The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6)

by Sewell, Ron

  The waitress arrived with the coffee and fresh orange juice. “The chef asked me to say your main course will take fifteen to twenty minutes but the whitebait is ready.”

  “As that’s my starter, I’m ready.”

  “One moment, sir.”

  “But the insurance company paid out. So are you suggesting someone briefed the pirates?”

  “Your whitebait, sir.”

  Petros’ eyes met those of the girl’s. “They look excellent. Thank you.”

  “I have no proof but after leaving Somali waters the Goliath could have taken any route the captain considered favourable.” He ate a few forkfuls of the fish. “They were five hundred nautical miles from landfall. The pirates boarded without being seen because they knew exactly where she was. An inside job in more ways than one. Someone on that boat opened the door.”

  “Your dinner, sir.” The waitress placed an overflowing platter in front of Bear and a plated meal for Petros

  “You may be right but I’m sure the whole scenario was investigated. Funny they never found any trace of the ship.”

  “Have you seen a ship breakers’ yard? Organised chaos. At Alang, in India, six-miles of beach exist where 40,000 men tear apart half of the world’s forgotten ships. Swamp it with men and your tanker disappears.”

  Bear cut a large chunk from his steak and shoved it in his mouth, chewed, swallowed. “It’s an interesting theory and you might be right but those who steal ships are not our problem. We’re here to stop them or at best make it difficult. And since when have you been an expert on ship breaking?”

  “So who left the door open on Goliath?”

  “Don’t know and don’t care. Now can I eat this superb steak without you wittering?”

  Petros nodded. “You’re right, enjoy your meal.”

  Bear opened his mouth and filled it with steak. Petros ate his liver.

  With their meal finished both men enjoyed large brandies.

  “Why can’t we do the job we’re paid for and go home?”

  Petros shrugged. “Because someone might not let us.”

  Bear shifted in his chair. “I’m knackered and need my beauty sleep. I’m off to bed. John’s picking us up at seven-thirty. I’ll book us an alarm call for six, can’t miss breakfast.”

  Petros’ mobile rang. He glanced at Bear. “It’s Maria. See you in the morning.”

  Bear stood. “Give her my love.” He waved and left.

  Chapter Five

  Petros woke when the telephone rang with the automated alarm. Not thinking he said, “Thank you,” to the machine. Rested and ready to face the day, he tossed back the sheets. Prior to taking a shower he phoned Bear to check he was awake. His second call was to order breakfast.

  At twenty-five past seven, Bear and Petros stood on the steps to the hotel chatting as they waited for John.

  To the second the car stopped at the entrance. John jumped out. “Good morning, gentlemen. Stanley’s in his office with copy plans of Leviathan. A disused office has been cleared and furnished for your use.”

  “Morning, John,” they said in unison.

  Both men strolled to the vehicle. As was John’s duty he opened the rear door of the car, closing it once they were seated.

  “John, do us a favour, take us straight to the ship. We don’t need an office this morning,” said Petros.

  “Whatever you say.”

  Fifteen minutes later both men alighted and stood at the bottom of the gangway which led to the main deck of Leviathan.

  Petros turned to Bear. “Time to take a wander. Let’s start at the bow.”

  Bear stared at the length of the tanker. “It’s bloody big.”

  On Leviathan and at the end of the gangway stood a plump man in red overalls wearing a hard hat of the same colour. “Who are you and what d’you want?” His tone expressed annoyance.

  “Good morning. Mr Kyriades and Mr Morris. We are here to inspect this vessel to improve the security measures.”

  The man frowned as from the drawer of his desk he removed a file. “You’re not on the list of contractors.”

  “I suggest you telephone Stanley Ford,” said Petros.

  “You must be joking. People like me don’t phone Mr Ford.”

  Bear shrugged. “Catch twenty-two. We’ll stay here until someone does. I enjoy being paid for doing nothing and I don’t want you to get a rollicking on our behalf.”

