Without You I Have Nothing (73 page)

_{Peter knew her
torment. The critical moment had come.}

_{Resuming his position
at the kitchen doors, the old Chinese carefully controlled the waiters as they
successfully served Dingo's guests. Then, tiring of the charade, he turned,
pushed on the swinging doors into the kitchen and grunted an order in
Cantonese.}

_{Carrying a roasted
pig's head on a huge platter, two waiters appeared. They followed the old
Chinese as he painfully hobbled to stand behind Jennifer. Unable to restrain
himself any longer, Peter placed his hand on Jennifer's shoulder as he leant
across her to place a plate of chilies, swimming in fish oil and soy sauce, on
the table in front of her.}

_{Turning her head, she
looked into his heavily disguised face and for an instant, her eyes shone with
recognition and warmth. Then, just as quickly, a dull reflection of fear and
hurt replaced that look in her eyes.}

_{Peter snatched her
chopsticks and slashed them past one Arab's eyes to drive them upright into a
bed of rice - a sign of death. At the same time, the two waiters placed a
roasted pig's head before the Arabs.}

_{In that split second,
horrified, the Arabs recoiled from the pig's head on the table in front of them.
Dingo looked as if he were about to explode.}

_{Peter punched his
Cobra ring into the throat of the Arab who still held his hand under Jennifer's
skirt.}

_{A scream rent the air
and the lights went out.}

_{Within minutes, the
lights came on and the party, still seated at the table found they were alone
with a dead Arab face down on the pig. There were the twin puncture wounds of a
snake's fangs in his throat. No sound had alerted them to the fact that the
waiters had completed their mission and had slipped away into the night.}

_{The two police
officers and the politicians were quick to leave the scene.}

_{As arranged, Gurkha
drivers had their cars in place. They picked up the conspirators in the
darkness of the alley so that the waiters left nothing for inquisitive police
except the security tapes playing "M... I... C... K... E... Y... Mickey
Mouse."}

_{Knowing they had some
time before anyone returned to Hunters Hill, the drivers travelled carefully. The
main gates were open and the Gurkhas standing there smiled, waving them through.
The procession of cars stopped, dropped their passengers then sped off.}

_{As he walked into the
large formal entertaining area Peter noticed two guards dead, garroted on the
floor, while six others sat, tied to their chairs. Unfettered in anyway, the
Thai Katoey was angrily stamping her anger at her captors, who amused at her
actions, stood grinning.}

_{The Katoey was
furious. "You wait until Dingo hears about this. You'll be sorry,” and the
Katoey continued to scream until Peter put his face close to hers.}

_{Staring hard into her
eyes, he bellowed in Thai, “Shut up whore!  Before long you will regret you
ever met me."}

_{Maybe it was the
cruelty in his voice, maybe it was his Thai that made the Katoey stop her
wailing threats. A puddle of urine formed at her feet.}

_{The Gurkhas laughter
was contemptuous.}

_{The RSM called to
Peter from another room. "I believe you should see this.”  As Peter
entered the entertainment room where three Gurkhas stood waiting stoically, the
RSM pressed a button on the DVD player.}

_{A pornographic film
burst into life on the screen. It began in a bedroom. As the action progressed,
a door opened and two men dragged a red headed woman through the doorway and
threw her onto the bed. Like piranhas in a blood-filled stream, they tore the
clothes from her body ignoring her screams for help and sobbing pleas to
release her.}

_{When the men had
first dragged the woman into the room, Peter had been uncertain that it was
Jennifer because of her dress, hairstyle and look of being an over-used whore. However,
he instantly recognized her voice.}

_{The film continued,
revealing the Thai Katoey's involvement in the sexual degradation and
humiliation of Jennifer.}

_{Without waiting for
the film to end, he gave the order, "Bring the DVD!”  Storming back to the
main room with Dingo's guards, Peter stood, emotionless studying their faces. In
Tamil he barked an order, "Kill them!"}

_{The guards gurgled
and struggled against the silken loops around their necks then quickly dropped
lifeless to the cold floor.}

_{Turning to the
Katoey, he unsheathed the Kukri hanging from his belt.}

_{"Please, please
I didn't know. If you spare me I can make you a rich man.”  Terrified the
Katoey fell to her knees with the bodies of the dead guards around her.}

_{Nicking his thumb,
Peter returned his Kukri to its sheath. Motionless, he stared into the
quivering wretch's eyes and then, through gritted teeth, demanded in shrill
Thai. "Show me and be quick."}

_{Almost running in her
eagerness, the Katoey led the group to the study where she pulled back a
bookcase and opened the wall safe.}

_{Hurling the lady boy
to one side and, taking a long look into the safe Peter bellowed, "Bring
the large van that was traded today. Now!"}

_{Terrified, the Katoey
lay on the floor watching, aware that it was only a matter of time before she
would die.}

_{As Peter ransacked
the safe, passports of young Asian women and money of large denominations
spilled on the floor. On the bottom shelf nestled gold ingots.}

_{Within minutes,
Gurkhas stood in the driveway, waiting to load passports, money and gold ingots
into the van, when it arrived, possibly along with the sole live prisoner.}

_{The RSM handed Peter
a box filled with DVDs before he went off with his men to prepare the property
for their departure. The boat shed, jetty and mansion would cease to exist. It
was to be a warm warning for Dingo.}

_{Four Tamils painted
the sign of Kali, 'she who destroys' - the powerful, patron Goddess of Thuggees
on the driveway. Others decorated the outside walls of the mansion with similar
signs.}

_{Satisfied, the RSM
bellowed an order in Nepali finalizing the planting of evidence to link the
deaths with worshippers of Kali, the murderous cult which had been outlawed
many years previously by the British Raj.}

