Emmy said. 'He sold his minority interest in six different diamond mines yesterday.'
'Where are the mines located?' Hood asked.
'Throughout southern Africa,' she replied.
'How much did he net?' Hood asked.
'About ninety million dollars,' Emmy replied. 'He turned around and put most of that money into corporations that are invested in oil operations in Russia and Mexico.'
'Maybe he thinks oil is a better long-term investment,' Hood speculated.
'Possibly,' Emmy said. 'But some of the profits also went into the corporation that holds Stiele's land leases in China.'
'So the oil deal could be a smoke screen to keep anyone from looking too closely at China,' Hood said.
'Or he could pull those investments at some point and put them into China,' Emmy pointed out. 'He did not indicate his long-term plans in the filing. Then again, he is not the most forthcoming investor we've ever tracked. He once avoided capital gains taxes by donating millions of dollars to a charity for the homeless, the Rooftop Angels.'
'Weren't they shut down in 2001 for money laundering?' Hood asked.
'They were,' Emmy said. 'For every hundred dollars they received, the Angels gave back eighty dollars in cash. It was distributed through safe-deposit boxes, traveler's checks, and other monetary media. We could never prove that Stiele received any of what was doled out. None of his accounts showed any unusual spikes.'
'That doesn't mean anything,' Hood said. 'The cash could still be sitting somewhere. Hell, he could be using it for groceries.'
'Absolutely,' Emmy said. 'But that's an ongoing investigation, which is why the red flag went up on his latest stock sales. So far, we haven't been able to find anything that violates international law. However, I did discover a tie between de Sylva and Peter Diffring that goes beyond the Beaudin board. One that has nothing to do with China.'
'Oh?'
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'With several local businessmen, Diffring co-owns the construction company that did geologic and environmental site surveys on hotel sites in Botswana,' Emmy said. 'The sale required a filing with the Land Valuation division of the Department of Surveys and Mapping.'
'Who did they buy the land from?' Hood asked.
'It was purchased from a tribe, the Limgadi,' Emmy told him.
'Did they indicate what the land was to be used for?' Hood asked.
'The stated purpose is to 'develop transportation facilities,' ' she informed him.
'How long ago did Diffring buy into that construction cornpany?' Hood asked.
'Four months ago,' Emmy replied. 'The land office in Botswana says that so far, Diffring's group has put in a small landing strip. Nothing more. All of this could mean absolutely nothing, Paul.'
'I know,' he said. But his gut told him otherwise.
'It's not exactly uncommon for people to set up synergistic businesses in areas they plan to develop,' she said.
'Of course,' Hood replied.
There was a vast distinction between the kind of conspiracy Hood was envisioning and sound business opportunities Emmy had just described. These activities might have nothing whatsoever to do with Dhamballa and his group. It could all be a trick of timing.
Then again, maybe it was not. Paul Hood and his team were paid to assume that whatever was on the surface was a front. Effective crisis management had to presume guilt, not innocence.
Hood thanked Emmy for her efforts. They made dinner plans for the following week. The woman had gotten married a few months before, and she wanted Hood to meet her husband. Hood was glad for her. At the same time, he felt sad for himself. This was the first time in twenty years that he would be odd man out at a social dinner.
As Hood was finishing up with Emmy, Mike Rodgers came
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to the door. Hood thanked Emmy. They agreed to talk again later in the day. Rodgers entered and took a seat. The general looked better than he had in weeks. He seemed energized, engaged, focused.
'How's the team shaping up?' Hood asked.
'Aideen Marley and Dave Battat are ready to go over if we need them,' Rodgers said.
'They got along all right?' Hood asked.
'They got along well enough,' Rodgers replied. 'They're not running off to get married, but they'll get the job done.'
'Where's the rub?' Hood asked.
