Returning to the hotel, Jess followed with fear because truly she was confused and frightened.
"There's water everywhere!" yelled Stu as they walked up the steep stairway. Jess grabbed for Phil's hands trying to avoid the water everywhere but she managed to slip and cause him to pull her arm.
"Jess!" he said fear crossing his face.
"I'm fine!" she called
"Just so damn wet everywhere…" moaned Stu loudly pausing at the top of the stairs.
"Yah, it's cause it melted, Stu. The fuckin powers out," grumbled Phil under his breath. His fingers were wrapped around Jess's hands as he showed her the way.
"With an inadequate electrical grid, serving millions of people Bangkok experiences 1500 power outages per year," commented Alan reading from a card from his pocket. Stu had turned, searching for something Jess couldn't see.
"Seriously, Alan. That's enough!" yelled Phil at Alan as Stu walked back over with a fire extinguisher in hand.
"Outta the way!" commanded Stu lifting the object up to strike the ice box and breaking the lock on the latch. Confused as she had no idea who was there, she gasped when she spotted Chow's arms grabbing for them.
"What the fuck guys? Why is Chow there?" she screamed pointing at him.
"Long story," said Phil "Out of the way!"
Chow repeatedly hit Stu in the stomach before side way kicking Phil and Alan aside. Jess, who was several steps behind the group, watching in horror as Chow rounded on them a second time.
"Chow, calm down!" screamed Phil as he slammed the small Asian man against the cooler once more.
"You put the chill on me?" yelled Chow.
"No, no!" answered Phil but Chow spit into his face as he struggled against the larger man.
"It's okay. Relax…." Chow kicked the cooler as Phil tried again to calm him. Shushing Chow, Phil managed to relax him. "It's just us. Breathe!"
"It was so cold," mumbled Chow in a shaken voice.
"We're gunna warm you up," offered Phil.
"I was so cold!" said Chow.
"You did good, buddy. You did good," nodded Phil once more trying to warm up Chow's arms.
"Chow did good…."
Phil nodded and they left the hotel to find Chow some food. Following behind, Jess shook her head once more before they arrived to a small restaurant.
"Feelin better?" asked Phil. "Alright, you warm enough?"
"I don't know. Come feel my balls and tell me. I've been locked in a fuckin ice box all day! Hey Alan, if you want my sunglasses...just ask Chow. You don't have to kill me," snapped Chow sipping on the soup.
"Chow, nobody killed you. You were already dead. You didn't have a pulse," stated Phil rolling his eyes.
"Oh, you never do blow before?" mocked Chow. "Sometimes your heart stop... start up again. Read a book!"
"Look I'm sorry. We're having a bad day," commented Phil holding his hands together and taking a glance at Jess and the others before settling his eyes on Chow once more.
"Oh, you're having a bad day! Did you die?" mocked Chow in complete sarcasm.
"I got shot!" rebuffed Phil puffing his chest out.
"But did you die?" asked Chow once more, his words laced in venom.
"Chow, some guy told us that you got a bank code or something," started Stu staring the other down with determination. "And if we don't bring it to him first think in the morning, he's gunna kill Teddy."
"Who, Kingsley?!" asked Chow with a laugh. "He harmless. Don't worry. I got the bank codes."
"Great! Alright, we gotta meet him at 8am," said Phil. "Who is that fuckin guy, anyway?"
"An investor in my business," smiled Chow.
"Yeah, what business is that?" questioned Phil.
"It's called not your business! Ok! Oh, where's the monkey?" asked Chow.
"The monkey..." questioned Jess looking around the table in concern. "We had a monkey?"
Phil nodded as Stu looked like he might puke. "Yes, we had a monkey this morning…"
"Yeah I put the account number and password in his vest. Where is he?" Chow asked once more. Alan was fidgeting in his seat as Phil spoke up once more.
"Why would you do that?" demanded Phil with confusion riddling his face.
"Safe keeping, pretty boy. I got a lotta heat on my ass. I got FBI, Bangkok PD, Interpol, MSNBC... That little monkey snorting coke with me all night... Jerkin me off while I watched Stu make fuckin lady boy. He not going anywhere."
"We don't have the monkey, Chow," confessed Stu after shaking his head.
"Oh, some Russian thugs took him from us," said Phil staring down Chow with hate.
"Wait that's what those shots were from?" asked Jess pulling on Phil's arm. "Why didn't you tell me about earlier!"
"Oh, you fucking guys," mumbled Chow interrupting Jess and Phil. "Okay. No problem. We just have to get him back!"
"From where?" said Stu with sarcasm.
"From the same place we took him from.
