NOIR
Chapter Three
Bobol
By Steve Edward
Thursday, August 31st 0900 hours, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Randy was thankful to be out of the clinic and into more comfortable surroundings as was Phil Nagel. The two men lounging in the sitting room were reading the transcribed interview conducted the day before. Randy get going back to the part where he recalled going over what he thought were railroad tracks, "Ok. I came to and felt the vehicle rocking back and forth then the thump-thump of what I thought were railroad tracks, then the road smoothed out. Then back onto gravel then it stopped and of course I get dumped unceremoniously down an embankment."
Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura with Kelly Summers entered from the adjoining suite overheard the conversation. Mireille spoke "There is no railroad in the immediate area of that roadway. Perhaps you were mistaken."
Randy replied, "I wish. Maybe it was something else entirely." Kelly Summers spoke, "Maybe not railroad tracks but how about cattle grating?" Phil Nagel looked up, "Similar in sound. The grating would be wider. Cattle can not walk across because they would fall in. It still allows free entry and exit of vehicles with no gate to open or close." Kelly smiled, "Bingo."
Mireille replied, but that could be any number of entryways. How can we narrow it down?" Randy replied, "Simple. We recreate the ride in reverse, with a twist. We will have aerial support this time around." Calling the room where Kay Milroy and Else Conroy were staying Randy briefed them on his plan. Both women left for the airport.
Thursday, August 31st 1130 hours, South of Brussels, Belgium
Gina Baldwin stood next to her husband and looked down the embankment at the burbling creek that had nearly become his grave and she shivered at the thought, "They pushed you from up here and you ended up down there?" Randy nodded, "Yes that about sums it up," Overhead Kay Milroy and Else Conroy made a pass in the rented Ecureuil AS355 N, the sky blue color scheme matching the blueness of the Belgium sky.
Kay Milroy increasing the collective climbed skyward, "Well the boss was not kidding about the drop. He's lucky he did not break his freaking neck on the trip down." Else nodded, "You got that right. Comm's test is complete. Five by Five with Nina and Kelly, they are rolling."
With Randy lying down in the rear of the Land Rover, and Irena driving they began to backtrack from where Randy had been tossed to at least where he came to while in the vehicle that had carried him.
Gina cautioning Irena to maintain the 50 KMH cruising speed, the Land Rover followed by the Audi with Kelly Summers, Noir and Phil Nagel as passengers drove up the highway. Overhead the camera equipped AS355 N, began to observe the procession.
Corey jotted down all gateways that were passed and backed up by Nina who marked their position on a portable GPS tracker they continued until their step-father said to come to a halt. They were between two gates. All told the entire travel time had lasted 11 minutes and several seconds. The first gate had no cattle grating, but the second did and Irena drove over the grating then turned around and drove back out, their step-father spoke, "Ok. That definitely felt like it."
Kay Milroy pitching the helicopter over, headed west and what she and Else found even surprised them. Else calling over the radio spoke, "Well at the end of that road beyond the tree line that you see, is some type of old military compound. No vehicles are present and no one moving around on the ground. There are three wooden structures that have seen better days and slightly off to the north of those buildings is a low profile cement structure."
Listening to the radio traffic, Phil Nagel spoke to Kelly Summers "Ok. I've heard enough. Let's pay that place a visit. Lock and load." Followed by the Land Rover, Kelly Summers steered the Audi over the overgrown road. Slowing briefly before coming out of the tree line, Phil Nagel and Noir all bailed and headed separately to check the individual buildings with Kay and Else hovering overhead.
Randy fingered the Colt Combat Commander as Irena brought the Land Rover to a stop next to the Audi. One at a time, Mireille, Kirk and Phil exited the individual buildings giving a thumbs up signal that all were clear. Satisfied that no one was present, Randy with Corey at his side walked to the cement structure to check the interior with Phil Nagel and Noir.
Phil stooped to the ground, "Randy, tire tracks. Looks like someone had backed a vehicle up to the door." Randy stood back and surveyed the structure. Looks like a relic from World War II." Kelly Summers looking at the door "There is a German swastika or what's left of it." Mireille spoke, Randy we will go first stay here."
