‘So, there are some developments?’
‘Nothing I can discuss today, I’m sorry. I’ll be there tomorrow and bring everyone up-to-date. I have to run now, see you then.’ Hatim put away his mobile and walked to his car in the prison car park. He had just left a note for Leo, confirming Angela’s departure and the appointment he’d made with the prosecutor for eight-thirty the next morning. He was confident Leo would be freed by lunchtime, but he was sticking to his word with Coetzee and saying nothing. Or so he thought.
Elodie had heard the conversation. ‘Something’s happened. If he’s going to update you tomorrow, he knows today. Angela must have recanted and Leo’s going to be freed. Merde. That little putain, she’s screwing everything up.’
‘But it makes no sense, she knows she’ll be in deep shit with the police.’
‘Not if she’s leaving tonight. That’s where Ed’s been, he must have bought her a ticket and taken her to the airport, and she’s written a retraction to give to Hatim when she’s gone.’
‘Now it’s you who’s being paranoid. I don’t see how…’
‘We’ve got to find out what’s going on. I’m calling the airport, if she’s there she’ll speak to me. I’ll call you back later.’
Ipswich, England
‘How did things go with the Dubai bank?’
Jenny Bishop had prepared lunch at home for Bill Redman. He had been visiting his family in Bury St Edmonds and arrived in a taxi. It was pouring with rain, and she’d laid the table in the conservatory at the side of the house, surrounded by her immaculate little garden. They were enjoying a glass of chilled Moët & Chandon.
‘Perfectly. Mr Kapoor handed the funds to Marius this morning and everything seems to be sorted out. It only cost $20,000, which is good news. Thanks, Bill, that was really important to me.’
‘I’m happy to hear it. So the family problem is resolved?’
‘It should be by tomorrow. I might tell you about it afterwards, it’s been a bit of a worry, that’s why I didn’t want to discuss it much. Anyway, thanks again, you really helped me out.’
He let the matter drop, and they spent a pleasant few hours together before he left to take the train to London. Jenny still wasn’t ready to share her house with anyone, not yet. She wondered when that might change, if ever.
Dubai International Airport
‘Airport central enquiries, this is Mahmud speaking. How can I help you?’ The man had a pleasant and considerate tone.
‘Good afternoon. This is Doctor Charpentier from the Deira Private Hospital in Sharjah. I’m trying to trace a patient of mine who is travelling to Sao Paulo this afternoon or this evening. It’s very urgent.’
‘What’s the passenger’s name and flight number, please?’
Elodie gave Angela’s name and said, ‘I’m not sure which flight she’s on, only that she’s travelling today. Can you please look it up?’
‘I’m sorry, doctor, I’m not allowed to give any information about a passenger’s flight arrangements. You’ll understand it’s for security reasons.’
‘I need to speak to the patient urgently. She needs to take some medicinal treatment before she takes off, or she’ll be in danger.’
He was silent for a moment, then, ‘May I ask what the problem is?’
‘She has a heart condition which is affected by changing air pressure. I just found out she’s flying today, and she must take a specific combination of medications I prescribed for her. I’m worried she won’t remember to do so and it could be fatal.’
Mahmud’s sympathy was immediately aroused, he was on medication himself. ‘The problem is, terminals one and three both have flights to Brazil and we don’t know which airline she’s with.’ He decided to bend the rules a little. ‘What I can do is make a general public announcement to all terminals that she’s wanted on the phone. She may not hear it, but that’s all I can suggest. Please hold for a moment.’
* * *
Angela was reading a magazine and nursing a second latté in the coffee bar nearest her departure gate in terminal one. It was almost five o’clock, just another half hour before her flight was due to be called. She was shocked when she heard her name called on the public address system, looking around her in the café like a fugitive. The man didn’t say who was calling, but she guessed it could only be Coetzee. Apart from Ed, he was the only person who knew where she was, and she didn’t think Ed would call. She gathered her hand luggage and walked over to the information desk on the other side of the hall. Both assistants were occupied and she waited at the side, wondering why Coetzee would be calling.
