The Scottish Banker of Surabaya

( 44 )

Ryan Poirier called her two hours later. With a name like Poirier, Ava had expected at least a hint of a French-Canadian accent, but if anything his deep, rumbling voice contained traces of a Scottish brogue.

“Well, you’ve turned my Monday evening into an adventure,” he said. “That is quite the story that Ottawa relayed. I can only hope it doesn’t turn out to be a pig in a poke.”

“I’m impressed that you think enough of it to work late on a Monday night.”

“If it’s real, it warrants the effort.”

“It’s real enough.”

“Ms. Kwong, what kind of business do you run that brings in clients like the one you have now?”

“My name is Jennie. I’m an accountant, and my partner and I have a debt-collection business.”

“This is a little different, no?”

“Not as much as you might think. At the end of the day, it’s all about getting paid. We negotiate settlements all the time in the course of our business. This one is a bit odder than most, but money is money.”

“Yes, the money does seem to be your primary motivation.”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Not as long as the rest of the story holds together and we can capture some bad guys.”

“Like I said, it’s all real.”

“Well, real or not, it’s going to be you and me who carry the load now — along with the Indonesians, of course,” he said.

“Does that mean you’ve struck a deal with them?”

“A tentative one. They won’t sign off completely until they have all the details about the shipment, but assuming there isn’t any dramatic change from what I’ve been told, there shouldn’t be a problem. They were more reluctant to commit to turning over as much as thirty million dollars to a third party.”

“Were?”

“They have now been persuaded.”

“Mr. Poirier, you did keep Customs out of this?”

“I spoke to a senior military officer. No one else is involved or needs to be involved.”

“So where does that leave us?”

“We need to get prepared for tomorrow night, and that starts with you telling me absolutely everything you know about the shipment.”

“The money will arrive by plane, a private jet owned by or registered to a company called Brava Italia.”

“What time?”

“I don’t know, but they will have had to file a flight plan. They’ve been arriving every Tuesday night for some time now, so we should be able to run a background check and see what’s normal.”

“Always into Surabaya?”

“Yes. They have some kind of deal with the Customs people there.”

“Just the pilot and co-pilot on board?”

“That’s what I’m told.”

“And not armed?”

“Correct.”

“What happens after it lands?”

“It’s taken to a hangar. The Italians meet it there to unload the money. They use a panel truck to transport it to the bank.”

“How many guards?”

“I’m told it’s just the two Italians. Normally my client would be there as well, but obviously he isn’t available.”

“Do these Italians have names?”

“Foti and Chorico.”

“And we should assume the Italians are carrying weapons?”

“Definitely.”

“Do they always use the same hangar?”

“I don’t know.”

“Ask your client.”

“He’s out of reach right now. He’s paranoid about getting in touch with anyone until he gets his money. I have a prearranged time to call him tomorrow night.”

“Out of reach?”

“He’s in hiding.”

“Get him out of hiding. I need him to be at the airport tomorrow night.”

“Not a chance,” Ava said.

“That represents a problem for me,” Poirier said slowly.

“Why?”

“The plan is to have a squad of Indonesian security forces there to meet the plane. They’re superbly trained professional soldiers and will be led by a captain who happens to be a friend. So it will be them and me. And if, for whatever reason, the plane doesn’t arrive, or if it arrives carrying a shipment of Italian silk scarves, or if it arrives and we end up in a gun battle with ten Italians . . . Do you understand?”

“You don’t want it all on you.”

“I don’t want any of it on me, or the Canadian government.”

“The plane will be there as described.”

“If you’re that convinced, why won’t your client agree to be there? He can confirm the amount of money it’s carrying. He can positively identify the Italians. And he has absolutely nothing to fear, given that an elite squad of Indonesian soldiers will be protecting him.”

“I’ll try to reach him.”

“Yes, please do that.”

“But I can’t promise —”

“Ms. Kwong, I want the man there.”

“I will do what I can.”

“No, you are not hearing me correctly. I want him there.”

“And I will do what I can,” Ava said.

“Okay, and while you’re doing that, I’m going to be talking to my friend the captain. Assuming your client agrees to make an appearance, his squad will fly into Surabaya tomorrow on a military plane.”

“And if I can’t reach my client?”

“Then no one will be going anywhere. We’ll wait until you can.”

“I think it’s important to move quickly.”

“That isn’t my problem.”

This man is not going to bend, Ava thought. “Mr. Poirier, given the problematic circumstances, would you be prepared to accept a substitute?”

“Who?”

“Me.”

“Are you serious?”

“Entirely. I mean, if the sole purpose of his being there is to have someone designated accountable if things get f*cked up, then what difference does it make if it’s him or me? In fact, if you think about it, it’s more logical to have me there. I’m the one who’s been in contact with the Mounties and who’s passed along all the information they and you have.”

“I’m almost glad to hear you say that.”

“Why?”

“It gives me more faith that what you’ve been telling us may indeed be true.”

“I didn’t realize you doubted me.”

“You aren’t naive enough to think that I didn’t.”

“True . . . Now, how about my offer?”

“Are you guaranteeing I will see either you or your client tomorrow in Surabaya?”

“I am.”

“I have a strong feeling, Ms. Kwong, that it’s going to be you.”

“That won’t be such a bad thing,” she said.