The Tangled Web: an international web of intrigue, murder and romance (13 page)

An awkward moment passed before the Minister of Tourism cleared his throat and addressed the man. “Perhaps it would be helpful if we could better understand your thinking,” he suggested.

The man leaned forward, his eyes earnest as he looked at each in turn. “The bottom line is whatever we do, absolutely no doubt can be left in anyone’s mind that this action was undertaken by an overseas drug partner. My guess is they’re doing business with the Echevarría Cartel, though there’s no way to prove that.”

“What led you to such a conclusion?” the minister asked with interest.

“They virtually control the Colombian trade now, and they seem to have an elaborate network from what I’ve learned.”

“How did you find this out?” Allan asked.

“There’s little information that isn’t readily available if you know where to look. The world has become an open book, thanks to the blessing of the Internet. Though admittedly there are some who may see it as a curse.”

They all laughed. Margaret rushed on to her next question. “How would we go about creating threats?”

“We’ll have to give that some thought. I suppose it could be as simple as a threatening message of some sort. We can’t exactly put the cartel’s signature on such a communication, but there can be a strong insinuation the message is from them. And if it turns out the Echevarría Cartel is not involved, the effect will remain the same,” he shrugged.

“The other thing is we can’t take the risk of Sterling and McCloud misconstruing it as a personal vendetta against the Prime Minister,” Allan added. “It has to be made clear the threat also pertains to them.”

“I’m still a bit skeptical about the bribes working,” Margaret said, coming back to her original point.

“Ten million a piece may seem like throwing small change their way,” the man smiled wryly. “But never fear. It’s enough to keep them out of mischief – for a while at least. The arms of the narcotics industry reach far beyond Colombia as you well know.”

There was silence again as each of the ministers was lost in their own thoughts. Anxiously, Allan searched their faces for any sign of agreement. The Minister of Tourism sat pondering for a while. The man’s suggestion almost seemed too simple, yet it could very well work, he decided. It was actually brilliant in its simplicity. “I think we have as good a plan as we’ll ever come up with considering the time constraints. I say let’s go with it,” he said.

Allan turned to Margaret, “Are you in agreement?”

“Yes,” Margaret answered firmly, “I think we have a plan.”

NINETEEN

Allan stood talking quietly with the Minister of Tourism while Margaret fed the last pages of sensitive information into the shredder on a table against the wall. John Boyd echoed her sentiments as he told Allan, “That proposal took me by surprise. Did you know about it before hand?”

“I have to confess I did,” Allan admitted apologetically. “I’m sorry I failed to keep you and Margaret in the loop, but it came up just a few days ago. I figured since we were meeting today, you might as well hear first hand what he had to say.”

Margaret chimed in. “I trust your judgment Allan, but if I didn’t, I’d have to wonder about his motive for such extreme generosity. Twenty million is a lot of money, even if you have money to throw around.”

Realizing any further discussion about the matter was pointless, John Boyd looked at his watch. “I have to get back to the Ministry. Think I’ll call it a day.”

“Yes, I think it’s time to wrap it up,” Allan agreed. He noticed Margaret’s troubled expression. “Margaret, you look unhappy. Are you all right?”

“As all right as I can be now everything’s finally in place. I have to confess I’m a little frightened, Allan.”

John went over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “If we’re to be honest about it, we’re all frightened. I just wish to God there was another way, but there isn’t. If there’s a bright side, it’s there’s hope for the future. Let’s try and focus on that in the coming weeks. It’s out of our hands now, Margaret. It’s as good as done.”

Margaret went to her office as they left. She felt drained. This last meeting had taken its toll and her usual implacable strength was sapped. She gazed at the photos of her son and daughter on her desk. Lauren and her son were only a month apart in age. They were now both in their thirties, but with a lifetime still ahead of them. What did they have to look forward to unless drastic measures were taken? They’d most likely end up living in the hell of a drug-economized dictatorship or be forced to emigrate. She glanced at the clock on her desk realizing it was after midnight in London. Lauren would already have delivered the package. It was as good as done, as John had said. All that was left was to wait.

She remembered the first election when she, Erick and Allan ran together. They had been jubilant when they won. Those first years had been filled with promise. As the country’s new Minister of Finance, her vision had been to turn the sagging economy around. Her first step was an intensive public relations campaign to solicit foreign investors who had been scared off in droves by the previous administration’s leftist leanings. Erick had been the force that drove their party to power. Charismatic and persuasive, he had been the idol of the people. Without Erick, they would not have stood a chance of winning an election against a party, which had been entrenched for decades. It was hard to believe it had all come down to the meeting that had just ended.

It was also hard to believe five months had flown by since she had requested the fateful meeting with Allan and John. Something of monumental proportions had been brought to her attention and they were the only political colleagues with whom she felt she could share such burdensome information. The unlikely courier of the highly classified and urgent message had been her husband, Rich.

“What’s this?” Margaret had asked as Rich came home from work and handed her the sealed manila envelope. “My guess is as good as yours. It was delivered to my office by a police officer. As you can see, it’s addressed to you and explicitly says
Private & Confidential
.” Fatigued by a long day, Margaret put the envelope aside. She decided whatever it was would have to wait until she could give it her undivided attention.

She was sitting on her breakfast porch the following morning when she at last got around to the envelope. Her eyes widened as she opened it.

Dear Margaret,

I know this is highly unusual, but I ask that you destroy this letter immediately after reading it. You will understand the reason for this request after seeing the enclosed report, which is strictly off the record. I’ve also enclosed two CDs that will confirm what’s in the report.

