The Son Read online

  Bentinck held up his hand.

  ‘It’s OK. I understand. But let’s keep it at that, alright? What I’m about to tell you, that’s strictly between us. Understood?’

  I nodded. ‘Of course.’

  ‘As it happens, most of what you’ve told us we already knew. Sorry to disappoint you, but there you are. We’ve had our own source in the Vietnamese community – until two days ago, when he got himself killed! Don’t be so surprised, Paul. What did you expect, that he wouldn’t appreciate an audience?’

  ‘I’m not surprised. Not really. Congratulations. He must have been a good source.’

  ‘He was. But now we’ve lost him, thanks to you.’

  ‘I didn’t ask him to get killed!’

  ‘No. But he did get killed chasing information you put him on to. Oh yes, we’re as sure as you are that that’s why he was killed. Because he was getting too close to something. To your friend Mr Bach, possibly. So now we no longer have a source. And this is where you come in.’

  ‘I know what you’re going to ask,’ I said.

  ‘Then I don’t need to spell it out. We want you to go back and run Eric for us. Now you’ve got him. We don’t want you to pull him out. Not until we can find out more about this whole business.’

  ‘You realise what you’re asking. You’re asking me to put him at risk–’

  ‘You already have.’

  ‘Yes but only for a couple of days–’

  ‘This may not be much longer.’

  ‘He’s only nineteen, for Christ’s sake! What if something happens to him? His aunt would never forgive me!’

  ‘Don’t tell her!’

  I looked at him for a moment, then at Forsythe, and the others. Keith What’s-his-name and Samantha-with-the-wicked-smile were both very still, watching me, as if trying to guess which way I’d jump. But I knew, and Roger and Bill Forsythe knew, that I had no option. That I’d had no option from the moment I’d decided to ring Bentinck. What could I expect, coming to them with that sort of information? That they’d say thank you and just sit on it, without trying to get more? Especially now that they’d lost their best source. I must have got very rusty, not to have guessed that Quang would be working for someone like them.

  Nevertheless the little devil at the back of my mind made me want to argue the point a little. Just so they didn’t think they had all the cards.

  ‘Just for argument’s sake, what if I say no?’

  ‘In that case you’ll leave us no option. We’ll have to go to the cops ourselves, in Sydney and Canberra, and also ASIO, and tell them everything we know. That will certainly put the spotlight on Eric.’

  I smiled. That was pretty well what I’d imagined. The gentle art of friendly persuasion.

  ‘OK. You’ve got a deal. But I need something in exchange.’

  ‘Such as?’ Forsythe asked a shade frostily.

  ‘Protection, for a start.’

  ‘Protection against what? The Mad Buffaloes?’

  ‘No. The police. I don’t want either Eric or his aunt to be harassed by the cops on the grounds that they’ve withheld information. If they withheld it, it was because I asked them to, and that was because I wanted to hand it to you. So I want a guarantee that they won’t be prosecuted or pursued by the police.’

  Forsythe nodded. ‘We can give you that.’

  ‘Could I have that in writing please.’

  He jerked his head up a little, as if I’d questioned his word, and Roger looked at me with a glitter in his eyes.

  ‘And how exactly do you propose we do that?’ More frost.

  ‘That’s up to you too,’ I said breezily. ‘A letter, perhaps? From you, Bill, as D-G ASIA, to the Commissioner of Police in Sydney? My Dear Commissioner. This is to certify that Mrs Hao Tran and her nephew Eric Tran have been acting in all good faith as informants of my agency, in an operation of the greatest delicacy concerning elements of the Vietnamese expatriate community in Sydney. On learning of Mr Le Minh Quang’s murder I arranged for them to be debriefed at once by one of my officers to ascertain whether they had any information which might be of use to your police force in its investigation. It quickly became clear that they did not know anything that could assist you directly. I have however instructed them to make themselves available to you or your officers at any time that you may require for the purposes of this investigation, provided their role is kept strictly confidential. Yours etc. Something along those lines? Rather long-winded, but I’m sure you can work something up.’

