The Rwandan Hostage

by Christopher Lowery

  “What are you going to tell Dewar?” Espinoza asked.

  “I’m not getting side tracked with phone tapping from the UK. Just because somebody was tapping a phone it doesn’t link them to a murder. We didn’t find any phones so there’s no reason to do anything. I’ll tell him we’ve investigated his report and found nothing. He can take it from there.”

  The Spaniard was relieved. If Blethin was linked to the clinic, as he surely would be, the murders would be wrapped up and he could get on with his main task without interference from Hendricks. It seemed certain that it was not Leo who had gone off in the Mercedes so he could concentrate on finding Coetzee.

  Before leaving he asked for Dewar’s number. It would be useful if he needed information in the UK, especially about Lord Arthur Dudley.” He wrote it in his notebook then said, “I might as well stay on for a few days and make the most of the trip. It’s a long time since I visited Joburg.”

  Hendricks was already writing his report so he asked if someone could run him over to the Packard Hotel. It was the only place he could think of on the spur of the moment. Besides, there might still be something to find out there.

  Marbella, Spain

  Jenny was at the front door trying to understand Juan’s explanation as to why the water fountain had suddenly stopped functioning when a taxi arrived at the gate. She pressed the remote switch and the car drove up to the house.

  “Patrice. How lovely to see you again. It’s been far too long.” She embraced him.

  “Jenny. You look wonderful. How are you?” He paid off the driver and took his bag into the hall. “I hope you haven’t delayed anything on my account.”

  “Encarni is just about ready to serve the first course, so you’ve got time for a quick aperitif if you like.”

  He followed her out to the terrace. Emma was showing Leticia and Emilio her website. They both jumped up and ran across to him and he picked up the little boy. “Salut p’tit bonhomme. Hello little man. Did you miss me?”

  “We all missed you chéri, but you’re home at last.” Leticia kissed him several times. “You must be exhausted with all that travelling. That’s a very smart suit you’re wearing. This is Jenny’s sister, Emma, she’s a famous writer. She’s been showing us her books on her website. Come and sit down, I’ll get you a glass of wine, nice and cold. It’ll just take me a moment.”

  Jenny watched her run quickly off to find Encarni in the kitchen. What a performance, she thought. She’s as nervous as a kitten. I wonder why?

  “I’m pleased to meet you Emma. Jenny never told me her sister was so attractive. Brains and beauty, I see.”

  “French charm. He says it to every woman he meets.” Jenny joked. Patrice glanced swiftly at her. He didn’t seem to appreciate the joke.

  “Santé. It’s wonderful to be back home again. Sorry, Jenny, I mean your home, but still wonderful.” Patrice settled back on a settee with Emilio on his knee and Leticia beside him.

  “I hear you’ve been running about a lot these days. Business must be good. Making fortunes for your clients, I suppose.”

  He glanced at Leticia. “We’re still trying to make up the fortunes we lost for our customers two years ago. This is a very volatile year so it’s a hard slog, but we’ll get there in the end.”

  “I didn’t know you looked after clients in the UK? Aren’t Spain and South America your stomping grounds?”

  He took a sip of wine. “I go there a lot, actually. I can’t stop my clients from moving around and London is very often a hub for their travel. It’s easier for me to meet a Brazilian when he’s in the UK than to fly down to Sao Paulo.”

  Leticia put her hand on his knee. “Jenny, I’m sure Patrice is much too tired to talk about his work. Let’s forget about business and relax.”

  Why is she protecting him? Jenny wondered. “I beg your pardon, Patrice. I’m just fascinated by your jet-set life style. Did you know that I called you to come for lunch yesterday, because I thought you were here, but you’d already rushed off to London. I don’t know how you do it.”

  Before he could respond, Leticia interrupted. “We’re neglecting poor Emma. Have you heard from Leo? When is he coming over to see us?”

  Jenny was still looking at Patrice. He moved nervously on his seat and turned to Emma. “I forgot all about Leo. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Where is he?”

