The Diamond Chain

by Patrick Slaney

  ‘If you get a pair of binoculars you might even spot your yacht arriving,’ another male voice said, probably, I guessed, Jacques Fortuin.

  In an instant, they had confirmed for me that this was Caas Teifel. I had wrongly assumed that he was on the Belle Diamant, based on information given to my Willem. Obviously I was mistaken as here he was in Cape Town while his yacht was still at sea.

  Soaked to the skin I decided that there was no further useful information to be gained by staying here, and certainly none worth getting pneumonia for. I packed up and headed back to the car and the guest house.

  As soon as I had showered and changed into some dry clothes I phoned Willem in Holland.

  ‘Hello, Willem van Grimbergen here.’

  ‘Hi Willem, it is Vince phoning you from Cape Town.’

  ‘I didn’t think that you would be there yet, and I didn’t expect to hear from you until Monday or even later in the week.’

  ‘There is an interesting development that I wanted to tell you about. I have just been over at the Fortuins’ house in Camps Bay, and you would never guess who is staying there.’

  ‘You’re right Vince I could never guess. Who is it?’

  ‘Your boat partner, Caas Teifel.’

  ‘I don’t believe it. He is supposed to be on the yacht in the southern Atlantic.’

  ‘Well he is not on the yacht; he is here in South Africa. I presume that his professional skipper must be sailing the boat.’

  ‘So where has he been hiding, because, as far as I know, he has not been in Rotterdam?’

  ‘He could have been anywhere Willem, but anyway, it is probably not relevant. Another interesting fact emerged when I talked to Dale Fortuin in the prison this morning. Caas Teifel was in the Cape last year, together with Harold Fortiscue, when Phillip Fortuin was murdered. So Caas Teifel must be a leading player in this whole mystery. He is not just a bit player simply involved in the shipping of the diamonds from Cape Town to Europe.’

  ‘Just make sure Vince that you stay out of their way as they sound extremely dangerous.’

  ‘I’ll phone you if I get any more information.’

  ‘Thanks Vince, keep me up to date.’

  He signed off, and I suddenly realised I had forgotten to ask him where the yacht was. I would call him again in the morning after he got to the office and was close to his computer with the plotting system on it.

  It was now quite late, so time I paid the Waterfront a visit to get something to eat. I kept my eyes open wide to make sure that I didn’t bump into the Fortuins and Mr Teifel. It would be just like them, to treat him to a meal at the Waterfront.

  Chapter 27

  My first task on the Monday morning was to update Inspector Baird at Hampstead police station on my visit with Dale Fortuin at the Leukop prison.

  I was very relieved when my call was answered almost immediately.

  ‘Baird here,’ a gruff voice barked down the phone.

  ‘Inspector, Vince Hamilton phoning you from Cape Town.’

  ‘Ah Vince I was hoping that you would call. How are you?’

  ‘I’m good Inspector if a little disappointed by the weather here. I wanted to let you know how my meeting with Dale went.’

  There was no need to include the tortuous details of the queuing and the bus ride, so I just gave him the details of what Dale had told me.

  ‘In summary Inspector; he has unquestionably been framed. His conviction is solely on the testimony of Harold Fortiscue and his Dutch friend Caas Teifel. They even used Phillip’s gun to kill him, and this conveniently had Dale’s fingerprints all over it.’

  ‘Do you think that Dale is innocent Vince?’

  ‘Yes unequivocally and it is yet another example of Harold Fortiscue stitching someone up for a murder that he personally has been involved in.’

  ‘Who is this other guy Caas Teifel that was with Harold? Where does he fit in?’

  ‘Caas Teifel is a diamond dealer from Rotterdam who has been transporting the diamonds from South Africa to Europe. He then sells them on to dealers such as Edward Crawford in London.’

  ‘So you think that he is one of the main players in all of this?’

  ‘His name is coming up more and more often in my investigations, and I am starting to believe he has a significant role in the drama. It looks as if he is also involved in the murders.’