  All three looked left at the sound of footsteps on the metal deck.

  A tall man wearing white overalls and a hard hat approached. “What’s the problem, Adams?”

  Adams licked his lips. “Sir, these two,” he pointed, “want to inspect the ship and their names aren’t on my list.”

  “Andy Young, Chief Officer. “Can I be of assistance?”

  “Congratulations on your promotion,” said Petros. “You were on Goliath when the pirates boarded.”

  Andy shook his head as a flood of memories surfaced. “You have me at a disadvantage Mr...”

  “Petros Kyriades and this is my associate William Morris. Contact Stanley Ford, he’s in the loop.”

  Andy lifted the telephone and pressed a few numbers. “Good morning, Susan. Andy Young on the Leviathan. Do you know of two Brits undertaking an inspection of my ship?”

  He listened, nodded. “Thanks, Susan.” He faced the two men. “My apologies for the inconvenience but have you any ID. My orders are to make sure you are who you say you are?

  “Will a UK driving licence suffice? asked Petros.

  “It’s good enough for me.”

  From their jacket pockets both men removed their wallets and handed Andy their licenses.

  He gave them a cursory glance. “Thanks. Adams, get these men blue hard hats.”

  Adams rummaged in a locker near the gangway. “Two hard hats, sir.”

  Andy grinned. “Thank you. Blue tells everyone you’re a visitor. If you have any questions ask whoever’s on gangway duty to call me. I’m always around somewhere. Our new captain arrives in a few days; I’ll introduce you when I can.”

  “Can we have a chat sometime?” asked Petros.

  Andy checked the time. “Tea and coffee are available in the officers’ mess. I can give you fifteen minutes. Come this way and mind the wires.”

  “The bridge looks even bigger from down here,” said Bear.

  Andy laughed. “It’s thirty metres higher than this deck. Below is the engine room and auxiliary spaces. At the top is the main bridge from where the ship is controlled, although there’s an emergency control panel in the engine room. The next deck contains the computer room or the brain as we call it and the captain’s and senior officers’ accommodation. Below that are the junior officers’ quarters. Then we have the crew’s cabins, galley and mess and last but not least, a whole gaggle of store rooms. The rest, tanks and pump rooms.”

  Petros stopped and stared at the white-painted structure. “I see one central door.”

  “One is sufficient. On either side from the stern are external ladders that lead to each deck level and the bridge.”

  Petros ran his fingers through his hair. “I assume there’s an access door at each level.”

  “Yes.”

  “Andy, how did the pirates board Goliath?”

  He stopped walking, turned and faced the two men. “Not sure but they must have somehow fixed a grappling hook on the stern and one man climbed on board. With modern climbing equipment it’s not difficult.”

  “And every door was locked?” asked Bear.

  Andy frowned. “I was on watch and as far as I know all apart from the bridge wing doors were locked.”

  “Don’t these things have door alarms fitted?” asked Bear.

  “We were five hundred miles from land and having cleared the straights between Yemen and Somalia believed we were safe from attack. Even our armed guards relaxed and slept. I admit they caught us with our pants down.”

  “Any suggestions on how we can stop them next time?”


  “We have made improvements. Cameras have been fitted to the stern and on the top of the bridge. We have great deck coverage. Razor wire around every guardrail will slow them down.”

  “Any water cannon?” asked Bear.

  “None. Tell you what guys, we'll have our coffee and then you two can wander around and make up a list of recommendations. At a convenient time we can sit in the mess and have a chat. It would be best if the chief engineer were here as well.”

  “Good plan,” said Petros.

  “Any sandwiches available?” asked Bear.

  “I’ll ask the steward. What would you like?”

  “Whatever he has to hand but cheese and pickle might be tasty.”

  “One or two?”

  “Two please.”

  They followed Andy inside the superstructure until he stopped. “All mod-cons. We use the lift when in harbour but not at sea.”

