'MR BLACK, I HAVE a call from the Royal Thai Embassy London. Lord Komphetch wants to speak to you urgently on a personnel matter.'

'Oh God, that is all I need. You had better put him through.'

'Mr Black, maybe you remember me? We met at our Embassy in London before your transfer to Bangkok?'

'Yes, Sir, I remember you very well. You gave a wonderful speech. What can I do for you?'

'A Welshman is living in Hua Hin. His name is Michael Gains. I wonder if you would be so good as to tell me what you know of him. This is a personal matter, so I would be happy if it does not become common knowledge that I am asking.'

Can this be the same person Kevin talked about? Surely it canʼt be, thought Black. But Black was a man who did not believe in coincidences.

'I will do what I can, Sir; leave it with me. I'll get back to you as soon as I have information.'

Black's mind kicked into action mode. What is going on?

Black's secretary interrupted his train of thought. 'The reporter in leather is here again, and she wants to talk to you.'

'You know what to tell her.'

They had sent Sombat to Kaeng Krachan; he had not returned. They had reported no accident in Hua Hin. So something must have happened to him during the 'jobʼ. It was time to break the news to Kev and the rest.

'Please get me Khun Daeng at the double,' said Black to his secretary.

Khun Daeng was Sombatʼs assistant, the Karen speaker. Five minutes later, a flustered Khun Daeng entered Black's office.

'Sorry, Sir, I was in the filing room.'

'Forget whatever you were doing. You are coming with me to Hua Hin, I mean now. But first, what do we know of Michael Gains?'

'The Mike, our friend Kevin, mentioned regarding a tour business, I believe?'

'Yes, yes! Before we leave, I need to know everything about Mr Gains.'

Ten minutes later, impatient as ever, 'What have you found out?'

'We are working on it, Sir. Will we be gay on this trip, Sir? Sombat told me he enjoyed that.'

Khun Daeng dashed back to the filing cabinets and the new secretary who had been helping him! This time he was there with work to do before they rushed him off to the seaside.

They enlisted a member of the Embassy staff, a gentleman who scared the life out of people by just looking at them. He had to join Daeng and Black on the trip to Hua Hin. This gentleman was called upon now and again for particular jobs. He drove the blacked-out van, as he liked no one to drive but himself.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

This time, the trio checked into The Dusit Polo Club, a Five Star addition to the hotels in the area. With a sister hotel in Bangkok. The Dusit group was growing fast. With exceptionally well-run hotels throughout the Kingdom. Separate rooms for the Embassy men. This time there was no need for disguise.

Khun Daeng was told to go to Kevʼs office. Introduce himself and ask Kev to prepare the girls for evacuation in one hour. An embassy staff member would arrive in a black van to pick them up. Explain that Black would be on the phone for the rest of the day. So he would not be with them.

Kev wondered where Sombat was.

Khun Daeng had only left Kev's office 15 minutes before. However, he forgot to mention that the car they used was black.

A red pickup cruised past the office. The girls got excited. They thought they were on their way home. But Kev had a bad feeling. Something was wrong. Skylab said the hairs on her arm were standing up, always making her feel uneasy.

Kevʼs shout pierced the thoughtful, quiet time.

'Quick, hide the girls behind the cupboard under the stairs. It is not the people from the Embassy.'

The cupboard was empty, so not heavy. It slid out easily, giving enough room for the girls to squeeze into.

The front door almost came off its hinges as four men burst in. Kev, Skylab and Dam were sitting at their desks pretending to be working. They looked up, feigning shock.

'Alay waa!' Shouted Dam in impolite Thai. The first two men glanced around downstairs, then went straight upstairs. The other two questioned Dam and Skylab.

'Where are they?' said one man.

'Who? What are you talking about?'

'Two girls, our girls, where are they?'

The first two thugs came back down, shaking their heads and kicking chairs.

'The cleaner over the road told our boss you had the girls, now where are they?'

'Look, mate, I donʼt know...'

Kev had no time to finish his sentence when the pistol grip hit him full in the mouth.

'I am talking to Thais, not ʼfalangʼ scum. E Heer,' once again using labourers' swear words.

Dam got up but soon stopped as they aimed the pistol at his heart.

Skylab screamed as the front door opened again. This time, not with more armed Thais. But one unarmed man, except for his smile, was disarming. He was not Thai.

'Hello,' he said. 'What's going on 'ear?' The accent was Cockney. The four Thais walked past him and got into their pickup. Away they sped.

The English man said he was from the Embassy.

'How many people were the Embassy bringing?' He ignored Kev's question.

'I am here to collect the girls.'

Dam slid the cupboard back, revealing the quaking girls.

'Right, I'll get the wagon. I have to double park for a minute outside. Then we 'ad better be snappy when you see me pull up, get the gals into my jam jar, and Iʼll do the rest.'

They bundled the girls into the new, Australian-built Ford saloon as it pulled up outside. They were waving their thanks as they disappeared around the corner.

Kevʼs mouth was bloody and sore. He still had all his teeth. The pain in his jaw did not stop him from thinking. That is not the way to Bangkok. Maybe there is a border crossing south of here?

They had just settled in their office seats, giving Skylab time to clean blood from around Kevʼs mouth. Then a black van with blacked-out windows pulled up outside.

'Oh no, what have we done.'

The Embassy men also had to double park outside the office in the specially fitted-out van. The driver led the trio towards the office door while studying any movement to the left and right.

The look on the faces of the office occupants said it all.

Black had had a quick change of mind. He decided it was more important to see the girls safely home than any Embassy phone calls. He was already sure he was right to change his schedule.

'Do not tell me you have lost the girls?' He covered his serious face. 'I donʼt believe it.' The stern look was now shaking with partly controlled rage. Black wanted to hear exactly what happened.

As Black left the office, a girl leaning against her Honda motorcycle smiled and waved. Black made it clear he didn't wish to speak to her.