  ‘Listen Vince, when I met you in the pub in Parson Green, I meant to mention to you that I have an ex-army friend who lives in Tokei in Cape Town, and he has a number of hand guns. I think that you should arm yourself, as the people that you are up against won’t hesitate to use force against you, and their preferred method is shooting. I have talked to him, and he is willing to lend you a gun and ammunition as long as you give him something towards the cost.’

  ‘That sounds like an excellent idea Inspector. All the stories I have heard of shootings have made me feel particularly vulnerable. It will be a great comfort to know that I can defend myself if I have to.’

  ‘OK Vince. Have you pen and paper?’

  ‘Yes, go ahead.’

  ‘His name is Laurie Scott, and he used to be in one of the Highland Regiments. His address is 16 Fir Tree Crescent, Tokai, and his phone number is 0678 238675. Did you get all that?’

  ‘Yes thanks. I’ll call you again if anything happens that might be of interest to you.’

  ‘OK Vince. Bye.’

  I put a quick call into Willem in Amsterdam. He told me that the yacht probably would arrive in Cape Town on Wednesday evening sometime. I now only had two days to kill before the action would start at this end.

  I also telephoned Laurie Scott and made an appointment for that afternoon to collect a gun from him.

  Next task was to confirm when exactly the Belle Diamant would arrive. The only way to get the proof was by using my trusty electronic listening device, despite the risk that might involve. I decided to spend the rest of the morning in Camps Bay in my concealed listening spot. It was a beautiful sunny morning so at least I wouldn’t get soaked. Of course, with no rain around, the dog walkers would be out and about. This time I mightn’t be able bluff a curious dog owner so easily.

  As things turned out, my trip to Camps Bay was very brief and risk free. There was nobody at home, so nobody to listen to. I drove back to the guest house and went for a quick lunch at my favourite micro-brewery. In deference to my meeting that afternoon I replaced my usual beer with a Coke.

  Suitably refreshed I went to the multistorey car park to get my car and, punching in the address that the Inspector had given me into the sat nav, I drove to Tokai to see Laurie Scott and collect the gun.

  The door was answered by his wife, who explained to me that Laurie had taken the dog out for a walk and hadn’t returned yet. I sat down in the living room to wait, supplied with tea and biscuits rustled up by Mrs Scott. Conversation was a bit strained as she didn’t know who I was or why I was waiting for him. He eventually arrived making profuse apologies.

  ‘Sorry Vince but the dog ran off after a rabbit and I had a hell of a job getting him back.’

  ‘I’m in no hurry Laurie and your wife looked after me exceedingly well.’

  ‘I have all that you need in the office in the garden if you like to follow me out there.’

  He opened the sliding patio doors and led the way to a wooden structure in the garden, the door of which was secured by at least three locks. He unlocked all three using a large bunch of keys that he had with him.

  ‘Come in Vince and sit down,’ he said, switching on the light.

  He went over to a heavily reinforced filing cabinet, also secured with a number of locks.

  Unlocking the cabinet, he then took out a wooden box which he placed on the table in front of me.

  ‘This is the weapon t
hat I have sorted out for you. I think that it is the most appropriate for what you are up to,’ he said as he opened the box and took out a Glock 17. Have you used one of these before?’

  ‘Yes I have plenty of experience using a Glock. I agree with you, it is an perfect gun for the situations I am likely to find myself in.’ I turned the gun over in my hands looking at it admiringly.

  ‘It has a laser sight fitted, and I can also let you have these night vision glasses for as long as you need them.’

  ‘That’s brilliant Laurie. I hadn’t even thought of night vision glasses, but it will make it easier for me to work after dark when there will be less chance of being spotted.’

  ‘Vince, in the bottom of this box there is a false bottom, and in the space under it, I have packed fifty rounds of ammunition. Do you reckon that should be enough for you?’

  ‘That should be plenty’

  ‘If you need more you can come back and pick it up.’