  “He’s in Estepona, staying with Nigel Dean’s family. He’s a school friend. I’m expecting him back for the weekend.” Emma managed the moment calmly, trying to work out what Jenny was up to. Why is she deliberately setting out to irritate him?

  “They’ve just returned from South Africa, you know, from the football.” Leticia was still keeping the subject away from her fiancé.

  “Of course, I remember, the trip of a lifetime. Lucky boy, he must have loved it. I wish I’d been there to see Iniesta’s goal, it almost made me want to be Spanish, beating the Dutch like that. When did you get back?”

  “I’ll just make sure Encarni hasn’t set the kitchen on fire,” Jenny said and went into the house. What on earth is going on? It was like a sparring match out there. Leticia is worried about something. Something to do with Patrice, but she can’t pluck up the courage to tell me about it.

  Another thought jogged her memory; their conversation the previous day. The words came back to her. Leticia hadn’t said, ‘I heard you talking about it’, she’d said ‘ We heard’. Patrice also knew about their trip. Espinoza had been right. The list of suspects had been tripled, not doubled.

  Jenny was confused again and she didn’t like it.

  It was one hundred and fourteen hours since Leo had been taken.

  FIFTY-NINE

  Johannesburg, South Africa

  Espinoza’s mobile rang just as he finished unpacking his case in the Packard Hotel. A very satisfied Chief Superintendent Hendricks announced that the murdered man in Polokwane had been identified as Dr Ernest Blethin, a consultant on the Newtown Clinic medical team. “And the bullet that killed Nwosu was fired from a Makarov PM semi-automatic pistol. That’s standard issue to the Zimbabwean hard men and that’s good enough for me. You’ve closed this case for me in half a day, Pedro. I owe you. How can I repay you?”

  Espinoza had been waiting for this opening. “You can help me with the European part of my case, Johannes. I need to identify the connection with the people over there. Can you possibly check Blethin’s DNA with another data base in Europe?”

  Hendricks confirmed he’d be happy to do so and took down the details. He could now get his case written up and wait for the plaudits from his superiors and the Johannesburg press contingent. He thanked Espinoza again and rang off with a rare feeling of fulfilment.

  Espinoza took out the jigsaw puzzle he’d drawn in the airport and ticked off three points on his list. He wasn’t there yet but he knew he was starting to move in the right direction. He checked his watch. It was three thirty, two thirty in Marbella. He called Jenny.

  She saw his name and walked away from the others on the terrace. “Hello Pedro, we’re all here, about to have lunch. What’s happening?”

  He quickly related the morning’s news and waited for her reaction. Jenny was too clever for him to waste time with long explanations.

  “So Nwosu murdered Lambert and Blethin and now he’s the latest victim. I would like to say I’m sorry, but it wouldn’t be true. If it was his boyfriend who did it then it’s a kind of poetic justice I suppose. And if he’s now in Zimbabwe then the whole team in South Africa is accounted for. Hendricks must have been impressed. It sounds as if your detective skills are just as sharp as ever and the whole plot is unravelling, thank heavens. But where are Coetzee and Leo in all of this? We’re no nearer to finding the real culprits behind it all.”

  “Wait, Jenny. There’s another development that I don’t yet understand. Someone called Lord Arthur Dudley has been tracking phones from London, that’s how we found Nwosu. I’m looking into that now. It may lead us to the brains behin
d the abduction. I don’t know where Coetzee is yet, but if he has Leo safe, as we believe, then we must be very close to the final chapter.”

  Jenny was thunderstruck. “What? You mean there might be an English aristocrat involved in the scheme? That’s what Emma said. So your theory could be right, that this whole business was organised from England. How did you find out?”

  He briefly explained about EzeTracker and Detective Inspector Dewar. “The tracking has been going on for several days, apparently.”

  “I simply don’t understand how all these people found out about me and Emma. It means that Emma’s secret might be in jeopardy. I can’t tell her about this, she’ll go to pieces. I need to think about it.”

