by Peter Ralph
“But why would he want to hurt Jack?”
“Is there anything more painful than watching a loved one suffer?” Muller sighed. “He knows he can hurt you far more through your children than he can by directly attacking you.”
“Bastard!”
“If Raj comes down, you should tell him to be on his guard, because if I’m right, Aspine will be expecting him and who knows what he might have planned.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t ask him.”
“Don’t be silly, Mum.” Sam interrupted. “Uncle Raj knows how to look after himself, and think of how good he’ll be for Jack.”
Douglas Aspine poured himself a Jack Daniels, threw his legs up on the sofa and grinned. He had followed the ambulance to the drug rehabilitation clinic and watched Jack get admitted from the safety of the street. Photos of Jack and a video of him getting strapped to a stretcher were already doing the rounds on YouTube. Life was great. If I’m lucky, the little prick will be permanently addicted, and his bitch of a mother will suffer for the rest of her life knowing that her frame-up was the cause. There was only one to go; the bitch’s brother, Singapore billionaire, Raj George.
Chin answered his phone on the second ring with a terse hello.
“Chin, it’s me.”
“Who is this?”
“It’s your old flatmate from Australia. Surely you haven’t forgotten me?”
“I’m not sure I know who you are. I don’t recognise your voice.”
“That’s testimony to Sonchai’s skills. He’s a very fine craftsman.”
There was a long pause. “Chin, are you still there?”
“Sure, I was just thinking. Tell me, when we shared that flat, what did I call you?”
“Old man,” Aspine replied. “I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.”
“And where did our mutual friend travel to?”
“Brazil.”
“Ah, it is you. I presume you’re phoning because it’s time to activate our contract?”
“Yes. Are you in Singapore?”
“No, I’m not stupid.” Chin laughed. “I’ll never foot there again, but that doesn’t mean I’m not in control.”
“I’m transferring the money tonight. Is it the same account as last time?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll have your fee in the morning. Do you envisage any problems?”
“There will be no problems. Our target has many servants and two of them are on my payroll.”
Chapter 40
BILL MULLER STARED AT the pics of Anneka he’d downloaded to his laptop and it was easy to see why Jack Bartlett had been seduced by her. She was a stunning young woman. When he had phoned her number, he got the message that he’d expected, this number is no longer in service. He was sure she had used a prepaid mobile, and his contacts on the force had been quick to confirm this. At his request they had also provided him with an alphabetical list of escort agencies that Jack McHugh controlled in Australia. There were more than twenty. Muller marvelled at the size of McHugh’s empire. He was a one finger typist and he slowly Googled his way down the list on his desktop checking the pictures of the girls with Anneka’s. There were only three agencies left when he reached T and he was starting to think that he might be wrong when he hit pay dirt. The girls at The Executive Suite were young, beautiful and pricey and the most expensive item on the flesh menu was Candy, aka Anneka Nordstrom.
The events of the night and admitting poor Jack to the drug rehabilitation clinic had weighed heavily on Jasmine and pushed her to the edge. She was stressed and fearful knowing how the hate in Douglas Aspine must have festered over the years, but never thinking that he’d get out and seek revenge by hurting her kids.
What an evil bastard. I thought he’d be an old man when he got of Changi but he’s back. Worse, what’s he going to do next?
It was midnight when Jasmine phoned Raj but 9 A.M. in Singapore. He had already been at his office for three hours when he picked up the line reserved for VIPs. He listened in silence as Jasmine sobbed her way through telling him what had happened with Jack and that the former detective, Bill Muller, thought Douglas Aspine was behind it. Raj didn’t tell her that he had feared for her after Aspine had escaped and that he had had a security company watching her. Now he cursed his own stupidity.
Why didn’t I have the kids watched? Hurting them was just the type of revenge that the slimy, characterless Douglas Aspine would dream up.
“Raj, can you come down? I don’t know how long we can keep Jack in the drug rehabilitation clinic. He’ll listen to you. Please say yes.”
“I have a function to attend with the Minister for Trade tomorrow night, and it will be seen as an insult if try to back out at this late stage. I can be on an early flight on Wednesday morning that will be put me in Melbourne in the evening.”
There was a long pause. “Jasmine, are you still there?”
“Why are you taking a commercial flight? And why can’t you fly out as soon as the function is over? I was hoping that you might be able leave straight away. It will be three days before you’re here, and Jack might have checked out of the clinic by then. I hate putting pressure on you, but I’m worried sick.” Jasmine sniffled.
“I wasn’t anticipating using the jet in the next week so I lent it to a colleague who’s now in Switzerland. I understand your concern, my little sister, but you must stay strong. If the function finishes early I’ll be on the midnight flight. Try and hold up. It’s the best I can do.”
“I’ll meet you at the airport, Raj. Bill Muller told me that I should warn you to be careful because Douglas Aspine will be anticipating your arrival, and may have something planned.”
Raj smiled grimly. He knew what a snake Aspine was and had little doubt that something nasty lay in store for him in Melbourne. I wonder whether he’ll try to kill me. “Thanks, but I’ll organize a limo from the airport, and don’t worry about me, I can look after myself. Besides the former detective is only speculating and he may well be wrong. With luck, I’ll see you around midday on Wednesday.”
