The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,59
turned to Fay, kissed her on both cheeks, and then stood back to stare at Ava. His eyes were blue, almost sparkling. This is either a very happy man or he’s on some kind of medication, Ava thought.
“John didn’t exaggerate. He said you were a real beauty,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Cameron settled in at the table. “Have you ordered yet?”
“Waiting for you,” Masterson said.
“Beer please, lots of beer. It’s Friday fucking night and I need to wash the taste of the bank out of my mouth.”
“How about you girls?” Masterson asked.
“White wine for me,” Fay said.
“And me,” Ava said.
“Two beers and a bottle of wine then, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to order our food at the same time. I’m starving.”
“Order away,” Cameron said.
John turned to Ava. “Do you have any preferences?”
“I eat everything. Please order for the table and don’t worry about me.”
He signalled for the waiter. Masterson spoke to him in Indonesian, the man nodding his head as his pencil scribbled away.
Fay whispered to Ava, “Blue crabs, cleaned, cut in half, and cooked with shallots, chilis, and tamarind. Shrimp steamed with curry in banana leaves. A whole steamed lobster with ginger and garlic. A fish steamed in rice wine with seaweed and cilantro. And nasi goring. John, why nasi goring?”
“What’s more Indonesian?”
“No, it doesn’t fit. Just get plain steamed rice.”
He spoke to the waiter and Ava saw the nasi goring entry get scratched.
“So your name is Ava Lee, I understand,” Cameron said.
“Yes, it is, Mr. Cameron.”
“Andy.”
“Ava.”
“Andy and Ava . . . Has a nice ring to it,” he said, the grin returning.
“Thank you for taking the time to come tonight. After your remark about the bank and beer, I can’t help but think I’m imposing.”
“Just a little, and besides, we don’t have to talk about banking.”
“That’s why I’m in Surabaya.”
“And why my little bank?”
“I got your name from my client in Hong Kong. I’m just following through.”
“You’re an accountant, John tells me.”
“I am.”
“From where? Your accent isn’t like any I’ve heard from Hong Kong.”
“I’m Canadian-raised.”
“Ah, that must be the John connection.”
“Exactly,” Masterson said.
“Who’s your Hong Kong client?” Cameron asked Ava.
“Dynamic Accounting.”
“No, I mean the investor John mentioned who was interested in Bali.”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to disclose that right now.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
“I was given the names of several banks by the accounting firm in Hong Kong. They like to use local financing wherever possible, and your bank is a candidate.”
“And if we have no interest?”
Ava shrugged. “No matter. We’ll find someone.”
“Don’t throw us overboard so quickly,” Cameron said.
“I feel like I’m the one being thrown,” said Ava.
“No, no, no, we’ll talk, we’ll talk,” Cameron said. “Just not on an empty stomach.”
The drinks were brought by the waiter and an assistant. They seemed awfully eager to please either Masterson or Cameron, as they poured the beers first and then passed the bottle of wine to Ava.
“Let my wife try it,” Masterson said.
“Just open it and pour,” Fay said.
When four glasses were full, Masterson raised his and said, “Salut.”
Cameron leaned towards Ava, tapped his glass against hers, and said, “To new friends.”
God help me, she thought. She began to speak, but the first word was still on her tongue when Masterson said to Fay, “What did you girls get up to today?”
It took Fay five minutes to get them to the Ampel Mosque, and by then the plate of white rice was on the table and the first of the seafood dishes came rolling out. The men plunged into dinner, scarcely paying attention to Fay’s continuing narrative. Ava knew that whatever questions she had were best left for later.
The two men drank three beers during the meal. Fay and Ava hadn’t finished their bottle of wine when the last dish was cleared.
“We have to have dessert,” Masterson said. “Fried bananas and ice cream all around.”
“Why not?” Cameron said.
Ava sat back in her chair. “Andy, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“Of course not,” he said, starting on another beer.
“I’m curious. How did a Scot find his way to Indonesia?”
“Did you ask John how a Canadian did?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s true,” Masterson said.
Cameron smiled. “Nosy, is she?”
“Curious,” Ava repeated.
“Well, it’s a simple enough story,” Cameron said. “I was working for a Scottish bank in Rome and Bank Linno came calling.”
“How did they find you?”
“I like to think I had developed a reputation. As a breed, Scottish bankers are maybe the best in the world, and I worked harder than most. I had that