connection is our best lead to the third statue, but she seems to have accepted it. And Eddie has offered to help with West.’
‘Eddie?’
‘Mr Chase.’
‘Don’t get too involved with these people, Jindal,’ came the disapproving response. ‘Once the Group has all three statues we will still need Dr Wilde, but Chase is irrelevant. Just make sure you maintain your cover at Interpol until we have them.’
‘Yes, sir. I’ll report again when I’ve found out if West has the information we need.’
A sound of confirmation from the other end of the line, then the abrupt click of disconnection without a further word. Not that Kit had expected anything more. He pocketed the phone and walked away into New York.
6
Singapore
The port of Singapore was one of the busiest in the world, its sprawling docks occupying several square miles of the island state’s limited land. Tens of thousands of shipping containers were stacked throughout the great concrete expanse, huge long-legged gantry cranes trundling back and forth from the moored globetrotting megaships in an intricate computer-directed ballet, gripping the steel boxes in their cable-mounted ‘spreader’ mechanisms.
On the port’s fringes, the walls of containers gave way to warehouses and offices. One in particular was the subject of Eddie’s attention as he waited with Kit and several officers from Singapore’s police and customs forces, sheltered from the rain beneath an awning. Across a wide road leading deeper into the metal maze was a two-storey cabin with a sign reading S Q West Import-Export, the upper floor’s windows illuminated behind Venetian blinds. ‘He’s working late,’ he said, looking at his watch. It was after nine p.m.
‘Many nights, Mr West doesn’t leave until almost midnight - and some nights he doesn’t leave at all,’ said Go Ayu. The Singapore Police Force staff sergeant was in her early thirties, of mixed Japanese and Thai descent, prim and formal in her dark blue uniform despite the humidity and the rain.
‘Can’t have much of a social life, then.’
‘He has enough to keep good friends with some of Singapore’s most important people. He is a very well-connected man.’
‘Connected enough to keep him out of trouble?’ Kit asked.
‘Yes,’ said Rosman Jefri, one of the customs agents. ‘Three years ago, Mr West was suspected of involvement in smuggling. His office and home were raided, but nothing was found – and he sued the government. Not only did he win, but the officer in charge was demoted.’
‘But now Interpol is involved, it will be harder for West to get his friends to apply pressure,’ said Ayu. ‘And it gives us another advantage. We have thought about trying to entrap him by asking him to transport an illegal cargo, but he is a clever man and will spot undercover agents.’
Eddie cocked his head, puzzled. ‘Wouldn’t that get chucked right out of court?’
‘Entrapment is legal here,’ Kit explained. ‘So if a stranger asks if you want to buy drugs . . . don’t.’
‘Good job I forgot my crack pipe. So, if we use someone from outside Singapore, you reckon that’ll make West more likely to do something dodgy?’
Rosman nodded. ‘If he agrees to an illegal act, that gives us the pretext we need to arrest him and seize his records.’
‘Before he can destroy them, we hope,’ added Ayu.
‘I think we can make sure of that,’ said Eddie.
‘You keep saying “we”, Eddie,’ objected Kit. ‘I will be going to see West – alone. I appreciate your working with Sergeant Go to move everything along, but you’re a civilian, not a police officer. This is up to me now.’
‘What, with that cover story you came up with? It’s too obvious – he’ll be suspicious right from the off.’ He rubbed the lapel of Kit’s pale blue suit jacket; it was obvious from its fit alone that it was not an expensively tailored garment. ‘No offence, but you’re dressed like a cop.’
Kit looked offended. ‘Then give me your jacket. No policeman I know would wear anything like that!’
‘Ooh, listen to Derek bloody Zoolander ’ere!’ said Eddie, pretending to be outraged. ‘All right, swap.’ He took off his leather jacket and traded it for Kit’s. ‘Still think it’s a bad idea for you to go in on your own, though.’ He turned to Ayu. ‘Does West have any history of violence?’
‘Not Mr West himself,’ she said. ‘But he employs security guards . . . and some of them have violent backgrounds.’
Eddie looked at the cabin. Figures moved behind the slats; West had company. ‘So, Kit, your plan is to go alone