Singapore Sling Shot - Andrew Grant [59]
“The man is apparently renowned as a sadist,” Sami said. “No wonder Lu is terrified of him. I have people on their way to the warehouse. Jo is in charge.”
“Who the hell is watching your back?”
“K and some of my other good people are here and I’ve had some more of my guys fly in from Thailand. Officially, a social soccer team,” Sami chuckled.
“Okay. Speaking of Thailand, how is Tuk Tuk?”
“On his deathbed. One moment, Daniel.” I could hear Sami talking with someone on another phone. I couldn’t make out the words. After a minute or so, he was back on the line. “Jo called. Lu’s warehouse is burning. You can bet that if the money was there, it isn’t now. He’s pulling a stunt for someone’s benefit, the Mendez brothers or mine. Your guess?”
“Burning down your own warehouse is a bit drastic.”
“Not if you’re trying to cover something up,” Sami replied. “I could almost hear the gears in his brain grinding as he searched for an answer. Sami is a devious guy and a master at subterfuge and the counter-strike.
“Lu’s trying to cover up the fact he’s moved the money again and my bet is the body of Raymond Mendez is in there frying. I think he’s setting up a frame and I’m squarely in it.”
“Turning the Mendez outfit onto you while he takes the money and runs.”
“Yeah,” Sami agreed. “If he can convince the crazy Colombians that I took Raymond out and stole the money, he’s in the clear. He can finance his share in the project and keep the rest of the pot.”
“Yeah. If it sticks you’re going to have a whole other bunch of playmates to contend with.”
“It won’t stick, Daniel. As soon as we finish, I’ll have the people on the computers use traffic and security camera data to see if we can find out how and when Lu shifted the cash from the warehouse and where it is stashed now,” Sami said. “Incidentally, I’m sending out copies of Stanley’s recording now by courier. I need to try and throw him, upset his game somehow. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Yo.” I folded my phone and lay back against my pillows. Things were moving very, very fast. If Sami could find the money and convince the Mendez brothers that it was Lu and not him who killed Raymond, all very well and good. If not, I suspected that the Colombian drug wars would be moving out of the Americas and headed all the way to staid little Singapore, and that wouldn’t be good. Real estate prices might take a hammering, given the Mendez brothers reputation for relocating large buildings in small fiery pieces.
21
“Police confirm that they have recovered the bodies of three men, all bearing evidence of having died from gunshot wounds according to the preliminary reports from the medical examiner’s office. A police spokesman said it is too early to speculate, but it is thought that these latest killings may be related to the slaying of the Loh family and their staff and the gun battle that erupted on Sentosa last week. We will bring you further news as it comes to hand.”
I switched off the television and debated whether or not to call Sami. It was Tuesday morning and I had another day to kill. I wanted to see my old friend. Okay, the reasons for us not being seen together were more for my protection than his, but working by long-distance remote control has never been the way I’ve liked to work. I debated heading back to Pulau Ubin and burning off some more energy charging around in the bush. I debated phoning Simone and inviting her to play hooky from work, but I knew that wasn’t an option. With Stanley gone, she was effectively Sami’s man in Singapore, if you get my drift. At least she was with regard to the many legitimate business ventures Stanley and Sami had been involved in. Then my cellphone rang.
“You want to come and stir up Mr Lu?” Jo and not Sami was the caller.
“You bet,” I responded. It seemed I wasn’t about to have a totally boring day after all.
“Go to Marina, same as before, 17:00.”
“Gottcha,” I responded as the connection was broken. Jo wasn’t one for idle conversation. It was 09:45. I’d slept late. I went to the pool and