BAMAKO by Aribert Raphael (smart books to read txt) đ
- Author: Aribert Raphael
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âI guess I can do that.â He was enjoying her teasing eyes. âAnd I prefer to do that than seeing you run off to Hjamal by yourself.â
âDonât even go there. Youâreââ He assaulted her with one of his sick-puppy look. She returned the gaze. âIâm supposed to be quiet is that it?â
âNo, no just go onââ
âAll right, all right. No more ifs and buts for now, and could you get on with it please?â
âYes, maâam,â he replied, chuckling.
She got up, picked up her purse and trotted out, leaving Hassan bewildered and to his secretarial duties, to take a walk.
She wanted to be alone. She went down past the terrace restaurant and onto the beach. The sand felt cool under her feet. The sun hadnât been shining on it long enough to heat it. She needed to assure herself that what she was about to reveal to these people tomorrow, was the right conclusion to this long-drawn affairâThe Savoi Affair. Yet, she had no proof and it bothered her. Maybe she needed to recruit the ambassadorâs help.
At eleven sharp, Talya heard a knock at the door. She didnât know which of the two men would be first. She suspected James would be. She had a last look around the apartmentâthe maid had done a wonderful job in removing all traces of anyoneâs passage.
âHello, Kiddo,â James said when she opened the door. Kiddo was the nickname Talya got after a few weeks at Carmine. She couldnât recall how it came about, but she was always pleased when James addressed her with it.
âGood morning, how was breakfast?â She closed the door and looked at her boss appreciatively. His allure was carefree and happy. Actually, he looks like the cat that just swallowed the canary.
âGlorious, is how I would describe it. That restaurant downstairs is something else. Talya, youâve been spoiled rotten,â he said with a smirk. âAnd you know what the best thing about this is? The aircraft company is footing the bill for the whole thing.â
âNo. Really? You mean the guys who brought me here?â
âOh yesâthem. I went to the desk this morning to check if I needed to give them a credit card or something after youâd explained how you ended up here. And they told me Air Location had given orders to put everything on their tab.â
âWow, thatâs nice of them. I bet Ken will be happy with that.â
âAbsolutely. Heâs already asking when youâre going to give him your expense report.â
Moments later Hassan knocked and came in dressed to a T. He had changed for the meeting. The man must have packed his entire wardrobe before coming down.
She made the introductions. James and Hassan eyed each other for a fraction of a second before sitting down.
James spoke first. âMaitre, Iâll begin by saying thank you and then Iâll have to say congratulations.â
âThereâs really no need to thank me, Monsieur Flaubert. Talya did most of the work. And as for the congratulations, I donât know what you mean.â
âIâve put up with Talya for nearly two years, Maitre, and I still donât know why I keep her around.â He threw a quick glance in Talyaâs direction. She smiled. âYet, youâve managed to stand her for over a month, in the middle of this turmoil? Of course, I have to congratulate you for your tolerance and steadfastness. I have a good idea what you went through!â
They laughed. The ice was broken.
95
âOkay, letâs start with a few questions,â James began. He had chosen to sit on the sofa once again, and across from Talya and Hassan. âAnd letâs leave Savoi and Mali aside for now. What exactly have you discovered about the ownership of Sabodala?â
Talya turned to Hassan. He had the answers to that question.
Hassan put his elbows on his knees, lifted his face to James and said, âIn all the paperwork that I was shown, I couldnât find anything which proved that Monsieur Hjamal was authorized officially to occupy the land, let alone mine it.â
âWhat about permits to dig wells or drain septic tanks, for example, or even permits to construct the plant? Did you see any of that?â
âNo, I didnât see any permits of any sort. The only thing that was relevant was the accounting ledger. It showed numerous transactions taking place for over two years and funds being transferred from Mali into Minorexâs account and some expenses for the purchase of the equipment for the plantâbut, again, nothing by way of payment of taxes or fees for acquisition of permits of any kind.â
âNow, Maitre, Iâd like you to think carefully before you answer the next question. The ledger which youâve examined, did it show clearly that Savoi actually transferred funds into the business?â
âNot very clearly, no, except for the name of Savoiâs company being mentioned in brackets from time to time, beside the amounts received.â As James was about to interrupt him, Hassan held up his hand. âBut thatâs not all. As Iâve told Talya, when I phoned her on the day, I had found bank account statements, which showed the details of each of the transactions that had taken placeâdates, amounts, everything.â
âI see. Thatâs excellent,â James said.
Hassan and Talya looked at each other. They were taken aback. Why would embezzlement become âexcellentâ all of a sudden?
âI see that you donât understand. Do you, Talya?â
âYouâre right I donât. Why is it excellent?â
âBecause, this is one way to acquire a minor interest in Sabodala.â
She didnât see the reasoning behind that statement immediately. Yet slowly she woke up, and it became clear.
