I looked across at Leonie. She just shook her head. There were tears in her eyes.
Maybe I was too soft for this job, but I had no wish to make them suffer anymore than they had to. Finally I said, “I have just one question to ask you both. Why?”
They turned in their seats to face each other. Not a word was said, Finally they sat up in their chairs and raised their eyes to look at me. Heino was the first to speak. “We know that it is no excuse but we were coerced.”
“Who by?”
“The Comancheros.”
“When did it start?”
“Three years ago.”
I blinked in surprise. Both Lex Robertson and Heino Pops had been employed by Gibson Construction for a number of years. During that time they had worked together on a number of major construction projects. They had been highly thought of and were known to be good reliable employees. It was a shock to realise the extent of their double life. I did not want to continue inflicting pain but I wanted to know more. “Where did it start?”
“During the coal washery project at Oakey Creek.”
I was suddenly curious so I asked, “Did that include the Mount Godwin project? You were both there.”
“No. When you booted John Hall off the site there was no one left to put pressure on us.”
“In total, how much has been involved?”
Heino didn’t hesitate. “About $2.5 million.”
“Who received it?”
“The Comancheros. We were paid ten percent. We still have every cent of what we have received in the bank. Untouched. Almost $250,000. We talked about returning it anonymously but realised that if we did that the Comancheros would find out.”
“Tell me about the signatures on the documents. How was that done?”
“The Comancheros have a program that can take a scanned signature and a special printer to reproduce it on a document.” Heino paused and glanced at Lex before continuing. “I provided a scanned image of all our signatures to them and they would print them onto the documents before they returned them to me to slip into the system.”
I sat looking at him for a few moments before shaking my head. “No, Heino. You were doing so well until then. You really do need to tell me the absolute truth.”
Lex Robertson spoke for the first time when she said, “It was just as Heino said, Only it was me not him. He’s just trying to protect me.” She turned and looked at Heino before adding. “It’s been killing him inside. Having to lie to you. He knew that you trusted him and he hated letting you down. I don’t think that either of us could have kept doing what the Comancheros ordered us to. Their threats are real but I am glad that is now over. Heino is too.”
I needed a break to think about these unfolding revelations. Rising from my chair I stood up and stretched. “Who would like a coffee? I think that we all need to have a break for a few minutes. What do you say to black coffees all round?” I glanced at each of them in turn. No one said no, so I picked up the phone and asked for four coffees to be brought in. Nobody spoke until after the coffees had been delivered and were being sipped in silence. We were all lost in our thoughts. At one stage Heino put down his coffee and looked like he was going to speak but I held up my hand and shook my head. “No, not yet. I have a few thoughts that I’d like to share with you. But I need a few minutes.” The reality was that it was Heino and Lex that needed the time to let events sink in. They had had no real chance to consider their situation and Lex had looked to be on the edge of an emotional breakdown. I don’t know whether it was the coffee or the few minutes to think things through but they both looked to be a lot calmer.
Finally I finished my coffee and put my cup down. I had reached a decision. “Well, as I see it, the best way to get an optimum result for all of us in this matter is for you both to become fully cooperative whistle blowers. You have not been accused of anything yet but obviously that is only a matter of time. However, if you both come to me with written confessions plus full details of what was done, who was involved and what you know of the money trail then I will help you all that I can. With that information in my hands I would contact the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission and do my best to negotiate a spot for you both in a witness protection scheme.”
Lex was the first one to respond. “That would be wonderful. We know that we can’t escape punishment but we want to testify against the Comancheros. We will do what you suggest.”
I glanced at Heino and raised an eyebrow. “Does that go for you too?”
He responded immediately. “Yes. Willingly. How do you want us to go about it?”
“Leonie and I will leave you both here in my office for a couple of hours. It’s now one thirty. We will return at three thirty to hear what you have to say. In the meantime, Leonie will bring you any writing materials or laptops that you want.”
As Leonie and I left the room I said to her. “It’s a bit late but I hope that this whistleblower approach is okay with you.”
She smiled and patted my arm. “It sure is.”
***
When I entered my office at three thirty Leonie Wran was already there. Lex Robertson and Leonie were standing together looking out the window overlooking the main construction site. As soon as they saw me they returned to the same seats that they had occupied earlier. Heino was already seated reading through some papers. Both Lex and Heino looked much more relaxed than they had earlier.
As soon as I was also seated I started the conversation. “So. How far have you got? Have you had second thoughts about a full confession and acting as whistleblowers?”
Lex responded immediately. “No. We want to do our best to make retribution. But before we go any further, I want to say that Heino and I appreciate the opportunity that you have given us to come forward voluntarily. We know that doing what you have suggested will give us our best shot at a minimum punishment. We trust you. We know that if you say that you will do something that you will do your best to carry it out.”
