‘So my hunch was right after all.’
‘Yes Vince, and to think that I originally had cold feet about you and your hunch.’
‘Anyway Inspector, if anything happens here you will be the first to know.’
I terminated the call and walked back to the hotel to wait for Willem and my van.
‘Welcome to La Rochelle again Willem,’ I said to him as he pulled up outside the hotel.
‘I am glad to be here Vince. There was a lot of slow moving holiday traffic on the road, and it was a dog of a trip.’
‘I had an extremely comfortable trip on the train yesterday, and it only took me just over six hours to travel the whole way from London to La Rochelle, and that includes changing trains in Paris.’
‘Certainly much easier than driving Vince, I envy you. Have they delivered the van yet?’’
‘No, but it should be here any minute. In fact, I think that must be it,’ I said pointing to the other side of the car park where a van, with a large Hertz sign on the side, had just pulled up.
I walked over to meet the driver who asked me to sign a lot of papers before he handed the keys of the van over to me. He then left in a car that had been waiting for him.
Willem, in the meantime, had come over to me carrying his bag.
‘I’ll just go in and get settled in my room Vince, and then I’ll meet you out here.’ He disappeared into the hotel leaving me to sort the van out.
About fifteen minutes later he appeared again. I was familiarising myself with the controls of the van, making sure that I would be able to drive without writing it off or embarrassing myself.
‘Let’s go down to the old harbour and have a coffee or a beer Vince and we can work out our modus operandi.’
‘Good idea Willem. We will go in your car as I don’t want to try and park this in the confines of La Rochelle?’
‘I have my keys here Vince; are you ready to go?’
‘Yes, I won’t need anything else as it’s quite warm.’
We picked one of the bars that nestled beside the harbour and sat down to have a beer.
‘Well Vince, it is your investigation so what do you suggest that we do?’ Willem asked me once he was settled with beer in hand.
‘We are only going to get one shot at this Willem, so we mustn’t cock it up. I’ll look a bloody fool if I have gotten this far and then blow it.’
‘OK, tell me what to do, and I will do it.’
‘There are two harbours we have to watch, the Port des Maritimes marina and the inner harbour that is off the old harbour in the centre of La Rochelle. During the day all we have to do is keep our eye on the main channel that all boats have to use to get into either of the two harbours. That can be done from Port des Minimes.’
I moved various items around the table to demonstrate what I was saying.
‘We also know that the Belle Diamant can only get through the lock gates into the inner harbour between the hours of 1:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m, and two hours either side of 3:55 a.m tomorrow morning.’
‘So Vince, if I am keeping an eye on the old harbour I will only need to be there for the hours that the gates are open at night,’ Willem commented. ‘During the day we will be able to see what is going on from the breakwater near the lighthouses at the entrance to the marina.’
‘There is also a car park on the west side of the marina, Willem, where it is possible to see the channel, and we would be able to park the van there. It might be a bit conspicuous to hang around the lighthouses all day, and we could get asked some questions.’
‘We need to work out a rota now Vince so we can plan on when we are going to sleep. Both of us will be required at night between 2:00 a.m and 6:00 a.m when we need to cover the two harbours. That means the only time we can sleep is during the day.’
‘How about if one of us sleeps in the morning, between 6:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m, and the other in the evening, between 6:00 p.m and 1:00 a.m? We both have mobile phones so if we need to get hold of each other during these periods we can phone.
‘Which one do you want to go for Vince?’
‘It’s probably better if I take the evening break and you take the morning one Willem. This evening you can take the van to the marina at 6.00 p.m and I will then join you at around midnight with your car. I will watch the marina during the night, and you will go and watch the other harbour. At around 3:40 a.m, when the lock gates close, you can go for your sleep break.’
‘That sounds perfect Vince. Come on; finish up your beer otherwise you will miss your sleep. When we get back to the hotel, you can go to the supermarket and get us some provisions. We are going to get hungry while we wait for the yacht to arrive.’
‘Good idea Willem. I will come and give you some supplies to last you the night before I try and get some sleep.’
I visited the local supermarket and bought a good assortment of chocolate bars, patisseries and drinks. I then drove to the marina to find Willem to stock him up. It was going to be a long night. He had found a spot in the western car park I had mentioned, and he was busy scanning the channel with binoculars from the back of the van.
I left him and returned to the hotel for my sleep break. I didn’t have much success as I was far too pumped up to sleep, and spent the early part of the evening reading before finally falling asleep nearing the end of my break.
Chapter 43
At midnight, the alarm on my mobile phone woke me from a deep sleep. Much to my body clock’s discomfort I forced myself out of bed and had a shower to wake me up. I phoned Willem to find out where he was and then went to give him his car so as he could go and keep watch on the old harbour. The lock gates would be opening shortly after 1:00 a.m. I parked his car near to the van and went to meet him in the car park.
‘Did you have a good sleep Vince,’ he asked as I joined him.
