*
A couple of days later the Adriatico sail out of Bocas. It was early evening as the sun set over the hills that formed the frontier with Costa Rica when the huge ferry turned east. Three blasts on the horn and it left the magic of unspoilt beaches and the small charmingly ramshackle Caribbean town behind. Soon latter day hippies, rastas and backpackers would be replaced by package tourists as developers set to work building hotels and all inclusive resorts. Given another ten or fifteen years it would probably be ready to compete with Phuket, Punta Cana or Varadero.
Island off Bocas del Toro
But that was the least of Liam’s worries as he was not on the ferry. He was wondering whether he had made a mistake in not taking it to Colon and from there to Panama City by train. The trouble was he had reached the point where he accepted almost anything Gisele suggested. Not only would the bus be slower, but he was certain it would be more uncomfortable.
The next morning they were up at dawn for the launch that left Bocas for Almirante on the mainland at six. The trip took thirty minutes speeding across the sea in semi-darkness, past the shadows of mysterious forest covered islands.
The bus station was exactly as he imagined a small Central American bus station would be like. Travellers with their oversize piles of baggage waiting for their buses to Panama City or other towns along the route to the east. The drivers left their motors running for the aircon ejecting poisonous diesel fumes into the air around them. It was a stark contrast with the lush green forest covered islands that lay just a short boat ride behind them.
COLOMBIA
In the tumult of City & Colonial grab, Barton, to the dismay of Pat Kennedy, after abruptly liquidated his holdings and vanished, however, it did not take to much effort to discover he had taken a flight to Bogota in Colombia of all strange places.
The question was why Colombia?
Kennedy knowing Liam Clancy enjoyed friendly relations with Barton decided to transform the young banker into his unsuspecting pawn. Barton’s disappearance raised a number of questions and whilst Kennedy had an implicit trust in his friend it was of importance to remove any lingering suspicions as to the motives for his disappearance if only to protect the bank from unwarranted charges.
As to his own presence that would be justified by the bank’s interests in Panama and his interest in the canal project in neighbouring Nicaragua.
Cornucopia Page 72
