Jennifer felt faint. "Please, let"s get out of here."
Inspector Touh put his hand on her arm. "One moment."
He stood there watching, and after a while he led Jennifer away.
That night, Jennifer dreamt of the crocodiles clawing and tearing each other to pieces. Two of them suddenly turned into Michael and Adam, and in the middle of her nightmare Jennifer woke up, trembling. She was unable to go back to sleep.
The raids began. Federal and local law-enforcement agents struck in a dozen different states and in half a dozen foreign countries, and the raids were orchestrated to take place simultaneously.
In Ohio, a senator was arrested while making a speech to a women"s club on honesty in government.
In New Orleans, an illegal national bookmaking operation was shut down.
In Amsterdam, a diamond smuggling operation was halted.
A bank manager in Gary, Indiana, was arrested on charges of laundering Organization money.
In Kansas City, a large discount house filled with stolen goods was raided.
In Phoenix, Arizona, half a dozen detectives on the vice squad were placed under arrest.
In Naples, a cocaine factory was seized.
In Detroit, a nationwide automobile theft ring was broken up.
Unable to reach Jennifer by telephone, Adam Warner went to her office.
Cynthia recognized him instantly.
"I"m sorry, Senator Warner, Miss Parker is out of the country."
"Where is she?"
"The Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore."
Adam"s spirits rose. He could telephone her and warn her not to return.
The hotel housekeeper walked in as Jennifer was getting out of the shower.
"Excuse me. What time will you be checking out today?"
"I"m not checking out today. I"m leaving tomorrow."
The housekeeper looked puzzled. "I was told to get this suite ready for a party coming in late tonight."
"Who told you to do that?"
"The manager."
Downstairs, an overseas call was coming in at the switchboard. There was a different operator on duty and a different man was standing over her.
The operator spoke into her mouthpiece. "New York City calling Miss Jennifer Parker?"
She looked at the man standing next to her. He shook his head.
"I"m sorry. Miss Parker has checked out."
The sweeping raids continued. Arrests were made in Honduras, San Salvador, Turkey and Mexico. The net swept up dealers and killers and bank robbers and arsonists. There were crackdowns in Fort Lauderdale and Atlantic City and Palm Springs.
And they continued.
In New York, Robert Di Silva was keeping close track of the progress being made. His heart beat faster as he thought about the net that was closing in on Jennifer Parker and Michael Moretti.
Michael Moretti escaped the police dragnet by sheer chance. It was the anniversary of his father-in-law"s death, and Michael and Rosa had gone to the cemetery to pay homage to her father.
Five minutes after they left, a carload of FBI agents arrived at Michael Moretti"s house and another carload at his office. When they learned he was not in either place, the agents settled down to wait.
Jennifer realized that she had neglected to make a plane reservation for Stefan Bjork back to the States. She called Singapore Airlines.
"This is Jennifer Parker. I"m booked on your Flight One-Twelve leaving tomorrow afternoon for London. I"d like to make an additional reservation."
"Thank you. Would you hold the line, please?"
Jennifer waited and after a few minutes the voice came back on the line. Was that Parker? P-A-R-K-E-R?"
"Yes."
"Your reservation has been canceled, Miss Parker."
Jennifer felt a small shock. "Canceled? By whom?"
"I do not know. You have been taken off our pa.s.senger list."
"There"s been some mistake. I"d like you to put me back on that list."
"I"m sorry, Miss Parker. Flight One-Twelve is full."
Inspector Touh was the one to straighten everything out, Jennifer decided. She had agreed to have dinner with him. She would find out what was happening then.
He picked her up early.
Jennifer told the inspector about the mix-up in her hotel and plane reservations.
He shrugged. "Our famous inefficiency, I am afraid. I will look into it."
"What about Stefan Bjork?"
"Everything is arranged. He will be released tomorrow morning."
Inspector Touh said something to the driver in Chinese and the car made a U-turn.
"You have not seen Kallang Road. You will find it most interesting."
The car made a left turn on to Lavender Street, then one block later a right turn to Kallang Bahru. There were large signs advertising florists and casket companies. A few blocks later the car made another turn.
"Where are we?"
Inspector Touh turned to Jennifer and said quietly, "We are on the Street With No Name."
The car began to move very slowly. There were only undertakers on both sides of the street, row after row of them: Tan Kee Seng, Clin Noh, Ang Yung Long, Goh Soon. Ahead, a funeral was in progress. All the mourners were dressed in white and a three-piece band was playing: a tuba, a sax and drums. A body was laid out on a table with wreaths of flowers around it and a large photograph of the deceased sat on an easel facing the front. Mourners were sitting around, eating.
Jennifer turned to the inspector. "What is this?"
"These are the houses of death. The natives call them the die houses. die houses. The word death is difficult for them to p.r.o.nounce." He looked at Jennifer and said, "But death is only a part of life, is it not?" The word death is difficult for them to p.r.o.nounce." He looked at Jennifer and said, "But death is only a part of life, is it not?"
Jennifer looked into his cold eyes and was suddenly frightened.
They went to the Golden Phoenix, and it was not until they were seated that Jennifer had a chance to question him.
"Inspector Touh, did you have a reason for taking me to the crocodile farm and the die houses?"
He looked at her and said evenly, "Of course. I thought they would interest you. Especially since you came here to free your client, Mr. Bjork. Many of our young people are dying because of the drugs that are brought into our country, Miss Parker. I could have taken you to the hospital where we try to treat them, but I felt it might be more informative for you to see where they end up."
"All that has nothing to do with me."
"That is a matter of opinion." All the friendliness had gone out of his voice.
Jennifer said, "Look, Inspector Touh, I"m sure you"re being well paid to-"
"There is not enough money in the world for anyone to pay me."
He stood up and nodded to someone, and Jennifer turned. Two men in gray suits were approaching the table.
"Miss Jennifer Parker?"
"Yes."
There was no need for them to pull out their FBI credentials. She knew before they spoke. "FBI. We have extradition papers and a warrant for your arrest. We"re taking you back to New York on the midnight plane."
57.
When Michael Moretti left his father-in-law"s grave, he was already late for an appointment. He decided to call the office and reschedule it. He stopped at a telephone booth along the highway and dialed the number. The phone rang once and a voice answered, "Acme Builders."
Michael said, "This is Mike. Tell-"
"Mr. Moretti isn"t here. Call back later."
Michael felt his body tightening. All he said was "Tony"s Place."