Tropical Passion Killer (No-one said it would be easy. Book 1) Page 3

  The sun was shining at its glorious best and the sky a vibrant blue when Josh and Filipe got out of the taxi and stretching after the quick journey from the city. Josh paid the short, smiling driver with a US $10 note. They retrieved their rucksacks from the boot and asked the driver to take a photo of them using Filipe’s mobile phone. Great place for a holiday pic, in front of the canal cruiser with the large marina behind them.

  Filipe, although twenty-four, was as excited as he'd been as a boy waiting for Papa Noel on Christmas morning. He'd dressed for the day wearing a floppy, white, wide brimmed cricket bucket sun hat and wrap around Oakley’s, teamed up with a close fitting grey Adidas T shirt, blue shorts and walking shoes, his camera hanging loosely over his shoulder. Freshly showered, he felt good.

  Josh was 15cms taller than Filipe, a good rugby back row size. His blonde hair, which had not been groomed, was sticking out from under his well-worn and tattered NY baseball cap. He was wearing ‘aviator’ sunglasses a green T shirt which showed off his muscular upper body and brown knee length shorts. All finished off with well used scraped and damaged, yet sturdy, comfortable walking shoes.

  They walked together up the entrance ramp to board the boat and showed the crew their tickets. There was no allocated seating for the 8-hour journey so they placed their rucksacks in the storage area adjacent to the ramp. The lower deck was was home to the restaurant and bar area where the breakfast and buffet lunch would be served, they could see a colourful selection of fruits and the smell of cooked food and coffee was circulating around the deck. They decided to make their way to the upper deck instead and took up a seating position with an uninterrupted view over the bow.

  A short time later a brown coloured tourist coach with dark tinted windows stopped adjacent to the entrance ramp of the boat. The excited passengers were walking the twenty metres from the coach to the boat and donning an array of sun hats as they began to form a long queue at the ramp. The driver of the coach walked to the head of the group with the matching brown livery clipboard and after greeting the boat's crew, handed them the required boarding passes.

  The cruise was going to be full and Filipe was pleased that he had planned to get to the boat early to get the best vantage point.

  It seemed to take an age for the boat to be ready to sail but all was going according to plan and timed for their canal lock appointment.

  As the last of the passengers were walking up the ramp, the crew were releasing the ropes from the mooring and the boat slipped away on smooth waters to start the cruise. The safety announcements were made in Spanish, English and German and then breakfast was served. They took it in turn to get some food whilst the other kept the seats and their prized vantage point.

  Filipe had his breakfast first and when Josh returned with extra coffee and mixed fruit he was followed by two young Latino women who took seats behind them both. Filipe was intrigued by them as they sat eating oranges and bananas. Both women were typical of the locals he thought, attractive with black hair, wearing T shirts, jeans and converse shoes and of course the obligatory large shades. Not tourists, neither had a camera.

  “You guys American?”

  Josh turned around and smiled at the women, “English, actually he's half Mexican.”

  The women were smiling and it was easy to start a conversation.

  “Hi, I’m Josh.”

  “Hola mi nombre es Filipe.”

  The women laughed “Hola, Susanna y Maria” Susanna said from under her wide brimmed white sun hat, Maria was quite the opposite wearing a dark blue baseball cap with her pony tail through the gap at the back of it.

  “Josh you speak Spanish?”

  “Poco.” (little)

  “OK we speak English” said Susanna in an American accent.

  “That makes it easy” Josh laughed.

  “You guys on holiday and touring?”

  “Is it that obvious! What are you two doing, holiday? You live in Panama?”

  Maria laughed “No, we are also on a short holiday, just a week. We pick up a cruise ship in Colon and go to Aruba for a few days. Where are you going?”

  Filipe looked directly at Maria “I’ve always wanted to go to Aruba”. Then gave her a smile.

