Blood at Yellow Water (25 page)

His reverie was disturbed as three men and a
woman entered the restaurant and were seated at the adjacent table.
By their dress and manner, Jake guessed they were staffers from the
Parliamentary Offices. They all were suits and were talking loudly
about politics. He couldn’t but help overhear their chatter. His
ears pricked up when he heard them talking about Anna Sentoro. They
were discussing the election of the new Prime Minister and the
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. The woman was saying that she
had heard that Anna Sentoro had pulled out of the leadership
contest because she was caught up in some sex scandal which
Crichton had threatened to leak to the press.

His state of mind disturbed by the
intrusion, Jake finished his meal quickly, paid his bill and walked
back to his apartment.

Later that evening he rang his father.
“Bill, I’ve made an appointment to see Fisher, the AFP
Commissioner, for the day after tomorrow and I’ll show the
documents to him. I trust him and I’m sure he’ll follow them
up.”

“You don’t think they’ll try to bury it do
you?”

“If they do, we can always go to the press.
But that could cost me my job.”

“Yeah well, I know you’ll do the right thing
to get justice for Barry. There’s huge protests going on throughout
the Territory and unless someone’s brought to trial for Barry’s
murder it’s going to get violent.”

“I’m aware of that. How’s Elsie and Lizzie
bearing up?” said Jake changing the topic.

“They’re bearing up O.K. under the
circumstances.”

“Bill, have you seen Shoni around? I’ve been
trying to ring her and left messages on her voicemail but there’s
been no answer.”

“Come to think of it I haven’t seen her
today but I’m sure she’d be O.K. As you know the phone coverage can
be lousy up here. I’ll wander over the pub later and see if she’s
there.”

After asking a few more questions of Bill,
Jake hung up. His leg was aching after the walking he had done and
Bill’s call had dampened his spirits. He made himself a coffee in
the kitchenette of the unit and prepared himself for an early
night.

*

WEDNESDAY - CANBERRA

The next morning Jake was up early for a busy
schedule of appointments with colleagues at Austrade and DFAT. He
had received an email from Allan Laidley from the office of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade asking him to have a drink
with him at 5 p.m. at Parliament House. He walked over to the
Austrade building for meetings with senior management and his
colleagues in the North Asia Branch. The main topic was how to
encourage Australian companies to take advantage of the free trade
provisions of the newly signed Japan Australia Treaty. As the
Government’s senior trade representative in Japan, Jake’s role
would be pivotal in rolling out a new marketing strategy for
Australian companies to take up the trade opportunities
provided.

After lunching with his colleagues, Jake
received a call on his mobile.

A cultured voice enquired, “Is that Jake
Stafford?”

“Yes, who’s calling?”

“It’s Katherine Smith, Personal Advisor to
Ted Pearson, the Director-General of ASIO. The Director would like
to meet with you urgently. Could you possibly come over to his
office this afternoon, say at 4 p.m.?’

“Well, I have appointments with people from
DFAT but I can reshuffle those if it’s important.”

“Oh, that would be super. We’ll see you at
four o’clock. Just ask for me at reception.”

Jake wondered what that was all about.

He strolled over to the DFAT building where
he had meetings with officers from the Asia Division starting with
Jenny Antrim who had led the Australian delegation at the treaty
negotiations. Jenny welcomed him warmly and discussed the plans for
implementation of the Japan Australia Treaty. He spent the next
hour meeting with DFAT officers until it was time to go to his
meeting with ASIO.

Jake was carefully screened going through
security checks at the ASIO office. A small middle-aged woman was
waiting for him and introduced herself as Katherine Smith. They
took the elevator up to the fifth floor. She tapped on the door of
the Director General’s office.

“Enter”, floated a voice from inside and
Jake was shown into the office. There were two men in the room,
sitting either side of the desk. The man behind the desk facing
Jake was in his mid-sixties, tall and thin with a mane of silver
hair. He had a reputation of being highly intelligent but quite
cold and ruthless. He was labelled in government circles as “the
silver fox”. He got up from his chair and gave Jake a limp
handshake.