  ‘You really are asking a lot, Paul. You know we don’t work like that.’

  ‘Come on. You work any way you want to, provided it delivers the goods. Look, I’m not trying to be difficult. But unless you give me an iron-clad guarantee that they’ll come to no harm I will have to ask them to come with me to the police when I get back. I can’t run the risk of getting either of them into trouble.’

  Blackmail can work both ways, I thought. Forsythe looked at me steadily for a moment, his eyes becoming more hooded.

  ‘We’ll look at it,’ he said finally.

  ‘Thank you. Visas.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Mrs Tran’s visa. It’s about to run out. Can you arrange to have it renewed, or extended? It wouldn’t be good if she were forced to go back to Britain, just when Eric goes underground. If anything happens, she’ll need to be here.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be safer for her if she went back to UK?’ asked Roger. ‘You could be putting her in danger if she stays.’

  ‘I don’t think she’s in any danger here. Not as Eric’s aunt. Why would they pick on her? She’s no threat to them. No, she has to stay here for this scheme to work. I need her as a cut-out to Eric.’

  Fat chance, I thought, after last night. I was clutching at straws. But they didn’t know that. Forsythe nodded again. ‘Alright. We can work on that.’

  ‘I’ve got her details with me.’

  ‘Give them to Roger. Anything else? I have another meeting to go to, can we wrap this up? Roger, can we have a quick word? Nice to see you Paul, thanks for coming down, good to see you haven’t lost your form.’ Forsythe gave me another smile as he stood up, with rather less warmth than before. Keith and Samantha stayed with me as he and Roger left the room. I got up to pour myself more coffee, offered them some, which they declined. I needed all the caffeine I could get.

  ‘Tell us more about this man Bach,’ Keith said. ‘We hardly know anything about him.’

  ‘There’s not much I can add. I’ve only met him once. My gut feeling is that he is part of it, maybe the brains behind it, but I can’t base that on anything solid. All I can say is that he struck me as a sharp customer, and not very nice. Quang knew more about him, he must have told you.’

  He shook his head. ‘We hadn’t heard from him for over a week. His case officer was supposed to meet him yesterday.’ He brooded on this. ‘You don’t suppose he kept any records?’

  ‘No idea. If he did, they’d be in the hands of the police by now.’ I thought. ‘Actually there is someone who might have access to them.’ I told them about Jack Lipton. ‘I could ask him. But I’d have a lot of explaining to do, and I doubt that he’d pass them over without getting clearance from the cops.’

  Keith nodded.

  ‘I’ll ask Roger. But you see now why it’s vital we keep that young man in there. He’s the only lead we have into that group.’

  ‘Sure. But he won’t get you much closer to Bach. The most he can learn is what they’re up to, if he’s lucky. If you want more on Bach you’ll have to find other sources.’

  He nodded again.

  ‘Why don’t you try Immigration?’ I went on. ‘They should have some record, from the time he came into the country. That might tell you something.’

  Keith was about to say something when Roger came back into the room.

  ‘Right. We’ve had a quick chat with our legal adviser, he’s drafting up a form of words now, I can show it to you before you go, Paul. But
it’ll have to stay here. We can’t let you take it with you.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks.’ This was the best I could hope for. ‘As long as you guarantee you’ll step in if needed.’

  ‘Sure. We won’t leave you in the lurch.’

  ‘One last request, if I’m not imposing too much,’ I said. He shot me a weary look.

  ‘Photos. Or a photo. Of David. I promised Eric I’d try and get one through the Department, but of course you’re the ones who have them. There must be a couple on his personnel file, some old passport photo–’

  ‘Doesn’t he have any?’

  ‘No. They were all lost when they came out in the boat. He doesn’t even know what his father looked like. I think it would do a great deal for his morale if you could get me one. And some details of his family, if at all possible.’

  ‘About the family I’m not sure. Maybe later. But I’ll see what we can do about a photo. Keith? Could you chase that up? I’ll have to get back to you on that Paul, we won’t be able to get one today.’

