The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,110
pages, and scanned them. She then accessed a Gmail account she had had for years under “slauming” and began to write. The banker’s name is Andrew Cameron. He is originally from Aberdeen and worked for a British bank in Rome before being recruited about six years ago by the ’Ndrangheta to be front man for their Bank Linno in Surabaya. I attach three pages of Canadian real estate deals. I hope to hear from you shortly. Jennie Kwong
( 41 )
Ava slept surprisingly well and long. It was past nine o’clock when she woke. She blinked at the clock, hardly believing it was that late. She reached for her phone, turned it on, and saw that Uncle had called twice, the first time just after seven. She knew he would have been up for a while by then, worrying about what was going on.
“Wei,” he said.
“Sorry to call so late. I just woke. I was up half the night negotiating with the Mounties.”
“Lourdes told me you tried to reach me.”
“I did after my first contact, and then there was another call quite a bit later.”
“So where are we?”
“Waiting. We have an agreement in principle for a thirty-million-dollar payment if the information proves to be accurate, but they insisted on having the names of the banker and the bank and some snippets of what we had. I sent it to them and gave them twenty-four hours to get back to us. If they don’t, I told them we’ll walk.”
“You gave them the banker’s name?”
“Why not? As far as anyone knows he flew from Surabaya to Singapore yesterday afternoon. I told them he was in hiding and that we’d been hired by him to negotiate a deal.”
“And if we reach a deal, how does it conclude?”
“Did you speak to Kowloon Light and Power about opening that numbered account?”
“The account was opened an hour ago. It is controlled by one of the bank’s directors, but anyone who digs into it will find the name Andy Cameron attached. The director will do whatever we ask with the money when or if it arrives.”
“Will the money be traceable?”
“After it reaches Cameron’s account it will begin a remarkable journey that no one will be able to recreate.”
“Then the deal will conclude with me sending the Mounties all the information on the USB and them sending thirty million dollars to Andy Cameron, care of the Kowloon Light and Power Bank.”
“What are the chances we can close?”
“Uncle, I have no idea. This isn’t really about whether our information is accurate or not. It’s all a question of what value it has to the Mounties.”
“Still, I like it that we are trying, and I have to say that it is quite an ingenious approach.”
“What, having the Canadian government in essence pay back thirty million dollars to Canadian citizens who lost the money in the first place because they were trying to avoid paying Canadian taxes?”
“That too, though what I meant was using a dead man as the vehicle.”
The urge to pee hit Ava and she slid out of bed. She thought about carrying the phone into the bathroom with her and then decided some things needed to be kept private. “Uncle, I want to apologize if I seem rude, but I really need to go to the bathroom. And I need to get some coffee in me.”
“Go ahead. We will talk later.”
“I might go for a run as well.”
“I have no plans. Call me whenever you wish.”
Ava put down the phone and sped to the bathroom. She peed, washed her face, brushed her hair and teeth, and wandered back into the suite. She made a cup of coffee and fetched the South China Morning Post that was outside her door. Sitting down by the window looking out onto Victoria Harbour, she was reminded of the garden view at the Majapahit. She shuddered and moved back to the desk.
Two coffees later she had finished the newspaper and began to get dressed for a trip to Victoria Park. She was tying her running shoes when her cellphone rang. Ava looked at the screen, expecting to see Maria’s or May Ling’s name, but instead she saw Amanda Yee’s. She hesitated about answering and then felt foolish. Amanda was no May Ling. She was more eager to please than to pry.
“Hey, is this my little half-sister-in-law-to-be?” Ava asked.
“God, that sounds so complicated.”
“Blame my father for that.”
Amanda laughed. “I was surprised when I got your email about being in Hong Kong.”