by Len Maynard
‘Yes, me. Special Agent Martinez. Just like it says on the card.’
‘Does Sam know?’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘No, of course not. As far as he’s concerned I’m just Billie Martinez, the photographer who gatecrashed his party in the Bahamas. But who do you think it was who facilitated his meeting with Alan Lancaster in the first place?’
Wheels within wheels. I was getting sick of the machinations. I just wanted someone, anyone, to be straight with me and not be working from some kind of hidden agenda.
‘What do you want?’ I said.
‘I want to know what you know. And if you’re planning to go out there and bring down the bad guys, I want to come with you.’
‘Not going to happen,’ I said, shaking my head.
‘So, I ring Assistant Commissioner Brooks and tell him you’re withholding vital evidence and planning to do the whole Charles Bronson vigilante bit?’
I stared at her and she stared back…a challenge.
‘You’d do that.’ It wasn’t a question. I could see in her eyes that she didn’t make threats lightly.
‘I’d do that.’
‘Right. But get used to the idea that this is my show. For me this is personal. Don’t expect me to be looking out for you.’
‘That’s fair. We’d better tell Sam and Stevie to go back to Freeport without us.’
***
After a token protest from Stevie and a look of confused resignation from Sam, Billie and I took a cab back to the harbor. As we boarded Alan’s Princess, Billie said, ‘This really is a beautiful boat. I’m not big into boats, but this one has the wow factor. Does it have a name?’
‘It’s written on the side.’
She read it aloud. I knew she would.
‘Sallyanna,’ she said, and saw the expression of pain on my face. ‘Sorry, Harry. I wasn’t thinking.’
‘It doesn’t matter. Not anymore,’ I said.
‘No, Harry, it does. What we’re about to do now…well, it’s for them, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I suppose it is.’
As I steered the Princess out of the harbor, Billie said, ‘So, are you going to tell me now?’
I handed her the red flash drive. ‘There’s a laptop down in the lounge. Run this and then you’ll know what I know.’
She took it and disappeared below.
74
I flicked on the radio and called Max Donahoe on The Minotaur.
‘Harry, good to hear from you,’ the ebullient voice came over the speaker.
‘I’ll be passing by your way soon. Mind if I come aboard for a chat?’
‘I’d be delighted, old boy. What time should I expect you?’
‘Give me an hour.’
‘An hour. Splendid. I’ll look forward to it.’
After he disconnected I rang Henderson again. ‘What’s your ETA?’
‘We’re just coming in to land at Linden Pindling Airport. There’s a police launch waiting for us. I reckon we can rendezvous in just over the hour,’ he said.
‘Is Brooks with you?’
Jim lowered his voice. ‘Yes, he’s here, but he’s not happy, Harry. Not happy at all.’
‘I can live with that. See you soon.’ I rang off.
Fifty minutes later Billie came up to the flight deck.
‘You read fast.’
‘I’ve skimmed it, but I know all I need to know. I’ve sent all the salient details to my computer at the Miami field office, so it will be waiting for me when I get back.’ She sat down in the seat next to mine on the flight deck, pushing her hair away from her face. ‘This is big, Harry. Much bigger than I thought. Once this story breaks and the guilty parties are exposed, the media is going to have a field day. Some of the names mentioned in the files took my breath away. I know a few of them personally. That made me feel a bit queasy.’
‘I know,’ said. ‘I had a similar reaction last night when I went through the files. Did you look at the photos?’
‘Yes, I did. Did you?’
‘Some of them,’ I said. ‘But they turned my stomach as much as reading the names and the details of the transactions did. I couldn’t carry on with them.’
‘That’s a shame, because the photos answer a lot more questions; but I can understand your reticence. They’re revolting. The fact that these people want to indulge in such perverted acts is one thing, but wanting to be photographed whilst doing them, that’s something else again. The photos made me feel sick, but they also made me sad, very sad, that there are people like that out there. For them there can never be enough victims to satisfy their sick lust. I think the worst thing, Harry, is that we can expose this cartel and its clients, but across the world there are others just like it, indulging in the same trade; trafficking innocents to satisfy their needs. And once we’ve shut this one down here, another just like it will pop up in its place. We’re only scratching the surface.’
