The African Diamond Trilogy Box Set

by Christopher Lowery

  Leo was with Coetzee in Ed’s flat, and the South African had just recounted his conversation with Ilona Tymoshenko. He had taken very few notes, like everything about him his memory was well-trained and in excellent shape. They discussed the matter for a while, and he said, ‘Ilona, she’s Middleton’s partner in the business, said he was quite concerned about you. Do you know him well?’

  ‘I don’t know him at all, never spoken to him. He was on a video link from London at the conference in San Diego where I met General Chillicott, but that’s the only time I’ve seen him. He’s an expert on the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications. He’s like Billy, fanatical about Internet security. They’re both convinced the Internet will bring about the apocalypse.’

  ‘If this XPC threat is as bad as you think, they could be right. A virus in the upload could cause a global catastrophe.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that. I told Chillicott that it might take a major event to convince the world to do something about Internet security, but I didn’t expect to be a part of that event.’

  ‘If you hadn’t spotted that code, we wouldn’t be talking about preventing it, it would be happening as we speak.’

  ‘Ed called me. They’re delivering the package to Shanghai on Wednesday. They’ll want a day or two to run tests, then, bang! What possible reason could anyone have for sabotaging millions of computers? I mean, who would benefit from such a mad global cyber-attack? It makes no sense. Only a maniac would risk the repercussions.’

  ‘According to Ilona, if they can find out who actually owns Lee-Win Micro-Technology, that might show up the motive for what’s going on.’

  Coetzee’s mobile rang before Leo could answer. He looked at the name on the screen. ‘Hello, Jenny, how are you?’

  London, England

  Jenny Bishop was meeting with her sister Emma and Jo Greenwell. It was their Thinking Woman Magazine weekly editorial review session, and they were discussing an article on Brexit, being written by Emma for her blog in the July issue. Time was tight, it was due for submission on Monday and Emma was having difficulty getting it right. Although the piece was theoretically a neutral analysis of the current, apparently deadlocked negotiations, the state of play in the office was also stalemate. Jenny and Emma agreed with the referendum result, but for differing reasons. Emma – who, apart from her time in Rwanda, had never lived outside of the UK – was concerned about the lack of border controls and immigration, whilst Jenny was tired of dealing with EU red tape which was impacting all her businesses, slowing down growth and wasting thousands of costly man-hours. Jo, on the other hand, had never known life outside of the EU, and was devastated at the thought of the UK having to cope alone in an unfriendly outside world.

  The discussion became a little heated, and Jenny thought it was time to change the subject. ‘I have to return a missed call. Try not to get at each other’s throats while I’m out.’ She stepped into the corridor and called Coetzee back.

  ‘I suppose Emma gave you the good news?’

  ‘We’re in London and she told me as soon as she got here. Thanks, Marius, I knew you’d sort it out in no time at all. So it was just a money-grabbing stunt?’

  ‘Not quite, I’ve found out a lot more since I called. I’ll put you on speaker, Leo’s with me and he’s just heard this latest stuff.’

  Leo was suitably apologetic for having fallen prey to the honey trap scenario, and embarrassingly thankful to Jenny for saving him once again. She avoided chastising him about his penchant for getting into trouble, and after they talked for a few minutes, Coetzee said, ‘OK, I’d like to give you my assessment of the situation, it’s complicated and potentially dangerous.’

  Jenny’s dream came back to her mind. ‘There was a man and another woman behind it, wasn’t there? Hold on, I need to grab my notebook and find an empty office. OK, I’m ready, go ahead.’

  With interruptions from Leo, Coetzee gave her a detailed account of everything that had transpired in Dubai, including his conversations with Ed, Ilona Tymoshenko and General Chillicott. Jenny finished making her notes, and said, ‘So, Homeland Security believes there may be a connection with the Russian Secret Service?’

  ‘That’s what it looks like. We just found out about them investigating Shen and Elodie and the Russian angle, so I’m still trying to get my head around that. But there’s definitely some kind of conspiracy at XPC. That’s why they framed me and maybe got rid of Scotty.’

  Jenny had another quick vision of Scotty’s last moments, but she said only, ‘And you’re going down to Joburg to try to stop this attack. Is there any way I can help from here?’

