sign the binding agreement to accept the LNG until they get it.”
“Oh, that’s just brinkmanship.” Jess knew from experience the Chinese were hard negotiators. They knew exactly what they wanted, and would play a waiting game for as long as it took to get it. They had no deadlines to worry about; and no internal pressure from the Chinese public or media for quick results.
“The trouble is,” said Derek. “Our pollies need this deal before the Federal election campaign starts in November. They’ll want to factor in the revenues it will bring. But they can’t give too much control to the Chinese; there’s a lot of worry out in the electorate about the Chinese buying up the country and its resources.”
“Can the impasse be resolved?”
He shrugged. “Western Energy say they’re close to a breakthrough. If their Chairman can pull it off, the PM will be very grateful.” He hesitated. “That should give John Langhurst’s political aspirations a boost.”
“He wants to go into politics, does he?”
“So they say.”
“He’ll be a shoe-in, being married to the daughter of a former Australian Prime Minister.” She paused. “Tell me Derek, do the police have any idea who killed Ellen Chambers? Or why?”
He looked wary now. “I was hoping you might tell me. After all, we got that intelligence report from London.”
Intelligence report?
“And the information in it did come from your Embassy in Beijing,” Derek continued. “Of course after they got that report, our Federal Police had no option but to start an investigation. They’ve had Ellen Chambers under surveillance since she arrived back from China.”
“She was under surveillance when she was murdered?” Jess tried to keep the surprise out of her voice.
Derek nodded. “Along with Chen Xiamen, the head of the Chinese delegation.” He looked at her, sharply. “Didn’t you know? The Head of our SIS briefed your Deputy High Commissioner about it last Friday.”
Jess felt herself stiffen. So why hadn’t Nigel told her?
“And if the corruption rumours are true,” Derek went on, “it would blow this gas deal out of the water. And if any Australians are involved, the shit will well and truly hit the fan. The real worry is it could have dire consequences for our relationship with the Chinese. So we don’t want the Chinese getting wind of the police investigation until we know more… But this Ellen Chambers’ murder has really rattled everyone.” He peered over the seat again. “I’d better get back, or the Chinese will be wondering where I am.” But he didn’t get up straightaway. Instead, he turned and looked her in the eye. “Be careful, Jess. There are some powerful interests involved in this LNG deal. Things are turning really… murky.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Watch your back in Brisbane!” Then Derek was up and walking back to his seat before she could say anything else.
Jess’s brain was in overdrive as she watched him go. Was that a warning? It certainly sounded like one. She frowned. Why hadn’t Nigel told her Ellen Chambers was under surveillance for corruption? And why hadn’t he shown her that intelligence report from the British Embassy in Beijing? Of course she needed to know what was in it. Her stomach turned…
Why hadn’t Simon told her about it? He must have seen that report. As Political Officer, he saw everything. Didn’t he trust her? That thought played on her mind all the way to Brisbane. And the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. But, by the time the pitch of the jet engines changed and the plane started its descent, she’d become more sanguine. There was obviously a lot going on she didn’t know about. What was it Derek had said? Things are turning really murky . So murky, it seemed, that her colleagues had sent her off on a consular case in the dark? Well, the first thing she needed to do was find out what those corruption allegations were all about. But she’d
“Oh, that’s just brinkmanship.” Jess knew from experience the Chinese were hard negotiators. They knew exactly what they wanted, and would play a waiting game for as long as it took to get it. They had no deadlines to worry about; and no internal pressure from the Chinese public or media for quick results.
“The trouble is,” said Derek. “Our pollies need this deal before the Federal election campaign starts in November. They’ll want to factor in the revenues it will bring. But they can’t give too much control to the Chinese; there’s a lot of worry out in the electorate about the Chinese buying up the country and its resources.”
“Can the impasse be resolved?”
He shrugged. “Western Energy say they’re close to a breakthrough. If their Chairman can pull it off, the PM will be very grateful.” He hesitated. “That should give John Langhurst’s political aspirations a boost.”
“He wants to go into politics, does he?”
“So they say.”
“He’ll be a shoe-in, being married to the daughter of a former Australian Prime Minister.” She paused. “Tell me Derek, do the police have any idea who killed Ellen Chambers? Or why?”
He looked wary now. “I was hoping you might tell me. After all, we got that intelligence report from London.”
Intelligence report?
“And the information in it did come from your Embassy in Beijing,” Derek continued. “Of course after they got that report, our Federal Police had no option but to start an investigation. They’ve had Ellen Chambers under surveillance since she arrived back from China.”
“She was under surveillance when she was murdered?” Jess tried to keep the surprise out of her voice.
Derek nodded. “Along with Chen Xiamen, the head of the Chinese delegation.” He looked at her, sharply. “Didn’t you know? The Head of our SIS briefed your Deputy High Commissioner about it last Friday.”
Jess felt herself stiffen. So why hadn’t Nigel told her?
“And if the corruption rumours are true,” Derek went on, “it would blow this gas deal out of the water. And if any Australians are involved, the shit will well and truly hit the fan. The real worry is it could have dire consequences for our relationship with the Chinese. So we don’t want the Chinese getting wind of the police investigation until we know more… But this Ellen Chambers’ murder has really rattled everyone.” He peered over the seat again. “I’d better get back, or the Chinese will be wondering where I am.” But he didn’t get up straightaway. Instead, he turned and looked her in the eye. “Be careful, Jess. There are some powerful interests involved in this LNG deal. Things are turning really… murky.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Watch your back in Brisbane!” Then Derek was up and walking back to his seat before she could say anything else.
Jess’s brain was in overdrive as she watched him go. Was that a warning? It certainly sounded like one. She frowned. Why hadn’t Nigel told her Ellen Chambers was under surveillance for corruption? And why hadn’t he shown her that intelligence report from the British Embassy in Beijing? Of course she needed to know what was in it. Her stomach turned…
Why hadn’t Simon told her about it? He must have seen that report. As Political Officer, he saw everything. Didn’t he trust her? That thought played on her mind all the way to Brisbane. And the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. But, by the time the pitch of the jet engines changed and the plane started its descent, she’d become more sanguine. There was obviously a lot going on she didn’t know about. What was it Derek had said? Things are turning really murky . So murky, it seemed, that her colleagues had sent her off on a consular case in the dark? Well, the first thing she needed to do was find out what those corruption allegations were all about. But she’d
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