I had considered meeting with you about this matter, but decided not to. Being seen together could be potentially dangerous for us both considering the circumstances outlined in my report. Again, I underscore the need for utmost confidentiality.

We have been friends for a long time and I trust whatever course of action you choose to take, you will keep my safety in mind. We are living in uncertain times. As CID chief, no one knows this better than I.

My best to Rich.

As always,
Robert

Margaret hurriedly began to read the report. When she had finished reading it, she went inside and turned on her CD player. Checking to see no one was around, she slid one of the CDs in. As she listened, Margaret paled.

It was a week later when Margaret pulled into the driveway of the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence. As she got out of her car, John Boyd pulled up behind her. “There had better be a good reason for canceling my golf game,” the Minister of Tourism said jokingly.

Margaret did not smile. “Trust me when I say there’s a very good reason, Minister,” she replied soberly.

Allan was waiting at the door. Without ado, he led them through the living room to his study. He indicated a chair for Margaret to sit. Her face was a mask of gravity as she looked from Allan to John Boyd. “The country is in a severe crisis,” she stated flatly. Slightly taken aback by her statement, Allan and John waited for her to continue.

Although she spoke evenly, there was urgency in Margaret’s voice as she said, “We’ve known for some time there is a massive corruption problem in certain areas of government, but what I’m about to share with you is beyond the pale. Gentlemen, I’m afraid our Prime Minister is involved in narcotics trading on a grand scale.”

“Where did this information come from?” Allan asked incredulously.

“Chief Inspector Palmer. I have to trust that stays with us. As it stands, his life may already be in jeopardy.” She paused. “So may ours.”

“Allan,” Margaret asked ending the disbelieving silence, “Is there a CD player here?”

Nonplussed, Allan replied, “Yes, yes, in the living room.” He got up and led the way.

Margaret pulled two CDs from an envelope. She handed one to Allan. “I think these wiretaps say it all,” she said grimly. Allan inserted the first CD. Together, they listened.

E.F.
Allan and those other two are becoming worrisome.

F.S.
You mean Boyd and Margaret Thomas?

E.F.
Affirmative. They’ve become a bit too vocal for comfort.

F.S.
I know. Allan has really been giving me the heat.

E.F.
They have to be stopped. We can’t have them working against us.

F.S.
What are you trying to say?

E.F.
We’re going to have to consider the alternative, unsavory as you might find it.

F.S.
I’m not comfortable with that idea, Erick. We’ll never get away with it.

The recording came to an end. Margaret handed Allan the second CD. Visibly shaken, the Deputy Prime Minister took it from her and played it.

E.F.
Twenty tons is a joke. Even with a fifty percent cut.

F.S.
It’s not bad for starters.

E.F.
I thought the deal was one hundred.

F.S.
They just want to make sure there are no snags.

E.F.
What kind of snags? That’s bullshit! How long is that going to take to sort out?

F.S.
The shipping line is holding up the show. They want a bigger cut.

E.F.
I stand firm on ten percent. Not a dime more.

F.S.
That’s hardly going to make it worth their while.

E.F.
They’ll take what we give them! There will soon come a day when everybody including those fat bastards will be happy to take what they can get. Fidel was right in that respect. Nothing more tedious than a consensus of opinion.

F.S.
(laughs): Nothing like a coup to set everybody straight.

E.F.
A person doesn’t overthrow themselves, Frank. I’m talking about peaceful change, constitutional changes.

Allan’s expression was grim as he removed the CDs from the player and handed them back to Margaret. “Well, there’s no doubt that was Erick Freeman and Frank Sterling having a little chat. Erick must have gone mad. I’ve never heard such insanity in my life!”

An astonished John Boyd asked, “How does he propose to change the constitution? Our system of government is based on the Westminster model.”

“I suppose it would be possible if he could swing a huge majority vote in both houses,” Margaret said handing Robert Palmer’s report to Allan as they followed him back to his study.

Allan read the report, carefully digesting and analyzing its contents. “It’s saying there’s a suspicion Indies Shipping is involved,” he noted with huge surprise. “I find that very hard to believe.” He read on. “The C.I.D. chief’s life has been threatened?” Stunned, Allan handed the report to John Boyd.

The Minister of Tourism rifled through the pages, his face darkening as he read. “Now we know why nothing is being done to control drug-related crime,” he commented cynically. “Aside from concrete evidence our Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Defense are involved, there’s suspicion surrounding the Minister of the Interior! And look at this list of suspects! The island wouldn’t have enough jails to accommodate the whole lot of them! This is, as Margaret quite rightly says, a national crisis.”

Margaret waited patiently for them to digest the information before venturing further on her path. “We have to get rid of them,” she said.

“Well of course something has to be done about them, but what are you proposing?” Allan asked.

“I’m proposing we eliminate them.”

Allan stared at her questioningly. “What exactly do you mean when you say eliminate them?”

“Assassinate them,” Margaret clarified with chilling calm.

John Boyd looked at her aghast. “Are you suggesting we assassinate ministers of government? Margaret, with all due respect, that is complete madness. I can’t believe you’re serious. If you are, it’s a monstrous idea.”

“No more monstrous than the alternative we would be forced to face,” she retorted vehemently. “This island will be reduced to nothing more than a drug state if things are allowed to continue the way they are going. Our entire infrastructure, our entire social fabric is going to pot. No pun intended, gentlemen.”