The Olympics were in full swing all the hotels were full; there ware a thousand parties every night. But more importantly the Central American nation of Bongarda was on every news channel the world over. The country had borrowed heavily to build stadiums and pay for hosting the event but it looked like it was paying off. Five major hotel chains voiced plans to build hotel’s there and the after years of economic problems things were looking up for the small country.
There was an excitement in the air not just from the drunken tourist ploughing money into the bars but from every Bongardan citizen. The future never looked brighter. Street parties peacefully went on into the early hours with people from all corners of the world enjoying each other’s company. Latin American’s were famous for their celebrations and this was the continents biggest party.
The events were playing out as planned with no major issues. Despite the media predicting one serious incident after another, nothing went wrong.
It was a Tuesday and the last guests were leaving the large indoor pool complex. The swimming events had finished for the day but some hung around to take pictures. All the athletes were heading back to their accommodation to call loved ones, give interviews or just plain get some sleep. But for Laura it was a special night. She had been awarded gold in the 400 meter freestyle, she had worked so hard for it and still could not believe she had one it. Despite three of her better competitors being disqualified due to false starts and one two drugs she still said she’d won with a straight face.
Laura had shoulder length blond hair with large blue eyes. She was 5’6 with an athletic swimmers body. She liked how her curves made sure there were plenty of pictures taken of her although publicly she would never admit that. She had grown up with money and no expense was spared with her training. She knew some people found her attitude snobby or never condescending but didn’t care.
She had become friends with some other female swimmers although they tried to avoid Laura. They did not like her spoiled nature or how she looked down on the host country. But as they were the only women who spoke English in their section they let that slide and socialised with her.
After spending half an hour calling home from her room Laura walked out into the shared lounge area. Sat around a table playing card were Hannah, Claire and Gemma. Laura walked up to them “Hey guys any of you want to go out and party? Apparently some of the nightclubs are pretty good so I suppose that means this country is good for something”
Gemma responded “I’m not sure it’s been a long day”
Not wanting to take no for an answer Laura said “O come on you have flown around the world and the biggest party on Earth is happening a few miles away and you’re just going to stay home?
Hannah put her cards down and leaned back into her chair “You know what, I will come. What’s the worst that will happen?”
Smiling Laura said “Great what about you two? Hey if you get tired just catch a cab home”
The other two nodded.
Laura said “So we’re all going then. I’m going to take my medal to flash it and see how many free drinks I can get. I might even flash something else if the guys are hot enough. We’ll have to find a bar where there aren’t too many locals because those people don’t look like they shower, like ever”
The four women got ready wearing clothes they had brought with them. Nearly an hour past until they were all made up and ready for the cab. Laura wore a short skirt with a tight top showing off her toned stomach. She had her medal in her hand bag as she said she would and topped her outfit off with a pair of black louboutin shoes.
In the taxi with the other three she said to the taxi driver “Take us somewhere good. Were Olympians and we don’t want to go where there are too many local people”
Hannah shook her head “You can’t keep putting the locals down it’s not right now you talk about them”
Without much care or acknowledging she had offended Hannah and everyone else Laura said “O relax they don’t mind. There just grateful we have come here. I suppose serving us drinks is better than farming dirt or whatever it is these people do?”
Hannah gave up knowing she wasn’t going to get through to her. The other girls didn’t bother saying anything either. They all sat quietly as the driver took them through the streets. None of them wanted to talk to Laura.
At the club Hannah, Claire and Gemma at the bar with a drink each while Laura went to the dance floor. True to her word she flashed her medal to get free drinks. But the three girls were all more repulsed by her flashing her breasts to get drinks. When they saw her remove her underwear and give it to a guy in exchange for a vodka they gave up on her.
About 02:00 AM Hannah, Claire and Gemma wanted to go home. They offered Laura a ride but Laura insisted the party was not over yet.
Sick of her attitude they left the club and returned to the Olympic village. Laura arrived much later.