Randy called Kay Milroy while he was waiting, "Kay, do a quick survey further west and see if you can observe anything else then head back to the airport. I think we will be fine." Kay Milroy dipping the nose of the helicopter in reply sped off to the west as Kirika Yumura exited the building.
Kirika spoke, "You should see the interior," As Randy with Corey and the twins with Gina followed her inside. Phil Nagel stood to one side and pulled open a door, the electrical power still functioning illuminated the inside of the door. The door all too familiar to Randy as he entered what once had been his prison, Mireille Bouquet and Kelly Summers looked at the wall above a cot at the initials, "RMB" scratched into the cement.
Randy looked around then turned to where the cameras had been mounted. Both were now gone; only the wires were still visible, "Ok, so we found my little cell. Someone figured we would come looking and yanked everything out." The creak of the entrance door alerted those present that they had company, but the elderly voice calling out in Dutch asking who was there had Randy making motions to put the weapons away.
Exiting the building, Randy apologized to the elderly farmer for their trespassing but the man waved off any and welcomed them all to his modest farm. Eustatius walking slightly bent and a limp went to a battered truck and returned with Corey Baldwin carrying an ice chest.
Setting a stool on the ground Eustatius offering cold drinks explained the history of the old military compound. "The Germans had overrun Belgium like they had done everything else in Europe at the time. This is one of their old command and control centers. Those wood buildings served as barracks, store house and mess hall. Another building further over was the dispensary; it fell down after a tree landed on it."
Phil Nagel spoke, "I noticed it still had electrical power?" Eustatius replied, "Yes, I had it connected to the power grind and used to for storage for many years. I had at one time refrigeration units in there, to freeze things but when I did not need it anymore I sold those off. I guess I forgot about the power still being connected." Kelly Summers spoke, "When was the last time you were out here?" Eustatius scratching his forehead in thought replied, "It would have been two maybe three months ago. I have been ill till recent. This is the first time since being ill that I have been here." Randy thanking Eustatius for his hospitality and the history lesson decided he had heard enough, "I think I know enough now." Turning to Eustatius and putting his arm around the elderly man's shoulder, Randy walked Eustatius back to his truck and asked a couple of different questions altogether.
Thursday, August 31st 1500 hours, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Randy Baldwin turned on the speaker phone, "Lucio? Any match?" Lucio Magnus back in Paris replied, "Yes, your assumption was correct. Eustatius's farm had nearly gone into foreclosure, but it was fortunate for him that a telecommunications company wanted to place a couple of towers on his land. He negotiated an advanced payment instead of a yearly payment as is traditionally done, so he could save the land, for his grand-children."
Lucio continued, "You should know that a representative of that private bank was a participant in that conference. Coincidence, perhaps so but according to hospital records Eustatius was still in the hospital when the payment was made last week. It is what you American's might say counting your chickens before the eggs hatch?"
Randy replied, "He jumped the gun and thought they had the property in their pocket already. Do you have his name?" Lucio Magnus replied "Yes I do. It is Tiebout Pieter, he is a high ranking loan official for that bank and I surmise you are correct about the jumping the gun, he being at the conference all week would not know about the payment till at least Monday and that would have been the day they would have foreclosed."
Randy replied, "Ok. The bank did not foreclose, but the guy had to figure out by then that his little game was about to blow up in his face. The conference focused on funding issues, but since many of the European governments already provide funds to the World Banks; it would have created a double effort. The figures in the distribution tables that got my attention in the first place did not add up with previous funding requests."
Lucio replied, "There was good reason for that, because the funding had come from private investors. Depending on the number of investors willing to risk their monies, the more funds there is available. In this regard there is a significant difference between the traditionally accepted loans from the World Bank and this new effort. The loans have to be repaid; otherwise default could risk land and other property rights."
Randy spoke, "Then the loans would be backed up by natural resources that the governments may control. If they default, then the lien holder would gain access to areas rich in developmental resources and would be able to use the profits that are generated to pay themselves back." Lucio replying, "That Monsieur Baldwin is how one would circumvent obstacles in development."
Phil Nagel listening to the conversation interrupted, "It sounds deceptive. Surely the governments receiving the loans would object to such terms?" Lucio Magnus replied "Not necessarily Monsieur Nagel, not if the government officials were involved in bobol."
