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 Undercover 10

   By Katzmarek



   Part 10

   Jess got home about 6 PM to find her friend Chris busy making dinner.

   "Hi hon," Chris greeted her, "Ooo, you're walking funny, a bit bandy
legged are we?"

   "Shut up," replied Jess, blushing.

   "Good to see a bit of colour in your cheeks."

   "You sound like my mother."

   "What?  She says THAT to you after a couple of days of solid SEX?" Chris
asked in mock surprise.

   "Hmm... `Solid' is a good description," Jess told her, grinning.

   "I wish Jerry would give me a workout like that!  Go on, tell me, how
many times?"

   "Umm..." said Jess, counting to herself, " seven, perhaps eight...
depends on what you're counting."

   "Alright... start with orgasms then..."

   "Umm, would that be individual ones or those continuous sort that seem
to last and last?"

   "Continuous?  God Jess, what have you got there, a sex Olympic athlete?"

   "He's... remarkable..." Jess told her.

   "You want to share him?"

   "No... he's all mine... I'm having a bath."

   Meanwhile, Warren Hastings was on the phone to his boss.

   "Warren?" Ted Sperle said, "what have you got?"

   "Well sir, I'm beginning to get a picture here, but I need to do some
more digging."

   "Dig away... only... lay off the Royal household, ok?  I got the word
from `upstairs.' Apparently they don't like detectives from New Zealand
prying into their business."

   "Well sir... I think we may have a problem then."

   "Concentrate on our end, Warren.  Let the Tongans deal with theirs."

   "I don't think they will, sir.  Technically the Royalty is above the
law... there's a few constitutional things but..."

   "Get me Treadwell, detective!  I don't care about their bloody Kings and
Queens..."

   "Sir... I need to interview a Princess, name of Vai... can you pull some
strings?" Hastings interrupted.

   "Is it important?"

   "Very... I believe one or other of the companies she owns provided the
conduit to the Asian end."

   "Is that so?" said Ted, "I don't know, Warren... it's all political,
see? I'll do my best.

   There's some shenanigans going on, all right.  There's a guy up in
Foreign Affairs that seems interested... reckons they're all a bunch of
crooks... but he has a boss, too.

   So what if you find evidence of complicity... where does it go?"

   "If they hold themselves above the law, the only thing is an `Act of
Attainer,' a sort of demand from the Council of Nobles to explain
themselves..."

   "God, sounds medieval!"

   "That's not the half of it...then there's an Act of Compliance, an Act
of Impeachment, that's the last step..."

   "Ok, I get the picture.  So all those Acts require this Council of
Nobles to agree among themselves?"

   "Basically... but it will never happen.  Most of the Nobles are ill
educated... it's all hereditary, see?  Even the Police Chief owes his job
to his dad.  When it comes to high finance, well, they don't know their
arse from their elbow."

   "I see!  So what DO they do?"

   "Pass on the tributes and genuflect, oh and advise the King on the
proper traditions."

   Sperle sighed,

   "I'll speak to my man up on the hill... I'll get back to you."

   "Can I come in?" Chris asked through the bathroom door, "I need to
tinkle."

   "Come right in Chris," Jess replied.

   Chris opened the door and sat on the toilet.

   "So," she smiled at her friend, "he was nice, eh?"

   "The best," Jess smiled back.

   "Good hon... here, let me do your back."

   "Sure."

   Chris got up and began to wash Jess's back with a sponge.

   "You've such nice skin... I'm jealous.  Shall I tie your hair back?"

   "Thanks."

   "Y'know... I need to say this... but please be careful.  Sperle's still
got Gray in his sights... he told me that... he expected to arrest him
soon."

   "What?  What for?"

   "Not sure, Jess.  It's just that... well... you could lose your career.
Even if they don't take your warrant, you'll never get any promotions...
it'd go on your file.  You could end up being an accessory after the fact.
I... don't want to lose you... as a friend..."

   "Why would you?  Look, despite what Sperle says, Gray hasn't done
anything save invest in a Tongan Newspaper.  He's co-owner in the Tongan
Weekly Revue, run by an old friend of his from University."

   "Calm down, Jess... I didn't mean..."

   "I know... it's sweet of you to look out for me... but Chris, Gray
doesn't know anything about that drug shipment... or how his name became
linked to it.  He thinks his friend might have used the newspaper's account
to finance the deal.  Either that or someone set all of them up to
discredit the friend and silence criticism of the Tongan Royal family.

