By All Means (Fiske and MacNee Mysteries Book 2) (35 page)

'Colin tells me that we're under pressure to announce that Roskill is a fugitive from justice and to say what we want to charge him with.  Could you delay that for a few days, three at the most, and sanction some extraordinary travel expenses for me?  I'll use my own credit card and claim it back, so we'll be able to decide how to describe it.'

'I don't like the sound of this, Vanessa.  I'll delay any announcement of what we intend to do about Roskill, but I'm not giving you a blank cheque.  If you go on with this, I'll do what I can, but your expenses may be at your own risk.'

Vanessa knew that this wasn't entirely unreasonable, even if it was consistent with Esslemont's risk averseness.  It was the best she was going to get.

'Thank you, sir.  I'll keep you informed as appropriate.'

*

Patrick Joseph Carroll had flown to Amsterdam, leaving Heathrow early on the morning after Roskill's disappearance, and connecting to a flight at noon to Aruba.  Both flights were operated by KLM and Carroll had flown business class.  The booking had been made online - no signature required - and the tickets had been charged to a credit card in the name a company registered in the British Virgin Islands.  Nothing to link it to Roskill, but DCI Fiske was convinced enough to book a British Airways flight to Aruba.

'Where the fuck is Aruba?'  Esslemont wasn't given to bad language, having come from a Presbyterian home and joined the police before Anglo Saxon became the
lingua franca,
so Vanessa knew he was unhappy.   Getting his signature on a claim form for more than a thousand quid that she had spent on the ticket wasn't going to be easy.  But his tone also suggested he was impressed that she had, apparently, picked up Roskill's trail so quickly.

'In the Dutch Antilles, off the coast of Venezuela.  He may be on his way to BVI, where he has "interests", but I doubt it.   He's unlikely end up where we might easily be able to get him and repatriate him.  He's on his way to somewhere else.'

'What are you planning?  Or don't I want to know?'

'Probably not, at this stage, but I'm hoping that he doesn't know, or has forgotten, that the Americans have a permanent Homeland Security and Defense presence there.  Bancroft is contacting them, as well as the local police, in case I need some back-up.'

'You'll only be able to bring him back if he agrees voluntarily.  Not likely, is it?'

'Worth a punt, if I can get to talk to him.  It'll do no harm for him to know we're on to him.'

*

'Richard, Cy here.  Homeland Security has a post in Aruba, in the Dutch Antilles.   It's mainly to facilitate US citizens in transit - they can clear customs and immigration before boarding a flight home - but they keep closely in touch with the local authorities.  One of my contacts tells me that a Patrick Joseph Carroll arrived in Aruba yesterday.  He bears more that a passing resemblance to James and they're considering how to act, given that Interpol has an "identify and report" out on him.   They're trying to get a positive ID.'

'Should we try to speak to him, try to find out what he's up to and whether it will affect us?'

'Might be prudent.  I could send Jack Eisner to see if he can locate him.  Jack can be quite intimidating.  If there's anything to be found, he'll find it.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

At five feet eight, Vanessa Fiske was a few inches too tall to get comfortable in a tourist class seat on a Boeing 747.  Making her warrant card visible when she checked in for her flight to Aruba had failed to secure an upgrade.  When she disembarked at Queen Beatrix International Airport after a flight of nearly ten hours she was knackered, stiff, and fed up, relying on adrenalin eventually to kick in and keep her going.

'You're where?'   Neil Derrick had thought that his capacity for surprise about what his partner got involved in was more or less exhausted.

'Aruba. 
In the Caribbean.  Near Venezuela.  Don't ask me why.  I'm phoning just to let you know I'm OK, not to tell you what I'm doing.'

'I thought you were at your parents'

'I was.  And now I'm not.'

'When will you be back?  Or can't you tell me that either?' 

He was trying not to sound irritated or unsupportive, but he didn't think he was doing a very good job, so he changed tack.

'Your sister phoned.  Very excited about becoming an auntie.  She says she'll come to see us soon.'

Vanessa was grateful for the change of subject, but too tired to do much about it.  'That's nice.  I talked to her when I was at mum and dad's.  Sue's not very good at concealing her feelings and she's clearly astounded that I've got myself pregnant'.

'You didn't do it yourself.'

