Diamond in the Blue: D.I. Simpers Investigates (20 page)

The tension seemed to ease as the Egyptian officers consulted each other.

'I am certain this is a misunderstanding,' added Simpers. 'And please, let me show my appreciation by giving the young man a gift as well as the money.

For the first time that evening, the young man raised his eyes from the floor. He looked in Simpers' direction. The three officers concluded their discussions, turning back towards Simpers as he removed the lid from the box and took out its ceramic contents. Holding it up to the young man, he offered the gift.

In an instant, the young man's demeanour changed. He began to shout and wave his hands aggressively. The police looked astonished at Simpers' offering.

'Enough,' said the policeman, 'this is an insult. You must not do this thing. You are a bad man and you will come with us, now.'

Two of the police officers took hold of Simpers, the third scooped up his wallet, warrant card and the offending gift, which now lay broken on the dining table. As he was escorted loudly from the dining room, Simpers looked back to see a horrified look on the faces of his table companions.

'Why were they so angry when Mr Simpers offered the taxi driver that gift?' said a confused Jonathan.

'I'm betting the taxi driver thought Simpers was insulting him by showing him the sole of that shoe,' said Amelia.

'But it wasn't even a real shoe, it was a ceramic one Mr Simpers told us he'd been given as a gift in Madeira,' replied Jonathan.

'It doesn't matter, Jonathan. Around these parts, showing somebody the sole of a shoe, real or not, let alone if they think you're going to hit them with it, is a really big insult. It's no use looking at me like that. Mr Simpers should have known better.'

'And they've chucked him in jail for that?'

'Got it in one, Jonathan. We need to get in touch with the consulate… as soon as we've finished dinner.'

'Come with me.'

The prison officer's order didn't leave any room for negotiation. Simpers rose from the stone slab covered with a thin, stained covered mattress that had served as his bed for the night. Opening the iron-barred door, the small rotund man who looked as though he needed a shave, didn't wait for Simpers as he slouched down the grubby corridor.

'You come, now,' said the ill tempered official.

In the few seconds it took Simpers to exit his cell, and then pass the curious gazes of Egyptian prisoners peering back at him from their confinement, he glimpsed the last of his guard's crumpled trousers disappearing around a corner.

'Perhaps you'd like to tell me where I'm being taken?' asked Simpers in a voice loud enough to carry the twenty feet or so between prisoner and captor. The man chose not to reply. As the detective made up the distance between them, his jailer twisted the loose knob of a door he was standing next to, flinging it open. He gestured for Simpers to enter the room.

'Comfortable night, Simpers?'

The detective failed to hide his astonishment at the sight before him.

'Chief Inspector Pimlico, er… Boss,' was all that Simpers could manage.

He couldn't take his eyes of his superior. His mind raced as he tried to work out what was happening. Then it dawned.

'So this is what last night was all about. I knew I hadn't given that taxi driver any duff money,' Simpers added.

Chief Inspector Pimlico grinned and sat back into a vintage wooden swivel chair he was occupying. He tapped the used contents of his pipe into a neatly folded handkerchief, which sat on the table in front of him.

'For reasons that we shall go into shortly, it's important that no one suspects why you are here,' said the Chief Inspector, before continuing, 'I have to say, Simpers, you helped enormously with that shoe routine. Priceless!'

Simpers felt stupid as he scanned the four faces that focussed on his embarrassment, barely disguised tears of laughter glinting on more than one cheek.

'Oh, don't take it so seriously, Simpers. Think of it as adding a touch of authenticity. Still, it's a pity your little gift from Madeira is now in bits. Then again, it'll be one less thing for you to dust back at home,' said the Chief Inspector, concentrating hard on refilling his pipe in order to stifle his laughter.

His failed efforts made the others, with the exception of Simpers, giggle all the more. The detective had no other choice than to stand and take it. He waited for a measure of sanity to return to the room.

'And the taxi driver, was he…' said Simpers, once quiet had been restored.

'No,' interrupted the Chief Inspector. 'He isn't on the local force. But the lad did earn a few shillings for the little acting job in the dining room – seemed he had you fooled, eh.'

Simpers decided the best course of action was not to prolong the line of conversation further. Instead, he turned to look at each of the strangers in turn.

'Now, let me introduce you to my colleagues,' said the Chief Inspector.