  ‘No. I understand.’

  ‘Right. Anything else?’ He looked at the others. Keith spoke up again.

  ‘Paul’s come up with a suggestion,’ he said, and told him what we’d just discussed. Roger thought about it.

  ‘It’s a thought. But we could only get at those records through ASIO, the police’d never pass anything directly to us. Let me discuss it with Bill. In any case we’ll have to bring ASIO in from now on. Bill’s just decided. It’s too risky to leave them out.’

  ‘Sure. As long as I deal with you.’

  ‘They’ll want to talk to you too, you know. This is right in their patch.’

  I nodded dubiously. That too I’d more or less expected.

  I got stuck in traffic on the way back, and didn’t get back to the flat until late. I called out to Hao, but there was no answer. When I looked in her room I saw her luggage was gone. Then I found the note she had left on the kitchen counter.

  Paul. I’ve gone back to Marrickville. Please don’t try to ring me. I need to think. I’ll let you know if Eric has anything for you.

  H.

  CHAPTER TWENTY - ONE

  The next day I went back to work. I had no choice, if I wanted to stay in business, and it was better than staying home feeling sorry for myself. Vivien was glad to see me back, but when she asked if Hao was coming in I snapped at her: ‘I haven’t a clue.’ She gave me an odd look and I apologised, but she had the sense not to ask any further questions.

  For two days I stuck at it, doggedly forcing myself back into harness. My bruises were fading, I could write without too much discomfort. But no amount of work could wipe Hao from my mind. I knew I’d lost her, but I kept hoping against hope for some small miracle, that somehow I’d get another reprieve. As far as Eric was concerned there was nothing I could do until he came back from the hills, and then only if he took the initiative. Anything else would have been too risky for him.

  Bentinck rang, and I had to tell him there was nothing new. But I had another idea. When did Bach come to Australia? 1980 or ’81? Through Pulau Bidong off the Malaysian coast or via some other third country, Singapore or Thailand or Indonesia? From what Quang had said he’d come out on a large boat, a sea-going cargo of some sort, and that should have attracted attention.

  I tried explaining this to Bentinck, without using names over the phone.

  ‘Maybe it was before my time,’ I said. ‘If you can find out the dates from Immigration, and where he was processed – why don’t you ask Svensson?’ Svensson had been my predecessor in that job, a pallid Swede who burnt to a painful red in the sun. ‘He might remember, if he’s still around.’

  ‘He’s retired. But it’s a thought.’

  ‘Or the Yanks. Have you tried tracing him with them?’

  Bentinck was uneasy at discussing these things on an open line, but I persisted. ‘There should be something in archives. If you can trace others from that boat, maybe you can find someone who knew him in Vietnam.’

  ‘Leave it with me. By the way, the reason I rang. Your lady friend’s visa: done. All she has to do is present her passport to Immigration in Sydney, and quote this reference–’ he gave me a number. ‘They’ll extend the visa on the spot. Another three months.’

  ‘Thanks. I really appreciate that.’ Knowing it was probably too late. I couldn’t even ring Hao to tell her.

  Then, on the Friday morning, things began to happen.

  The first was a phone call from Eric, in mid-morning, as I sat in my office worrying about him. He’d returned the night before, and was ringing from a phone booth near Cabramatta station. He sounded aggrieved.

  ‘What happened with my aunt?’ he asked. ‘Why has she gone back to Marrickville?’

  ‘It’s a long story.’ I didn’t feel like telling it. ‘I think she needed a break.’

  ‘She doesn’t sound very happy. I just talked to her on the phone. I wanted to come and see you but now it’s too late, I have to work in the restaurant over lunch.’

  ‘It’s probably safer this way. Tell me about the farm.’

  Only three of them had gone up, he said: Lam and himself and another one called Nghia. Plus Vo Khanh and Binh from Mr Bach’s office. The others had pulled out.

  ‘Paul, they’re planning to kill Loc.’

  ‘What? How?’

  ‘They didn’t say. But we did a lot of training yesterday, with guns. Pistols and things.’

