Leland Novak
But suddenly it seemed possible
Toni’s situation was more urgent. I needed to make sure she’d weathered the storm. I was about to set out when I thought of the papers I had retrieved from Danny’s hut. In the light of day, after all that had happened since I last saw Toni, my plan to hold onto the papers seemed unnecessary. The poor girl wanted them so badly. Reaching into my suitcase I took out the papers, slipped them between the pages of a book and put it into my shoulder bag.
Then grabbing my sunglasses, I set off in the direction of Toni’s bungalow. When I arrived I found her sitting on a chair on the veranda. Pale and thin, but looking more alive than I’d seen her for some time. When she saw me, a look of pleasure crossed her face. Johanna, you made it through the storm, she said. I was worried about you.
Well, I’m fine, I responded, touched by her kindness. You look so much better. You really do. She told me she’d been eating regularly and, to prove it, produced buy twitter followers a donut from a paper bag. Not the most nourishing choice, but better than the ganja cookies. Her mood appeared much brighter and, when she didn’t mention Danny, I decided not to introduce the subject of the papers.
I left Toni with the promise to return the following day, then set off in search of Lisette. If Lek were still with her, I’d only stay for a few minutes. I wanted to set my mind at rest, to make certain she was recovering from her strange mood. I found her outside her bungalow, sipping beer, seemingly content. Lek had departed for Bangkok that morning. Reaching into a paper bag she took out a bottle.
This is for you. I knew you would come. She popped the cap off the bottle with an opener dangling from a piece of string tied to the veranda post. I took the bottle and sat down on the steps, taking a long swallow. After several minutes of silence, Lisette looked at me. You are not angry with me, are you, Johanna? I met her gaze, puzzled.
Angry? Of course buy twitter followers not. But I’m perplexed. You worry too much. We did a good thing. We cannot let those men get away with such things. I’d hoped that when she came to her senses, Lisette would admit that nothing had really happened other than taking Eddy’s buy twitter followers passport to teach him a lesson.
But her words sent a new tremor of alarm through me. Lisette, we didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. She smiled and put a hand on my arm. You have buy twitter followers helped me. I think you understand, yes? I shook my head, exasperated.
She was still too emotionally fragile to have a reasonable discussion. But I needed to ask one question. A question that just might force her back to reality. I looked into her eyes as I spoke: I know Lek is your good friend, but do you really believe she’d get involved in something so dangerous as…murder…even for you? Why would she take such a chance? Lisette answered without hesitation. You still don’t understand, do you? In Thailand, all things are possible…for a price. What do you mean? Raising her eyebrows, she shook her buy twitter followers head.
You are such a baby. Everybody needs more money. Police. Lek’s brother. Even Lek. Life here…it is a game of survival. Now I have money. I can buy twitter followers what I want. I stared at her until the full meaning of her words registered. Money. And who knew more about Lisette’s financial windfall than Lek? She had translated at the bank when Lisette got her settlement. Until that moment I really hadn’t believed the tale of murder.
Then grabbing my sunglasses, I set off in the direction of Toni’s bungalow. When I arrived I found her sitting on a chair on the veranda. Pale and thin, but looking more alive than I’d seen her for some time. When she saw me, a look of pleasure crossed her face. Johanna, you made it through the storm, she said. I was worried about you.
Well, I’m fine, I responded, touched by her kindness. You look so much better. You really do. She told me she’d been eating regularly and, to prove it, produced buy twitter followers a donut from a paper bag. Not the most nourishing choice, but better than the ganja cookies. Her mood appeared much brighter and, when she didn’t mention Danny, I decided not to introduce the subject of the papers.
I left Toni with the promise to return the following day, then set off in search of Lisette. If Lek were still with her, I’d only stay for a few minutes. I wanted to set my mind at rest, to make certain she was recovering from her strange mood. I found her outside her bungalow, sipping beer, seemingly content. Lek had departed for Bangkok that morning. Reaching into a paper bag she took out a bottle.
This is for you. I knew you would come. She popped the cap off the bottle with an opener dangling from a piece of string tied to the veranda post. I took the bottle and sat down on the steps, taking a long swallow. After several minutes of silence, Lisette looked at me. You are not angry with me, are you, Johanna? I met her gaze, puzzled.
Angry? Of course buy twitter followers not. But I’m perplexed. You worry too much. We did a good thing. We cannot let those men get away with such things. I’d hoped that when she came to her senses, Lisette would admit that nothing had really happened other than taking Eddy’s buy twitter followers passport to teach him a lesson.
But her words sent a new tremor of alarm through me. Lisette, we didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. She smiled and put a hand on my arm. You have buy twitter followers helped me. I think you understand, yes? I shook my head, exasperated.
She was still too emotionally fragile to have a reasonable discussion. But I needed to ask one question. A question that just might force her back to reality. I looked into her eyes as I spoke: I know Lek is your good friend, but do you really believe she’d get involved in something so dangerous as…murder…even for you? Why would she take such a chance? Lisette answered without hesitation. You still don’t understand, do you? In Thailand, all things are possible…for a price. What do you mean? Raising her eyebrows, she shook her buy twitter followers head.
You are such a baby. Everybody needs more money. Police. Lek’s brother. Even Lek. Life here…it is a game of survival. Now I have money. I can buy twitter followers what I want. I stared at her until the full meaning of her words registered. Money. And who knew more about Lisette’s financial windfall than Lek? She had translated at the bank when Lisette got her settlement. Until that moment I really hadn’t believed the tale of murder.