“You’re just saying that to reassure me. It’s him, all right. I love you, Raj. Please be careful.”
Mary Denton had become a recluse. She never left the house not even venturing into the garden for fear that she might run across a neighbour. The guest room in the house was fully self-contained and she moved into it, leaving Harry to look after himself. He did all the shopping always ensuring he bought enough groceries and fruit and vegetables to keep Mary going as well. The mood in the house was tense, but it was thawing, and one night Mary finally came out of her self-imposed exile to watch the news and a quiz show with Harry. They talked, only small talk and nothing significant but it was breaking the ice. Harry was grateful. The money in the freezer was still gnawing at him, and he was dying to ask her about it, but decided to wait for a more opportune time. By the end of the week they had watched four nights television together and the atmosphere was decidedly warmer.
“Darling,” Harry said, “I have to ask you something. Where did you get the cash you put in the freezer?”
“What? What are you talking about?” Mary responded defensively. “I don’t know anything about any cash.”
“There’s eight thousand in the freezer. Come out to the kitchen, and I’ll show you.”
Harry opened the freezer and rummaged around the back before removing a frozen wad of hundred dollar bills. “Now do you recall putting it there?”
“I’ve never seen that money before, and I’d never hide anything in the freezer, let alone cash. I’d don’t know how it got there.” Mary paused. “That is unless you planted it.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re determined to have me committed. I’m an embarrassment so you want to get me out of the way. Go on, admit it, Harry.”
“I love you, Mary, and that is the last thing I would want. I didn’t hide that cash. Think, what use
would I have for it?”
“I can ask you the same question.”
Harry looked at his feet not sure whether he should say anything, but if he didn’t, he’d never know. “It’s the exact balance that would’ve been owed on the driveway had the contractors finished it. The boss said that you gave him two thousand in an envelope when you signed the order, and when he put it in his pocket it nearly froze his leg off.”
“I never signed any order and I never gave him two thousand! He’s a liar, Harry. A liar. Why don’t you believe me?” Mary screamed.
“Are you sure you didn’t forget? I didn’t put the cash in the freezer so how did it get there?”
“Someone’s trying to hurt us, Harry.” Mary sobbed. “Can’t you see that?”
“What, and they broke into our house and planted a wad of cash in our freezer? Hardly likely,” Harry said.
“Go ahead then. Make the arrangements to have me committed to a nursing home. That’s what you’ve wanted all along,” Mary screamed, storming out of the kitchen.
Harry hung his head in his hands. What am I going to do?
Chapter 41
SQ237 TOUCHED DOWN AT 10.20 A.M. and as expected, Raj George was escorted from his first class cubicle to Tullamarine’s VIP waiting room. It was nothing new, and he had been there many times before albeit for only the few minutes it took to clear customs. What was new was the increase in the number of officials, and the beagle and its handler.
One of the customs officials greeted him warmly. “Welcome to Melbourne, sir. Do you have anything to declare?”
“No, nothing,” Raj said, surprised to see the beagle straining against its leash.
“Did you pack your suitcase?”
“Yes,” Raj replied, which wasn’t true because his valet had packed it, but he just didn’t have time to go into lengthy explanations.
“Please open your suitcase, sir.”
In countless trips to Australia, Raj had never had to open his suitcase before. “Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing, sir. It’s just routine.”
As Raj flicked his suitcase open, the beagle nearly tore its handler’s arm socket out trying to get to it. Oh no! No! I know what that dog’s going to find. “I didn’t pack my suitcase. My valet did.”
“Are you concerned about what the dog might find? If so, it would be better to come clean now and save us all a lot of time.’
“No, no, you don’t understand.”
Raj’s clothes were spread out on the bench in front of him and the beagle strained to get to a navy blue pinstripe suit coat. One of the customs officials held it up. It was obviously hand tailored and the lining seemed to blend seamlessly with the fabric. “We’re just going to x-ray your suit coat, sir.” The customs official said, handing it to an assistant.
“It’s a frame-up,” Raj said. “Can’t you see that? I’m a billionaire! Why would I want to smuggle anything?”
“Are you confessing, sir? Do you want to tell us what’s hidden in the lining?”
“No, no, you fool. I haven’t hidden anything.”
“That’s not true,” the assistant said, holding up the suit coat with the stitching in the lining unpicked, to reveal a thin fabric bag. “There’s over a hundred grams of heroin in there.”
“It was planted,” Raj shouted. “Can’t you fools see that?”
Two burly plain clothed policeman took Raj by the elbows and escorted him to a waiting car. Surprisingly, the car was surrounded by reporters, photographers and television crews. A tall man was smiling at the back of the press pack.
Despite all charges being dropped, Sir Edwin Philby was in the depths of despair and woke up each day contemplating suicide. The family name had been destroyed, and he would forever be remembered as a paedophile. It was only with great reluctance that he had agreed to see Bill Muller at his office. His secretary had resigned after he had been charged and the thought of interviewing a replacement was just too much for him. “What can I do for you?” He tersely asked Muller.
