The Deceivers by Harold Robbins

Author:Harold Robbins
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

20

An official car with two Culture Ministry security officers was waiting for Rim Nol when he came out of the Killing Fields main gate after his shift.

He kept his features inexpressive as he obeyed the officer’s command and got in the back of the car.

“Where am I being taken?” he asked.

“Shut up.”

The command was spoken without malice or even irritation and he accepted it without anger, just as he accepted without complaint what he thought to be his detainment, if not arrest.

When they were near the river on the outskirts of the capital, Nol realized where he was being taken and confirmed his suspicion of who had commanded his presence. He had attended a reception at the sprawling palatial mansion and on several occasions had delivered museum documents.

It was the home of Prince Ranar. He had an official office at the ministry building but preferred working out of the comfortable, climate-controlled atmosphere of his home.

The two officers escorted Nol into the house and to the reception area outside Ranar’s office. Nol sat for an hour until the prince was ready to see him. It occurred to him that the wait might have been designed to make him nervous and more eager to please when questioned.

When he entered the office, Ranar gestured at a cold pitcher of mango juice, but Nol smiled politely and shook his head. His mouth was dry but he was afraid his hands would shake if he held a glass.

“Tell me everything you and the American woman discussed at the museum,” Ranar said.

Nol started to speak and Ranar held up his hand to stop him.

“Also tell me why she met you at Choeung Ek. And what was said there.”

* * *

CHANTREA ENJOYED HERSELF in the pool at Ranar’s villa while Nol was being questioned. She swam naked, bathing in the cool, sweet waters in the atrium courtyard. She loved the tropical paradise Ranar had constructed in the center of his residential compound—with a domed, glass roof and temperature-controlled climate, the atmosphere was pure, bugless, and serenely pleasant. Best of all, Ranar’s wife stayed in another section of the residence.

When she saw Ranar come into the atrium Chantrea leisurely swam to him. She stepped out of the pool, unashamed of her nakedness. Almost forty years old, her body was still firm and sensuous.

Ranar had seen her naked before but his eyes still feasted on her body. He pulled her toward him and kissed her on the mouth, tenderly at first, then with fiery passion.

“You have a very beautiful body. You know that, don’t you?” he said huskily.

“Yes, I do.” She lightly toweled off as Ranar got out of his expensive clothes, dropping them at his feet for the servants to pick up later. “So what did Rim Nol have to say?”

“The woman was curious. She asked some interesting questions.”

“Like?”

“Why was the Siva chosen when it’s a museum piece? How did the artist duplicate it without being able to examine it at length? I already knew these issues puzzled her.

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