  “Please call me if you get any ideas, I’ve checked in at the Packard Hotel for now. I’m sorry it’s still so unclear.”

  “I have to go. The others will be wondering what’s going on. I’ll call you later, Pedro.”

  Slipping his mobile into his pocket Espinoza went downstairs to get something to eat. They might even have a decent glass of wine, he hoped.

  Geneva, Switzerland

  Sam Bensouda opened his briefcase and placed the bundle of papers on the desk in front of him. In French, he said, “I think you’ll find that to be exactly one hundred and fifty thousand dollars”.

  “I’ll just check if you don’t mind, Monsieur le Prince.” Eric Schneider counted out the hundred and fifty bearer bonds, face value one thousand dollars. He held one up to the light and examined it carefully, nodding appreciatively.

  “They’re the same as the last batch I brought to you. I haven’t just printed them this morning.”

  Schneider smiled, “Excellent work if you did so, Monsieur.” He picked up the phone and called someone in. “When do you need the amount credited?”

  “I need to make a payment of a hundred thousand with today’s value. Can you manage that?”

  “I’m sure we can meet your requirements, as always. Come in!” A young man of Asian extraction came into the conference room. “Nadeem, kindly take these straight down to Mister Advecht in the bond trading department on the second floor. Ask him to confirm them to me immediately.”

  The man left and Schneider pulled out a spotless white handkerchief and blew his nose enthusiastically. He turned back to Bensouda. “Let me serve you coffee while we wait for confirmation of the credit transaction, then you can give me your transfer instructions.”

  “What is the discount commission?”

  “The same as on the last occasion, Monsieur.” He took a bank statement from the file in front of him. “There it is. I hope it’s satisfactory to you.”

  Another thousand dollars down the toilet, Bensouda thought. “Fine, as long as the transfer is done today.”

  The phone rang and Schneider said, “Excellent. Please process the transaction immediately with credit to account number Rabat 671-32. That’s right, thank you.”

  “Now, Monsieur le Prince, do you have the account details for me for the transfer?”

  Bensouda lit up his mobile phone and found the email he’d received earlier from Jolidon. He copied the account details onto the note pad on the desk.

  “Thank you.” Schneider called his assistant in again and handed him the paper. “This is for value today, without fail.” The man took it and walked quickly out of the room.

  “Is there anything more I can do for you today, Monsieur?”

  “One last thing. Please let me have twenty-five thousand dollars in cash.”

  “Certainly. I’ll call the cashier immediately.”

  Fifteen minutes later Bensouda walked from the bank to his limousine and stepped into the back seat. “Divonne Casino,” he said to his driver.

  Marbella, Spain

  They managed to get through lunch without further upset, thanks to a lot of hard work from Leticia and Emilio. Fuente the cat also made an appearance which helped to lighten the tension. Jenny knew it was her fault, but she was struggling to cope with all the thoughts that were invading her mind.

  Espinoza’s last remark reverberated in her head. ‘Someone called Lord Dudley has been tracking phones from London.’ That can only mean the abduction was planned there. And now those people, whoever they are, have certainly murdered Nwosu. So what’s happened to Coetzee and Leo? Where are they and are they still together?

  Her mind continued onto a different track, as the others struggled to make small talk. There were now too many coincidences involving Leticia. I have to face the facts, she realised. Leticia could be the link. Probably unknowingly, because she would never do anything to hurt anyone, especially my sister, but it’s the only connection we have between Emma’s trip and my money. Why did I see her face in my dream? It could only be the money. She doesn’t want to talk to me about it because of Patrice. What is she afraid of? And Patrice keeps flying to England. Is that what the aeroplane is about in my dream? Is that the connection? Is it Patrice we should be worried about?

  “What do you think, Jenny?”

  She started. Emma was speaking to her, trying to bring her into the conversation. “Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. What did you say?”

  “I asked you if you preferred the life in Spain to Ipswich, although I think I know the answer.”

