Smoking Gun (Adam Cartwright Trilogy Book 1) (12 page)

It seemed that the Comancheros had mastered every trick in the fraudster’s handbook. Non-existing workers, ‘ghosts’, had been included in payrolls. Payments had been made to a dummy company owned by the Comancheros for non-delivered materials and services. They even had their dummy companies added to the list of approved suppliers so that payments to them would not be challenged. In two cases, legitimate suppliers had been coerced into padding their claims and handing the extra income to the Comancheros.

It was not just a story about Heino and Lex. It was an insight into corrupt practices in the construction industry. What Heino and Lex had witnessed was just a small part of what had to be a very large problem.

I had completed reading the documents and was pondering how to best bring this matter to the attention of the appropriate authorities when Leonie asked, “Well Adam, what do you think about all this?”

“Tragic. But somehow uplifting. I think that they should include a bit more detail about how they were coerced and the threats that were made. The attachments are excellent. It is clear from the records kept by Heino that they intended to blow the whistle sooner or later.”

Leonie nodded. “Yes. I agree. Tell me, when and how will you report it?”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully before saying. “I’m not sure. How would you feel about Lex Robertson continuing to work with you for a week or two? At least until I report it, possibly longer.”

“No problem. I still feel that she can be trusted. I’d have no problem with her staying on.”

“Okay. That gives us a little leeway. A bit more space to manoeuvre.”

I had barely finished speaking when there was a knock on my door and Lex Robertson and Heino Pops entered my office. I smiled and pointed at their previously occupied chairs. “Please take a seat.”

Pointing at the original copies of their documents that were now on their side of the desk I said, “I think that what you have provided could get you the best possible outcome. However, you may want to add a little detail about the coercion. My initial thought is that you could have given more detail of the threats and how they affected you personally and individually. This is your best shot of getting leniency. I am no lawyer but I believe that you need to strengthen your case that you were compelled against your will to act corruptly.”

The two of them exchanged glances before Heino said, “Initially we had included more about the threats and our fears but deleted it when we decided that it sounded too much like we were trying to escape all personal responsibility. But we can easily add it back.”

Lex leaned forward and said, “We will add it back.”

“Okay. Why don’t you do that now. As soon as it is done then print it out on my printer. You can then sign and date each confession.” Then as an afterthought I added. “Just to make certain that the lawyers will be happy, you should initial and date each page.”

Leonie and I then left for her office where we could discuss what I had in mind before I again spoke to the other two.

***

Ten minutes later we were all seated back in my office. They were all looking at me expectantly so I said, “I have a plan. A plan that I hope will work. But first, I’ll tell you what I am not going to do. I am not going to report this matter up the chain of command in Gibson Construction. If I do you can be sure that it will spread like wildfire through the company, and beyond. I believe that there are a number of self-servers in the higher ranks of Gibson Construction who might see this as an opportunity to score some brownie points by putting the boot in.” I paused and shook my head before continuing, “No I will not go up the chain of command. I will go straight to the top. Directly to Ewan Ryan, the CEO. I have only met him on a couple of brief occasions so I have to warn you that I don’t know how he’ll react. He likes to be in control and call the shots. He might be outraged and seek immediate police action. On the other hand he might go along with my plan.” I paused again and looked at the three of them before continuing. I wanted Lex and Heino to have time to fully absorb what I was saying. “My plan sounds a little ambitious, even to me, but I’ll attempt to make an appointment with Ewan Ryan without disclosing the details of our problem. I’ll also ask him to make an appointment for us both to meet with the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission which is currently sitting in Brisbane. That appointment to be as soon as possible after I meet with him. The same day would be ideal but probably not achievable.”

When I paused Heino had a question. “What will you say to the Commission?”

“I’ll provide them with your confessions that will have been redacted. That is, your identities will have been blanked out. Most of your other stuff will also be provided to the Commission after being suitably redacted. Hopefully that will enable me to engage them in a conversation covering witness protection in the event that you surrender to them voluntarily. I could also offer them your cooperation to continue working here in an effort for them to snaffle the Comancheros in the act so to speak. Of course, both of you would have to agree to go along with that before I would put it forward. Also I would have to convince Ewan Ryan to go along with it as well. So, do you agree that I proceed as I have outlined?”

They both nodded slowly. After a few moments Lex asked, “Does that mean that you and Leonie would let us continue working here?”

I looked pointedly at Leonie who said, “Yes. I’m sure that I can rely on you.”

Heino then asked, “So, Boss, you’d give me a second chance too?”

I nodded. “Sure. I have great sympathy for you both. Some will argue that you should have resisted and gone to the authorities. But no one really knows how they would react if they find themselves in the same situation as you were. But there will be no third chances. I’d throw you to the wolves.”

“I understand. Thanks. You can rely on us completely.”

“Good! Now what about the plan?” I looked all three, one by one. “Leonie? You first I think.”

Leonie responded, “I agree. Murphy’s law says that it won’t work out exactly as you hope but I know that you can think on your feet. Anyway, it’s your show. You’re the boss. I’ll back you whatever you come up with.”

I grinned. “Thanks Leonie.”

Lex nodded. “It’s a lot to take in all at once. But I trust you to know what is the best course of action.” She paused and glanced at Heino who nodded. She then continued. “We both do.”

“Okay. That is agreed. I’ll keep you all informed of progress. Until then it is business as usual for both of you.” Then I stopped and grinned wryly. “Well perhaps not as has been usual in the past. But you must document any contact by the Comancheros and inform me immediately. Understood?”

