‘Not only that, but when we get back from Vlorë, my friend and I are gonna climb that fence again and meet you two guys for a spot of cleaning.’
*
‘So what’s the plan?’
Lule and Keira were walking back to the car, the sound of the dockyard fading behind them, swallowed by the noise of traffic.
‘We need help,’ replied Keira. ‘Even supposing we got on to the boat, what would we do then? We can’t just take Ermir. If there are other children we can’t leave them behind. Have you got your phone?’
‘I’m in way too much shit, I haven’t even told you yet. I can’t call the cops if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I can.’
Twenty-nine
Pavli Variboba’s computer screen pinged a message notification onto the screen marked urgent. He clicked it up full size. The subject read: ‘You looking for trouble?’ A tag from the receptionist who had fielded the call read: ‘Received by phone. No Name. No caller ID.’
The message read:
Party invite. The Persephone – this evening. Orikum Marina, Vlorë. Mister Verbër Vedon requests the pleasure of your company to celebrate another successful voyage on the Dhi Gondolë. Come inspect the cargo before it’s moved to its final destination. Bring your friends.
Postscript: I might let you buy me a drink. K. X
Pavli picked up the desk phone and called dispatch. ‘I need a raiding party: four squad cars and two support teams – full battle dress. Call me when they’re ready and I’ll meet them out back.’
‘You want them now?’
‘Right away.’
‘Where you headed, boss?’
‘The coast.’
*
It was rush hour when Keira and Lule hit the town of Vlorë. Keira had imagined it as a small seaside village, but in reality it was almost as big and overdeveloped as Durrës. Its huge port – at the crossroads of the Adriatic and Ionian seas – supplied the south-eastern end of Albania with virtually everything it needed. By the time they’d negotiated the early evening traffic the sun was almost gone from the sky.
Once through and out the other side they continued to follow the coastline until they saw signs for Orikum. The number of vehicles they passed started to tail away until soon theirs was the only car on the road. To the left, mountains rose out of the darkness and disappeared into the night sky, their ragged ridgelines obscured by a flotilla of storm clouds gathering over the summits. To their right the Adriatic stretched as far as they could see.
There were no street lamps and all the signposts they passed had weathered beyond legibility. Eventually Lule said, ‘We must have passed it.’
‘D’you think it was those lights further back?’
‘I think maybe yes. I was expecting somewhere bigger.’
Keira slowed and bumped the car down onto the hard, stony verge. The narrowness of the road made turning difficult, but eventually she was able to manoeuvre round and start back in the opposite direction.
After five kilometres they saw the lights of a building sitting on its own on the right-hand side and pulled over. The property had a large field of compacted earth that doubled as a car park to one side. The field was deserted except for two other cars parked alongside a wooden lamppost set in the middle. Keira steered the car slowly over the undulating ground – avoiding the potholes – until she came to a halt just outside the dim pool of light.
Both women stretched as they got out of the car, then made their way through the darkness to the front of the building.
An unlit sign above the entrance read PIZZERIA.
The lights were on inside and music was playing, but when Keira tried the door she found it locked.
Lule was standing further along the wooden veranda, peering in through the window. ‘There’s a guy inside.’
She rapped her knuckles on the pane of glass.
The guy – wearing a baker’s hat and striped apron bearing the words PIZZERIA FAMOUSA – made his way around the counter and headed over to unlock the door. ‘We don’t open for another half an hour,’ he said as the door creaked ajar.
‘We’re looking for Orikum Marina,’ said Lule.
The guy pointed back along the road in the direction they’d just come from. ‘Just the other side of that rise. A hundred metres there’s a turn-off leads right down to it. Everybody misses it. Can’t see it when you’re driving along, even in broad daylight, but if you cross the road here and look down you’ll see it along on the left. Got to know what you’re looking for. There’s a bar called the Cabrestrante down there and a seafood restaurant, but they won’t be open yet either. If you want I’ll fire up the oven and fix you whatever you want . . . look.’