“Nice of you to come at such short notice.
You know Anthony Wiley, the Defence Minister’s Chief of Staff do
you?” Jake was curious as to why Wiley was there.

“Yes Director-General, I met Mr Wiley at the
conference in Yellow Water.” He shook Wiley’s hand.

“Let’s keep this informal shall we? Call me
Ted. Shall we have some tea or coffee and sit around the coffee
table?” They sat themselves down and gave their preferences for
beverages to Katherine.

“Jake I wanted to thank you for your role in
saving the life of Prime Minister Koshi. I’d like to hear your
version of what happened.”

Jake gave a quick description of their
escape from the Chinese.

“That’s wonderful Jake. Both the Japanese
and your own Government are extremely grateful for your initiative
and courage in the face of the terrorist attacks. We can’t openly
acknowledge your involvement but it won’t be forgotten.”

“However, I’m informed that you are involved
in some other matters which are highly sensitive to the Government
and of concern to us.”

Jake blanched. “What are you referring
to?”

“I’m talking about the death of Barry
Buckstone and certain documents he had in his possession which were
stolen. Can you enlighten me as to how you knew Buckstone?”

“My father’s partner Lizzie is Buckstone’s
sister. I had met Barry through her and attended the funeral. It’s
as simple as that.”

“Do you know anything about the documents he
was supposed to have stolen?”

Jake framed his response carefully. “I heard
rumours that he had some evidence of corruption in the Kakadu Land
Council which had led to the Council’s withdrawal of its opposition
to the Jabiru mine.”

“Let me stress that these documents are
extremely confidential and sensitive. If they end up in the wrong
hands they could pose a high level security risk. If you have any
information on them you should pass it on to us immediately. Do you
understand me?”

Jake nodded. He understood it to be a veiled
threat.

“It would go very badly for your career Jake
if you were found to have possession of these documents.”

“What makes you believe that I have these
documents?”

“We don’t, but we have to check everyone who
was in contact with him around the time of his death. You were seen
talking to him at Jabiru while the demonstrations were going on.
And you were staying at his house.”

The realisation that he had been under
surveillance surprised and annoyed Jake. He responded testily “I’ve
already explained that. I looked him up at Jabiru because his
sister asked me to. I attended the funeral with my father and
Lizzie and his widow invited us to stay overnight at her
house.”

Pearson looked at Wiley who nodded.

“O.K. Jake you know how important this is to
the Government. I should stress that all members of the Public
Service sign confidentiality agreements as a condition of their
employment. This applies to any documents which affect the
government.”

“I’m aware of that.”

Pearson stood up to shake Jake’s hand,
signifying that the meeting was over. “Thanks for coming over
Jake.”

Wiley followed Jake out to the elevator and
pressed the down button.

He sneered. “You’re in deep trouble here
Stafford. You’ve involved yourself in something way above your
head. I’ll have your guts for gaiters over this.”

The elevator door opened. Jake turned to
Wiley.

“You’re the one who’s over-stepped the mark
here Wiley” Jake said as he trod heavily on Wiley’s foot as he
moved to the elevator. He gave a polite wave to a furious Wiley as
the elevator doors closed.

Back out on the street, he took a taxi to
Parliament House for his meeting with Allan Laidley.

At a few minute before five o’clock, Jake
arrived at the reception area at Parliament House and announced
himself to a security guard behind the counter. The guard rang up
Laidley to advise him that Jake had arrived and issued Jake with a
visitor’s pass in a lanyard which he hung around his neck. He
walked through the security screen just as Allan stepped out of the
elevator. He shook Jake’s hand vigorously and escorted him through
the corridors of the ministerial offices until he came to the
office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Allan led him
into his own office where he invited Jake to join him on a couch
alongside a coffee table. He walked to the bar fridge and offered
Jake a beer which he accepted gratefully.

