Cassidy

by Morris West

  ‘I’m quite sure he will.’ Arthur Rebus was bland as honey. ‘You’d have to show cause to hold him and impound his passport. If there were any fear of that I’m sure the Federal Commissioner would have him sworn in immediately as a Special Constable under the Act and pack him off on assignment to Thailand. Besides, I have all the available information, all the relevant documents and Mr. Gregory’s power of attorney as well. Never put the frighteners on a good witness, Inspector. You lose him before you get to court. By the way, what arrangements have been made about informing the victim’s relatives – her father and her daughter? The father’s an important man, a general in the army. The daughter’s at school in Switzerland.’

  ‘I’m not sure that anything’s been done yet, sir. We only found the body a couple of hours ago.’

  ‘You got here very fast.’

  ‘That was Mr. Loomis. He suggested Mr. Gregory might be our best informant.’

  ‘I was wondering how the report got so quickly to the Attorney-General’s office. That’s hardly normal, is it?’

  ‘No, sir. But the victim’s relationship with Mr. Cassidy put her in a special category – if you know what I mean.’

  ‘Has the press got the story?’

  ‘The place is swarming with ‘em… reporters, photographers, TV crews… Gerry Downs’ people are going to have a field day with this one.’

  At that moment, Sergeant Donohue came back with an announcement.

  ‘My Commissioner’s on the line, Inspector. He’d like to speak to you personally.’

  As soon as Nichols had left the room, Donohue said hastily, ‘Word from the Commissioner. No transaction took place. No money passed, no diamonds, no drugs. What we were discussing are demands to Mr. Gregory for a handover of substantial funds under pretext of a share transaction. We were investigating the situation, but we hadn’t come to any conclusion about it. We let Standish and Waring carry the bag. Clear?’

  ‘Very clear.’ Arthur Rebus was frowning now. ‘What now becomes even clearer is that Pornsri Rhana was not killed by Möller’s people. Her death puts them out of pocket for big money… After the pay-off, yes, I might have understood it; but not now.’

  ‘Don’t be too sure,’ Donohue uttered a respectful warning. ‘Mr. Gregory was the real paymaster. This could be a warning to him… On the other hand, there is your earlier suggestion, Mr. Rebus…’

  ‘Which one, Sergeant?’

  ‘Marius Melville – and an empty seat on the board of Chao Phraya. When it’s two seats to one, it doesn’t matter to him which of the two falls vacant, does it? Provided he’s got the new nominee in his pocket.’

  ‘Which in this case, Melville may have.’ The words were out before I had time to weigh them. ‘Pornsri told me she and her father were under pressure from someone at the Palace. What if that someone were in league with Marius Melville?’

  ‘Let’s dream on that awhile,’ said Arthur Rebus hastily. ‘The Inspector’s coming back.’

  Nichols was in pensive mood now. He said, ‘The two Commissioners will be talking. I’d better get back to brief my men. Thank you for your help. I look to you to provide all necessary depositions, Mr. Rebus.’

  ‘The moment you ask for them, Inspector. Needless to say, I’ll be in constant touch with my client.’

  ‘Good day, gentlemen.’

  ‘And that,’ said Sergeant Donohue, ‘is the best double-shuffle I’ve seen. My old man is very quick on his feet.’

  ‘Let’s get some coffee,’ said Arthur Rebus. ‘You look like hell, Martin.’

  ‘I’m scared. It’s as simple as that. I’m scared for my wife, my family, myself. What sort of people are we dealing with?’

  ‘Nice people,’ said Arthur Rebus. ‘People who are photographed at the Black and White ball and get their daughters’ weddings in the social columns. People with million-dollar houses and stunning city offices and a private army of thugs and assassins. So let’s reason about this killing. Who arranged it – Möller or Marius Melville?’

  ‘Möller had no reason to believe we weren’t paying off. We went through all the right motions. Now he doesn’t get a cent…’

  ‘Which means either way that he goes after Mr. Gregory – or his family.’ Thus Donohue, as he walked out to order coffee.

  ‘Can he reach my family, Arthur?’

