for Shangwei every day. He got up and wandered back down the concourse, dropping his unused one-way ticket to Guangzhou, China in the garbage can, a small price to pay for access to the secure area.
8
Singapore
The island city-state of the Republic of Singapore sat at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. Its position so close to the Equator gave it a constant temperature near ninety degrees, a sweltering heat that made it impossible to keep a shirt dry. Jake had been to Singapore a number of times, mostly just passing through on his way to another mission, and he found that the only change in the city was with the skyline. In fact, to Jake the place could have been anywhere in the world. It was just another big city with a diverse population of Chinese, Malaysians, Indians and European and American ex-pats. He knew that Singapore was one of the most important centers of business in the world. Most international companies had a Singapore office.
Jake had gotten off his flight from Hong Kong and took a taxi to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. This hotel was one of the most unique places Jake had ever seen—three fifty-five story buildings topped off by what looked like a cross between an airplane fuselage and a snake.
As the taxi pulled up to this monstrous structure, the sun had already set and the building was lit up like a Vegas strip hotel. On the drive Jake had switched passports from Austrian to Canadian again. He got out and slung his backpack over one shoulder, confounding the bell captain at the door, who relied on tips for much of their income. Jake tipped the guys to go away and let him carry his own damn bag.
The front desk had a line of some of the most beautiful women Jake had ever seen, all eager with smiles to check him in.
“Before you assign me a room,” Jake said. “Please check to see if my wife has already checked in.”
The pretty young woman asked, “What is her name, sir?”
He thought for a second, hoping she had taken his advice. “Alexandra Kline.” He spelled the last name for her.
She typed away at her keyboard and said, “Yes, sir. Room fifty-five twenty-five.”
“The top floor?”
“Yes, sir. It’s a suite. Very nice.”
“Wonderful.” He got the key card, instructions for breakfast, and a password for the internet, before taking off for the bank of elevators.
“Sir, would you like help with your bag?”
Jake turned and smiled. “No, thanks. I’ve got this.”
He rose up the elevator and thought about the case so far. Although he was no closer to finding Bill Remington than the day he left Costa Rica, he was beginning to understand the complexity of the case. The Chinese were obviously making bold moves to increase their power and influence in the world. And the best way to do that was to knock down the current leaders.
Jake got to his room and hesitated at the door. He wasn’t sure if Alexandra would be sleeping. When the door suddenly opened, Jake couldn’t help checking her over from top to bottom. Her hair was a bit more full than he had ever seen it. Her red, white and blue T-shirt from the Montreal Canadians hung down to her bare legs. It appeared to be the only thing she wore.
She let him in and locked the door behind her.
Jake set down his backpack and turned to her. She immediately embraced him in a tight bear hug, her right hand moving up to his hair and feeling the stubble.
“What did you do?” she asked.
He pulled away and looked at her expressive eyes. “I had to cut it in Taipei. Someone took a picture of me with the banker just before he was killed. It was a lot easier doing this without everyone with cell phone cameras.”
Alexandra went over and sat on the bed, her shirt riding up higher on her bare legs. “I agree. I’m beginning to hate the damn things.”
“So. . .the Habs?”
She was confused.
“The Habs,” he repeated. “The Montreal Canadians hockey team. You’re wearing their jersey.”
“This?” She pulled
8
Singapore
The island city-state of the Republic of Singapore sat at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. Its position so close to the Equator gave it a constant temperature near ninety degrees, a sweltering heat that made it impossible to keep a shirt dry. Jake had been to Singapore a number of times, mostly just passing through on his way to another mission, and he found that the only change in the city was with the skyline. In fact, to Jake the place could have been anywhere in the world. It was just another big city with a diverse population of Chinese, Malaysians, Indians and European and American ex-pats. He knew that Singapore was one of the most important centers of business in the world. Most international companies had a Singapore office.
Jake had gotten off his flight from Hong Kong and took a taxi to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. This hotel was one of the most unique places Jake had ever seen—three fifty-five story buildings topped off by what looked like a cross between an airplane fuselage and a snake.
As the taxi pulled up to this monstrous structure, the sun had already set and the building was lit up like a Vegas strip hotel. On the drive Jake had switched passports from Austrian to Canadian again. He got out and slung his backpack over one shoulder, confounding the bell captain at the door, who relied on tips for much of their income. Jake tipped the guys to go away and let him carry his own damn bag.
The front desk had a line of some of the most beautiful women Jake had ever seen, all eager with smiles to check him in.
“Before you assign me a room,” Jake said. “Please check to see if my wife has already checked in.”
The pretty young woman asked, “What is her name, sir?”
He thought for a second, hoping she had taken his advice. “Alexandra Kline.” He spelled the last name for her.
She typed away at her keyboard and said, “Yes, sir. Room fifty-five twenty-five.”
“The top floor?”
“Yes, sir. It’s a suite. Very nice.”
“Wonderful.” He got the key card, instructions for breakfast, and a password for the internet, before taking off for the bank of elevators.
“Sir, would you like help with your bag?”
Jake turned and smiled. “No, thanks. I’ve got this.”
He rose up the elevator and thought about the case so far. Although he was no closer to finding Bill Remington than the day he left Costa Rica, he was beginning to understand the complexity of the case. The Chinese were obviously making bold moves to increase their power and influence in the world. And the best way to do that was to knock down the current leaders.
Jake got to his room and hesitated at the door. He wasn’t sure if Alexandra would be sleeping. When the door suddenly opened, Jake couldn’t help checking her over from top to bottom. Her hair was a bit more full than he had ever seen it. Her red, white and blue T-shirt from the Montreal Canadians hung down to her bare legs. It appeared to be the only thing she wore.
She let him in and locked the door behind her.
Jake set down his backpack and turned to her. She immediately embraced him in a tight bear hug, her right hand moving up to his hair and feeling the stubble.
“What did you do?” she asked.
He pulled away and looked at her expressive eyes. “I had to cut it in Taipei. Someone took a picture of me with the banker just before he was killed. It was a lot easier doing this without everyone with cell phone cameras.”
Alexandra went over and sat on the bed, her shirt riding up higher on her bare legs. “I agree. I’m beginning to hate the damn things.”
“So. . .the Habs?”
She was confused.
“The Habs,” he repeated. “The Montreal Canadians hockey team. You’re wearing their jersey.”
“This?” She pulled
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