by Lee Weeks
‘The people I am going to meet with will know what a set-up looks and feels like. They will run a mile from me if they get a whiff of betrayal. I need to be left alone to meet and talk with these people. They don’t even know they have the information I’m looking for. Don’t, I repeat, don’t fuck it up, Harold. We don’t have the time. When is this shipment coming? When does it have to be paid for?’
‘Next week, Thursday.’
‘So we have eight days to make this happen. That’s a hell of a feat.’
‘Can you do it?’
‘I think so.’
‘You have to know so. If that shipment arrives and there is no payment then there will be two cartels after our skins.’
‘Wait here.’ Della went into her room and opened the safe. She came back with a cloth bag containing the large uncut diamond that she’d brought with her from Spain.
Harold put his hand inside and lifted out the stone. He weighed it in his hand and turned it round, looking at its brilliance.
‘Jesus Christ! That’s a wonderful sight. Must be worth a million. Do you have lots more like this?’
‘The rest are almost in my hands.’
Harold stood and reached across and kissed Della loudly and vigorously on both cheeks.
‘Christ, Della. I never thought you was good for it. You’ve come good, girl. Tony will be jumping around when I tell him. When can you get the rest of them?’
‘I’m working on it.’
‘Well, I’m sold on you, girl. You tell me what you need and I’ll get it. Fucking hell!’ He held it aloft again and the light glanced across its facets. Marco walked in with a deep-blue suit on and a black shirt.
‘Marco!’ Harold called out to him. Marco walked across. He took the fist-sized diamond from Harold’s hands and weighed in his own, then held it up to the light.
‘Oh, yes. Now the fun begins.’
‘You keep this one and show it to your Colombians,’ said Della, ‘but tell them to be very careful, tongues will start wagging when this kind of diamond, this big, this expensive, turns up in London.’
‘Okay, no problem. A diamond expert is flying in from Johannesburg this evening.’
‘What’s his name?’ asked Della.
Marco focused on her past the diamond. ‘You don’t need to know. Just get on with your job and I’ll get on with mine.’
Chapter 51
‘Follow me, please.’
Della cleared security and verification and she was escorted down in the lift to the vaults. The combinations and locks were passed and the clerk opened the massive door. He walked along the walls of boxes until he double-checked he had the right box, and took it out from its space.
He led Della into a small anteroom the size of a cupboard, where she could view the box privately.
She waited until she was alone and then opened the box with the key from Eddie’s safe. She knew what she thought would be in there, but she was hoping there would be no surprise that left her feeling betrayed. The box was only small, but it was heavy. She knew that by the way the clerk had carried it. She steeled herself and flipped the lid right back as she stood over the box to take in the contents. At the top of the box, resting on a cloth bag, was a letter to Della. She smiled as she read it. Eddie was trying to take care of her in the only way he knew how. Under the letter was a Walther handgun and a box of ammunition.
Della pulled out the cloth bag and sat down to look inside; there was a rolling movement in the bag.
She tipped its contents gently onto a tray provided on the table. There was a collection of diamonds, some cut, some still in their original state; they were even better than the uncut one she had found in the safe at home. Della ran her fingertips over the diamonds and picked up a massive pink one that she recognised. She had seen pictures of it on the news. It was referred to as the Lost Rose. It had been an early find from the Argyle mine in Australia. It had been stolen when it was waiting to be exhibited in Dubai. The rough diamond had been cut into eight stones; the largest was in front of her now. She knew it was the same pink diamond in the ring that Eddie had given her for her thirtieth birthday. He had always said it would be the first of many and that the stones would be just as perfect and just as rosy pink as the first one: now she was looking at the reason he knew that.
At the bottom of the box, wrapped in plastic, was a wodge of fifty-pound notes. Della emptied the box.
Marco was waiting outside.
‘I have people to see,’ Marco said, as Della got into the car.
‘What’s the problem?’ She watched him sweat on a cold day.
‘Everything has changed. The shipment is only three days away now; it will arrive in a container at the docks. It needs to be moved fast. We need everything in place. Get the payment organised straight away.’
‘Which dock?’
‘Why do you want to know? You just get the diamonds all together in one place and make sure they are good. They will be examined by an expert. You have them now?’ He looked at her bag.
‘Not yet, but I will. I’ll get them together in one place and they can stay there until the shipment arrives then I’ll tell you where the diamonds are and I will have done my job.’
Marco turned to her and took her face in his hand and began squeezing. ‘Your job ends when I say it does. When I have the cocaine in one hand and the diamonds in the other, then, only then, you can go.’
She wrenched her face away and instinctively put her hand inside her handbag to feel for the gun. They drove home in silence as Marco dropped Della and drove away at speed.
Della got inside, rang Carter and left him a message: ‘We have to be prepared to step it up. Marco says the shipment is arriving early in three days’ time. They’re flying in a diamond expert from Johannesburg this evening. There’s no way the diamonds I have add up to more than thirty million; he’s going to know that. If I can get away later I will go to the flat, maybe see you there?’
