Elephant Dropping (9781301895199)

by Trzebinski, Bruce

‘I don’t know, I left her with some money,’ Brian said defensively, ‘so she could have caught a bus back.’

  Firdus smiled encouragement. ‘If she did go back to Malindi, where do you think we might find her?’

  Brian put his hands in the air. ‘I suppose in any one of the bars, but I don’t see that she could tell you anymore than I have.’

  ‘No maybe not, but she could tell us if you’re telling the truth.’

  ‘The truth? I have no reason to lie to you.’

  ‘It’s ok Brian,’ Firdus smiled, ‘we are only doing our jobs here, you’re not being accused of anything; now just a few more details on Lucy. How old do you think she is? Doug, my nephew, said she seemed quite young.’

  ‘What does that have to do with anything?’

  ‘You’re right, it’s not relevant is it? Still, how old would you say she was, just for the record?’

  ‘Her ID said she was eighteen.’

  ‘Oh, she had an ID? Can you remember her full name? It might be easier to trace her, or her mobile number?’ Firdus said helpfully.

  Brian frowned. ‘No, it was Amina something but I only knew her as Lucy and she left her phone in my car.’

  ‘Yes, pity, yes,’ said Firdus thinking.

  ‘Now, you met Lucy on your first trip to Malindi?’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t see that this has anything to do with anything. I have not been at my job for a week, my boss is anxious for me to return, and I have my own investigations to carry out.’

  Firdus put his hand on his chin, as though he had just thought of something. ‘Brian perhaps you have not understood something here. Normally I would be having my morning coffee after having just walked my dogs on my very peaceful ranch. Instead of which I’m here trying to unravel this mess you have got yourself into, and if I choose to ask you questions you deem to be irrelevant, that is for me to decide. Your full co-operation would be desirable. On the other hand, when push comes to shove, you will find out that I can shove very hard indeed.’

  Brian blanched. ‘Ok I’m sorry,’ he replied.

  ‘Now back to Lucy, you met her again after you left my ranch? Firdus raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Yes I had her telephone number; I didn’t know what else to do. She was very helpful and found us a safe place to stay.’

  They were interrupted by a knock on the door, Katana went to answer it. He came back holding a paper bag and handed it wordlessly to Firdus. He opened the bag, took out a handgun and put it on the table.

  Brian eyes wide, froze in fear.

  ‘Yes,’ said Firdus, ‘recovered from your apartment this morning.’ He smiled grimly. ‘I don’t suppose you know what the fine is for possessing an illegal firearm in this country?’

  Brian ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Oh God it’s not my gun,’ he muttered. Firdus idly spun the revolver on the shiny tabletop, like a tombola arrow. The gun stopped rotating, the barrel pointed at Brian. Katana stifled a laugh and shook his head in delight.

  ‘Now Doug has also told me you used a computer, but what did you say to Evans to persuade him to help you?’

  ‘Doug promised him some money.’

  ‘You promised him money, how interesting, your money?’

  Brian, his head down. ‘No, we needed him to co-operate. Doug thought if we offered him money it would help, it was his idea.’

  ‘You asked Evans to open an account in his wife’s’ name?’

  ‘Yes it was a ruse to let him think we would pay him.’

  ‘An account in his wife’s name was credited with ten million shillings yesterday from Golden Palm.’

  ‘Then it must have been a payment from Golden Palm.’

  ‘Why was it so important for you to find the money? After all, you had all the evidence you needed from the bank transactions. You only had to sit tight till you got back here and then inform your boss.’

  ‘I had no idea if he was also involved, in which case I would go from the frying pan into the fire. Finding the money was the only credible leverage I could have, you know this, and we discussed it at your ranch. All I could understand was that someone was out there trying to kill me, and even the police were involved!’

  ‘Ok, so your motive for finding the money was to get more evidence and to protect yourself?’

  Brian searched his face for sarcasm and saw none. ‘Yes exactly.’

  ‘Doug said you found an account, but needed a password.’

  ‘Yes, I couldn’t hack my way around it.’

