Meanwhile in the eastern Caribbean
President Leslie Small woke up to the news about the murder of the doctor that had treated her in Jantique and instantly grabbed her cell phone. She wanted to call Rex, but thought twice about it and decided to call Prime Minister James instead.
She looked at her watch and then tried to work out the time in Jantique, which was one hour behind.
The clock said 8:30 am and then she wondered if it was appropriate to call the Prime Minister that early, but Richard Hellbent was a friend. The phone took forever to connect, but eventually she heard James's voice.
"Good Morning Prime Minister , Leslie here. I woke up to some very terrible news. I know you have been working extremely hard to reduce the murders in Jantique, unfortunately my dear friend Richard Hellbent became a victim."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a second or two.
"Oh, hi President Small, I see that your coup worked and poor Collin is nowhere around, but I don't mind being woken up by a beautiful woman with ambition and brains."
"That sounds very sexiest and inappropriate under the circumstances Mr. Prime Minister. I am reaching out to offer any assistance with the investigation and you are trying to hit on me," Leslie snapped.
James hissed his teeth loudly in the phone.
"Sorry, I thought at this ungodly hour, this call was a personal one and not something official, President Small from Flamouth Jantique. You don't have the moral authority to lecture me, you little insolent upstart from St. Barts. Jantique is many times your size and a couple months ago you were dependent on Jantique, but since you struck oil offshore, you are the jewel of the Caribbean." Prime Minister James replied.
"No need for jealousy Prime Minister, yes this is a personal call, but not booty call." Leslie said softly.
"Yes, Madam President, I know you lost a personal friend and remarkable physician, but I have my best man on the case. It has not yet been forty-eight hours and he is already making a breakthrough in the case. As a matter of fact I understand he has identified a person of interest." James was boasting.
"Who is your investigator?" Leslie asked.
"I don't think you would be familiar with him or his team, President Small, if you are still using that name, but he is Marcus Dean, a former top cop in Jantique with numerous convictions and solved cases behind his name." James replied.
A chill moved through Leslie's body. "Ahh, I see," Leslie replied, trying to stifle the chuckle. Her spirit told her all she needed to know.
"Anyway Prime Minister James, I hope your man brings a quick resolution to this case and you can give Richard's wife Stephanie Lisa comfort in her time of loss." Leslie could hear the pause on the other end of the line.
"Can I help you with anything else President Small?" James asked deliberately changing the subject.
Leslie chuckled. "No, but I can hear her breathing beside you James, I hope that is your wife." Leslie remarked before hanging up the phone.
"Piece of shit." Leslie said, as she threw the phone on the king sized bed.
"Collin can you believe that turd insinuating that I overthrew your government." Leslie whispered.
"Well you sure handled him, but I think there is a link between what happened in St. Barts and that case in Jantique, Leslie. Are our chickens coming home to roost?" Collin asked while trying to put on his underpants.
"Collin, it's hard for me to concentrate on anything with you naked." Leslie replied.
"Hey, you said it was a booty call Madam President and I have a meeting in Jantique with that piece of shit according to you, in a few hours. Another huge hotel project was about to be constructed in the parish of your birth. We will employ our architects and engineers from St. Barts and export tradesmen to Jantique. However, Prime Minister James wants a piece of the action, and you might have pissed him off." Collin retorted.
"Ahh, shut up Collin, he is a politician and as long as you have a brown envelope under the table, you and your mistress will be fine." Leslie chuckled.
"Leave her out of this Leslie. You know I don't do business like that anyway; everything has to be above board and must be able to pass scrutiny." Collin growled.
"Always so self-righteous Collin Small, but tsk, tsk. I had you worshipping at the nexus of my thighs last night, because you needed my approval or else this mega deal would have fallen though. Sienta Alexander would kick you to the curb like a boy." Leslie responded.
"Some conscience you have right Leslie, I know you and Rex had something to do with the death of that nice Doctor in Jantique, so don't try to lecture me Leslie." Collin shouted.
"Hey, keep your voice down, nobody is supposed to know you are here, listen we had fun last night, I was thinking that we can patch things up and have a united front for the sake of our child, but you are too suspicious of Rex and he has only the interest of St. Barts in his heart." Leslie replied.
"Has he fucked you yet , Leslie?" Collin asked angrily.
A smile crossed Leslie's face. "Wouldn't you like to know Collin, but a lady never kisses and tells." Leslie whispered.
Tell, your mistress that I will sign the papers this morning approving the joint venture Collin, lap your tail and run back to Jantique." Leslie's eyes began to glow red. Collin felt a pang of fear.
Meanwhile in Jantique
Sienta Alexander paced the floor of the suite of the hotel nervously all night, She tried to reach Collin, but his phone kept going to voice mail. She wanted to accompany him to St. Barts, but he insisted that he wanted to handle the transaction on his own. "We are in a delicate transition right now Sienta so I wouldn't advise for the former President to show up with a Caucasian on his arm to meet with his chocolate skinned former government ministers". Sienta heard his words over and over in her head.
St. Barts was now rich from oil and the export of specialist, but Sienta knew that she could not take anything for granted. Collin Small was sometimes naive to the cut and thrust of international business. It wasn't that she did not trust him, but St. Barts gave her the eebie geebies. The rumors of people with glowing eyes had begun to spread. Although fiercely denied by Collin.