Singapore Sling Shot - Andrew Grant [129]
The conversation was a long one and one-sided, with Sami doing all of the talking. When the call reached its conclusion, Marco handed the phone back. He was smiling and nodding.
“Mr Somsak is a very clever operator. I look forward to witnessing tomorrow night’s performance.”
I had no idea exactly what “performance” that was. At this moment in time, Marco Mendez obviously knew more than I did about what was going to take place. I glanced outside the car. We had completed the long block and were pulling up back outside the apartment.
“Just one word of caution for Mr Somsak, please. It is not a threat, Mr Swann.” Mendez used his cigar as a pointer to emphasize his point. “Lu must die tomorrow night as planned. If he doesn’t, we will immediately take whatever measures necessary to kill him. The bomb at your cemetery will perhaps be a firecracker compared to what we are prepared to do to remove him if Mr Somsak fails.”
I opened the door and sat for a moment. “I have heard that some of your, shall we say, terminations, have been quite spectacular. Not subtle to be sure, but definitely spectacular.”
Marco Mendez laughed. It was a big laugh. “Yes, Mr Swann, we do it big to send a clear message to our enemies. Our messages usually get through, in most cases anyway. Your Mr Somsak likes to be a little more, as you said, subtle. Each to his own.”
“Indeed, Mr Mendez. Each to his own! Enjoy the show,” I added, stabbing right out there into the dark as I got out of the car.
“We’ll be waiting,” came the response through the closing door.
With that, Marco Mendez disappeared into the evening traffic and I went up to the penthouse to ponder the day’s happenings and try and guess what Sami had in mind for the following night. The fact was plain enough: if we screwed up, Singapore was going to see the biggest bang since WW2, and that would not be pretty.
“Welcome, Kaylin. I am so sorry about the little misunderstanding we had.” Thomas Lu was all smiles. Kaylin was also happy. Happy she had the protection of Thomas Lu against her former employer, happy that the promise from Lu would accomplish all that she dreamed of and more as far as serving her particular addiction went.
Lu personally showed her to her quarters. She was not just staying in a room with a bed and a bathroom; this was a mini apartment. There was a bedroom with a huge bed, plus a spacious en suite. The apartment was completed by a lounge with a small kitchen attached.
“I think you will be very comfortable here,” Lu said. “I would ask you not to bring guests back here unless by prior arrangement with myself,” he added. “Security, my dear.”
“Of course, Mr Lu.” That did disappoint her, but having Lu’s protection meant more.
“We will, however, bring some entertainment in and you will certainly be able to indulge and participate if you want to, of course.”
Kaylin wanted that very much and she told her new master so. Thomas Lu smiled at her eagerness. The next few days are going to be very interesting, Lu thought as he made to leave his new houseguest’s suite.
“By the way,” he paused in the doorway, “I believe you left virtually all of your possessions behind at Somsak’s apartment.”
“Yes, I left in a great hurry.”
“Tomorrow we will arrange a shopping expedition for you. I’m sure we can obtain most of what you lost. At my expense, of course.”
Lu departed, leaving Kaylin wondering if all her Christmases had come at once. As a Christian, she believed in Christmas. However, something about Thomas Lu sent a shiver down her spine. She knew deep down that he didn’t believe in anything but Thomas Lu.
“I had no idea that they were back.”
“Slipped in quietly through some back door perhaps. He didn’t mention if Carlos was here with him.”
“No, but Marco has brought a team with him it appears. The chaos of the past weeks has distracted me,” Sami said. Even through my cell, he sounded tired.
“You lost a lot of people,” I