'No. Sorry.  I'm really glad you were involved. I've got to try to sleep. I'll keep in touch.  I love you.'

'Love you, too.'

*

Jack Eisner's direct flight from Philadelphia arrived in Aruba a couple of hours after Vanessa cleared customs and immigration, but before she was able to get in touch with the local police.  His contacts in the CIA had given him a name to contact in the Homeland Security office.  The implication that the person named was covertly a CIA operative had been clear, but Eisner knew better than to press the issue.  The geographical proximity of Aruba to Venezuela on the South American mainland, and to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba in the Caribbean, made it certain that the Company would have a presence there, but the sensitivity of the island's status as an integral part of a NATO ally demanded discretion.

'Jack Eisner.  I was given your name by a mutual friend in the Company and...'

The interruption was uncompromising. 'Why don't we meet for a drink?  Where are you staying?'

'The Renaissance, but I'm still at the airport.  Not checked in yet.'

'I'll meet you in the Blue Bar at 8 o'clock.'

*

'Sir Justin, there is some urgency about this.  Have you made any progress?'

'I'm sorry, Commander Bancroft, but so far I have nothing definitive to tell you.   After you came to see me, I went immediately to speak to the Cabinet Secretary.  As I anticipated, he felt that this was sensitive enough for him to consult the PM, who is on an unannounced visit to the troops in Afghanistan, accompanied by the Foreign Secretary...'

Bancroft interrupted angrily. 'But you must have known about that when we spoke...'

'...So there is an inevitable delay in consulting him.  He is expected to arrive at Brize Norton later this evening and go straight to Downing Street.  The Cabinet Secretary will speak to him as soon as he gets there.'

'And', Bancroft thought, 'He'll want to consult the intelligence services, and if he doesn't decide that off his own bat, you'll make bloody sure somebody suggests it.'  He was now in no doubt that Carey was slowing things down to give Roskill more time to get to wherever he was going.  Time to put the wind up him.

'You've been very close to Roskill for a very long time, haven't you, Sir Justin?'

'We've known each other, one way or another, since we were at school. I don't see the relevance...'

'Oh, I think you do.  It would be - how shall I put this? - unfortunate if you were to allow a personal connection, past or present, to lead you to obstruct or delay my investigation.'

He hung up.

*

As soon as she had checked in and had a shower, DCI Fiske made the required courtesy call to the local police commander.  She told her that she believed that Patrick Joseph Carroll had arrived in Aruba within the previous twenty-four hours and that he was in transit to another destination, probably one without an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom.

'I believe that his passport, though not a forgery, conceals his real identity.  I hope to persuade him to return to the UK voluntarily.  I don't think we'll be able to hold him long enough for an international arrest warrant to be issued and executed.  But my first priority is to establish if Carroll is who I think he is.'

'As a matter of course, we photograph the passports of all passengers who arrive here.  Would that enable you to make the identification?'

'I'm sure it would.  Should I go back to the airport?'

'Not necessary.  I can access the records from here.  I'll send a car to collect you, if that would help.'

*

Vanessa looked into the Blue Bar as she walked toward the lobby to meet the police officer sent to collect her.   Her phone alerted her to a text just as she recognised a familiar figure sitting on a bar stool, sipping bourbon.   She read the text just as she walked towards him.

JMR travelling on passport in name of Patrick Joseph Carroll. Bancroft.

''
Mr
Eisner, what a coincidence!'

Eisner looked up, recognised DCI Fiske and just about managed to avoid spluttering his whiskey all over her.

'Sure is, Chief Inspector!  Are you here on vacation?'

Vanessa knew that he was being flippant.  With a car waiting for her, though, she chose not to respond in kind.

'I take it we're both here for the same reason, and if I'm right, it would be in the interests of both of us to share information.  I have to check in with the local police, but I should be back within the hour. Will you still be here?

'I guess so.  I'm meeting a local contact here...'He looked at his watch. '...in about ten minutes.  I'll be here most of the evening.  My contact may be too.  You might be interested in meeting him.'

'Who is he?'

'He's with Homeland Security,' Eisner said, with a complicit smile.

As she walked towards the exit door, Vanessa was aware that the name James Michael Roskill had not been mentioned.