‘I was in a deep sleep when my alarm went off, so I am feeling a bit shell shocked.’
‘Surely after all your army training you must be used to getting up and going on patrols at all hours?’
‘It’s a long time since I left the army and was involved in that sort of thing. Anyway, you had better get going if you are to be in place when the lock gates open.’
‘Make sure you have your mobile on silent with the vibrator on just in case I need you Vince.’
‘I’ll do that now before I forget. Send me a text message when you are going for your sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow sometime.’
We exchanged car keys, and he left to collect his Merc and take up his position near the old harbour.
I moved along the sea wall towards the western of the two lighthouses so as I could get a clear view of the channel. Visibility was excellent as there was an exceptionally bright moon illuminating La Rochelle and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I would be easily able to see a yacht out there, even if it was going to the old harbour.
I didn’t think that anything would happen tonight as it was only Monday and they would have had to make exceptionally good time to have got here by now. The night went extremely slowly with only the occasional fishing boat disturbing the peace. I felt my eyes closing on a few occasions and had to fight the keen need that my body had for more sleep. At around 5:00 a.m my phone vibrated with a message from Willem informing me that he was about to return to the hotel to get some sleep. I did a quick inspection of the channel, and, seeing no activity, went to get some light refreshment from the van. I took the items back to my hiding place in the marina and passed some time eating and drinking.
The sun came up at around 7:30, ending my night of torture; another sunny day, with excellent visibility, enveloped La Rochelle. I went and got the van and parked it in the same car park as we had used before and set up watch for the day. As the day wore on, there was more and more activity around me. Many yachts were moving in an
d out of the marina. Being the morning there were more yachts leaving, presumably for a day’s sailing, than there were coming in. This pattern obviously would be reversed in the evening when the yachts would return to their moorings after a day out.
One thing that interested me was that I observed a customs launch moving up and down the channel and approaching some of the boats. I hadn’t spotted this launch operating during the night so it must only be active during daylight hours. Caas Teifel would be aware of the fact that there was a custom’s launch active during the day, so the chances were now strongly in favour of a night arrival.
Willem was due back from his sleep break at around noon so I decided to ring him at 11:30 a.m.
‘Good morning Willem. Did you sleep well?’
‘Very well thanks Vince. How has it been in the marina all night?’
‘Very boring and the hours have seemed to be 200 minutes long. I have had plenty of time to think.’
‘What have you been thinking about?’ Willem asked me.
‘The most crucial thing for now is that I feel that you shouldn’t drive your car onto the marina. It has Netherland registration plates, and there just might be someone waiting here for the Belle Diamant who would be alarmed to see a car with Dutch plates on it.’
‘That’s a good point Vince and one that I hadn’t thought about. I’ll walk over as I won’t need the car and the exercise will do me good.’
‘I’ll tell you the rest when you get here. See you in about half an hour.’
About an hour after our conversation I heard a knock on the side of the van.
‘Vince, I am here.’
I slid the door back, and Willem joined me in the back of the van.
‘It’s getting quite warm in here Vince,’ Willem commented.
‘Nothing much that I can do about that as I can’t open the windows or the door and the air conditioning doesn’t work in the back.’
‘You can have a break now that I am here. It doesn’t take two of us to keep watch.’
‘Thanks Willem. I need to find a toilet fairly urgently, and I will also get something more substantial for us to eat.’
‘What else did you want to tell me?’
‘Have a look out there in the channel.’ I handed him the binoculars. ‘You see that there is a fast customs launch ploughing up and down.’
‘Yes, I see it.’
‘I didn’t see it operating last night, and only spotted the launch around 9:00 a.m this morning. I imagine that Caas Teifel will know about it, and he won’t want to talk his way past customs officers. It makes sense that he will come in at night. What do you think?’
‘Well, if it was me, there is no way that I would come in during the day with illegal diamonds and drugs stashed on board if I knew that I would encounter a customs boat.’
‘I’m glad you agree with me Willem. So my best guess is that she will arrive tonight or Wednesday night, and my preference is for tonight.’
‘So I can take it easy now.’
‘Yes. I am certain that he won’t arrive this afternoon.’
OK Vince, take a lunch break, and I will see you in a little while.’
I climbed stiffly out of the van and went off to find a toilet as my first port of call. There were some boutique style shops and also a burger bar on one side of the entrance to the marina. The burger bar seemed OK, so I bought their best offering for Willem and I, even though burgers weren’t one of my favourite foods. It was a case of keeping our bodies fuelled while we waited.
Nothing happened for the remainder of the day, and it was once again time for me to go for my sleep break. Climbing into bed I had no trouble falling into a deep sleep. My alarm woke me at midnight, and I got ready to go and join Willem at the marina. I had a strong feeling that the expected action would happen tonight. To be on the safe side, I packed up my bag and brought it with me. I could end up having to chase the diamonds to Rotterdam which would preclude me from getting back to the hotel.
