

The bodyguard shook his head. “A friend of Mr. Srisai recommended me. We spoke on the phone and agreed on terms, and I flew straight out to Thailand. Shortly after I arrived, shots were fired at his house and a maid was killed, so he decided to fly to Singapore.”

Inspector Zhang smiled. “Well, thank you for your time,” he said. He stood up and patted Sergeant Lee on the arm. “Come with me,” he said and took her through the galley and into the economy cabin, which was almost empty. The cabin crew were shepherding the few remaining passengers out of the door at the rear of the plane. “I think it best we speak here, so that the passengers cannot hear us,” he said. “So what do you think, Sergeant?”