Quinn should have called by now, “Was it possible that these country bumpkins had disposed of two of his people?” His mental question was hard to believe, but stranger things had happened.
The thought of the money goaded him onto the next phase of his plan. Somehow the thought of it worried him.
He pondered his situation.
Should he have contracted the services of better quality people at higher rates of pay? If so, did it mean he was moving up to another level of success, or did it mean he was losing control of the immediate situation?
A lot of things seemed to have gone wrong lately.
He rubbed his hand over his forehead as he wondered. Was he still in control and just maybe going through a rough period? Was he losing his grip? Was he on the edge of a slippery slope and about to begin sliding down?
He’d slid down a slope once before, and it had cost him a lot of money. It had hammered his confidence, and worst of all it had cost him his independence. With the loss of his independence, came a lull in his self-esteem, and with that loss of self-esteem, there came a hatred of Tom Lee.
Sudovich’s podgy fist came down heavily and crashed onto his desk top at the thought of the man’s name.
Tom Lee was one of Sydney’s biggest and most successful drug lords who Sudovich believed to be at the pinnacle of success. Sudovich had envied him, had believed that his own goal in life was to be the possessor of a position like Lee’s.
Something had gone wrong, and even now Sudovich was unsure what had started his slide down the slippery slope.
It seemed to have started with the Asian gangs moving in on his turf. They were much too clever, and they leaned to the extreme in ruthlessness.
Now in hind sight, Sudovich realized that he’d been too slow in getting in on the ecstasy market. Then to top it off, the taxation department went through his legitimate business like a dose of salts.
Even the money he’d acquired through Abu had been gathered in by lawyers who he’d needed to keep him out of gaol. He’d hated the idea of paying them, but in effect they had kept him alive. There were a lot of enemies in gaol, and he probably would not have lasted long.
He knew with some certainty what had stopped him at the bottom of the slippery slide though. He’d crashed into a need for capital, and the only capital available was through Tom Lee. At the time he’d believed he was capable of level pegging Tom Lee.
By the time he’d measured his capabilities it was too late. Tom Lee was like a virus which multiplied and eventually took over a system. Even now Sudovich still felt the pain.
Tom Lee owned his soul, and for Sudovich the only glimmer of hope was Abu’s lost fortune. To retrieve that fortune, he would have to pay for better quality professionals. He had the cash that he’d gotten from Kane, and if he had to invest it on one last effort, then that’s what he would do.
Sudovich felt like a punter who’d lost heavily, but hoped the next roll of the dice would win him the day. He must win, because Travers, Lee’s accountant, would soon start to ask questions about the company’s plane trips to the outback.
He was still worried when he finally lifted the hand piece and punched in the telephone number of an answering service. The voice of an older woman answered his call and he asked the whereabouts of one of her clients.
“He has not called in for messages in three weeks, but you might have some success if you call his other answering service in Auckland,” she said.
Sudovich asked her to get the client to call him the moment she heard from him and gave to her his new contact number. He touched the disconnect button on his phone, and then rang the New Zealand answering service.
Another woman answered, and Sudovich immediately disliked the short burst of New Zealand accent which came through his earpiece.
“I’m trying to contact a client of yours. Mr. Weston?”
“Yes Sir. He called just this morning and I can reach him for you, if you would like to leave a message.” Sudovich left his name and new number, thanked the woman for her time and put the phone down.
He had never in the past called on any professional people in this man’s league. Sudovich realized Weston’s existence only because he’d had his ears open, and his memory in gear when he’d heard Lee and Travers organizing the man’s services just some months earlier.
Sudovich was used to small time operators who were amateurish and small time crooks. Although he was somewhat taken aback that Quinn had apparently failed.
As far as Scott was concerned, Sudovich was not totally surprised. Scott was far too sure of himself, and it was only a matter of time before he under estimated an opponent and got knocked back a peg or two.
This thought resounded in Sudovich’s head. Thinking that maybe he had been too sure of himself also, believing the thief in the outback would be an easy mark.
There was an old saying that suddenly came to mind. ‘Never under estimate an opponent and never over estimate an ally.’ He, Sudovich, had certainly under estimated Tom Lee, and had the mental and financial scars to prove it.
Sudovich sat back in his soft chair, and gazed out of his window at the grey clouds that hung low over the city of Sydney.
His mind drifted back to his hatred of Tom Lee, and he wished yet again as he ground his teeth for something he could use to destroy him.
*****
Late that same afternoon Quinn readied to leave the farm for the long drive to Sydney. Ray and Simon stood by as he placed his gear into his vehicle.
Sarah didn’t witness the departure. She knew she would have done under different circumstances, but she couldn’t find it in herself to respect, or even like what Quinn stood for.
Ray told Quinn that if he was ever in the neighborhood to call in, unless of course he was on business.
Quinn saw the funny side.
“I’ll remember, but I have to tell you that when this is all over I’m off to my island and my lady for good. So I doubt I’ll see you again. Thanks anyway.”
Quinn turned to Simon.
“I don’t know what you can expect from Sudovich now. He might have enough time to organize another ‘enquirer’ between now and the time I get to him. No one can take anything for granted in this business. If I do get him in time, then you might be lucky enough to find that your problems are over. Depending of course that Sudovich was freelancing. If he wasn’t, and he has the backing of his partner Tom Lee, then you are never going to be sure that it’s over. My advice to you is that you get out of here now and find somewhere quiet to keep your head down for a while. Use cash only and no credit cards. Change the name on your car registration. Leave no trace. Tom Lee has people in information places. You hear what I’m saying?” Simon’s nerves were at fraying point, and the advice was the last thing he wanted to hear. He took it anyway, and thanked Quinn.
Quinn settled into the driver’s seat and buckled up.
“If you don’t mind me asking Simon, what in the world is a bloke like you going to do with all the money the driver told me about?” Simon smiled lightly and told Quinn of his intentions.
Quinn looked at Simon’s face and noticed the strain around his eyes.
“I’m glad then, that this has worked out in your favour. My life will be better having known you.”
Quinn looked again at the tiredness in Simon’s face, recognizing signs he’d seen many times before, on many men, though not usually in peace time.
Simon straightened at the compliment and was silent as Quinn’s car was hidden behind a billowing cloud of dust.