Phil Nagel with a perplexed look replied, "What the heck is a bobol?" Randy Baldwin spoke, "It's a financial term for financial corruption or corrupt behavior comes from the Caribbean. Usually associated with bribes and the acceptance thereof, and those taking the bribes tend to turn a blind eye towards illicit activities."
Phil spoke, "Ok so this Pieter fellow is likely planning a way to get around certain obstacles. Now how do we get further information? Just having the so called data is nothing without hard evidence." Mireille interrupted, "We might be able to provide some enlightenment."
Mireille Bouquet spoke, "We were in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, three years ago tracking down an arms dealer. He had been selling weapons and explosives to extremists. The arms dealer had been paid through funds channeled through such a loan program, which was being managed from Brussels by a private financial group; who in turn were using the extremists to destabilize a certain region."
Gina Baldwin sat up as though she had been hit by lightening, "I remember that. That was when I and Randy had to go to France, to stop the twins…" Randy replied, "Don't remind me of that," while glancing at Kirika. Phil Nagel spoke "Oh yeah that's when Randy "shot" Kirika with the tranquilizer by accident…" Kirika Yumura remembering that event spoke, "Monsieur Baldwin asked not to have that brought up again." Kirika, tapping her foot on the floor, while coldly staring at Phil Nagel was enough to shut him up.
Lucio Magnus sensing Kirika's quiet anger replied and changed the subject, "Noir was able to provide additional information however we could not act on it at the time, but perhaps now we can." Sound of typing came across the open line then Magnus spoke, "There is a gathering scheduled tomorrow night for those participants in the original conference to hammer out their contributions to the fund. If we get an insider in that meeting then we might be able to realize that goal of bringing it to the attention of the authorities."
Randy replied, "Well that's nice, but we don't have an invitation." Magnus replied, "Oh but we do." Gina spoke, "Lucio, if my husband puts in an appearance there they will likely know the game is up. They have already covered most of their tracks."
Randy replied, "Not all of them. Lucio, how did that invitation come?" Lucio chuckled, "You friend at the French Bank passed it along this morning." Randy turned to Phil Nagel, "Lucio. Work your magic and create a deep cover background. It will have to withstand a rigorous background check, both personal and financial." Phil Nagel looked at Randy, "Oh heck no. I do not know anything about banking!" Randy smiling while he stood and turned to Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura, "Just where did I say you needed a banking background. I am sure that your assistants will be able to help with any decisions that may be needed." Mireille and Kirika both nodded and walking to Phil who involuntarily rose from the chair as Mireille placed her hand on his arm, "We must do something about your wardrobe."
Gina watched as Phil was escorted from the suite, "If Jill finds out about this…" Randy chuckled, "Jill knows very well that there will be no hanky panky with those two. Besides by tomorrow, Phil will be on paper a multi-millionaire and one looking for a place to invest some extra cash. Lucio alert the Atlanta office and have them set up that dummy suite and the same goes for you in Paris. I want Pieter to believe that he is about to receive a lot of cold hard cash." Lucio replied, "It will take twelve hours, but will be done."
Friday, September 1st 0830 hours, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Phil Nagel's transformation into a multi-millionaire was complete. Gina Baldwin cast a womanly eye upon him and smiled, "That will definitely scream money." Phil looking at himself in the full length mirror replied, "I do not want to even hazard a guess what this suit cost, but I have a feeling it's a lot more than my monthly salary at the sheriffs department."
Mireille Bouquet attired in a two piece soft blue business suit studied her appearance, "Being an assistant has its perks." Kirika Yumura's attire, of a black pant suit would suggest to those who saw her that she was of the protective type. Her role was personal body guard.
Randy Baldwin looked at all three, "Ok. You all look good. Now to get familiar with your respective roles," as Phil Nagel taking his folder sat down and began to read.
After perusing through the file, Phil placed it on the table "You have got to be kidding me!" Randy replied, "It had to look good. As far as he is concerned you will appear to be a US multi-millionaire who got his start in Southern timber and branched out from there."
Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura having finished reading their roles in event set down their folders as well. Mireille replied, "I find it fitting to say the least." Randy spoke, "From this point on, you have to play your roles accordingly. Phil no matter how much compulsion you feel, you have to act and walk like a millionaire. Kirika will be at the point. She will never follow, but will lead. Follow her cues. Mireille acting as your consort and assistant will be the one for them to get the answers from and now for the big part, where you will meet Tiebout Pieter."
Randy reviewing his notes replied, "The RSVP was sent to Pieter this morning with a request for an appointment which was granted. You get to meet him at 1000 hours. Make it look good at the meeting, by being pointedly upset with my disappearance and the small fortune you had to spend to aid in my recovery. State that you used me for the purpose of researching a promising investment. Play it by ear from there. If he seems to be not buying it, get the hell out and we will look at some other way to find the evidence we need, but frankly I don't think the world is ready for anymore civil wars. We need to shut that operation down."
Friday, August 1st 1000 hours, Financial Group Building, Brussels, Belgium
Tiebout Pieter tapped the intercom, "Is my 10 O'clock arrived yet?" as the grandfather clock began to chime the hour. His receptionist replied, "Not as of yet sir." Tiebout rose from his desk and walked to the window to view the street below. The stretch Mercedes-Benz limousine coming to a stop at the curb of the building entrance garnered his attention.
Kirika Yumura exited first from the front passenger compartment and walked a measured pace to the rear door. A doorman coming to the car was stopped in his tracks by the hard look from Kirika as she unsmiling shook her head no, declining his assistance. Passerbies on the sidewalk stopped as well. Kirika's body language and intense scrutiny of those on the sidewalk and nearby was enough to warrant interest in who was within the limousine.
Opening the door, then stepping away Kirika taking station waited as Mireille exited the limousine next. Mireille addressed the doorman, "Where can we park the limousine? We will not be long." The doorman glancing to his right, "You may park in the holding zone, Madam." Mireille nodded and turned to address the driver, Kelly Summers "Park in the holding zone, but be alert if we come rushing out." Kelly without turning replied, "I'll keep it running."
Mireille then stepped back as Phil Nagel exited the limousine. Phil having counted the windows gazed up to where Tiebout Pieter's office would be and gave his own hard look. Tiebout stepped away from the window and swallowed, then turned and walked out of his office past his startled receptionist.
Inspector Devoss Minsart sitting across the street from the building in the company of Randy Baldwin and his wife Gina spoke, "I would have been inquisitive as well. Impressive display, to say the least," as Randy taking a sip of coffee watched as the trio entered the building. "I imagine that Mr. Pieter might be having second thoughts about now."
Cursing silently, Tiebout Pieter stabbed the open door button as he wanted to exit the elevator more quickly. As the doors opened, he came face to face with Kirika Yumura who refused to yield passage. Still inside the elevator, Tiebout Pieter stammered "Excuse me but let me aside please." Kirika's reply put a scare into him "Mister Pieter, Mister Nagel will see you now." Phil Nagel standing to the rear of Mireille Bouquet gave a hard stare as Mireille spoke, "Your office or his limousine. Your choice Mister Pieter," as Tiebout stepping back till he came against the wall of the elevator replied, "Uh this way Mister Nagel."
Filing past the receptionist, Kirika entered the office first and walking to Pieter's desk began opening the desk drawers despite Tiebout's objections. Finding a Beretta .380 Auto in the left drawer which she removed, Kirika finally replied "I value Mister Nagel's safety. The weapon will be returned after the meeting. I will be outside with your weapon." Mireille then entered the office followed by Phil Nagel who dismissed Kirika, "You can wait outside the door." Kirika Yumura walking out and shutting the door behind her gazed briefly at the nervous receptionist who hurriedly returned to her computer screen as Kirika took station in front of the door.
Tiebout hurriedly shut the open desk drawers then greeted Phil Nagel, "I am sorry that I was not able to greet you at the door…"Mireille Bouquet interrupting replied, "You may have time to apologize later, Mister Pieter. Mister Nagel needs to address an issue with you."