  In seconds they entered the officers’ mess, found three empty chairs and sat.

  The steward approached with cups and saucers, a plate of biscuits and placed them on the table. “Coffee or tea? White or black?”

  Each man gave his preference and Andy asked for two rounds of cheese and pickle sandwiches for Bear.

  “I know as a company we’ve covered the recommendations to prevent unauthorised boarding.”

  Petros sipped his coffee. “I’m sure you have but your big boss wants us to look at it from a different point of view and that’s defence. Bear and I will examine ways to get on board and then choose a method to thwart the invader. We already have one recommendation, high-pressure water cannon controlled from the bridge.”

  Andy shook his head. “Well, we’re in the right place to have them fitted but I doubt if the cost will be approved.”

  Petros tilted his head and fixed him with his eyes. “I don’t know the cost of this ship and its cargo but three water cannon would amount to pennies in comparison.”

  Andy shrugged. “I drive this beast from A to B and back again. The management agrees or disagrees on expenditure.” He glanced at the clock on the bulkhead. “I’d better be off, work calls. See you here at lunch for a chat and don’t forget your hard hats.”

  “Time to get back to work, Bear.”

  “I’m looking forward to lunch.”

  Petros raised his eyebrows. “Let’s wander to the bridge and have a gander.”

  They climbed the internal stairway to the bridge and stood by the huge front windows. “This is something else,” said Petros as he eyed the inbuilt equipment. “One man can control everything using this joystick. I imagine repeaters have been installed on each bridge wing.”

  “They appear to have two of everything.”

  “Just in case one fails. Take a peek at this keyboard. Type in the command and it happens. Speed, course, engines, lighting, everything is here and a computer read-out which displays faults as and when.”

  “It’s a long drop to the water,” said Bear as he peered out of the stern windows.

  Petros stepped forward. “A fit young man or woman with climbing gear could cover that distance in no time. We have no choice but to stop them.”

  “A sharp edge will cut rope or wire.”

  “What we need is a lead or plumb line to determine the right position.”

  “I’ll ask the men on the main deck.” To save time, Bear used the lift.

  Petros leant on the bulwark and stared through the almost parallel gap between the dock wall and the stern.

  Bear stepped out of the lift. “This will do.” He handed over a length of line with a steel shackle tied to one end.

  “Ideal.” Petros lowered the heavy shackle over the stern until the end of the line was held in his right hand. “As straight as they come. Perfect for climbing.”

  “Plenty of places for a grapnel to snag itself,” said Bear staring at the structure above.

  “I’ll suggest the whole of the stern have a metal plate bolted or welded and the edge sharpened. That’ll close this door.”

  “Still reckon water cannon are a great defence system.”

  “I agree and these bulkhead doors should be locked by electronic means from the inside and tagged with an indicator on the bridge.”

  Bear glanced out into the harbour where a tug manoeuvred a barge. “They’ll need to be opened in an emergency.”

  All except one, thought Petros. He glanced at his watch. “Lunch time.”

  “Best thing you’ve said all day, that is apart from breakfast.”

  While they ate lunch, Petros outlined his thoughts to Andy refining them with suggestions from others at the table.

  Bear scooped the remnants of apple pie and ice cream from his plate. He slapped his full stomach. “You eat well on this ship.”

  “Coffee?” asked the steward as he filled several cups.

  Petros and Bear nodded.

  Andy sipped his coffee. “You need to talk your ideas over with Stanley for his consent. Without his approval nothing will be done.”

  Petros took on board the suggestion. “One more question, Andy. The crew, who selects them?”

  Andy leant closer to the two men. “Head office ensures the six, sorry five tankers we operate have a full complement. Each vessel has two crews. We complete one trip, miss the next and so on. These ships never stop unless they have to.”

  Petros nodded. “So what happened to the two crews who manned Goliath?”