*dot*
As the rode in a white car to the pickup location, Jess sat beside Stu and Alan in the back while Chow sat in the driver's seat.
"This monkey isn't just normal monkey. Every night, monkey drug mule. He take coke to buyer... And deliver cash to dealer. He middle man. Dealer never handle drug directly. He clean."
"That's terrible," said Stu in disbelief to this animal cruelty.
"Not terrible. What he talking about. Fucking genius. You ever see monkey go to jail? We just signal monkey for deal, he come close, we take his vest. That's that. Maybe get some blow too, you know... just bump…"
"No," stated Phil firmly. "No more bumps, Chow!" After waiting a bit Jess patted Phil on the arm and motioned to Chow's head. He nodded and agreed to it taking so long. "Okay, this is ridiculous."
Attempting to whistle with his fingers, Chow only managed to spit on his fingers."
"Stu, Mr. Chow can't whistle. Signal monkey," ordered Chow. Shaking his head, Stu gathered the strength to not strangle Chow but whistled loudly for the monkey to come. Chow extended his hand out the window to show the monkey the money while the monkey began moving in their direction.
"All right, here we go," said Phil.
"Come on," agreed Chow. Alan nearly clapped in excitement as the monkey began climbing across the electrical lines above them.
"How'd we wind up with the monkey last night anyway?" asked Phil watching in amazement the monkey coming closer.
"Well, I needed some blow and Alan thought he was cute, so we stole him," explained Chow. Jess watched and listened as the monkey landed on the car.
"So stupid," smiled Chow. "Stu, ready to grab vest?"
"I... Okay. I just grab it?" asked Stu unsure.
"Yeah, just do it, Stu. Just do it," answered Phil looking around nervously.
"Hey, monkey!" exclaimed Alan but it was too late.
The monkey shrieked loudly back to the drug dealers before gathering their full attention, Phil muttered out a shh to Alan. Knowing they got their attention; Chow grabbed the steering wheel as he prepared to take off.
"We gotta go right now!"
Stu went to grab the monkey and held on for the monkey's life. The car raced away as the monkey let go and nearly was out of Stu's hands. Phil screamed to bring the monkey in to the car, which Stu exclaimed "I'm trying", and nearly dropped him. Shots rang out as the drug dealers tried to hit them and only managed to hit the car's back windows. The monkey was holding on to the wheel well for dear life and not allowing Stu to get him in properly. Phil and Chow screamed at Stu to get in while Jess held onto Stu's lower half to keep him in the car too. Jess looked behind the car and saw the two drug dealers following closely behind.
"He's so strong! Let go, you fucking monkey!" screamed Stu once more as they came to a congested intersection. Nearly they crashed but with Chow's driving skills they slipped through without hitting. Finally, the monkey let go enough for Stu to pull them both back in. The monkey was sat on Jess's lap and Phil turned around in his seat.
"Where's the code, Chow?" demanded Phil.
"Check his little vest," instructed Chow. Alan opened the vest and withdrew a paper from the it. After confirming that he had the code, he turned back in his seat and grabbed the head rest of Chow's seat.
"Slow down, slow down, Chow!" Phil shouted holding onto the head rest, his fingers clenching in dread.
"Hold on, gay boys!" yelled Chow as they rounded the next corner faster than any of them knew. Jess slammed her head into Stu's shoulder. After a few more blocks, Chow managed to hit a pig that was in the road way, spattering its blood everywhere and hitting Stu in the face.
"Oh, shit," muttered Phil moments later. Jess looked up and covered her ears as shots around out again inside the car. The drug dealers hit the monkey as they continued to speed away and raced across the river separating the areas. Landing with a thud, Chow brought them to a stop with a loud laugh.
"Everyone, okay?" asked Phil. His eyes lingered on Jess a moment seeing her gripping Stu's forearm trying not to shake or cry any more than she already had.
"I have such an erection," laughed Chow before driving away once more.
"Are you for real?!" demanded Stu rubbing Jess's arm. Silently she sobbed in her place and held the monkey. Truly she was scared and just wanted to go home. This was enough for her and this was beyond what she wanted to handle.
*dot*
"Are you guys seriously this calm?" asked Stu.
"Relax, Stuart. It's classic switcheroo. I give him money, he gives us Teddy," said Chow with a sway to the elevator music.
"Ever do anything that doesn't end up in a standoff?" asked Phil folding his arms.
"I'm an international criminal. It always ends like this," said Chow with a small laugh. "I met my wife at one of these things."
"You have a wife?" scoffed Stu looking at Jess and Phil with slight confusion.
"Yeah. We married 15 years. What, Chow not good-looking enough for woman?" asked Chow.