  ‘These people can reach anywhere, Martin. What’s the price of an air ticket and a killer’s fee against a kilo of uncut heroin and all that loot from Cassidy’s safe?… But I don’t think we should put Marius Melville out of court, either. His motive is even stronger…’

  It was only then that I remembered Laura Larsen. I told Rebus I had to ring her. He nodded agreement, but stopped me before I had finished dialling.

  ‘Hold it a moment. It’s a rough way to pass bad news. Why not ask her to come round here? It’s ten minutes in a taxi. Besides, I’d like to meet her, see how she reacts.’

  It made sense. I called the Melmar Marquis. Miss Larsen was in conference with clients and could not be disturbed. I asked to speak with the Duty Manager. He was persuaded, with difficulty, to call Miss Larsen out of her meeting.

  I told her: ‘I have bad news. I don’t want to give it to you over the phone. Can you grab a cab immediately and come to the Banque de Paris? I’m on the third floor, working with Arthur Rebus.’

  She didn’t argue. She didn’t question. She was with us in eleven minutes flat. When I told her of Pornsri’s death she went white as chalk. She clasped her hands to stop them trembling. Rebus brought her a mug of coffee and held it to her lips. His bedside manner was impeccable.

  ‘…Violence is always a shock when it strikes so close to home… We thought it best you should hear the news from friends… Sergeant Donohue is dealing with certain aspects of the matter which fall within Commonwealth jurisdiction. The murder itself is a matter for the State police. The chief investigating officer, Detective-Inspector Nichols, has just left… The press boys are swarming like bees. We want to protect you and Martin until your flight time tomorrow…’

  ‘I can arrange that, at least.’ She said it with a sudden surge of determination.

  ‘Did you know,’ asked Sergeant Donohue quietly, ‘that Pornsri Rhana was a partner with your father and Cassidy in the Chao Phraya Trading Company?’

  ‘I was aware of it, yes. I was not concerned in the activities of the company.’ She turned to me. ‘If this is going to turn into an interrogation, Martin, I shall need legal representation.’

  ‘That wasn’t the intention. I wanted to spare you the shock of a bald announcement on the phone. Sergeant Donohue is not the investigating officer; this is not his jurisdiction. He’s interested in certain dealings between Chao Phraya and a company in the Philippines.’

  ‘Then you shouldn’t discuss them with me.’ She was fully in control of herself now. ‘They are my father’s affairs. He’s in the air now, on the way to Bangkok. There’s no way I can contact him. Besides, Martin holds Cassidy’s vote…’

  ‘Are you sure of that, my dear?’ There was a subtle change in Rebus’ attitude. ‘It would help us a great deal if you were. We’re going through Cassidy’s records. We haven’t come across that item yet.’

  ‘I… I don’t know. I just presumed that, as Cassidy’s executor…’

  ‘Of course.’ Rebus was his old bland self again. ‘Most natural thing in the world. But you do see that we’re all on the brink of a very messy scandal. There’s no way now that Cassidy’s love affair and his love-child can be kept secret. No way, either, that the press won’t call this a drug-related killing.’

  ‘Was the woman an addict?’

  ‘No; but the method is almost ritual for women who fall foul of the drug barons.’

  ‘I repeat. I know nothing of these things. I’m in the hotel business.’

  ‘I’d stick to that,’ Sergeant Donohue approved. ‘Just keep saying it over and over.’

  She gave him a quick, suspicious glare.

  �
�That’s an odd thing for a policeman to say.’

  ‘I’m an odd sort of policeman,’ said Sergeant Donohue cheerfully.

  ‘I should get back to work,’ said Laura Larsen. ‘I think you need more protection from the press than I do, Martin. I’ll have someone pack your bags and shift them into one of our company suites. Come to my room when you get back. I’ll be holding the key. And don’t come through the foyer entrance, use the public bar. The front office and the switchboard will inform all callers that you’ve checked out.’ She stood up. ‘Thank you all for taking this trouble. It was a kind thought.’

  I offered to take her downstairs to find her a taxi. She refused. I obviously had work to do. She would be glad of the walk back to the hotel. Arthur Rebus watched every step of her exit and then nodded his approval.

  ‘That’s quite a woman, Martin. I hope to God she’s on your side!’

  ‘Now!’ said Sergeant Donohue briskly. ‘Decision time. Action time. What are you taking to Bangkok, Mr. Gregory?’