Marco had the uncut diamond that Della had given him to be examined for quality on the seat next to him. It was wrapped in cloth. He pulled up to think. He looked at his phone again. He was tempted to smash it on the dashboard. Things had begun to really irritate him; he wasn’t feeling in control. Tony was a liability. Marco had done everything he could to secure the finances. He had planned this. He’d spent years building his reputation up in the Colombian death squads and then moving to Spain to continue his work with the extermination cell in Marbella. He had ingratiated himself into Tony’s inner circle, and now all his hard work had led him here, reliant on a woman! He must show his family that he could be the man to lead Europe’s branch of the Zapata cartel. As soon as this deal was done he would kill Tony and take over the whole outfit. He was contemplating leaving Laurence alive as a figurehead. Laurence was rising in his esteem.
He sat back and watched the pedestrians scowling at him as they walked by. He’d pulled up on the pavement. He jammed the gear stick into reverse and just missed a woman with a pram who had started walking across the road behind him. She screamed at him through the back window; he swore at her and drove off, phone still in his hand.
Chapter 52
Carter listened to the message from Della. He checked the time – it was nearly five. He phoned Robbo.
‘There’s a diamond expert coming in on a plane from Johannesburg to London this evening. Check all the passenger lists and quick as you can. We need to know who it is.’
‘Are you on your way back?’
‘Yes. I’ll be with you asap.’
Carter then phoned Maxi Seymour.
‘How are you doing?’
‘I’m doing okay. It’s happening. I’m very discreetly sourcing diamonds that I can have on loan. Of course, if we don’t get them back, my life is over.’ He laughed nervously.
‘I appreciate this, Maxi.’
Robbo had the flight details and passenger lists ready for Carter when he walked into the office forty minutes later.
�
��Here’s the man. He’s arriving at Heathrow in three hours.’ He handed Carter a file as Carter sat down at the desk.
‘Roland de Soir.’
‘He’s a forty-five-year-old South African diamond expert, wealthy Swiss family, banking stock,’ said Robbo. ‘He worked for the Diamond Trading Company for fifteen years as one of their top guys before he was sacked three years ago for trading in blood diamonds on the side. He finds it hard to get legitimate work now – he’s blacklisted.’
‘Get hold of our pals in Border Control for me and tell them to pull him off the plane the second it lands. He’s not to clear customs,’ Carter said as he stood up and reached for his coat. ‘We don’t want to give him time to contact anyone. Tell them to make sure he doesn’t use his phone on the plane; get the stewardess to lose it temporarily. I’m going to drive straight out to Heathrow now.’
Chapter 53
‘Was that the Lineker’s Bar, Willis?’ asked Ross as they stood on the street outside a busy bar where a hen party were dancing their way inside, dressed in pink tutus and false breasts. She had been a long-suffering listener while Carter went on about teams and players and relegation and cup wins. They had spent an hour drinking in the bar and Willis had only just noticed its name.
‘It’s his brother,’ Willis answered, looking away and down the cobbled street.
‘Do you want to try somewhere less noisy?’ asked Ramirez.
They stepped out of the way of a yellow Ferrari that was revving its engine inches from their legs.
‘We’ll take you to the best in town.’
‘That’s okay, but thanks, I’d rather get back. I’m not really dressed for it,’ Willis said.
‘Listen, all is relaxed here in Marbella; you will fit in fine,’ assured Garcia. ‘The richest people are the most simple dressers.’
‘Somehow I don’t believe that,’ Willis said as she looked at the women passing her with stellar heels and tiny sparkly dresses. ‘Look, do you mind if I don’t come? I have a lot of things to write up. I haven’t filed a report in two days.’
‘It’s totally up to you, Eb,’ said Ross. ‘I’ll carry on, if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not. It will make me feel less guilty.’
‘Let us get you a taxi.’
‘I can walk, no problem.’
‘Nonsense.’ Garcia made a call and a taxi pulled up. He told the driver the address and Ross gave the driver twenty euros.
‘I’ll see you back at the apartment, don’t wait up.’
Ramirez passed in a bottle of water. ‘You’ll need to drink this. It’s the sun and the sangria. Go to bed.’
Willis left Ross and the two Spanish detectives to it and headed home. She was feeling a bit worse for wear and very hungry as she tried to find more than the bottle of water she’d already drunk. Ross kept telling her to charge anything she wanted, within reason, to the room; after all, they had to eat, and so far the evening had consisted of a lot of drinking but no actual food and she had reached a point where she was about to start eating herself. She ordered a double burger with all the trimmings and the tray arrived.
She switched on her laptop and signed into Skype.
‘Teen?’
‘Ebbers! Where are you?’
‘Oh, God, Teen. You’d love this place. It’s so warm. I’ve already got a bit of a tan.’
‘You’ve always got a tan. You okay? You seem knackered.’
‘I mean, I’m darker, it’s so lovely and warm here, and it’s only December.’
‘Jeezus, I’m coming out there. How long are you there for?’
‘I’m coming back tomorrow, but you know what, Teen? It’s made me realise I need to come away like this more often.’
‘I’m always telling you that.’
‘I know, that’s why I’m saying it. You’re so right. We need some more fun and sunshine and bars and all that in our lives, Teen.’
