I shrugged. "I hope never to test that. Okay, so what's the plan?"
A long time later, the door opened and the same chauffeur stood just outside at attention. Maryanne looked at her watch. It was a Rolex.
"You've had a long day, Robert. I've booked you into the Waldorf Astoria, into one of our private suites, so you can avoid checking in. Harvey will take you, so you can get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow."
"What happens tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, my dear Captain Wonderful, we start our little crusade."
I stood up, as the audience was over.
"You’re a good man, Robert. You will help us. As the movies say, you’re one of the good guys now," she said, with a smile.
"Let me be the judge of that. I'm truly pleased the president and his family are safe, but as for the rest, perhaps I'll see tomorrow."
I turned and followed Harvey back to the car. He opened the door for me.
"Army or Marines?" I asked.
He frowned, the first crack in the ice.
"Marines, sir, fifteen years."
"It shows, Harvey. Sergeant?"
"Gunnery Sergeant, sir."
"That shows too," I said getting into the car.
During the drive to the Waldorf-Astoria, Harvey was equally uncommunicative as before. Only this time, I got the impression he no longer saw me as the enemy, I wasn't exactly a friend, but I felt a little more ice had thawed. The car slid to a halt outside the hotel, so one of the doormen opened my door before Harvey could get there.
I got out with my meagre suitcase, pleased I'd put a suit on, at least.
"Lighten up, Gunny, it might never happen," I said to Harvey as I entered the hotel. I swear he almost smiled.
I already had the key-card, so by-passed the reception and headed straight to the elevator. A few minutes later I was looking out across Central Park from the most luxurious suite I'd ever seen, let alone been allowed to stay in.
I had a long and desperately decadent soak in the hot-tub, taking the opportunity to shave again at the same time, this time with a brand new blade, with all manner of sexy lotions that promised to make my skin as soft as a baby's. They lied, but I smelled gorgeous!
My life was a mess. Oh, it hadn't always, in fact, I'd always been proud of how splendidly I was arranging my life, considering my parents were dead and I was on my own. I'd been alone since their car accident when I was sixteen. My parents had nominated my father's younger sister, my Aunt Katherine, as my guardian. She didn't have to do much, as I was in boarding school for two thirds of the year, and was so involved with the CCF (Army cadets), that I spent several weeks of the holidays at various camps or courses.
Kathy was sweet, as was her husband, Uncle Jack, and my cousins Jenny and Bruce. The children were ten and twelve, respectively, so I was considerably older than they were. They made me feel at home, but it wasn't my home, it was simply somewhere I stayed when not at school and before I joined the army.
As soon as I passed my A levels, I applied for a commission in the army and passed the Regular Commissions Board. After Sandhurst, my life started properly, but now, it seemed, that life was over.
By the time I had dried off and had wrapped up in one of the hotel's luxurious bathrobes, it had gone eight pm, so I rang room service and ordered some steak and fries. I then sat and watched the lights of New York while I ate. I flicked through the nine hundred channels of complete twaddle of the oversized TV, deciding that even the few channels we had in the UK were preferable to this lot. Not that I was a great one for TV even at home.
I then reflected upon what Maryanne, if that really was her name, had told me. Were there really African assassins chasing me in London, or was I all a ruse to persuade me to assist in their half-baked scheme? I then felt the pangs of sadness and anger over poor Simon.
We'd first met when I first arrived in Africa. He was working with a UN relief organisation in the region I was supposed to help maintain the peace. He was as passionate about peace as was I, except we both had different ideas as to the best way of achieving it. I found him warm and genuine, something of an idealist and a little naïve in his outlook, but good fun and we became good friends.
By giving him the diamonds, I misguidedly believed he would be the ideal man to assist in the sensible use of them to help a nation rebuild itself. Simon was an able administrator with contacts with key people within the UN, and key people within the aid agencies. The deposed President trusted him, so he was a perfect choice. I simply underestimated the speed and ferocity of Mombossu's reaction. I'd never make that mistake a second time. I just wondered whether I'd ever have to face that bastard again.
I helped myself to a small bottle of Jack Daniels from the not-so mini-bar and went to sleep.
Chapter Three
The cabin crew woke me up as they prepared to the descent to Bangkok. It was only three days since I'd left my flat in London, and I was now on the adventure of my life. Strangely, I was actually quite upbeat about my change in fortune. After being so depressed about how I'd been let down by H.M.G. and having to quit the job that was my life, I now had something to aim for. I conceded it was short term, but Maryanne alluded to further employment should this venture be successful.
To be honest, I wasn't that bothered, for she assured me that the sum agreed was even now being transferred to my account in England - half now and the other half on successful completion of the mission. Even if I didn't complete it, my mortgage was as good as paid, but I didn't want to consider failure as an issue.
I waited for the other passengers to clear the aircraft, and took my time to walk down to immigration and baggage reclaim. I was flying into Thailand so as not to alert the Vietnamese authorities of my presence. Maryanne had informed me the events in Africa were still newsworthy, and as the General had obviously put a price on my head, it was reasonable to assume he had informed the Vietnamese that I may attempt to retake the diamonds at some point. Maryanne also pointed out that as the General's men were by now reporting that I wasn't to be found in London, it was a reasonable assumption on their part that I'd left the country,
It was fantastic, as only a few days ago, I was a penniless ex-soldier with no future. How anyone could assume I'd travel halfway round the world to attempt a daring burglary on diplomatic premises was anyone's guess.
Yet I was doing just that, with a little help.
I cleared immigration, the Thai official barely glancing at my New Zealand passport in the name of Bruce Carter from Auckland. On collecting my bag, the same tatty little holdall that had been with me for the last eight years, I sauntered through the arrivals doors into the arrivals hall. It smiled as I saw a large black man holding a card displaying the name: B. Carter.
I smiled not because of the name, but that it was Harvey holding it. This time he grinned at me.
"I'm Bruce Carter," I said, on walking up to him.
"Welcome to Bangkok, Mr Carter, how was your flight?"
"Very good, mind you, I'm still not sure what time it is. How are you?"
He simply grinned and led the way outside. As we walked across the tarmac, he handed me a folder.
"The arrangements," he said.
Once in the Land Cruiser, I relaxed, but decided against trying to read in the car.
"When did you get here?" I asked.
"Yesterday, Cap, just enough time to arrange for a boat. The team is all here, so we can make a move on your word. "
I smiled at the word 'Cap'. It meant that he'd at least acknowledged me for what I was, even though I knew that I'd have to prove myself, as with any new team.