A phone call to Willem confirmed that the van was parked in the same place as last night. I parked the car and walked to the marina. Willem could put my bag in the van later on his way to the old harbour.
‘Have you got your bag with you Willem?’
‘No it is back at the hotel. Have you brought yours with you Vince?’
‘Yes, it is in the back of your car. Would you please put it in the van on your way? You can leave the keys in the wheel arch on top of the front wheel on the driver’s side.’
‘When is high tide Vince?’
‘It is at 4:00 a.m, so you need to be in place at around 2:00 a.m when the lock gates open. That should give you plenty of time to go back to the hotel and pack your bag.’
‘You have your gun Vince as you could need it tonight?’
‘Yes Willem, I am armed and dangerous! I also have my phone fully charged as I think that we will need it tonight. If your phone vibrates, you will know that it is me and that they have arrived. As a matter of urgency come straight here.’
‘Yes sir. I think that they won’t hang around once they arrive, so I’ll have to be quick.’
‘OK, I’ll see you later.’
Willem went to get his car. I was left to wait and watch for the Belle Diamant to arrive in the dark confines of the marina. With the likelihood of action, I was starting to feel nervous. I shone my torch onto my watch and saw that it was now 1:30 a.m. If something was going to happen tonight, I reckoned that it would occur in the next two or three hours.
A short time later I heard a car approaching the marina. It drove into the same car park that we had been using for the van and parked with the engine off. A man got out of the driver’s side and went to peer over the seawall at the main channel. The passenger also got out of the car and joined him at the wall. From where they were standing they would be able to see the main channel in the bright moonlight. They were highly animated and obviously expecting to see something. After a while, one of them pointed out to sea.
I slipped my night glasses on to see if I could recognize either of them and also to look to where they were pointing. I barely could make out a green navigational light winking at me from about a kilometre away.
I switched my gaze back to the men looking over the seawall and thought that I recognized one of them. The passenger from the car looked remarkably like the man whom Willem had tackled at the restaurant beside the marina in Rotterdam. They went back and got into the car and waited.
I was now stuck. The only way off the section of the seawall that I was on was through the car park where they had parked. As long as I stayed put I was totally hidden from their view, so I could continue my observations of the channel. Any yacht entering the marina would be only twenty meters away from where I was concealed; however, I would have to stay where I was until the two men moved.
Should I contact Willem and let him know what was going on? If I phoned him now he would probably come straight here, but the yacht still had the option of going straight on and mooring in the inner harbour as the gates were still open. I decided to delay phoning him.
The green navigation light came nearer and nearer until I could also see the mast light. It was unmistakably a yacht judging from the height of the mast light above the deck. After the long wait, it now looked as if it was close to action time. Was I up to the challenge?
The two men got out of their car to take another look and stayed at the seawall until the yacht was opposite them. It then visibly turned to come into the marina. The two men hurried back to their car and drove out of the car park but only as far as the main jetty of the marina.
I hid behind the breakwater close to the lighthouse, and had an exceptionally good view of the Belle Diamant as she came through the entrance into the marina. I then gave Willem a missed call to let him know that he was needed a
t the marina.
Moving stealthily back along the seawall, through the car park that they had now vacated, and towards the main jetty, I kept in the cover of darkness.
The Belle Diamant motored slowly and stealthily towards the jetty gently rippling the water of the marina. The occupants of the car were now silhouettes on the quayside waiting to assist with the mooring ropes.
I heard Caas Teifel quietly giving orders to the crew. He also gave orders to the two men waiting on the quay. His orders were in Dutch, so I obviously didn’t understand what he was telling them to do. The effect of his orders was that one man went to get the car and park it beside where the boat was now tying up. The other man went over to a parked minibus and moved that over to where the crew were now offloading the packages. They loaded the packages and a few bags into the boot of the car, and Caas Teifel went to get into the driver’s seat.
Just then the lights of a very fast moving car split the darkness and came into the marina stopping at the top of the hill at the entrance. Caas Teifel pulled out a gun and started firing at the lights of the car.
The lights went off making it possible for me to see that the car was Willem’s Merc.
Caas and the other guy from Rotterdam jumped into the car and sped out of the marina, the diamonds and drugs in the boot. The others threw their bags into the minibus and climbed aboard, taking off at speed. The whole incident had only lasted about thirty seconds.
I was totally stunned. What the hell did I do now?
There was no sign of Willem getting out of the car. He must be wounded or even dead. Phoning the police or emergency services wasn’t an option as they wouldn’t let me go after the diamonds, but would probably hold me for days. I couldn’t risk being stuck in La Rochelle for the length of time that it would take the police to conduct their investigation. With all the others gone, I clearly would be their number one suspect.
I ran up to Willem’s car. He had been shot and was still breathing, but he wasn’t conscious. I grabbed hold of his phone and rang 112 asking for an English speaking operator. I told them that a man had been shot and was in a serious condition at the marina. Leaving the phone on, I threw it onto the passenger seat, and hurried off to get the van.
The Diamond Chain Page 24