Madame Debernard watched as two of the masked intruders gagged two of her servants. The young Polynesian women were lashed securely to chairs, with rope around their chests and upper arms. Two other masked bandits flanked Madame Debernard and the ringleader turned to her and said. "Now about those jewels."
"Upstairs." She said. "Please don't hurt my daughters."
"Do as we say and we'll be long gone before they return."
Madame Debernard led the four intruders upstairs. Once it was certain they were out of the servants' earshot, the ringleader said "So far, so good."
"Remember, I don't want my daughters implicated in any way." she put in.
"Like I said downstairs, we should be long gone when they return. We'll sell the jewels, and you'll get your insurance settlement."
By now they were in the bedroom. The ringleader asked, "Where are the jewels?"
"In a wall safe behind the Gauguin." Madame Debernard replied.
"Open it, and remember you agreed to be bound and gagged."
The Frenchwoman complied, and two of the thieves started to remove the jewels, while the other two turned their attention to her "Take of your dress." The ringleader ordered.
"That was not a part of or deal."
"Take off your dress! You don't want us to be around when your daughters arrive."
Madame Debernard sighed and slid off her shoes. She was a part of this, and realized her accomplices had backed her into a corner. Quickly, she unbuttoned her dress and slid it off. At forty-five, she was still somewhat slender, though soft rather than firm, and rather self conscious about her appearance in her lacy bra and panties.
"Kneel down at the foot of the bed, facing the headboard." The ringleader instructed. Madame Debernard obeyed, and the gang went about binding her wrists and ankles with white cotton rope. Next, a small handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth and a larger one tied over her mouth to secure the smaller one. With that done, she was gently laid face down on the bed and left alone.
Andrea Rodgers looked out the airplane window and shook her head. Now she knew the real meaning of the phrase "Miles and miles of miles and miles". All she could see was an empty ocean. Magellan had spent 99 days on that water without seeing land and now she understood why. She signed and turned to her companion "Nice view of the water, Drea?" Anne Thorne asked.
Drea smiled at Anne's comment "Next time I take the aisle seat." She said. Although the sun had been up for more than an hour, it would still be at least three more before they landed in Tahiti. Fortunately, their monotony was broken by the arrival of breakfast. The coach section was only one third full and the attendant looked as is she was ready to adopt the pair. "Will you be doing any diving?" She asked.
"We hope to." Anne said.
"I'm from Papeete and I'll have a few days layover. Perhaps we'll meet up."
Anne could have figured that out just from the young woman's appearance and voice. She was clearly Polynesian, and her speech detected a French influence. It was Anne's business to figure things out. She and Drea were detectives from the Mac Clarey and Associates agency out of Los Angeles, and a case loomed.
"I wonder what continent considers a sweet roll and coffee breakfast." Drea whispered as she started on her "Continental breakfast". The two sleuths rarely skimped on meals. Job demand and the love of vigorous outdoor activity needed plenty of fuel to keep them going, and their exercise regimen gave each one a healthy, athletic appearance. Both wore white silk blouses and short skirts that different only in shade of color. Their hair was done in ponytails, though Drea was blonde and Anne brunette.
As she ate, Anne pondered the case. Unlike previous cases, she and Drea would not have their boss, who was also Anne's uncle to back them up. The long distance involved, plus the fact Jack was required to testify in court ruled that out. Anne remembered the Mayan treasure case from six months earlier, and how it nearly ended it as a complete disaster. True, they had been helped by a member of the Mexican national police and Jack's arrival basically helped to catch the crooks rather than rescue the young sleuths, but there were any number of things that could go wrong.
The woman sat in the airport waiting room and waited as the flight from Los Angeles arrived and the passengers disembarked. There were two passengers who demanded her attention, then got it. Two young women, in white silk blouses and short gray skirts, wearing low-heeled shoes and with their hair in ponytails walked through the terminal. As she had been told, the blonde was somewhat taller than the brunette. These were indeed the women she was looking she had been told about.