  The four continued talking as the boat followed a large container ship into the first lock. Filipe excused himself from the conversation and started taking photographs of the locks in operation. The girls went below deck and returned with chilled fresh orange juice for them all.

  The four of them stayed together for the entire journey through the canal, Filipe stopping to take photographs of the two bridges, the Miraflores locks, wild scenery and a variety of wildlife and birds. After a warm lunch together with a couple of ice-cold bottled Balboa beers, they enjoyed sitting in the shade as the ship sailed across Lake Gatun.

  “Where are you guys staying tonight?” Maria asked.

  “We haven’t booked anywhere yet” Josh replied.

  “We're staying in the Radisson, maybe we could meet up later?”

  “Yeah, that would be good, do you know anywhere to meet?”

  “Arecifes, great food and cocktails, good music too, it looks good on the web.”

  “Should we call you?”

  “No, just be there for eight. Ok? Just get a taxi they will know it.”

  Filipe stopped one of the passing crew and asked him to take a group photo as they were crossing the lake. He stood to the right with his left arm around Susanna’s waist, Maria had her arm around the shoulder of Susanna and Josh stood on the left with his right arm around the shoulder of Maria.

  As they were leaving the ship, they gave each other kisses on each cheek and a small embrace, all agreeing to meet at eight. Susanna and Maria boarded the same coach that dropped them off at Flamenco Marina which would take them to their hotel. The guys gathered their rucksacks from storage and took a waiting taxi towards the nearby city.

  On the advice of the taxi driver, Filipe made a call from his mobile and booked a twin room for one night in the Hotel Andros.

  The room was on the fourth floor, it was clean with two large beds and a powerful shower. However, there was little security and no safe but it did have a good lock on the door with no signs of damage which was reassuring. They left their rucksacks on the floor, the iPad and camera were next to passports and bank cards on the bed. They'd decided to take cash and needed to find a safe place for their valuables. Filipe removed the bottom drawer from a dressing table and placed the iPad, camera, bank cards and passports in a bag with a hook and attached it in the void space and then slid the drawer back into place.

  Both men were looking forward to having female company for the first time on this adventure, they were a little more than hopeful of having a good night.

  After a shave and shower Filipe used the only deodorant they had with them! As he brushed his hair he smiled at himself in the mirror. He had high hopes, he liked both of the girls but Susanna was the one for him. She was slightly smaller than him, soft bronzed skin a small nose and deep dark brown eyes. She reminded him of his mother. He put on the only clean shirt he had which was red brown and cream checks with a collar, lightweight trousers to keep the busy mosquitoes away and his walking shoes.

  Josh showered, washed his hair and just left it to bounce into shape. He too used the deodorant (need to smell nice for the ladies, he thought) then put on a clean T shirt bearing The Gym motive, long green lightweight trousers and his walking shoes which he wiped with the used towel.

  He was happy with Filipe's choice as Maria was taller and had more of a rounded shape than Susanna, more his type. Her hair was naturally wavy and fell to the top of her shoulders. She was a good-looking woman, and he enjoyed her company, a pleasure to be with he thought.

  Colon was not the best of cities and was dated. It seemed a good idea to get a taxi, so they used the card the driver had given them earlier to call for one. Too many dark roads and hiding places, a robber’s paradise. The guys were using American doll
ars in small denominations, neither wore jewellery or watches and they had decided to leave their mobiles in the room, best be safe than sorry. This is what they'd done throughout their Latin American adventure, don’t attract attention, or trouble for that matter. Dollars were welcome everywhere and with a good exchange rate.

  It only took fifteen minutes and the taxi stopped at ‘Arecifes’ restaurant. It was overlooking the harbour and adjacent to the Radisson Hotel, brightly lit outside with eight tables and chairs on the veranda and the sound of the local music was coming from inside the building. The driver arranged to complete the return later, he said the bar would call for him when they were ready to leave. $5 was more than enough to keep him smiling.

