The Scottish Banker of Surabaya

( 43 )

She managed to catch the incoming call before it went to voicemail.

“It’s Torsney and Valliant,” Kevin Torsney said.

Ava paused. “Where is Marc?” she asked.

“Ms. Kwong, we don’t need Sergeant Lafontaine anymore, do we. He opened the door. You really can’t expect any more than that from him. We certainly don’t.”

“No, I guess not.”

“Good. Now to get directly to the point, have you thought about our request for more time?” Torsney said.

“I have.”

“And?”

“No.”

“That is rather disappointing.”

“And also, if you don’t mind me saying, quite counterproductive,” Valliant added.

“We have differing views on what is productive,” Ava said. “For me, it’s getting things done quickly; for you, it’s crossing every t and dotting every i.”

“We’re hardly being that unreasonable.”

“Perhaps not.”

“Ms. Kwong, is there some middle ground we can agree on?”

“Do you have any suggestions?”

“No, not really. We were hoping for some flexibility from your side.”

“Well, actually I have been thinking about another way to approach this,” Ava said. “My client needs his money and he needs it quickly. You need verification that everything we have told you is true. What if there’s a way to accomplish both of those things?”

“How could that be possible?” Torsney said.

“Do you have an interest?”

“Of course we do.”

“Are you prepared and are you authorized to make a commitment?”

“We would need to know what you have in mind.”

“There’s a shipment of cash scheduled to arrive in Surabaya tomorrow night. It will be delivered to the two Italians who run the ’Ndrangheta’s operations there.”

“How do you know that?”

“My client has the information.”

“How much money?”

“I don’t know, and he never knows, but certainly it will run into many millions. At least thirty, I hope.”

“Where and when will it arrive?”

“I’m not prepared to tell you yet.”

“What are you proposing?” Torsney said.

“We meet the shipment. We take the cash.”

“Jesus Christ,” Valliant said.

“That isn’t the kind of rational response I expected,” Ava said.

“What did you expect?”

“I’m giving you the means to prove that the money is being shipped in and laundered. I’m giving you two men you can connect to the ’Ndrangheta. I am also giving you the means to pay our thirty million dollars without it costing the Canadian taxpayers a dime. So what I expected you to say was something more along the lines of ‘What do we have to do to make this happen?’”

“Ms. Kwong, you’re talking about Indonesia, not Canada. And even if it was Canada, I’m not sure we could do what you’re suggesting,” Torsney said.

“I’m not recommending that we do it without the Indonesians. They would obviously have to be involved and, for all practical purposes, be in the lead. And tell me, why wouldn’t they jump at a chance to end an international money-laundering scheme being run through one of their banks?”

“I’m not saying they wouldn’t.”

“Good. Go cut a deal with them. You and the Indonesians can split anything over and above what I need to take off the top. If it’s less than thirty, I’ll take whatever it is and not ask for another dollar. And when I get the money, however much it is, I will immediately send you all the other bank records in our possession. That’s fair, don’t you think?”

“You would actually trust us to tell you how much money was seized? And you would expect us to trust you enough to send you money before we have the complete bank records?”

“Mr. Torsney, none of this can happen without trust, and so far it has been a one-way street. You know who my client is, you know the name of the bank, you have partial records, and now you know about an incoming shipment of cash. When do we get some in return?”

“You said the money will arrive tomorrow night?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“As sure as I can be.”

“But you won’t tell us where and how?”

“Not until you decide that you’re onside.”

“How large an operation do you think we’re talking about?”

“I’m told that two people, unarmed civilians, accompany the shipment. They will be met by the two Italians. You have to assume that they will be armed and resistant.”

“Ms. Kwong, I have to say that your proposal does have some appeal,” Valliant said. “It would certainly confirm your client’s credibility.”

“And give you the money to pay him.”

“Yes, I did understand that part of it. And yes, it would certainly be appreciated by our budget-conscious masters here.”

“Assuming we can get the Indonesians to agree to it,” Torsney said.

“There’s no point in discussing that point with Ms. Kwong,” Valliant said. “Ms. Kwong, would you mind if we took a five-minute break?”

“To do what?”

“Discuss your proposal.”

“Five minutes?”

“Maybe ten. But it’s just Kevin, myself, and our boss who need to review it.”

“Do you want to call me back or put me on hold?”

“We’ll call you.”

Ava sat at the desk as five minutes turned into ten and then fifteen. She had no idea what they might do, but to her surprise she didn’t feel the least bit anxious. There would either be a deal or there wouldn’t be. It wasn’t going exactly the way she and Uncle had planned it, but whatever choice the Mounties made, she and Uncle would be ending this job in the next twenty-four hours.

When the call came in, she let the phone ring four times before answering. “Yes?” she said.

“We have decided we’re onside as far as Ottawa is concerned,” Valliant said.

“Good.”

“But now we need to talk to the Indonesians before making a final commitment.”

“Of course.”

“You know that it can’t be done without the Indonesians,” Torsney said.

“So we’re not making any promises,” Valliant added.

“I understand. Now, about the Indonesians — whoever speaks to them should keep in mind that at least some customs officials are being paid off by the Italians. Some central bank regulators are on the take as well, so at all costs those two groups have to be kept entirely out of the loop.”

“It won’t be anyone here speaking to them, but I will pass that information along,” Torsney said.

“Thank you.”

Half an hour later, Torsney called again. “You will be dealing with Ryan Poirier. He is our senior man at the embassy in Jakarta. He’s feeling out the Indonesians as we speak. You can expect to hear from him before the night is out.”

“Is he RCMP or Canadian Security Intelligence Service?”

“He’s the assistant commercial minister at the embassy.”

“Marc is the assistant trade commissioner at the high commission in Georgetown.”

“Ryan also wears several hats. It’s up to him if he wishes to expand on that.”

One more twist, Ava thought. First, so much for Marc Lafontaine, and now, so much for Ottawa. She couldn’t help but feel that whatever control she thought she had was slipping away as she got passed along the chain of command.