Page 13 of No Time Off (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #15)
THIRTEEN
Slash
T he next morning, we decided to explore the island by returning to the town center of Avarua. We asked the concierge at the resort how to summon a taxi, but she advised us to take the bus instead. Apparently, the buses were quite comfortable and circled the island on a regular schedule—one clockwise and one counterclockwise.
Taking the bus seemed like an adventure, so we waited out in front of the resort on a bench in the shade until the bus arrived. We’d exchanged enough American dollars for New Zealand dollars when we were at the airport, so we’d have plenty of local cash on hand for two weeks.
We hopped on the bus and paid our fare, while Lexi snapped a photo of our resort from the window. There were just a few other people on the bus; most looked like locals, not tourists.
Fantastic.
The bus made a couple more stops when a lady with two chickens in an open crate got on and sat directly across from us. Lexi drew in a sharp breath, her body tensing.
I sat in the aisle between Lexi and the chickens. I lowered my voice. “Don’t make eye contact with the chickens.”
“Very funny,” she whispered. “If those chickens get out, I can’t be responsible for what I might do.”
I pressed my lips together so I didn’t laugh. “I will protect you with my life,” I said as solemnly as possible.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’d better. It’s in the marriage code, number…thirteen.”
“You made that up,” I said.
“How do you know?” she challenged me. “You haven’t seen the code yet.”
I crossed my arms against my chest. “Because you paused before you picked a random number. So you made it up.”
“Well, maybe,” she confessed with a smile that warranted a kiss. “But I think I may add it. It fits us.”
That made me laugh, and I gave her the kiss I’d been thinking about. Thankfully, the chickens remained safely in their crate until we exited the bus near a busy shopping area.
“That was a close call,” she said, wiping her brow, and I laughed again.
Hand in hand, we walked along the side streets observing several newer government buildings and offices.
“That’s the administrative center for the country,” Lexi said, pointing at a nearby sign. “Looks like it was just built.”
“Looks like it,” I agreed.
There were several nearby markets and a few local food trucks. Most sold seafood with various types of breads and sodas. I needed coffee and some water, so when I spotted a small café, I suggested to Lexi we sit outside, relax, and sample some of the offerings while people watching.
We stood in line, and I ordered a coffee—long, black, and in the local parlance, while Lexi got a latte. I also bought a serving of poke, a traditional Cook Islands recipe of cooked bananas, milk, arrowroot, and baked sugar, served in a thick coconut cream.
We found a seat outside, and while we shared the poke, I studied the gleaming modern structure diagonally from the café. It looked oddly out of place amid the backdrop of island architecture. To the right of the door were some Chinese characters, probably identifying the purpose of the place.
“Well, that’s an eyesore,” Lexi observed, following my gaze. “What is it?”
“I think it’s a police station.” I carved out a piece of poke, sliding it onto my spoon. “I’ve observed several uniformed officers going in and out.”
“I thought we already saw the new police station back toward the airport,” she said. “How many police stations do they need to keep the peace in paradise?”
“That’s not a Cook Islands police station,” I said. “It’s a Chinese one. Their flag is flying out front.”
“A Chinese police station?” She stared in puzzlement at the flag. “I thought the Cook Islands was self-governing and in some association with New Zealand.”
“They are.”
“So, why is there a Chinese police station here? What jurisdiction would they have?”
“All really great questions.” I sat back, sipping my coffee and eyeing the building. “If I had to guess, I’d presume it was built as an initial gesture of Chinese goodwill. Some kind of international collaboration to bolster the islands’ law enforcement capabilities or something like that. It probably also involved the Chinese providing equipment, training, and weapons the Cook Islands couldn’t afford to purchase on their own. A totally friendly gesture from a friendly nearby country.”
Lexi lowered her shades to look at me. “China? Except we know better.”
“We know better,” I agreed. “I suspect the Chinese have an entirely different agenda.”
“Which is?”
“It’s no secret Chinese influence in Southeast Asia has been growing steadily over the past decade. Beijing has invested heavily in infrastructure in the region, which, on the surface, seems beneficial. But there’s a darker side to it.” I set my cup down, thinking. “I’d bet another plateful of that delicious dessert that station operates with a special degree of autonomy.”
“What kind of autonomy?”
“Autonomy similar to an embassy in a foreign country, including control over any Chinese citizens in the area.”
Lexi paused, the fork inches from her mouth. “That’s crazy. Why would the local government allow that?”