*

It didn't take long to verify that the Patrick Joseph Carroll was James Michael Roskill.  New arrivals from the UK were not required to say where they would be staying, so finding Roskill wouldn't be easy.  Vanessa reasoned that he was probably carrying a passport in his own name as well as the one on which he had entered Aruba. He would have checked into a hotel near the airport, and it was likely that he was planning to move on as quickly as possible.

'Are there any more international flights leaving this evening?'

'Only one to Atlanta and one to Schipol.  There are more in the morning, mainly regional flights to South and Central America and the Caribbean.'

We can check with the airlines, but without a valid warrant we won't be able to detain him.'

'Yes, but if I can discover when he intends to travel, I may be able to intercept him and talk to him.  And if I know he's definitely planning to move on tomorrow, I can try to find out where he's staying tonight.  You've been very
helpful, Commander, but I've stretched your goodwill far enough. Just one more thing.  I had to show my passport when I checked into my hotel.  Is that general practice here?'

'Legally, no.  But almost all the hotels do it as a check against the credit card shown at registration.'

'Thank you.'  That made it probable that he would have checked in as Roskill.  He might be carrying plastic in Carroll's name, but the urgency with which he had fled would have made it unlikely.

*

Jack Eisner and his colleague from Homeland Security were still at the bar when Vanessa got back from police HQ.

Eisner offered her a drink and she opted for a freshly squeezed orange juice and a fizzy water. 

'This is Detective Chief Inspector Fiske, from North East Constabulary in Scotland.  David Schulz, Homeland Security's man in Aruba.'   They shook hands and said that first names would be fine.

Vanessa took the initiative. 'So, Jack, I think I know, in general, what you’re doing in this - I've been reading the crap magazines in my room - but I'd love to know what brought you here and what, in particular, you hope to achieve.'

'Nothing if not direct, Vanessa.  I can't tell you how, but it came to our attention that a member of our board had landed in Aruba and my boss, Cy Packard, and his chairman, Richard Seaton, thought it would be in the company's interests to find out what he's doing here and what his forward travel plans might be.'

'When you say 'the company', do you mean the one Packard works for now or the one he used to work for?'   Vanessa delivered the question with a knowing look, which Eisner and Schulz noted.

'Burtonhall.  Of course.'  But the pause was eloquent and Vanessa took it as confirmation that Schulz was CIA.

She sipped her orange juice and said, 'And?'

'And we don't know where he is except that he arrived, travelling on a passport in the name of Carroll and hasn't left.  David's colleagues are trying to find out if he's made any plans to move on.'

'I may be able to help you there, but before I do, I need know that we can trust each other and that we have the same, or at least similar, objectives.'

'Go on.'

'I have a lead position and a fallback.  I'd like to persuade him to come back to the UK.  Failing that - in fact, in addition to that - I'd like to know what he intends to do with the rest of his life and whether he's working with who I think he working with.  In short, I need to find him, and talk to him before he gets on another plane.  I have loose ends to tie up.'

Schulz said nothing, and Vanessa sensed he was becoming uncomfortable.

Eisner ordered another bourbon. Schulz shook his head.

'I can live with that.  What have you got?'

'I thought at first that we might divide up the hotels between us and try to find him tonight, but some gentle persuasion at police HQ - I played the "both members of the EU and NATO card" - revealed that he's booked on two flights out of here tomorrow.   He's on a plane to Miami at 0945 in his real name and on another, as Carroll, to Curacao and Panama City at 0825.  The Miami flight has an onward connection to San Jose, Costa Rica.  The Panama City connection is to Havana.'

Schulz spoke for the first time.  'He must know that a stopover in Miami is risky.  We could have him picked up there if the Brits issue an international arrest warrant.   Also, he'll want out of here as soon as possible, even if an intermediate stop at Curacao keeps him in Dutch jurisdiction.   Either way, you'll need a warrant to nail him.'

'I don't need to "nail" him,' Eisner said.  'I just need to get a line on what he's up to.'

'He's trying to get to somewhere without an extradition treaty with the UK.  I need to get that warrant issued. It's already after midnight in Aberdeen, so even if I felt able to phone somebody, nothing is going to get done until the morning.  If he's out of here at 0825, he'll be airside by 0730.  If we're going to talk to him, it'll have to be as he arrives at the airport.  I'll text and arrange for someone to call me.'