  As they entered the restaurant, they could see Susanna and Maria in a booth to the rear of the room, they all smiled in acknowledgement and kissed cheeks in the formal way. After sitting down, they were quickly attended to by the staff who took the order of four beers. They ordered several plates of food; grilled tuna, plantain chips, mixed seafood, tropical salad, toasted bananas. The music was playing, the beers and sangria flowed, it was a good night.

  Josh and Filipe told of their travels and life back in England, Susanna and Maria of their upbringing in Colombia. They'd been friends since they attended the same University, their parents had businesses in transport and hotels and they now worked for their families in travel, hotels and logistics. During the conversations it became apparent that none of them were in a relationship.

  They were dancing and by now Filipe was with Susanna and Josh with Maria, they were attempting a salsa, the girls were experts and took great delight and fun in teaching Josh and Filipe. The other customers, locals and some cruise passengers were watching the four dance with some joining in while others were taking photographs, a very friendly and happy place.

  Susanna whispered to Filipe to take her back to her hotel. A brief discussion took place between the four of them and Maria decided to go with Josh. The girls were due to sail at 08:30 so they quickly made plans and made call for the taxi.

  It was approaching 23:45 when they left the restaurant in the taxi. Susanna and Filipe got out first at the Radisson leaving Josh to pay the driver later. There were only a few guests still at the foyer bar as they walked through the lobby, but no one took any notice of the young couple.

  Just on midnight the taxi stopped outside Hotel Andros, Josh gave the driver $10 and they both smiled and gave each other a wink. The hotel was deserted as they made their way to the room.

  At 07:00 the next morning Josh and Maria returned to the Radisson, they walked into the breakfast room and joined Susanna and Filipe. There were courteous smiles between them and nothing was said about any late-night activities. After a quick breakfast of fruit and coffee, the women returned to their room to finish packing for the next part of their journey while Filipe and Josh took a seat outside the hotel overlooking a small park to enjoy the early morning sun. As usual Filipe was taking photographs of all the activity, the birds in the park and the nearby ornate buildings. He told Josh of the night he had enjoyed with Susanna. It was the best experience of his life, never to be forgotten and one he eagerly wanted to have again.

  Josh didn’t elaborate on his night but did say it was very enjoyable.

  After a short time other guests began leaving the hotel with their luggage, some boarding the coach or sitting in the sun, others taking photographs. Susanna and Maria walked through the revolving doors followed by a male member of the hotel staff pulling a trolley with four large cases. The driver took the cases and placed them in the belly of the coach. Maria gave the hotel porter some cash in a clenched fist which was acknowledged with a quick glance into his palm then a smile. He nodded, said “gracias” and walked away.

  The girls walked towards the guys and Filipe took a few photos of Susanna and Maria at the side of the coach. Another member of the tourist group was taking photographs of the birds in the park and Filipe asked him to take some some of all four of them with his camera. As the group were being called onto the coach, the two couples held each other briefly, kissing on the cheeks and then slowly walked away backwards from each other.

  The guys watched as the women took their seats on the coach, they all waved as the coach was driven away and Josh and Filipe walked the short distance to ‘Arecifes’ for a full review of the previous day.

  After ordering breakfast of burritos and coffee, they sat outside on the terrace with a view of the liner and harbour and chatted. Not one of the four had exchanged mobile numbers or contact details, it had been a ‘one-nighter’.

  Filipe wanted to get to Aruba as quickly as possible, which was in his plan, but after meeting Susanna even more so and Josh had made plans to go to the US and Hawaii before New Zealand to meet up with his family before his sister’s wedding. They spoke to Leonardo, the owner of the place, who gave them advice on how best to travel and he offered to help make the arrangements. After twenty minutes, they shook hands with him and left the bar with their new travel plans made.

  They returned to the Hotel Andros, collected their bags, valuables and documents from behind the bottom drawer, and after paying $40 cash for the one-night stay they walked back out into the sun lit street. The same taxi was outside and the driver was smiling, waiting for his next cash bonus. His smile widened when they put their bags in the boot and told him they wanted to go to Panama City airport.

