by Brian Cain
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
Friday the 15th of October 2010 9.00 am, the lair; Stanton monitored the global chaos surrounding the nuclear conspiracy, watching news channels on television. The power of false information or rumours can taint character; the power of correct information can bring down the tallest poppies in the field in the right hands. Stanton had one more person he wanted to talk to, Jean Forbes. She had been busy fending off the connection with her son’s arrest since it happened but still attended to her government duties including public appearances. Other than being a courier Stanton had found no evidence to say she was gaining any financial benefit from the arms sales and she was either operating under duress or very smart.
Her son had opened the flood gates, cooperating with police and categorically denied his mother had any involvement. She was the head of the departments involved in Australian security and Stanton thought she would have fallen by now but she still remained publicly backed by Bevan Stanwell. Stanton held Stanwell in the highest regard, knowing he would stand anyone down with a shred of evidence they were involved in matters against the state.
Forbes was opening a new correctional centre facility today in Cessnock, NSW and Stanton knew how he could talk to Forbes in person.
Cadiche drove his squad car through the gate of the new facility after running the gauntlet of the protesters in the street, verified his ID with security then sauntered through the guests scattered about in groups towards the stage. He parked with other police vehicles clear of the tent that backed on to the stage, opened the boot and let Stanton out.
Kay, now Cadiche's fiancée entered the tent and interrupted Jean Forbes talking with a group of people, taking her to one side. Stanton had withdrawn out of sight to the edge of a creek under some trees at the back of the tent and watched the water flow by from recent rains. Kay and Cadiche showed Forbes where Stanton was and waited at the crest of the creek bank that gently sloped down to the tree line where Stanton had his back to her some fifty metres away. Forbes stopped next to Stanton by the water and Stanton looked at her.
"You're not Graham Billet, who are you? Officers down here please!" Kay and Cadiche stood with their backs to her and chatted.
"No I'm not Billet, my name’s Stanton, John Stanton, make any fuss at all and we’ll do it the hard way."
"My God Stanton, Bevan Stanwell had been wanting to talk to you for the last three weeks but you seem to have just disappeared."
"I've been busy, fishing trip. Interesting you would want to see Billet down by the creek here, quite a romantic spot."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know a gentleman called Peter Price?"
"No."
"Jacob Ahmadi, young Kuwaiti, delivers satchels, know him?"
"How do you know these people?"
"Dr Hislup, Canberra psychiatrist, you've been seeing him for some time, a long time."
"That is my business!"
"Your business has been encroaching on mine, what was in the satchels?"
"I have no idea, I passed them on to Ben Porter."
"You regularly picked up satchels one a month in fact, and never asked any questions." Forbes looked around nervously.
"I can't tell you anything, because I don't know."
"If you don't tell me something you may end up in one of these places opening here today for the rest of your life or I may have to deal with you." Forbes chest began to heave and her eyes lit up like diamonds. "Powerful men excite you don't they Jean; sexually that is. Must be very fulfilling being a nymphomaniac and dealing with powerful men every day. Dr Hislup unable to help but very satisfying."
"You bastard, do what you want to me I can feel your power."
"You randy bitch, that's how you are so successful holding people together. It’s easy for you, got them eating out of your hand and several other places no doubt. Have a look at you, if you were a weapon you'd be a nuclear war head, I'm glad they don't go off as quick as you."
"So, you have me, take me, I'm powerless, put your hands on me." She began to life her skirt leaning back against the tree, her eyes glowing like stars in the dead of night.
"I hope my wife has stopped doing this shit. Get to Canberra, get to work. You'll inadvertently stumble on some information that will assist you in sorting some things out. We can't be blamed for being ourselves." Stanton walked away with Forbes looking daggers at him, her chest heaving with passion. He walked past Cadiche and Kay. "Let's get out of here, nuclear weapon here ready to go off, just needs a detonator."