Chapter 6

Cruising along the highway at a pretty good clip, Colby gazed out the window as Brett lit a cigar. Blowing a cloud of blue smoke out the window, Brett cleared his throat.

"When we went to the Pink Pussy Cat, we went there for a reason."

Brett went on to explain that a business associate of his owned the place and he wanted somewhere that he had total control in order to observe Colby. He explained how he conspired with Mamasan for two specific girls to entertain Colby. He apologized for what happened with the two girls and told him that the girls were told to work him over and that they misinterpreted that as ripping him off. The money he gave him the following day was out of his own pocket, and not from Mamasan.

Colby was so bombed on endorphins from that night's activities that nothing Brett told him seemed to phase him. As Brett continued, Colby appeared to be listening but his mind was somewhere else. He was seeing visions of this girl he had just met and fucked. She was absolutely perfect he thought as he formed a mental picture of her. She was beautiful beyond compare, but a whore.

"Why?" He said aloud unintentionally.

Brett stopped mid-sentence, "Why what?"

"Shit I'm sorry Brett. I was thinking about that girl from the massage parlor. She was perfect; intelligent and beautiful. It doesn't make sense to me why she works at a place like that."

"Oh boy. Maybe you should reconsider accepting my offer because I'm not so sure you understand the magnitude of what's involved. You need to realize once you know the specifics, there's no turning back: ever."

As they swung into Brett's driveway, Colby didn't respond. Parking in the garage, the two walked into the house and went into the kitchen where a small table was set up with sandwiches and finger-foods. Brett grabbed a few morsels and took a seat. Colby grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and stood leaning against the counter.

"Brett, let me get a night's rest before we discuss any more. It's been a hell of a time for me the past two days and I need some time to gather my thoughts and think this through. I know it sounds like I am changing my mind from what I said this afternoon, but after what you said in the car I really need to make sure this is the right decision for me."

"I understand Colby. I'm actually glad you are taking the time to think this through. It shows me I've chosen the right person and I'm sure in the morning you'll come to the right decision. Let me show you where your room is and you can settle in."

They walked from the kitchen through the foyer and up the main stairs. Heading down the west wing, Brett showed Colby into his room at the very end of the hall and excused himself.

Colby took just enough time to remove his clothing and then slid between the sheets of the massive king-size bed. As he drifted off into sleep, Brett sat at a desk in his office down the hall and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" a soft female voice came through the receiver.

"This is Mr. Stanford. I'd like to speak to Mr. Tabakau."

"Certainly Sir. I'll put you right through."

While Brett waited he fished a cigar from his humidor. He had been smoking La Flor Dominicana El Jockos as long as he could remember. Snipping the end, he lit it and set it in the ashtray as a familiar voice greeted him.

"Brett! How goes it?"

"Things are fine here Kili. How's the wife?"

"She's good. Expecting another child in a month or so. It must be late there and I know you didn't call to talk about my family. What's the problem?"

"No problem. I just wanted to let you know that I will be in your area shortly. There are some things we need to discuss."

"Such as?"

"Our business arrangement. I think our joint venture has run its course as I am about to retire."

"What the fuck are you talking about Brett! What am I gonna do now!"

"Relax Kili. You don't think after all these years I would just leave you high and dry do you? I've got someone who I am grooming to replace me. I'm handing over my business to him, but it will be business as usual for you."

"Good to hear. When can I expect you?"

"Give me a few days to iron out some details. We should be flying in to Papeete on Friday. Figure a two-day sail to your place, maybe three. Ill give you a call from the boat."

"Okay Brett. Talk to you then."

Kilione Tabakau had been Brett's sole provider of cocaine and opium for the past ten years. Their business relationship had been built upon a friendship that was formed when Brett spent time vacationing in Fiji.

While staying at the Coral Beach Resort near Beqa Lagoon, Brett was researching locales for a drug operation. He needed a remote island with rich soil that could support large crops of poppy and cocoa plants year round. The South Pacific made sense because the tropical climate remained the same year round and the area was littered with small islands perfect for his needs.

Kilione worked as a deck hand on the resort's boat. A native of Samoa, Kilione had spent the last five years traveling the South Pacific working menial jobs from island to island. Although only five foot eight, Kilione was extremely muscular. His long jet-black hair was usually tied in a ponytail, and he kept his moustache neatly trimmed. He was working as Dive Master the day he met Brett.

