The Second Inspector: A Honeymoon Gone Wrong

Chapter One:

Body Blow

Oh my god, it looks like someone's dead!

They were the first words that came to me when my friends dropped us off at our resort after a long day out. I was confronted with the sight of a body covered in a white sheet, being stretchered away.

Justin, my husband, was almost lost for words. I’m baffled, he mumbled.

The police had already cordoned off the main alleyway leading to the grand foyer, as we, a few other tourists, and some staff, huddled together and watched the scene in horror and disbelief a short distance away.

Who is it? What's happened? I asked, randomly.

Don’t know, a short, slim man standing next to me replied. I’ve just arrived to start my shift.

They've found a body in one of the suites, I’m told. Don't know the cause of death, someone else muttered.

Everyone was stunned.

You don't expect such a tragedy at any time. But when you're having the time of your life in a glorious setting, the event takes on an even more sinister dimension.

No one moved for a while as if transfixed, eyes riveted on the ambulance, except for the frantic police and security guards. They were barking instructions in the local language, as the stretcher finally came to rest at the back of the vehicle. They too seemed overwhelmed by the situation.

You can all go back inside now, said a young policeman in a shaky voice.

Still no one moved, as if frozen by what they were witnessing.

Please, please move along now, the same policeman insisted.

As some of us slowly made our way towards the swimming pool area and the adjacent bars, and a few others were allowed to head back to their respective rooms, rumours started spreading about the identity of the deceased, and the circumstances of the death.

Je suis sûre que c'est un de ces touristes russes. C'est suspect, a sunburnt woman said aloud.

What did she say? Justin asked me.

She said she's certain the deceased is one of those Russian tourists, and that it's suspicious.

How does she know?

Exactly. What does she know? It's just mere speculation.

Is it?

Yes. There’ll be a lot of that now. The person may have died a natural death, for all we know.

Still, this is very… unnerving, Justin said, sounding visibly shaken.

We found a quiet spot in a corner, away from other fellow visitors, to avoid any further gossip or unnecessary small talk we didn’t feel like engaging in, and sat down for a drink.

Now looking out, beyond the luxurious vegetation towards the main entrance, I could see the ambulance still parked at the very spot where we'd been greeted on our arrival. It was about ready to take away the corpse.

Stop being nosy, Justin said.

I'm not. Just curious and intrigued. I hope this incident doesn't spoil the rest of our vacation. We’ve had such a good time so far, and I’ve been very much looking forward to this holiday to mark my birthday.

I hope not.

As Justin spoke, the ambulance finally disappeared from my vantage point, and sped into the darkness that'd now descended on the island.

Chapter Two:

Back In Time

We’d arrived in the country a week earlier. We were just starting to settle in, and were thoroughly enjoying our comfy holiday routine, when the unfortunate event happened.

It was Justin's first visit to the island where I'd spent most of the first twenty-five years of my life. Whilst for me it always seemed like a bit of a pilgrimage when I headed back, I wanted to show the place to Justin in its best possible light.

Things had gotten off to a really good start.

The airport formalities were completed in no time. The brand new terminal felt a little cold, but the warmth in the air was pervasive. Once we stepped outside, the unmistakable sights of frangipanis and palm trees bordering the car park, and the earthy smells of the local delicacies, told us we were in the tropics.

The hotel shuttle was parked right outside, as we exited the building in bright sunshine. The month of September usually delivers mild, clear weather, lower humidity, and no threat of cyclones.

It was no coincidence that we picked that time to visit, as it meant that I'd be away from home at the time of a big birthday of mine, therefore bypassing the celebrations that would've occurred there.

Someone told me once, and I chose to believe her: If you don't celebrate, it doesn't count. It hasn't happened.

The drive from the airport to the hotel, though it traversed the whole island from south to north, took just over an hour.

It used to take much longer than that, I remarked to Justin.

Why? There were fewer roundabouts to navigate?

Haha, you're funny.

No, seriously, how come? You're sure, or do you have fading memories of your time here?

There never used to be a freeway running almost the entire length of this trip, I said in an unusually loud voice, asserting my credentials as a local.

A blond guy sitting in the aisle seat across from me, next to a female traveller, took off his sunnies, revealing fine facial features, and gave me a broad smile on clearly hearing and taking in my observation. I'd seen them on our flight, as they were seated in front of us. They were probably honeymooners, like many others, who now made this destination a primary spot for newly-weds in search of romantic exoticism.

The driver, who doubled as an impromptu guide, tried his best to give us a summarised history of the place, and things to look out for during our stay. I didn't pay much attention, his voice barely audible. But I vaguely heard him mention in no particular order a number of things like evocative French names, Hindu influence, its proximity to the African continent, and a range of water-sporting activities.

