Chou Ling smiled. “There is a simple explanation. There is a five-hundred-dollar fine for littering, and it is strictly enforced.”
The car turned on to Stevens Road, and on a hill above them Jennifer saw a lovely white building completely surrounded by trees and flowers.
“That is the Shangri-La, your hotel.”
The lobby was enormous, white and immaculately clean, with marble pillars and glass everywhere.
While Jennifer was checking in, Chou Ling said, “Inspector Touh will be in touch with you.” He handed Jennifer a card. “You can always reach me at this number.”
A smiling bellman took Jennifer’s luggage and led her through an atrium to the elevator. There was an enormous garden under a waterfall, and a swimming pool. The Shangri-La was the most breathtaking hotel Jennifer had ever seen. Her suite on the second floor consisted of a large living room and bedroom, and a terrace overlooking a colorful sea of white and red anthuriums, purple bougainvillea and coconut palms. It’s like being in the middle of a Gauguin, Jennifer thought.
A breeze was blowing. It was the kind of day Joshua loved. Can we go sailing this afternoon, Mom? Stop doing that, Jennifer told herself.
She walked over to the telephone. “I would like to place a call to the United States. New York City. Person-to-person to Mr. Michael Moretti.” She gave the telephone number.
The operator said, “I’m so sorry. All the circuits are busy. Please try again later.”
“Thank you.”
Downstairs, the operator looked for approval to the man standing next to the switchboard.
He nodded. “Good,” he said. “Very good.”
The call from Inspector Touh came an hour after Jennifer checked into the hotel.
“Miss Jennifer Parker?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Inspector David Touh.” He had a soft, indefinable accent.
“Yes, Inspector. I’ve been expecting your call. I’m anxious to arrange—”
The inspector interrupted. “I wonder if I might have the pleasure of your company at dinner this evening.”
A warning. He was probably afraid of the phone being bugged.
“I would be delighted.”
The Great Shanghai was an enormous, noisy restaurant filled, for the most part, with natives who were loudly eating and talking. There was a three-piece band on a platform, and an attractive girl in a cheongsam was singing popular American songs.
The maître d’ said to Jennifer, “A table for one?”
“I’m meeting someone. Inspector Touh.”
The maître d’s face broke into a smile. “The inspector is waiting for you. This way, please.” He led Jennifer to a table at the front of the room, next to the bandstand.
Inspector David Touh was a tall, thin, attractive man in his early forties, with delicate features and dark, liquid eyes. He was beautifully and almost formally dressed in a dark suit.
He held Jennifer’s chair for her, then sat down. The band was playing a deafening rock song.
Inspector Touh leaned across to Jennifer and said, “May I order a drink for you?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You must try a chendol.”
“A—what?”
“It is made with coconut milk, coconut sugar and little pieces of gelatin. You will like it.”
The inspector glanced up and a waitress was at his side instantly. The inspector ordered the two drinks and dim sum, Chinese appetizers. “I hope you do not mind if I order your dinner for you?”
“Not at all. I would be pleased.”
“I understand that in your country women are used to taking command. Here it is still the man who is in charge.”
A sexist, Jennifer thought, but she was in no mood to get into an argument. She needed this man. Because of the incredible din and the music, it was almost impossible to carry on a conversation. Jennifer sat back and looked around the room. Jennifer had been to other Oriental countries, but the people in Singapore seemed extraordinarily beautiful, men and women both.
The waitress put Jennifer’s drink in front of her. It resembled a chocolate soda with slippery lumps in it.
Inspector Touh read her expression. “You must stir it.”
“I can’t hear you.”
He shouted, “You must stir it!”
Jennifer dutifully stirred her drink. She tasted it.
It was awful, much too sweet, but Jennifer nodded and said, “It’s—it’s different.”