the Asia-Pacific region. We don’t know if this entity is run by one person or several or the identities of those people involved. They launder and shift very large amounts of funds on a regular basis. Recent investigations have identified Sydney as both a source of funds and a staging post for the network. What information we have suggests the main broker is an Australian. Three months back, we received information from the Thai police that they had established a connection between an import-export business in Bangkok run by a Peter Sanders and that network. At the time Sanders was trying to get out of the business and he approached the police with an offer of information in exchange for protection for him and his family. Shortly after this, he was found murdered and his wife, Jirawan, was missing. Our investigation indicates that his offer was leaked to his murderers. Obviously they had their informants in the police.’
‘Why send Jirawan here?’ Grace asked. ‘Why not just kill her?’
‘I think Jon Kidd gave us the answer to that yesterday. Sanders almost certainly owed the network money. They don’t like leaving a debt unpaid. Not one that’s owed to them.’
‘Was she an innocent bystander?’
‘She could well have been. There’s no indication she was involved in the business. The Sanders import-export business was also associated with Angela and Robert McLeod, entrepreneurs who have done a lot of business in Asia and China over the years. They have many very significant contacts in that part of the world. Sara McLeod is their daughter, which made it very interesting when her name came up yesterday.’
‘Are they suspects? Is this network some kind of cartel they’re running?’
‘Our finance people began checking them out once we were advised of their connection to Sanders. It’s early days yet and their business interests are extensive, but our initial analysis is that the main McLeod business is legitimate. As we get more information, we may change our minds. But it may well be the source of the contacts the Ghost network has used in the past to establish itself.’
‘The Ghost network is a parasite on their business?’
‘Yes. Which makes Sara McLeod’s connection even more interesting. She’s the link.’
‘What role is Griffin playing in this? He keeps talking about his client,’ Grace said. ‘Does this client actually exist?’
‘That’s something you have to find out. At the moment, he’s shaping up as the central figure in this. We’ve already searched his unit in Bondi Junction. It’s nothing more than a shell. He goes there to sleep and change his clothes probably. He’s a very hard man to pin down. He seems to have almost no past and very limited means of support, despite the fact that he obviously has money. You just have to look at his car. All of which makes him a good candidate for our target. What we want now, what’s central to the success of this operation, is access to the network’s business records. Obviously, they’re computer-based. We need to know where they are. Those records are at the centre of this and they’re probably the last things we’ll find. But somehow we have to get our hands on them. So far, Griffin is our best chance to do that.’
‘What about Narelle Wong? Is her family connected?’
‘There’s no indication of that. But she’s a dual citizen. Her ID could be very useful to some other member of the network who wanted to move freely around the Asia-Pacific region, including coming here. She’s the perfect victim for that scenario. From what Kidd had to say, it’s not the first time the network have supplied their clients with new identities.’
‘Who’s her boyfriend? Griffin?’
‘Possibly. That’s something else you have to find out.’
‘You haven’t told Borghini any of this,’ Grace said.
‘I will brief him later today, as much as he needs to know. If we can dismantle this network, it will be a significant blow to a number of very dangerous organisations that depend on it for funds.’ He leaned forward again. ‘I am telling you this on the understanding that you will tell no one whatsoever outside of the operation about it. That means no one.’
‘I understand that.’
Briefly they were silent. Then there was a knock on the door and Borghini walked in.
‘Morning. Sorry I’m late. I’ve been working. Check this.’
He tossed on the table a photofit of a big man, roughly dressed, with a hard face and dark hair, followed by a mug shot.
‘One Mick Brasi. Standover man for the Ponticellis. You know who they are?’
‘Yes, we do,’ Clive replied, irritated.
‘We got his description from the barmaid at the Royal Hotel. He was seen in the bar just before ten.’
‘I saw him arrive,’ Grace said. ‘He walked in as I walked out. I didn’t know him.’
‘Just as well. You might have got yourself shot,’ Borghini replied unsentimentally.
‘Have you picked him up?’ Clive asked.
‘We’re looking for him.’
‘Don’t pick him up,’ Clive ordered.
Borghini sat back in his chair. ‘The man’s fucking dangerous.’
‘Put him under surveillance instead. He may lead us to something.’
‘You can get me the manpower first,’ Borghini replied. ‘The question is, if he did shoot Jacqueline Ryan, what are the Ponticellis doing involved in this?’
‘That’s what they do. They’re for hire,’ Grace said. ‘Brasi could have shot Arleen McKenzie and Kidd as well. It’s their MO.’
‘We need to ask if there’s more to it than that,’ Borghini said to her. ‘I think we should discuss it now. If you’re out there on the front line, I reckon you need to be bulletproof. Especially with Kidd saying things like you’re a puppet to these people. I really didn’t like that.’
‘Our targets probably see everyone that way.’
That was as much as she wanted to say. At the time, she’d brushed Kidd’s comment aside. Think too hard about that kind of statement and she wouldn’t be able to do her job.
‘Grace is well protected,’ Clive said quickly, then changed the subject. ‘I have other information we need to discuss first. As of midday yesterday, Sara McLeod and Joel Griffin have been under twenty-four-hour surveillance. The black Porsche is registered in her name to her parents’ address. She’s the daughter of Angela and Robert McLeod of Palm Beach, which is where Narelle Wong used to go for parties. They’re A-list. Their parties include any number of celebrities and media stars.’
‘Can we tie Sara McLeod’s business to Life’s Pleasures?’ Grace asked.
‘Not without the testimony of the sex workers,’ Borghini said, a little red-faced at being rebuffed. ‘If they or members of their families are being offered some kind of new life in this country, they won’t cooperate with us.’
Just then Grace’s phone rang.
‘Grace Riordan.’
‘Joel here. How are you?’
‘Just wonderful,’ she said lightly. ‘What have you got to tell me?’
‘Maybe you’d like to relax a little. How about going on a picnic?’
‘Where?’
‘Lane Cove National Park. At one this afternoon. I’ll be waiting at the Chatswood entrance.’
‘Why are we meeting?’ she said. ‘Are we going to come to an agreement?’
‘You wanted to be part of the deal. I’m going to make you an offer. We’ll talk about it then.’
The conversation had been broadcast to the room. Borghini was watching her.
‘You take fucking care,’ he said. ‘They mean business.’
Clive glanced at him angrily. ‘Dress yourself up,’ he said to Grace. ‘Make it look like you’re trying to attract him. You should be able to do that.’
‘Do I need to?’
‘He put the possibility forward. Give it some air. You have to be very convincing.’
‘I will be.’
Lane Cove National Park was a narrow strip of land on the river of the same name, slender remains of the original forest and shrub lands now surrounded by Sydney’s leafy northern suburbs. It was a heavily visited park,
