CHAPTER 58
Dawn was breaking when Eddie finally left Mark Dobson’s room.
Sannan had arrived and he and Mark were sorting through prints of photos taken at the Pattaya villa. On the floor were the 7-Eleven bags of papers now neatly sorted, clipped together and marked ‘Numbered a/cs’ and ‘Access codes.’
“You see, Eddie?” Dobson had said, “Blank credit cards and passports. Nice business if you’ve got the equipment – and there’s some of the equipment. - a thermal printer and holograms. And that’s a shot of the inside of the safe, probably worth over a million dollars.
“And this is the Winnie the Pooh folder and Colin is still sorting information pulled from the Bangkok warehouse computer – links to computers in Bangkok, Pattaya, KL, Malacca, Johor and Trieste. We’ve got email addresses, the emails themselves, names, addresses and more bank account details. These are already with Keith Nolan’s department in London. Sannan’s job today is to meet the Thai police.”
“And Peter Lester?” Eddie asked.
“Colin’s told Kathrine Johnson. We need to tell Isobel.”
“I’ll tell her,” Eddie said getting up from where he’d been sitting on the floor.
“Put a shirt on, Eddie,” Dobson said. “You might frighten her.”
Eddie went to his own room, pulled on a shirt and then took the lift up to the next floor. He knocked on the door of Isobel’s room but there was no answer so he knocked again.
“Who is it?” came the voice through the door.
“Eddie.”
“Oh, goodness. What time is it?”
Standing outside, Eddie checked his watch. “Six fifteen.”
The door opened on the chain and Isobel peered through the gap.
“Important developments,” Eddie said. “Can I come in?”
“Oh? One minute.” The chain was released, the door opened and Isobel stood there wrapped in a long, white towel. “I’m not really…”
“Sorry it’s early,” Eddie said edging past her. “I’ve been in Mark’s room all night. I have a lot to tell you. Sorry, were you having a bath?”
“I was asleep. Come in.”
Eddie looked around the room. It was an exact mirror image of his own. The difference was the smell of fresh flowers that reminded him of freesias, but there were none to be seen. The bed barely looked slept in although the pillows were a little flattened. Alongside the TV was a line of pink, plastic bottles.
“Have you been up all night, Eddie?”
“Yes,” he said looking at Isobel’s white towel. “So, has Mark. Sannan’s just arrived from Pattaya. They’re sorting evidence. Jeffrey is talking to the Singapore police.” He paused and looked at Isobel. “You look different, Isobel. “
“Different? In what way?” She brushed a hand through her dark hair and pulled the towel closer. “I’ve just woken up, Eddie.”
“Yes, but – ah, I see what it is - no lipstick. Good. We’ve just watched the arrest of Olga and Maxim Novak at Peter Lester’s house in Wallingford by video link.”
Isobel gasped. “Arrested?”
“Yes. In a house alongside the river. Ritchie led them into the trap. He’s OK. His father arrived with the police. It happened so quickly and was all filmed on a hidden camera. We watched it live on the laptop. Very clever technology.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because something else happened,” Eddie paused. “Peter Lester is dead.”
Isobel’s hand went to her lips. “Oh, my God. Was he killed?”
“It sounds like an overdose, Isobel. I’m sorry to break the news. They found him in a bedroom at the house.”
“Does Kathrine know?”
“Colin Asher has told her. “
As Isobel sat silently on the edge of her bed, Eddie described everything he’d seen.
“It’s over, Isobel,” he said finally. “Mark and Colin Asher are handing all the evidence to the police and then it’s up to them. The only people who don’t yet know are the staff and directors at Vital Cosmetics, but it’s midnight in UK.”
Isobel’s mind was already on the implications. She merely nodded.
” Are you alright, Isobel?” Eddie asked. “Only you look different today. I’m sorry to be the early morning bearer of the news.”
“But it’s not such bad news, Eddie. I’m shocked about Peter but I’m amazed how so much happened during the night. While I slept.”
“Perhaps you should call Kathrine.” Eddie said and then added,” While I go and tell Pascale.”
“Yes…. yes. I’ll call her.”
Eddie headed for the door. Isobel followed him. “We’ll be back in London by this time tomorrow,” he said opening the door. Then he turned, pulled his glasses onto his nose and looked closely at Isobel. “Don’t you wear lipstick at night?”
“Only deep pore cleansing milk and night cream, Eddie. No eye liner, no eye shadow, no face powder. I don’t wear anything else.”
Eddie scanned the white towel from her bare shoulders down to her bare knees. “Well,” he said. “I knew there was something different. This morning you look very – what shall I say? – very nice.” And then he disappeared down the corridor in his shorts, tee shirt and bare feet.