Dead Girl Beach by Mike Sullivan Read Free Book Online

that. Let that girl keep her job after all the trouble she’s caused. Late people—that’s not you, Bennie.”
    â€œWhich means exactly what?” He spoke with a mouthful of tuna fish and washed it down with a swallow of lemongrass juice.
    She stirred some sweetener into her coffee and looked back up at him. “I’m not trying to criticize, Darling.”
    She spoke English with a slight singsong accent and slurred some of her words. Bennie wouldn’t be associated with anyone who couldn’t speak English or wasn’t refined or educated—all the things lacking in his own street-smart, thuggish nature.
    Aanjay sipped her coffee. “It’s just that I think you should have let her go. Who needs a headache like that? It must be difficult for you, is all I’m saying.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it.” Bennie chewed his sandwich, drank juice, and drank some coffee. “In case you’re interested, here’s the story.”
    â€œI know the story. That’s what bothers me.”
    Bennie’s eyes narrowed on his girlfriend.
    â€œMister Tanaka was upset.” Aanjay put down her coffee. “You know him. He has too much class to show it.”
    Bennie leaned over in his chair. “I know all about Koji Tanaka. He’s a Big Spender who jets in from Tokyo twice a year. He comes here for the same reason all sex tourists come to the island—to drink and bed a different girl each night he’s here. Tanaka has deep pockets, and the girls guzzle down shots of Tequila and lick salt and lime juice from the backs of their hands, but hey. Who’s complaining…not me. Not when a shot of Tequila costs seven dollars U.S. I get rich and loved many times over by my Hong Kong bosses.”
    â€œThe girls also get a third of each drink sold,” Aanjay said. “The house gets the rest. Yes, it’s good business, but not with that girl here. She’s trouble waiting to happen. I still think you should have fired her.”
    Bennie shook his head emphatically. “No…no way. Lawan Songsiri sells a lot of drinks. If I let that pain-in-the-ass sister of hers go, Lawan goes with her. I can’t let that happen. You know what they say about good help.”
    â€œStill, you can’t afford that headache, either.”
    â€œLet me worry about that, Aanjay.” He checked his watch and ate another bite from his sandwich. “Besides, I had Lawan practically on her knees and begging me not to fire Suma. ‘Please Bennie. Don’t fire her. I know she’s young, and she has that temper, but please, Bennie. I’m begging you. Don’t fire her. I’ll take care of her. I’ll watch her, I promise.’ It was hilarious.”
    â€œWhat about the other girls?” Aanjay’s eyes narrowed. “If you don’t fire Suma, aren’t you going to lose face with them? Is that what you want? Do you know what it means to an Asian man? Well, do you?”
    Bennie laughed. “I’m not worried about it.”
    â€œYou might if your bosses find out about the money.”
    â€œThat I loaned to Arun Songsiri?”
    â€œWell, you never got it back.”
    â€œThat’s being taken care of.” He raised a hand.” So, don’t worry about it.”
    Arun borrowed six million baht—approximately $200,000.00—from Bennie to pay off gambling debts. Then, out of the blue, he won the Thai lottery for the same amount he owed Bennie. Now, he was hiding out somewhere with the money and not paying off the debt.
    After all I’ve done for that jailbird fuck
, Bennie thought.
That loser
.
    â€œAre you okay?” Aanjay asked.
    â€œFine, but I gotta go.”
    Bennie gulped down the last few bites of his sandwich, stood up, and crossed the room. Aanjay glanced up from stirring sweetener into another cup of coffee and watched him race out the door.
    Benny’s car was a fiery red SL550