Jimm Juree 01; Killed at the Whim of a Hat

question.”
    He gave me goose bumps. The old lady sneered at the translation, then spluttered her answer.
    “My mother says that our family never actually occupied the land. It was purely an investment. Nothing was planted there. The land was neither filled nor excavated. If any work was done there – or any funny business – it was done so without the knowledge or permission of the family.” The mother and son huddled again. “My mother says this interrogation has tired her out and wonders whether your lady friend here has any more questions before she goes to lie down.”
    ♦
    We were driving back across the picturesque hills of Phato. This had been the driest August on record but still the vegetation was lush and the roadside trees hung out their blossoms of lilac and yellow and orange like risque underwear on drying day. Spirit houses were wrapped in gaudy colored cloth. A bus stop was tied to a power pole with plastic string. Children not old enough to smoke were driving motorcycles. Unpainted concrete houses. Mountains of coconut husks. Royal Umbrella rice and eggs of different natural hues for sale in bamboo shops the size of cupboards. Things you only notice when you take the trouble to.
    “She was lying,” I said.
    Chompu turned down the screaming of Mariah Carey and discontinued his accompaniment.
    “Now, how would you know a thing like that?”
    “Because little old Chinese ladies always lie.”
    “Ah, a sound investigative premise.”
    “They do. They have a code. If they feel they’re in a corner they give you whatever answer they think you want to hear.”
    “At what point did she begin to leave you in doubt as to her veracity, lady friend?”
    “From the moment she started speaking. Don’t you think it odd that the company owns fourteen thousand hectares of land but she can recall the details of one little plot in the boondocks? And all that horse manure about helping out a neighbor. Did she give you the impression she was the caring type? No, she had a reason to remember that land. It meant something to her.”
    “You’re a suspicious lady.”
    “Crime reporters can’t afford to believe everything they hear.”
    “Crime reporters aren’t that trustworthy themselves. Oh, there goes my mouth again.”
    “Did you have any particular crime reporter in mind with that statement?”
    “No, really, I shouldn’t.”
    “It’s too late to turn back.”
    “All right, let’s start with a charming reporter from the Chiang Mai Mail who flew down to pursue a case in the south.”
    Busted.
    “I didn’t actually use those words.”
    “And you didn’t actually use the words ‘I quit my job and moved down to live in a rundown resort in Maprao,’ either.”
    “People hear what they want to hear irrespective of what I actually tell them. Their mistake.”
    I cast a sideways glance at the lieutenant who was smiling serenely at the scenery.
    “How long have you known?” I asked.
    “Since the day of your romantic lunch with the boss.”
    “You checked up on me?”
    “Call me nosy.”
    “Do the others…?”
    “Not sure about the major. He’s been hard to tie down lately. Can’t even get him on the phone. The constables? Well, they’re locals. Nothing happens down here that doesn’t spread like water hyacinths on a warm pond. Everyone knew about you the day you stepped over the provincial border.”
    I pouted. I hated to get found out on a lie.
    “You aren’t exactly lieutenant open-and-aboveboard yourself.”
    “How dare you. I’m as honest as a mountain spring. Not that I actually know how honest mountain springs are. I imagine they’re quite unsullied, however.”
    “Really? This morning? My phone call telling you I’d found the previous owners of Old Mel’s land? ‘Oh, can I come along?’ he says. ‘You’re so resourceful,’ he says.”
    “So?”
    “So we arrive in Ranong and you drive straight to the company. I hadn’t told you the address.”
    “Oops. You hadn’t?”
    “No.”
    “Lucky guess?”
    “You’re a man to watch, Lieutenant Chompu.”
    He blushed.
    “And talking about men to watch…” he said.
    “Hmm. Lovely smile. And I bet he ironed his own shirt.”
    “Too bad he’s his mother’s pet.”
    “Reminded me of Liu De Hua.”
    “Ah, scream. I had a crush on him for years.”
    “Me too.” We slapped palms and the truck swerved dangerously onto the hard shoulder. “And there I was thinking I’d never have anything in common with the