Inspector Zhang And The Dead Thai Gangster Read Online Free PDF

seat, staring at the bulkhead. He didn’t look up as Inspector Zhang sat down next to him in seat 11D.   “You are Mr. Lev Gottesman,” he said.
    The man nodded but said nothing.
    “From Israel?”
    “From Tel Aviv.”
    “And you were employed by Mr. Srisai, as a bodyguard?”
    The man turned his head slowly until Inspector Zhang could see his own reflection in the impenetrable lenses of the man’s sunglasses. “Is that some sort of a wisecrack?” he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
    “I am merely trying to ascertain the facts in this case,” said Inspector Zhang.
    The man’s lips formed a tight line and then he nodded slowly. “Yes, I was hired to be his bodyguard. And yes, the fact that he’s dead means I did not do a good job.” He folded his arms and stared at the bulkhead again.
    “Mr. Gottesman, I would like you to remove your sunglasses please.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I like to see a man’s eyes when he is talking to me. The eyes, after all, are the windows to the soul.”
    The Israeli took off his glasses, folded them, and put them into the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
    “Thank you,” said Inspector Zhang. “And if you would be so good as to give me your passport.”   The bodyguard reached into his pocket and handed the Inspector a blue passport.   “How long have you been in Mr. Srisai”s employ?”
    “About eight weeks.”
    “And your predecessor was killed?”
    The Israeli nodded. “There was a car bomb. The bodyguard was driving. Bodyguards should never drive. Drivers drive and bodyguards take care of security. Mr. Srisai did not take his own safety seriously enough.”
    “Your predecessor was Thai?”
    The Israeli nodded again.   “They are not well trained, the Thais. They think that any soldier or cop can be a bodyguard, but the skills are different.”
    “And your skills, where do they come from? You were a soldier?”
    The bodyguard sneered. “All Israelis are soldiers. Our country is surrounded by enemies.”
    “More than a soldier then? Mossad? Did you use to work for the Israeli intelligence service?”
    The Israeli nodded but said nothing. Inspector Zhang flicked through the passport.
    “So you are a professional,” said Inspector Zhang. “As a professional, what do you think happened?”
    “He died. I failed. And as for being a professional, I doubt that anyone will employ me again after this.”
    Sergeant Lee appeared at Inspector Zhang’s side, taking notes. “And you saw nothing?” asked the Inspector.
    The bodyguard turned to stare at Inspector Zhang with eyes that were a blue so pale they were almost grey. “If I had seen anything, do you think I would have allowed it to happen?” he said.
    “Obviously not. And equally, you heard nothing?”
    “Of course I heard nothing.”
    “So what do you think happened, Mr. Gottesman? Who killed your client?”
    “He had many enemies.”
    “So I gather. But are any of those enemies on this plane?”
    “He didn’t see any while we were waiting to board.”
    “But you would have been in the VIP lounge, would you not? So you wouldn’t have seen everyone.”
    “True,” said the Israeli. “But the only people in the forward cabin are those with business class tickets. It couldn’t have been any one from the rear of the plane, could it?”
    “I agree,” said Inspector Zhang. “Now when was the last time you saw him alive?”
    “I went to the toilet shortly before landing. I came back to find that journalist pestering Mr. Srisai. Then I read a magazine, then the flight attendant came around to tell us to fasten our seat belts and when she checked Mr. Srisai she realised something was wrong. She fetched the guy in the suit and he said he was dead and covered him with a blanket.”
    “You didn’t check for yourself?”
    “They told me to stay in my seat. They said there was nothing I could do.”
    Inspector Zhang nodded thoughtfully.   “Was he an easy man to work for?”
    The bodyguard