‘It’s a start,’ I said. ‘I’m just hoping that the media will turn the spotlight on what’s happening here. Perhaps if people worldwide start reading about it in their newspapers and magazines, and see features and documentaries on their TV’s, the outcry will be so great their respective governments will be forced into action. At the moment they just treat the whole human trafficking issue as an unsavory fact of life and sweep it under the carpet.’
‘You’re an optimist, Harry. I like that about you,’ she said.
‘You don’t think it will happen?’
‘I’m a realist. At the last count there are twenty-seven million people worldwide in one form of slavery or another. It’s an indigestible statistic and one that most governments shy away from. But you’re right about one thing. Once people see their favorite film stars, politicians, or whoever on the cover of their gossip magazines and tabloids charged with pedophilia and other sex crimes, they may just stand up and demand something’s done about it. We live in hope.’
I could see The Minotaur in the distance. I slowed the engines and searched the ocean in the hope that I might see the police launch, but so far there wasn’t a sign of it.
I had a choice. I could either wait for it to arrive or I could go and confront Max Donahoe with just Billie to provide back up if events turned nasty. I ran both scenarios past her.
‘I don’t like waiting around,’ she said. ‘Let’s move in.’
‘Fair enough,’ I said, and eased the throttle forward.
75
As we pulled up alongside The Minotaur, Max was there to greet me. He took one look at Billie and the smile froze on his face.
‘I didn’t realize you were bringing a guest,’ he said frostily.
‘Billie Martinez, Max Donahoe,’ I said.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Billie said, beaming mischievously.
‘Likewise, I’m sure,’ Max said, not thawing at all. ‘You’d better come aboard.’
I scanned the surrounding ocean again, but there was no sign of the police launch. I was starting to fear they were going to let me down again, but then I saw a boat in the distance, growing gradually larger. It had to be them.
We boarded The Minotaur and Max led us down to the stateroom, settled us into chairs as far away from each other as he could manage, and went to pour drinks.
‘So, Harry, how have you been?’
‘Since I last saw you, Max, positively lousy.’
‘Oh, come on, Harry, you do Ms. Martinez a disservice. How can life be that lousy, as you put it, when you have such an attractive consort?’
‘I agree, Max, Billie is very attractive. But as for being my consort, I’m afraid you’ve jumped to all the wrong conclusions. We’re not a couple. Ms. Martinez is here because she wanted to witness me blowing a hole in your self-absorbed, perverted lifestyle.’ I said it with a smile, and for a moment I didn’t think Max Donahoe actually heard me. But then the words registered, and his face creased into a confused frown.
‘I’m sorry, Harry, I don’t think I’m following you
.’ He stopped pouring.
‘The children, Max. I’m talking about the children you, and others like you, are using for your own sick purposes.’
The confusion cleared a little. ‘Ah,’ he said. ‘Katy warned me you had me in your sights. I didn’t really believe her. I thought you knew me too well to consider, even for a moment, that I’d be capable of such a thing. It seems I was wrong.’
‘If someone had told me that about you a week ago I wouldn’t have believed it. But now I have no choice. The evidence is damning.’
He handed me a Chivas Regal. ‘Drink that and I’ll explain. And believe me, I will tell you everything.’ He sat down on the chesterfield, crossing his stubby legs with difficulty.
‘Perhaps you’d better wait until the police get here.’ I heard another vessel draw alongside The Minotaur and cut its engines. ‘In fact, that sounds like them now.’
This was confirmed a few seconds later when a crewman burst into the stateroom. ‘It’s the police, sir. They’re asking to come aboard.’
‘Then let them,’ Max said. ‘I have nothing to hide.’