They both nodded.

***

It was four thirty when I placed a call to Ewan Ryan. At first his personal assistant was reluctant to put my call through. Eventually, however, she was persuaded when I said that Mister Ryan would be a little miffed if he didn’t get my call.

Moments later a voice boomed in my ear. “Adam Cartwright, I’m told you said I’d be miffed if I missed your call? I hope for your sake that you can justify that claim.”

I gave a short laugh to indicate that I wasn’t overawed talking to the big boss and said, “I have no doubt that you will agree when you hear what I have to say…”

Before I could continue he bellowed. “Hey, wait a minute! I know who you are. You are that smart alec kid that we appointed to run the Red Rock project site. You shouldn’t be contacting me direct. I don’t have time to deal with every little issue. Go talk to the Project Manager. He will take it up the line of command. Do you think that I have time to talk to everyone who thinks that they need to talk to the boss? Go through the right channels. Do what you are paid to do. Use your initiative for Pete’s sake.”

His attitude really annoyed me so I responded a little intemperately. “I would not have called you unless I considered it to be necessary. If you had spent a little less time shouting then I would have already explained the problem. Okay. I accept that you are too busy. I’ll use my initiative and call the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission instead. Perhaps they will be a little more responsive. Good day.”

Without waiting for a response I terminated the call.

A few minutes later my phone rang. It was Ewan Ryan’s personal assistant on the line. “Mister Ryan would like to talk to you…”

I was still angry at his dismissive attitude, and his attempt to browbeat me, and responded, “I’m sorry. I can’t take his call right now. Please tell him that I’ll call him back as soon as I can.”

As I terminated the call I wondered if I had gone too far. But I was not going to be shouted at like that. I wouldn’t treat others with such disrespect and I certainly wasn’t going to accept it from anyone else. No matter whom he was.

A few minutes later the phone rang again. It was Ewan Ryan’s personal assistant. “Mister Ryan apologises for his outburst. Could you give him an indication as to when he could talk to you?”

I guess that my bruised ego had recovered somewhat as I found myself responding. “I’m available right now. If it’s not convenient for Mister Ryan I can call back at any time that he wishes to nominate.”

There was a silence for moment before she spoke again. “I’m putting you through now.”

Moments later Ewan Ryan spoke. “Adam, I apologise for my earlier outburst. You got me at a bad moment. You said that you had a problem that you needed to bring to my attention. Well, you got my attention with your mention of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. Is it to do with the Red Rock project?”

“Yes and no. Yes, it does affect Red Rock. But no, it also affects a number of other of Gibson’s recent projects. I have uncovered an endemic system of fraud that has affected at least six of your construction projects over the last three years.”

There was silence for a few moments before he spoke. “How much is involved?”

“Two and a half million dollars.”

“Christ! Do you know who is responsible and how it was carried out?”

“Yes. I have written confessions from two of Gibson’s employees who have been coerced by the Comanchero bikie gang to carry out their instructions.”

“Who are the two employees?”

“Sorry. I’ll only provide that information in a face to face meeting.”

“What the hell do you think that you are playing at? You can’t dictate conditions to me.” His level of irascibility was definitely re-escalating.

“The two employees wish to surrender to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. They are repentant for giving into threats and are in fear for their lives. They wish to give evidence to the Commission about the Comancheros activities. They have come forward voluntarily and I am committed to negotiating their recognition as whistleblowers and getting them accepted into a witness protection program. I am not going to give them up just so you can hand them over to the police without properly considering their circumstances. If you won’t meet with me to discuss this rationally without shouting, then I will go straight to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.”

Ryan commenced to say something but spluttered into silence. I think that he was having great difficulty in getting his temper under control. I was now resigned to this conversation ending badly for me career-wise. Eventually he managed to speak in a reasonable tone of voice. “So you are threatening to go to the Commission …”

I didn’t let him finish the sentence. “No. I’m not threatening anything. I’m simply giving you a heads-up. I’m going to the Commission. I was offering to bring you up to date with events prior to me going there.”

“Okay. Let me give you a heads-up as well.” He paused and then surprised me when he continued in a much calmer tone of voice. “I have been invited to appear at an in-camera session of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission on Tuesday morning next week. I have spent all day with lawyers talking strategy. I have been listening to a couple of wet-behind-the-ears pricks of lawyers telling me what I should, and shouldn’t, say. I’m fed up with it all. You ringing me was the last straw.”

”Well. It might cheer you up if I told you that the information that I have about the Comancheros, and fraud on construction sites, could make you the star attraction. Provided that you handle it right.”

“So now you are also telling me what I should do. You are even younger than those twerps of lawyers. I should sack them. Perhaps you as well…”

“Well your first thought would be my recommendation. Sack the lawyers. Do not listen to them. Do not involve them.” Not for the first time I wondered why apparently confident people would rely on a lawyer to get unnecessary advice when the right course of action would be obvious with the application of honesty and a little commonsense. Here was the CEO of a major corporation that didn’t have the confidence to handle a few questions by the Commission without having a lawyer to hold his hand. In situations like this I seriously doubted that they were in the right line of work.

He exploded with ironic pseudo mirth. “By God you must have a death wish talking to me like that. A death-of-career wish I mean.” He was silent for a moment before adding. “To tell you the truth, I was coming around to that conclusion myself. Okay, how soon can you get down here to see me? I’ll listen to what you have to tell me face-to-face.”