All traces of mirth had now disappeared from the room. As if by some invisible command, Simpers and the strangers joined Pimlico at the bare wooden table that dominated the sparse room.

'From left to right we have, first of all, my Egyptian counter-part, Brigadier Baako Adofo; then our Russian colleague, Colonel Andrei Agapov; and finally, Major General Sir James Padfield-Tamblyn.

Simpers scrutinised each of the officers as they were introduced. He was puzzled at the seniority and mix of individuals gathered around the Chief Inspector.

'Now, Detective Inspector,' said Pimlico, 'perhaps you would be kind enough to bring us up-to-date with your investigations aboard the Sir Francis Drake.'

Simpers spent the next twenty minutes detailing the events of the previous ten days. He explained that for much of the voyage, he'd thought the Purser’s staff racket had, in some way, been mixed up with the gems theft, before realising they were completely unrelated matters. The detective completed his briefing by outlining the security measures he had put in place to ensure the gems didn't leave the ship.

'So, to summarise, Detective Inspector. You have almost been tipped off the side of the ship. You've heard strange voices when moving about the deck. You almost ate a poison dart, and to top it all, someone beat you about the head and locked you in a refrigerator. Yet, from what I can gather, you're no nearer apprehending the culprit. Does that about cover it?' said Pimlico.

Simpers had expected a rough ride from his superior. He also knew that the presence of other senior officers made no difference to the dressing down the Chief Inspector was dishing out to him.

'With respect, that's not quite the case, Chief Inspector,' Simpers replied, before continuing, 'The reason that I put such tight security in place for anything going on or off the ship, is that I expect the gems to be offloaded in Port Said. I believe that they will then be couriered further east and re-cut.'

'And your evidence for this hypothesis?' replied Pimlico.

Simpers tried to read the body language of those around the table. He failed. Senior officers, he concluded, had long mastered the art of the inscrutable.

'I had the files that covered a similar gems theft on a cruise ship eight years ago checked over. The modus operandi was almost identical to this theft. Also, the investigating officers came to the conclusion that the diamonds had been fenced and re-cut in the near-east,' explained Simpers.

The detective looked for signs of agreement on the Chief Inspector's face. He didn't find it.

'That would be Detective Inspectors Fitch and Gammon, would it?' replied the Chief Inspector.

Simpers felt a pang of anxiety. He knew from his superior's phrasing, that he was about to have his hypothesis demolished.

'Those two fools… no, not fools, clever fools, had a habit of making things up if the facts didn't fit their version of events. You should have checked, Simpers. Being stuck on a liner two thousand miles from Westbay is no excuse for failing to cross-check that investigation – so you can forget that nonsense. You're barking up the wrong tree,' spat Pimlico.

Simpers thought the admonishment was harsh, even for Pimlico. Perhaps, he thought, the Chief Inspector's mood was, after all, being influenced by the presence of other senior staff.

'Chief Inspector,' said Agapov in a calming voice that broke the tension between Pimlico and his subordinate, 'I can see why the Detective Inspector might think the thief would want to off load the diamonds at Port Said. Let us not be so hard on Mr Simpers.'

Simpers was mesmerised at the effectiveness of Agapov's voice as a calming influence. He used a bewitching combination of guttural pronunciation and voice modulation to make every syllable count.

'I have some information for you, Detective Inspector, that I think will help you to refocus your investigations,' added Agapov.

The detective gathered his senses from the beating he'd taken from his superior. He listened intently to what the Russian had to say.

'You see, there is a man. A very rich man indeed, who thinks he is a direct descendant of Czar Nicholas II. He has spent millions of dollars trying to authenticate this claim. And in my country, well, perhaps in any country, money talks. In this case, money buys bloodline,' explained Agapov.

'I'm not sure I–'

'Don't interrupt, Simpers,' interjected Pimlico. 'Please, Colonel, continue.'

Agapov gave a clipped nod of his head in recognition of the Chief Inspector's request.

'This man, let us call him
zabluzhdeniye odin
; the deluded one. He believes the gems are rightfully his.'

'Are you saying, he actually thinks they're his inheritance?' replied Simpers.

'That is exactly what I am saying, Detective Inspector. Of course, people with money don't dirty their own hands. He will have paid to put somebody on that ship, and it is they who will take all of the risks. Whoever they are, they may not even know who they are working for. Of course, that makes your job all the harder,' added Agapov.