She paused and Heino continued the response to my questions. “We have both written out full confessions. We would like you to read them through before we sign them in your presence. Leonie brought us our laptops and gave us access to the internet. We have downloaded a list of all the payments that we have received together with a copy of the bank account statement. I have also listed the names of the Comancheros that are known to us and their involvement. Also I had kept a diary of events, on my laptop, almost from the start. It is really just a jumble of disjointed notes but I have printed out a copy of that as well. They are all there on your desk in front of you.”
I glanced down at the papers that he had indicated and picked them up. After briefly flicking through them I looked at Leonie and asked, “Have you read any of this yet?”
She shook her head. “No. I only got here a moment or two ago.”
Looking back at the others I said, “Leonie and I need a few minutes to read through all this. Why don’t you go and have a break. Take a walk. Have a coffee or something, but be back here at four o’clock.”
***
As soon as they had left I said to Leonie. “Would you mind getting a couple of photocopies of all this stuff. That will give us both a chance to read it through and make margin notes when we feel so inclined.”
A few minutes later we were both engaged reading the sad but revealing story of two decent people coerced into criminal activity. Heino had connected each corrupt payment to a specific project. The information he had provided included the date and details of how they received their instructions. And how they had been threatened.
It seemed that the Comancheros had mastered every trick in the fraudster’s handbook. Non-existing workers, ‘ghosts’, had been included in payrolls. Payments had been made to a dummy company owned by the Comancheros for non-delivered materials and services. They even had their dummy companies added to the list of approved suppliers so that payments to them would not be challenged. In two cases, legitimate suppliers had
been coerced into padding their claims and handing the extra income to the Comancheros.
It was not just a story about Heino and Lex. It was an insight into corrupt practices in the construction industry. What Heino and Lex had witnessed was just a small part of what had to be a very large problem.
I had completed reading the documents and was pondering how to best bring this matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities when Leonie asked, “Well Adam, what do you think about all this?”
“Tragic. But somehow uplifting. I think that they should include a bit more detail about how they were coerced and the threats that were made. The attachments are excellent. It is clear from the records kept by Heino that they intended to blow the whistle sooner or later.”
Leonie nodded. “Yes. I agree. Tell me, when and how will you report it?”
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully before saying. “I’m not sure. How would you feel about Lex Robertson continuing to work with you for a week or two? At least until I report it, possibly longer.”
“No problem. I still feel that she can be trusted. I’d have no problem with her staying on.”
“Okay. That gives us a little leeway. A bit more space to manoeuvre.”
I had barely finished speaking when there was a knock on my door and Lex Robertson and Heino Pops entered my office. I smiled and pointed at their previously occupied chairs. “Please take a seat.”
Pointing at the original copies of their documents that were now on their side of the desk I said, “I think that what you have provided could get you the best possible outcome. However, you may want to add a little detail about the coercion. My initial thought is that you could have given more detail of the threats and how they affected you personally and individually. This is your best shot of getting leniency. I am no lawyer but I believe that you need to strengthen your case that you were compelled against your will to act corruptly.”
The two of them exchanged glances before Heino said, “Initially we had included more about the threats and our fears but deleted it when we decided that it sounded too much like we were trying to escape all personal responsibility. But we can easily add it back.”
Lex leaned forward and said, “We will add it back.”
“Okay. Why don’t you do that now. As soon as it is done then print it out on my printer. You can then sign and date each confession.” Then as an afterthought I added. “Just to make certain that the lawyers will be happy, you should initial and date each page.”
Leonie and I then left for her office where we could discuss what I had in mind before I again spoke to the other two.
***
Ten minutes later we were all seated back in my office. They were all looking at me expectantly so I said, “I have a plan. A plan that I hope will work. But first, I’ll tell you what I am not going to do. I am not going to report this matter up the chain of command in Gibson Construction. If I do you can be sure that it will spread like wildfire through the company, and beyond. I believe that there are a number of self-servers in the higher ranks of Gibson Construction who might see this as an opportunity to score some brownie points by putting the boot in.” I paused and shook my head before continuing, “No I will not go up the chain of command. I will go straight to the top. Directly to Ewan Ryan, the CEO. I have only met him on a couple of brief occasions so I have to warn you that I don’t know how he’ll react. He likes to be in control and call the shots. He might be outraged and seek immediate police action. On the other hand he might go along with my plan.” I paused again and looked at the three of them before continuing. I wanted Lex and Heino to have time to fully absorb what I was saying. “My plan sounds a little ambitious, even to me, but I’ll attempt to make an appointment with Ewan Ryan without disclosing the details of our problem. I’ll also ask him to make an appointment for us both to meet with the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission which is currently sitting in Brisbane. That appointment to be as soon as possible after I meet with him. The same day would be ideal but probably not achievable.”
When I paused Heino had a question. “What will you say to the Commission?”
