CHAPTER 45
The call to Jeffrey couldn’t have happened at a better time.
With Pascale waiting in a coffee shop in the city centre, Jeffrey was relaxing on a sofa in the office of the Events and Marketing manager at the Mutiara Hotel. Jeffrey had known Roger Tsui since providing a name of someone looking to hold a lavish wedding ceremony. That they’d chosen the Mutiara had been good for Roger and a commission would come Jeffrey’s way if he wished. Jeffrey had declined but the debt was still outstanding.
“You know my business, Roger,” he said. “It’s sensitive. It’s confidential. I don’t need money but you once offered some help if ever I needed it.”
Roger had looked a little concerned at first. Sweaty private investigators who walked in off the street looking as if they hadn’t washed or shaved for a day or two but expecting favours were disconcerting however useful they’d been in the past.
“I need a room bugged,” Jeffrey went on. “I’ll sort it. I just need access to the room.”
“Ah. I see, lah. Bugged? You mean…? No, we can’t, lah. It’s not allowed. What room? Why?”
That’s when The Director of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department phoned.
Jeffrey stood with his phone clamped to his ear.
“Yes, sir,” he said. “It was me who called your office this morning when I heard what had happened at the airport…Yes sir, Baroness Isobel Johnson and professor Eddie Higgins are clients of Asher & Asher. Yes, Baroness, sir. It’s an honorary title sir …yes, sir. Very high. Baroness is like ‘Tun’ sir, a title given to most-deserving persons who have made significant contributions to the nation, sir. She’s a very important lady in UK political circles and related to the British Prime Minister I understand…Yes, sir. That is correct.”
There was a long pause as the officer tried to understand a title awarded to a young woman. Malaysian titles were complicated enough but he’d never had to concern himself with English ones. He asked another question.
“That is correct, sir,” Jeffrey replied, “I am responsible for the Malaysian side of the investigation. It is a highly complex one…Correct, sir. Naturally we plan to involve the Malay and Thai police and Interpol as soon as possible but we do not want to jeopardise the investigation too early…Thank you for your understanding, sir.”
Roger Tsiu stood up and beckoned to Jeffrey to ask if he wanted the room to himself for a while but Jeffrey waved at him to sit. Right now, it was much more useful for the Events and Marketing manager to listen in.
“…Yes, sir. I am currently at the Mutiara Hotel in JB seeking their assistance...I will keep you closely informed. It is very likely we’ll need your help in due course…the case is very big, sir, it’s international and involves Interpol… yes, it is best if we can continue undercover at present… I’m sure you understand. Thank you, sir.”
Jeffrey switched off.
“That was the Director of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department, Datuk Abdul Rahim bin Hassan,” he said to Roger Tsiu. “Now, can I rely on your co-operation?”
Roger nodded. “Of course. What is the name of the guest, Jeffrey?”
“Peter Lester. He’s British. There may also be an Italian called Enzo Grassi.”
“Ah yes, Mr Grassi. He is often here. He has work in Singapore, I think. And Mr Lester?” He checked names on the computer. “Ah yes, My Lester was a guest here a month ago. They both checked in today. Mr Lester checked in fifteen minutes ago. One night only.”
“I need each of them out of their rooms for twenty minutes or so.”
“Ah. I see. But how do we...?”
“Phone Lester’s room. Say something. Anything. Ask him if the TV is working.”
Roger phoned Lester’s room. “Good evening sir. I’m just checking if everything is OK. The TV was fixed earlier. Is it now….?” The reply was an impatient grunt. Tsiu switched off and turned to Jeffrey. “He’s in his room.”
“Try Mr Grassi.”
Enzo Grassi didn’t answer. “I’ll try the Polo Lounge. I think I saw him there earlier.” He called the barman. “Yes, he’s there.”
“What are their room numbers?”
“Let me see. Yes. 321 and 429.”
“Do you have master keys?”
It was nine thirty. To Jeffrey it seemed unlikely the two would sit and talk in an open area. Most likely they’d go to one of the rooms. He returned to his car outside and grabbed two Colin Asher modified GSM listening devices with a built-in recorder that could be plugged into mains sockets. Dial the SIM card inside and listen directly or download what was on the recorder and the sound quality was usually excellent. He returned to Tsiu’s office.
Enzo Grassi was still in the bar. This was the first time Jeffrey had seen him but he fitted Pascale’s general description perfectly – longish grey hair, jeans, tee shirt and drinking beer. Jeffrey took the lift to floor four, found room 429, used the master key and found a suitcase on the floor but nothing inside worth checking. He looked for the best mains plug, one nearest the TV cable, plugged the device in and left.
Now for the tricky one. Lester. But he needn’t have worried. From Roger Tsiu’s office he saw Lester emerge from the lift and head for the Polo Lounge. If they were planning to sit and talk in there it ruined his plan. Nevertheless, he took the lift to the third floor, fitted the second device in room 321 and returned to his car. From there he called Pascale to join him.
They checked into a cheaper back street hotel near the Mutiara, ate in the street outside and waited.