balls soup lady. Prick. My boys will sort him out.’
The world’s most exotic markets and locals-only food stalls were now being besieged by film crews from food and lifestyle TV shows, all competing to find something unique for their viewers. The hunt was becoming brutal, and production companies were actively seeking out ex-military types or people with martial arts training to work as producers and cameramen.
The whole food as entertainment thing was getting way out of hand. I’d recently come round a bend on a jungle track while on assignment deep in the heart of unexplored Sarawak and stumbled across a tiny shack, whose owner was squatting in the mud grilling slices of monkey over a charcoal fire. A laminated card pinned to one of the poles holding up the sagging thatched roof read ‘As featured on
Asia’s Yummiest Street Snacks
– Gourmet TV Network’.
I noticed a group of police heading in our general direction and assumed they were on their way to handle the TV crew’s demarcation dispute, but they stopped at my table. Usually I’m not all that pleased to see the local wallopers, but this morning I wasn’t too fussed. Not when the cop in charge was so good-looking.
THIRTEEN
‘Good Morning, Miss Hoang. How very nice to see you again.’
Nhu didn’t return my smile. ‘Mr Murdoch, we need to talk,’ she said. ‘Most urgently.’
‘Who’s your friend with the nice tits, Alby?’ Jezebel asked.
Nhu was wearing a neat uniform of trousers and a crisply pressed shirt with red shoulder boards bearing a thin gold band and three silver stars indicating her rank. It was an outfit that really did show off her curves.
I made the introductions. ‘Miss Jezebel Quick, this is Senior Lieutenant Nhu Hoang of the local police. Miss Hoang is the national police pistol champion.’
‘Interesting,’ Jezebel responded. ‘Is that why she’s showing us her gun?’
It was a good question, since I was wondering about that myself. This time I was definitely able to see that she was armed, as the muzzle of a Russian 9mm police-issue Yarygin Pya semi-automatic pistol was pointing in the general direction of my bellybutton.
‘Mr Murdoch,’ Nhu said, ‘I need to ask you some questions regarding your activities last night.’
Something in her dark eyes made me stifle the comment about my activities the preceding evening and her part in them.
‘We require your assistance with our inquiries.’ She turned to Jezebel and smiled. ‘Ms Quick, since this affair does not concern you I suggest you go about your business.’
Jezebel looked at me. ‘Alby?’
I nodded. ‘It’s under control, Jez.’
Jezebel leaned down and gave me a kiss. ‘We’ll catch up later, okay?’
‘Ms Quick,’ Nhu said, ‘I very much enjoyed your recent book on romantic dinners for two.’
‘Then you wanna keep your eye out for the next one,
Naughty Late-Night Nibbles
. Alby here has got his own chapter.’
Jezebel smiled, turned and walked towards her waiting film crew. I think I might have blushed.
‘Now, Mr Murdoch, if you would please put out your hands.’
One of the officers snapped a nice shiny set of handcuffs around my wrists. I was glad Jezebel had left since I knew exactly what kind of comment she’d make.
Nhu holstered her pistol. She joined me at the table and ordered a bowl of
pho
while her officers fanned out in a loose circle around the table, looking outwards to scan the crowd. Last night Miss Hoang had been very, very hot and this morning she was just way too cool.
‘Mr Murdoch, please excuse the use of my gun and the handcuffs but it is necessary to show anyone observing us that you are in my custody.’
‘Necessary why?’
‘Following our investigations, we now feel confident that the incident in the alley last night was more than just thieves wishing to steal your camera. We have become aware that there is a plan to kill you. I believe you would say there is a price on your head.’
I kept my mouth
The world’s most exotic markets and locals-only food stalls were now being besieged by film crews from food and lifestyle TV shows, all competing to find something unique for their viewers. The hunt was becoming brutal, and production companies were actively seeking out ex-military types or people with martial arts training to work as producers and cameramen.
The whole food as entertainment thing was getting way out of hand. I’d recently come round a bend on a jungle track while on assignment deep in the heart of unexplored Sarawak and stumbled across a tiny shack, whose owner was squatting in the mud grilling slices of monkey over a charcoal fire. A laminated card pinned to one of the poles holding up the sagging thatched roof read ‘As featured on
Asia’s Yummiest Street Snacks
– Gourmet TV Network’.
I noticed a group of police heading in our general direction and assumed they were on their way to handle the TV crew’s demarcation dispute, but they stopped at my table. Usually I’m not all that pleased to see the local wallopers, but this morning I wasn’t too fussed. Not when the cop in charge was so good-looking.
THIRTEEN
‘Good Morning, Miss Hoang. How very nice to see you again.’
Nhu didn’t return my smile. ‘Mr Murdoch, we need to talk,’ she said. ‘Most urgently.’
‘Who’s your friend with the nice tits, Alby?’ Jezebel asked.
Nhu was wearing a neat uniform of trousers and a crisply pressed shirt with red shoulder boards bearing a thin gold band and three silver stars indicating her rank. It was an outfit that really did show off her curves.
I made the introductions. ‘Miss Jezebel Quick, this is Senior Lieutenant Nhu Hoang of the local police. Miss Hoang is the national police pistol champion.’
‘Interesting,’ Jezebel responded. ‘Is that why she’s showing us her gun?’
It was a good question, since I was wondering about that myself. This time I was definitely able to see that she was armed, as the muzzle of a Russian 9mm police-issue Yarygin Pya semi-automatic pistol was pointing in the general direction of my bellybutton.
‘Mr Murdoch,’ Nhu said, ‘I need to ask you some questions regarding your activities last night.’
Something in her dark eyes made me stifle the comment about my activities the preceding evening and her part in them.
‘We require your assistance with our inquiries.’ She turned to Jezebel and smiled. ‘Ms Quick, since this affair does not concern you I suggest you go about your business.’
Jezebel looked at me. ‘Alby?’
I nodded. ‘It’s under control, Jez.’
Jezebel leaned down and gave me a kiss. ‘We’ll catch up later, okay?’
‘Ms Quick,’ Nhu said, ‘I very much enjoyed your recent book on romantic dinners for two.’
‘Then you wanna keep your eye out for the next one,
Naughty Late-Night Nibbles
. Alby here has got his own chapter.’
Jezebel smiled, turned and walked towards her waiting film crew. I think I might have blushed.
‘Now, Mr Murdoch, if you would please put out your hands.’
One of the officers snapped a nice shiny set of handcuffs around my wrists. I was glad Jezebel had left since I knew exactly what kind of comment she’d make.
Nhu holstered her pistol. She joined me at the table and ordered a bowl of
pho
while her officers fanned out in a loose circle around the table, looking outwards to scan the crowd. Last night Miss Hoang had been very, very hot and this morning she was just way too cool.
‘Mr Murdoch, please excuse the use of my gun and the handcuffs but it is necessary to show anyone observing us that you are in my custody.’
‘Necessary why?’
‘Following our investigations, we now feel confident that the incident in the alley last night was more than just thieves wishing to steal your camera. We have become aware that there is a plan to kill you. I believe you would say there is a price on your head.’
I kept my mouth
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