“Hard to say. There could be many reasons. It wouldn’t be a stretch for the Chinese to argue it’s for the safety and security of any Chinese nationals on the islands. However, it might also be to oversee Chinese businessmen trying to park their assets offshore and away from Mother China’s reach. Either way, an agreement like that severely undermines the Cook Islands’ sovereignty. If my guess is correct, that would mean the Chinese police station operates independently of local law enforcement agencies.”
Lexi let her fork clatter to the plate. “I don’t understand how that would work. How would local police fit into that arrangement?”
I shrugged. “My best guess, a quid pro quo of some kind that bolsters their influence while making the local police force dependent on them.”
“Wow. That’s sincerely shocking.”
“I agree. The newly elected prime minister is in a tough spot. From what I’ve read, she’s lukewarm about the Chinese presence. Educated in the UK and US, she understands the Western perspective and the risk of foreign influence. But she’s also aware of the immediate benefits and the pressure from certain factions within her government that are quite supportive of the Chinese.”
“You’ve been reading up on the Cook Islands?” She looked at me suspiciously.
I gave her an easy smile. “Do you know me or not? Any place I go with you, I’m reading, thinking, and planning ahead. Just in case.”
She thought about it, conceded my point. “Fair enough, since I did my own research after we agreed to come here. But even given this, you still believe this is one of the safest and most remote and beautiful spots in the world?”
“I do, and that’s with all the intelligence at my fingertips. Let the Chinese have their police station. We’re on a remote, sleepy little island with exquisite lagoons, volcanic peaks, and dazzling palm-fringed beaches where nothing ever happens. Let’s enjoy the peace and quiet.”
She reached across the table and took my hand. “Just two geeky castaways on their honeymoon.”
A smile touched my lips. “Exactly.”
“It’s perfect, Slash. I appreciate you doing all the legwork to find this hidden gem. The trip has been flawless so far, other than a runaway pig. So, what’s on the honeymoon agenda for tomorrow? A trek to the volcanic mountain top? Snorkeling? A dip in the fancy resort pool?”
I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers together. “Jet-skiing.”
“Jet-skiing? Why am I not surprised? Of course you’d choose a high-speed activity.”
I laughed. “Not just jet-skiing. We’ll ski out to an even more remote island, where we’ll drink wine, walk the beach, and experience the wonders of a crystal-clear lagoon in utter and complete privacy. We can even go au naturel if you so desire, though I can’t guarantee some kayakers won’t crash our party.”
She snorted. “Au naturel with my pasty white skin? I think I’ll pass. However, if we pack lots of suntan lotion, a life vest, my beach hat, and beach shoes, I’m in. And you’re driving the Jet Ski.”
“Deal.” Still smiling, I rose from my chair, holding out a hand to help her up. “And for tonight, I think we’ll ask the resort concierge for a recommendation for a nice restaurant in town for dinner and the location of a shop where we can buy some local wine for our excursion tomorrow.”
“Perfect. And after dinner?”
“Perhaps a stroll along a moonlit beach or sampling some of the wine while enjoying the view of the ocean from our hot tub. Or both. It’s totally up to us, since neither of us has a care in the world, which is exactly the way we wanted it. Just rest and relaxation.”
She linked hands with me. “You know, Slash, this is turning out to be the most spectacular honeymoon ever.”
“That’s the idea.”
As we left the café, a couple of women approached the police station waving signs and yelling. Two police officers emerged from inside and yelled at them before grabbing their signs and destroying them.
“Holy crap,” Lexi said. “Did you see that?”
“I did.” The aggressiveness of the police surprised me. The Chinese were foreigners on the island, and their own police station notwithstanding, they shouldn’t have been permitted to assault local citizens. Frowning, I scanned the street but saw no other local police coming to the women’s rescue.
People along the street had stopped to watch, as we had. The protesters left without their signs, but still shouting and gesturing at the Chinese police. It appeared many locals sympathized with the women, as they also began yelling and waving their fists. My professional curiosity was piqued by the scene, but we continued with our walk.
Lexi was silent until we reached the next corner. “What do you think that was all about?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “But it looks like all might not be perfect in paradise.” I didn’t like the fact that my senses were tingling, and my mind had moved from a relaxed state to heightened awareness. I wanted to keep a relaxed appearance for Lexi’s sake, but I was already having trouble viewing the situation as a tourist and not a trained professional.
Maybe I was just overreacting and I’d needed this honeymoon more than I thought.
Or maybe…it was something else.