  Jenny managed to get through the rest of the meal but she filed away two vital points from her reverie; I have to get Leticia to show me those papers and I must talk to Pedro again.

  Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa

  “I’ve been thinking, Abby.” Leo and the girl were watching a school of flying fish leaping out of the river, their silver scales flashing in the sunlight. They had walked for miles along the riverbank to give Coetzee and Karen time on their own. From Coetzee’s story he’d learned that his mother was with his Aunt Jenny, in Marbella, so he knew she was safe. The South African had also absolved him from any responsibility for the events in Polokwane, blaming everything on a fight between Blethin and Nwosu. A fight between two criminals which ended in an injury and a death.

  He felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Coetzee had attached no blame on him. It was just something that happened as a result of their criminal activities. He had said, ‘They went into this abduction with their eyes open and they were prepared to hand Leo over in Zimbabwe to whoever was there to take him, not caring what might happen to him. Just for money. They deserved everything they got.’

  Now, Leo had carefully considered the whole episode and had come to a decision. An unusual decision, but he instinctively knew it was the right one.

  He went on, “Besides Coetzee, only Nwosu is left alive from the kidnappers and I don’t think he’s about to make a fuss. He ended up in hospital by messing with Marius and he’s terrified of what might happen next time after seeing him destroy those two gunmen. He’s better off to keep his mouth shut about this whole business.”

  “And Jamie?”

  “Even less chance of him talking. He’s a complete wimp and totally devoted to Nwosu, for some strange reason.”

  She was quiet for a moment. “What about the two gunmen?”

  “Did either of them call anyone from the house?”

  Reluctantly she thought back to the tense period of waiting she and Karen had endured. “No. We all just sat there until you turned up.”

  “So the answer’s the same. Even better, if you think about it. Nobody except Nwosu saw anything and he would just implicate himself if he talked about the fight. Whoever was following us via the mobile phones has no idea what happened to those two. They just disappeared and they’ll never be found. Coetzee’s too professional to have messed it up. The phones are in Jamie’s car, so they can’t follow us anymore.”

  “So what’s your point?”

  “My point is that I’m the only one who could get Marius into trouble. I mean if I made a report to the police or something. Otherwise we could just forget about the whole thing. There’s been no ransom paid and I’m sure your mom won�
�t let that happen and I haven’t been harmed. In fact he saved my life a couple of times and looked after me pretty well, so I figure we’re more or less quits.”

  “And you’d just let it go like that?”

  “What would be the point of getting the police involved? It would just mess up his life and probably yours and Karen’s as well. You saw how they feel about each other. You could be a family again and you’d have a dad. I know what it’s like not to have one. I think Marius would make a good dad, he’s a great guy when he’s not killing people and he knows an awful lot of really interesting stuff.”

  “So what’s your idea?”

  “If I can manage to get a ticket I could just go home now. Then we all behave as if nothing has happened and get on with our lives again. I’m not keen on staying here and being interrogated by the police like a criminal. I just want to get home and put the whole thing behind me for good.”

  “That’s very smart, Leo. That’s a very mature, adult attitude.”

  “Says you! Thanks anyway. Can you lend me your mobile? I haven’t got one at the minute. ”

  “Here. Who’re you calling, Marius?”

  “No fear. I’m calling my mum to tell her she can come for me. I’m going back to Newcastle.”

  London, England

  Simon Pickford called at two o’clock. “I just thought you’d like to know that both phones are on the N1 going north towards Polokwane again.”

  Dudley smiled to himself. “That’s kind of you Simon. As a matter of fact I was already aware of the move. We now have contact with the people involved and the affair is being sorted out. There is no need to continue the surveillance I’m happy to say, so please thank your technicians for me and tell them they can switch off whatever machine you’re using with such impressive efficiency. Your help has been most invaluable and I shall be forever grateful.”

  “You’re welcome, Master. Please call me whenever I can be of assistance.” Pickford gave instructions to suspend the tracking operations. He thought for a moment then he called DI Dewar.

  Marbella, Spain