For the second day in a row John had not received a bulletin from his desk in Hanoi and he could feel his annoyance rising. He lifted the receiver and asked his assistant to put a call through to Hanoi, moments later the phone rang in his office. When he picked up the phone he asked to speak to Bill, the polite response was that he wasn't in. How about Phuong? So sorry, but he also wasn't in... Well when do you expect them back? The silence was deafening...
John left a message for one of them to call him as soon as they got in before hanging up. What are those two up to he ventured? But just as this thought had entered his head, so did a deep feeling of unease. These two reporters were amongst his best, and with unquestioned reliability and so began to worry. It was most unusual that neither one of them had reported in...
Minutes later John's phone jangled again, but instead of Bill or Phuong whom he had expected on the line it was his assistant Mary. She said that there was a Rupert Palmer from the Foreign Office to see him and it seemed quite urgent and asked if she could send him in?
Of course, show him in immediately John said brusquely. The only time he usually ran into Rupert was at their annual university reunion which generally ending with an enormous hangover and a promise never to do it again, which invariably they did. God, was it that time of year again he though? A moment later the door opened and Mary showed Rupert in, although not close friends there was a mutual warmth between them. "What an unexpected pleasure" said John smiling and reaching to shake Rupert's hand. Rupert seemed to be more formal than normal as they shook hands, but John put it down to the work setting and not being surrounded by all of their school mates.
Rupert was first to speak as John motioned for him to take a seat, "Have you heard from Conolly-West in Hanoi recently?" he asked directly. Strange John immediately thought, how does Rupert know Bill. Why, no actually... what's this all about Rupert? Rupert cleared his throat and said that the Foreign Office had been informed that Bill was being held as a political prisoner in Hanoi. Look I shouldn't be telling you this, and honestly shouldn't even be here, but because we know each other I thought I would do you the courtesy of coming to see you in person, using the phone was out of the question because of the sensitive nature of this situation. What can you tell me about Conolly-West? What was he working on out there? When was the last time your heard from him? Rupert questions peppered John as if they were machine gun bullets...
Stunned, John couldn't believe what Rupert had just told him and began to wrack his brain for their most recent report and stories.
"Um, nothing really, some regional trade stuff, the focus on this years rice harvest and the upcoming government planning session in Da Lat but none of that really warrants being held as a political prisoner" he said a little too defensively.
Rupert's demeanor didn't change and said that they had been in discussions with Hanoi and Canberra about the situation. He went on to explain that normally he wouldn't be bothered with an issue like this as Conolly-West was Australian and that the Australian government was responsible for him and would handle it, however because he is employed by the Times the British government has no choice but to be involved. John could tell that Rupert was far from happy about this hot potato being dropped in his lap.
All I can tell you is that the last time I heard from Bill was Tuesday at his usual 9:00 am report time, but nothing since then. John went on to explain that he had tried to call the Hanoi desk just minutes before Rupert had arrived, but with no luck.
Rupert stood, this conversation never happened he said seriously, we don't want this thing to get out of hand and need to resolve it quickly and quietly so would appreciate if we could keep this under wraps for the moment.
Look as soon as hear anything else I'll let you know, shaking hands Rupert walked to the door. As he approached the door he turned to face John, who was still in obvious shock. "At least was he a good reporter?" asked Rupert. John nodded heavily, "yes, exceptional - one of our best...he was our lead on the Dhaka story earlier this year". Rupert nodded knowingly, smiled and stepped from the room closing the door firmly behind him.
It wasn't till after Rupert had left the room that he realized what Rupert had communicated to him - "Was he a good reporter?" Shit, past tense...John thought as his mind now raced at 100 miles per hour as to what to do next...
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