  ‘The Golden Palm account went from a substantial amount to one hundred thousand, just before you left Malindi.’

  Brian crossed his arms defiantly. ‘It doesn’t surprise me, huge amounts were being moved all the time, ask Doug. I only know a large amount went to a bank in Mombasa.’

  ‘How much money was left in the account when you last looked?’

  ‘About three hundred and forty million.’

  ‘And what would that be in real money, let’s say dollars.’

  ‘Depends on the exchange rate,’ Brian stalled.

  ‘Ok a rough figure,’ said Firdus helpfully.

  ‘Oh, just under four million dollars, I guess.’

  ‘Hmmm. This is the gun my nephew gave you.’

  Brian pre-empting the question said. ‘Yes I lied about it I didn’t know who to trust. The scene at the petrol station was crazy with Lucy. I was frightened!’

  ‘Yes,’ said Firdus, ‘I’m sure.’

  ‘Now this Golden Palm account, being such an expert with computer systems, could you could trace where it went?’

  ‘I might be able to, it depends on the system.’

  ‘You could do that from your bank here in Nairobi?’’

  ‘Like I said, I might be able to,’ Brian agreed.

  ‘Good, I think I’m done with my questions. I feel the best thing for us to do here is to let you go back to work, so you can go and look for this missing money. What do you think?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Brian relieved.

  ‘Katana do you have any questions?’

  ‘Yes, do you know where we might find the directors of Golden Palm - Patel and Azizza?’

  ‘No, I don’t even know what they look like,’ Brian replied.

  ‘Ok Brian, you may go. Let us know as soon as possible if you find the money, eh?’

  ‘Yes thank you, I will.’

  *

  Firdus was silent after Brian had gone; he seemed to be digesting the information. He made notes on a pad.

  ‘How did you know he had a gun?’ Katana asked amused.

  ‘My nephew told me. So detective, no luck with the airlines? Ask the immigration people for a printout of all departures over the last forty-eight hours, something might turn up there. Run your request through the Ministers’ office and then they will have to give it to us. Send an e-mail so we have a record.’

  Katana busied himself with the request. Firdus waited for him to finish and then asked. ‘What did you think of Nicholl’s story?’

  He searched Firdus’s face for clues and then said. ‘I don’t think he is telling us the full story. Surely as a trained expert he would be able to spot a scam, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes my thought exactly. However our focus is on Patel who is going to be very difficult to find. This crook had the chief of terrorism after him with pretty much unlimited powers and resources, and he wasn’t caught. The chances of us finding him are remote.’

  ‘What about Azizza, surely if we find her.’

  ‘Yes she could definitely help, that is if she is still alive. Someone like Patel would not leave loose ends lying around.’

  ‘And Evans, what about him?’

  ‘I doubt that Evans knows anything. Patel was just using him like a disposable tool. I’m meeting the Minister in an hour and I have to give him a written report before he meets with the British Ambassador this afternoon at Rubia’s funeral. I’m going up to my room for some peace and quiet,’ Firdus said picking up a large file. ‘Contac
t me only if it’s urgent.’

  FORTY

  Brian loosened his tie and walked out of the Good View Hotel to his car. His hands were shaking, the grilling from Firdus had been unexpected and it was a shock to see the gun. They must have gained access to his flat as soon as he left for the clinic. Fortunately, there was nothing in his apartment to implicate him in Golden Palm, only legitimate data from the NNB accounts on his home computer.

  The passport was a problem and he wondered if he reported it stolen, the British Embassy would issue him with a travel document. He couldn’t afford to hang about, if Firdus found Lucy, the game would be up. He cursed himself for acting so hastily, if he had not tossed her out he reasoned, he could have kept her sweet until he had an opportunity for a clean getaway.

  He drove slowly to the bank reluctant to face yet more questions. Trying to look as casual as possible, he rolled up his shirtsleeves as he walked into the building. Waving a familiar greeting to the tellers, he quickly made his way to Njenga’s office; the secretary greeted him warmly. ‘He is expecting you.’

  Njenga looked up from his paperwork as Brian entered. ‘Ah, Mr. Nicholls how good to see you, we were very worried after that newspaper report. Please sit down, can I get you a cup of tea?’

