“They’re not retarded. Their brains work differently than other peoples. Just like my metabolism works differently than yours.”
The corpulent chief looked down at his body, as if trying to find his metabolism to examine and compare it with Kate’s.
“You either begin searching for those children or release me so I can.”
“We can’t release you,” Kusnadi said.
“Why not?”
“We haven’t ruled you out as a suspect.”
“That’s absurd—”
“I know, Doctor, I know, trust me. But what would you have me do? I can’t tell my investigators who is and is not a suspect. That would be improper. I have, however, convinced them to keep you in this holding cell. They insisted I move you to the common holding area — those are co-ed and, I’m afraid, not well-monitored.” He paused a moment, then opened the file again. “But I think I can at least delay that for a while. In the mean time, I have some questions of my own. Our records say you bought a condo here in Jakarta, paid cash, the equivalent of 700 thousand US Dollars.” He looked up at her and when she said nothing, he continued. “Our bank contact says you keep a checking account with an average balance of 300 thousand, US equivalent, dollars. That account receives periodic transfers from a bank in the Cayman Islands.”
“My bank balance has nothing to do with this.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t. But you can see how it looks to my investigators. How did you get so much money, if I may ask?”
“I inherited it.”
The chief raised his eyebrows and seemed to brighten. “Ah, from your grandparents?”
“No, from my father. Look, we’re wasting time here.”
“What did he do?”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
“Banking, or, he was an investor. I don’t know, I was very young.”
“I see.” The chief nodded. “I believe we can help each other, Doctor. We can convince my investigators that you are not involved in the kidnapping and give my department the resources it desperately needs to find these re-, these… helpless children.”
Kate stared at him. It all made sense now. “I’m listening.”
“I believe you, Dr. Warner. But as I say, my investigators, they look at the evidence, and, they know what a jury will think, and between me and you, Dr. Warner, I think maybe, a little bit, they dislike foreigners, maybe especially Americans. I believe the only way to really ensure your safety and to get what we both want is to find these children. That will clear your name.”
“So what the are you waiting for?”
“As I said before, Dr. Warner, we are a small department. Finding these children… I would need more resources, people outside my department. But, I am sorry to say, an investigation like this would cost a lot, probably 2 million dollars. Ah, US Dollars. But if I call in some favors, I think we can do it for 1.5 million. But time is of the essence, my dear Doctor, the children could be anywhere by now. I can only hope they are still alive.”
“1.5 million dollars.”
The chief nodded.
“You’ll have it. But you release me first.”
“I would like nothing more, Doctor, believe me. But promises made by suspects in interrogation rooms.” He lifted his hands.
“Fine, get me a phone and the details of your— the bank account. And get me a car.”
“Right away, Doctor.” He smiled, stood, and left.
He left Kate in the interrogation room alone. She sat at the table again, put a knee up in the chair, and ran her hand threw her blond hair. The woman in the mirror wall looked nothing like the hopeful scientist who had moved to Jakarta four years ago.
The chief shut the door to the interrogation room. 1.5 million! He could retire. His whole family could retire. 1.5 million… Could he have gotten more, maybe 2, or 2.5? 3 Million? She could have more. Much more. She agreed to 1.5 instantly. Maybe he could go back and say he’d have to hire more people. It will cost 4 million. He would have taken $250,000; he had expected to get less. He stood in front of the interrogation room and pondered what to do.
He wouldn’t go back immediately. He could soften her up even more. A few hours in the drunk tank, with the cameras off. He’d have to be careful, he didn’t want her running to the US Embassy afterward, but if he was careful, he could make some real money today.
CHAPTER 16
Secure Comms Room
Clocktower Station HQ
Jakarta, Indonesia
Josh glanced at the red dots on the positioning screen. In the hour since David had left, the twenty-four red dots — representing all of Jakarta Station’s field operatives — had moved from Station HQ to locations across the city. Now the map showed four groups of six dots.