Sunlight sparkled on Lake Burley Griffin below, its central water spout pulsing jets of water high into the sky. Banking right, the plane swooped over the Federal Parliament’s 75 metre high flagpole and completed its circle to head north over the business district and snow-capped Mount Ainslie.
Finally, she was on course for Brisbane.
Her mind turned back to the job. She wished she’d been able to smooth things over with Simon. But when she’d eventually found the private dining room in Parliament, he’d already gone. Of course she’d had a look at the place cards around the table. Simon had lined up exactly the right interlocutors for the Foreign Secretary: the Australian Foreign Minister; the Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Paul Robinson; and the Heads of all the Security Agencies, which included ASIO and ASIS – the Australian equivalents of MI5 and MI6. Then, she’d just laid a copy of the agenda at each place setting and left.
“Newspaper, Ma’am?”
Jess smiled and selected a copy of the Brisbane Echo from the air hostess’s tray. She didn’t expect to see anything about the Ellen Chambers murder; her body wouldn’t have been found until after the daily papers had been printed.
But a business headline caught her eye.
WESTERN ENERGY ATTRACTS OVERSEAS
INVESTORS TO THEIR BRISBANE CONFERENCE
She scanned the article. The Conference was all about broadening the exposure of Australia’s metal and mining opportunities to international investors, particularly from the USA and Asia. When she saw it was due to start that morning at the Brisbane Convention Centre, she knew why Ellen Chambers had come to Brisbane.
She turned as someone slipped into the empty seat next to her, “Do you like sneaking up on people?” she asked the Australian Foreign Affairs’ China expert.
Derek Marshall’s sharp eyes twinkled. “Only on beautiful women.”
She had to laugh. Like Simon, Derek loved a joke. The pair of them were friends, sparking off each other and talking sport endlessly.
“Off to Brisbane, then?” Derek pushed his tousled grey hair off his forehead.
“That obvious, is it?”
Derek smiled and fidgeted in his seat. He was a restless soul, brimming with intelligence and energy. Being stuck in a plane seat for a couple of hours would be torture for him. “Is your trip connected to the Ellen Chambers’ murder?” he asked. “She was British, wasn’t she?”
Jess nodded, thinking as a Government expert on China, Derek would know all about the LNG deal, and the murder. “Did you know her?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I’d met her a couple of times at meetings and receptions, but I wouldn’t say I knew her.”
“What was she like?”
“Attractive.” Derek gave a rueful smile. “Sharp and capable. And a key member of Western Energy’s LNG negotiating team. She had a great rapport with the Chinese.” He peered over the seat in front. “They’re up the front… the Chinese LNG team… in business class. The Chairman of Western Energy invited them to attend his Company Conference.”
Jess tapped the newspaper. “I’ve just been reading about that. Is that why Ellen Chambers was in Brisbane?”
He nodded.
“So what are you doing with the Chinese, Derek? Are you their minder?”
“You could say that.”
She smiled. “So what’s happening with this LNG deal? I’d heard negotiations had stalled.”
He leaned in closer. “There’s big money involved. Important revenues for the Australian economy. Careers have been staked on it.”
Jess got the picture. “And your PM will want to go to the Federal election with this deal sewn up. It’ll earn big bucks for him to spend on the country.” She paused. “So what’s the problem? Why have negotiations stalled?”
“Oh, you know…”
She shook her head.
“The Chinese want control of the operation.” He lowered his voice. “A 55 per cent stake in the joint venture with Western Energy. They’re refusing to
Finally, she was on course for Brisbane.
Her mind turned back to the job. She wished she’d been able to smooth things over with Simon. But when she’d eventually found the private dining room in Parliament, he’d already gone. Of course she’d had a look at the place cards around the table. Simon had lined up exactly the right interlocutors for the Foreign Secretary: the Australian Foreign Minister; the Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Paul Robinson; and the Heads of all the Security Agencies, which included ASIO and ASIS – the Australian equivalents of MI5 and MI6. Then, she’d just laid a copy of the agenda at each place setting and left.
“Newspaper, Ma’am?”
Jess smiled and selected a copy of the Brisbane Echo from the air hostess’s tray. She didn’t expect to see anything about the Ellen Chambers murder; her body wouldn’t have been found until after the daily papers had been printed.
But a business headline caught her eye.
WESTERN ENERGY ATTRACTS OVERSEAS
INVESTORS TO THEIR BRISBANE CONFERENCE
She scanned the article. The Conference was all about broadening the exposure of Australia’s metal and mining opportunities to international investors, particularly from the USA and Asia. When she saw it was due to start that morning at the Brisbane Convention Centre, she knew why Ellen Chambers had come to Brisbane.
She turned as someone slipped into the empty seat next to her, “Do you like sneaking up on people?” she asked the Australian Foreign Affairs’ China expert.
Derek Marshall’s sharp eyes twinkled. “Only on beautiful women.”
She had to laugh. Like Simon, Derek loved a joke. The pair of them were friends, sparking off each other and talking sport endlessly.
“Off to Brisbane, then?” Derek pushed his tousled grey hair off his forehead.
“That obvious, is it?”
Derek smiled and fidgeted in his seat. He was a restless soul, brimming with intelligence and energy. Being stuck in a plane seat for a couple of hours would be torture for him. “Is your trip connected to the Ellen Chambers’ murder?” he asked. “She was British, wasn’t she?”
Jess nodded, thinking as a Government expert on China, Derek would know all about the LNG deal, and the murder. “Did you know her?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I’d met her a couple of times at meetings and receptions, but I wouldn’t say I knew her.”
“What was she like?”
“Attractive.” Derek gave a rueful smile. “Sharp and capable. And a key member of Western Energy’s LNG negotiating team. She had a great rapport with the Chinese.” He peered over the seat in front. “They’re up the front… the Chinese LNG team… in business class. The Chairman of Western Energy invited them to attend his Company Conference.”
Jess tapped the newspaper. “I’ve just been reading about that. Is that why Ellen Chambers was in Brisbane?”
He nodded.
“So what are you doing with the Chinese, Derek? Are you their minder?”
“You could say that.”
She smiled. “So what’s happening with this LNG deal? I’d heard negotiations had stalled.”
He leaned in closer. “There’s big money involved. Important revenues for the Australian economy. Careers have been staked on it.”
Jess got the picture. “And your PM will want to go to the Federal election with this deal sewn up. It’ll earn big bucks for him to spend on the country.” She paused. “So what’s the problem? Why have negotiations stalled?”
“Oh, you know…”
She shook her head.
“The Chinese want control of the operation.” He lowered his voice. “A 55 per cent stake in the joint venture with Western Energy. They’re refusing to
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