“Please send me a confirmatory report once the mixing instruction has been given and another when everyone has confirmed that the mixing operation has started. Finally, another one when shipments are heading out to my client’s customers.”
Half an hour later, Nikki sent the first of her reports.
* * *
Laura sent Gurning and David Spalding a quick text asking for an urgent conference call as Cezar drove.
Twenty minutes later Gurning opened the call. “So, what’s the update,” he asked pleasantly, but without any preamble – Laura had made it very clear in her text that they needed to get down to business.
“And you say that an alert has gone out to stop and seize seventy-three vehicles?” Spalding asked having listened carefully to Laura’s briefing.
“Yes, that’s right,” Cezar confirmed.
“The thing is, that’s the part I just don’t get.”
“What’s on your mind, David?” Gurning asked.
“Given the scale of the operation there and the apparent length of time it has been operating, there are far greater quantities of chemical than required for an attack on the ten refineries identified.”
“So, you’re saying that number of vehicles is the tip of the proverbial iceberg?”
“Absolutely, Steven. Even if all those vehicles are stopped, I don’t see that will make much of a difference to what is intended. Think of Rob’s initial findings at Logistics Arranged.”
“Which begs the question, what exactly is intended?” Laura mused.
“Precisely,” David agreed. “I’m not saying your conclusion that an attack on the refineries is wrong, I’m just saying that there has to be something more!”
“Are you sure there weren’t any more maps?” Gurning queried.
“Yes,” Rob confirmed. “We went through every piece of paper in that place.”
“And no other maps or information suggesting otherwise has been found by my colleagues elsewhere in the facility,” Cezar added.
“Bugger it!” Gurning complained bitterly. “So,” he continued, “we have huge quantities of toxic chemicals going to multiple delivery locations, but no precise addresses. Those locations are across ten general areas in five countries, all with an oil refinery as a common link. Given the quantity of chemicals involved, an attack solely on those refineries is unlikely, so where else would they attack?”
“Could other maps have been given to the drivers?” David queried. “That could explain why we only have part of the story.”
“No, definitely not for the drivers,” Laura stated firmly. “My assessment is that the maps were for planning purposes. From the colour-coding, very possibly to plan the number of barrels of each chemical to be delivered to each place.”
“Were there any signs of papers having been destroyed?” Gurning asked hopefully.
“None at all,” Rob replied.
“Don’t forget, Steven, that the entire place had been wired-up to blow in the event of a raid, so there would have been no trace of anything,” Nat added.
“Which is exactly what makes this all the more puzzling!” David commented. “Can you bring the maps back with you, so my team can have a look?” he asked.
“It’s always possible that these are simply staging points before onward transit elsewhere to avoid having all the details in the same place,” Rob suggested.
“Sorry, Rob. I can’t buy that theory,” Laura said. “This place has all the hallmarks of being the nerve centre. If these maps are for planning purposes, then I would expect everything to be here.”
“I agree with Laura,” Nat said.
“But one that should not be entirely ruled out!” Gurning stated. “It’s too early in our assessment with too many unknowns to be discounting anything. Please could the three of you get back here as soon as possible.”
“Arrangements are already in-hand,” Rob replied.
“Oh, actually, a slight change of plan,” Gurning said, suddenly remembering something. “Nat, please could you fly to Istanbul instead. Laura, Rob, you are to come home.”
The three looked at each other, surprised.
“Err, happy to do so, Steven, but what’s the objective?” Nat asked, puzzled.
“I have some news as well – we are now working with the Turkish authorities to trace the funds used by those involved with the Jim Siggerty killing.”
“That sounds positive,” Laura enthused. “How did that come about?”
“Although we still haven’t got anything from those arrested, the banks have cooperated. Our friendly Turkish informant has suggested that we will end up focusing on the southeast of the country, where the authorities have less influence.”
“Does that suggest your informant is being more cooperative?” Rob asked hopefully, knowing full well that Gurning had referred to Burak, but with Cezar’s presence on the call had refrained from using his name.
“That’s hard to say, Rob. My assessment of him hasn’t changed and I doubt it will. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been incredibly helpful at times, but he has proved he can’t be trusted.”
There was no need for Rob, or any of the others to respond, so Gurning then closed the conference call, leaving Cezar to drive Laura, Rob and Nat to the nearest airport.
* * *
Late that evening Nikki excused herself briefly during dinner with Cameron to find out what the vibration on her phone had meant. The text message was short and simple – Mixing has started. It was the final confirmation that she had been waiting for.