Taking a break from his research, Brett took advantage of the resort's diving facilities. Checking in at the boat dock, Brett was informed by Kilione that the trip had been canceled due to engine problems. Brett asked if any alternatives were available and Kilione had suggested he could take him on a beach dive. Although not the same as a boat dive, any sort of diving was better than none at all.

Both men chatted as they walked down the beach carrying their gear. Kilione told tales of his travels while Brett listened with great interest. Kilione had visited Micronesia, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands and several other island societies. Brett took the opportunity to pick his brain since he had vast knowledge of the areas he was considering for his operation.

After the dive, Brett offered to buy Kilione dinner but was refused due to some resort policy. Kilione, in return, invited Brett to a local pub to sample true island food and throw back a couple cold ones. That night's conversation cemented their friendship as well as their business dealings for the next twelve years.

Brett mashed his cigar in the ashtray, turned off the desk lamp and headed to bed.

Colby woke the following morning well rested. Being a virtual zombie the previous evening, he took the opportunity to examine the bedroom Brett had so graciously provided him. He was lying in a four-posted cherry bed, which seemed larger than a traditional king-size. The blue satin sheets felt good against his skin as he rolled over to the side and placed his feet on the floor.

The room was not massive, but comfortably roomy. Tastefully decorated with an Asian motif, Colby liked everything he saw. He realized it took a lot of money to live like this and Brett was giving him the opportunity that may never happen again. Colby grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom.

Hanging his head under the showerhead, Colby went over the possibilities again and again. As he stepped from the shower, he noted the clean set of clothes placed on the counter. They were his clothes, but had been cleaned and pressed. This was definitely the life he thought to himself as he dressed.

Leaving his room and walking down the hall, Colby could hear music playing on the floor beneath him. Descending the stairs he made out the music as an old Eagles tune he had heard his father playing numerous times in his truck. He followed the sounds through the living room and out onto the veranda where Brett sat eating breakfast.

"Take It Easy. One of my dad's favorites."

"You father had good taste. This is real music. Not that trash they play on the radio in the States now."

"Some of it isn't too bad. I prefer country myself."

"Have a seat. Fong should be out shortly with your breakfast. Bacon and eggs ok with you?"

"That would be fine."

"How'd you sleep?"

"Good. Too good in fact. When I woke up I almost forgot where I was. When we got back last night I was kinda out of it and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow."

"A good woman can do that to a man." Brett chuckled.

"You know, that's something I wanted to ask you about. Why on earth would a girl like Nina do what she does?"

"What do you mean"

"What I mean is she's a prostitute. But she's so smart. And beautiful too. I just don't get it."

"Do you really want to know Colby? It could spoil your image of her."

"Yeah I do."

"Ok. Here is how it works. Some farmer in the north can't support his entire family. He sells one or more of his daughters to people who run brothels. They in turn spend the money necessary to educate these girls into what you had last night." Brett finished and watched Colby for a reaction.

"But what keeps the girls from leaving?"

"Honor. These girls think they would be dishonoring their family by leaving unless the brothel's owner said they were free to leave."

"What if a customer wanted to take one of the girls away."

"That's happened before. One of two things usually happens. The customer either pays the owner an agreed amount, or the girl stays put."

"What if someone went to the police?"

"That rarely happens. If a deal isn't struck and the customer gets irate, then the brothel owner produces a tape of the customer with the girl. Since just about every girl in the brothels in Bangkok are minors, that usually ends any confrontation."

"Are you saying there's a video of me fucking Nina?"

"No. Yesterday when you were lounging around the pool I called Hanz and explained we would be coming by. I told him you were not to be taped."

"You have a lot of pull with Hanz don't you?"

"Well I should. He does work for me."

"You son of a bitch! You own that place we went to?"

"It's one of several that I own in town."

Colby sat for a long while. During this time Fong brought his breakfast along with a cigar for Brett. Colby ate in silence while Brett read the previous day's edition of the USA Today. After most of his breakfast was gone, Colby placed his silverware on his plate and cleared his throat.

"I've been thinking long and hard this morning about the decision I made yesterday."

"And?"

"Before I commit, I have to have your word on something."

"What?"

"That you will be completely honest with me from now on. No more hiding things from me. If I am going to do this I have to be aware of everything."

"Fair enough. Anything else?"