  A flash of movement caught Bear’s attention as the steward lifted empty cups from the tables.

  Andy ran his fingers through his hair and waited for the steward to leave. “Good job we never said anything important. Anyway, in answer to your question, most of the officers have been reallocated to other vessels in the company. Some gave their notice after the attack. With regard to the crew, most are regulars but we do have one, maybe two, new men on every trip. I call it natural wastage.”

  Petros looked at the time. “What nationalities are they?”

  “Chinese, Malay, Mexican, you name it. So long as they’re qualified we take them on. I hope you’re not implying the pirates gained help from a member of the crew.”

  Bear sighed. “And money makes the world go round. Discover a mixture of greed and madness and the poorest people will do whatever you want.”

  Petros spoke without looking up. “Can you direct us to Stanley’s office?”

  “I’ll do better than that. I’ll take you.”

  Chapter Six.

  Petros and Bear waited in silence for Stanley Ford to end his telephone call. Ten minutes later and disgruntled, he slammed the receiver into its cradle.

  His face held no warmth as he shot both men a withering look. “I disagree with my CEO but I’m required to implement your recommendations. Give me your list and we can discuss them in detail.”

  “We need to defeat these people or at worst make their lives so uncomfortable they give up,” said Petros. “This is a war. Didn’t someone once say, to keep the peace one must prepare for war? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we owned a magic wand and all would be well with the world? It’s not going to happen.”

  Stanley held out his hand. “The speeches I can do without. Your proposals.”

  Petros handed over the sheet of foolscap.

  He looked straight at Petros and held up the list. “You will, of course, supervise the installation of these.”

  Petros gave it a moment’s thought. “I’ll stay and oversee the work but I suggest you contact your man in the dockyard. You don’t have much time to negotiate contracts or wait for the lowest bid.”

  The look in Stanley’s eyes remained harsh. “You can go but stay on Leviathan. Someone will ask for you by name to discuss the works you’ve proposed and as you say, time’s running out. Whatever happens, my vessel sails for the Gulf in ten days.”

  Petros made no comment as they eyed each other. He glanced at Bear, they stood and left the office.

  As they strolled through the yard Bear spoke, “I’ll stay until you tell m
e to piss off but I do not want to go to sea,” he pointed, “on that or any other ship.”

  Petros slapped Bear on the back. “You’ve always watched my back and I feel safe when you’re around. The deal was to help me stop the pirates. You can leave whenever you want but I’d like you to stay until we finish.”

  “I’ll stay until the new equipment is tried and tested. In the meantime, from what I’ve seen of the four armed guards they don’t pass muster in my book. Ex-service they may be but I reckon they were in the catering corp. I suggest we order some armed reinforcements.”

  “Cooks kill people, don’t they?”

  “It has been known on the odd occasion. While you’re playing with water cannon, I’ll transform the armed guards into something useful.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  “Telephone a couple of friends in Libya and order a few items. With reference to the in-house security, we’ll start with a twenty mile route march.”

  “They won’t be happy bunnies.”

  “I couldn’t give a shit. It’s arse-kicking time. Be prepared is my motto. It’s doubtful the pirates will attack a defended vessel but Murphy’s Law has been known to happen when you least expect it. If they don’t like it I’m sure plenty of volunteers are waiting in the wings.”

  Petros added, “They don’t pay much but it’s easy money.”

  Bear frowned. “Not worth being killed for.”

  Petros’ eyes wandered towards the Leviathan “Looks like I’m needed. Don’t push the men too hard, they might break.”

  “Those we don’t need and if push comes to shove, we’re better off without them.”

  “I agree.”

  @@@

  Bear strolled across the Leviathan’s deck to where four men sat on plastic chairs and stopped behind the biggest. “Excuse me, I’m supposed to meet four men employed as armed security guards.”

  A tall, dark-haired man with well defined muscles stood but the hostility in his eyes made him dangerous. “Who’s asking?”