James went on with his explanation. âAfter I left you last night, I called Ken, and we had a long discussion about Sabodala. What he said was this: if we can prove that Carmineâs money has been used in the development of the mine, and expenditure has been made toward the purchase of the equipment, we can then claim a minor interest in the venture. Or we could claim first right of purchase from Hjamal, if he decided to sell. That is, of course, if he owned any of it, but since he doesnât, we will have the first crack at acquiring permits from the government as a foreign developer and a shareholder of Minorex.â
âThatâs wonderful! And whatâs the Board got to say about it?â Talya was all smiles now.
âNot so fast, Kiddo, we need to plan this out first. Youâve said we were going to meet with Mr. Hjamal, did you make an appointment?â
âNo,â Hassan rushed to answer, âTalya didnât have time to look after the secretarial duties, I did,â with a teasing smile at the corner of his mouth. James was observing the two of them, but he kept quiet. âHjamal was very surprised at the request, but he accepted to see Talya (the three of us actually) at three oâclock this afternoon.â
âThatâs good. And what about the commissioner and the meeting tomorrow morning?â
âThat wasnât easy, sir. I had to talk him into it. Anyway, he finally agreed.â
âAnd does he know who we would like to see at the meeting?â
âI told him, and he was the one who proposed to call them.â
âVery good. Next time Iâll need an assistant I think Iâll call on you, Hassan.â James glanced at Talya knowingly. âOkay, here is what weâre going to do.â
For the next hour, James planned their move, and much of their discussions focused on business culture differences between Senegal, Mali and Canada. In the end, they decided to go for lunch at the terrace restaurant.
Talya was pleased, happy actually, that James had taken the reins again.
Going home isnât such a bad idea after all.
When they reached the table behind the long bar and closest to the beach, Talya noticed Rheza and Mohammed sitting some ways near the gardens. She went to greet them. Mohammed rose as he saw her approach. Rheza, who looked much refreshed, smiled but remained seated. Her ankle must have been bothering her yet.
âTalya. How are you? Wonât you join us?â Mohammed was brimming with enthusiasm. He looked content.
âIâm just fine, thank you, but I canât. How are you? And you, Rheza?â
âIâm fine, Madame Kartz.â The ruefulness in her voice was unmistakable. âThis is such a lovely place.â
âAnd you should enjoy it then, because Iâm sure it wonât be long now until youâll be able to go home.â
âWhat about you? When are you planning to go back?â Mohammed asked.
âI donât know. A lot depends on the meetings we will have with Monsieur Hjamal.â
âOh?â
âYes⊠But you didnât know Monsieur Flaubert arrived last night, did you?â
âDid he really? Thatâs excellent news. He will bring you the guidance you need.â
âHe has already,â Talya said. âA few hours with him is like taking a refresher course in business logic. Anyway, I wonât keep you. I have to return to my bosses.â She nodded in the direction of James and Hassan, who were waiting for her to return before sitting down.â
Mohammed chuckled. âYes, I guess you have two bosses to contend with now, havenât you?â
âIâll see you in the morning if not sooner.â
âMadame Kartz?â Rheza looked up at Talya. âCan I ask you if weâll ever see you again?â
âI donât know, but I hope so. Now, I must go. Please excuse me. Oh, Mohammed, I almost forgot,â Talya said, retracing her steps. âHave they released Monsieur Savoi yet?â
âYes, they had to. Heâs at the Terranga I believe.â
âWell thatâs a good place for him I guess.â She paused. âBut whatâs going to happen now? The proof of embezzlement is hereâŠâ
âDonât worry about any of that. Leave it to me,â Mohammed cut-in. âIâll see that youâre cleared, I mean Carmine is cleared from any bribing accusations and all that sort of thing. Just go home.â
âOkay then, see you later.â
96
Walking down the sandy road toward the nearest bus stop, Rasheed was in no mood for company. He was in the mood for revenge. The Kartz woman had meant trouble since the day she arrived in Bamako. He had it all planned beforehandâRichard had been expendable, a liability really. The way she had weaselled her way into Hjamalâs business was incredible. She was devious, unbearably stubbornâlike a rabid dog, she wouldnât let go of you once she got hold of your ankle.
The honking of a bus drew Rasheed out of his thoughts. He climbed aboard and gave the driver the only bill he had in his pocketâ100 CFA. He knew it would not be enough to get him to Dakar.
âThatâs not enough,â the driver said. âWhere you going?â
âDakar,â Rasheed replied flatly.
âWell, unless you have a hundred more of theseââhe waved the bill under Rasheedâs noseââthatâll get you only to the next stop.â
âI donât have anything else,â Rasheed flared, once again blaming the Kartz woman for his troubles.
âCome on. You must have something worth the trip to Dakar. Letâs seeâŠââhe peered at Rasheedâs hand; the one holding his jacketââWhat about that ring? That would get you to Dakar and back if you wanted to part with it.â
âThatâs worth more than ten trips to DakarâŠâ
âOkay. You donât want to give the ring then you donât want to go to Dakar.
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