Point of Contact

20

They sped along the East Coast Parkway toward the bay front, passing the Singapore Flyer, the world’s second tallest Ferris wheel.

From inside Lian’s Range Rover, the Marina Bay Sands resort dominated the breathtaking skyline. Its three fifty-five-story towers were wide and narrow and slightly curved, and they were topped with what appeared to be a starship. The entire structure was brightly lit and bathed continuously in a shifting wash of accent lights. It was an architectural marvel. No wonder it was one of the most photographed buildings in the world.

But it was the view from the spaceship — technically, the SkyPark — that blew Jack’s mind. The view around the bay and the downtown core was like a scene out of Blade Runner. Skyscrapers ran nearly to the horizon, a cacophony of shifting lights and dramatic shapes that glowed purple and blue and white beneath the low-hanging clouds. The Flyer’s giant spokeless circle of light rotated slowly like a vertical space station, and traffic flowed along the ECP in a wide amber river of light spanning the coast. In the distance, Jack saw the lights of a hundred freighters moored offshore, and as many docked beneath the towering cranes of the bustling port.

Just below them was the ArtScience Museum, which appeared like a giant half-opened concrete lotus flower. In the distance was a small forest of giant “supertrees”—twenty-five- to fifty-meter-tall metal-and-concrete structures with canopies that spread wide to the open sky like upheld hands. Like everything else in view, they were stunningly lit.

The whole effect was ethereal, made even more surreal by the laser light show on display from down below, the thin green beams slicing through the cloudy haze.

The thousand-foot-long SkyPark itself was a stunning piece of architecture, topped with nightclubs, bars, and restaurants but made world-famous by the nearly five-hundred-foot-long infinity pool that disappeared along the edge of the cantilevered platform. Even at this hour it was filled with swimmers snapping selfies, standing waist-deep in water at the edge of the sky.

Jack and Lian sat in the crowded poolside SkyBar of the Cé La Vi nightclub, throbbing with techno-beats and horny tourists. Jack wasn’t hungry enough to take advantage of the nightclub’s award-winning restaurant, so they settled for sushi and beers at a small table along the glass rail beneath a red umbrella overlooking the bay. The view was better here anyway, and the cool, damp breeze felt good.

“If you were trying to sell me on your city, you’ve closed the deal,” Jack said. “It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

Lian allowed herself a small smile. “We’re very proud of it. It’s a metropolitan wonder carved into the heart of a beautiful rainforest.”

“Between the botanical gardens and the green laser lights, Singapore reminds me a little of the Emerald City.”

“It may be the Emerald City, but even Oz had its flying monkeys.”

Jack laughed. “I thought you guys didn’t have a crime problem.”

“Not one that you can see. But where there are people, there are always problems.”

“Is that why you left the Singapore Police Force?”

“No. My plan was always to join the family business. I wanted the practical and technical experience that I knew the SPF would provide.”

“You’re very proud of your company, aren’t you?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“No, not at all. I didn’t mean to offend. I guess what I was trying to say was that your sense of place in the world is strongly tied to the city, your company, and your family.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So how do you honestly feel about the merger? It won’t affect my judgment and I won’t say anything to my bosses. I’m just curious.”

Lian took a thoughtful sip of her Tsingtao, her third so far. Jack popped another piece of tuna sushi into his mouth while she formulated her answer, wondering if he needed to order a second beer himself.

“In truth, I’m not happy about it because I fear the loss of control. But my father is a very wise man and I trust his business acumen and he believes it is not only a good move but a necessary one, so I defer to his judgment.”

“Thanks for being honest.”

“What else would I be?”

“You’ve been pretty hostile the whole time we’ve been here. Hostile people tend to lie.”

“Hostile? Have I been rude to you or Paul?”

“No, not rude. But you’re obviously angry that we’re here. I’d think you’d be happy about the merger because it’s going to make you very rich.”

Lian frowned and shook her head. “You think being rich is something that matters to me?”

“Finding out that you’re going to be wealthy isn’t exactly like finding out you’ve got terminal cancer.”

“Tell me, Jack, is money the thing that motivates you?”

Jack shrugged. “No, not really. But then again, I don’t own a company like your family does.”

“No, but you work for a financial firm. Why do you do that kind of work if you don’t love money?”

Because I secretly work for The Campus, working for my dad and defending my nation, Jack wanted to say. Instead, he said, “It’s interesting work, and I’m pretty good with numbers.”

“I’m terrible with numbers, but I’m pretty good with a gun and I love my father, so I do everything I can to protect the company because I’m also protecting him.”

I guess we’re not so different after all, Jack thought.

“So, Mr. Jack Ryan, I apologize if I have seemed hostile or defensive. I suppose I should be fawning over you and showering you with attention because that’s what you expect.”

“Why would you say that? Because of my dad?”

“What? No. Because you’re so good-looking.”

Didn’t see that one coming, Jack thought. Must be the alcohol.

“I don’t know about that.”

“Haven’t you seen all of the women ogling you around here? You probably have a lot of girls back in the States.”

Jack shook his head as he peeled back the label on his empty beer bottle. Ysabel’s face flashed in his mind. “My work doesn’t exactly allow for a social life.”

Lian stared at a happy couple at the next table over. “I understand, believe me.”

A waiter approached with a tray, loaded with a giant tropical fruit drink, a massive wedge of pineapple sticking out of it.

“For the lady, a mai tai, compliments of those gentlemen,” the waiter said, nodding at a table across the way. Three large white men in their twenties smiled lustily at Lian. The one with the bulging biceps, and seemingly the oldest, lifted his own half-consumed mai tai in a toast.

“That thing is as big as your head,” Jack said. He remembered the Shirley Temple he’d sent Park earlier that day. Karma is a bitch.

Lian told the waiter, “Tell the gentlemen thank you, but I respectfully decline the generous gift.”

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like mai tais?” Jack asked.

“I love mai tais. Just not from strangers.”

The waiter blanched. “Ma’am, the gentleman means no harm. It might cause him offense if I returned it.”

“You can call security if they make trouble,” Lian insisted.

The waiter said, “Better if no trouble is started. Lah.” His smile, a plea.

“How much did they tip you?” Jack asked.

“Ten dollars, Australian.” The waiter leaned in close and whispered, keeping his eyes on the three lecherous musketeers. “I’m afraid they get angry if I return the drink. Best if you accept it, my lady. They’ll leave soon enough.”

Jack pulled a Benjamin Franklin out of his wallet and held it up. “That’s one hundred dollars, American. It’s yours if you take that drink away right now.”

The waiter snatched the bill and pocketed it before grabbing the drink and scurrying away.

“We should go,” Lian said. “Those men are trouble.”

“Friends of yours?”

She flashed a knowing smile. “No, not at all. But they’re men, aren’t they?”

“I’m enjoying myself. Let’s stay put.”

“Are you sure?”

Jack looked her straight in the eye. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

She studied his face, then stole a glance at his powerful hands and shoulders. “Yes, you are, aren’t you?”

“Let’s just say I’m a good judge of character.”

“We’ll have to see about that, won’t we?”

They ate and drank in silence for a few minutes, Lian casting wary glances at the table full of trouble between bites, her street-cop instincts on full alert.

Jack refused to look at them, but in his peripheral vision he saw them finally get up and leave. Once they cleared the bar, he waved the waiter back over.

“Sir?”

“A mai tai for the lady.”

The waiter frowned in confusion. “Sir?” He glanced at Lian for guidance. “Ma’am?”

She smiled.

“A mai tai sounds good,” she said, “but that thing was as big as my head. You better bring two straws.”

The waiter laughed. “Okay, lah!”