   There was an article his friend, Moses A'oka wrote, suggesting the
Treasury was being mismanaged... and... that the King's sister was doing
business with some very unsavoury characters.  Gray thinks that might have
started the whole thing."

   "Are you sure, Jess?  I hope for your sake its true... I don't want to
see you hurt."

   Jess took her friend by the hand.

   "Absolutely sure, Chris.  Gray wouldn't involve himself with drugs."

   Looking into her friend's face, Chris said,

   "You've fallen in love with him haven't you?"

   "A little, maybe."

   Chris laughed and flung her arms around Jess.

   "Isn't it wonderful?" Chris whispered.

   "It's nice, Chris... very nice."

   `The Royal Palace outside Nuku'alofa, Tonga was a single-story,
collection of buildings combining the traditional Tongan and modern
European architectural styles.'

   `At least,' thought Warren Hastings, ` that's what the tourist blurb
would say.  `Actually it's a labyrinth built over the course of many years
to no particular plan at all.'

   Outside the gate stood two members of the palace guard in traditional
warrior dress.  As Warren alighted from the taxi and approached the gate, a
uniformed officer appeared.  With a polite smile he directed the detective
to the Princess's compound.

   The complex was dominated by a modern European style building in an L
shape.  In front of the foyer was an ornamental garden and fountain.

   Vai's secretary opened the double doors for the detective and greeted
him warmly in perfect English.  Warren was shown into a large office and
was brought fresh fruit and pineapple juice by an aide.

   After about 10 minutes, a large elegant woman strode purposefully into
the room.  She was dressed traditionally in bright `tapa' colours.  When
she beamed she revealed a row of perfect white teeth.

   "Mr.  Hastings, isn't it?" she said, extending her hand.

   Warren had a crash course in court protocol but was unprepared for the
easy informality of this woman.

   "Yes, your highness..." Warren started to say, but was hushed by her
hand.

   "Please, save the formality, call me Vai, everyone does.  What may I
call you?"

   "Warren... Vai."

   "Warren it shall be... how can I help you?"

   "I'm conducting an investigation of the activities of one of our
nationals.  There is some evidence he may have made investments in one of
the Royal companies."

   "That's possible, we welcome investment from overseas.  May I have this
person's name?  I will ask my secretary if we have had any dealings with
him."

   Warren watched carefully for the woman's reaction.

   "Gray Treadwell."

   "Of course!  I understand your authorities have sent information to our
Police about his activities... I will forward anything we have to your
hotel.  Are there any other questions?"

   Warren had plenty, but he didn't want to push his luck.  As he rose to
go, he turned to Vai and asked,

   "Excuse me... I forgot to pass on our thanks for the information
supplied to us from the Office of the Palace Guard.  Will you convey our
appreciation..."

   Warren sensed a fleeting shadow pass across the Princess's face.  She
smiled and thanked him, before passing the detective on to her aide.

   `She didn't know the Palace was passing information.  Interesting!'
Warren thought.

   After dinner, Chris announced she was going to spend the night at
Jerry's.

   "I need a cuddle," she said with a wink.

   Jess's description of the sex she'd had with Gray had shaken Chris. 
Over dinner, Jess had related in fairly intimate detail the past two days
with Gray and she was jealous.

   Jess watched a bit of television, organised herself for work the next
day, then went to bed.

   Her body was tired and sleep came quickly.  The emotion of the past two
days finally caught up with her.

   Some sense buried in Jess's subconscious alerted her to a presence in
the room.  Her eyes flicked open and, like a cat she was instantly on
alert.

   "Who's there?"

   "Me."

   "Gray?  What are you doing here?  How did you get in?"

   "I missed you," Gray said.

   "Gray... I.  But the door was locked.  Did Chris leave it on the latch?"

   "Nope, You left the laundry window open," he told her.

   "Did I?  I'm usually so careful... Well I..."

   "Jess," Gray said, "can I stay tonight?"

   Jess thought his voice reminded her of a child's, asking mummy if he
could jump in to her bed.

   "Sure Gray... is anything the matter?  It's a tight fit... we'll have to
squeeze up... I'll have to get a double bed now won't I?"

   She heard the rustling sound of Gray shedding his clothes.  Jess shifted
over against the wall as Gray slipped in beside her.  She nestled herself
in his proffered arm and cuddled against his body.

   "Are you alright?" she asked him.

   "Fine," he said, in that `automatic' fashion people use when they're
not.

   Jess listened to his breathing for a while.

   "Y'know?" Gray said, finally, "I've never been so close to anyone in my
life."

