Chapter 7: Mr. Wonderful

During brunch, I asked, “When are you back on duty?”

“Five tomorrow morning, why?”

“Just asking, no reason. So, what does tomorrow hold for Detective Senior Constable Martin?”

“Remember last night when I said we were working a big case? Well, tomorrow is bust day. I need to be in early and brief my team before we go and bag this crook. He’s likely to go down for a long time.”

“I know you can’t tell me about the case, but can you tell me what you are busting this guy on?”

Martin looked pensive as he thought about my question.

“Okay, I don’t think it will jeopardise the case if I tell you the crimes he has committed. But no names and no locations.”

“My lips are sealed.” I made a zipping motion across my lips, and Martin cracked up laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“I can think of another way to stop you talking,” Martin suggestively replied as he looked into my eyes, giving me a hot flush.

“Sorry, I can’t help myself with you. You turn me on, and all I can think about is how many different ways we could have sex.”

“Do you suffer from satyriasis?”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Well, if you were a woman inflicted with this condition, you would be known as a nymphomaniac, or simply put, you have an excessive sexual desire.”

“Yep, that’s me. At least I know what it’s called now. But it doesn’t change anything. I hope I’ve not embarrassed or offended you.”

“No, neither of those, but I’m overwhelmed that I have that effect on you.”

“Do you still want to see me?”

“Of course I do, but now I know I can expect to get laid as soon as we walk through either your or my door.”

We laughed before I said, “You were about to tell me the crimes this guy committed before you got distracted by sex.”

“Yeah, getting distracted by sex is real easy with you around.”

“Martin! You’re causing me to blush. Stop it.”

“Sorry, so back to the crimes. In no particular order, bribery, corruption, money laundering, blackmail, people smuggling, and possibly linked to a missing person we suspect is deceased.”

“Oh, that makes my skin crawl. I hope he gets put away for a long time.”

“So do we. We expect something like twelve to fifteen years. I love taking scum like this off the streets.”

“I bet you do.”

We had a wonderful afternoon. After a long brunch, we went to the beach and wandered in the shallows, trying to splash each other as we held hands, stopping every now and then for a loving kiss. We sat and ate ice cream as we watched the surfers catch small waves before Martin took me back to my place.

“When will I see you again?” I asked.

“I’ll call you in a day or so. I need to get this case finalised, then I can relax.”

“Let me put my number in your phone, and can I get yours?”

Martin handed me his phone, and I entered my details before adding his to mine. “I hope everything works out for you and your team tomorrow.”

“Thanks, so do we.”

We kissed at my door, and then he turned and left. What a guy. He’s my perfect man. Well, no man can be perfect, but he comes close.

I was up at five the following morning, preparing to go to the gym for a hard workout. My thoughts turned to Martin and his team. He would be briefing them by now, planning a bust sometime today.

After returning home, I felt good about my ninety-minute workout. I had a shower, then breakfast and drove to work for an eight-thirty start rather than an eight o’clock blow job with Anderson.

Shortly after arriving at work, Steph from reception buzzed me. “Anita, James Anderson has been arrested.”

“Really. How do you know?”

“A courier dropped off some paperwork and said he couldn’t get into Anderson’s office to make a delivery because the cops were everywhere.”

“So, it’s only speculation, with no real proof.”

“I thought you might like to know, seeing as you visit him every morning.”

“No, I don’t visit him anymore. That finished last week, and I don’t care what happens to him,” I said rather indignantly, wondering if this was Martin’s big bust.

Just before lunch, Steph buzzed me again.

“Hi, Steph. More drama with Anderson?”

“No. I have Detective Senior Constable Martin Shaw and Detective Constable Nina Olinsky here, who wish to speak with you.”

“Okay, I’ll be right out, thank you.” Shit, Nina was an undercover ‘D,’ and she’s come with Martin to question me. Now I realise why she asked me all those questions when I visited Anderson.

“Hi, Martin. Nina,” I said brightly.

