Evan sat forward. “We can have a warrant within the hour to compel you to provide the information. Why not hand it over and save us both the hassle of coming back on a Sunday?”
Malouf lifted his chin and pointed it at Evan like a sharpsword. “You’ll have to get a warrant. I did not get to where I am in the business world by divulging client information.”
Evan expected this response, but he had to try.
“Is there a reason you’re being so difficult, Mr. Malouf?” Kiley asked.
Evan was shocked at her straightforward confrontation of the man, so unlike the old Kiley he’d known, yet he sat back to watch the guy respond.
He sniffed. “Difficult? No. I prefer to think I’m being discreet on behalf of my customers. This business is based on relationships, and I cannot afford to alienate anyone and keep the company my father founded afloat in this competitive world.” His eyes blazing with passion, he crossed his arms. “I won’teverdo anything to risk the business. My father meant way too much for me to do that. So, without your compelling me to legally comply, I will decline.”
Evan took the man’s point to heart. Even so, they would still get the warrant and insist Malouf cooperate. For now, Evan would move on. “In the meantime, tell me more about the container. Do you track it in each port of call? And were there any special shipping instructions?”
“We do track ports.” Malouf looked at his screen. “The container didn’t have special orders at initiation but was changed to top tier right before loading.”
“Top tier?” Evan asked.
“Containers are stowed on a vessel by bay and tier,” Malouf explained in a taxed tone. “To determine loading order, a computer takes into account the vessel’s route, ports of call, schedule, other cargo, and expected cargo. Planners also classify the loading data according to the kind of cargo, the size and shape of the containers, and their destinations. So, for example, refrigerated cargo needing to be plugged in goes on the bottom tier. Same is true of unusually heavy cargo or potentially leaky cargo. Dangerous cargo is stored away from othercargo. Beyond these criteria, the containers are stored in order of discharge. In this case, the company Barzani brokered for paid extra to ensure this container was placed on the top of the stack.”
“What was the cargo of the container listed as?”
Malouf looked at his laptop. “Computers.”
“Something that wouldn’t seem odd coming from India,” Kiley said. “And probably not odd for being a top-tier container either.”
“Correct,” Malouf said.
“Is asking for top tier a normal request?” Kiley asked.
“Normal, no,” Malouf said. “But not uncommon and would draw very little attention other than the flag to place it in the correct tier.”
“Are these containers inspected?” Kiley asked.
“Less than five percent of all containers coming into the United States are inspected. To put this into perspective for you, ninety-five percent of the world’s cargo is moved by ships. Each year, more than eleven million containers arrive at U.S. seaports. So it would be impossible to inspect them all.”
“And even if they were,” Evan said, “people can be bought and containers overlooked.”
Malouf sharpened his gaze. “I would like to say that’s not true in my company, but yes, of course there will always be people out to make some extra cash on the side.”
Evan nodded his appreciation for the man’s honesty. “How are these orders conveyed?”
“Our planners transmit them electronically to container terminals that discharge containers and reload them if needed to complete the process.”
“Is it possible these plans aren’t followed?”
“With stowage plans transmitted electronically, modern pirates working with organized crime syndicates have intercepted them in the past. Not only to have them changed but also totell these pirates where the most coveted cargo is stowed. So when they board a vessel, the container they seek is accessible and they know exactly where to look.”
“Were there any incidents with the ship carrying this container?”
“I would have to research that and get back to you.”
Evan nodded. “I also want a list of all containers on this ship.”
He sniffed. “You realize our ship carries around five thousand containers.”
Evan knew the ship would hold a large quantity, but nothing like this.
A smirk slid across Malouf’s face. “Of course, I will require a warrant for that information as well.”
