Just briefly to check in.
We’re fine: flight ok: PI Brett met us at airport: Don Winner who happens to own the on-line English speaking newspaper Panama Guide took us to internal flight next morning. He asked some questions; had some ideas; I was discreet [fairly].
Arrived in David Wed lunchtime. Went straight to Boquete. Fiscal’s office closed, [end of Carnival] so went to talk to owner of hostal where Alex had stayed. 2 1/2 hours later we had quite a lot of information and scathing reports of the initial response of the Pan. authorities. Also found turism centre where Alex had made enquiries and got phone no. for Isabel who had spoken to him but had since left that job.
Today, went to find Sinaproc in Boquete who are great. He is arranging meeting tomorrow morning with Mayor, police, legal people and Uncle Tom Cobley. 8 a.m.!!!!! Also have just had a rep of the Ministry of Tourism out. Minister apparently wants Alex found! Have been to Majagua – last confirmed sighting – much talk about prostitutes: are still trying to work out why Alex went there and more importantly where he went next.
Denver, the phone business is likely to be a dead end, but Isabel distinctly remembers seeing him with one. If his phone isn’t tri band and doesn’t have a Pan chip, it would be useless. Unlikely to have bought a local phone.
Have also picked up completel police file – runs to 450 pages in Spanish and waited a couple of hours for authority to take it and for them to copy it.
Brett got off to a slow start but is very good at getting people to talk and completely bi-lingal. He now seems to have found his stride.
Denver will e-mail separately tomorrow about costs and how long we should let this run. Brett has just gone to take Isabel home and then we’re going to have dinner and work out where we are up to. The ‘Irish couple’ are on record, it appears, in the tourist centre: first confirmed news of them. Something for Manchester police to work on? Or the Guardian.
We’re exhausted: particularly martin who doesn’t understand any of the conversations in Spanish. Not that I get much, but enough to keep me interested.
I still favour the alien abduction theory – what can I say? It is ironic that Alex is achieving something of the status of an urban myth! EVERYONE knows about him.
Hope this makes some sort of sense: I’m tired and trying to get everything across to you.
Later
Gill
