Skinner's trail bs-3

by Quintin Jardine

  `Thank you for joining us, Miss Braun,' said Skinner. 'Let me explain why we are here. My colleague here on my left and I are involved in an international investigation of what could be a very big crime indeed. This gentleman,' he nodded to his right, 'is from the police in Hamburg. He is helping us today.'

  'I see. And why do you need to talk to me?' Her smile had gone. Only the concern remained.

  `In the course of our investigation, we are watching a number of people. A couple of days ago, one of them made a trip to Hamburg: a very short trip. He flew here, he met with you, and then he flew away again. His name is Serge Lucan. We'd like you to tell us what you talked about.'

  The girl took a sip of coffee. Skinner noticed that her hand was trembling slightly. She sat silent for a few seconds, as if considering her reply. Then she looked up and across at Skinner.

  `I have a boyfriend,' she began hesitantly. 'His name is Hansi. We have known each other for many years. We are both from Bremerhaven, quite near here. Hansi was. . had a little trouble a few years ago. When it was over, he decided that there was no future for him in Germany, and we agreed that he should go somewhere else to try to make a new start. We agreed that when he was established I would join him. Hansi was a sailor, on inshore boats mostly, so he decided to go to the south of France to look for work crewing on private yachts. He was only there for a few weeks when he called me to say that he had found a job with a man named Vaudan, as a crewman on yacht and cruiser charters around the Mediterranean. The pay was good, and he said that Vaudan had told him that there might be opportunities later for other work, with even better money. That was a few months ago. He has written regularly, but I have not seen him since then.'

  She took another sip of coffee. The tremor was still there. The man you are talking about — Lucan. He called me one morning earlier this week. From the airport, he said. He said that he too worked for Monsieur Vaudan, and that he had a message for me from Hansi. I told him to come to the hotel. We met here. He said that Hansi had asked him to come. He gave me a letter from him, and he gave me twenty thousand Deutschmarks.

  `Hansi's letter said that he had been given an even better job by Vaudan as a crewman on a big yacht which some man from the Middle East had chartered, but that the cruise was not just the Mediterranean; it was around the world, and could take up to two years. He said that the man from the Middle East was paying the crew directly, and that the money was crazy. Hansi asked me if I would bank some of it for him, and use any I needed for myself. He said that, as well as the twenty thousand, every six months while he was away I would receive another fifteen thousand. It would come through Monsieur Vaudan, by bank draft. Hansi asked me to give this man Lucan a note confirming that I had received the money. So I did. He said that I could write to him through Vaudan's office in Monaco.'

  She took a third sip of coffee. Her hand was now steady. `That's all there was. Lucan finished his coffee and his strudel, and left. Does that help you?'

  Skinner nodded. 'Yes, it helps me a lot. Do you still have Hansi's letter?'

  She held up her handbag. 'Yes, in here.'

  And what did you do with the money?'

  'I opened a bank account the same day. Now, what is this about, please?'

  Skinner held up a hand. 'I'll tell you, Miss Braun, but first I want you to give me Hansi's letter. My German colleague here will give you a receipt if you wish one.'

  She looked at him with a touch of fear in her eyes, seeming to clutch her bag tighter than before.

  `Miss Braun, you haven't told us Hansi's surname. So I'll tell you: it's Gruber. I've met him. In a prison in Barcelona. He's being held there in connection with the death of a man in Spain. I expect that he will be charged with murder. The money that he is being paid is to keep him quiet while he's inside. But I don't imagine they'll pay it for too long. It'll be cheaper to arrange for him to have an accident in jail, or to commit suicide in his cell. I know Vaudan, too. He's very good at arranging accidents and suicides.'

  Hilda Braun seemed to sag back in her chair. Tears ran down her face. She held a hand to her mouth, shaking her head slightly as if to deny the truth of what Skinner was saying.

  `I'm sorry to have to hit you with this, but there was no way I could edge up to it. Look, do you want to help Hansi?'

  She nodded.

  `Well, there might be a chance. But,I want you to give me that letter, and to write me another one.'