The guy flicked a switch just inside the door and a canvas-covered terrace on the opposite side of the road lit up. ‘Go grab a table and I’ll bring you something to drink. If you sit shore-side you can look down to the water – nice view.’
‘Can you see into the marina from there?’
‘Sure. You’ll be looking right into it. Like I said, it’s just along on the left.’
‘Guy wants to know if you want some pizza?’ said Lule turning to Keira and translating.
‘I’m hungry. Yeah,’ replied Keira. ‘Any kind’ll do.’
‘You want wine?’
‘Beer. Cold, times two.’
‘Looks like we’re on,’ said Lule to the guy in Albanian.
The terrace was built on stilts rising out of the shallow rocks below. It was large enough to accommodate eight tables and had a balustrade on three sides – the road side being left open. The women chose a table in the far left corner. There was an ornately carved wooden gate set into the balustrade that opened onto a set of rickety wooden steps. The steps descended haphazardly to a small shingle beach. A hundred metres further along the shoreline – hidden from the road – was Orikum Marina. The Persephone – too large to enter the shallow bay – sat pointing out to sea, anchored near the mouth of the harbour, its stern moored to the farthest end of the quay.
The Cabrestrante bar they’d been told wasn’t open was filled with people, its tables spread all along the quayside, the hypnotic crackle of traditional Albanian music floating across the bay towards where Keira and Lule were sitting.
‘D’you think we’ve been conned?’
‘I’ll decide once I’ve eaten the pizza.’
‘I grew up listening to this music: Lab Polyphonic Group. Never thought I’d grow to appreciate the magic. This track is called ‘Qanë e motra per vëllane’ – A sister is crying for her brother.’
‘I like it. It fits the moment, but I think listening to this type of music at home wouldn’t sound the same.’
‘Not as good?’
‘Not better or worse, but it’s memory music . . . something you’d hear in later life and it’d transport you right back to this moment.’
‘What is this moment?’
‘The lull before the storm.’
The guy arrived with the pizzas and placed them on the table.
‘I thought the Cabrestrante was closed,’ said Lule, shooting him a look.
‘That’s where the tourists go. You sit here for another half an hour this place is gonna be jumping: locals only, though. You wouldn’t get a table if you showed up then. I charge you Albanian prices too, not rip you off, like the crook that runs that shithole down there. One bite of my pizza and you’ll realise you done the right thing.’
‘Who owns the big boat?’
‘Not sure. It stops in here every now and then. There’s usually a party goes on till late, but it’s off limits. Most of the time the guests arrive on another boat – trying to be discreet, but everyone round here is wise to what’s going on. You know it’s party night when the coachload of girls arrive at the yard on the other side of the main building. Aside from my pizzas it’s the only excitement there is around here. I’ll go get you some more beer and let you enjoy the view.’
Lule waite
d till the guy was out of earshot then said, ‘What’ll we do if the cop doesn’t show?’
‘He will.’
‘What will I do?’
‘You can stay here, or wait in the car if you don’t want him to see you. I’ll head down to the marina when he arrives and check out what’s going on.’
‘Where will you go with Ermir if you get him off the boat? We should arrange somewhere to meet.’
‘What about your friend Helena in Dushk? Is Dushk far from here? I think I could probably find her house again if I drove around a bit. You could take the car and I’ll see if I can get a lift with Pavli.’
‘She lives at the bottom of the hill from my mother.’
‘Ardiana drove all around, I thought it was miles away.’
‘No. It’s close to my mother’s, but I think Helena would not be happy for us to show up. She’s not really a friend: I haven’t seen her in years and Ermir would go crazy if you took him back to Dushk. I don’t think this is good idea. Also, Dushk is maybe an hour away from Vlorë. Maybe we should ask Mister Pizza Famousa if there’s somewhere around here.’