  Coetzee took over again. ‘Maybe you can, Jenny. Chillicott and Tymoshenko think the key lies in the acquisition of Lee-Win Micro-Technology in 2012. They can’t find out who bought the company, and that could reveal who’s behind this conspiracy. It set me thinking. That bank I went to yesterday, it’s related to your bank, is that right?’

  ‘Yes. It’s part of BIP, the International Bank of Paris.’

  ‘That’s who Lee-Win’s widow banks with in Hong Kong.’

  ‘I see.’ Jenny immediately followed his line of thinking. ‘You want me to find out who sent the money to her account in 2012.’

  ‘Exactly. It must have been a big number, a few billion dollars at least, and you’d imagine it would show up easily if someone was able to take a look.’

  ‘Let me think about it. I have to go back into a meeting now, but I’ll follow it up this afternoon. It’s a long shot, but I’ll try.’

  ‘Aunt Jenny, according to Ed the software package will be sent to Shanghai in a day or two. We don’t have much time.’

  ‘I understand. I’ll move as fast as I can, if I can. Meanwhile, Leo, please take care.’

  Jenny said goodbye and went back to the meeting room. Emma and Jo had moved on from the Brexit argument and were wrapping up their suggestions for the layout of the August edition of the magazine. Something was nagging at her mind, and she found it hard to concentrate on the conversation. It was something about her dream, Leo and Coetzee’s story, some link that she couldn’t quite grasp.

  After a few more minutes of discussion, they ended the meeting and she and Emma left Jo and went out of the building together. ‘Let’s go for some lunch, and I’ll bring you up-to-date on what’s going on with Marius and Leo. There’ve been some developments.’

  Emma grabbed her hand. ‘What’s wrong? Has something happened to Leo?’

  ‘Of course not. There’s nothing to worry about,’ Jenny lied. ‘Everything’s going really well.’ I’ll have to get hold of Bill right away, she told herself. I hope he’s as helpful as the last time.

  FORTY

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  Monday, 12 July 2017

  ‘This is for you, thanks for all your help, to me and Marius. Take care of it.’ Leo handed Ed the keys to his Harley Davidson Softail Slim.

  ‘No way. You can’t give away motorbikes. I’ll keep it safe ‘til you come back.’

  ‘I’m never coming back, Ed. I’ve had my fill of Dubai, XPC and this whole crappy business. I know the reason they got me out of the way.’ He related his discovery of the shutdown code and the mysterious cell S470C887,999. ‘I was arrested before I could ask Sharif about it, but I mentioned it to Tom and he must have told Shen. We know he and Elodie moved fast to get Angela to do what she did, so he’s definitely the spider in the web. What we don’t know is what that cell’s for, and why he used her to shut me up so quickly.’

  ‘You mean, the way Scotty was shut up?’

  ‘Maybe. Or probably, I don’t know. Anyway, if they’re sending the package off on Wednesday, I don’t think you risk anything. It’s too late to stop it now and you should keep helping them to avoid suspicion. You did a great job for XPC and for me, and you should take some credit for it with Tom, I think he’s clean. I’m just sorry I got you mixed up in this mess, it’s not what you expected.’

  �
�Don’t worry, it’s been cool, especially the last few days with Marius. So, you don’t want me to try to delay it any more? Or maybe I could have a look at that cell?’

  ‘It’s too dangerous. From what Marius has told me, Shen and Elodie are playing for big stakes, and anything or anyone that gets in the way is just collateral damage. Let them get on with it. Once it’s over, you can decide what you want to do.’

  ‘What are you going to do? Maybe I can still help if I stay. You’re not just giving up, I don’t buy that.’

  ‘I think we have to play them along until they get the job done in Dubai. Shanghai will take a month to manufacture and send out the first batch of Mark VII processors, but they can deploy the upgrades to the existing kit out there any time they like, so we may have very little time. I’ll be in Joburg tomorrow and I can work with Marius’s team. I’ve got everything in my laptop, so we can take a closer look at that cell and try to work out what it does and why. If you’re still around, maybe you can help us if we discover what’s going down.’

  ‘You’re thinking of carrying out a remote attack on Shanghai at the time of the launch?’