“I’ll provide them with your confessions that will have been redacted. That is, your identities will have been blanked out. Most of your other stuff will also be provided to the Commission after being suitably redacted. Hopefully that will enable me to engage them in a conversation covering witness protection in the event that you surrender to them voluntarily. I could also offer them your cooperation to continue working here in an effort for them to snaffle the Comancheros in the act so to speak. Of course, both of you would have to agree to go along with that before I would put it forward. Also I would have to convince Ewan Ryan to go along with it as well. So, do you agree that I proceed as I have outlined?”
They both nodded slowly. After a few moments Lex asked, “Does that mean that you and Leonie would let us continue working here?”
I looked pointedly at Leonie who said, “Yes. I’m sure that I can rely on you.”
Heino then asked, “So, Boss, you’d give me a second chance too?”
I nodded. “Sure. I have great sympathy for you both. Some will argue that you should have resisted and gone to the authorities. But no one really knows how they would react if they find themselves in the same situation as you were. But there will be no third chances. I’d throw you to the wolves.”
“I understand. Thanks. You can rely on us completely.”
“Good! Now what about the plan?” I looked all three, one by one. “Leonie? You first I think.”
Leonie responded, “I agree. Murphy’s law says that it won’t work out exactly as you hope but I know that you can think on your feet. Anyway, it’s your show. You’re the boss. I’ll back you whatever you come up with.”
I grinned. “Thanks Leonie.”
Lex nodded. “It’s a lot to take in all at once. But I trust you to know what is the best course of action.” She paused and glanced at Heino who nodded. She then continued. “We both do.”
“Okay. That is agreed. I’ll keep you all informed of progress. Until then it is business as usual for both of you.” Then I stopped and grinned wryly. “Well perhaps not as has been usual in the past. But you must document any contact by the Comancheros and inform me immediately. Understood?”
They both nodded.
***
It was four thirty when I placed a call to Ewan Ryan. At first his personal assistant was reluctant to put my call through. Eventually, however, she was persuaded when I said that Mister Ryan would be a little miffed if he didn’t get my call.
Moments later a voice boomed in my ear. “Adam Cartwright, I’m told you said I’d be miffed if I missed your call? I hope for your sake that you can justify that claim.”
I gave a short laugh to indicate that I wasn’t overawed talking to the big boss and said, “I have no doubt that you will agree when you hear what I have to say…”
Before I could continue he bellowed. “Hey, wait a minute! I know who you are. You are that smart alec kid that we appointed to run the Red Rock project site. You shouldn’t be contacting me direct. I don’t have time to deal with every little issue. Go talk to the Project Manager. He will take it up the line of command. Do you think that I have time to talk to everyone who thinks that they need to talk to the boss? Go through the right channels. Do what you are paid to do. Use your initiative for Pete’s sake.”
His attitude really annoyed me so I responded a little intemperately. “I would not have called you unless I considered it to be necessary. If you had spent a little less time shouting then I would have already explained the problem. Okay. I accept that you are too busy. I’ll use my initiative and call the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission instead. Perhaps they will be a little more responsive. Good day.”
Without waiting for a response I terminated the call.
A few minutes later my phone rang. It was Ewan Ryan’s personal assistant on the line. “Mister Ryan would like to talk t
o you…”
I was still angry at his dismissive attitude, and his attempt to browbeat me, and responded, “I’m sorry. I can’t take his call right now. Please tell him that I’ll call him back as soon as I can.”
As I terminated the call I wondered if I had gone too far. But I was not going to be shouted at like that. I wouldn’t treat others with such disrespect and I certainly wasn’t going to accept it from anyone else. No matter whom he was.
A few minutes later the phone rang again. It was Ewan Ryan’s personal assistant. “Mister Ryan apologises for his outburst. Could you give him an indication as to when he could talk to you?”
I guess that my bruised ego had recovered somewhat as I found myself responding. “I’m available right now. If it’s not convenient for Mister Ryan I can call back at any time that he wishes to nominate.”
There was a silence for moment before she spoke again. “I’m putting you through now.”
Moments later Ewan Ryan spoke. “Adam, I apologise for my earlier outburst. You got me at a bad moment. You said that you had a problem that you needed to bring to my attention. Well, you got my attention with your mention of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. Is it to do with the Red Rock project?”
“Yes and no. Yes, it does affect Red Rock. But no, it also affects a number of other of Gibson’s recent projects. I have uncovered an endemic system of fraud that has affected at least six of your construction projects over the last three years.”
There was silence for a few moments before he spoke. “How much is involved?”
“Two and a half million dollars.”
“Christ! Do you know who is responsible and how it was carried out?”
“Yes. I have written confessions from two of Gibson’s employees who have been coerced by the Comanchero bikie gang to carry out their instructions.”
“Who are the two employees?”
“Sorry. I’ll only provide that information in a face to face meeting.”
Smoking Gun (Adam Cartwright Trilogy Book 1) Page 11
