Unmarked Carr (part 5)
"Hello? Austin?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Hey, Rolo! Long time no hear!"
"Are you OK? You sound a bit odd."
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"I'm fine, baby. Perfect. Couldn't be better. Since I took that potion of yours, I've got my mojo back. And how! I'm ready to rock and roll!"
"Um, yes. Well, er, OK. You know how you always said you thought you'd make a great secret agent?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Yeah! If only someone would give me the chance."
"That's exactly what I'm doing. I have a mission for you."
"…Should I choose to accept it? Um, my phone's not going to self-destruct after the call, is it?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"… No."
Is he really OK? [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Anyway, there's someone I need investigating.
Quietly, Austin. He's probably innocent but just might be mixed up in a case I've been working on."
"Who is it? Someone around here?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"No. He's in Isla Paradiso. Why are you whispering?"
"Walls have ears and all that. I thought this was secret."
"Austin, you need to act normally."
Well, normally for you. "Whispering just draws people's attention."
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
RR was beginning to think he might have made a mistake in his choice of operative.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Relax, baby. Austin Carr is on the case. Mercedes has been talking about wanting a holiday. I'll take her to Isla Paradiso. Sun, sea, sand, plenty of w-, uh, fun." Austin had remembered just in time who he was talking to. "So who is this guy you want me to keep an eye on?"
"Baby doll, you know you said you fancied a foreign holiday? How would Isla Paradiso grab you?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"A tropical paradise? Sounds good, but… Austin, you're up to something. What is it?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Can you keep a secret?
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Young RR – you know, our however-many-greats-it-is grandson – wants someone – an extra-secret agent – to keep an eye on a suspicious character there. And that someone's me!"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Oh, Austin. Just what you always wanted!"
"Yeah, baby!"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Austin and Mercedes bought the Modern Marvel, in a valley on the fashionable western side of the main island of Isla Paradiso. The architecture was almost too self-consciously modern. Minnie would have been proud

.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
While Mercedes looked around the town, Austin toured the ports and beaches – and made sure to run into Akoni Kahale.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"Listen, we're having a housewarming party tomorrow evening. Why don't you come?"
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
The party was a great success, especially as far as Austin was concerned: Mercedes could hardly keep her hands off him

.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Akoni turned up as the evening was really getting going – but then turned around almost immediately and walked back down the steps, booing.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Then he ran off and took a taxi back home.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Definitely something odd about that one. OK, Rosemarie Collins going into labour wasn't exactly your conventional party entertainment but most of the guests limited themselves to panic attacks between drinks and dances, until someone had the presence of mind to drive her to hospital. No-one else felt it necessary to go off in a huff. Austin resolved to investigate further… once the party was over, of course.