  ‘Maybe. I don’t know yet. I‘ll be in touch when I get down there.’

  Coetzee checked his watch. ‘It’s time to move. You want to take us, Ed, or shall we call a cab?’

  ‘I’ll put a few more miles on the rental. Come on.’

  London, England

  ‘I hope you didn’t mind me inviting myself ?’ Jenny Bishop had found time in her schedule to call in on Bill Redman at Fletcher, Rice.

  ‘That doesn’t warrant a response. How is everything with the family?’

  ‘You guessed right. That’s what I want to talk to you about, you deserve it after your patience and help.’ She explained what had happened to Leo, and about Coetzee’s intervention. ‘But apparently, that’s not the whole story. They called me this morning and they’re convinced that behind it there’s a conspiracy at XPC.’

  ‘Hmm. How sure are you that your nephew isn’t guilty? It’s the kind of thing a young man might do when he’s a long way from home. A few drinks too many, it happens more than you might think.’

  ‘Of course he’s not guilty of this ridiculous charge. You don’t know him, or you wouldn’t make such a dreadful suggestion.’ She tried to supress her annoyance. ‘Can I tell you about this conspiracy?’

  ‘The whole thing sounds very unsavoury. I’m not surprised you didn’t want me to know about it. But I have half an hour before my next appointment, so go ahead.’

  She ignored the sceptical tone of his voice, pulled out her notebook and recounted everything Coetzee had told her. ‘It seems the key to the plot is the ownership of Lee-Win Micro-Technology, it’s shrouded in mystery. That’s where I want to ask your advice.’

  ‘Lee-Win owns XPC, where Leo was working?’

  ‘That much is clear. XPC is definitely owned by Lee-Win in China, and the link man is Shen Fu Liáng, Leo’s boss and the only director of the Chinese company in Dubai.’

  ‘And your South African friend, Marius Coetzee, has discovered this conspiracy since he arrived in Dubai two days ago, while he was arranging the release of your nephew from prison for rape?’

  ‘No! I’ve already told you Leo would never do anything like that. He was imprisoned falsely because he discovered the conspiracy, and now Marius is helping him to try to prevent whatever is being planned.’

  ‘Jenny, in my job I’m used to looking at all the aspects of a problem to get to the truth of the matter. How well do you know this Marius Coetzee? I’m not a great believer in conspiracy theories and it all seems very far-fetched, if you don’t mind my saying so.’

  She forced herself to answer calmly. ‘I can’t go into details, but Marius saved Leo’s life in 2010. That’s how well we know him, and why we trust him absolutely. And look at all the other people investigating this affair, including the US government. It’s not something Marius made up, he only became involved because my nephew was arrested and I called him for help.’

  He pulled a face. ‘I’m sorry, Jenny, but I’m just a boring old banker who deals in provable facts and figures, and this kind of adventure story is beyond my powers of imagination. OK, let’s put aside the whole conspiracy thing, and tell me what advice you think I can give.’

  Jenny took a deep breath. ‘Actually, it’s not so much advice, it’s more in the way of information.’ She explained the banking relationship between Lee-Win’s widow and BIP, his parent bank. ‘We believe Madame Lee-Win received several billions of dollars from the purchasers in 2012, and it probably went into her account with the BIP in Hong Kong.’

  Bill was silent for a long moment. ‘You’re asking me to disclose confidential information about one of our customers? Apparently a very substantial customer, from what you’ve said.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose I am. My nephew is convinced he was unknowingly involved in creating what could be an imminent and massive threat to global business and government security. He was wrongly thrown into prison because he found something out, and he believes his predecessor, Scotty Fitzgerald, was killed for the same reason. He must try to prevent it and it’s my duty to try to help him. I’m sorry, Bill, but you are the only source of help I can think of.’

  His face hardened and his eyes looked bleakly at her. ‘I’m sorry too, Jenny. Even if this highly improbable conspiracy theory were to be true, you’ve asked me to do something which is not only unprofessional in the extreme, it’s quite illegal, as you should very well know. If you think I would compromise my integrity for the sake of a personal relationship, no matter how close, I’m afraid you’ve misjudged me very badly, and it seems I’ve misjudged you also.’