“I know you were setup, and I know who did it.”
“What?”
“Hasn’t anyone contacted you? Fiona Jeczik, Harry Denton or Jasmine Bartlett?”
“No, why would they? I hardly know the two women, and Harry hasn’t spoken to me since I was dismissed as Mercury’s chairman. He can be very grumpy, you know.”
“You didn’t read about what happened to Fiona and Harry’s wife?”
“No, I didn’t. I haven’t read a newspaper or watched the news in months. Why would I, with what they’ve been saying about me? Now get to the point, man.”
“I’m nearly certain that Douglas Aspine set you up, and he’s done the same to Fiona, Harry and Jasmine. Like you, their lives are in tatters.”
“So it was him,” Sir Edwin said, the colour returning to his face. “I racked my brain trying to think who could hate me that much and be so evil as to do what he did. Of course it was him. What did he do to the others?”
Muller explained in great detail what he thought Aspine had done.
“What are we going to do?” Sir Edwin asked.
“Jasmine’s brother, Raj, is flying in from Singapore. When he arrives I think we should meet and try to come up with a plan that will help us find Aspine and put him back in prison.”
“Have you told Harry about Aspine?”
“No. Like what you said, he’s a crusty old bugger who’s unlikely to confide in me. He was very close with Fiona Jeczik though, and I’ve asked her to talk to him.”
“What a disgusting piece of work that man is, and to think I was the one who made him CEO of Mercury. You’ve lifted a huge load off my shoulders, detective. I’ll never regain my reputation but it’s a relief to know who set me up. If he’s in Australia, I’ll make the bastard pay. God, I’ll make him pay.”
“It’s not detect…”
“Set the meeting up, detective,” Sir Edwin interrupted. “We need to stop him before he does any more damage. Oh, and you’d better get out to the airport and warn Jasmine’s brother to be alert.”
Jasmine busied herself tidying up the house while waiting for Raj. Just before midday she flicked the television on to catch the news and was shocked to see her brother shielding his face from photographers and television cameras.
“Billionaire Singaporean businessman, Mr Raj George, has been detained by police after a large quantity of heroin was found in his luggage,” a sombre newsreader intoned. “Mr George has been taken to police headquarters in St Kilda Road where he is helping police with their inquiries.” Jasmine gasped, unable to think. Why hasn’t he phoned me? She knew Raj’s Melbourne lawyer and immediately phoned him, only to be told by his PA that he was aware of the situation and was en route to police headquarters. Jasmine ran from the house, climbed into her car and headed toward St Kilda road.
The detectives transporting Raj to headquarters had obviously been briefed about how important he was and were quite respectful. However, when he asked if he could use his phone, he was told that he had two calls and to make the most of them. The first was to his Melbourne lawyer and the second to Singapore’s deputy prime minister where much to the chagrin of the police, he spoke in Malay.
Harry Denton hadn’t liked leaving Mary, not even for an hour, but he had needed a haircut desperately. On his return he was surprised and then concerned when he opened the garage door and her car was gone. He hurried into the house yelling, “Mary! Mary, are you there?” There was no answer and then Harry noticed an envelope on the kitchen table that he tore open.
Dear Harry,
I cannot live like this any longer, with you looking at me like a hawk and wanting to have me committed.
We no longer talk. You just ask me questions and then wait for me to make mistakes with my answers that will confirm your thoughts that I’m losing it. I’m not! I did not lose my car, I did not order that book, I did not order a new driveway, I did not steal that cashmere top and I have no idea where that cash
in the freezer came from. Someone must really hate me to have gone to so much trouble to make it look like I am losing my marbles. What distresses me more than anything is that you no longer trust me, preferring instead to think that I am demented. I cannot tell you how much this loss of trust has hurt me.
Harry, I hate doing this but I can no longer live with you. I have rented a small apartment and you will no longer have to worry yourself about placing me in a nursing home. I’ve left my mobile phone in your study – please don’t try to contact me.
Good luck,
Mary
Harry’s face was ghostly white as he slumped into a kitchen chair with his head in his hands and wept uncontrollably.
Chapter 42
THE POLICE HAD PAID Raj a great deal of respect and after he’d been fingerprinted and had mug shots taken, he was shown to an interrogation room fitted out with audio visual equipment. “Would you like something to drink?” one of the detectives asked.
“Thank you for your kindness, no. My lawyer will be here soon and in the meantime I do not intend to answer any of your questions.”
“If you were to waive your right to a lawyer, we might be able to help you,” the detective said.
“You should be glad that I’m going to forget you said that, detective,” Raj said scornfully. “Perhaps I did not make myself clear. I will not answer any questions until my lawyer is here.”
“Spoken like a guilty man.” The detective sneered.
Thirty minutes later, with his lawyer sitting next to him, Raj denied that he had knowingly brought any heroin into the country. He insisted what had been found, had been planted. The police were dogged but circumspect. It was rare for drug dealers to be represented by a powerful legal firm like Hollinghills. They knew that any slipups would find their way back to their superiors and result in disciplinary action. After the interrogation was over, the lawyer sought and was granted permission for a very distressed Jasmine to spend ten minutes with her brother.