  ‘Clothes, personal documents, travellers’ cheques. Three items from the file: the access code to the trust and the two sets of the organisation plans we’ve just been looking at. You’ll make your copies here.’

  ‘Good! All the other records will remain here at the bank.’

  ‘Under my authority,’ said Arthur Rebus.

  ‘The Commissioner suggests we put ‘em under Federal Seal – just in case Inspector Nichols decides to move in with a State warrant.’

  ‘Clever!’ said Rebus with genuine admiration. ‘But I still want the Commissioner’s written agreement on access.’

  ‘You’ll get it, Mr. Rebus. Now, Mr. Gregory, you have a pistol licence, but no weapon. Right?’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Then before you leave this afternoon I’m going to make you a personal gift – a souvenir of this happy occasion. It’s a pocket pen and pencil set. Both are lethal weapons and quite illegal – but since you’ll be out of our jurisdiction, who’s going to know? Next question. What are you going to tell Marius Melville?’

  ‘No sale on Cassidy’s records. And I’m taking over Cassidy’s interests.’

  ‘And you think he’ll buy that story?’

  ‘It isn’t a story. This is a power game. How can I play it if I give up the only base I hold?’

  ‘You could leave it to the professionals,’ said Arthur Rebus.

  ‘They’ve done a hell of a job so far! My marriage is poisoned. My kids are under threat. Pornsri is dead. Cassidy’s boyos are still trampling all over my life. It’s enough. I’m in the game now, for keeps!’

  ‘Nothing we’d want to do to stop you,’ said Donohue mildly, ‘unless you start playing on our turf; then we grab you by the short and curlies and shove you in the lock-up.’

  ‘And you lose a good lawyer,’ said Arthur Rebus. ‘However, that being said, I do admire a slugger, don’t you, Sergeant!’

  ‘Not much,’ said Donohue drily. ‘A slugger is usually a bonehead. I prefer a brainy fighter who doesn’t get marked up.’

  ‘Suggestions, Sergeant?’ I had to ask the question.

  ‘Two, Mr. Gregory. Meet the victim’s father. Assuage his grief. Offer help with his granddaughter in Zurich. The Thai set great store by such human gestures. He’s a general in the army; he should have high friends. Next, I’d enquire whether Mr. Melville is negotiating to build a hotel in Bangkok. If so, he has to choose a Thai partner. That makes him both friends and enemies. Money talks. You’ve got enough to buy yourself some beautiful conversation… Now, may I suggest we call in Mr. Paul Langlois and see how we can seal up this stuff without discommoding him too much.’

  An hour later I was sitting with Arthur Rebus over a very late lunch in Rosa’s restaurant. I had eaten little and drunk only a glass of wine, but I felt strangely detached from my surroundings, utterly devoid of any emotion. I asked Rebus if he thought there was anything more I should do before I left. Should I call Marco Cubeddu, talk to Rafe Loomis or the Premier? Should I write my note of protest to Gerry Downs?

  ‘There’s nothing, Martin. I’m your other self now – your doppel-ganger. Forget everything here. Go and do what lies ahead of you.’

  ‘It’s funny! The night Cassidy died, everything changed – even my wife. It was like the onset of an ice-age, with people and animals and plants freezing into grotesque shapes, and yet I didn’t feel anything. It’s like that now.’

  ‘You need a woman tonight,’ said Rebus, ‘a nice, warm, friendly woman, first names only, no questions asked, all laughs and no tears afterwards.’

  ‘I’ve got a woman, Arthur.’

  ‘I was afraid of that.’

  ‘I’m not. If she’s all the things you say, I’ll bless her and be grateful. Even if she’s not, she’s a passport into Marius Melville’s domain.’

  ‘And you don’t feel badly about that?’

  ‘I told you. I don’t feel anything. That’s the magic – Cassidy’s special malignant magic… a spell for all sexes and seasons… Cassidy on woman! Now there’s a whole book still to be written. “Woman,” he used to say, “woman, sonny boy, is a compendium of wonders. The one thing you must never expect her to be is a gentleman!”’