Justin and I were more taken by the scenery: the endless green sugar cane fields, separating the quaint small villages dotting the countryside, and in the distance, the majestic mountain ranges we had a peek of when flying over. Then there were the colourful people walking by the side of the road, at times in Indian file, unlike the more gregarious stray dogs crossing the road at their own peril.

Pity that the flame trees aren't in full bloom, I remarked to Justin. They are so pretty, and offer a great spectacle in the summer months with their bright red clusters of flowers.

I'll settle for the bougainvilleas, he replied. I just love them. They seem to be everywhere here, and in such varied colours, including some I haven't seen before.

The mini-van ultimately stopped in front of a gated property. The security guard stationed in his little cubbyhole, quickly actioned the gate's opening to let us through. Moments later, the vehicle came to a halt at the entrance of an imposing building that I immediately recognised. We’d arrived at our exclusive holiday resort.

As we stepped off the vehicle, we were greeted by a young smiling staff member. Welcome to paradise, she said to us, as she handed over two champagne flutes.

Soon, we were being ushered to reception.

Welcome sir, the receptionist addressed Justin. Being a travel agent, he’d made the booking. I have good news. We've upgraded you to one of our luxury suites.

Thank you very much. I'm most grateful.

Next, our luggage was taken off. Unencumbered, we were given a tour of the place by another porter. The resort was superbly situated, stretching along a beautiful sandy beach, the built-in accommodation itself only a few metres from the shoreline. The water was crystal clear, and its turquoise colour mirrored Justin's eyes. Wow, this is awesome, he marvelled at the sight.

There were some people lazing in deck-chairs on the beach in the late afternoon sun, whilst more energetic ones enjoyed the ocean's warm waters.

This is the hotel's largest swimming pool, boasted the attendant, whose name tag identified him as Paul, as he looked out towards the open sea, which did indeed look like a giant pool surrounded by a line of coral reefs. At low tide, you can reach the reefs, only knee-deep in the water.

However, Paul added, we do have a beautiful pool right here. He pointed towards a big L-shaped pool bordered by two bars, whose thatched roofs offered some welcome shade to non sun-seekers. After dark, this area is even livelier, as it becomes the centrepiece for the venue's evening entertainment.

Next, we arrived at our suite.

As we knew we had an upgrade, we were impatient to see what we’d been promised. We weren't disappointed.

The grand suite, on two floors, had all the modern conveniences and displayed beautiful local artwork, as well as elegant furniture and accessories. It also contained a good-sized spa on the upper level.

This is really fabulous, Justin told Paul.

Wait, you haven't seen the best part yet, sir. Paul threw the curtains in the ground floor lounge open, to unveil a nice terrace and a tastefully-presented little garden. Its bed of local flowers in early bloom led to what looked like a private pool.

This pool is shared by you and the suite next door only. No other residents can access it.

I'm loving this place already. Justin wasn't usually given to such exuberance. I saw him hand over a few notes of the local currency to Paul.

Thank-you sir. Anything else I can do to make your stay more comfortable, let me know. Paul bowed, and took his leave.

Let's drink to our time here, I said, as I handed over the complimentary bottle of champagne to Justin to crack it open, and get our holiday off to a merry start.

*****

By the next morning, any jet-lag was gone. We decided we'd have a lazy day around the resort, exploring the facilities on offer that Paul didn't have time to show us, and organise our time over the next few weeks in this sun-drenched location.

First though, we had a late, but copious, breakfast. It was an open buffet laid out on the other side of the pool away from the bars, in the main restaurant area. On offer were continental and full English breakfast fare, as well as an assortment of local fruits and specialities, that I hadn't tasted for years. I duly indulged, as did Justin. Lunch was not required after such a brunch.

As we sat down for our meal and looked around, we couldn't believe how busy the hotel seemed to be. It wasn’t peak season, and yet it was so full. I asked one of the waitresses about it, and she replied that the hotel was popular with tourists, especially from the northern hemisphere, all year round. Besides, she added, we have a group of Russian visitors here now for a sporting event, and we are hosting a conference on multi-faith societies at the same time.

After breakfast, we wandered into the smaller a la carte restaurant next door, that looked decidedly more exclusive, and also more pricey.

We could have your birthday dinner here, Justin said.

I'd relented, and given in to Justin's view that we needed to mark the occasion somehow. Okay, as long as it's a low-key affair. We could invite just a select few.

As we spoke, the manageress approached us. Welcome, how can I help?

