Rough Cut

by Owen Carey Jones

  “Problem solved!” she said. “And now there’s no evidence that either of us have done anything we shouldn’t have.”

  At first Dimitri looked aghast and then, after a few moments, he smiled back.

  “OK, we have drink now?” he said and started the car as Anna nodded her approval.

  The two of them drove to a pub where they were soon sitting together enjoying a drink. Dimitri talked animatedly and every now and then, he laughed good humouredly. The Russian’s good humour was infectious, something Anna had always liked in him.

  When, after a couple of drinks, they left the pub, the two hugged and kissed each other on the cheek several times until, at last, Dimitri said, “OK. Enough. It has been good doing business with you, Anna. I see you at Fair in Moscow next year. And I hope your charities can survive without all money you have been giving them since we work out this little plan.”

  “Goodbye, Dimitri. And who knows, by the time I see you next year, I just might have worked out a new way of getting the stones to market.”

  Dimitri and Anna parted company and went their different ways, Anna to return to her car and Dimitri to register at his hotel, which was only a few yards away.

  Partially hidden in a doorway across the road, Carter heard their last exchange and watched them go. He made a mental note of Dimitri’s name and of the name of the hotel he was staying at before stepping out of the doorway. He took his hand out of his pocket and held in front of him the black pouch which Anna had thrown into the waste paper bin. Then he put it back into his pocket and set off briskly towards the car where Conrad was waiting for him.

  “Let’s go see the Inspector,” said Carter with some satisfaction as he got into the car.

  _________________________

  A couple of hours later, Carter and Conrad were sitting in an interview room at police headquarters waiting for Harris to see them. They had not parted on the best of terms and it was more than half an hour after they arrived that the door opened and Harris walked into the room with Grimshaw.

  “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked. It was Saturday evening and the impatience in his voice was not lost on Carter.

  “We came to tell you that we’ve solved the case,” Carter said confidently.

  “Really?” Harris showed little interest in what Carter had to say. “And did the butler do it?” Harris didn’t laugh at his own feeble joke, but his sergeant dutifully did.

  “No. As a matter of fact, it was the wife.”

  Harris pulled out one of the chairs and sat down opposite Carter. “Whose wife? And what exactly did she do?”

  “Do you think we could get a drink?” asked Carter, feeling that he had said enough to justify better treatment from Harris, maybe even an apology. “Conrad and I had to stand in the rain for hours to get the information we’re about to share with you.”

  Harris looked hard at Carter. “Very well,” he said, “we can go to my office. I keep a bottle of scotch there, for emergencies.”

  Harris’s office was only marginally more comfortable than the interview room but at least he was true to his word. He served up the whisky in two glasses, which he passed to Carter and Conrad. He himself had to make do with a plastic cup while Grimshaw missed out altogether.

  “Thanks,” said Carter as he swallowed the small tot he had been given and held out the glass waiting for another. Conrad followed suit and Harris poured them both a second measure.

  “So, what have you found out? I hope you don’t want to search that factory again?” Harris warned.

  “No. There’s nothing to be found there. The diamonds aren’t being made there. They’ve been coming in from abroad, via Belgium.”

  Dramatically, and savouring the moment, Carter pulled the pouch from his pocket and emptied it onto Harris’s desk. The pile of diamonds glittered under the bright light of the desk lamp and Harris leaned forward, his excitement apparent from his changed demeanour. Slowly, using his pen to separate them, he began to count the tiny sparkling stones.

  “I’ve already done that,” Carter said, smiling. “There are fifty seven..”

  “Hmm.” Harris stroked his chin. “And coming in from Belgium, you say?”

  “Through Belgium,” Carter corrected. “ My guess is that they’re coming from Russia; we know the Russians have the technology to make them, they’ve been doing it for years, although not to this standard. I think what we’ve probably got here is someone cheating on his employer.”

  “Can you prove it?” asked Harris.

  “Possibly, if you can catch Dimitri before he shuffles off home.”

  “Dimitri?” Harris’s ears pricked up at the mention of a name.

  “He’s the guy who’s been bringing the diamonds in from Russia. He’s staying in a small hotel in Hull, The Regency. Do you think you can arrange for him to be picked up?”

  “Of course, but I’m not sure what we can charge him with. There’s no proof that he’s done anything.”

  “You have my testimony, and the diamonds,” said Carter, unable to hide his exasperation; what would it take to move this man to action? He leaned forward as he continued. “If you don’t pick him up tonight he’ll be on his way back to Russia on the first boat in the morning.”

  “What about his contact? ‘The wife’, I think you said. What did you mean by that?”

  “The Baines woman of course. His contact is Baines’s wife. When we didn’t find anything at the factory, I decided to watch the Baines house; see if our poking around at the factory would make him do something stupid, maybe make a mistake. Then, when Anna Baines left the house, it occurred to me that maybe it wasn’t him after all. What if she was robin@bainesautomotive, and not him? What if it was his wife all along? We followed her to Hull, where she met Dimitri. And he gave her those.” Carter pointed at the diamonds. “But if we want to get her for fraud, and possibly for having something to do with Rob Darrington’s murder, we need to get Dimitri as well so that we can prove that the diamonds were obtained illegally and that they were both involved in a scam of massive proportions.” Carter hoped that Harris understood.

