Mr. Yip nodded and hurried back to the galley.
“Captain Kumar, would it be possible for the passengers to disembark from the rear of the plane?”
“It wouldn’t be a problem, though we would have to bring out a stairway,” said the pilot.
“If the economy passengers are getting off then we should be allowed to get off with them,” said Mr. Woodhouse from his seat in the middle of the cabin.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” said Inspector Zhang.
Mr. Woodhouse waved a blue passport in the air. “I’m an American citizen,” he said. “You can’t keep us prisoners like this.”
“That’s right,” agreed his wife.
“We’re just tourists, this is nothing to do with us,” said Mr. Woodhouse.
“Exactly!” said his wife.
“I am sorry for the inconvenience,” said Inspector Zhang.
“Being sorry doesn’t cut it,” said the American. “This isn’t fair. You’re saying that if we had flown economy you’d let us off, but because we bought business class tickets you’re keeping us prisoner.” He jabbed a thick finger at the Inspector. “I demand that the American Ambassador is informed of this immediately.”
“Immediately!” echoed Mrs. Woodhouse.
“Please Mr. Woodhouse, Mrs. Woodhouse, just bear with us,” said Inspector Zhang calmly. “This will all be resolved shortly.”
Mr. Yip came back down the aisle. “I have spoken to all the cabin crew and I have their assurance that no passengers left the economy cabin throughout the flight.”
“In that case, Captain, I have no objection to you allowing the Economy passengers to disembark from the rear of the plane.”
“I’m going too,” said the Chinese businessman. He stood up and opened the locker above his head and pulled out a Louis Vuitton briefcase.
“I am afraid I must ask you to remain in your seat for a little while longer, Mr. Lung,” said Inspector Zhang.
Mr. Lung turned to look at the Inspector, his upper lip curled back in a snarl. “No,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough. This is Thailand. You’ve no jurisdiction here. You do not have the authority to keep me on this plane.”
“You might well be right, Mr. Lung,” said the Inspector. “But of one thing I am sure, immediately you step out of this plane the Thai police will have the authority to arrest you and I will make sure that they do just that. And I am also sure that you would not appreciate the inside of a Thai prison, because that is where you will be held until this investigation is complete.”
“This is an outrage,” snapped the businessman, but he went back to his seat.
“I agree,” said Inspector Zhang. “Murder is an outrage. Which is why I want to solve this murder as quickly as possible. Once the perpetrator has been apprehended we can all leave the plane.”
The bodyguard was sitting in his seat, staring at the bulkhead. He didn’t look up as Inspector Zhang sat down next to him in seat 11D. “You are Mr. Lev Gottesman,” he said.
The man nodded but said nothing.
“From Israel?”
“From Tel Aviv.”
“And you were employed by Mr. Srisai, as a bodyguard?”
The man turned his head slowly until Inspector Zhang could see his own reflection in the impenetrable lenses of the man’s sunglasses. “Is that some sort of a wisecrack?” he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
“I am merely trying to ascertain the facts in this case,” said Inspector Zhang.
The man’s lips formed a tight line and then he nodded slowly. “Yes, I was hired to be his bodyguard. And yes, the fact that he’s dead means I did not do a good job.” He folded his arms and stared at the bulkhead again.
“Mr. Gottesman, I would like you to remove your sunglasses please.”
“Why?”
“Because I like to see a man’s eyes when he is talking to me. The eyes, after all, are the windows to the soul.”
The Israeli took off his glasses, folded them, and put them into the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
“Thank you,” said Inspector Zhang. “And if you would be so good as to give me your passport.” The bodyguard reached into his pocket and handed the Inspector a blue passport. “How long have you been in Mr. Srisai”s employ?”
“About eight weeks.”
“And your predecessor was killed?”
The Israeli nodded. “There was a car bomb. The bodyguard was driving. Bodyguards should never drive. Drivers drive and bodyguards take care of security. Mr. Srisai did not take his own safety seriously enough.”
“Your predecessor was Thai?”
The Israeli nodded again. “They are not well trained, the Thais. They think that any soldier or cop can be a bodyguard, but the skills are different.”
“And your skills, where do they come from? You were a soldier?”
The bodyguard sneered. “All Israelis are soldiers. Our country is surrounded by enemies.”
“More than a soldier then? Mossad? Did you use to work for the Israeli intelligence service?”
The Israeli nodded but said nothing. Inspector Zhang flicked through the passport.
“So you are a professional,” said Inspector Zhang. “As a professional, what do you think happened?”
“He died. I failed. And as for being a professional, I doubt that anyone will employ me again after this.”
Sergeant Lee appeared at Inspector Zhang’s side, taking notes. “And you saw nothing?” asked the Inspector.
The bodyguard turned to stare at Inspector Zhang with eyes that were a blue so pale they were almost grey. “If I had seen anything, do you think I would have allowed it to happen?” he said.
“Obviously not. And equally, you heard nothing?”
“Of course I heard nothing.”
“So what do you think happened, Mr. Gottesman? Who killed your client?”
“He had many enemies.”
“So I gather. But are any of those enemies on this plane?”
“He didn’t see any while we were waiting to board.”
“But you would have been in the VIP lounge, would you not? So you wouldn’t have seen everyone.”
“True,” said the Israeli. “But the only people in the forward cabin are those with business class tickets. It couldn’t have been any one from the rear of the plane, could it?”
“I agree,” said Inspector Zhang. “Now when was the last time you saw him alive?”
“I went to the toilet shortly before landing. I came back to find that journalist pestering Mr. Srisai. Then I read a magazine, then the flight attendant came around to tell us to fasten our seat belts and when she checked Mr. Srisai she realised something was wrong. She fetched the guy in the suit and he said he was dead and covered him with a blanket.”
“You didn’t check for yourself?”
“They told me to stay in my seat. They said there was nothing I could do.”
Inspector Zhang nodded thoughtfully. “Was he an easy man to work for?”
The bodyguard shrugged. “He liked to do things his own way.”
“So he was difficult?”
“I wouldn’t say difficult.”
“There was an argument at security back at the airport, I’m told.”
“It was nothing. A misunderstanding.”
“About what?”
“The metal detector beeped. They searched him. I think it was his watch that set it off. He wears a big gold Rolex.”
“And there was an argument?”
“He didn’t want to be stopped. Men like Mr. Srisai, they are used to getting their own way.”
“And while you were in Singapore, where did you stay?”
“We moved from hotel to hotel, changing every few days. Last night we stayed at the Sheraton.”
“Because Mr. Srisai was concerned for his safety?”
The bodyguard nodded. “He said there were people who still wanted him dead, even though he had left Thailand.”
“But nothing happened during the flight to give you any cause for concern?”
“That’s right. I was stunned when they said he was dead. I don’t know how it could have happened.”
Inspector Zhang handed the bodyguard his passport. “You say that you have only worked for Mr. Srisai for two months.”