Kelshaw had managed to acquire information about a major world corporation who’s Board of Directors and shareholders would be internationally held up to scrutiny by world governments, as a result of his discovery.
Contracts between the LPF Pathet Lao government and GCI and the Government of North Vietnam carried agreements for the use of convict labor, made up of political prisoners and dissidents. The agreements held that the labor pools would be supplemented by prisoners of war held in China and various camps in North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
There were contracts for material to be delivered through the Port of Haiphong by independent cargo ships and by air cargo planes where possible.
Neutral GCI would take no notice of embargos or blockades. Kelshaw had filmed a list of international GCI consultants, their fields of expertise and their special access to monetary and material resources.
Among the consultants two names stood out from all the rest; they were the two from the United States. Brigadier General Bradley E. Coleman, United States Department of Defense, special military consultant and Lyle J. Ramsey, Esq. of the United States Law Firm of Ramsey, Wilson & Carr of Seattle, Washington, and Washington, D.C., contract overseers.
Other country names of consultants were identified as well, but Neil and Fred focused only on the United States.
“No wonder Coleman looked sick when I told him his career would be examined…,” Neil commented.
Fred offered, “Well you were right about Coleman being in the mix, to an even greater degree than we first thought.”
“But he didn’t quite fit the Big Bad Wolf profile. Durkan certainly did.” Half smiling Neil mused, “Only George would have used a fairy tale to identify a cast of characters like the ones we are looking at. However, Coleman’s involvement with GCI was clearly something that none of us expected—not even George.”
“He did a good job, Neil. We have names of some of the US POWs that Chernakov provided that were taken to China and the Soviet Union. And we have an idea of what happened to some of our POW/MIAs with the information George provided from North Vietnam and Laos and GCI,” adding, “It looks like we have our work cut out for us… an full scale investigation of GCI and their use of POWs,” he said resolutely.
Neil nodded, “Yes and we’re going to need a lot of help. GCI may well be out of our reach; our best level of attack will be through Coleman and Ramsey and Carr. I think that Senator Ken Stone will be glad to help with this. He has a staff that’s up-to-speed on the POW issue. I’ll call Senator Mike Owens as well.”
It was Fred’s turn to smile, “Since they’re both on the Armed Services Committee and Owens chairs it, I would guess that would turn up the heat on your friend General Coleman; am I right.”
“I should say that’s probably a pretty good guess, Mr. Wellman,” Neil agreed.
Their conversation was interrupted by a call from his secretary Nancy, “Mr. Klein is Mr. Wellman with you?”
“Yes, Nancy he is.”
“There is a gentleman here to see both of you. He said to tell you that his name is Lu Chan.”
Seattle
When he placed the call to Washington, Andrew was again told that Neil Klein was in conference and could not be disturbed and that his secretary would have him call as soon as he was free.
He knew Harry Browne was chomping at the bit for the GCI story and he was eager to talk with Jim Savalza and perhaps initiate some action around the law firm of Ramsey, Wilson & Carr. The tie with Coleman was becoming obvious and there should be enough evidence to hang all of them not to mention GCI, maybe.
He decided to call Savalza; at least he could check on his car. The detective sounded distracted when he picked up the phone, “Savalza”
“Jim, this is Andy, Where’s my car?”
Savalza sighed; he didn’t really want to tell Andrew about the sad condition of the Land Cruiser. He had looked at it earlier and determined it was not drivable. Clearing his throat, “Andy, let’s talk about your car later, I’m working on something else at the moment.”
“Wait a minute—my car—I need my car!”
“You don’t need it right now, Andrew, believe me.”
“How do you… what are you trying to tell me, Jim?” Andrew’s frustration was spilling out.
“Nothing…” he paused, “Now, Andrew, I haven’t had a chance to thoroughly check it out, but I do know that it’s in impound and it’s safe. We’ll get it in a day or two… you have insurance don’t you?” Savalza dodged, he thought of the Land Cruiser with its wind screen gone, a large hole in the seat penetrated by a chunk of flying debris not to mention a flat front tire.
“Yes,” Andrew stated impatiently, “Yes, of course I have some insurance…” then suspiciously he asked, “How much insurance do I need, Jim?”
“Think about renting a car; I have to go, Andy. I’m going to interview Lyle Ramsey.”
“What about?”
“What do you think, Andrew? I’m going to ask Ramsey about Monte, that’s all. I have to go.”
“Jim, there’s more, I mean about Ramsey, but I shouldn’t really talk about it right now.”
“Oh man! Not again, Andrew…”
“No Jim I should talk to Klein first. I can tell you this, it will help you nail Ramsey.”
Jim stopped; “I have an idea, why don’t you come with me? It will give you an opportunity to watch and evaluate. I’ll pick you up and,” he paused, “I don’t want to hear anymore about your car, Andrew.”
Lyle Ramsey was surprised to find Harrison Carr waiting for him in his office at 7:30 AM when he arrived this Friday morning.
“Sit down, Lyle, we need to talk,” Carr said darkly, his voice deeper than usual. “I received an overseas call early this morning from Karel Schneiderman. It seems that Schneiderman was contacted by the GCI office in Bangkok about a major break-in that occurred approximately three months ago.
“That break-in could seriously compromise some of the contracts and projects that Ramsey and Carr have written and negotiated, not to mention a great many GCI activities in Southeast Asia.
“According to the Bangkok office, it is believed that the intruder gained access to a number of very sensitive files; GCI security identified the intruder, but failed to capture him and after weeks of searching it is believed he escaped the country.
“Schneiderman called me because someone on this side of the water assured the Bangkok office that the problem would be handled at this end. Since there has been no contact or word of closure with Bangkok, from Washington or Seattle, Schneiderman is deeply concerned… and so am I.
“Lyle, I want full disclosure of what you know of this matter; I want to know how much of this is connected to the recent visit of our contact in the Department of Defense and I want to know why I was not notified of this situation as soon as you knew.
“I want the report by three this afternoon at which time you and I will discuss it fully before I call Karel Schneiderman. Do you fully understand?” Carr stood tall as he walked toward the door casting a sideways glance at the portrait that looked back at him.
It was unthinkable that Harrison Carr would invade his office in such a manner. And it was unsettling. “Yes, Harrison, of course… there will be a full report,” Ramsey spoke defensively, uncertain of what he would tell Carr.
It was a little past eleven as Andrew Kincaid and Seattle Police Detective, James Savalza stepped out of the elevator into the reception area of Ramsey & Carr and approached the reception desk.
They were greeted by a well groomed young woman who looked up from her typing flashed a brilliant smile and said pleasantly, “Good morning, gentlemen, may I help you?”