They caught a flight to San Francisco, then had a 3-hour wait before boarding the 171/2-hour flight to Singapore, arriving just before 6am Singapore local time. They checked into the Marina Bay Sands hotel, three 57-story towers topped and connected by a huge platform that looked like a large ship, containing restaurants, shops, and a rooftop, infinity swimming pool.
"Wow, this is what I call luxury," Penny said as she explored the large, 2-bedroom suite on the 54th floor.
"Our body clocks are going to be totally out of whack," Grant said. "I suggest trying to sleep for a few hours, then I'll give Mrs. Wang a call at a more civilized hour.
Even though she had slept for a great portion of the flight from San Francisco, Penny managed to fall asleep, waking when Grant knocked on her door.
"It's 10am local time," Grant informed her as she sat up, the sheet falling away to reveal her naked breasts. "I called Mrs. Wang and we're going to meet her at 2:00. Hungry?" he asked.
"Starved," Penny replied, getting out of bed and stretching, Grant shaking his head as he looked at her. "Let me take a shower and wake up first."
They went up to the Spago Bar & Lounge restaurant on the roof next to the infinity swimming pool where Penny found that she wasn't just hungry, but ravenous, delighting in the buttermilk pancakes with fresh maple syrup and honey butter, along with two glasses of carrot, pineapple, celery, ginger, and lime juice.
"I cannot believe this view," Penny marveled, looking out over Singapore and the Straits of Molucca as they drank coffee.
"It doesn't get any better than this," Grant agreed.
Going back to their suite, Grant suggested that she dress in something less revealing, explaining that Singapore was very conservative in that regards. They took a taxi to the Bank of Singapore Centre at Market Street, which was located in the heart of Raffles Place, practically in the center of the central business district. When Grant presented his business card at the reception desk, they were escorted to a conference room and offered coffee, with an explanation that Mrs. Wang would be with them shortly.
When a tiny Chinese woman wearing a body-hugging black cheongsam entered, slit up one side to her upper thigh, Penny almost gasped at her beauty, her sloe eyes exotic and her long black hair hanging down almost to her knees.
"Mr. Studder, welcome to Singapore," she said, looking up at him towering over her at 6'5" as they shook hands. "I'm Mai Li Wang."
"This is my co-counsel, Penny Lane, Mrs. Wang," Grant introduced, Penny smiling as they shook hands.
"If you don't mind, I prefer Mai Li," she said, taking a seat. "Thank you for coming all this way. I felt that we needed to speak in person, as any form of electronic communication is susceptible to eavesdropping. You received the retainer?" she asked.
"I did," Grant replied. "Thank you."
"I know that it sounds paranoid, but in certain matters, paranoid is your best bet," Mai Li explained. "We are meeting here at the bank so that your presence won't be immediately noticed, though it will shortly be noted by anyone curious about new arrivals, especially one as renowned as yourself. I'd like to avoid our being connected in any way for as long as possible, for your safety and mine."
"Are we in any danger?" Penny asked.
"Not necessarily, but once things start progressing, you certainly could be," Mai Li replied. "My husband and those that I suspect are behind him are extremely ruthless. For the purposes of this visit, I don't think that you need to worry. You are staying at the Marina Bay Sands as I suggested?" she asked.
"That's correct," Grant replied.
"You'll be fine there," Mai Li said. "It's also a wonderful place. It's possible to have an entire vacation here and never leave the resort."
"What can you tell me about the situation?" Grant asked.
"I recently noticed that $120 million was transferred from my family trust account," Mai Li explained. "It appears to have been sent to an account at the Bank of China in Hong Kong. We have long suspected that the Chinese government is secretly behind certain triad activities and they own the Bank of China. Nobody but me should be able to make a transfer of that sort and I certainly didn't. The only possible suspect is my husband, I'm afraid," she said, frowning. "Ours is mostly a marriage of convenience; I have money, he has political connections. Now I suspect that his connections go beyond Singapore to one of the Hong Kong triads, and that is extremely worrisome. I have my own political connections here and have privately discussed the matter with the Minister of Security, who advised me that they had been keeping an eye on my husband for some time. The Minister of Security and myself are both interested in finding out about the transfer and what ramifications that it might portend."
"I'm a divorce attorney, Mai Li," Grant said. "This sounds to be far outside my scope of expertise."
"Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Studder," Mai Li said, laughing. "I've had you extensively checked out and I believe that you are uniquely qualified to look into this, as well as helping me obtain a divorce. The convenience of my marriage is no longer and I wish it to end. Because you are known as a divorce attorney, you are less likely to arouse suspicions about matters unconnected to divorce."
"If I'm to call you Mai Li, my name is Grant," he said, smiling, "and this is Penny. How would you like me to proceed?" he asked.
"Just as you would with any other divorce," Mai Li replied, "and under that guise to look into other matters. Using anyone local is a non-starter. We have no idea how deeply the triads have penetrated our banking or governmental systems. As an outsider, you're less likely to raise any red flags. I'll be arranging a meeting for you with the Minister of Security, probably tomorrow, and he'll fill you in as he sees appropriate. I have total faith and trust in him, but if I'm wrong, then Singapore is already doomed and there's nothing to be done for it."
"It sounds like a bad spy movie," Penny said.
"Indeed," Mai Li agreed, smiling. "You will help me?" she asked.
"We will," Grant replied firmly.
"Thank you," she said, exhaling deeply. "I'm not afraid to admit that my wa, Chinese for harmony, has been disturbed by everything. It's a great relief to me to know that you'll be helping. How do you imagine that you'll proceed?" she asked.
"I won't really know until I meet with the Minister of Security," Grant replied, "but I'll start by having my research staff look into things as unobtrusively as possible. If it's possible, I'd like a detailed transaction history of the $120 million. That's the best place to start."
"I can arrange for you to have that before you leave the bank today," Mai Li agreed. "In fact, let me arrange that now," she said, picking up the phone on the table and speaking rapidly in Chinese before hanging up.
"Any thoughts, Penny?" Grant asked.
"Is your husband involved with anyone?" Penny asked.
"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," Mai Li replied. "Perhaps more than just one. Ours is not a relationship based on intimacy, so I don't begrudge him finding that elsewhere. As a member of the government, some degree of discretion is required on his part in that regard."
"Are you in any personal danger?" Penny asked.
"Always, though not necessarily because of this particular situation," Mai Li replied. "Any person of great wealth in Singapore is always in danger, primarily from kidnappers, but also from those trying to get their hands on said wealth. I pay a small fortune for a world-class security team, which will be extended to you. Some of the protection will be overt, but most of it you won't even notice."
"Wow!" Penny said, shaking her head.
"Anything else you'd like to know?" Mai Li asked.
"I don't mean to be rude, but are you involved with anyone other than your husband?" Grant asked.
"Not as such," Mai Li replied. "I take my pleasure as I see fit, but it is only that, nothing involved."
"Just so that you understand, I need to know that you will always be totally honest with me and not withhold any information that I need to know," Grant said. "I can't protect you or your interests in the dark."
"I understand," Mai Li said, nodding.
Just then the door opened and a man entered, bowing slightly as he approached and handed Mai Li some papers before turning to leave.
"Here are the financial records you requested," she said, passing them to Grant after quickly glancing at them.