  ‘No thank you, it’s good to be back Sir.’

  Njenga studied him, elbows on the papers in front of him - hands up, fingertips in a steeple. He tried to smile but the puzzle in his eyes betrayed his mouth and what Brian saw was a lop-sided grimace. ‘I’m glad you managed to evade those car-jackers and I would like to hear the details, however we have a most serious and pressing problem at this bank and I hope you don’t think me rude, but it must be addressed almost immediately.’

  ‘Yes sir what kind of problem?’ Brian asked uneasily.

  ‘Some strange things have been happening at the Malindi branch to do with the Golden Palm account. Did you know that Evans Njugu has been arrested? That the police flew down to Malindi in a helicopter and picked him up?’

  Brian pretended to be shocked and surprised. ‘Was that on your instruction sir?’

  ‘No, not at all, it seems that the police knew more about what was going on in Malindi than we did. It’s all very embarrassing. Who would have thought that Evans of all people would get involved a criminal act, he has had an impeccable record you know.’

  Brian just shook his head. ‘Incredible, he had me fooled sir.’

  ‘Yes, all of us,’ agreed Njenga, ‘we have since discovered that he had over ten million shillings in an account in his wife’s name. He is for the high jump now. However, not only does the bank now have all this money lent out to Golden Palm, but it looks as though the scheme is about to come crashing down on our heads.’ Njenga paused choosing his words. ‘I’m very keen for you to return to work, I don’t want the directors of this bank to get the wrong idea. We need to do some damage control. As far as we know the loans to Golden Palm are secured by genuine land titles, and whilst we are not in the real estate business, in the long term it’s not as bad as it looks as land prices are bound to rise.’

  Brian smiled. ‘Yes I understand sir, no need for the directors to know about this.’ he encouraged.

  ‘Good, however another thing is much more worrying. On Friday, over four million dollars went missing from our foreign exchange reserves; someone hacked into our system and transferred the equivalent amount in Kenya shillings. We’ve no idea where the dollars went; I have never seen such a thing done.’

  ‘There is no record?’ asked Brian.

  ‘No it’s very worrying; our security has been completely compromised. I’m sorry to throw you in the deep end so soon after your ordeal, but I can’t tell you how urgent it is that you find out how this happened.’

  ‘No problem sir, I had better get on with it,’ Brian got to his feet. ‘Who was the first to discover it?’

  ‘Paul, our senior teller at the end of Friday’s reckoning.’

  ‘Ok I will ask him for the printouts, I’m sure I can get to the bottom of this,’ Brian assured him as he left.

  Paul handed Brian the papers. He pulled up the accounts on his computer and studied them. A quick scan to check all was in order and he busied himself playing a game of patience, thinking and killing time. After an hour he picked up the phone and rang Njenga. ‘I’m sorry sir there’s nothing I can do with this system, whoever did this, knew where the loopholes were.’

  Njenga was not pleased. ‘Nicholls can you come to my office I don’t want to discuss this on the phone.’ Brian picked up the printouts and went to his boss’s office. Njenga stared at him. ‘We can’t just leave the system in place, it could happen again - cleaned out at anytime - there must be something you can do?’

  ‘Yes Sir, we can stop all online banking procedures however it will slow up all trading quite significantly.’

  He considered Brian’s proposal carefully. ‘As a temporary measure maybe, but there must be something else that can be done?’

  ‘Not without upgrading the bank’s security software sir.’

  ‘That means going through the central bank here and exposing our weakness. The insurance company would have a field day - I could lose my license - they could close this bank! No, they must not find out.’ Njenga was emphatic.

  Brian fiddled with a pen on his desk. ‘There is a way I could get the software. I have contacts in England, not for a complete upgrade you understand, but enough to patch up this problem and with the right upgrade I can re-set the system.’

  ‘You can? Excellent! You could get them to DHL it right away, use my phone,’ Njenga enthused.

  Brian smiled. ‘It’s not that easy sir. My contacts don’t do this sort of thing for nothing, besides I would have to explain what the problem is and help them write the software.’