  Sixty-two

  The oriental girl spread herself against the window, beckoning to Skinner and Mackie as they walked past. Her tiny bra and G-string were almost the same yellowish colour as her skin. Mackie, in spite of himself, looked towards her. The beckoning grew even more insistent.

  `Want me to wait for you, Brian?' Skinner asked with a grin.

  The slim detective shook himself theatrically and forced himself to move on. 'Christ, sir, are they all like that?'

  `From what I remember, most of them just sit there in their Marks amp; Spencer bras and knickers, looking bored. That lass must have been working on her sales technique.'

  `I once had a girlfriend,' said Mackie, 'who had one of those big Garfield cats stuck halfway up her bedroom window. That's what that one there reminds me of, pressed against the glass like that'

  `You'd be a lot safer shaggin' Garfield than her,' Skinner muttered grimly.

  `You been to Amsterdam often, boss?' Mackie asked.

  `Once,' said Skinner. 'About fifteen years ago. I'd been a good boy or something, and my boss fixed it for me to be liaison man with the local police on a football trip. The local lads gave me the grand tour of the canal district. And before you ask, the answer's "Mind your own business".' He grinned at a sudden memory. 'Actually, to tell the truth, there was this Dutch lady detective in their squad. I really fancied her, so the last thing I was going to do was let her see me taking any interest in the women in the windows!'

  `How did you do there, then?' asked Mackie, amused by this sudden burst of frankness from his boss.

  Skinner smiled again. 'The answer's still "Mind your own business". It was a long time ago. Don't know what I'd do if I met her here today, though.'

  They walked on down the narrow street, which at the end opened out into the first of the notorious canals of Europe's legal red-light capital.

  The German police helicopter which had flown them from Hamburg to Schiphol had made excellent time. Mackie, having ascertained that there would be no language diffi shy;culty at the Nederland Property Investment Bank, had declined the offer of an official reception. Instead they had taken the short taxi trip from the airport to central Amsterdam, where their driver had been disinclined to drive through the narrow canal-side streets, and had dropped them off to walk the remaining half mile to their destination. Even in mid-afternoon, the city's most famous industry was in full swing. As Skinner had recalled, the canals were lined with window after window of bored prostitutes, largely ignoring their potential clientele. Some were smoking, others renewing their heavy make-up. One or two were knitting. Eventually they left the canals behind and turned into another narrow street, where every business establishment was either a bar or a sex-shop.

  Mackie stared at the implements on sale and shook his head. 'What in Christ's name would anyone want with one of those?' His Calvinist upbringing asserted itself. 'I can't be doing with all that. I don't know if I've ever told you, sir, but my lifetime hobby is model railways. Everywhere I go I like to buy a set for my collection.'

  Skinner's shoulders shook with sudden laughter. 'You could probably do that here, too, Brian. Only thing is, the engine would be a funny shape!'

  Less than a minute later, they emerged from their seedy surroundings into the wide pedestrianised courtyard towards which they had been heading. Skinner looked around and saw, on a building on the far side, a large brass plate bearing the letters `NPIB'. He tapped Mackie on the shoulder and led him across the paved central area, between tubs of multicoloured flowers. He opened the high, heavy, half
-glazed door. The name of the bank was spelled out in gold leaf on the opaque glass panel. Inside, a stern, tweed-clad receptionist-secretary was stationed in the centre of the walnut-panelled entrance hall, barring the progress of visitors. Her eyebrows were pencilled on, and her grey-flecked black hair was pulled back in a bun. She reminded Skinner of a memorably intimidating primary school teacher of his childhood.

  Mackie introduced Skinner and himself. 'We are here to see Mr van Troost,' he added.

  Wait here, please,' said the forbidding woman. She withdrew through a door at the end of the hall. A few seconds later it opened once more, and her head and shoulders reappeared. 'Come this way,' she ordered. The two detectives obeyed without a word. She led them into a room panelled in the same style as the hall, with a desk in matching wood behind which sat a trim man with a narrow face and a long nose, crested by gold-framed spectacles. He wore a grey suit made of a shiny fabric, and a white shirt with a 'fresh from the wrapper' look.

