Thursday 28th January 2016
Monte Carlo, Monaco
The villa is deserted. No sign of Ricky, but that is perhaps typical for the middle of the afternoon. No sign of Tash though, and that is more concerning, especially after the events of that morning. He checks the pool, having shouted her name a few times inside the villa to no avail. Nothing. No sign of Vladek either and that is a positive development as far as Adam is concerned.
Ozzie is at work and Xandra is still abroad. He hesitates before knocking on Gemma’s door but when he does, there is no sign or response from her either. About to give up, he sees Shetty heading across the courtyard, carrying a large pile of laundry.
“Shetty!” he says, running across to meet Xandra’s housekeeper. “Finally I’ve found someone. I was beginning to think there was no one here.”
Shetty looks upset, his head shaking from side to side in an involuntary movement.
“Oh, Mister Adam! I’m so very pleased to have found you. Have you heard the terrible news?”
Adam looks at him, nonplussed.
“What news, Shetty?”
“About Miss Xandra, sir? She’s been taken in for questioning by the Americans.”
“How so? I thought she was in Panama.”
They have reached Xandra’s apartment and Adam opens the door to let them both in. Shetty places the laundry on a table and turns to face Adam.
“Her plane back from Panama had to route via Miami. She was stopped by US Immigration. They said they had a number of questions they wanted her to answer.”
“When did you hear?”
“She phoned about half an hour ago. I’ve tried calling Mister Ricky, sir, but he’s not been available. I am so very glad to have found you.”
“Does Xandra have the name of a lawyer she can talk to?”
“Most definitely, yes. One of Mister Ricky’s very best, she told me, based in Miami. She’s already spoken to him and apparently he is on his way out to the airport to try to get everything sorted.”
“That’s a bummer,” Adam says more to himself than Shetty. “Does Ricky’s man in Panama, Rodriguez or whatever he’s called, know about this?”
“Yes, sir. I called him myself. Xandra asked me to. Mister Rodriguez said that he, too, will try and pull strings to get her out as quickly as possible.”
Adam is doubtful about this being a cast-iron guaranteed way to get Xandra sent on her way back home, but says nothing.
“It doesn’t sound as if there’s an awful lot any of us can do from this end right now. Poor Xandra. She’s unlikely to be back for her birthday.”
“It certainly seems unlikely, Mister Adam.”
“Do you know when Ricky is due back? We are meant to be flying off to the Middle East tonight. I don’t yet know what time.”
“No sir, I’m sorry, sir.”
“What about Tash? Have you seen her either? She was in a bad way this morning and I just looked in the villa to see if I could find her but she doesn’t appear to be around.”
“Oh no, sir, she’s on the yacht. She came by here this morning and wanted me to take something to give to Ricky when he got home. She was very insistent about it.”
“When was that?”
“About ten o’clock this morning, sir.”
“If you want, you can give it to me. I am definitely going to see Ricky in the next couple of hours.”
“Very good, Mister Adam.” Shetty reaches into his tunic pocket and removes a small USB memory stick. He hands it to Adam who studies it carefully. “Miss Tash was most insistent: she wanted Mister Ricky to know that this stick, together with the one she’s already given him, are the only two that she’s got.”
“How did she seem to you, Shetty?”
“Well sir…” He starts shuffling nervously, “She didn’t look in the peakiest of form, if you understand my meaning.”
“Yes, I know perfectly what you mean. I saw her by the pool this morning. Her face was a complete mess. How was she when she came to see you? Was she happy, sad, excited or lacking energy?”
“I’m not sure I completely understand the question, sir. She seemed her normal self, more or less, but at the same time serious. That’s all I can say.”
“Thank you, Shetty. Is she coming back to the villa this evening?”
“I don’t know. With Mister Ricky away perhaps she’ll stay on the yacht. She often does. Do you want me to find out?”
Adam hesitates then shakes his head.
“No, we’ve all got enough on our plates than to worry about Tash for the moment. I can talk to her once we’re back from the Middle East. Let me know when you hear any news about Xandra, can you? I don’t think I ought to be ringing her, do you?”
“No sir. Not if she’s busy with the interrogations. If I hear any news I’ll call you on your mobile, if that is in order, sir?”
“Thank you, Shetty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to dash.”