Phil Nagel taking his cue spoke, "Tiebout, there is a matter of an individual in my employ who had disappeared briefly after attending the conference that you and your company sponsored, a Mr. Randy Baldwin? Do you happen to recall him?" Tiebout Pieter replied, "Yes I do, Mister Nagel. We found out that he happens to be the head of the Baldwin Foundation, and the activities of the foundation seem to be focused on dealing with issues that could run counter to what we do so we made some arraignments."
Phil Nagel stepping close to the desk, got into Pieter's face, "You are an idiot. I asked Mr. Baldwin to review your proposal. I happened to be looking for financial investments at the moment and asked him as a friend to do so. He was not at the conference acting on the behalf of his foundation, but for me. Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get him back? Not to mention having to hire his foundation investigators, there were the medical expenses because of his rough treatment. Just what the hell are you playing at Mister Pieter?"
Tiebout holding up his hands in supplication replied, "I must apologize. I had assumed that he had noticed some irregularities and would have alerted the authorities over some trivial book keeping." Phil stepping away from the desk and taking a seat replied, "What kind of irregularities?" Tiebout replied, "We had suffered some losses that were not really reportable and had involved investor funds but which had been covered by our financial group. Those losses were only added to the investment figures by accident."
Phil replied, "Very well then, your apology is accepted. However I reserve the right to compensation for your actions. My assistant, Ms. Bouquet will provide the figures necessary and where you can transfer them to. As for the investment into the loan program, I find the risks intriguing. Would you send a prospectus to my hotel by courier for my review by noon today? Perhaps we can do business after all." Rising from his seat Phil Nagel waited as Mireille Bouquet wrote the figures for the compensation and the hotel and suite information and gave them to Tiebout Pieter who raised his eyebrow at the figure, "Mister Nagel that is excessive!" Phil Nagel replied, "So is murder. The funds today by noon to the account and the prospectus to my hotel by noon or by 1 PM today I will notify the local police of who was involved in the murder of a waiter at a certain hotel. Good day Mister Pieter." Opening the door and nodding to Kirika, who walked to the desk of Tiebout Pieter, Kirika Yumura placed the .380 Auto on the desk with its slide locked back and the magazine removed, and then walked out ahead of Phil Nagel and Mireille Bouquet.
Breathing a sigh of relief, as the limousine pulled away from the curb Phil leaned back in his seat, "Do you think I over did it?" Mireille Bouquet replied, "I believe you did rather well. Now to see if Mister Pieter will do so as requested and it will be interesting to see how deeply he checks your background."
Friday, September 1st 1230 hours, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
Randy listened as Lucio Magnus reported on the background checks being performed on Phil Nagel's cover "Mr. Pieter is being rather through. The dummy offices were visited rather quickly."
Randy replied, "What about the financial fronts?" Lucio continued, "My contacts state that the financial group has been rather busy there as well, and has also made some discreet criminal background inquires across the pond if you will. Mr. Nagel's reputation as a hard nose should stand up rather well."
Phil had not been too happy with the creation of the false criminal records, but nevertheless had gone along. Randy was not surprised to hear the next comment, "Mr. Pieter also attempted to find out information on both Ms. Bouquet and Ms. Yumura. Mr. Pieter's digging is proving insightful to what resources he has at his disposal."
Randy replied, "Did Mr. Pieter per chance honor the demand for compensation?" Lucio seemed to smile over the phone line, "Yes he did. A wire transfer in the appropriate amount was received at 1155 hours local time." Phil commented, "Well having a history of bribery and blackmail paid off. Randy what do you intend to do with the funds?"
Randy replied and addressed both Phil and Lucio, "The funds will be used to compensate the widow and daughter of the slain waiter. Lucio please ensure that the funds are transferred to an escrow account if you have not all ready done so. Now Phil, it is time to play your part again. Make the call."
Randy had reviewed the prospectus. The historical track record of investing in the "fund" if you wanted to call it that, had shown high returns for the first four years, but the fifth and sixth years were another matter. The "fund" had lost money and it had been heavy in year five which Randy would correlate to the assassination of an arms dealer by Noir in Belgium three years earlier. Randy viewed that event as a butterfly effect. With the arms dealer dead, he could not honor the contracts for the weapons and explosives so the extremists unable to rearm themselves, were finally eliminated by government forces who in return established a new government with new leaders, hence the additional losses in year six. Randy noted that the particular country in question had been dropped off the list of countries eligible to receive private financial aid, not that they needed it now.
