give the money back.”
Ava sighed. “I had no knowledge of any of this, and I’m sure Dynamic doesn’t either. As far as I can tell, Seto was referred to them, and vouched for, by a cousin of the CEO.”
“Well, now you’ve been warned.”
“Has the Treasury Department taken any action?”
“No, not according to the Dallas banker, and he should be in a position to know.”
“So it’s supposition at this point?”
“Precisely.”
“Still, I’m going to speak to my boss and make sure he talks to Dynamic. Knowing him and them as well as I do, I imagine they will distance themselves from Seto as quickly as they can. We are committed to concluding this transaction, but after that I can’t see them conducting any more business with him.”
“I’m of the same mind,” Bates said, a trace of anger in his voice. “My bank has an operating code of ethics that is the very first thing new recruits have drummed into them. We have survived and thrived for more than two hundred years by doing business completely within the letter of the law. If the U.S. government ever charged Seto with money laundering and our bank was somehow implicated, I can tell you it would end the career of everyone who had put a finger to it.”
He’s worried, genuinely worried, Ava realized. “Jeremy, I’m absolutely sure nothing will come of this,” she said softly. “Money laundering is easy to say and hard to prove. Has the Treasury Department contacted you yet?”
“No.”
“There you go. If they were really bearing down on Seto I’m sure they would have contacted you by now. The Dallas bank told them where they sent his money, yes?”
Bates nodded.
“So the fact that a week has passed and they haven’t followed up with even a phone call does tell you something. You won’t hear from them. I’m sure of it.”
“I thought that as well.”
“Anyway, Treasury Department or not, we will cut ourselves free of him after this.”
“As will the bank. I’m going to close his account as soon as your wires clear. When you see him, tell him I need to talk to him privately. He can come here or I will come to the apartment.”
Ava sat back. “Jeremy, do you think you could delay doing anything until I leave? This is quite uncomfortable for me. I was going to stay with him until he was well enough to travel, but now I have to call Hong Kong and probably adjust my plans. I would appreciate it if you could hold off until I have some direction.”
“Of course,” Bates said, his hand reaching across the table as he passed over the envelope.
Ava touched his fingers and then pulled back. She looked at the brown envelope. “Are those my copies?” she asked.
“Yes, of course. Forgive me for getting distracted,” he said.
She opened it and took out the confirmations. Both had been registered at 4:15 p.m. “Thank you so much.”
“It was my pleasure. I’m just sorry about dinner. Maybe tomorrow night?”
“If I’m here — and I think I will be — I’d love it.”
He walked her to the elevator, his hand lightly touching her elbow, a display of interest that confirmed what she had already decided: it was time to leave Tortola.
As the elevator door closed, Jeremy Bates left her life as completely as if he’d never been in it. During the ride down and halfway across the lobby, the Robbins brothers consumed all her attention. But it wasn’t until she was nearly out the door that it dawned on her she was taking some things about them for granted. She stopped, opened the envelope, and took out the wire confirmation for the two million that had gone to Uncle. She folded it into a small square and tucked it inside her underwear.
The car was where she had last seen it. Davey saw her first and said something to Robbins. The big man whipped his head in her direction, his eyes drawn to the envelope. Ava gave thanks to whatever impulse had made her remember the second wire.
She climbed into the front seat and said, “I’m starving. I need to eat.”
“Was the money sent?” said Robbins.
“Yes, I told you it was.”
“Is that the confirmation?”
“Yes.”
“I want to see it. Pass me the envelope.”
“Do you have your brother’s permission?”
His voice rose. “You need to stop fucking around with me.”
Ava turned around to face him. “I’m not fucking with you. I’m doing business with your brother. I’m not showing this to anyone unless he tells me to.”
Robbins stared at her. Ava could see that he was trying to make up his mind whether she was being respectful towards the Captain or pissy towards him. “I’ll call him,” he said.
“That’s the wise thing to do,” she said.
He climbed out of the car and crossed the sidewalk to a white stucco wall. He leaned against it, the phone appearing in his gloved hand. Davey looked sideways at her as if to say Be careful. Ava realized it was the first time she’d actually been alone with the driver. “Why does Robbins wear those gloves?” she asked him.
“Ugly, huh?”
“Certainly not pleasant.”
“Nothing freaky, if that’s what you’re worried about. He got what he thought was eczema a few weeks ago. It comes and goes, except this time it didn’t go. The doctor told him he’s got some kind of ringworm. He got some medication but he has to wear the gloves for a few days.”
“It hasn’t done anything for his disposition.”
“Hey, with or without the gloves, Robbins is a piece of work.”
“How long have you worked for him?”
Davey laughed. “What makes you think I work for him?”
“I assumed.”
“He’s got his own day job and I got mine. This is just a short-term gig for me. I crew for a living. This is the busiest charter port in the Caribbean. I’m off again in two or three days. We got some honeymooners going island- hopping for a week.”
“What does he do?” Ava asked.
“He’s a cop.”
“I should have guessed.”
“Why? He sure as shit doesn’t look like one.”
“And what does your typical cop look like?” Ava asked.
“Not like the Michelin man.”
Robbins lumbered towards the car. Davey said, “Best for us not to talk so much. He’s a suspicious son of a bitch.”
“My brother wants to speak to you,” Robbins said from the door, holding his phone over the back of the front seat.
“Captain,” Ava said.
“I understand congratulations are in order, Ms. Lee.”
“The money has been sent.”
“Well done, very well done. Now do me a favour and pass the confirmation to my brother. He’ll need the phone back as well.”
Ava handed them both over. The big man retreated to the wall again. She started to speak to Davey, but he turned his head away.
She watched as Robbins read the wire details to his brother. When he was done, he climbed into the car, a fat, sloppy grin spreading across his face. He handed her the phone.
“Yes, Captain,” she said.