She remembered his last instructions to her. He said I should sit and wait and do nothing. ‘Don’t look at anyone, don’t talk to anyone,’ he told me. Why would he call? He knows my mobile number, he could have texted. She switched on her mobile and suddenly felt afraid. There were three missed calls from Elodie at around one-forty.
The woman at the desk said, ‘Can I help you?’
‘No thanks,’ she replied. ‘I just found what I was looking for.’ Angela switched her phone off again and went back to the coffee bar.
Elodie heard Mahmud say, ‘I’m sorry, doctor. There’s been no response to my announcement. Is there anything else I can do for you?’
‘Unfortunately not. Thanks for your assistance.’ Elodie closed the call and pressed Shen’s number. ‘We have to move quickly, the cat’s going to be out of the bag very soon.’
THIRTY-SEVEN
Washington DC, USA
Sunday, 11 July 2017
‘Can you connect me with General Chillicott? My name is Marius Coetzee.’ The South African had obtained Billy’s number from Ed. He was hoping to find out more about what was going on at XPC.
‘What’s your clearance code, please?’ The man’s voice was polite but brisk.
‘I don’t have one, but you can tell him it’s to do with Leo Stewart and XPC.’
‘Sorry, Mr Coetzee, the general isn’t here, it’s Sunday and I can’t call his mobile number unless you have a clearance code.’
‘Please tell him I have news about Leo Stewart’s release from prison. That’s sure to get his attention.’
‘OK, I’ll try but I don’t promise.’
A moment later he heard an irritable voice, obviously used to giving orders. ‘General Chillicott here. Who’s this? It better be important, it’s a Sunday and I’m busier than I’ve been all week.’
Coetzee introduced himself and apologised for calling on a Sunday. He quickly updated him on what he’d arranged since he’d arrived in Dubai, adding, ‘We expect Leo to be freed tomorrow.’
‘That’s great news, Mr Coetzee. Sounds like you haven’t wasted any time since you got down there, congratulations. Sorry I was a little brusque earlier, but there’s stuff happening all over right now, and we seem to be running round in circles. I’m relieved to hear Leo’s out of that mess, how do you know him?’
‘I’ve known him for seven years and he’s been with us in South Africa several times. I love him like my own son, and it looks like he’s mixed up in some trouble at XPC. Do you want to tell me about it?’
‘It depends on what you want to know.’
‘Anything you might know about Shen Fu Liáng and Elodie Delacroix?’
‘I’d love to, but protocol gets in the way. All I can say is we’re looking into XPC, their owners Lee-Win and some of their people as part of a national security investigation. I guess you know what that means.’
‘I’d like to help, and I think I can. How can we resolve the protocol problem?’
‘I see you know your way around, Mr Coetzee. OK. Call Dr Hugh Middleton on this number.’ He repeated it slowly. ‘He runs an Internet security business in London. He knows pretty much what I know, and he’s less, let’s say, restricted from talking to you.’
Coetzee wrote the number down. ‘Thanks, General. I’ll keep you informed if anything transpires. I’m sure we’ll be speaking again. Enjoy the rest of yo
ur Sunday.’
Bur Dubai Police Station, United Arab Emirates
Leo unfolded the note he’d just been given by the guard. It was from Hatim. He’d received confirmation from Marius that Angela had the money and was at the airport.
He read the short message with conflicting emotions. He would be free tomorrow, but Angela was gone, without the chance to talk to her, to understand why she’d acted so cruelly and what she really felt about him. He folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket with a sigh.
‘Bad news?’ Oskar was watching him from his bunk. The two Pakistanis had shipped out, where and why they didn’t know, but Phil was dozing on his upper bunk and Leo now had a bed to himself, though it seemed he’d need it for only one night if everything went according to plan.
‘Mixed. Seems like you’ll be losing me tomorrow, sorry about that.’
‘Oh, I see. As you say, mixed. I’m happy you’re getting out, but I’m gonna miss you and your kickboxing. You’re entertaining company. How come they’re letting you go?’
