VegasPete : The Way You Taste

26 - Back to the beginning

Macau's POV

"It's not him." (in English slowly)

Fists tightened on the collar of Arm's shirt, while a gray shadow covered my brother's gaze. His hoarse and deep voice imprinted the rage and anguish that was accumulating in his inner self.

Arm nodded at him, showing complicity.

This attitude disarmed my brother somehow, who released him.

...

It's been three days since we left the island.

Kinn talked to his police contacts. So the corpses found on the island were taken for an autopsy in secrecy.

In fact they were the bodies of Tianshi and Gu Wei. Everything indicates that they were burned alive. Coroners estimate that they were killed around the same day that the port trade took place.

P'Pete and Khun Sanya are still missing.

Contrary to what I imagined even crazy cousin Tankhun didn't prepare any mass to veil P'Pete's soul. My brother and cousin Tankhun found themselves sharing an unshakable belief that Pete could never leave them again.

Their certainty give us hope.

Searches continued on other small islands around, but no leads were found. Though he tries to demonstrate otherwise, P'Yim didn't seem too worried, though. My brother has some bodyguards to follow him day and night.

"If Yim is involved, I will break every bone in that body before killing him."

My brother hasn't slept well these three days...looking for any clues to find P'Pete. And in that search a trail of blood was always left.

"Vegas is not barking more than usual. But he is more psychotic for sure. You better keep a good eye on him, Macau... for his own safety." Kinn advised me, worried.

His annoyance aside, my brother even had Arm stay at the minor family mansion to monitor any sign of Pete on the tracker.

"I can help! Get some rest, Arm...you are in front of these computers non-stop for 3 days." I hand him a cup of coffee.

"I'm fine, Macau...thanks." Arm takes a cup of coffee and thanks me with an affable smile.

Ever since that night on the boat, Arm has been polite to me...but it's like he's never stopped being anything more than the family's bodyguard. I don't know if it's because he respects my house, my brother's presence...or if in fact it was just a night of comfort and nothing more.

Given the events, I also don't feel that it's the time to make any demands or create expectations of anything. I resigned myself somehow.

"Nothing yet?" Across the meeting room, by the window, my brother is sitting in an armchair holding a glass of macallan whisky from my father's special collection, while looking out the window...a faraway gaze.

"Unfortunately not, Khun Vegas." Arm promptly responds.

My brother takes another sip of his drink.

"Not even a sign of where Pete's videos were streamed to?"

"Not either, Khun Noo."

My brother takes another big gulp of his drink, holding the glass tightly, as if he wanted to shatter it with his hand.

"Aish!" Cousin Tankhun covers his head with the blanket and turns back on the couch in frustration. He refused to go back to the main family mansion and has been by our side the entire time, inside that meeting room. In a way, I'm glad he's here with us. He just doesn't need to know that.

Suddenly my brother stands up, buttoning his suit, leaving his empty glass on the side table.

"Where are you going, brother? It's not long, but it hasn't dawned yet... and you haven't even slept!"

"I can't just stand here." He takes out his gun and checks to see if the clip of bullets is full.

I place myself in front of him before he opens the door to leave again.

"Please get some rest..."

"I can't, Macau. I CAN'T!" He yells an then looks at me desolately.

"So I go with you..."

"Macau...get out of the way."

We look at each other in opposition like never before.

"OMG, PETE!" Suddenly Arm screams with happiness, looking at one of the monitors.

"WHAT? Did you find him? Where is he???" My brother hurries to Arm's side. I follow him, hopefully.

"My, Pete? Arm! Did you find my Pete?" Tankhun question hysterically, trying to free himself from the blanket and get up off the couch, only to be helped by Pol who doesn't leave his side for a second.

"Look! Here! Pete's ID code appeared!" Arm points to the monitor where P'Pete's identification code flashed on a map of the country.

"But how? Was he still wired?" Is he in Bangkok?" My brother looks puzzled at the monitor.

"Come on Arm, where is it? zoom it on the map!" Tankhun yells.

"It can't be." My brother says, clenching his fists.

"Where is it?" I ask without understanding.

He responds, punching the table.

"The Diamond." 

...