The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,108
the phone, the memory of Uncle retching on the sidewalk unsettling her. Needing a distraction, she reached for the television remote. She couldn’t find anything she wanted to watch on regular programming and clicked on the pay-per-view. Election 2 was listed. Ava bought it, and despite her worries about Uncle and her concerns about Lafontaine, she was soon immersed in the film’s machinations. She was so completely absorbed in it that when her phone rang, she forgot where she had left it and had to rifle though the folds of the duvet to find it. The incoming number displayed the Guyana area code.
“Marc. That was quick.”
“You told me to make it fast.”
“Did it go well?”
“Well, it obviously got an immediate reaction.”
“Is that good?”
“I don’t know. My friend was very interested in what I had to say. In fact, I had to repeat the story several times. Then I had to tell him five times that I thought you were serious and not some scam artist trying to leverage money out of us. When I was done, he asked me to keep my phone on. He said he would get right back to me.”
“And did he?”
“Yeah, and not just him. Half an hour later I found myself in a conference call with two higher-ranking officers. There were a lot of questions about Jennie Kwong.”
“I can imagine.”
“I tried to keep the focus on the bank manager and the financial information.”
“Good.”
“It wasn’t easy. They were skeptical, and at times almost hostile. They wanted to know why we were chosen to be the recipients of such a windfall. I told them about meeting Jennie Kwong in Guyana and that you were Canadian. I said coming to us was almost patriotic of you — I hope that was okay.”
“I guess it is.”
“But then they really focused in on the banker. They want to know who he is.”
“I said I would tell you.”
“And they would like to speak to him.”
“No.”
“I told them that was your position. They then asked if they could speak directly to you.”
“Not unless I have to. I’d rather keep talking through you.”
“I told them I thought that was the case.”
“What else do they want?
“The name of the bank.”
“Does this mean they’ve agreed to the thirty million?”
“There’s some reluctance to agree to any amount until they can verify what kind of information the banker has.”
“I’m prepared to send them a sample.”
“That will help.”
“But if I do and I give them the names, what are they prepared to give me in return?”
“Nothing just yet.”
“That doesn’t work.”
“What do you want?”
“First we need a commitment that the sum we’re talking about will be paid, and paid quickly, if the information proves to be genuine and as comprehensive as my client claims.”
Lafontaine paused. “Truthfully, they asked me if the number was negotiable.”
“It isn’t. It’s thirty million or nothing. You need to tell them that.”
“Okay, and if they agree, are you prepared to give them the names and a sample?”
“Maybe, but they also have to agree to keep the banker’s name confidential. It has to be kept just as secure internally, and not shared with any other jurisdictions.”
“Ava, you do realize that once the bank’s name is known it won’t take long for everyone to figure out who he is.”
“I know, but we’re trying to buy as much time as we can. He needs to make himself invisible, and the money he collects from the Mounties will go a long way towards helping him do that. So if we cut a deal, I expect your guys to sit on things for at least a couple of weeks. They will need at least that long anyway, to go over the data I send them.”
“I understand. I’m not sure they’ll agree, but I’ll put it to them.”
“Good. If they do agree, I’m prepared to give you the name of the banker and the bank, and I’ll email a sample of the deals that were done.”
“That was another question they had. How many Canadian and U.S. transactions are we talking about?”
“About two hundred in North America, with close to half of those in Canada, involving well over three hundred people.”
“Could you make some of the Canadian information part of the sample?”
“Of course. If I want them to verify the information it’s better for us to give them something they can run quickly.”
“Okay, I’ll pass that along.”
“Marc, I’m not finished yet.”
“What else?”
“After I give you the information, they have twenty-four hours to get back to me. If they don’t, the offer comes