Chapter 37

 

The Palazzo, The Boulevard, Doncaster, Melbourne, Australia:

1st March; 4pm. (8am Dubai Time)

 

At the request of Vincent Polletti, Pete Adams rang a mobile phone number that began with 971 and was followed by 50. These numbers told him that the recipient of the call was in the UAE and on a mobile phone.

The phone rang out for a minute before a sleepy voice answered, “Yes?”

Hi,” Pete said, in an artificially jovial tone. After all, you never knew who might be listening. “It’s Pete, your old pal from down under.”

There was a pause whilst Pete allowed the recipient to gather their wits. It was still early in Dubai. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring our final order forward.”

When do you want delivery?” the recipient asked.

By Sunday. That gives you seventy two hours.” It was a tight timescale, he knew.

I can do it, but you need to understand that once the final delivery is made there will be no more supplies from this region. I will be retiring.”

We fully understand. Maybe you could join us in Oz for a bit of a break before you retire for good,” Pete responded.

I will be in Melbourne next week,” the recipient answered, before the call was ended without further discussion.

Pete Adams walked back into the house to report back to his boss. Todd Michaelson would be dead within three days, but at a great business cost. The recipient of his call was a major supplier to the criminal cartel, and would have to leave Dubai in a hurry to avoid being sought in connection with the murder of Michaelson. Business would suffer in the short term, but it was still better than having Polletti in prison for life.

***

The call from Pete Adams had come as something of a surprise. Todd Michaelson was supposed to have been taken care of by others. Of course it was possible to get close to the man and kill him, but not without everyone knowing who had done it. An escape strategy was necessary, one which did not involve flying out of Dubai, but that had been planned many months ago, long before Todd Michaelson had become a problem.

The call recipient lay back on the bed and tentatively planned a future in Australia. The business in Dubai had been lucrative, but all good things eventually had to come to an end.