Book of JUDAS

Chapter Eighteen-1

Chapter Eighteen

Bangkok, Thailand

The flight from Koh Samui was a short one and it was still early evening as they cleared Bangkok immigration. Before heading for the taxi rank, they checked on the flight schedules for the next leg of their journey. Cathay Pacific flew direct to San Francisco via Tokyo and they could pick up a connecting flight to New York shortly afterwards.

As they paid for the tickets with cash, Philip allowed himself to picture his reunion with Heather. She had found the distance between them much harder to deal with than she had imagined, especially once she had found out about the late Sir Lawrence Trenchard’s legacy. Philip had been staying in her apartment when he had heard the news of his grandfather’s death and when he left they both assumed that he would be away for a week only. He couldn’t wait to see her.

“Right, we need to find a new hotel,” said Simon, turning back from the sales counter holding the tickets. He had paid for them with cash.

“Ok, I’ve found one.” Anna was reading a brochure she had obtained from one of the tourist information kiosks.

“It’s called the Bangkok Plaza and it looks fantastic,” she smiled, holding up the glossy pictures for them to see.

“It should be it’s one of the world’s top hotels,” replied Simon grinning back. “What do you think Philip?”

“Let’s go for it − we’re only here for a short time and anyway, we’ll need the facilities of a good hotel for some of the arrangements we’ll need to make.”

“What have you got in mind?” asked Anna as she followed just behind the brothers as they headed down the shiny white marble concourse towards the sliding doors and the taxi rank.

“Well, I’ve been thinking, how are we going to deal with the scrolls? − we can’t risk running them through customs. Am I right in saying that we don’t need them until we’ve secured the third key Anna?”

“That’s right – they’re our passport to finding the entrance to the labyrinth once we have all the arkheynia.”

“In which case, I think the best thing to do would be to forward the scrolls straight to Cairo − my firm has an office in Heliopolis in the centre of the city. It makes sense for me to call them and send them the package direct by courier. I can tell them to keep the package safe until I arrive to collect it.”

In the modern age, courier companies consolidated their many deliveries and sent them on their own jets. Gone were the days where express package deliveries travelled on national carriers accompanied by the courier firm’s representatives. Once the planes landed with their cargo, Customs officials would review the manifest – the list of all designated items in the cargo – and only if the description looked unusual would they ask to see the packet. Items described as documents were rarely questioned.

The eager driver from the yellow taxi at the front of the queue jumped out of his car to open the boot.

“It makes sense,” said Anna and Simon nodded.

“Can you take us to the Plaza?” said Anna as the last door slammed shut. The driver pulled out immediately, on the scent of a greater reward.

Fifteen minutes later, having battled through the downtown traffic, they reached the luxurious Bangkok Plaza. Philip approached the Reception desk to sort out the arrangements whilst Anna and Simon wandered around the expansive lobby looking at the shops and restaurants.

In the time-honoured spirit of Thai hospitality, the uniformed staff were cordial and willing to go to extreme lengths to please their guests. Instead of organising an interconnecting room as before, Philip took a suite on the top floor that had two bedrooms, a large central lounge and its own dining area. He informed the desk that they would be checking out after breakfast and that they should prepare his bill promptly for his departure. He had one sticky moment when they required his credit card to authorise payment but he gave them a sufficient amount of dollars to pay for the suite in advance and give them additional credit.

“I’m feeling exhausted,” said Anna as they reconvened at the front desk whilst the bellboy collected their bags and their room key from the front desk.

“I think that goes for all of us,” replied Philip. “It’s coming up to seven thirty − why don’t we sort out the jobs we’ve got to get done and at the same time order dinner in the room. After that let’s get an early night.”

“Ok sounds great,” replied Anna enthusiastically as they entered the lift. “I’m really looking forward to soaking in hot bath.”

“Well you can soak in it with the room menu because I’m putting you in charge of ordering the meal for all of us,” he said, grinning back at her.

The double doors to the suite were at the end of the corridor. The bellboy opened them and they stepped into a lavishly decorated hall that led to an even more ornate and luxurious lounge with huge cushioned sofas, glass side tables and a stunning view of the city below. The walls were adorned with large framed prints of historical Thai art and embroidered local tapestries to create an ambience redolent of their romantic Asian location.

Anna gleefully entered one of the bedrooms and was thrilled at the sight of the deep sunken bath – the prospect of a relaxing soak was overwhelming. She returned to the hall announcing her room’s menu selections with a smile as the bellboy placed their bags in their rooms before dutifully nodding as he closed the double doors behind him.

“It’s even got a kitchenette,” said Simon, pointing beyond a couple of bar stools next to a breakfast counter.

“I think we’ll manage here − good work, Philip,” said Anna jokingly putting on a deep army voice. He smiled at her, pleased that she was looking so contented.

“Right I’ve got a few calls to make and, Simon − I think we should go ahead with our plan to withdraw more cash!”

“Ok, I’ll get on to it now,” he replied eagerly.