Simpers' mind was working overtime as he processed the information provided by the Colonel. He also now understood why the beating he'd taken was so savage, and the steps – whoever was responsible – was prepared to take to be rid of him. Westbay hadn't seen much trouble that could be proven to have had a Russian connection, but he had friends in the London Met who knew what such people were capable of.

'Do you think one or more members of the ship's crew could be involved in this, Simpers?' said Pimlico.

The detective hesitated before answering. The last thing he wanted was yet another tongue lashing from his superior.

'The truth is, Chief Inspector, there's no way of knowing for sure. The Commodore and I are working our way through the crew files, but with over 800 on board, it's a time-consuming task,' replied Simpers.

'How much attention can the Commodore give you? Is there nobody else aboard to help? asked Pimlico.

'None I'm prepared to trust,' replied the detective. 'In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I discount no one. In any event, the Commodore is copied in to every electronic communication that's delivered to, or sent from, that ship. Believe me, he knows everything that happens onboard.'

'He may well know everything that happens, Simpers, but it's the who that we are interested in, isn't it,' said Pimlico.

Simpers knew his superior's comments were well made, and as usual, laser focussed.

'Colonel Agapov,' said Simpers, 'you referred to our mutual friend as the deluded one. Do you know his real name?'

The Colonel hesitated before responding to the detective's question. Even in the short time Simpers had known the man, he thought his sudden reticence odd.

'Yes, I know this man's name. But for everyone's safety, and in particular, yours, it is better that he remains invisible. Believe me when I say, whether you know his name or not, it will have no bearing on your ability to solve this case,' replied Agapov.

Simpers felt his frustration levels increase. He understood the words the Colonel was speaking. What he couldn't accept was what he regarded as vital information being kept from him.

'I must insist, Colonel…' said Simpers.

'You must insist on nothing, my friend,' replied Agapov, without changing his demeanour or raising his voice in the slightest. 'All you must do, Detective Inspector, is accept my word on the matter.'

Silence descended on the room as Simpers and the Colonel exchanged stern glances. The others watched the verbal sparring with professional interest.

'So, where does this leave us, Simpers,' said Pimlico.

'Whoever is responsible for the theft must fit three criteria,' said Simpers, before continuing, 'First, they had to have inside help to secure the exhibition room and gain physical access to the alarmed showcases. Secondly, the means to secure the gems on board. And thirdly, a foolproof way of getting the diamonds ashore, knowing we would have put a ring of steel around the liner from the moment the theft was discovered.'

His assessment met with the agreement of all present. The gaggle of nodding heads told Simpers so. It was a gesture that also boosted his self belief.

'Brigadier Baako, is there anything you would like to add?' asked Pimlico.

'Only to say that we are in close contact with the Commodore, and we have plain clothes officers on board. In addition, there is an undercover officer on every tour bus servicing the liner, and every taxi driver entering the port area is known to us. One last thing, every person and everything leaving that ship passes through our own x-ray scanner. If they attempt to get those diamonds off on Egyptian soil, we will find them.'

Simpers was shocked to hear the steps taken by the Egyptian authorities. He had been told nothing of their work, by either the Commodore, or his superior. He checked Pimlico's facial expression. His lack of surprise told Simpers all he needed to know.

'Sir James, that just leaves you,' said Pimlico.

Simpers looked at the Major General. It had only just occurred to him that until now, the man had uttered not one word. Instead, he had observed without changing his countenance, or offering an opinion of any sort.

'Thank you, Chief Inspector. First of all may I thank our Russian and Egyptian colleagues for their truly sterling work. It is a tribute to our shared aims that we have been able to cooperate on, what I am sure you will agree, is a most delicate matter.'

Simpers felt himself bristle at the clipped diction that could shatter crystal. He instinctively railed against the privilege that churned out those such as the Brigadier General.

'My superiors are most concerned that the matter is handled with the utmost discretion. I would go further in suggesting that rather than cause a diplomatic incident, they are prepared to see the diamonds lost. Now…'

'Lost? What in heaven's name are you talking about, when you say lost,' replied Simpers with incredulity.

'As I was saying,' continued Sir James, 'now when I say lost, I mean, of course, misplaced. I know you will share the view of my superiors that a total loss would be unfortunate, and it is something not to be considered.'