Nina raised her eyebrows and inquisitively looked at Martin. “Senior?” She said with a questioning tone to her voice.

“It’s okay. Anita and I met at a Christmas party last Saturday. It’s nothing.”

Nothing! Hmph. I hope he said that to ward Nina off any possible thoughts of impropriety on his behalf. Not that I liked hearing him say that.

“Anita, is there someplace we can go and have a chat in private?” Nina asked.

“Sure, we can use the boardroom, and I’ll let Mr Gorey know where I am. This way, please.”

I escorted Nina and Martin to the boardroom and advised Mr Gorey I was with two detectives.

“What’s this all about, and what can I do for you?”

“I guess the grapevine works well in a building like this, but I would like to confirm James Anderson has been arrested on several serious charges. We found a list of women’s names in his office this morning and wondered if you recognised any of those, particularly this one.” Nina pointed to an Asian woman with the name of Zhū Li.

“No, I’m sorry, I don’t know any of these women. But I noticed my name is on the list. What’s this about?”

“Eighteen months ago, Ms Zhū became a whistleblower, reporting Mr Anderson for several crimes, and we have been investigating them for the past eighteen months. Shortly after reporting these crimes, Ms Zhū went missing and has not been seen or heard from since.

“Can you tell me why your name is on the list and the purpose of your early morning visits to see Mr Anderson, along with your monthly meetings late on Friday afternoon?”

“I have no idea why my name is on the list, and I visited Anderson for personal reasons.”

Nina bristled a little, but Martin looked impassive.

“Look, I don’t think you understand how serious this matter is. Mr Anderson has been arrested on several serious charges. And If you don’t cooperate, we may have to arrest you and take you to the station to be formally interviewed and charged for obstructing an active investigation.”

“Sorry ... but he blackmailed me into having sex with him. I had to fellate him every morning, then submit myself for his pleasure on the last Friday of every month.”

“And how did this blackmail start?”

Oh no, I didn’t want to go into details, not with Martin here, I thought. So, I gave as few details as possible.

“Anderson asked me to his office, and when I didn’t, he contacted my boss, who said I should go and sort the problem out. Anderson told me that if I didn’t comply with his requests. He would have me sacked. I have a mortgage and car loan to pay. I couldn’t afford to lose my job, so I agreed to do what he told me.”

“Is that all? Are you in collaboration with James Anderson? Are you telling us the truth?”

“No, I’m not conspiring with him, and yes, I am being honest with all my answers. I swear. Am I under suspicion for something? Do I need to get one of our lawyers to sit in? I don’t care what you are implying. I had no business dealings whatsoever with Anderson. Please, you have to believe me. He blackmailed me for sex, nothing else.” I was becoming emotional, and my mouth was dry. I didn’t know why Nina was pushing me like this.

Nina stared hard at me as though she wasn’t believing what I told her. “Did Mr Anderson ever give you money?”

Oh, shit. I’ll have to tell the truth and suffer the consequences. I can’t believe this, just after I’ve met a great guy. “Yes ... but I gave it back.”

“Why did he give you money?”

“Does it matter? I told you I gave it back.”

“Yes, I know. That’s money laundering.”

“Oh shit, he told me it was a gift.”

“More likely he paid you to have sex with him.”

“No, please. I told you earlier that Anderson blackmailed me into having sex with him.”

“Senior, should Ms Colby be arrested for being an accessory to money laundering and prostitution?”

“We should wait until we hear from the other women on the list, and if they have a similar story to Ms Colby’s, then I do not see any reason why they should be charged.

“Very well, Ms Colby. That will be all for the moment. Thank you for your time,” Nina concluded.

“Ms Colby, we’ll let you know if we need to take matters further,” Martin added.

“Thank you, detectives. Let me show you out.” I was a nervous wreck. My legs felt weak and my tummy nauseous with the possibility of being charged with prostitution and money laundering for inadvertently getting mixed up with James Anderson.