_{Peter repeated the
order in Tamil.}

_{The cars and the van
formed a well-protected convoy back to the workshop where the drivers returned the
cars to the used car lot.}

_{After collecting a
trolley from the workshop, Peter and the RSM drove the van to Peter's
condominium where they transferred the contents of the van to his safe. The
security code for the lift was changed and the two of them returned to the
motel.}

_{On the way back,
Peter made the wry comment, "Well, we have one passenger to keep the
cattle company.”  He turned to check on the bound and gagged Katoey, cowering
in the corner.}

_{Week   1}

_{That Fateful Saturday}

_{Breakfast was a rowdy
affair as everyone had his own tale to tell. The papers arrived and everyone
collected their copy.}

_{'MALICIOUS FIREBUG BURNS HUNTERS HILL
MANSION.'}

_{'WELL-KNOWN ARAB RACING IDENTITY ATTACKED BY
SNAKE AT DINNER TABLE.'}

_{The particular
headlines were both lurid and accurate. There were numerous pictures, even one
of Pretty Boy leading Jennifer out of the nightclub.}

_{Suddenly the phone
rang and Susie called Joe. Everyone watched in silence until he turned and
addressed Peter. "Well we have spooked the enemy. The second Arab's just
called for a cab to take him to the airport and he sounded scared."}

_{"Call me a cab
while I get a little farewell present for him from all of us.”  Peter was
pleased that another opportunity for retribution had presented itself so
quickly.}

_{"You're not
going alone.”  Andrew sounded distraught. "We're talking about my sister
here. I demand to become involved."}

_{"You're not
going this trip. However you will be driving the coach this afternoon, as we
could have some passengers later today if Joe's friends come up with the
information we need.”  Reassuring Andrew, Peter turned and left to return to
his room above the workshop.}

_{When Peter reappeared
disguised as a brown eyed Arab, his arrival broke the earlier scene of calm
into one of considerable commotion. The sudden arrival of an Arab startled
everyone but Peter's voice reassured them, even though he addressed them in
Arabic, "Salaam Alaikum.”  He repeated the message and they were astounded
that his voice had this time completely changed.}

_{"I need to do
this alone as I don't want anyone's face on security cameras at the airport. The
best I can offer is to get my driver to call you when my mission is complete. While
I'm away Joe, ask your friends where the girls were taken last night."}

_{"I already
know,” Joe replied quickly.}

_{"Jennifer was
taken to a hotel in the city. She spent the night there with the Arab, Pretty
Boy and Dingo. Guards took the others to a brothel in Redfern. It trades as the
Raging Bull."}

_{Smiling, he inquired.
"Have you got your key?  You may need it."}

_{In reply, Peter
patted his pocket before producing the key that Joe had so painstakingly
duplicated all those months previously.}

_{"Joe, tell your
cabbie that his Hunters Hill fare - the Arab - is to be dropped close to the
QANTAS doors of the airport departure lounge. I'll be there to greet him and
introduce him to the Angel of Death. Tonight he will most certainly not be
dwelling in paradise with eight virgins. Now RSM get one of the used cars from
the lot. You're my driver."}

_{Peter knew the police
would never get the RSM to crack under questioning should anything go wrong.}

_{The drive to the
airport was swift and both men were quiet. The RSM concentrated on his driving
while Peter, disguised as an Arab, studied the passing scenery as if a tourist.}

_{They timed their
arrival so well that the RSM drew up behind the taxi just as the Hunters Hill
fare stepped out.}

_{"Salaam Alaikum.” 
The Arab turned to greet a fellow Arab.}

_{Peter grabbed his
shoulders and pulled him hard against his chest. Right cheek to right cheek he
breathed in the Arab's ear. "Tonight you dwell in hell. You have pig fat
on your face and Allah forbids pigs. You used my wife and you came here to
purchase her.”  Left check to left cheek, Peter continued. "The Angel of
Death is with you. Enjoy hell and remember you have missed the eight virgins.” 
Then he thrust the cobra ring into the Arab's neck.}

_{Peter was in the car
and well away as the Arab sank to the pavement clutching the wound.}

_{As they drove, they
heard the news on the car radio. "Gang wars erupt in Sydney."}

_{"Two Middle
Eastern horse racing identities who arrived just a few days ago to purchase a
mysterious mare are both dead. Some well-known criminal identities died of a
drug overdose in the toilets of a notorious nightclub.}

_{"As well,
several bodies were in the destroyed home of the crime baron Dingo Ryan. Their
manner of death suggests that Thuggees, followers of the Goddess Kali, are
responsible but police admit they have no clues to follow."}

_{The newsreader made a
dry remark as he introduced an advertising break. "This must be Dingo's
unlucky week as his fifty million dollar luxury cruiser sank in the harbor
earlier this week."}

_{Peter laughed briefly
and then resumed his clear-sighted instructions to the RSM.}

_{"Stop at the next
petrol station and ring Andrew,” he ordered. "Tell him to meet us with the
coach at the brothel in Redfern. Joe will be navigator and is to remain in the
coach. They are to bring six Gurkhas with them as back up. We'll be inside
waiting for them. Bring insulated bolt cutters."}

_{As an afterthought he
added, "Tell Joe we're at the Service Station on the corner of Elizabeth
and William Streets. Ask him to send a driver who can lead us to the Raging
Bull brothel."}

_{Within minutes, a
taxi pulled into the Service Station and the driver walked across to tell Peter
to follow his cab. The two cars meandered their way through the traffic until
the taxi stopped outside a tidy but unpretentious residence.}

_{Still dressed as an
Arab and using the key, Peter swept inside the brothel pushing the security
guard aside. "Bring that red headed girl now.”  He demanded. "I have
a use for her.”  Pointing to the obscene picture of Jennifer on the wall Peter
reinforced his order.}