  He stood up and went to the door. ‘Fortunately, my office does not have CCTV cameras and there is therefore no record of this conversation. I need to prepare for my next appointment now, so I’ll see you out.’ Jenny silently followed him to the reception area, her cheeks burning. ‘Goodbye, Jenny,’ he said, shaking her by the hand. Then he turned and went back along the corridor to his office.

  Jenny went out onto the street. The sunshine was bright, and she realised her eyes were watering. She wiped them dry, put on her sunglasses and looked for a taxi.

  Dubai International Airport

  ‘OK, guys. This is it. Have a great flight, and text me when you get there and when I can do anything, it’s safer than calling.’ They shook hands, and Leo and Coetzee walked towards the fast-track security checkpoint.

  Ed turned back when Leo called, ‘Wait up, I completely forgot.’ He counted out ten $100 bills from his wallet. ‘Can you give this to Hatim and ask him to find Oskar Novak? He was in my cell. This is his get-out-of-jail money. Tell him it’s from Razza’s boyfriend.’

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  ‘Why would Leo just go off like that? After everything we’ve done for him, he didn’t even take the time to say goodbye.’

  Shen was in Tom Connor’s office, and they were discussing Hatim’s visit that afternoon. He said, ‘There’s only one possible interpretation. He was guilty of the rape and his family paid the woman off. Now he’s afraid to show his face and he’s slinked off back to the US or the UK. Don’t waste any tears on the little bastard, we’re better off without him.’

  ‘At least he fixed the problems before he was arrested, otherwise—’

  ‘Otherwise we’d have fixed them ourselves. Don’t give him too much credit, Tom. Sharif did ninety-five per cent of the work before he came. We’d have cracked the problems, with or without him, I’m sure of it.’

  ‘Well, it puts paid to the conspiracy theories.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Only that after Scotty, it was looking as if someone was trying to sabotage the project. There’s been a lot of speculation.’ Tom didn’t mention the US general’s call. He didn’t have to: Shen knew about it from the note he’d seen.

  ‘Do you know how ridiculous that sounds, Tom? The project was wrapped
up before he was arrested. If it was sabotage, the timing was fairly shitty. We’re delivering the goods two weeks before the deadline. Doesn’t sound like sabotage to me.’

  ‘Sorry, Shen. I’ve been so worried about it I couldn’t think straight. You’re right, we’ve done the job and we’ll get the credit for it. I’ll announce the good news to the staff tomorrow. We’re delivering Mark VII, the ACRE upgrade and connectivity package on Wednesday.’

  ‘Why not make it even better?’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Tom, Sharif and Ed are done, finished. The project’s wrapped up. They’ve said so, and we’ve seen the proof. Leo Stewart’s not even in the equation any more. Why don’t we send the package to Shanghai tomorrow, and show them what we’re capable of?’ He watched the conflicting emotions flicker across the CEO’s face.

  ‘I guess it wouldn’t do us any harm to deliver the package another day ahead of time.’

  ‘On the contrary, it would be a massive statement of confidence in XPC. One they can’t ignore. We don’t need so-called geniuses like Leo Stewart to fulfil our commitments.’

  Tom Connor took a decision. ‘You’re right, Shen. Let’s show them what we can achieve in Dubai. Show them how much they need their XPC subsidiary.’

  ‘And we’ll forget about Leo Stewart, he’s history.’

  ‘Right. Leo’s been a big disappointment. Strange business, but it’s all in the past now.’

  Shen left the CEO, his usually inscrutable face creased in a broad smile. Everything was back on track, time to go home for one of Elodie’s special evenings. He’d buy some flowers on the way, that always started things off well.

  London, England

  Jenny was in her office, looking at flights online. She had a lot of experience in finding good prices, but on this occasion it was the availability she was interested in. After her rebuff by Bill Redman she had cried for a while, then her steely character kicked in and she thought again about what Leo and Coetzee had told her. As usual, her thinking had brought her another idea. She booked an economy seat on a British Airways flight leaving Gatwick at nine-thirty the next morning and sent an email to Encarni to advise her, and ask Juan to pick her up at Malaga airport. Then she sent another to confirm the appointment she’d just made by telephone with Patrice de Moncrieff, Leticia’s husband and the manager of BIP’s Spanish subsidiary.