They had agreed that if they were to avoid the use of their credit cards they would have to obtain access to a lot more cash in the future. Simon was tasked with cashing further books of the traveller’s cheques that Felix Bairstow had so obligingly provided. Without pausing, he grabbed the necessary documentation and after promising to return before dinner was served, he promptly walked out of the luxurious suite.

Anna went to her room to sort out her belongings. She had also spotted some boutique shops in the lobby that could add to her meagre wardrobe. If she managed to clean her current outfits and add a few extra items she knew she would feel much better.

“I’ll organise the room service for eight thirty − is that Ok?” she asked Philip as she too headed towards the door and the shopping mall downstairs.

“That’s fine,” he replied as she disappeared to complete her shopping list.

With the apartment to himself, Philip went to the mini bar and helped himself to a cold bottled beer before settling down in one of the comfortable armchairs next to the phone. The first call he made was to his firm’s office in Cairo. He’d had a few dealings with one of the partners there in the past two years over various cross-border investment deals and he hoped the same man would still be in charge. It was late afternoon in Cairo as the operator put his call through.

“Hallo can I speak to Sami Hussain?” Philip asked as he connected to his secretary.

“Who can I say is calling?” she answered politely.

He introduced himself and waited a few seconds while she went through the normal set of protocols for an unknown caller.

“Philip, this is an unexpected pleasure!” came the deep, jovial tones of Sami Hussain.

They traded pleasantries before Sami enquired about the purpose of the call. He then listened intently as Philip asked if he could dispatch a valuable package to his office for safe keeping until he arrived to collect it within the next week or so.

Philip knew from his business dealings with Hussain that he was a straightforward, reliable man who had developed a reputation for honesty in a region where this was not always taken for granted. Hussain enquired about the nature of the package and Philip knew it would be rude not to give his friend an answer and that it could provoke unnecessary curiosity later on. He decided to take a bit of time to explain that his recently deceased grandfather was an archaeologist and that he needed the contents in Cairo. Hussain thought for a moment before agreeing to Philip’s request.

“Ok Philip, you’ve done favours for me in the past so it’s the least I can do − don’t worry, we’ll keep it safe − I look forward to seeing you in a week or so.”

“Thanks Sami, I appreciate it,” said Philip, signing off. He took a few moments to double check the scrolls’ packaging before feeling comfortable that he had completed his task.

Lying back in his chair, he took another swig of his beer and tried to work out what time it would be on the East Coast of America. He was excited at the prospect of his next call. With the events of the past few days it seemed like ages since they’d had a chance to speak. The time difference was twelve hours so he figured it had just passed eight o’clock in the morning. Probably the best time to catch her in the office, he thought.

Philip was right. Heather had a reputation for being an early starter at the swish offices of the prestigious Wall Street law firm. The call was put through directly.

“Philip, what on earth’s going on? I’m scared!” demanded Heather as she heard Philip’s voice. She sounded strained and fretful.

“Listen, I’m on my way back to New York,” replied Philip, hearing the audible sighs of relief from the other end as he quickly passed on the details of their flight booking. He did his best to placate her as he sensed her worry and concern changing to anger that she had been left in such a desperate position. She was a strong woman who was used to dealing in a man’s world but none of this prepared her for what she was undertaking. She loved Philip with a passion and simply couldn’t imagine life without him – and the distance from what was going on in his life hurt her.

“I’ll be there at the airport to meet you when you get in − call me if there’s any delay,” she said, consoling herself with the thought that they would be together again tomorrow.

Philip told her in the gentlest possible way that he could that they would only be in New York for a week or so before having to leave again.

“I’m coming with you this time Philip!” she insisted in her uncompromising lawyer’s tone. He knew she was a determined woman but this was dangerous. How can I jeopardise the life of the woman I love? He made uncompromising noises of his own.

“But you’ve got this Anna woman with you,” she argued vehemently.

“Look, we’ll talk about it when I get back,” he promised and she reluctantly agreed, imagining taking up the gauntlet on his arrival.

Philip heard the door to the apartment opening.

“I’ve got to go,” he whispered quickly. “I love you,” he added, before putting the receiver down.

Anna entered with an assortment of shopping bags from downstairs and headed for the privacy of her luxurious bedroom.

“I’ll get room service ordered,” she shouted to Philip as she pulled the door closed behind her.

Mulling over the conversation with Heather and wondering whether he could let her travel with them, Philip set off to finalise arrangements with the concierge. It was important that they fully understood their instructions for delivering the scrolls to his firm’s office in Cairo.

Shortly before nine o’clock the doorbell to the suite signalled the arrival of their supper. Anna let them in and two waiters pushed in a metal trolley and began laying the dining room table for dinner. They were quick and proficient in their task and finally a few minutes later, they placed the bowls of Thai cuisine in the middle before bowing their heads respectfully as they retreated from the apartment leaving the sumptuous feast behind them. Sitting down at the round table they needed no second invitation to begin.