A few minutes later Assistant Commissioner Brooks strode into the stateroom, followed by Jim Henderson. Brooks seemed furious. ‘Mr. Beck, I was expecting you at the station this morning to make your statement. I was not expecting you to summon me to New Providence.’
‘I’m sorry, Brooks, but this really couldn’t wait. I asked you to come out here so you can make your first arrest in the child sex slavery case.’
‘Really?’ he said. ‘And who is it I should be arresting?’
I took out the flash drive. ‘I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely straight with you last night. The stick I gave you was one that Jack had mocked up to get me interested in the case, hoping that I would lead him to Alan Lancaster. This is the stick Alan gave me, the one on which he downloaded pages of evidence against the cartel and its clients. On this one you’ll not only find a list of names of all those involved, but also details of transactions each of them had with a company called Tarradon Exports, the name the cartel hides behind. One of their more prominent and prolific customers is Max Donahoe, who has purchased six children in the last year alone.’
A heavy silence settled over the stateroom, broken finally by Max himself. ‘Harry, I said I could explain everything, and I will.’ He went across and poured himself another drink.
76
I looked across at Billie but she was looking troubled, her eyes darting around the room, settling on faces and moving on. When her eyes finally met mine I really didn’t like the look of uncertainty I saw there.
Max sat back down and took a sip of his drink. ‘I admire you, Harry, always have. The way you’ve pursued this case says a lot for your moral character and your sheer bloody doggedness. I realize that the evidence against me looks to be overwhelming. It’s true; I did purchase children from Tarradon Exports. But not for any perverted sexual need. I bought them to protect them from exactly the kind of person you think I am.’
‘Bullshit!’ I said. I turned to Brooks. ‘Aren’t you going to do anything?’
‘I think we need to hear Mr. Donahoe out first,’ he said.
Max Donahoe took another mouthful of his drink and swallowed. ‘I first became aware of Tarradon Exports when it was brought to my attention by A.C. Brooks here. He was involved in a joint US and Bahamian investigation into sex slavery and pedophilia, and they needed someone on the inside of the cartel; someone with money who would be seen as a very useful customer for the organization. I was approached and asked to act as that customer.’
Brooks picked up the story. ‘Through Mr. Donahoe here we gained a much broader insight into how the cartel was run. Their shipping patterns, where they sourced the children they were selling, and all manner of peripheral information we could only guess at before we had someone on the inside. Mr. Donahoe presented himself as a client with an insatiable lust for the product they were offering. As you said, Mr. Beck, six children in the last year alone. That’s six children Mr. Donahoe has personally settled in safe and secure foster homes, with trust funds established to see them comfortably into adulthood.’
‘Why go to all that trouble?’ Billie said. ‘Why not just reunite them with their families?’
‘What, so they can be sold again when the next bastard comes along with a wad of cash?’ Max said angrily. ‘No, I assure you, my way’s better.’
‘I misjudged you, Max,’ I said. ‘Badly misjudged you.’
‘Yes, you did, Harry,’ Katy said. I spun around in my seat as Katy walked into the stateroom and sat down next to her father. ‘And I think you owe him an apology.’
I sighed. I’d just made a complete and utter fool of myself. Again. ‘I apologize, Max. I got it so wrong.’
He waved it away. ‘To be honest, Harry, presented with the same evidence, I would have reached the same conclusion. So don’t feel bad about it.’
‘So I’m afraid, Mr. Beck, I won’t be arresting anyone.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure, Assistant Commissioner,’ Billie said.
All eyes turned to Billie, who was sitting forward in her seat. ‘Mr. Donahoe, do you have a computer we can use?’
Max looked surprised. ‘I have a laptop. It’s a bit antediluvian. Katy uses it when she’s staying over to search the Net and keep up with her friends on the social networking sites. Would that be any use to you?’
‘Sounds perfect,’ Billie said.
Katy got to her feet. ‘I’ll go and fetch it. It’s in my bedroom.’
‘What are you playing at?’ I said to Billie.
‘You’ll see soon enough.’
