Singapore Sling Shot - Andrew Grant [9]
I figured that if Stanley Loh had been involved in Intella, that most probably meant Sami was as well. By the way, the name Intella derives from Intelligent Island. The whole thing was to be run by a giant super-computer, it seemed. Anyway, Stanley Loh was no longer in the loop, but maybe Sami was. Time would tell that story. In the meantime I needed tourist clothes and a camera, so I went shopping.
Downtown Singapore is easy walking. I strolled off up Bras Basah and Orchard Road towards Somerset and zeroed in on Centrepoint. I’d been there several times in the past and I knew it was tourist central with everything under one roof. Hey, I was a tourist after all.
First I hit Robinsons, which made most of its weekly wage bill off me. Then I found a camera outlet and bought a compact Sony digital. It had more pixels than I thought possible. I was paying cash for everything, eliminating any paper trail, at least until I wanted one.
The major problem about doing anything in Singapore is the constant CCTV surveillance. There are cameras everywhere and that was something I was going to have to give some thought to when it came time to doing whatever it was Sami had brought me here for.
Carrying several bags, I left Centrepoint and contemplated grabbing a cab. The lure of beer and food was, however, stronger than the desire to go back to the hotel just yet. I knew there was a row of bars and restaurants behind the complex, so I cut back and found Cuppage Terrace. Many of the restaurants were closed but there was a small pub at one end. The Cable Car, the signage said. It suited me fine. It was virtually deserted at this early hour. I sat outside and lit what was one of my first cigarettes of the day. I almost felt proud of myself.
The Tiger beer was cold and the Chinese restaurant next door did bar service. It was 15:50; the day that had started early several hundred kilometres away was still young. With a cold beer in hand and a full stomach, I decided to loiter awhile.
I was on my third glass when my new cellphone rang. It could only be one person.
“Sami?”
“Daniel. I’ll be flying in late morning, day after tomorrow. I have to attend family business and then we can meet up. I’ll call when I’m done. Okay?”
“Sure! Where are you staying?” I asked, thinking he also might book in to the Carlton.
“I’ve got an apartment in Cairnhill. Under any other circumstances I’d have you stay there but we need to keep some distance between us. I’ll explain it all when we catch up.” Sami sounded tired. I could hear him take a sip of something. He didn’t drink alcohol, not even under extreme stress.
“You okay?”
“I’m okay, Daniel, thanks,” he replied. “There will be a woman asking for you at the desk at half nine in the morning. Her name is Simone. She’s your cover. She doesn’t know the finer points of what we do, so don’t tell her too much at this stage.”
“Okay. So what exactly do you want me to do?”
“Go to Sentosa with Simone. Camera and all! Visit the fort and spend some time in the Japanese surrender room. Get to know the room well because you’ll be going back. And watch for watchers because they’ll be there. I’ll call again when I work out my timing.”
“Okay.” I had no idea what the hell was going on, but I trusted Sami with my life, so I went with the flow.
“Enjoy your tour of the fort.” Sami paused. “By the way, Simone used to work for Stanley. She’ll play an airhead wife. She isn’t an airhead.”
“I’m pleased about that.” I didn’t fancy spending too much time with some dumb bimbo. Life’s too short.
“Don’t mention the significance of the surrender room.”
“I don’t know the significance of the fucking thing.”
“You will. Take plenty of photographs, access, alarms, all of it. You did get a camera?”
“Sami!”
“Sorry. Of course you did. Do read the manual,” he added with a strained chuckle, “and look at ways of getting in and out of the fort in the dark. I can tell you that Stanley was chased into the fort and almost died of an asthma attack. He hid something in the Japanese surrender