been the closest passenger to the victim. And even if a suppressor was used, we have to ask ourselves how it and the gun were smuggled on board. As you said, there are stringent security screenings at the airport.â
âMaybe it was a member of the crew,â said the sergeant. She lowered her voice to a whisper. âWhat about the captain, sir? He could have a gun in the cockpit. Or the first officer? Or a member of the cabin crew? Mr. Yip, perhaps.â
âI had considered the cabin crew, but again it comes down to the fact that the bodyguard did not see Mr. Srisai being attacked.â
âPerhaps the bodyguard was not as alert as he claims. He could have been asleep.â Sergeant Leeâs eyes widened. âThe gun,â she said. âThe gun must still be on the plane.â
âOne would assume so,â said Inspector Zhang.
âWe could ask the Thai police to help us find it. They must have dogs that can sniff out guns and explosives at the airport, donât you think?â
âIâm sure they have, but my instructions are to bring the investigation to a conclusion without the involvement of the Royal Thai Police.â
Sergeant Lee looked crestfallen and Inspector Zhang felt a twinge of guilt at having to dampen her enthusiasm.
âBut your idea is a good one, Sergeant Lee,â he said. âIf there was a gun on the plane, such a dog would be able to find it. But do you know what, Sergeant? I do not believe that the gun is on the plane.â
Sergeant Lee frowned as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. âSo do you now wish to interview the bodyguard?â
âI think I will first talk to Mr. Yates,â said Inspector Zhang. He walked down the aisle and stood next to the Westerner, who looked up quizzically from his Blackberry. âMr. Yates?â
Mr. Yates nodded. âWhat can I do for you?â
Inspector Zhang pointed at the empty seat. âDo you mind if I sit down and ask you a few questions?â
âOf course, no problem,â said Mr. Yates, making room for the inspector to squeeze by. He put away his Blackberry. âDo you have any idea how long this is going to take, Inspector?â he asked. âI have a meeting to get to.â
âI hope not too much longer,â said Inspector Zhang as he sat down. âSo you are British?â
âYes, but I havenât been to England for more than fifteen years,â said Mr. Yates. âI lived in Hong Kong for a while but Iâve been based in Bangkok for almost ten years.â
âI am a big fan of English writers. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Edgar Wallace.â
âIâm not a big reader,â said Mr. Yates. âNever have been.â
Inspector Zhangâs face fell, but he managed to cover his discomfort by removing his spectacles and polishing them with his handkerchief. âSo, my sergeant asked you if you saw or heard anything unusual during the flight?â
âI was working,â said Mr. Yates.
âSo you didnât hear a shot, for instance?â
âA shot? A gunshot? Of course not?â He frowned. âIs that what happened? The guy over there was shot?â
âIt appears so, yes.â
âThatâs impossible.â
âYes, I agree. During the flight did you see anyone go over to Mr. Srisai?â
âWho?â
âIâm sorry,â said Inspector Zhang. âThat is the deceasedâs name. He is a Thai gentleman. Did you see anyone talking to him during the flight?â
âTo be honest I was busy,â said Mr. Yates. âI hardly looked up. But there was a Thai man talking to him not long before we landed. They were arguing, I think.â He twisted around in his seat and pointed at Mr. Nakprakone. âThat guy back there.â
âArguing?â
âThere was a flash, I think the man might have taken a photograph, but really I wasnât
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