‘It’d only be for one night. In the morning we’ll head south and wait for the passports to arrive. We’ll book a ticket out of Tirana under your real name to throw them off the trail. If they’re watching for you it might just buy us enough time to get out while they’re looking the other way.’
‘You sure you are a lawyer?’
‘You’re the one who’ll be breaking the law, not me. I’m just speaking my thoughts out loud and you happen to be in earshot.’ Keira nodded for Lule to look over her shoulder. In the far distance a convoy of blue flashing lights could be seen speeding along the coast road. ‘You better eat up.’
By the time the police cars were passing the pizzeria the food was almost gone. They followed the stream of blue lights as the vehicles turned off the road and swept down towards the marina, sirens wailing noisily into the darkness. Moments later the quayside was filled with armed officers. Muffled shouts and cries filled the air as they secured the area. A six-man team broke away from the main group. Even at this distance Keira could make out Pavli with his distinctive limp amongst them. With weapons drawn they crossed the metal gangplank onto the boarding platform on Persephone’s stern.
‘I’ll make my way down,’ said Keira as she pushed back from the table. ‘Are you going to wait here?’
‘I’ll watch and see what happens,’ replied Lule. ‘As soon as I see you have Ermir, I will leave.’
‘. . . and go where?’
‘I’m just thinking they will probably take the children back to the police station in Tirana. They may not let you take Ermir right away. If this happens I will follow you and wait outside. If you are allowed to take him now, then I will wait here for you, but you’ll need to lose the cop.’
Lule watched Keira climb down the wooden stairs towards the beach.
In a loud whisper she called after her, ‘The first thing you do is tell Ermir I am here, please.’
Keira’s reply came out of the darkness.
‘I forgot to tell you – I know what Hathi is.’
Lule didn’t quite catch it. ‘What did you say?’
Keira’s response was drowned out by the sound of gunfire echoing around the bay.
*
Keira ducked instinctively and hurried as best she could over the pebble beach towards the near end of the quayside, her progress hampered by the darkness and the uneven surface underfoot. Eventually, she reached a set of coarse concrete steps that led from the beach onto the northern end of the marina. She’d counted three shots. Then nothing.
An officer challenged her as she approached the bar area.
‘Më vjen keq, por ju duhet të prisni këtu.’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’
‘Ju duhet të prisni këtu.’ He held up his hand, indicating for Keira to stay where she was.
Keira pointed to the boarding deck at the stern of the Persephone. ‘Pavli Variboba . . . I’m here to meet Officer Variboba.’
The cop either didn’t understand or didn’t care, but Keira wasn’t going any further.
The patrons of the Cabrestrante restaurant had all turned and were staring at the large yacht. No one spoke. The only sound came from the Lab Polyphonic Group, still playing in the background.
A row of officers lined the top end of the quayside, weapons trained on the Persephone.
Looking back along the coastline, Keira could see the lights of the pizzeria’s wooden terrace. The platform appeared to be floating above the rocks and for a moment she thought she saw Lule waving, but she couldn’t be sure.
There was a commotion on the yacht: muffled shouts and angry voices, as the officers climbed back onto the quayside. Pavli was at the head of the group. He looked agitated as he waited for the others to join him. He barked some commands and his men dispersed in groups of three or four to search the rest of the marina and the surrounding area.
Pavli was heading to the Cabrestrante when he spotted Keira. He immediately waved to her to join him – shouting at the cop barring her way with an instruction to let her through.
‘Told you I’d be back,’ said Keira as she approached.
‘Yes, you are full of the surprises. I didn’t think you meant so soon. What can I get you?’
‘A young boy called Ermir off the boat.’
‘He’s not on there. I meant, what I can get you from the bar.’
‘You searched the entire boat?’
‘Bow to stern,’ replied Pavli. ‘There’s some crew and a very pissed-off Mister Vedon on board, that’s all. No Ermir, no other children.’
‘What was all the shooting about?’