After exchanging pleasantries, they
discussed the work needed to follow-up from the signing of the
treaty with Japan. Allan then reviewed the events over the last few
weeks, including the reasons why Anna Sentoro had declined to
nominate for the Liberal Party leadership. He showed Jake the
damaging photos of Jake with Anna and explained how he had managed
to have them deleted. Jake mentioned his suspicions about
Crichton’s involvement with the Jabiru mine. He outlined the
transactions which appeared to involve Crichton, O’Shea and the
Japanese tycoon Takaya. Allan cried out excitedly

“That slimy bastard Crichton! Jake if this
can be proven it would ruin Crichton. Have you got any documentary
evidence?”

“I have but it doesn’t mention Crichton’s
name anywhere. I’m pretty sure he has an interest in the company
behind it.”

“Why don’t you show the material to the
authorities? They would tell you whether there was a strong case or
not.”

Jake responded “I’m not sure who to trust.
I’ve just come from a meeting at ASIO with the Director-General and
your ‘mate’ Wiley from the P.M.’s Office. They gave me a pretty
stern warning about disclosure of confidential information
affecting the Government. I reckon any documents incriminating the
P.M. would be buried pretty quickly. They wouldn’t expose the newly
appointed P.M. to such allegations.”

“Yeah, good point, they might just hush it
up. Then again, if the story came out it would destroy
Crichton.”

He paused for a moment, shuffled in his
cabinet and brought out a photograph. Jake studied the photo. It
showed Crichton and Takaya in close conversation.

“This doesn’t prove anything but it shows
Crichton and Takaya to be close buddies. It’s a spare copy, you can
keep it if you like.” He gave the photo to Jake who slipped it in
his pocket.

There was a tap on the door. Jake looked
around to see Anna Sentoro push the door open.

Anna said “Allan have you got the press
statement on…” Her words hung in the air as she saw Jake sitting
with Allan.

She looked surprised “Oh, sorry Allan, I
didn’t realise Jake was with you. Jake, how nice to see you again.”
She came over and shook Jake’s hand.

“Hello Minister,” Jake stammered. She had
dark rings under her eyes and looked stressed, obviously suffering
from the pressure she had been put under over the last few
days.

“Jake please call me Anna. Have you
recovered from your ordeal?”

“Yes Minister, er I mean Anna. The leg has
healed up nicely.”

Sensing some embarrassment, Allan chipped
in.

“Anna, we’ve been discussing the follow-up
to the signing of the Japan Australia Treaty. Jake has some ideas
for promoting the commercial opportunities arising from the
Treaty.”

“That’s great Jake. I’d like to be involved
in any way I can be useful.”

“Well, over the next few months we will need
to run seminars for business people right around Australia
explaining the benefits of the Treaty to Australian companies and
industry groups. It would make a bigger impact if you could be a
keynote speaker.”

“I’d be happy to Jake, just let Allan have
the details when the seminars are planned and I will make sure I
fit them into my calendar.”

Allan cut in. “More importantly Anna, Jake
has uncovered some information on the Prime Minister’s possible
involvement in the Jabiru Mine which smacks of corruption.”

Jake repeated the information to Anna. After
he had finished she thought for a moment.

“Jake this is powerful stuff if it can be
substantiated. I think you should show the material to the AFP and
let them judge what to do with it. If I became involved it would be
seen as if I am trying to undermine the leadership out of
spite.”

“I’m meeting with the AFP in the morning and
will pass on the information to them.”

Anna said “Jake when you’ve finished with
Allan would you like pop into my office for a few minutes?”

Jake spent another ten minutes with Allan
before he knocked on Anna’s door. She opened the door and gestured
towards her couch.

“Jake I wanted to let you know that I
appreciate all you’ve done, not just in saving the Japanese Prime
Minister at the risk of your own life but all the work you did at
the negotiations. One day you’ll get the credit you deserve for
this.”

“Thanks Anna. I’m not worried about
receiving recognition. I’m just sorry things haven’t worked out
better for you.”

“Well, that’s politics. Things can change
rapidly as we’ve seen over the last few days. My turn will come. If
what you’ve found out proves to be true, things could change very
quickly again.”

“Oh and Jake, I’m terribly sorry that you’ve
been brought in to the dirty politics that Crichton and his staff
instigated with those photos.”