  He gave me some details. They’d gone up on the Wednesday afternoon, as planned, and spent that evening in discussion, and the next day they had trained for several hours on a small firing range at the back of the farm, under Vo Khanh’s supervision, with a variety of weapons: pistols and revolvers and sporting rifles, including an old army .303 Lee-Enfield, cut down and remodelled as a hunting rifle. A bolt action mechanism, I remembered from my own small arms training with the Agency, with a five-round magazine – slower than an automatic weapon but much more accurate, an ideal sniper’s weapon in the right hands. That sounded more serious than anything else. They even had a scope to go with it.

  ‘I got top score on that,’ he said with a youngster’s pride.

  ‘Did they say who’s going to do it?’

  ‘No, but they asked for volunteers.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘I offered to do it. So did Lam. Nghia piked out.’

  It took a second for that to sink in.

  ‘What do you mean, you offered to do it!’ I cried. ‘Do you realise what you’re saying?’

  ‘Of course I do! I had to, Paul! That’s what we were there for! Besides, that’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You wanted me to find out what they’re up to and I did! I don’t want to kill the guy. But if I hadn’t offered they’d pick someone else and we’d never find out. This way we can try and stop them.’

  ‘But this is highly dangerous! Have you any idea what that involves? I think your aunt was right. It’s time we went to the police.’

  ‘No, not yet! Let me find out some more first. Come on, Paul, you asked for my help, remember? This is our chance. You said you knew some people.’

  ‘Have you told your aunt any of this?’

  ‘Are you daft? She’d rip my head off! No, I just said we’d done more training, preparation for the demos against Loc’s visit. She didn’t ask any more.’

  That wouldn’t stop her thinking. I did some quick thinking myself.

  ‘We need to talk about this. Can you take time off this weekend? Without alerting your friends?’

  ‘I can take Sunday off. I have to work tomorrow. I’ll tell them my aunt’s going back to Britain and she wants me to spend the day with her.’

  ‘Has she decided to go back?’ The thought hit me like a cold shower.

  ‘She was talking about it. She said she has to go into town on Monday to make her booking. What happened, Paul? I thought you two were getting on together.’

  So did I, I thought. But I’d obviously got it wrong.

  ‘L
isten. I need to make a phone call. Can you ring me back in half an hour? And find out what time the trains run on Sunday. See if there’s one that can get you to Marrickville by seven thirty. Even earlier if possible.’

  ‘Why so early?’

  ‘We may have to go out of town.’

  I hung up, and rang Roger’s office in Canberra. He was at a meeting, but I said it was urgent and a moment later he came on the line. I gave him the gist of what Eric had told me.

  ‘Right. I can come up–’

  ‘No. I’ve got a better idea. I’m bringing him down on Sunday. I want you to meet him, and I want him to meet you. It wouldn’t hurt to have the others there as well, Keith and Sam. This boy’s about to lay his life on the line, and he needs to know who he’s doing it for.’

  ‘You can’t do this!’

  ‘It’s the only way, Roger! This isn’t some juvenile delinquent looking for kicks! This is David’s son, he’s clever and tough and very committed, and he’s taken on a pretty tricky job. If you can’t do that for him we might as well go to the police and let them handle it. They might just have enough to make charges stick.’

  He thought about it for a moment.

  ‘I’ll have to discuss it with Bill.’

  ‘Of course. But it’s non-negotiable, Roger.’

  He sighed. I knew how much they hated to lose the initiative.

  ‘Alright! Come down early. I’ll arrange something and ring you back. But for Christ’s sake don’t say anything to him until I’ve met him!’

  I rang off before he could make any other objections.

  Twenty minutes later Eric rang back. There was a train, he said, which got to Marrickville just before seven thirty.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘To Canberra. To meet the people I was telling you about.’

  ‘Really? That’s cool!’

  ‘But first we need to take some precautions. Here’s what I want you to do.’ I gave him instructions, made sure he understood them. ‘And you’d better ring your aunt too while you’re at it.’