  ‘How much do I owe you for all this Laurie?’

  ‘I trust you Vince; otherwise I wouldn’t let you have it. You can settle up with me when you return the gun if that suits you.’

  ‘I really appreciate you helping me like this Laurie. I’ll probably bring it back to you in not more than two weeks.’

  ‘That’s OK with me Vince. If you like to follow me again I will show you out.’ He led me back into the house.

  ‘Thanks for the refreshments when I arrived,’ I said to his wife as I went through the living room.

  ‘Our pleasure Vince, safe home,’ she replied.

  Laurie came out to my car, carrying the box with the Glock and the ammunition. I opened the boot, and he placed the box on the floor.

  ‘I’ll see you in about two weeks unless you do a lot of shooting and need more ammo Vince,’ he said, shaking my hand.

  Climbing into my car I set off back to Cape Town feeling like a young boy with a new toy.

  Chapter 28

  The evening was calm, not too cold, and there was no moon, an ideal evening for ‘people’ listening. I had an early dinner at the Waterfront and headed out to Camps Bay, suitably equipped with my night vision glasses, my gun in a shoulder holster and the listening device. I was ready for any situation the evening might throw up.

  As I pulled up below the house, I was relieved to see that there were lights on, so they were at home. It was more difficult worming my way into my hiding place in the dark, and I ended up with some nasty scratches after entanglements with briars. I put the night vision glasses on and was rewarded in seeing three people around a table on the veranda, obviously eating their dinner.

  I switched on the listening device, keeping the volume on so as I could hear what was being said. I also made sure that it was recording so as I would have a record of the conversation.

  There was a lot of general chit chat going on around the table which was of little interest to me; however, I was able to confirm that Caas Teifel was still staying there. His unmistakable Dutch accent was easy to pick up.

  After about an hour, they finished their meal and a maid came on the scene, carrying a tray with the coffee things on it. They left the table where they had been eating, and went to sit in some lounge chairs that were at the far end of the terrace.

  ‘That was a fabulous meal Moira and up to your usual high standards,’ it was clearly Caas Teifel making the remark.

  ‘Thank you Caas, have you decided what your movements are going to be after the yacht arrives on Wednesday,’ Moira commented.

  ‘Well I’d like to get the crew off the yacht for a few days and let them recover on terra firma before they have to start on the long journey home.’

  ‘Why don’t you take them to Hermanus for a few days?’ This clearly was Jacques talking. ‘There is plenty of room down there, and we can hire two cars for them so as they can get around.’

  ‘That’s a good idea Jacques, and it would also get them away from the boat so as we can stow the cargo,’ it was now Caas talking.

  ‘Last year you took the boat out of the water when it was here, to check it over; are you going to do the same this year,’ Jacques inquired.

  ‘Definitely; I will go and organize all that with the Secretary of the Yacht Club tomorrow. I’ll also ask him if he knows of anybody who can work on the boat while the crew are in Hermanus.’

  ‘So, will you go and stay with the crew in Hermanus or will you continue to stay with us here?’ this was Jacques again.

  ‘I think that it is better if I stay here if that is OK with you. I prefer to stay close to the yacht. I can then arrange any work that needs to be carried out on it to make it seaworthy.’

  ‘You can stay here as long as you wish Caas, and you can borrow my car whenever you want it,’ Moira said.

  ‘Thank you Moira, I genuinely appreciate all the help you have given me. I’ll soon be out of your way and back to Europe for at least another year.’

  ‘You are planning to do all of this again next year Caas?’ this was Jacques’ voice.

  ‘There is a lot of money still to be made Jacques, and we haven’t been found out yet. As long as we are still able to get the diamonds we will continue to bring them to Europe.’

  ‘Have you decided where you are landing them this year Caas?’ this was still Jacques speaking.

  ‘It will probably be La Rochelle again as it is so suitable for unloading and a quick getaway.’

