‘He seems to show some foresight with the war beginning in Afghanistan. But how does he support those Islamic movements? The CIA doesn’t have this as a general policy.’
‘This is the crux of the matter. I’ll tell you a couple of things first about the links between the Turkish extreme right and the Turkish mafia. At the present time — it hasn’t always been so — the two work almost in symbiosis. It used to be the case that the mafia provided arms for the extreme right. You’ve no idea, commissaire, of the quantity of arms the Grey Wolves have stockpiled, well beyond their needs, even if there were to be an open civil war. Probably there’s some deep psychological reason, a sort of violent collective therapy. The arms come from a zone under Soviet influence, via Bulgaria. In fact, in this region of the world, all the contraband between East and West passes through Bulgaria, whose principal source of currency it is, and through Western Turkey’s mafia. It’s therefore quite natural that Bulgaria’s become the behind-the-scenes base of the Turkish mafia, its sanctuary. As the Grey Wolves are an excellent customer of the mafia, Bulgaria welcomes them too. With one thing leading to another, the bonds are woven and that explains in part why the Soviets rely on the Turkish extreme right. Erwin finds this situation politically dangerous. He’d like to emancipate the Turkish extreme right and, more broadly, the different Islamic movements, from all dependence with regard to the suppliers of Soviet arms. For that, there’s only one way, in his opinion: drug trafficking. Not a very original solution. Lebanon and Syria have already tried it in that part of the world. On a personal level, it doesn’t bother him. He’s fond of opium himself and sees its use as part of his cultural heritage. He dreams of a powerful zone of production in Central Asia, controlled by the Islamic movements, which would finance the war against Communism. And he’s counting on the Turks to form the framework for the project — let’s say the technical cadres of the refining plants and distribution network — relying on the historical role played by the Ottoman Empire in this part of the world, the spread of the Turkish language, that sort of thing.’
Again, a silent pause. Lespinois seemed completely absorbed in his memories, or his projects. Then he went on.
‘As you can imagine, Erwin’s irreconcilably opposed to Turkey’s entry into Europe. On that line, he’ll find numerous supporters within the CIA, for a number of reasons — anti-Communism, hostility to Europe, and God knows what else … And also with those who’ve already played this game in the Golden Triangle regions, and still harbour a nostalgia for it.’
No dessert, coffees. Daquin studied the swirls his spoon made in his coffee. Once the coffee was drunk, Lespinois went on.
‘No Western enterprise can get off the ground today in the Middle East, on a large scale, without participating in one way or another in the black economy of arms and drugs, commissaire. The delicate question is how to choose your back up, your alliances.’
2 p.m. Tax office, IIIrd Arrondissement
Having done a tour of Sobesky’s showroom and admired the very distinctive style of his gear, jeans, embroidery, then checked he had no police record, Attali plunged into the voluminous file on his tax inspection, which dated from last year. He scanned it as well as he could and noticed a re-entry of significant new funds for the last two years: the sale of licensing contracts in the States, to someone called John D. Baker, a manufacturer in New York. New York? Attali noted it down, just on the off-chance.
Then he glanced at the conclusion: it all seemed to be in order, except for a few bits and pieces. Activity during the last few months before the inspection: for. more than half of its trade, the business worked with factories. The rest was with workrooms in the Sentier district. Workrooms that were widely scattered, with various, short-lived names. There was a more important partner: SEB. Manager: Anna Berk.
4 p.m. Passage du Désir
Santoni was battling with the tapes from the telephone tapping of the Aratoff Ballets. A few uninteresting conversations. The fat woman had phoned her mother. Madame Bernachon had had a natter to a woman friend. Monsieur Bernachon had organized a bridge party for the weekend. And then three telephone calls by Monsieur Bernachon to Thailand, in English. And a long, seemingly stormy, conversation between Madame and a caller from Munich. In German. Santoni understood neither English nor German. Finding translators would take time.
Lavorel, looking drawn and in a rather worn three-piece suit, seemed happy. Daquin looked up from the report that he was writing, watched him come in and sit down, without a word.
‘I’ve some news, commissaire. Can we start with the simplest: the shops. These are leased on a normal basis — through a lawyer — to a man called Darmon. A man of straw of course, but for the moment we have nothing on him. On the other hand, payment is by certified cheque from the Société Générale, guaranteed by a deposit of funds made the day before via the Bank of Cyprus and the East’s authorized representative in France, someone called Assadi, a Lebanese resident in France.’ He paused for a moment.
‘Would you mind translating that for me?’
‘The Bank of Cyprus and the East is at the centre of arms’ trafficking to the Middle East. The fact that it’s made an appearance as part of this circuitous route makes these two shops really significant.’
‘OK. I hear what you say. Do me some notes on this bank, will you. What next?’
‘Anna Beric’ Lavorel looked as though he was positively savouring this bit. ‘We began by looking at the manufacturers; the workrooms were too ephemeraclass="underline" we would have lost too much time on them. So, all the manufacturers, all those we could get any details on who’ve worked with Anna Berk. We estimate she controls at least fifty or so workrooms, and has done so for at least five or six years. So it’s a rip-off that must involve tens of billions’ worth of centimes. D’you hear: tens of billions’ worth. But apparently the manufacturers are in it up to their necks. They can’t work over a period of years with a company that changes its name every three months and is perpetually “being registered” without asking themselves questions. And here’s where it hurts. They’ve certainly shared the profits with Anna Berk. She’s set up an enormous money-producing mechanism for the black economy which has infiltrated the whole of the Sentier district, but I’ve no proof. The manufacturers’ accounts are in order. I need her collaboration to scare the shit out of them for certain. So, this morning we carried out a search of her home.’
Daquin raised his eyebrows. ‘You could have talked about it to me first.’
‘But in the context of the investigation into this woman’s finances …’
‘Anna Berk’s one of our main leads for checking drugs coming from Turkey into France. Don’t start again, Lavorel, or I’ll chuck you out here and now. So, what about this search?’
‘We got nothing out of it. There wasn’t a single document left. And she’s gone, left without a forwarding address.’
Daquin leaned back in his chair, folded his arms, and let silence reign. Lavorel chose to wait.
‘This woman, I must have her. You’ll have to do some research and find out first who she is. A woman who can set up a fiddle that’s as profitable and lasting as this, and in an area like the Sentier, she can’t be just anyone. She has a past. A weighty one, I don’t doubt. Did you notice, at her place, if there were any photos or keepsakes of any sort?’