We're looking at having a small birthday gathering.

Yes, we do birthday parties. We can have a special cake made for you, and organise some music accompaniment on the night.

Sounds good, doesn't it? Justin was keen to pin me down.

Yeah.

We booked a table, and agreed we'd get back to her with numbers as soon as we could.

Once that formality was over with, we checked out a couple of clothes and souvenir boutiques, but decided we'd be better off doing any purchases later on. However, I did buy a crime and mystery novel that I found hidden amongst a pile of books in the small bookshop next to the main designer shops.

Then carrying on our walk, we strolled through the bougainvillea and hibiscus-bordered walkways that snaked around the quite expansive complex, to get our bearings. Even though it was quite vast, the place nonetheless retained a village charm.

At every turn, every time we passed someone, there was a friendly local greeting. Bonjour! Bonjour!

We walked past the tennis courts, and came to the spa and wellness centre, and couldn't resist going in to see what services they offered.

Bonjour Messieurs, the burly attendant welcomed us. He had a nicely-trimmed beard and his open neck top revealed a hairy chest. Is this your first time here? He could tell we were a little hesitant. We offer a range of services to make you feel good and relaxed, and look even more handsome. I'm Rohit, and I'm the masseur here.

He certainly looked to have strong hands, and with his muscular torso, he was quite an imposing athlete. There is also a masseuse available. Rohit waved to a young woman who'd just walked through the door, and who waved back at him and at us. But we offer more than massages. We have a variety of therapeutic and beauty treatments to cater to all your needs, using only natural ingredients, and to take all your worries away.

His spiel sounded quite routine, but Rohit had a way about him that was engaging.

What particular services are you after?

Not sure. Maybe a massage, Justin said.

Would you like a male or female masseur?

Oh, male.

We are open all day from ten to six, and I'm available six afternoons a week, Tuesday to Sunday. Would you like to make an appointment now?

No, not just yet, Justin replied. But I will. Soon.

Okay. I look forward to seeing you soon. Rohit had a cheeky grin on his face.

By now, we were over the resort discovery, and as the afternoon beckoned and the sun grew stronger, we thought it was time to head back to our suite, and go take a dip in our own pool to cool down.

*****

God, that was so refreshing. Justin was out of the pool before me. He picked up the book that I'd just bought and settled into one of the deck chairs, with his back to the sun, not wanting to expose himself too much so early on, even after slapping himself with a stack of protective sun screen.

I don't think the sun is as strong here as in Australia, I shouted in his direction.

Never enough protection. You're safe with your olive complexion, not me.

By the time I got out of the water, he'd dozed off, and the book had slipped out of his hands onto the concrete. It was my cue to make a start on the book. Justin soon woke up, and still in a bit of a torpor, went inside.

I'd hardly read a few pages, when I heard a voice behind me utter the customary bonjour, but in a distinct accent.

I turned around, and without getting out of my chair, recognised the blond young man who'd been on our flight and on the hotel shuttle.

He looked to be in his late twenties and, wearing just light-blue speedos, revealed a lean, toned and well-proportioned body, that obviously had regular workouts at the gym. He was just drop-dead gorgeous.

Hi, I'm Dmitry. I remember you from yesterday. You were also seated behind us on the flight over, you and your friend.

Hi, I remember you too. I'm Jacques. Nice to meet you. We shook hands.

So you are in this suite, are you? Dmitry was pointing to our place.

Yes. And you're in suite six here, yeah?

He nodded. So this pool is only for us to enjoy?

"That's right.

Cool.

We can take full advantage of it in this weather.

Dmitry looked up to the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight. Cool.

The weather is almost always sunny and pleasant at this time of the year.

Of course, this is all familiar to you. You come from here, right?

Yep, I grew up here. Now I live in Australia.

I see.

And you, where are you from?

We're from Russia, my wife, Anna, and I. We are on our honeymoon, having got married a few months ago. Dmitry stretched out his hand, so I could get a better view of his ring.

Well, congratulations.

And you, you and? Dmitry paused a moment.

Justin. Are we married, and are we on our honeymoon? Yes. And no.

Dmitry burst out laughing. I like it.

No sooner had he said those words than he'd dived into the pool.

I pretended to continue reading my book with the same interest, positioning it in front of my eyes in such a way that it was in the same line of vision as Dmitry in the pool. If he'd worked out the realignment, he didn't seem to mind.

After a fair while he came out, water dripping all over his gorgeous body and his fine, wavy locks. He grabbed a towel, and walked towards me whilst he dried and rearranged himself.

That was so good. I really enjoyed that. You like swimming?