  ‘Let’s go inside it’s getting a bit chilly out here,’ Moira suggested.

  They put their coffee cups on the tray and all moved inside closing the sliding doors behind them.

  ‘I’m off to my room now so I will see you in the morning,’ I could just about hear Caas and then he appeared to leave the others in the living room as a light went on in one of the other rooms on this side of the house.

  I was smiling. What a bonus session. I had heard enough to be able to keep track of them until the yacht departed for Europe. They had even confirmed where they were planning to land in Europe. Feeling very pleased with myself, I packed up all my bits and pieces and headed back to the guest house, receiving a few more scratches on the way.

  Back in my bedroom I replayed the conversations that I had just been listening to in Camps Bay. I wrote down the main points that had emerged.

  There were now three areas to be monitored after the yacht arrived on Wednesday. The rented property in Camps Bay, where the Fortuins and Caas Teifel would be based; the Royal Cape Yacht Club, where the yacht would be moored and also worked on; and lastly Hermanus, where the crew would be staying.

  I still hadn’t found out where the diamonds were currently being stored, but I thought it reasonable to assume that they were either in Hermanus or at the rented house in Camps Bay. I didn’t really need to know, provided, of course, I saw them being placed on board the yacht.

  It would be an impossible job to watch the Yacht Club from the time the yacht arrived until the time it left. It would require a team of observers, and there was only me. The harbour was also a wide open area, and there was nowhere to hide while I watched. With my trusty listening device and my borrowed night vision glasses, it was probably a better idea to watch the two houses.

  I had told Mrs Cronje that I would be meeting my lady friend again on this visit to Cape Town, so she had supplied me with a key with a knowing wink. Parking my car in the multistorey car park, I returned to my bed to get some well-earned sleep.

  In the morning, I decided to let the Fortuins have a day without my presence, and I headed to Hermanus to reacquaint myself with the house and the area there.

  Interesting; the electric fence that I had cut and repaired when I broke into the property had now been professionally repaired. The thought went through my head; who had the Fortuins blamed for the damage when they found out that their electric fence had been
cut? They probably realised, that somebody was on to them, and, if they did, I had better be on my guard.

  Other than the repair to the electric fence there did not appear to be any changes to the outside of the property. There was nothing I needed to be aware of for a future visit. The property checked out I headed back to Cape Town.

  Wednesday, yacht arrival day, I spent on the top of Table Mountain with a lot of other tourists; however, my mission was to see if I could spot the Belle Diamant entering Cape Town harbour, it was not to look at the picturesque view. I had worked out that the best observation point would be from the top of Table Mountain. Armed with a pair of powerful binoculars I took the midmorning cable car to the top terminus.

  Luckily it was a sunny and clear day as Mrs Cronje had told me that, at this time of the year, the weather is often too bad for the cable car to operate. Once on the top I found a vantage point where I could look out over Table Bay, Robbin Island and the harbour entrance. I sat down for what would probably be a long wait. I took a break to purchase some sandwiches, and a coke for my lunch as the yacht would be visible for a long time before it entered the harbour. There was zero chance of it sneaking up without me spotting it.

  Around 2:30 p.m. I got excited. I spotted a small yacht coming from the north, and, as it got closer, I could plainly make out a yacht roughly the same size as the one I was looking for. It was still far too far away to see the name, but there were few other yachts venturing out of the harbour and the odds were good that this was the yacht I was waiting for. Although the wind was quite strong the yacht was travelling at a snail’s pace, and this was the speed they had travelled at since they had left Europe.

  When I came up in the cable car the last car down was advertised as being at 5:30 p.m. It was now 5:15 p.m. If I waited any longer, I would be up here all night which I had not the slightest inclination to do. I caught the last cable car down, aiming to check in the harbour later to confirm it was the Belle Diamant.

  Chapter 29

  Dressed warmly to give me protection against the cold evening and with my Glock firmly in place in its holster, I walked from the guest house to the harbour.