  “Very well. I’ll arrange for this Dimitri fellow to be picked up. And then I suggest we visit Mr and Mrs Baines.” Harris could not hide his distaste for another run in with Jeremy. “Even if the diamonds aren’t man made, we should be able to make a smuggling charge stick.”

  “Good.” Carter was relieved and drew a deep breath before getting up. “Thank you,” he said sincerely, offering his hand to Harris who gave him a half embarrassed smile and took the hand.

  _________________________

  Jeremy was sitting in the lounge holding a brandy glass and classical music was playing softly in the background when the doorbell rang. Jeremy looked towards the door and moments later, Anna came in looking very serious. Trailing behind her were Carter, Conrad, Harris, Grimshaw and a female police officer in uniform. They all crowded into the room, and then Harris stepped forward from the group.

  “You again! And at this time of night!” Jeremy rose to his feet belligerently and faced up to Harris. ”I’ve had enough of this. I’m going to ring your superior.” Jeremy tried to push past Conrad and Grimshaw who were still standing near the doorway.

  “I think you should hear us out first, sir,” said Harris patiently.

  “Why? Don’t you think this… this harassment has gone far enough?”

  “It’s your wife we want to talk to this time, sir.”

  Jeremy pulled up short. “Anna! Why on earth would you want to talk to Anna?” He threw a glance at Anna who was standing beside him. She looked back at him non-committally and shrugged.

  “Do you have a computer, Mrs Baines?” asked Harris but before Anna could answer, Jeremy jumped in.

  “Of course she has a computer. And a printer, and a photocopier! What of it? She does a huge amount of work for charity, you know. She was voted Yorkshire Woman of the Year last year. She needs a fully equipped office.”

  �
��And where is this office?” asked Harris, raising his eyebrows slightly.

  “Here in the house, just across the hall,” answered Jeremy, still choosing to speak for his wife.

  Harris turned to face Anna directly as he spoke the next few words. ”Would you mind telling us the user name and password for your computer?” Anna looked at Jeremy as Harris continued, his tone condescending. “Please.”

  “Robin and Hood.”

  Harris looked at Carter who nodded and indicated to Conrad to go and check out Anna’s computer.

  “Excuse me for asking, Mrs Baines,” continued Harris, “but would one of the charities you help be a hostel called… ” Harris paused as he took his notebook out of his pocket and looked in it, “…Jailbreak?”

  Anna cleared her throat and Jeremy was about to speak again when she held up her hand to stop him.

  “It’s all right, darling, I don’t mind telling him,” she said. “Yes, that is one of the organisations I try to help. They think, as I do, that youngsters coming out of prison should be given a break, not that you would understand that. Why do you ask?”

  “Do you have any contact with any of the, er, clients?”

  “Some, yes. Why?”

  “Carl Spicer, perhaps?”

  Anna looked away guiltily at the mention of Spicer’s name. “Quite possibly. I don’t know their names.”

  “I see.”

  “For heaven’s sake Inspector, what’s this all about?” asked Jeremy as he moved to position himself between Anna and Harris.

  Before asking his next question, Harris gathered himself to his full height. He looked at Jeremy and then at Anna.

  “Perhaps Mrs Baines wouldn’t mind telling us where she’s been this evening?” he said.

  “She’s been to her bridge club,” said Jeremy moving back beside his wife as she smiled sweetly at Harris.

  “I’d like to hear that from your wife, sir.”

  “Anna, tell him,” Jeremy urged but Anna did not speak.

  “Perhaps Mrs Baines would like to explain what she was doing in Hull earlier this evening?” The boot was on the other foot now and Harris was clearly enjoying kicking Jeremy with it.

  Anna’s expression changed and she cleared her throat. “Hull?” It was more of a croak than anything else.

  “Yes, madam. Why were you in Hull this evening?”

  “If you know I was in Hull then I expect you know why I was there.”

  Jeremy’s face reflected his astonishment and, at that moment, Conrad came back into to the room. Carter and Harris looked towards him. He nodded his head and held up a copy of Robin Hood, identical to the book they had found on Jacques’ boat. Harris took a deep breath and approached Anna. He stood in front of her as he spoke.

  “Anna Baines,” he began, “I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Robert Darrington. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

  Jeremy was speechless. Anna seemed in a daze, yet she remained in complete control of herself.

  “I’ll get my coat,” she said as she left the room and went into the hall followed by Harris and the policewoman.

  Jeremy trailed after them. “I’ll ring Tom Benedict,” he called out to Anna, as he found his voice and tried to reassure her. “He’ll meet you at the police station. Don’t say anything, darling, not until you’ve spoken to him.”

  Jeremy looked at Harris who was now also in the hall. “Benedict is our solicitor,” he said.

  Harris nodded and indicated to the policewoman to escort Anna to the car. As they left, Jeremy gave Carter a menacing look. He’d kill me if he could, thought Carter.