‘You okay, Ebbers? You suddenly seem really pissed, Eb. I’ve never seen you this drunk. Are you still drinking?’
‘No, look, I’m on water.’ She held up the bottle. ‘And look, Teen.’ She turned the webcam on her stack of burgers and fries, onion rings and coleslaw. ‘I’m in heaven.’
Chapter 54
‘Evening, Mr de Soir. Sorry to delay your disembarkation.’
Carter walked into the Border Control interview room at Heathrow, carrying a tray with de Soir’s briefcase in it as well as a new phone and an envelope containing SIM cards. He placed the tray on the desk and sat down opposite de Soir.
‘Why have I been stopped from entering the UK?’ De Soir had a mild South African hardness to his otherwise smooth well-spoken voice.
‘Not stopped, just delayed. We need to ask you some questions. Why are you here in London?’
‘I am visiting friends.’
Carter tipped the things from the tray onto the desk between him and de Soir.
‘You plan on making lots of calls while you’re here?’
‘I never know how it works with the phone situation when I’m away. Better safe than sorry.’
‘Who are the friends you want to call?’
‘Just people I know by the bye. This trip is more about me seeing the sights, but I need to keep in touch with home. Is it illegal to buy several SIM cards?’
‘Not at all. But it’s something we usually only see criminals do. For someone who is seeing the sights you bought mainly suits and shirts with you. I don’t see many T-shirts and jeans in your case. I’d say you are here for business.’
‘I’m always hoping to make an impression on the people I meet. I move in expensive circles, and maybe it will lead to work. But my work is international; it has nothing to do with being in the UK. I can be anywhere and work. I am not asking to be a resident here. Your tax laws would kill me.’
‘I’m sure. You are a diamond expert, is that right?’
‘Correct.’
‘But you don’t work for the Diamond Trading Company any more?’
‘No we parted company some years ago. I am freelance.’
‘Can you just explain to me the type of freelance work you are asked to do?’
He gave a one-shouldered shrug, sighed irritably. ‘I assess a diamond’s potential. I examine it to see what is the most we can extract from it.’
‘Uncut diamonds?’
‘Yes.’
‘The ones that are so hard to trace?’
‘Sometimes, but that is not my concern. I am brought in only to appraise them and give advice. I do not buy and sell.’
‘Who are your clients mainly?’
‘Collectors, wealthy people who have purchased a rough diamond and want advice.’
‘Is that what you’ll be doing here? Giving advice?’
‘I told you, I am on holiday.’
‘Must have been difficult for you when you and the Diamond Trading Company parted ways. Your reputation took a bit of a knock, didn’t it?’ He shrugged. ‘But I expect you have done your best to build it up again.’
‘I’m doing okay.’
‘That could all end here tonight, Mr de Soir. This could be the start of not just another sticky patch for you, but a lengthy spell in prison.’
‘What for? For having a few SIM cards? Really? You didn’t find anything else in my case because there isn’t anything.’
‘We know why you’re here.’
‘Really? Then you are better informed than me. I am here to see the sights, have a break, meet a few friends. There is no plan.’
‘You’re here to appraise the worth of some diamonds for a South American client.’
‘I told you, I will often pick up work here and there.’
‘And that’s what you came here to do?’
He shrugged. ‘I came here thinking I might pick up some work.’
‘From a drugs cartel?’
‘I only know about diamonds.’
‘Maybe, but if we sit here long enough someone from the cartel will ring,
won’t they? To make sure you’re settled into the hotel room they paid for? You came here to assist a drugs cartel in the purchase of a large amount of cocaine destined for the UK market.’
‘I want a lawyer.’
‘You don’t get one. You are being held by the Border Control police, not me. We are just deciding whether to let you into the country or not.’
‘I want to return home.’
‘There are no flights back out tonight.’
‘I want to talk to your superior.’
‘I want to give you the chance to help us, Mr de Soir. As I said, the diamonds that you’re here to look at are going to be exchanged for a large shipment of cocaine from South America. Now, I get the point that you make an honest living by doing what you do but, if we hadn’t tipped you off, when the cocaine arrived and the cartel wanted payment you would have been shown the stones. You would have had to appraise them on the spot and you would probably have been shot. You know why?’ He shook his head. ‘Because you would have to tell them that the diamonds were no good and they would start killing one another. Even if the cartel let you go, you could easily get shot in the crossfire because we intend to be waiting.’
‘I didn’t know what the diamonds were for. I told you, that’s not my business.’
‘No, I’m sure you didn’t.’ Carter smiled. ‘But, you can agree to help us by lying about the diamonds. That way we will make sure you’re out of the way, with your money, by the time the shooting starts. The cartel will never know the diamonds failed the test.’
‘I can’t lie to their faces. I’ll crack. I told you, I want to go back to Johannesburg. I have changed my mind about entering the UK.’
‘You can’t leave now. It’s not safe. They will come for you and you’ll tell them everything, believe me. We can protect you here. We’ll put you in a hotel, under guard, and then, when it’s all finished, you can go home. Of course, you won’t get your money but they will buy your story about being held by us, because it will be true. Someone will take your place, pretend to be you.’