Drea and Anne went to baggage claim, then started to look around. Their ground transportation had been arranged, but they were not sure If they had to pick up a rental car or not. While they pondered what they were to do, a Polynesian woman approached. If the flight attendant was pretty, this one was downright striking. She had flawless skin and her silky black hair was had obviously been brushed out and reached down to mid-back. Her clothes were of French style; a white miniskirt and matching jacket over some red garment, probably a camisole or some other sleeveless garment. Pearl earrings and a pearl necklace surrounded her face, a white purse dangled snug against her right hip and three inch heels gave the illusion of being lightly taller than the two detectives. She addresses the two newcomers in French but all Drea understood was "Mademoiselle Rodgers et Mademoiselle Thorne?"
"Oui." Anne replied.
The woman switched to English. "Welcome to Tahiti!" she said, then kissed each one on both cheeks. "I am Hieata Terieroo."
"Andrea Rodgers," Drea said as she extended her hand. "Please call me Drea. She's Anne Thorne."
"Yes, Mister Mac Clarey sent pictures by e-mail. They do you no justice."
"We'll need to pick up our luggage." Anne said.
"I could get Taureau to help." Hieata said.
Anne was confused, as she understood "taureau" to mean "bull" in French. She whispered this fact to Drea, while Hieata motioned to somebody sitting on a bench. A man wearing a white chauffeur's uniform stood and approached the woman. As he approached, it became obvious that Taureau was a nickname. The man was well over six feet tall, with broad, muscular shoulders. "Who ever stuck that name on him wasn't kidding." Drea whispered.
"He is what we call a Demi." Hieata said, "That is, someone who has both French and Tahitian ancestors."
Taureau took the two largest pieces of luggage and lifted them with ease. Hieata let the group out of the terminal and toward a parking space. After the visitors' luggage was stowed in the trunk of the car, they piled into the car on their way to meet their client.
"Do you work for Monsieur Colbert?" Anne asked.
"I believe you would say "not exactly"." Hieata answered. "He adopted me when I was three years old, after my parents died in a storm. His idea was to adopt a Tahitian boy and girl so they would have better chance at life. My adopted brother is currently studying medicine at the Sorbonne. I hope to run the business one day, but for now, I do the occasional modeling job."
"Did you go to college?"
"The University of Hawaii. I believe it would be easier to tell people you are friends of mine from the time I was there."
"No problem with that." Drea said. "Anne and I have both been there, for business as well as pleasure."
"I suppose you would like to have eat and relax before you have to get on with things."
"I could use something to eat." Drea said, recalling the skimpy breakfast on the plane.
"A little food wouldn't hurt me a bit." Anne said. "Flying always takes something out of me, even when I have a chance to sleep on the plane."
Presently, Taureau pulled into a large house that was in some sort of French style. Degrees in law and criminology seldom require architectural courses, so neither Anne nor Drea knew exactly what the style was. Verandas were abundant, as well as large, airy rooms.
After lunch, Drea and Anne relaxed until Monsieur Colbert returned. He was about fifty, with his hair thinning rather than graying. His manner exuded a sophisticated charm even when he got to business. In a meeting where Hieata was not present, he noted than while there had been a series of jewel thefts and robberies lately, his concern of his enterprise being a target was overshadowed by a more personal one. "I believe that Hieata may be the target of a kidnapping."
"Have you received threats to this regard?" Drea asked.
"No, but I have seen strange vehicles parked nearby. Also many of my employees report people following Hieata."
"Has she herself voiced any concerns?" Anne asked.
"I am afraid not, Mademoiselle Thorne." Colbert replied "I do worry about her. I urge you to stay close to her."
"We'll do as much as we can." Anne promised.
That evening, Drea and Anne were guests of honor at the Tahitian version of a luau. After the eating was finished, Hieata took her two new friends around to the various knots of people that had gathered. Eventually, the two sleuths found themselves by themselves and on the fringes of the party. All the while, they scanned for potential problems. Drea's gaze fell on somebody lurking along a path leading away from the Colbert home. Her back was to Anne, who likewise had her back toward Drea. As a result, Drea missed by about a second or two Hieata beckoning Anne to meet yet another group of friends or neighbors. Drea softly said "Let's check this out" without turning toward Anne. Therefore, the two detectives set off in opposite directions.
Whoever Drea set out after proved hard to catch. Drea stopped and looked around. Only then did she realize Anne was not with her. Before Drea could take another step, something hit the back of her head and she collapsed to the ground.
Drea came to and found herself upright. There was a throbbing in her head and something rough and firm behind her, which turned out to be a tree trunk. She tried to clear her head and figure out why she had been knocked out, gagged, and tied to a tree.