Whistleblower

by Terry Morgan

CHAPTER 70

  "Ah, Jacob, I'm glad you've called," Jonathan was in his office.

  "Big problem, Jon. You know already?"

  "Yes, I heard last night, but I thought you were in Nigeria."

  "Yeh, I'm in Lagos. What the fuck's going on, Jon? Any idea? My Lebanese associates phoned me last night. Cherry Pick and Cherry Trading have been attacked."

  "What do you mean attacked?"

  "Attacked by someone. They even shot our Sierra Leone man?"

  "Shot him?"

  "Yes, we think they persuaded him to sign his business over to them and then they shot him."

  "Slow down, Jacob, I'm losing it. Who is your Sierra Leone man?"

  "Messiah Moses. His business is Rocki General Supplies in Freetown, but he also runs Sulima Construction, Cherry Trading and Cherry Pick."

  "Rocki General Supplies? Who are they? And I thought Cherry Picking was Lebanese. I am very confused Jacob. It sounds complicated."

  "Me too, Jonathan. But since Farid and Hamid decided not to work with that Italian fella things have been complicated."

  "Farid and Hamid are your Lebanese partners, right?" queried Jonathan.

  "Yes, yes. They had the bad experience in Milan. Since then........now I can't fucking think straight."

  "I know the feeling, Jacob. And what is this about the man called Messiah being shot."

  "Messiah Moses, Jon. Moses was Cherry Pick's key man. He signed his business over to a company called Freeways Investments and an hour later he was shot - found floating in the river down near Sulima."

  "Freeways Investments, Jacob?" Jonathan was double-checking.

  "Yes, you know them? They're consultants like you. Far away in Zurich, I heard. You're not linked to them are you Jon? If so I warn you..........."

  "Calm it, Jacob. I only heard about them yesterday, believe me. But I suspect a link with that Italian guy you keep telling me about. What's his name?"

  "Guido."

  "That's it. He hates to be seen as a loser, Jacob. He lost the Cherry Picking business and he's as mad as hell. He's just trying to pick up pieces. This can be a dirty business sometimes."

  "Thanks, Jonathan. I'll do some more investigation and let you know."

  "And where is this Guido guy based?"

  "Italy."

  "Big place, Jacob. Any idea where?"

  "I'll find out. I'll ask Farid and Hamid. They met him."

  Jacob Johnson rang off. Jonathan phoned Cole Harding in Brighton. Cole Harding rang Suleiman in Freetown. Suleiman was in the middle of talking to Mitchell.

  "So he's dead, Mr Suleiman. Moses has gone to visit the fucking angels."

  "Do not speak of the dead like that, Mitchell. You must not listen to Nigerians. They are not all good Christians. Language like that is unhealthy. But there is something sinister going on. Did I not tell you?"

  Suleiman's phone rang.

  "Ah, Cole. I was just thinking of calling you....You know already?.....What is going on here?........Yes, Mitchell planted the special device but it is not that bastad Moses we will be listening to but a fucking Nigerian wearing a hat and smoking weeds."

  Mitchell shook his head at the bad language.

  "Is there anything more we can do, Cole?...........OK, Mitchell will still listen to the voices. Meanwhile, you are taking the matter further with others .....Good."

  "So, Mitchell, you must sit outside Mr Moses' door and listen to the voices."

  "For how long must I sit, Mr Suleiman."

  Suleiman paused, thinking. "Between deliveries," he said.