Katy returned and set the computer down on the coffee table in the center of the room. ‘It takes a while to boot up,’ she said. ‘Sorry, but as Dad said, it’s very old.’
The screen finally flickered into life and went through its startup programs. I tapped my foot impatiently while I waited. This day was not turning out how I had envisioned it, and it was making me nervous.
Eventually, the computer was ready.
‘Harry, can I have the flash drive?’ Billie said.
I passed it across to her and she inserted it into the USB socket at the side of the laptop. It brought back memories of the hotel in downtown Freeport and the day I had first met this woman. So much had happened since then, and so many people had died.
‘Okay,’ she said as her fingers flew over the keys.
She entered an images file and was searching through. Finally, she hit the touch pad and a young girl’s face appeared on the screen. It was one of the children whose picture we had called up before. A young black girl, her hair neatly plaited into cornrows. Michelle, 8yrs, Cuban, Experienced, $15,000. I remembered the picture instantly, and felt the same wave of sadness I had felt then.
‘This is a small part of a bigger picture,’ Billie said. She clicked the touch pad again and another image filled the screen.
The girl, Michelle, was there, but this time she was flanked by two larger figures. It took me a while to absorb what I was seeing. Each of the two men was holding one of Michelle’s hands. They were both smiling, both black, both smartly dressed in the uniforms of the Bahamian police. One of them was Hector Reynolds, the other…the other….
I turned in my seat. ‘Jim?’
77
Henderson stood there staring at the screen, clutching his cap, turning it over and over in his hands. ‘Sorry, Harry,’ he said. ‘He got me into this. It was easy money, and Reynolds said it was totally safe. He was getting a huge retainer from the cartel in return for doctoring evidence, tipping them off when there was any threat to their security. He offered me a cut if I’d help him. It was too good an opportunity to turn down.’
‘So, when did it all go sour between you?’ I said.
‘The other day, when you called Reynolds and asked him to back you up at the warehouse. He tipped Jack Dylan off to what you were planning, and he was going to go along there to make sure you wou
ldn’t present a problem to Jack or the cartel.’
‘You mean he was going along there to kill me.’
Jim nodded. ‘I’m sorry, Harry,’ he said again. ‘I’m not a bad man, really I’m not. I couldn’t let him kill you. I love you too much, man.’
‘I’m touched. So, if I’ve got this right, you killed Hector Reynolds before he could kill me. Is that it?’
Henderson nodded and tortured his cap. ‘We were in the car on the way to the warehouse. He was on his mobile to Dylan, and I could hear Dylan giving him his instructions. I was driving, so I took a wrong turn deliberately and ended up on another part of the estate. Reynolds was furious. He started accusing me of sabotage, of putting my concern for you before the needs of Dylan and the cartel. I thought he was going to kill me.’
‘And you shot him.’
‘It was the only way to stop him, Harry. The only way.’
I stared at my old friend for what seemed like an eternity. I didn’t know what to say. I could have wept.
‘Well,’ Billie said. ‘You have your man, Assistant Commissioner.’
Brooks looked sick. His face was bleached white. ‘All this going on, right under my nose, in my own fucking station!’ He wheeled away from the computer screen. ‘Sergeant James Henderson, you are under arrest for the murder of…’
He didn’t get any further. Henderson dropped his cap and in its place was a sleek, silver automatic pistol. In one move he had grabbed Katy and wrapped his arm around her throat. He pressed the muzzle of the automatic to the side of her head. ‘Right,’ he said, his voice quavering. ‘If anyone moves I’ll shoot her.’
Max was struggling to his feet, but when Jim cocked the gun he collapsed back onto the chesterfield.
‘Daddy!’ Katy said.
‘Do as he says!’ Max barked. ‘All of you!’
I met Katy’s eyes. They were silently pleading.
Jim moved backwards towards the door of the stateroom, dragging Katy with him. ‘I’m not a bad man, Harry,’ he said again. ‘But I can’t go to prison, really I can’t. Can you imagine what it would be like for me?’