Leo gave him an expurgated version of the episode with Angela. ‘She retracted the accusation today, so I should be free as a bird tomorrow.’
‘Wow! Interesting story. And that explains two things. Why you’ve got this negative attitude to sex; and second, you’re right, there’s definitely something bad going on at your company.’
‘Looks like it. Now all I have to do is find what it is, and work out how to prevent it.’
‘Don’t worry, you’ll manage it fine.’
‘What about you?’ Leo had gotten to like Oskar, and now he’d walk free but the Pole would still be incarcerated.
‘Same thing, mixed. The guy says he’ll leave me alone for a grand. That’s a ninety per cent discount.’
‘Cool. Have you sealed the deal?’
‘That’s the “mixed” bit. I don’t have $1,000, so I guess I’ll just have to wait for a bigger discount.’
‘You’ll work it out.’
‘You want me to break the news to Razza for you?’
Leo laughed, but made a mental note to somehow get $1,000 to Oskar. If anyone deserved to get out of that hellhole, he did.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Shen and Elodie were at Club 27. After failing to find or speak to Angela, they were now convinced that Ed had somehow arranged for her to leave the country. That meant she had left a letter with him to absolve Leo; he wouldn’t have done it otherwise. Ed had left the office at seven as usual, and they were hoping he might come into the club with Lynne to celebrate and relax, and they could find out what was going on. Shen had never contacted him at home and to call his mobile in the evening would arouse his suspicions.
He had also fixed a meeting with Tom Connor the next morning, for all of them to agree on a date to release the Shanghai package. Elodie was now adamant that it had to be delivered within two days. If Leo was free, he would most likely contact Tom Connor immediately, to try to hold things up until he could find out the purpose of cell S470C887,999. She was terrified their five years of planning, work and investment – and most of all, her reward – would be jeopardised. Shen might be able to keep Tom and Leo out of touch, or talk Tom around for a day or two, but after that it would quickly get out of hand. Their heads would be on the block and there would be no place to hide.
By eleven-thirty, Ed and Lynne hadn’t showed and they drove back to the apartment. Elodie’s last words to Shen that night were, ‘Wednesday’s the new deadline. You’ve got to convince them tomorrow.’
Coetzee finished off the Johnnie Walker with Ed in his apartment. He was happy with their day’s work. His last words before hitting the sofa were, ‘Tomorrow, you have to buy us some time.’
THIRTY-EIGHT
Public Prosecution Office, Dubai
Monday, 12 July 2017
‘Where is this woman now?’ The public prosecutor had just read Angela’s letter and watched her video confession on Hatim’s tablet.
As agreed, Hatim fielded the question. ‘We understand Angela da Souza is no longer in the country. Apparently, she left for Brazil last night. The letter, passport copy and memory stick were delivered to my office this morning.’
He said to Leo, ‘Do you agree with her description of what happened?’
‘It’s exactly what happened, sir.’
‘Do you intend to take any action in respect of her untrue accusation?’
‘No sir. She made a mistake and now she’s rectified it, I want nothing more.’
The prosecutor called over the same official as he had previously, and they talked for a few minutes, then nodded in agreement. He turned. ‘You are to be taken back to Bur Dubai to collect your belongings and sign a statement of release, and you will be freed. That’s all.’
At ten a.m., Leo walked out of the police station into Coetzee’s vice-like embrace. ‘Hi, Leo. I thought I told you to stay out of trouble?’
‘Seems like it comes looking for me. Thanks, Marius, I don’t know how you did it, but thanks. I owe you. You too Hatim, thanks for everything.’
‘Let’s get a coffee, we need to talk. Listen, Hatim, it’s best if you don’t join us. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.’
‘I don’t understand. Why should I not be safe? It’s ridiculous.’
‘Let’s just say that there’s more to Leo being stuck in prison than meets the eye. You have to report back to XPC and I want you to be able to tell them as little as possible. Angela signed a retraction and left the country, Leo’s been released and he’s not coming back to work, right Leo?’ Leo shrugged, and he went on, ‘You don’t know what he’s going to do or where he’s going to go. You don’t have to say anything about me. I’m just a family friend who gave you the letter and video. Can you do that?’