Mireille returned to the suite with word that Phil had successfully made it to the next step, "Mr. Nagel was asked to provide earnest money to verify his eligibility. Magnus has completed the wire transfer." When asked how much Pieter had demanded Mireille held up the written figure for Gina and Randy to see. Gina replied, "Double-two timer. He basically took the compensation money back plus another million." Randy shrugged his shoulders, "Well what he got was two million in foundation funds. Hopefully Lucio had the tracers in place so we will know where it was bouncing to." Mireille Bouquet spoke, "Mr. Magnus says it was like watching a ping-pong ball match. The wire transfer finally came to a stop here in Brussels at the Pieter's financial group."
Tiebout Pieter read the various reports on his desk concerning the American. Concluding that he was who he said he was, Tiebout directed his receptionist to have the location of the final meeting delivered by courier. Though still somewhat displeased that Nagel had knowledge of the waiter's death, he dismissed it from his mind since it had been in the news anyway. Nagel likely making a guess at his involvement had shaken him.
Friday, September 1st 1700 hours, near Ukkel, Belgium
Kelly Summers at the wheel of the limousine noted the familiar country side, "We've been here before," as she followed the printed directions making a right turn at the fork of the road. Phil Nagel studying the prospectus and some notes looked up, "So we were in the ball park. I bet they had used wireless equipment for the monitoring of the cell. If Pieter's estate entrance comes up before we pass that farm how many want to take a bet he has line of sight to that old bunker."
Irena's voice replied, "My step-father said he is not taking bets on this, because he can see the estate." Mireille replied, "Another reason apparently Mr. Pieter wanted the property." Randy Baldwin with his step-son Corey and the twins had hidden the Land Rover in the tree line and were observing from a distance. Inspector Minstrel squatting and leaning against a tree lowered his binoculars, "Mister Pieter's activities have so far remained beyond notice Monsieur Baldwin. If Tiebout makes the final offer, what then?" As Randy observed the limousine approaching the gated entrance he replied, "Then we go knocking with the warrants. But we are going to need to make sure we have enough backup because from the look of things, Tiebout is not being trivial with his security."
Raising the binoculars again, Inspector Minstrel replied "I do have to agree with that monsieur."
Gina Baldwin added her own comment, "Husband, you will keep our children out of any direct conflict. Is that understood?" Mireille having turned off the concealed radio before hearing that transmission spoke to the guard at the gate, "Mister Nagel to see Mister Pieter." The guard counting the number of occupants nodded and pressed the control switch in his pocket to open the gate. Pressing the button again to close the gate he returned to the guard house and pressed the intercom button to announce Nagel's arrival.
Friday, September 1st 1730 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Paris, France
Lucio Magnus received word that the dummy offices had been visited again both in Atlanta and in Paris. Fortunately the role players were still in place. The visitor to the Paris office had become too nosey for the liking of the role players and been found attempting to snoop at a desktop computer, which fortunately had been password locked and screen protection activated.
Lucio knew the young role player rather well; a former policewoman with the Paris Police Department and now an investigator with the Baldwin Foundation the woman had to become physical with the visitor when she had found him snooping. Other than some damage to the rental furniture and one smashed desktop monitor screen, no one but the visitor had been injured. Placing the phone call to Randy's cell phone, Lucio hoped that what had transpired would not filter so quickly back to Tiebout, but he had his doubts.
Randy answering the cell phone listened to Lucio then replied "What about the visitor to Atlanta?" Lucio replied, "Foundation security had a foot chase with that visitor in the parking deck. There was a minor incident there as well. I have been informed that he has been temporarily charged with being an office creeper and is in custody of the local police in Cobb County. He was attempting to call overseas when he was tackled. The telephone number returns to a private number that belongs to Tiebout Peter's estate."
Randy muttering to himself thanked Lucio and closed the connection. Glancing at the police inspector, Randy spoke "Tiebout started digging deeper. We have had incidents in Paris and in Atlanta. We are going to have to get closer. Irena, get the Land Rover started." Gina Baldwin heard that comment and spoke "Husband? Remember what I said!"
