Singapore Sling Shot - Andrew Grant [67]
Jo dropped me on Bras Basah, a block from the hotel, and I strolled into the foyer playing at being slightly drunk. To the amused staff it appeared Ed from Perth had been out on the town. As I crossed the lobby heading for the elevators, I was loud and vaguely funny and my accent was passable. The only thing that was missing from my pantomime was the smell of booze on my breath. I remedied that in my room by way of a hefty shot of JD. I went to sleep lying on my bed still fully dressed.
24
Simone DeLue was working at her desk. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just a few minutes to one. Time to freshen up for her much anticipated lunch date with her man from Perth. She smiled at the thought. Ed from Perth and Daniel Swann had little in common.
As she stood, there came the sound of angry voices from the reception area where Jasminder Kaur reigned supreme. Simone opened her office door to see what the commotion was about.
There were two women standing facing each other in reception. They were both attractive. One was Chinese, while the other looked Malay. They were both shouting. The two men assigned to keep guard on the offices, both members of Sami’s Singapore crew, were standing to one side, confused, as was Jasminder Kaur, the receptionist.
“What is going on?”
“They just arrived in the lift. One is accusing the other of stealing her wallet.”
“She stole my wallet,” the Chinese woman was saying. “Look at my bag, you can see …”
“Look at my bag. I don’t have her wallet,” the other yelled. Both women had their bags open, hands groping inside. The guns they produced were levelled first at the men.
“Hands up. Now!” The command came from the taller of the two women. The guards, their own weapons hidden under their jackets, had no choice but to obey. The second woman went to the fire escape door and pushed the door release. Three men came racing in. Two of them carried iron bars. They clubbed the guards to the floor with practised, ruthless efficiency and took the guns from their belts. The third man carried a plastic container.
“You are all coming with us. Now!” One of the intruders shouted as he wiped blood from the iron bar in his hands on the jacket of the guard he had just beaten to within an inch of his life.
“Oh God.” Simone swayed, but grabbed the edge of the reception desk to prevent herself from fainting. “What’s happening?”
“Why?” Jasminder asked.
“Because Mr Lu says so.”
It was after ten in the morning when I awoke. I’d slept like a drugged man. It was the adrenaline hangover that always got me. Despite the fact I personally hadn’t had a particularly strenuous outing the previous evening, the adrenaline kicks in when you’re in a heightened state. When it leaves, so does most of your energy.
I ordered an omelette and coffee through room service, ate and showered and felt almost human again. Ed from Perth was going to take Simone out for lunch. I dressed up for this one. Casual shirt with sports trousers and actual lace up shoes. This was getting serious.
The plan was that we’d meet at 13:00 hours at Centrepoint on Orchard Road, just a leisurely stroll from Stanley’s office, and find ourselves a nice place for lunch at Cuppage Terrace or Peranakan Place. I didn’t much care where we ate really. I just wanted to see Simone.
I walked to Orchard and arrived at the designated meeting place on time. However, after fifteen minutes with no Simone, I tried her cellphone. No response. I decided to walk on up to the office to meet her. I had barely reached Lucky Plaza when the first fire engine came screaming down Orchard Road from Tanglin. This was followed by a second and a third. A flock of police cars was weaving in and around the traffic heading the same way. They turned into Scotts Road up ahead of me.
The ice that slashed