  ◆◆◆

  The cruise ship ‘Alisios’, awaited its new passengers. An impressive sight she was large, gleaming and luxurious. A Panamax ship, just narrow enough to fit through the Panama Canal. At 92,000 tons she could accommodate about 2000 passengers and was halfway through a cruise that originated in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, USA. She had sailed through the canal to Panama City and returned to berth in Colon and was now headed for Cartagena, Aruba then back to Fort Lauderdale.

  Dockhands and some of the crew were busy replenishing the stores from the parked trailers others were dressed immaculately and greeting passengers who were new or had ventured ashore. The area was a hive of activity.

  Maria and Susanna got off the coach with the other cruise passengers and their luggage was removed from the coach by the driver. They both examined the four cases and removed their details from the pocket on the side of two of the cases which now showed those of another passenger. They watched as the driver and porters loaded the cases onto the luggage trolleys of the cruise ship.

  As they boarded they were greeted by the smiling crew and then taken by a porter to their cabin which was to be their home for the three-day cruise. It was extensive, two large beds, soft leather lounge furniture, a table with four chairs. One door opened into the large bathroom and shower area with a double-glazed door opening onto the balcony which had sun loungers, chairs and privacy screens. They tipped the porter and as he left the room both jumped onto the beds and burst into laughter. They ventured onto the balcony from where they could see Aricifes. There was a knock on the door and a porter brought in two black cases. They tipped the handsome young man and flopped back onto the bed. Job done. Now to enjoy a paid for cruise.

  Chapter 4

  Tuesday 17th May

  It was late evening when Steve and Lauren stopped outside a large modern detached house in Alderley Edge. The property was surrounded by a two and a half metre high cream painted wall and had a highly polished wooden gate across the entrance to the driveway. It was a pleasant evening as they got out of the car and walked to the electronic panel at the side of the gate. Lauren pressed the call button and they waited.

  “Hello.”

  “Is that Mr Newton?”

  “No. He isn't here. Can I help you?”

  “Is it possible to speak to Mrs Newton?”

  “No. Not here. Who are you two?”

  “We are police officers and would like to speak to Mr and Mrs Newton urgently.”

  “Show your ID to the camera.” They both looked up at the small CCTV camera on top of the gate
post and showed their ID cards.

  “Wait there.”

  After a short time the smaller pedestrian access gate buzzed and opened revealing a dark skinned muscular man in the entrance. He was wearing a blue shirt with matching coloured trousers, the shirt had a JOB Security badge stitched onto the left breast pocket. They looked at each other. “Can I have a closer look at the ID cards?” Steve and Lauren handed them over and after a quick examination, the man handed them back before making a note in a small book.

  “The Newtons are not at home and won’t be for a good few weeks, this house is still 24/7 protected though.”

  Steve smiled, “As we can see, and very thoroughly too. Can you tell me how to get in touch with them? It is urgent.”

  “The office has contact details for them both but they can't give you the details direct, understand?”

  “Yes. What’s the office number?”

  “It’s probably easier if you go to the office, it’s in the middle of town opposite Waitrose above the Oxfam shop, here’s a card, I’ll tell them you’re coming.”

  Steve looked at the card, JOB Security - Bespoke Security Services.

  They got into the car and headed off towards town.

  Lauren rang Andy back at the office, “Hi Andy any updates from Sarah yet?”

  “Nothing yet, all the applications have been done and sent off and I’ve asked for urgent priority, probably get the banking details first but still waiting. Nothing found by the lads in the paperwork either. Keep in touch.”

  They rang the bell at the security office and the door opened automatically. As they entered and went upstairs they were met by a similar uniformed security guard, the name on the badge read “Jessica”. After introductions Jessica O'Brien, owner of Job Security, directed them into the office adjacent to a control room with several monitors and three operatives.