   "Oh Gray," she said, stroking his chest, "it feels like... I've always
known you."

   "That's a good line," he whispered, "may I have it?"

   Jess sensed him grinning at her.

   "No," she said, " it's mine and I'm keeping it."

   Gray nuzzled Jess's neck.  She felt rather than heard him whisper,

   "I love you."

   Jess touched his face with her hand and whispered back,

   "Me too."

   Then she fell asleep.

   Jerry and Chris were sitting in bed together.  A half-empty bottle of
Bourbon sat on the nightstand, Jerry occasionally took a swig.

   "Jerry, are you going to drink the whole bottle?" Chris asked him.

   "Maybe, I haven't decided yet."

   "I really hate it when you're in this mood."

   "You're sounding like a wife already."

   "Listen, Jerry," she said.

   "Listen Jerry," he mimicked.

   Jerry didn't see the fist coming.  It cracked him fair and square on the
jaw, sending his upper body sprawling sideways.

   "FUCK!  WOMAN!" he yelled, rubbing his jaw.

   Chris was on top of him in a second, pinning his arms to the bed.

   "Don't you fuck with me, Hanlon," she spat, "I'm not getting shackled to
a drunk, you hear me?  I came here for love, not to watch you boozing and
hear you dissing me out!  I'm not playing the little passive wifey for no
man, got it?"

   "Ok, ok... Shit!  Where did you learn to hit so hard?"

   "I've got brothers..."

   "Jesus..." Jerry whined, straightening his jaw.

   A few minutes later they were cuddling again, the Bourbon forgotten.

   "Jerry?  Can you make love to me... like Gray does with Jess?" asked
Chris.

   "How is that?  In a spa pool?"

   "No, hon," she chuckled at the recollection, "he... he told her it was
all about concentrating the mind... worshipping the spirit... or something
like that."

   "Eh?"

   "He wrote a book," she continued, " called `Tantric Love and the Gift of
Sex,' I think she said."

   "Tantric what?"

   "Tantric love... by Ramesh Gupta, that was his pseudonym... Jess said
he'd kept her on the edge for ages and ages... that she'd have these really
powerful orgasms that last and last... He had this little sideways movement
with his hips.  He was really slow at first and she'd be gagging for it
because she knew what was coming... and..."

   "Ramesh what?"

   "Gupta, I think..."

   "Should have been `Humpta',"

   "You always do that, Jerry.  Push me away with your little smartarse
comments... I'm serious.  Look, you're not as dumb as you make out... Gray
said you have a Masters in Pharmacology... he said you were the
cleverest..."

   "Gray said... Gray said... Gray told you all that?  Ask him the rest of
the fucking story?" Jerry burst out.

   "What story... He made a success of his life and you threw it all
away... Why are you fixing cars for a living, what happened?"

   "Gray happened, if you must know... Mr.  Fucking perfect... You ask him
where he fucking was when I was sitting in fucking jail... You ask him why
he suddenly turns up with dollars coming out his arse..."

   "He wrote books... he told us."

   "Some, sure... and other Authors on the payroll... easy to do when you
own the publishing company."

   "He owns the company?"

   "Marigold International.  He owns it in partnership with some Tongan
Princess... it makes millions... there's even a Television side to it.

   You ask him where he got the capital for that?  Before he'd written a
word... you're talking major dollaros."

   "And Pacific Island Communications?"

   "They own that too... that Tongan Princess and Gray... `Maloe Red Ray
Investment Proprietary limited.' You ask him about that and see if you get
a straight answer."

   "Jerry... I... I think you'd better tell me the whole story."

   "I've said too much already... just ask Mr.  fucking Perfect."

   Jerry subsided.

   "No Jerry, you haven't told me anything.  My best friend is in love with
him and... if my future husband is involved in something... I want to know,
NOW Jerry!"

   Jerry had a far away look in his eyes.  He lay quiet for a moment then
sighed deeply.

   "Chris... He's my best friend... We go way back... and... I swore to him
I'd never shit on him... ever."

   "I know Jerry," Chris told him softly, "but there is more than the two
of you now... I'm here... and Jess?"

   "Yeah... good sort that Jess... I never should have hooked the two of
them up.  I never thought she'd go for him like that.  I just thought
they'd fuck each other a few times and..."

   "Well she went for him hook and line, so spill, Jerry."

   "Are you sure you want to know?" Jerry asked.