The next day 11:23 AM
Hannah, Claire and Gemma woke up around 08:00 and made breakfast for themselves. They knew Laura made it home but reckoned she had one hell of a hangover so left her to recover. They were all sitting on the sofa watching a film when Laura emerged. She was still wearing smeared makeup from last night and her hair was all over the place.
Claire said with some concern “Are you ok Laura?”
Laura nodded “Yeah I just need a shower”
She walked swaying a little to the bathroom and washed off the previous night. A time later she walked out looking better with a towel rapped around her. With a little more coordination she walked back to her room.
Ten minutes late she came back out dress in a pair of blue jeans and white top. She then gasped and proclaimed “I was robbed!”
The others turned around “What was that Laura?”
“I was robbed. Last night one of those locals stole my bag with my medal”
Hannah said “Are you sure, you were pretty drunk”
Laura shook her head “Na I was pretty sober but I was robbed. I’m going to tell the media crew outside”
She walked out stomping her feet as she went. The other three were not at all convinced and decided they would not get involved.
30 minutes later Hannah’s phone rang, Hannah answered “Hi Mom”
“O hello Hannah I thought I would just give you a call to see if you are alright. I heard on the news your friend Laura Manning was robbed at gun point”
Hannah was shocked “What! Who told you that?”
“It’s all over the news dear”
“It’s ok Mom I’m fine but I’ll have to call you back”
Hannah hung up and changed the TV to a news channel and there was Laura explaining how as she left the club she was robbed by two local men with a gun. After Laura the focus moved to a man in a police uniform who spoke in front of several microphones. “I’m sorry to hear about Laura manning’s ordeal but we cannot act until she reports the crime to us. I not sure why she has not done so already”
The three girls had an uneasy feeling about this and all agreed to stay out of it. Meanwhile Laura went to the police station to report the crime. The station had polished stone floors with wood clad walls, dotted across the ceiling were fans turning slowly.
Stat at a desk she told an officer how she left the club relatively sober then walked to a taxi pickup zone and on her way two men, who were locals pointed a gun at her then stole her bag to get the medal.
After giving her statement the officer assured her it was the stations top priority. Now feeling hungry she went to a local coffee shop to get coffee and some food. Wearing large sun glasses to hide her face she sat sipping her coffee finding her attentions drawn to the TV screen. For the fifth time she saw the video of herself talking to reporters and thought This is going to make me famous.
The next story described how all the planes leaving Bongarda were booked as people were leaving the country for fear of being robbed. The news anchor went on to talk about how parties were cancelled and the country will lose money as a result of the “Medal theft” as they were calling it.
Laura didn’t care about that last part she just thought about how hot she looked talking to the reporter. As she finished her coffee her phone rang. Thinking it could be a reporter she put on her best voice.
“Hi this is Laura”
“Hello Laura I’m detective Targa and I am in change of your case. We have some new information so would you mind coming back to the station?”
“No I can be there in 10 minutes” She said before hanging up.
Soon after as Laura walked through the door of the station and was greeted by an officer. The man put out his hand “Hello Laura I’m Detective Targa could you come this way please. I would rather discuss this privately”
The detective was about 30 years old with black hair and medium build. He was wearing a navy blue shirt rolled up to the elbows and smart pants. He took Laura over to a door then escorted her though. They walked down a long corridor to what appeared to be a quieter end of the building. They past a few other officers that looked at Laura strangely but she was still preoccupied with how her interview with the press went.
Then Laura was shown though another door and down some stairs. She felt apprehensive but went anyway. It felt like she had dropped three stories before they went through a locked Iron bar gate and were stood before a door.
Detective Targa used a key to open the lock on the door then turned around. “Now then Laura is there anything you would like to change in your witness statement?”
She shook her head “No I was robbed by locals!” she proclaimed.
Targa nodded in acceptance “That’s ok, just checking”