Frowning, Dana stared at the man.So many thoughts were racing through her head, it was difficult to grasp everything Toby was saying.“So what was my dad’s reaction?”
“Well, he was going to contact the financial services board about Hastings’s scheme.He was worried for his clients.I told Sam Jordan about your father’s concerns—don’t know whether you know him?”
Dana nodded, and Toby continued between fits of coughing.
“Sam thought your dad was overreacting.But next thing I knew, the story was in the newspaper, your dad was taken into custody, and was found dead.I got hauled in and eventually had to go to jail.”
Dumbfounded, Dana sat back in her chair trying to make sense of what she’d just heard.
“So you’re saying Dana’s dad would not have been involved in the scheme, because he didn’t trust what was going on?”David asked.
Toby nodded.“But his name was mentioned in the initial newspaper report.He was taken in for questioning.Why he ended up in the police cells, I don’t know.As far as I know, there wasn’t anything that could have linked him to the whole mess.But he was dead before he even called his lawyer.”
“I know, and I thought that was so strange.He and his lawyer were also friends.I never understood why my dad didn’t call him,” Dana said.
Toby’s frail body doubled over in a coughing fit.Eventually, he regained his breath.“Maybe he was silenced; I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”Dana’s heart hammered anxiously.
Toby leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes.“I don’t trust any of these bastards.But I’ve already said too much.”He opened one eye.“You may find that not everyone likes you poking into old affairs,” he said and closed his eye again.
“One more thing, why did you go to jail and not Sam Jordan?”asked David.
He shrugged.“Apparently there was no paper trail linking him to any transaction.”
“But how is that possible?He must have earned commissions for his dealings?”Dana asked.
“There was talk of money laundering…” Toby got out before he coughed again.
“Money laundering?”Surprised, Dana frowned.She couldn’t remember anyone mentioning this before.
Toby nodded and leaned back against the chair.“Abalone poachers,” he wheezed.“It’s a huge money-making business in Gansbaai, the little village on the other side of Hermanus.According to rumors, Hastings and these scumbags were in cahoots.It was a win-win situation; at least that’s what they thought.Hastings made money; they laundered their dirty money.”
David nodded his head slowly.“I’ve heard the rumors but never got around to following up on that.So what you’re saying is that Jordan’s commissions never went through any bank, so he couldn’t be linked to any transaction?”
But another fit of coughing overtook the frail body, and his wife motioned for them to leave.
*
Outside, Dana breathedin the fresh air.David took her hand in his.
“You okay?”he asked.
“I don’t know.”Dana looked back over her shoulder.“He’s been in jail and has obviously lost whatever money he made during the scheme.From all accounts, Sam Jordan was involved but there is no money trail.So he never went to jail and lives in a mansion overlooking the sea?”
David’s mind was racing and adrenaline was pumping through his system.“There is a story here; I can smell it.”He helped her into the car.
“What are you thinking?”Dana asked as they drove away.
David was silent for a few minutes.“I don’t know, but something doesn’t feel right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the man sounds quite ill, but is it real or was he putting on an act?”
Surprised, Dana looked at him.“You really think so?But he gave us so much information about the money laundering scheme and…”
“Yeah, a lot of information, something I also find strange.”He tried to figure out why he wasn’t convinced by the man’s story.