"Yeah. How can you smoke those things?" Colby said gesturing to Brett's cigar.

"An acquired taste Colby. I'm sure you'll be smoking them soon enough."

"I don't think so!" Colby said laughing.

"Ok. You have my word that I won't hide anything else from you once you commit to working for me."

"Deal."

With that both men shook hands. Colby continued asking questions about brothels and the girls who worked in them. Brett answered all of his questions truthfully just as he promised. Every now and again Colby would mention Nina.

"Colby you need to understand something right now. There are a thousand Ninas in Bangkok. So don't get hooked on the first one you find. I know this may seem heartless of me, but she is nothing special. You are just infatuated with her because she was your first experience like that. Meaning she wasn't just a regular bar whore. And I will tell you she was the first of many to come. It is just part of the job, and you have to remember that."

At first Colby was angry at what Brett said. But he took time to think about it and realized Brett was right. He had to be right since he did own the brothel Nina worked in.

"I may not like it, but I'll get over it Brett. Just give me a little time to adjust."

"No problem Colby. I remember what it was like for me when it was all new. If you are done eating we need to get going."

"Going? Where to?"

"I've got a little trip in store for us. I'm taking you to see one of our operations. Gonna get your feet wet."

"How the hell did you know that I would decide to stay around and work for you?"

"That's something else you are going to have to learn. Reading people is extremely important in our business. You will see this when the time comes. I had Fong get your bag from the car last night after you turned in. He had instructions to clean and press your clothes and leave a fresh change for you in your bathroom. I knew you'd stay after the massage, but I made sure of that by having you stay here. This is a pretty nice place. Once you get used to it, it's hard to walk away. I wasn't setting you up, I was just making it hard for you to resist."

"Damn fine job you did. So where are we headed?"

"Tahiti. There's someone there you need to get acquainted with that runs one of our operations."

"Mind if I call my folks before we leave? I haven't had the chance to let them know I made it safely."

"Yeah sure. At the top of the stairs is my office. Just call from there and then meet me out front when you are finished. Fong has taken care of your packing so don't worry about it."

Colby made his call to his parents. They were happy to hear from him, but were a little uneasy about his explanation of his future travel plans. He intentionally left out the majority of details concerning Brett. Colby fibbed to them saying that Brett was a Texas Tech alumni and was just extending a helping hand. This pacified them for the time being and they wished him well before ending the call.

Colby walked down stairs and out the front door. Parked in the driveway was a stretch Mercedes limo. The driver opened the back door and Colby stepped in. Brett was talking on his cell phone and grinned broadly at Colby. Finishing the conversation, Brett closed his flip phone and poured himself a glass of water from the car's bar.

"Before you ask, yes this is how we will be traveling. I told you that I wanted to spend my money in obscene amounts, so get used to it."

"I didn't say a word." Colby said laughing.

After a short twenty-minute drive, the car pulled into the entrance to a private airstrip. Instead of parking at the main entrance, the car drove across the tarmac to a secluded hangar. As the men got out of the car, the driver took their bags inside the hangar and placed them next to a small jet. As the men entered the hangar Colby stopped in mid-sentence as he gawked at the plane.

"No way!"

"Yes way. Just the two of us. This flight will give us plenty of time to discuss your responsibilities, so I chartered this plane for privacy's sake."

As they walked closer to the plane, the pilot appeared from the doorway.

"I apologize Mr. Stanford, but our takeoff is going to be delayed for nearly two hours. There's a pretty big weather system closing in on the Bangkok area, so for your safety we will have to remain on the ground until it passes."

"Not a problem. Is it ok if we board and make ourselves comfortable while we wait?" Brett asked.

"Yes sir. If you like I can have some lunch brought out to you."

"That's not necessary. But I would prefer not being disturbed until we leave."

"Yes sir. Please make yourselves comfortable and Ill let you know when we can leave."

Brett and Colby climbed the stairs to the plane as their bags were placed in the cargo bay. Immediately inside on the left side of the plane was a built-in tan leather sofa and opposite was a small table surrounded by tan leather booth seating. Further back there was a small bar with a kitchenette on the same side as the table. Across from the bar were two leather armchairs with a convenient table between them. A small wall appeared to be the end, but as Colby opened the door he saw a small bed that filled the entire tail section. Turning to Brett with a raised eyebrow, Colby grinned.