‘Of course. If you tell me nothing about yourself then there’s nothing I can say.’
‘Right, Hatim, that’s exactly right.’
‘Very well, I’ll get back to my office. Good luck, Leo, I hope everything works out well for you. Goodbye, Marius, it’s been… educational.’ He went off to find his car, and the others walked along the street to a café near the Al Jafiliya metro station.
‘Lend me your phone, Marius. I have to call my mum, she’ll be so relieved.’
‘She knows you’re getting out today, both her and Jenny. Hang on for a minute until you hear what I’ve got to say, OK?’
They sat outside the café and ordered coffees. Leo’s first question was, ‘How did you manage it?’
‘I really was just the messenger. It was Jenny who figured she could be bought off, and she sent the money in twenty-four hours, $20,000.’
‘She’s amazing, but it seems like I’m costing her money all the time. What was it all about?’
‘Angela was desperate to get to Sao Paulo, and sold her soul to two devils called Shen Fu Liáng and Elodie Delacroix.’
‘So Elodie’s involved in whatever’s going on?’
‘Dead right. Sounds to me like it was her idea. They spun Angela a yarn about you sabotaging the project, and promised her money to get you out of the way. What did you find out that scared them?’
‘I don’t know yet. There’s some strange code linked to a cell in the processors, and I think it may be a worm they’re planning to load into the Mark VII ACRE upload. I’m worried that Daniel Oberhart and Sharif could be involved.’
‘When did you make the discovery?’
‘Tuesday night. I tested it on Wednesday morning, but I couldn’t work out what it was doing.’
‘Then I doubt they’re involved. Angela said Elodie came to see her on Wednesday, before she called you. Looks like the plan was made off-the-cuff, as soon as you got suspicious.’
‘You’re probably right. Tom must have asked Shen about that cell, and he got Elodie to talk to Angela straight away. We’d already finalised the software, so I was dispensable.’
‘The other pointer is that US Homeland Security’s investigating Lee-Win and ev
eryone involved with them, especially Shen and Elodie.’
‘Homeland Security? You mean, Billy Chillicott?’
Coetzee briefed him on Chillicott’s call to Ed and his conversation with the general. ‘There’s definitely something very big going on for a senior US security officer to be looking into a Chinese processor company.’
‘Shit! I had no idea it was anything like this! I wrote some software, and now it looks like they might be planning a cyber-attack.’
‘Ed told me you’d cracked some problems to get it finished.’
‘I wish I hadn’t. There’s billions of Lee-Win processors out there that will be accessed by the upload. It could cause mayhem.’
‘Sounds like we’ve got a problem. I’ve got your laptop at Ed’s place. Can you do anything with what you’ve got in there?’
‘It’s possible. I’ve got the whole package and the last test runs, and that weird code and cell number. I have to try. I mean, I helped them to get this launch airborne, I can’t let it cause some kind of world crisis.’
‘In that case, Leo, you need a safe place to work in, and it isn’t XPC. I talked to Emma and Jenny and suggested you come down to Delmas with me for a while. We’ve built a pretty good set-up there since you were last down. Small lab, lots of equipment I can’t operate, half a dozen clever programmers, plus my brilliant daughter. She and Karen would be delighted, of course, but that’s irrelevant. What do you think?’
‘What did Mum and Aunt Jenny say?’
‘They said you should decide and they’d agree with your decision.’
Leo thought through the alternatives, and they weren’t great. In fact, he couldn’t think of any at all. ‘You don’t mind?’
‘I’ve got the tickets here. We leave at six tonight via Doha, and get to Joburg at ten tomorrow morning. Business class, OK with you?’
‘OK, let’s do it. Thanks, Marius. I’ve got time to call my mum and pack a few things. And take a shower, I must stink after festering in that pigsty. I’ll have to ask Ed to look after some stuff for me,’ he grimaced, ‘that includes my bike, I suppose.’
The African Diamond Trilogy Box Set Page 135