  It was nearly six in the evening when I got back to the Melmar Marquis. The public bar was noisy. The foyer was crowded with incoming guests and end-of-day drinkers, men and women, from the neighbouring office blocks. So I was able to move without attracting the attention of the cameramen and reporters waiting by the entrance. As I passed the newsstand, I caught a glimpse of the banner headline, ‘Cassidy’s Mistress Murdered’. I didn’t pause to buy a copy, but hurried across to the elevators and rode up to Laura’s room.

  My arrival interrupted a telephone call. She gave me a quick kiss, pointed to the drinks and hurried back to the phone. I poured myself a very stiff whiskey and sat down to wait. The conversation with a travel agent seemed to last an age. By the time it was over, all the emotion had drained out of our meeting. Laura poured herself a drink and then perched in the armchair opposite me, kicking off her shoes and tucking her legs beneath her. It was as if she needed to maintain an airspace between us. She said gravely, ‘You scare me, Martin. I’ve never seen any man so angry – not even my father.’

  ‘I don’t feel angry.’

  ‘I believe you. That’s what makes it so terrible. Did you know this woman very well?’

  ‘Not well at all. I had dinner with her. I found her very attractive. She asked me for advice and help in her affairs. I promised to look into them… I told my wife about her. We had to face the ironic situation that her daughter is my wife’s half-sister… What gets to me is the sheer, gratuitous inhumanity of the act. Out of the blue, a faceless, nameless someone invades a house and snuffs out a woman’s life. They’ve invaded my life, too… Someone’s told my wife I’ve been playing around in Sydney. She’s sent our children back to school and is working out her resentments on the ski-slopes. Your father’s had his part in that little drama… But we’re not at the end of it yet. Whoever killed Pornsri Rhana is going to take a crack at me or my family… I’m not angry, because I can’t afford to be when I step onto the killing ground.’

  ‘Obviously you believe my father’s involved in all this.’

  ‘Directly or indirectly, he has to be, because his affairs and Cassidy’s are connected, right across the board.’

  ‘So why are you confiding in me? You know I’m his daughter. I’ve told you I have to stand with him.’

  ‘Because murder has been done. Murder will be done again. I’m near enough to loving you to give you fair warning…’

  ‘About my father?’

  ‘About me, Laura. Cassidy trained me in the law. He taught me to love it and respect it as the last bastion against barbarism. Then he turned traitor and sold the gates and now the barbarians are pouring in. So there’s nothing left but to throw away the book and pick up the sword – live or die!’

  For a long, long moment she sat, with
downcast eyes, picking at a thread of fabric on the arm of the chair. Finally, she raised her head and faced me. Her eyes were full of tears but her voice was steady.

  ‘It’s sad, Martin. I don’t belong to you. You don’t belong to me. Tomorrow’s a big, big question mark. Surely we can afford to lend each other one night from a lifetime.’

  16

  Shielded by a screen of Melmar staff, we left the hotel at eleven, to catch the one o’clock flight to Bangkok. Sergeant Donohue rode with us. He stood watch over us in the diplomatic lounge, while an airline officer processed our tickets and our luggage. When Laura went to the powder-room, he gave me the address of General Rhana and the names and telephone numbers of my contacts on the staff of the Australian Federal Police stationed in Bangkok. He also gave me a hurried update on the murder.

  ‘…It’s a dressed-up killing. The post mortem shows she wasn’t spiked but strangled. Now that the press has put out the drug story, the killer’s purpose is served… Our man in Manila has interviewed Erhardt Möller, with a Filipino officer in attendance. Möller says yes to everything. It was a legitimate share deal. He did telephone you – no threatening intent, of course. Yes, a quantity of chemical was involved – a new compound still under test for the treatment of schizophrenia. It’s very scarce and very costly. A check with our drug companies reveals that such a product does exist, is available in small quantities at an exorbitant price… One more thing. The share register of Macupan Pharmaceutical shows the holdings as follows: one-third Austral Enterprises, Manila – that’s Erhardt Möller and his bunch – one-third Rotdrache and one-third Melmar Corporation, Manila.’

  ‘So whose shares was Pornsri supposed to be buying?’

  ‘I don’t think she was buying shares at all. The stock certificate has to be phoney paper…’

  ‘So why were they calling in funds?’

  ‘Our man says there’s a Liberian freighter broken down and waiting for repairs off Luzon. They can’t pay the demurrage, so the cargo is up for sale to the highest bidder.’

  ‘What’s the cargo?’