"No, that's cool," agreed Stu.
Finally, the elevator dinged and they found themselves in the small banquet room as yesterday.
"Let's do this," said Chow as the doors opened. "Blah, blah, blah. Who cares? Stop. Chow crossing."
This time, Jess and the wolf pact were led beyond the table from yesterday and out onto the patio, where there the bald man sat enjoying breakfast.
"Hey, Kingsley!" shouted Chow like greeting an old friend. "Propecia looking nice. Whew, you been hitting the gym?"
"Yes, I am, actually. Thank you for noticing, Chow. Hey, guys, have a seat," motioned the bald man to the others.
"Where's Teddy?" asked Stu in a matter of fact tone to the bald man.
"He's waiting downstairs in my car. We'll send him up when the transfer is complete.
"Tell you what: Give me extra 50 grand; you keep Teddy. And I throw in this other fat fuck for free!"
Jess was about take her seat when Chow had spoken up against Alan. "Are you for real? Chow that's real fucked up!"
"Jess," started Phil trying to wave her to seat. The bald man, Chow and Alan laughed though without noticing her though. Slumping into her seat, she looked around seeing two familiar faces from earlier. She knew that there were those Interpol agents she met earlier. The tall blond one was Winters, whereas the thin one was Mr. Thomas. He was staring at her like he wanted to say something but he began to circle around toward her.
"Can we move this along?" snapped Stu suddenly aimed at Kingsley.
"Alan, account number?" asked Chow waving his hands out. "Come On, Come On, Come On…"
Alan unfolded the paper and sighed heavily as he cleared his throat. "Uh, eight-one-four... K, as in "knife"... two-three-nine-eight," he read out.
"Password?"
"Baloney1
Phil and Stu looked at Jess with concern.
"Your password is baloney1'?" asked Jess.
"It used to be just baloney," explained Chow. "Now they make you add number. Really fucking annoying."
Jess sat tight as the transfer beeped from each computer and after a moment, she laid her head down against her arms on the table.
"And it's that easy," confirmed the bald man.
"Ta-da," agreed Chow waving his hands in the air. "Oh, look, you sunk my battleship!"
Phil and Stu, though were not too please. "Great! Now can we please have Teddy?" demanded Stu at Kingsley.
"Uh, yeah. Bring him up," agreed the bald man.
Chow laughed as the other relaxed a moment. "Ha, ha. See? We go to your wedding, we have fun, I bust a nut.
"We did it, Stu. it's over," offered Phil to his friend. Jess recognizing the closeness of Mr. Thomas standing beside her but she didn't not stand up. She was simply too tired to even try now. He lent forward without drawing attention to the others and with a tap of his fingers against her back signaled her to look up. He slipped a piece of paper inside her pocket before the glasses began to move. Suddenly though everything around them began to shake including the plates and silverware. A slow hum came as a helicopter came from below the building and took aim at the small group.
"This is Bangkok Police! Everybody down!" demanded the man from the helicopter. Everyone got down onto the floor near Chow before he could react. Several people soon turned and pointing guns at the group. Jess stood up and back away into Mr. Thomas's chest where she found his gun aimed at Chow.
"What the fuck," she muttered to him, not knowing what to do.
"Do nots move. You vill be glad in zee moment," mumbled Mr. Thomas. Jess nodded quickly before turning her attention back to Chow as he screamed at bald man.
"No! Kingsley, you're fucking 5-0?"
"Gotcha, Leslie! Get him out of here!"
As the police handcuffed Chow, he turned around and screamed at the approaching person.
"How the fuck...?! Samir? You fucked me over 6 grand? You camel jockey," he said to the well dressed man. Chow spit on his face making the man reach out and attempt to strangle him.
"You spit to me!? You spit to me?! Hey, 6 grand this time, 8 grand last time. It's not the money, man. It's the principle!" he said trying to make a point to Chow.
"Principle? Nigga, please. We both dead inside," smarted off Chow before being taken away once more by the police. The balding man turned to the group who each shared confusion, more so on Stu and Jess's faces.
"You guys okay?" asked the balding man.
"What the fuck's going on?" asked Jess folding her arms. "Who the hell are you?"
"Detective Inspector Peters, Interpol," he said flashing his badge at them.
"You're a cop?"
"Yes," he answered. "And yesterday, when Ms. Billings came upon the Embassy, we saw it as a chance to further along this sting operation. It's been in place for weeks. When Samir also told us that your friend was lost, we took advantage of that information," he stated.
"I'm sorry," he offered looking at each of them and landing on Jess. "I'm most sorry for the way I spoke to you Ms. Billings. It was highly disrespectful."