  As they came out of the house and Anna was helped into the police car, Carter stopped and turned to Conrad. “Well, that’s this end wrapped up,” he said, “Just Philippe and his cronies to deal with now. But that can wait until tomorrow. I think we both deserve a night off before we go back to Port Grimaud and deal with Monsieur Philippe Lacoste. And I have a date, so you’ll have to find your own amusement.” Carter smiled as Conrad looked at him questioningly.

  _________________________

  It was late and Darrington Hall was in darkness as Carter approached the front door after a long day and rang the bell. Moments later the door was opened by Nicole and he went in.

  Carter followed Nicole across the hall and into the lounge where he spotted a bottle of wine open on the coffee table with two glasses beside it. Nicole sat on the sofa and patted the cushion next to her as she smiled at him. His heart soared.

  Trying his best not to convey the strength of emotion he was feeling at finally, after so many years, being able to spend time with her again, Carter sat beside her as she poured the wine and handed him a glass.

  “Is it all over?” she asked.

  “Pretty much, I think,” he answered.

  “Just Dad to deal with?” Carter nodded as she continued, “I don’t suppose there’s any way to leave him out of it, is there? I mean I know he was involved in something which ultimately led to Rob’s death, and for that I will never be able to forgive him, but I don’t believe he had any idea what sort of people he was dealing with or how far they would go to protect their interests. And as for Anna… Well…!”

  Carter shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I wish there was some way I could overlook his involvement, for your sake. But the reality is that he was involved. And while I can accept that it wasn’t his doing, at least not directly, the fact remains that three innocent people are dead because of what he was mixed up in.”

  “I know. But it’s hard, you know. He’s my father and I love him.”

  Nicole put her glass on the table and looked up at Carter, pleadingly. He could see the pain in her eyes and he put his arm around her. He tilted her head onto his shoulder and stroked her hair gently as he spoke, trying to soothe her.

  “I’ll do what I can to help him, whatever I can,” he said, “But I have to ask you not to speak to him about what has happened tonight. Can you promise me that?”

  “If you can promise me that you’ll get the French police to go easy on him.”

  “I promise,” he said quietly, as she closed her eyes.

  CHAPTER 18

  Early the next morning, having spent the night with Nicole for the first time in more than twenty-five years, Carter was sitting at the kitchen table as she made them some coffee. She took the coffee to the table and sat down as Carter took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.

  “There’s something I want to ask you,” he said and Nicole looked at him enquiringly. “We have been apart for far too long and I don’t want to lose you again.”

  Carter paused trying to gauge what reaction he was going to get to the suggestion he was about to make.

  “Why don’t you come and stay with me for a while, in Belize?” he asked, “It’s a beautiful place and it would give us a chance to get to know each other again.”

  Nicole dragged her hand back and looked away from him, this was not the response he was hoping for and his heart sank.

  “I can’t do that, Carter,” she began, “What about Eloise? She’s due back soon and she’s going to need me to be here.”

  Carter took her hand again and smiled at her. “From what I saw in Port Grimaud, I don’t think you have to worry too much about Eloise,” he said and Nicole smiled back but her smile was weaker than Carter would have liked. He decided to press on. “Just say you’ll think about it. OK?”

  “OK, I promise I’ll think about it,” she said and Carter sensed that there was a chance that she would go along with his suggestion; a chance that after all the time that had passed, they could, at last, be together.

  _________________________

  As Carter and Conrad flew back to Nice, Carter recalled the way the case had worked out. The spur-of-the-moment decision to follow Anna had been inspired and Carter was pro
ud of himself. And yet she had nearly got away with it. The tiny fact of the email address she was using being on her husband’s company’s Internet server had nearly saved her; it had certainly embarrassed Carter. It was with some satisfaction that he had heard from Harris that Dimitri had told the police everything in exchange for a guarantee that he would not be sent back to Russia where, almost certainly, he would have finished up in a Siberian prison camp.

  He had explained how the scientists at the scientific institute where he worked had developed the CVD process to its ultimate conclusion, the production of large gem quality diamonds; he had explained how, as head of administration, he had managed to increase production of these diamonds without anyone noticing and he had explained how he had systematically diverted the increased production into his own hands.

  There was still a lot of work to be done bringing all the threads of the investigation together so that a cast iron case could be prepared before Anna’s trial started, and there was also the matter of the charges relating to the murders of Antoine and Yvonne, not to mention the massive fraud which had been perpetrated on unsuspecting jewellery buyers.

  But Carter would leave all of that to be sorted out by the British and French police; he had done what he had been brought in to do. He had traced the source of the synthetic diamonds, and now it was time for him to bow out. All that remained for him to do before going home to Belize was to return to France and ensure that the French police had all the information and evidence they needed from him although, for Nicole’s sake, Carter also wanted to make sure that Philippe was given a fair hearing.

  After the plane had landed at Nice airport, Carter and Conrad came out of the airport building and got into a taxi.

  “Sainte Maxime, s’il vous plait,” said Carter to the taxi driver, followed by, “Le Gendarmerie.”