A little.

How long are you here for?

A few weeks. And you?

About two weeks. During this time, I'm taking part in a kitesurfing competition being held on the island.

In what?

A kitesurfing competition.

Really? Are you a professional kitesurfer?

No, not at this time anyway. It's more like a hobby, but we're really passionate about it.

We? You mean you and Anna?

No. There's a small group of us, Russian men, friends, who have come over as part of an amateur global challenge tour. You should come and watch us when the tournament is on. You and Justin. It's fun, it's cool, you’ll see.

Thanks for the invite. We may well do. When’s the event taking place?

On Saturday afternoon. I'll let you know where and when exactly. I know where to find you now, Dmitry said with a big smile, before waving goodbye.

As soon as he left, I rushed inside, and started telling Justin all about the encounter with our neighbour. And he speaks English really well and, apart from his good looks, he's also very charming, I added for good measure.

Listen to you. Stop drooling!

I'm not. You know me. I'm always excited to meet new people. And guess what? He's invited us to a kitesurfing tournament this coming Saturday. Interested?

No. Not at all. I don’t know this guy, but what you’ve told me about him has put me off already.

Like what?

Justin just shrugged off his shoulders, and resumed pouring himself some tea.

Come on. You can be so hasty and harsh in your judgment at times. I paused. You sure, you don’t want to go and see Dmitry and his friends perform?

Definitely. You go, if that’s what you want to do. I can’t stop you.

I will, but I’d prefer you join me.

Nope. I'd rather go to the races. I hear they’re being held on Saturday.

I may ask Frédéric to accompany me then.

Frédéric was my cousin who, together with a handful of very close friends, had offered to be our drivers and act as Justin’s guide. I thought it safer, and much more pleasant, to have them chauffeur and show us around. We’d drive only if we absolutely had to.

When I phoned him, Frédéric readily agreed to accompany me to the sporting event, although he knew nothing about it. I didn't know we hosted such things.

Neither did I. I hope we'll find it entertaining. One thing I'm sure of, is that you'll find Dmitry to be very nice.

I can't wait to meet him and his group. However before then, there's an absolute must that I want you and Justin to see. Does Justin like birds?

Does he ever? He used to breed parrots.

Really. So when are you free?

Now? I quipped.

Frédéric laughed. It's a full day excursion I'm proposing.

What about this coming Friday?

Okay, I'll have the day off, and come and get you in the morning. About ten?

Great. One last thing. After visiting the bird place, can you take us to have a look around where the kitesurfing competition will take place? I had an inkling that the two locations wouldn't be far apart.

Of course.

*****

When Friday came, Frédéric was on time for our outing.

Justin had long been a bird-lover and, as I found out, so was Frédéric. The island boasted a number of rare birds, some even endemic. Those specimens, and more, were all on display in a huge sanctuary on the west coast of the island. That’s where we headed.

The two of them spent hours admiring the colourful birds, their distinct feathers, their beautiful heads and beaks, their elegant movements as they flew around in quite spacious surroundings, even their cries, and at times, their mimicking sounds.

Indeed, we'd have spent the whole day doing just that, and ultimately it would've been too late to do anything else, if it hadn't been for my intervention.

You know, this park is more than just a bird place now. There are lots of other animals here. Let's go and see some of them. The park had in recent times expanded to offer a mini-safari experience, having acquired rhinos, giraffes, big cats, gazelles and zebras to name a few. Plus, of course, there were the giant tortoises, famous in that part of the world.

Yes, let's do that. Justin could readily sense my impatience. And I knew that he'd always been keen on the idea of doing a safari tour on the African mainland. This would be as close as he'd get to that here.

Next thing, we were seated at the back of an old convertible army truck, coasting through what effectively looked like a vast expanse of savanna, trying to spot the non-dangerous animals roaming freely in between the sparse shrubs and eucalyptus trees dotting the landscape. More often than not, we caught them when they reached one of the water-holes.

We were also in awe of the lions, tigers and rhinos, as they roamed around their enclosures, safely held at a fair distance from the visiting circus.

The closest we got to within touching distance of any animals was when the long-necked ostriches almost poked their faces into our open-roofed vehicle, causing us all to quickly move away in our seats. Our mobile phone cameras came in really handy to capture all those moments.

After our wild-life adventure was complete, we started feeling peckish.

I know the ideal place, Frédéric said, as he got behind the wheel. A very good restaurant nearby, up in the hills, almost hidden from view under a canopy of trees. It really blends in with the surrounds, and from its open terrace, you'll have a great view of the south-west coastline.