  Van Troost did not rise as they approached, nor did he smile. The secretary-guardian beckoned them to two uncomfortable wooden chairs, then retreated from the room.

  `So,' said van Troost without preamble. 'What is the purpose of this mysterious visit?' His clipped tones seemed laden with hostility. 'You said that your enquiries relate to a fraud investigation, but not more than that. I must tell you that, as Director of this bank, I recoil from the very mention of the word fraud. Our reputation in Europe is impeccable.'

  `I don't doubt that for a second, sir,' said Skinner, `and no one is impugning it. We know that the transactions which we want to discuss are quite legitimate — on your part at least. We are looking into a certain loan, and most probably a second, which we believe you have made against the security of some properties in Spain. We know of one loan of around seven hundred and fifty thousand US dollars, arranged by or on behalf of a French national named Vaudan, possibly in association with a UK national named Ainscow. The loan of which we are sure is secured against a number of shop properties in the Spanish province of Girona. The second, if it exists, will be covered by a residential portfolio in the same area.'

  Van Troost knitted his fingers together, and stared across the desk at Skinner over the top of his gold-rimmed glasses.

  `Suppose I knew of such loans. Why should I break the trust of my clients by telling you about them?'

  Skinner smiled. 'To help us with our inquiries, of course.' ‘but if I do not choose to do so?' said Van Troost evenly, looking Skinner straight in the eye.

  The big policeman's smile did not waver for a second as he returned the banker's stare. 'Mr van Troost, you will tell me, please believe that, if not on this visit, then on the next. I have the power to ensure that you do. That is not a threat; it is a simple statement of fact.'

  Van Troost looked at him for several seconds more, as if weighing his words. Eventually he unclasped his hands and leaned back in his chair. 'I believe you, sir. You are not a man to say such a thing without meaning it, or being able to bring it about. Very well. There are two loans. Each is for seven hundred and fifty thousand US dollars. One is to Nicolas Vaudan and the other is to Paul Ainscow. They are secured in the way you described.'

  When were they negotiated?'

  Van Troost thought for a second. 'Arrangements were completed around six weeks ago. We took some care over verification of title to the security. It was impeccable in every case.'

  `What are the terms?'

  The loans are repayable in full within one year, although Monsieur Vaudan did say that he expected them to be cleared within six months. Interest is at two per cent over base rate per annum. Very generous of us, I believe. Of course, if the loans are not repaid as agreed, the rate will increase retrospectively to ten per cent over base.'

  Skinner smiled. 'Can't expect you to be too generous.' Van Troost grinned in turn and nodded.

  `Have the loans been drawn down?'

  `Yes, that was done two weeks ago, on joint instructions. All of the money was transferred to a numbered account in a bank in Monaco: an obscure private concern named Sneyder et

  Fils.' Van Troost leaned forward once more. That is all I can tell you. The loans were granted in good faith, against sound security which we now hold. I have no idea what the money was for. If every bank such as ours asked the purpose of loans such as these, we, would do little business. There must be a place for trust in this world, no?'

  Skinner nodded. 'Of course there must. You've been a great help to us. I will make sure that is known here. If I can give you some advice in return, this is it. Don't let the deeds to your security out of your sight. You may need them.'

  Sixty-three

  ‘Arturo? Hello, it's Bob here. I'm at Schiphol. Sorry, Amsterdam Airport. Listen, I've just put a package on the 19.10 KLM flight to Barcelona. It's marked for you, strictly personal, so have one of your lads pick it up from the purser. The flight's due in at 21.20, so you've got plenty of time to get someone down there.'

  Pujol's voice echoed back up the line. 'What is in this package of mystery?'

  `Two letters. They're in German — so set up a translator. It'll be worth it, I promise you. The girl we went to see was Hansi's girlfriend. Lucan visited her to pay her off. One letter's from him to her, spinning her some bullshit about a long sea voyage. The other one she wrote to Gruber after we put her wise. You're going to love it. She's got a fertile imagination, that girl. Once you've read them both, you'll know what to do. Have fun.'

