EXFIL by Anthony Patton (best book reader txt) 📕

few pages on a report and scanned the page. “We believe he was going to…Club Ecstasy.”

Williams’s face froze as he closed his eyes—not again. He glanced at the ceiling in modified prayer before turning to Johnson. “Could you give us a minute?”

Johnson nodded, gathered his materials, and closed the door on his way out.

“Club Ecstasy,” Williams said with a groan. “Does this have anything to do with Colonel Reed?”

“I don’t know, General,” Sullivan said. “I think Colonel Reed was showing Captain Howard the ropes.”

Williams groaned. “Showing him the ropes? You know I don’t approve of this behavior, but please help Special Agent Johnson run this to ground—on the down low.”

◆◆◆

Johnson and Sullivan, now in casual attire, exited a taxi to the sultry heat and chaos of the Soi Cowboy red-light district. The mauve neon lights of Club Ecstasy glowed in the shadows. They hustled to avoid a passing moped and the splash of a puddle, then entered the lobby of a seedy two-star hotel where middle-aged men with young Thai women occupied a few tables. The lobby had walnut-stained tables on white ceramic tiles.

Ceiling fans wafted the thick air. Sullivan gestured for Johnson to sit at an open table and walked to the bar, where he met the owner with a fist bump and a hug.

“Hey, Dale, was that your dick I saw on the street?” Sullivan asked.

Dale reached inside his Hawaiian shirt to scratch his beer belly with one hand and stroked his gray ponytail with the other. “I don’t know, was it twelve inches long?”

Sullivan leaned closer.

“Nice. We need the dates of Captain Howard’s fun across the street, with Colonel Reed.”

“Easy day,” commented Dale.

“We’d also like to chat with Jewel.”

“Like I said, easy day,” Dale repeated and turned to a Thai cougar behind the bar. “Two cold beers for my friends.”

“You’re the man,” Sullivan said and strolled to the table.

“What’s up?” Johnson asked, observing the den of sin.

“Dale’s a legend,” Sullivan said. “He’s a retired Army sergeant and has gotten more tail than most men alive, multiple women on many days.”

“What does this have to do with the investigation?”

A few tables away, a pear-shaped man with a straw hat, teal T-shirt, shorts, and sandals led a Thai doll with a white miniskirt to the bar. He plopped some cash down, crudely pinched her ass with a grin, then accepted a room key and walked to the elevator.

Johnson watched, disturbed but intrigued.

“Dale helps us out,” Sullivan said. “One of his security cameras points across the street, so we can see who enters Club Ecstasy.” He sipped his beer, leaning closer. “He also has video cameras in some of his rooms, which led to a successful operation for Captain Howard and Colonel Reed.”

The cougar arrived with two cold beers on a tray and set them on coasters. Johnson checked his watch—it was noon—considered Sullivan’s thumbs-up, and opted for “when in Rome.” They raised their bottles for a toast.

Sullivan watched as Jewel crossed the street and he waved as she entered. He hugged her and gestured to an open chair. She wore a white blouse with the sleeves rolled up, a blue-green plaid skirt, lace-trimmed ankle socks and black patent leather shoes—the Catholic schoolgirl fantasy.

“What can you tell us about Captain Howard?” Johnson asked.

Sullivan raised a cautious hand as Jewel watched him in silence. “Jewel here is going to help us with some information about Club Ecstasy.” He touched her hand. “How you doing, doll? Can we get you something to drink?”

“No, thanks,” she said and removed her Fendi sunglasses to inspect Johnson. “I have to work soon. Who is this guy?”

“I’m investigating Captain Howard,” Johnson said.

“What did he do now?” she asked.

“Do you know him?”

Jewel looked at Sullivan’s icy stare. “We met.”

“With Colonel Reed?” Johnson asked.

Dale arrived with a piece of paper during the uncomfortable silence. “Looks like your friend was there three times.”

Jewel led the way to Club Ecstasy.

Sullivan gestured for Johnson to pocket his CID badge as the buff Polynesian bouncer opened the velvet rope to a stairway leading up to the offices. Jewel reached the top of the first flight and spun 180 degrees to start up the second flight, revealing a glimpse of her pink cotton panties. Johnson gawked as he walked, nudged back to reality by Sullivan.

Jewel knocked on the security office door and gestured for the other two to sit on a couch. The door jerked open. A middle-aged Thai man smoking a cigarette poked his head out to reveal a rack of CCTV monitors. Jewel handed him the piece of paper, gestured to Sullivan and Johnson as she whispered, and kissed him on the cheek.

Jewel sat next to Sullivan and touched his hand with an inviting smile. “How long will you be here?” She checked her cell phone and set it in her purse.

“What did you ask him?” Johnson asked.

“I asked him for copies of the security tapes for those three days,” she said and turned to Sullivan.

Johnson clicked his pen and jotted a note. “What was your relationship with Colonel Reed and Captain Howard?”

Jewel rolled her eyes at Sullivan and turned to Johnson with an innocent smile. “I met Captain Howard once, but Colonel Reed was a regular at the club.”

“Was Captain Howard sleeping with any of the girls?” Johnson asked.

“I would have slept with him,” she said. “He’s cute, like you.” She touched his nose with a wink. “But he seemed shy around the girls, so I don’t think so.”

The door opened and the security man poked his head out. Jewel asked him a question in Thai, with increasing levels of intensity going back and forth. Finally, the man threw up his arms in frustration and slammed the door.

“What did he say?” Johnson asked.

“They don’t have the security tapes,” she said.

“They don’t have any security tapes?” Johnson asked.

“Not for the three days we requested,” she said.

“Let me get this straight,” Johnson said. “They have security tapes for every day, except for the three days that we requested?”

“That’s what he said.”

Johnson turned