   "Put it this way, Hanlon.  If you don't tell me the truth, all of it,
then I'm walking out that door and straight to Sperle in the morning... and
it will be the last you'll see of my tits, understand?"

   "You fucking breathe a word..."

   Chris nodded.  Jerry breathed in deeply and started to talk.

   "It was so much fun in those days... just a big lark, we got high,
everybody got high... it's what we all did in the early seventies. 
University students huh!  Now they're all boring as shit and..."

   "Stick to the story Jerry."

   "I began synthesising LSD... just for my mates, y'know?  At first,
anyhow.  It's as easy as shit really, you could buy the ingredients at the
Chemists, true!  Times have changed..."

   "Jerry!"

   "Ok, ok.  Gray was doing a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration..."

   "I thought he did Literature?"

   "That's bullshit, Chris... That's what he tells people, but nope!  Our
Gray was, and is, a businessman, through and through.

   We hooked up," Jerry continued, "he organised distribution and sales
while I handled manufacturing and supply.  Shit we had some times...

   In those days, cops didn't know shit, man.  We'd just tell them it was
herbal tobacco and they'd believe us... we'd blow Buddha Gold up their
noses and they wouldn't know."

   "Buddha what?"

   "Marijuana."

   "Oh, sorry."

   "So everything was going along `tickety boo' and we were earning our
tuition money and then some.  Gray had `grown' the business, you see.  Got
other sources and moved into other drugs, Heroin, uppers, downers,
whatever. Had a whole bunch of people selling for him, while he laid back
and raked it in.  Then in about 1977, everything turned to shit."

   "What happened?" Chris asked, quietly.

   "The heavy mob moved onto the scene.  They called themselves `Black
Dot,' a big syndicate with a lot of muscle.  Did you read about that?  Thai
Harry?  The guy that wound up `brown bread' in Australia... The headless
corpse, do you remember the case?"

   "Yeah, I remember that... they never found the killer."

   "Right... never will either... He was the big boss... they had the gangs
working for them, it was just Black Power then.

   Gray saw the way it was going and cut a deal with the cops.  Turn over
his distributors and suppliers and he'd be allowed to walk, to a place of
his choosing.

   All except me, of course.  He left me out of the bust but turned in his
entire organisation, huh!  That's loyalty!  He knew it was all fucked
anyhow... that `Black Dot' were going to move onto his market, so he cut
and ran."

   "What did you do?"

   "Joined `Black Dot,' stupidest thing I've ever done.  Gray took off to
the islands with all the stash.  I never knew how much at the time but it
sure set him up for life."

   "So he set up all those business's with drug profits?"

   "Yep!  Disappears for 10 years then suddenly re-appears, retired and
dripping in wealth."

   "So how did you find out about all those companies?"

   "Gray could never hold his dope, or booze for that matter.  Ask him all
the right questions...

   The thing is... I thought that when we bumped into each other again he
just wanted to be friends again.  But now, do you know what I think?"

   Chris shook her head.

   "I think he wants to stay close to me... to keep an eye on me.  Gray
doesn't trust many people, anyone actually.  How many real friends has he
got besides me?"

   Chris shook her head, again.

   "Nil... He doesn't let people in, see!  At the end of the day, the only
loyalty Gray owes is to himself."

   "That drug shipment, Jerry?"

   "That's all bullshit, Chris.  Honestly, someone's trying to take us
down."

   "Why did Gray come back?"

   "Statute of Limitations.  Otherwise the authorities could seize his
assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act."

   "Yes, of course!  After 7 years he can keep the money, cunning bastard!
How come Sperle didn't know where Gray's money came from?"

   "Sperle doesn't know shit.  He and Gray go way back.  He cut a deal over
Sperle's head when he was just a young detective and Sperle holds a grudge.
He never knew Gray took all the money, he thinks he's back in the game."

   "But he's wrong, isn't he Jerry?"

   "About that drug shipment, yes.  But Gray doesn't want anyone to start
picking over his business activities, he's shitting himself.  I think he's
got a bit to hide there."

   Oh Jerry..."

   "This house... the garage... the wheels... all came from Gray.  The
bastard owed me anyway."

   "So he thought he could come back and retire happily on his profits. 
Then someone sets him up and it all starts again." Chris said.

   "Yes," said Jerry, "and now your Warren Hastings is sniffing around
Tonga and his mate is arrested.  Gray's a worried man."

   "How come I feel sorry for him?"

   "Because, petal, Gray does that to people.  He makes everyone feel sorry
for him."

   Part 11 follows

   Katzmarek (C)