That's the area where the kitesurfing is taking place, isn't it? Dmitry had provided me with all the details of the competition, that I'd since relayed to Frédéric.

Yes. As I promised, on the way back, we'll be driving past the particular spot. Now tell me more about those Russians.

Well, there isn't much to tell. There's that group of Russian men staying at our resort, all in their mid-to-late twenties I'd say, a handsome lot. Some with their wives or partners. I've met one of them, Dmitry, who's in the suite next to ours, and who I've been chatting to, and he's the one who’s invited us to come along to watch them do their stuff.

Come on guys! Who cares about those Russians? What about the food at this enchanting restaurant? Justin had his priorities right.

Delicious. Local cuisine, including creole specialties, and a venison curry to die for, Frédéric replied.

Can't wait then. Justin and Frédéric were getting along very well.

The food turned out to be divine, the views from the restaurant and its beautifully-kept gardens magnificent, and the rum cocktail a real head-spinner.

After the succulent meal, a completely sober Frédéric - he'd drunk tea instead of the potent rum punch that we had - drove us to the 'Russian' beach. It was a wide stretch of fine white sand. Part of the beach was already closed off in readiness for the next day's tournament. It was quite windy, and Frédéric explained that it was always breezier in that area, which would probably explain why the site was chosen. Also that part of the coastline in the south of the island was quite rugged, with a break in the chain of coral reefs that otherwise encircled the island, making it ideal for surfing.

The location couldn't be more spectacular, with an iconic mountain at one end of the beach, wild mangroves and rolling hills on the other side of the narrow coastal strip. There wasn’t a single building in sight. Besides, we were greeted by a stunning sunset on the horizon.

After that fantastic day out with Frédéric, whom Justin found flamboyant and charming, I was impatient to see how the following day would unravel in this idyllic setting.

First though, when I got back, as I knew nothing about kitesurfing, I decided to seek Google's assistance to learn something about this water-sport, so as not to be embarrassed on the day.

I found out that kitesurfing is a style of kite boarding and wave riding, where the surfer harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable kite, to be propelled across the water on a board. It seemed to be a relatively new sport, and an extreme one at that.

That was enough to know for my purposes. I was more intrigued to have come across a group of Russians so far away from their homeland. I was looking forward to finding out what they were like, as their culture felt somewhat remote to me.

*****

Frédéric picked me up the following day before lunchtime, and we drove to the scenic part of the island where we'd been before.

As we made our way towards that part of the beach that was fenced off, from a distance you couldn't tell that there was anything major about to take place. I could only make out some security men and a few officials milling around what looked like a makeshift marquee, and nearby, small clusters of people huddled together in distinct groups. They were mostly foreigners by the looks of it, busily conversing amongst themselves, surrounded by their indispensable gear of big kites and surfboards laid out on the sand next to them.

But I could see no big banners or famous sponsors' logos advertising their brands, although there were national flags of some countries being held aloft. I certainly couldn't see any giant markings on the sand to spell out what the upcoming event was. It all seemed like a very tame affair, even as we got close.

Are you surprised? Frédéric asked, as he noticed my quizzical look. What was his name again?

Who? Ah, Dmitry?

Yes, him. You're sure he wasn't exaggerating the importance of the event? I told you I didn't even know that such competitions took place here.

He didn't say much about it. Maybe it was just me getting carried away after I met Dmitry, wishing for something big.

I just hope he's here. Or you'll be in trouble. Frédéric had an infectious laugh.

Yes, he is indeed. I can actually see him waving in our direction. Can you see, there?

All I can see is a Russian flag, and a few blond heads.

That's him there, I said pointing to the spot from where the waving was. Dmitry was soon jogging towards us. He was wearing board shorts and a T-shirt.

Hi Jacques, good of you to come. And where's your partner?

Hi Dmitry. I told you I'd make it. But Justin couldn't. Sorry. In his place, I've brought my cousin, Frédéric, for a bit of vocal support.

Hi Frédéric. Nice to meet you. Dmitry and Frédéric shook hands. And turning towards me. Your timing is perfect. We're getting started soon. The wind's changing to a cross-onshore wind soon, and that's what we're waiting for.

Excellent. But I was expecting a bigger event, I said.

I could tell from your surprised expression. Hey, we're all amateurs, but we're very competitive, you'll see.

Okay.

Come with me. Let me introduce you to Anna and my friends.

Real eye candy, isn't he? I whispered to Frédéric, as we followed Dmitry.

I say.

And you tell me you aren’t gay?

I'm not. Frédéric smiled. You know it's not all black and white, these things.

Meaning?

"I'm