  ‘So, what do you propose?’

  ‘I could fly to England and be back here in a few days.’

  Njenga digested this information and made a decision. ‘Ok Nicholls, so be it. How soon can you leave - today?’

  ‘I could Sir if I had my passport but it’s being held by the Minister of Security. The police found my briefcase and handed it in to him.’

  ‘That should be no problem, just ask the Minister for it.’

  ‘Yes I could sir,’ agreed Brian, ‘but in view of the urgency I thought maybe you could help, it might speed things up.’

  ‘I see,’ Njenga looked uncertain, ‘I don’t know the Minister well, but I suppose I could ask him, what do you think?’

  ‘I think it’s a matter of urgency Sir, I mean if it could happen to our bank, then other banks here will be vulnerable.’

  ‘God Forbid!’ The thought galvanised Njenga into action.

  Brian got up, they shook hands. ‘I had better book my ticket and get organised to get on a flight tonight.’

  ‘Stay in touch, good luck and thank you,’ Njenga said, a worried look on his face.

  ‘Don’t worry sir, we will have this problem sorted in no time.’

  *

  At the apartment Brian emptied the wardrobe onto his bed. He then went to the phone to book his ticket, it rang as he reached for it and he held his hand back in surprise. Who could be calling me. He picked it up warily. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Hello is that Mr. Brian Nicholls?’ A man’s voice asked.

  ‘Yes,’ replied Brian.

  ‘Ah good this is the British Embassy, my name is John Sandifer. I’m the assistant attaché, if it’s not too much trouble the ambassador would like to see you as soon as possible.’

  ‘Oh, what about?’

  ‘You have been reported as missing and the Foreign Office is very anxious that we interview you.’

  ‘Well, I’m no longer missing and I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.’

  ‘It’s not quite that simple old chap. Though I’m very pleased to hear that you are well, I must insist that you come down to the embassy and talk with the ambassador.’

  ‘It’s not that convenient.’


  ‘Yes I’m sure, these things never are, but be a good chap and do the right thing. Would you like me to send a car, a problem of wheels is it?’

  ‘No I have a car, we can do this tomorrow? I’m very busy.’

  ‘It won’t take long. Listen to make things easier, I’m going to send a car for you.’

  ‘It’s ok I have a car,’ Brian protested.

  ‘Stay where you are there’s a good chap, the car will be there in a few minutes, see you soon.’ The phone went dead.

  Instinctively Brian grabbed his car keys and hurriedly made for the door. At the top of the stairs he saw a black saloon car with diplomatic plates pull up to the gate. ‘Oh fuck,’ he swore. He went back to his apartment, he would bloody well make them wait and belligerently started to pack his suitcase, the phone rang. It was the askari on the gate telling him a driver was there to collect him.

  Brian grabbed his jacket and made his way out. ‘Bloody officials,’ he swore as he walked down to meet the driver.

  The car pulled up at the gate to the British Embassy, the driver leaned back over the front seat. ‘I’m sorry Sir, you will have to walk from here, a matter of security.’ Brian got out and was frisked expertly by a guard before removing his keys, phone and pen, then walking through a metal detector.

  ‘OK,’ the guard pointed to a door, ‘go through there, they are expecting you.’

  Brian opened the door and walked up a short flight of carpeted stairs, he heard the door lock behind him. At the top he found himself in a reception area with a pleasant looking man leaning on a desk. He stepped forward, holding out his hand in greeting. ‘Brian Nicholls? I’m John, John Sandifer, we spoke on the phone, good of you to come.’

  ‘Yes,’ replied Brian woodenly.

  John smiled professionally. ‘The Ambassador will see you now.’ He opened a door and waved Brian through into another office, stepping in after him.

  Brian was surprised to see a middle-aged woman at a large desk reading a file through half glasses. She stood up and smiled briefly at him a glint of steel in blue eyes. ‘Ah Mr Nicholls, I’m Marjory Bannister.’ They shook hands and she waved him to a chair. ‘Can I get you a cup of coffee or water, perhaps?’