“So it looks like Donitz, was landed with the onerous job of safeguarding the spear. Decided to transport it here to Jersey, where he knew there was already a safe place to harbour one of his U-boats. And, that Himmler on the other hand, was only interested in his own agenda, and that was simply to hide the gold bullion. And what better way of transporting it to safety, than in a big black submarine.” LJ commented.
LJ, passed another large manila coloured envelope over to Dillon. “Here, have a look through this one.”
Dillon opened it, and took out a hard backed blue coloured book. He leafed through several pages, before studying one of them more closely. “Now this makes very interesting reading.”
“What’s that, old son?”
“LJ, have a look in your envelopes.”
LJ, took out a further three books, all with the same blue hard back cover. After leafing through a few pages, he handed them to Dillon who studied each of them in turn for a few moments.
He looked up at the others. “These books appear to contain the details of numbered bank accounts in Switzerland, South America and here in the Channel Islands.”
“Really?” LJ said, as he leaned forward, his interest heightened by this revelation.
Dillon looked through several more pages, before saying. “You won’t believe some of the names written in here. Mostly, English and American, but also Irish and French.”
LJ took the books from him and placed them back inside the silver box. “Any names jump out at you, Jake?”
“Two. But I’m sure that there’s many more.” Dillon answered, and then added, “But, I’m not surprised that they’re there.”
“Would someone mind telling me, what the bloody hell is going on here?” Vince butted in, agitated by the cryptic banter that Dillon and LJ were using between themselves.
“Sorry, Vince.” LJ said apologetically. “What I’m referring to, is something that I’ve suspected since coming to Jersey. And it concerns Malakoff and Asquith. Or I should say, it concerns their fathers. You see, both names appear in these ledgers.” He let the enormity of what he’d just said hang heavy in the air.
“What? So they were both working for the Nazis?” Vince’s voice was incredulous.
“In a nut shell, old son. Yes. And that’s why we’ve been constantly harangued by Malakoff and his merry band of thugs from the out start of this affair. If a revelation like this ever becomes public knowledge, well let’s just say, that both of these men would almost certainly be finished.”
“My God!” Chapman said. “If that’s true, then it’s dynamite.”
“Absolutely right, Rob.” LJ carefully placed the two gold bullion bars on top of the ledgers, at the very bottom of the silver case. Replaced the inner box containing the spear head, and covered it with the muslin. Closed the lid, and then snapped shut the catches. “Of course, if it does turn out to be true. And, don’t forget, the Nazis were masters of forgery and deception. It will cause a right old stir in Whitehall, that will reverberate all the way through the corridors of power to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.”
“So what happens next?” Chapman asked.
“We return to Bonne Nuit, where Dillon, Vince and I will pack up and then return to London. I’ve already contacted Phil Allerton. He’s flying down later today.” He held up the silver case and smiled bleakly. “I suppose, that Sir Lucius Stagg will want to know about this as soon as possible.”
“What about the U-boat? After all, it’s still down there with the gold on board.” Chapman said.
“The tunnel is sealed off, and we trust you’ll not go blabbing to anyone about its whereabouts, Rob?” Dillon replied bluntly.
“That goes without saying. I can be trusted, if that’s what you’re getting at.” Chapman said belligerently, looking Dillon in the eye.
“Gentlemen, please. Enough said and done, I think. That submarine is not going anywhere, and that applies to the gold on board. The Partners will be fully briefed, and it will be up to them to come up with a suitable plan for the recovery of it. Now let’s get started back to Bonne Nuit.”
The clock in Malakoff’s study chimed eleven o’clock. He glanced up from the documents he’d been working through since breakfast. Checked his wrist watch, and immediately pushed the button on the highly polished oak desk. A moment later Captain Armand, Kurt and Pierre entered the cabin.
The Solitaire was still at anchor off Gifford Bay, and Mazzarin and Zola, in the inflatable rib, had made contact immediately. Malakoff, remained seated at the large desk, a two way radio in his hand, listening intently as Mazzarin went over the events of the morning. When he’d finished, Malakoff turned to the captain, who was standing beside him.
“Tell me Armand, what is your view of this situation?”
“With little or no wind to hamper their progress, they’ll make good time. I would estimate that it will take them no more than twenty minutes to return to Bonne Nuit, Monsieur.”
“So what is the plan, Mien Herr?”
Malakoff stood up and straightened his jacket. “The question should be, what will Levenson-Jones do when he returns? Well I’ll hasten a guess. He’ll want to get off this island, and back to London as quickly as possible. I’m reliably informed that a helicopter is already on its way to collect him and one other, most likely that computer chap Dillon brought with him.” He paced around the study. “So, the plan is gentlemen. That if the need arises, we hit them very hard, with stealth and surprise on our side, the instant they return.”
“And your orders, Mien Herr?” The big blond haired German demanded.
“Are very simple. You, together with the others, when they return, will go ashore in the inflatable rib. Leave this on the beach below the steps that lead up to the Fisherman’s Lodge. Send Zola up to the road to keep watch for their return, Mazzarin will be on the harbour wall, and make sure he’s suitably dressed to blend in with the tourists. You Kurt, will go and conceal yourself in the immediate area of the lodge. Armand will issue you all with two-way radios and ear-pieces, so that you can stay in touch with each other, and the Solitaire.”
“And me, Monsieur Malakoff. What do you want me to do?” Pierre asked.
“After the aggravation you’ve already caused me, Pierre. All that I want you to do, is stay out of sight. You will break out the sailing dinghy, go out about half a mile, and pretend to be just another incompetent amateur sailor. This shouldn’t be too difficult, even for you to do. When you see Dillon’s power cruiser, notify the others immediately. Levenson-Jones and the others must return to the lodge to pack. That’s when we’ll hit them. Once you have the chest with the spear inside, you return to the inflatable and get away from there. Remember, that the chest is quite unique in the way it looks. It’s not that big, made from solid silver, with the Nazi swastika emblazoned in black across the lid.”
“Are we to come straight to the Solitaire, Mien Herr?”
“No.” Malakoff went around the oak desk and sitting down, added, “Head down the coast towards St. Helier. We will sail around the island in the other direction, and meet you in the marina. I need some time to think about what the next move will be. After all, what’s inside the chest is not only priceless, but holds the power to change the world. It could change our lives forever.”
He got up out of his chair, and walked across to the far wall. A panel slid back to reveal a wall safe. Inside it, were various papers and documents, along with an assortment of weapons. He selected a Magnum .45 handgun and gave this to Kurt. “Don’t be careless, and don’t make any mistakes.”
“I will not fail you, Mien Herr.” Kurt said standing to attention. “If the chest is with them, I will get it.”