"You are fucking kidding me," mumbled Jess. "I almost hit an Interpol agent…"
"So can Teddy come out of the car now?" asked Alan.
"No, Alan, Teddy's not in the fucking car," stated Phil pushing his hair back.
"They don't have him. They never had him," snapped Stu. "They just needed us to bring them Chow. They used Teddy as bait." Stu turned around in anger, folding his hands under his arms.
"Do you have any leads at all?" asked Phil to try to be helpful and take some worry from Stu.
"No. We've checked everywhere, no one has seen him. I'm sorry. If you haven't found him by now, I'm afraid Bangkok has him," he offered finally before walking away unsure of his own next actions.
"Why do people keep saying that?!" whispered Stu harshly.
"Stu... it's time," began Phil holding up his cell phone.
*dot*
Phil.
I'm sorry.
Don't say that. Please.
No, this time we really fucked up.
Oh, God. How bad? Like no wedding bad?
Yeah. Little worse than that.
*dot*
Jess sat beside Phil with her head on the table trying to figure out how to get back home. She was terribly worried about Jack and only wanted to leave in once piece. Beside her, Stu and Phil were conversating about everything but nothing was making any sense. They still couldn't find Teddy. Inside her pocket, her phone kept vibrating but Jason's name on the caller made her silence it. Now wasn't the time to deal with his crap.
"Okay, how about this?" began Phil. "He fell off the fishing boat and drowned."
"No," replied Stu, his arms crossed.
"Okay, I got it," added Phil a second time. "Teddy was hit by a truck?"
Stu shook his head as Phil looked at Jess hoping she would give any ideas to solve their problems.
"Alan?" called Phil across the platform toward the other playing on the arcade machine.
"Not a good time, Phil. Kind of busy," called Alan pushing the buttons feverishly as he played.
"How many people get run over here?"
"Ugh. Over 1200 a year, Phil," he replied after a moment.
"Perfect!" exclaimed Phil. "His body was too mangled to recover. Case closed. Can I have more ice, please?"
Stu looked at Phil with hate and confusion. "I'm not gunna lie to Lauren.
"Stu, do you want this or not?" asked Phil placing his hands on the table.
"Look at what I've done, Phil," asked Stu holding his hands. "What I do. I have a weakness for prostitutes. All kinds, apparently. I have a demon in me!" He pointed at his heart as his eyes danced between Phil and Jess.
"So what?" snapped Phil. "I've done fucked up shit too."
"Teddy's gone, but I can still save Lauren. I'll just let her live her life without me," confessed Stu.
"Stu…." Phil looked at him worried and stand up fully.
"I want you to call Doug and tell him I'm never coming back. I'm getting off the hamster wheel. I'm gunna stay here in Bangkok. I think I belong here. Open up a little dentist office. Teeth cleanings with a happy ending."
Jess looked at Stu miserably and reached for his hands. "You sure about this?" She could tell he was about to cry, but the man held it in. Suddenly the tables and chairs around them began to shake a moment before all power went out including the overhead fans.
"Hey! What the crud?" exclaimed Alan.
"Power's out, Alan," yelled Phil as he held his phone in his hands. He stood up as he dialed for Doug. Jess's eyes followed him, knowing the pain of having been there to explain bad news before.
"I need answers, man," demanded Doug on the phone.
"I know, um ..." started Phil trying to find the words.
"Doug, who are you talking to? Give me the phone," screamed someone on the phone. It caused Phil to pull the phone from his ear.
"No, that's a private..." yelled Doug suddenly. Suddenly though Lauren's sharp voice came on and it made Jess jump up.
"Phil? Tell me what's going on right now," Lauren stated firmly. Jess got to Phil as Lauren spoke once more but Phil couldn't keep his hands still. Holding him around his middle, he hugged her as he delivered the news.
"We lost your little brother," confessed Phil.
"What?" asked Lauren unsure.
As Phil spoke with Lauren, he had to repeat his words several times before he seemed to convince her. Jess watched with worry about everything that might happen from then on. This was Stu's life; they were all throwing away but it was a choice that Stu wanted to make.
"Bangkok has him now," said Phil with worry.
"You're in Bangkok?" screamed Lauren from the receiver. "Put Stu on the phone!"
Holding Jess tighter inside his arms, Phil sighed before answering. "Stu really just doesn't wanna talk to anybody. He's just not up for it..."
A moment later, Jess felt a hand on her shoulder and she was ripped from Phil's arm. It was Stu with determination on his face. Like realization had happened. He was trying to grab the phone from Phil's hands.