  `You seem to have done well in Hamburg. How about your other visit?'

  `There, too. At first I thought we might have trouble, but fortunately Mr Van Troost was a realist. We were right. There are two loans, for one and a half million dollars in total, transferred already to a very secretive-sounding private bank in Monaco — not the sort of place where we'll be able to walk in and demand information. We must keep track of that money, though — assuming that it isn't too late already. I've got an idea on that score.'

  Pujol laughed. 'I'll bet you have. So where do you go now, my friend? Monaco?'

  `Sod that for a game. So far I've been in three countries today, with a fourth to come when we touch down in Edinburgh. That'll do me for this week. If I got home, then buggered off straight away to Monaco, Sarah'd kill me. Anyway, I couldn't take the slightest chance of Nick Vaudan spotting me, of him hearing I was there. He thinks he's free and clear, remember, and that I've been scared off and run back to Scotland. If your girlfriend and Paco Garcia did as they were asked — and they will have, each for a different reason — he thinks he's in the clear. That's what gives us our chance of closing down this whole operation.'

  'Si, I know. Good luck, my friend.'

  `Good luck to you too, when you have your talk with Gruber. Somehow I don't think he'll gob on you this time.'

  Skinner hung up and left his booth, which was one of a semicircle of twenty, and went to the cash desk to settle up for his call. As he signed his credit-card slip, Brian Mackie stepped up to his shoulder. 'Get through okay, sir?'

  `Okay. My Spanish mate'll send someone to meet the plane and pick up those letters. It's up to him after that. How d'you get on?'

  `Fine. There's a fax waiting for me, reporting something from the Vaudan surveillance. Seems he had a visitor from Scotland yesterday. I thought you'd want to see it as soon as we got back, so I've asked for it to be sent down to your house. I didn't think you'd want to go into the office tonight.'

  `Too bloody right! D'you arrange for a car to pick us up?' `No need. Mine's at the airport.'

  `Good. Drop me off and come in for some supper, so we can have a look at it together. When do we land?'

  `Quarter to eight. We board in ten minutes.'

  `Right. Gives us time to hit the shops. I've got to buy an Amsterdam T-shirt for Sarah. We've got this deal. If I get to go somewhere on my own, I bring her back something to prove I've been there. She's done okay today, and that's for sure!'

  Sixty-four

  Jazz’s windy
howl came to an abrupt halt the moment that Bob appeared in the nursery doorway.

  He gave one loud burp and forgot his discomfort as recognition showed in his tiny eyes. Sarah stood up from her chair and held the baby out to his father.

  Bob took him, arms outstretched, and raised him high above his head. 'Hello there, wee man. If you've missed me one-tenth as much as I've missed you these last couple of days, then you've still missed me a lot.' Jazz smiled down at him, a dribble starting at the corner of his mouth. Bob cradled him to his shoulder, leaned over and kissed Sarah.

  `Hello, love. The same goes for you, too.

  She squeezed his arm. `Hmm. I'm just glad you're back so soon. How were Hamburg and Amsterdam?'

  `Interesting and very useful. We're hot on Ainscow now. He's tied right into Vaudan through that money.'

  `Where does that put Gloria? Does it help you prove that Santi's death wasn't suicide?'

  Not yet. Paco Garcia's statement still gives us a big problem there. If it were discounted, Gloria would probably have enough doubt on her side now to challenge the insurance company in the civil courts. But with that on the record, she's stuffed.'

  `But couldn't Garcia be lying?'

  Skinner shook his head. 'No chance, love. Garcia would have given me the PIN number to his granny's cash card if I'd asked him. He was telling the truth, no doubt about it. It looks as if I was wrong about Santi. That dog theory was just the great detective's imagination running away with him. The guy must have had a brainstorm. Suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed; that's how it goes. The fact that Vaudan was going to kill him won't soften the insurers' hearts.'

  Dammit!' said Sarah. 'I feel so sorry for that woman.'

  `Yeah, so do I, but we've done all we can. Anyway, enough of that. Brian's downstairs. He's stopping for supper. . if that's okay. Has Fettes dropped off a paper for me?'