‘Three shots . . . We always fire three shots: it’s like a warning. Do a lot of shouting as well. It lets people know we are not playing games.’
Pavli and Keira reached the bar and pulled up two stools.
‘You would like a Korça?’
‘I don’t know. This was not quite how I was expecting the evening to go.’
‘The boy is not on there, Keira. I am sorry.’
Pavli ordered two beers anyway and asked for a menu. ‘I haven’t eaten since this morning. You are hungry?’
‘I’ve just had pizza,’ replied Keira.
‘You mind if I eat?’
‘Go ahead.’
The beers arrived quickly. Pavli held out his glass and waited for Keira to do the same.
‘What are we drinking to?’ asked Keira.
‘Two things: One is – I am finally managing to buy you a drink, and the other is a toast to the end of my career.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘I head up an anti-corruption team in Durrës Policia. We are not exactly popular. We are supposed to work in secret, but everyone knows who we are. A lot of people want to see us fail and tonight will give them enough to make that happen. There are no children, no call girls, no drugs or even guns on board Mister Vedon’s boat. If I didn’t know better I’d say he knew we were coming.’
‘Shit.’
‘Yes. Is shit.’
Keira took a sip of her beer and said, ‘Vedon’s on board right now?’
‘Yes.’
‘He’s the reason I was late for the flight on Sunday morning. I was taken on to a boat – probably the Persephone – on Saturday night when it was anchored in Durrës.’
‘I thought you were having early night at the hotel?’
‘I told you that because I didn’t want to make a scene.’
‘What is “make a scene”?’
‘I didn’t want to make a fuss. I knew I had to get on that plane Sunday morning . . . so, I just told you that, but I was taken from the hotel and held on that boat.’
‘You were kidnapped?’
‘Yes.’
‘You think Vedon had you kidnapped?’
‘I know he had me kidnapped. I was tied to a chair. I spoke to him, or rather, he spoke to me.’
&n
bsp; ‘You can describe to me what he looks like?’
‘I didn’t see him, but I’m pretty sure I would recognise his voice.’
Pavli shot her a look.
‘The story sounds a bit lame, but it’s the truth. I’m certain it was Vedon. And I know he has Ermir, hidden away somewhere.’
Pavli made a play of wiping the condensation from the neck of his beer bottle, but didn’t say anything.
‘You don’t believe me?’
‘I don’t know what I believe any more.’
Keira paused to take another drink and give herself time to think. ‘After all the shit I’ve been through, getting beat up, robbed . . . all the rest of the crap, finally here’s something that actually hurts – words. Nothing physical, just words, and it stings. Weird, eh?’
‘I’m not saying I don’t believe you, it’s just . . . ever since you arrived, I think you have not been always honest with me. It’s difficult to know what is real and what is not.’
‘When will you be finished here?’
‘I’m finished.’
‘Can you give me a lift?’
‘How did you get here? You are not driving the car?’
‘I got a lift.’
‘From who?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘There you go again. It’s not that I don’t believe what you are saying, it’s that you don’t tell me anything I can believe.’
‘There’s something I want to show you.’
‘Can I get something to eat first?’
‘Sure, no hurry.’
‘Where do you want a lift to?’
‘I need to go pay for my pizza, up the hill.’
‘That’s it?’
‘Then I want to go to Dushk to show you where this all started and why it matters. And prove to you that this is all very real.’
‘Then what?’
‘Then we’ll come back here and arrest that son of a bitch Vedon, get him to tell us where Ermir is and you’ll be able to keep your job.’
‘What’s in Dushk?’
‘A crime scene.’
Thirty
The terrace area of the Pizzeria Famousa was now packed with locals, just like the guy had said. When the police car pulled up across the street Lule sank lower in her seat and peered between the diners as Keira jumped out and disappeared inside the main building. When she left, Keira climbed into the cop car and drove off without looking in Lule’s direction.
Walk in Silence Page 20