"Phil? Phil! Phil, give me the phone!"
"It's Lauren," he warned trying to hold his Stu's prying hands.
"I know. I need to talk to her," urged Stu trying more. Jess was trying to hold him back because he had just said that he was going to stay.
"I'm handling this. I'll handle this, Stu!"
As Stu stepped forward, he got hold of the phone before Phil could regain his balance. Desperately, he found himself staring at Stu and Jess.
"You're gunna break her heart!" screamed Phil.
Ignoring him, Stu stammered into the phone. "Hey, sweetheart, it's me."
"Stu? What the hell is going on? What does he mean, you lost Teddy?"
"What? ls that what Phil said?" questioned Stu shaking his head as Jess and Phil tried to stop him.
"No, no, no. We misplaced Teddy. But we're all good now. We're headed back to the resort. See you soon. I love you so much. And I gotta go, but I'll see you soon. Bye."
"Stu!" yelled Jess as the phone was handed back to Phil and Stu took off toward the street.
"Taxi! Taxi!" he yelled.
"Stu? Stuart Price?!" screamed Jess throwing her arms down.
Turning to gather Alan from the machine, Phil and Jess raced after Stu as he entered a taxi nearly without them.
"Hey, you mind filling us in?" asked Phil sitting beside Stu, who nodded and began to explain.
"Okay," started Stu. "Now, when we woke up, the power was out?"
"Yeah," agreed Phil.
"Hold on! The power kept going in and out all morning until you guys came to the roof," explained Jess confused.
"Yes, we found you on the roof like Doug, but before that we were down in the room. And you," he pointed at Phil, "found Teddy's finger in what?
"In a bowl of water," nodded Phil.
"Teddy is missing a finger?!"
"Yes, he is," stated Stu, then turning to Phil. "But it didn't start out as water."
"It was ice," confirmed Jess trying to make sense of the scene herself. Then suddenly her eyes for wide.
"Exactly!" smiled Stu at Jess.
"Teddy got ice from the machine... came back to the room, put his finger on ice, fell asleep," questioned Jess finally realizing what they were meaning with the ice. "But you guys said Teddy has been missing all day?"
Stu turned in his seat and smiled at her once more. "What do you do if you wake up and your finger's in a bowl of melted ice?"
"I'd get more ice, Stu…" said Jess. Phil, however, nearly jumped up with realization.
"On the 15th fucking floor!"
"Yes!" beamed Stu. "Teddy goes up, the power goes out ..."
"Holy shit. Of course," stated Phil falling back in his seat.
"Of course, he's in the ice machine," answered Alan finally joining the conversation.
The other three looked at Alan as Stu shook his head. "Alan, no."
*dot*
After getting Teddy from the elevator and seeing Stu beam from ear to ear, they raced out toward the harbor where they found Chow's speedboat. Alan, amazingly, instructed them and started the boat up.
"You sure you know how to drive this thing?" questioned Phil sitting nearby.
"Please! I was raised in yacht clubs. I know what I'm doing," answered Alan steering with perfection.
"You know where we're going?" asked Phil again smirking at Jess.
"Please address me as captain," demanded Alan.
"Oh, fuck you, Alan," snapped Phil, but after Alan refused to answer he changed his tune. "Do you know where we're going, captain?"
"Affirmative, cadet. We're going south, through the Gulf of Thailand…."
Jess could feel her stomach doing flips but as they raced back to the resort, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation behind her with Stu and Teddy. It made her feel a little better that he was smoothing it over with him about everything. Turning around, she knuckle-punched Stu with a smile.
"It's funny. I can't remember anything... but when I woke up... I was kind of happy," smiled Teddy. "By the way, you have any idea where my finger is?
"Yeah, we gave it to a drug-dealing monkey," answered Stu with a smile.
Jess looked back at Alan seeing the resort and all the beautiful decorations for the wedding. She noticed that Alan was speeding too fast and there was no dock.
"Alan, there's no dock," she screamed trying to get his attention.
"Just hang on," urged Alan not slowing down.
"Alan, it's not funny. Turn the boat!" screamed Phil.
"Hang on," he said again.
"Alan, slow down!" screamed Jess.
"Please!" shouted Stu standing up holding on the seat for caution. "Turn the boat! Turn the boat, Alan!"
"TURN THE FUCKING BOAT ALAN!" screamed Phil and Jess at Alan before they landed with impact causing Jess to fly out of the boat with a soft thump on the grass. The ten feet she landed took her breath away as Doug and Jason raced to her side to check her over. Phil, Stu, Alan, and Teddy wobbling stepped out of the boat with looks of hurt all over their faces.