Layers of Deception

by Leo James

  Mark frowned. 'Walk. It's very humid.'

  Adam smiled. 'Good for you to walk.'

  ######

  Even though it was dark outside, the heat and humidity made the air sticky. It had been raining, so it was even more humid than usual. They waited for the traffic lights to change to red before crossing the carriageway, weaving between the stationary cars, bikes, vans and taxis. Xin Kandar was a short walk beyond through the square, past the fountain and a small park. The restaurant was renowned for its Chinese Cantonese food. Its speciality was dim sum. One of the few restaurants in Kuala Lumpur which served authentic dim sum in pushcarts, reminiscent of old tea houses in Hong Kong and parts of China.

  A waiter greeted them in Cantonese before seating the group next to the window. A man dressed in a traditional costume played the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. He accompanied the chatter of customers enjoying the food.

  Glen smiled. 'It’s mad. I love the experience of the Orient. Many locals here tonight, so it must be a good restaurant. Shall we order drinks?'

  The waitress handed each of them a menu and took their drinks order.

  Mark turned to Adam and looked straight into his eyes. 'Can you recommend a good dish for me?'

  Glen butted in. 'Yes mate, and for me and Mai, as long as you include noodles.'

  'Sure.' Adam gazed back at Mark.

  Once the waitress returned with the drinks, Adam ordered Cantonese food choices accompanied by two noodle dishes, and congee, a Chinese broth.

  Glen raised his glass. 'Great stuff. Let me raise a toast to Kuala Lumpur and our success… Cheers.'

  Mark welled up, a sheen of water covered both eyes. 'And David, a great guy. Cheers.' He lifted his glass and looked towards the sky.

  Adam did the same. 'Sorakan.' The Malay word for cheers.

  Mai looked to the floor for a moment, raised her glass and said in Vietnamese, 'Chuc mung.'

  Glen pulled Mai towards his side. 'Chuc mung. Sorakan. Cushty'

  Adam chose several dim sum dishes from the ladies in the pushcarts. He had to speak in Cantonese as that was the only language the waitress understood. Adam spoke in Cantonese to ask Mai if she had any favourites. She fixed her gaze towards the ground and did not respond.

  Adam looked at Mai and talked to her again in Cantonese. ’I am your friend. You love Glen and I Mark.'

  Mai looked up, nodded and looked to the floor again.

  'Hey, you chatting up my girlfriend? Mate.' Glen smiled at Adam.

  Mai responded. 'He says nice things.'

  Glen pulled Mai even closer. 'Thought you batted for the other side?'

  'Hey.' Mark pointed a finger at Glen and tilted his head towards him.

  'Let's enjoy the night mate. Chill. We are on our way.' Glen waived his empty glass, summoning the nearest waiter to bring more drinks. 'Tuck in.' He piled several dim sum onto his plate.

  Mark looked at Mai. 'Are you enjoying the new apartment?'

  Mai smiled at Glen. 'Yes, I love it.'

  Glen beamed. 'You must come over. No brainer.'

  Mai nodded. 'Yes, I cook for you.'

  'Great. We'd love to.' Mark nodded towards Adam, who reciprocated.

  Glen put his thumb up to gesture his agreement. 'Hotel drives you crazy, glad I got out.'

  Mark nodded. 'Yes, hotel rooms! Tell me about it.'

  'You could move in with Adam. You could wear a dress mate?' Glen laughed, knocked back the rest of his drink, and summoned the waiter to get another round.

  More food arrived.

  Mark mimicked a canned laugh. 'Ha-ha, hilarious. You're a comedian.'

  Adam smiled at Mark. 'Yes, we can live together, but we should go to live in Singapore.'

  Glen looked at Mai. 'In Vietnam are they OK with gays? If you know what I mean.'

  'Yes, OK in Vietnam.'

  Glen looked puzzled. 'How come it's legal in Indonesia? The biggest Muslim population in the world. It’s mad.'

  'Except for Aceh province, which upholds sharia law, gay sex is not illegal in Indonesia,' Adam said.

  'We should go to Jakarta.' Mark smiled and winked at Adam.

  Glen shook his head. 'Eight times more Muslims in Indonesia than Malaysia. So why are they OK with you gays? Mad, eh?'

  Adam shook his head. 'It's not simple. Bali is gay-friendly but other areas are not safe. Just last week Indonesian police arrested a group of men for holding a gay party. They said some men were watching gay porn and performing deviant sexual acts.'

  Glen gulped back his drink. 'I thought you said it was legal?'

  'They use anti-pornography law to arrest them. Jail sentences as much as fifteen years,' Adam said.

  'It's OK in Kuala Lumpur as long as you don't flaunt it,' Mark said.

  Glen looked puzzled. 'Where can you go? You know. And be yourself.'

  'It's very handy to be with a local.' Mark smiled at Adam, then gestured exclamation marks with both hands. 'For people like us.'

  Glen flicked his fingers towards a waiter. 'A special knock on the unmarked door. If you know what I mean.'

  Mark said, 'No, not at all. At Frangipani restaurant, lots of people like us, go eat and then on to the Blue Boy Club.'

  'Is that the one in Bukit Bintang?' Glen said.

  Mark winked and gestured to Glen with a V sign. 'Yes, it's dark, smoky, seedy and kitsch all at the same time. Great atmosphere. I love it.'

  'It gives us freedom,' Adam said, 'Sharia law forbids us. So, our lifestyle is difficult, and almost illegal, for Malays like me. It is also difficult for transgender people because sharia law forbids cross-dressing.'

  Glen raised his empty glass. 'You mean ladyboys. Something wrong with them.'

  Mark took a deep breath. 'They're just human beings, Glen. Grow up.'

  Mai leaned on Glen's shoulder. 'I have friends who are ladyboys,’ Mai said, ‘Not happy people but kind. They send money to their family.'

  'Yes, I have made good friends at the Blue Boy Club,’ Adam said, ‘Every weekend they have the same acts. And the same people go there. They are like an extended family; meet at Frangipani's, eat and go to the Blue Boy.'

  ‘Acts, eh?' Glen said.

  'Yes, same performers for a long time. Drag shows. Ladyboy, gay and lesbian acts,' Adam said.

  'I love the ladyboys,’ Mark said.

  'Pervert,’ Glen said.

  'Fuck you,' Mark responded.

  'Aren't you a Malay Muslim mate?' Glen pointed at Adam.

  'I am a Buddhist.'

  'Ye protest-eth too much.' Mark frowned at Glen.

  Glen raised his empty glass. 'Chill. You're right. Look at David. We only live once, so let's enjoy it.'

  'To David.' Mark raised his glass.

  Mai and Adam followed.

  'Maybe Steve will give us more info when he arrives on Sunday,' Glen said.

  'To success, and friendship.' Mark lifted his glass again.

  They followed.

  Glen ordered more drinks.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Sunday 26th April

  STEVE SAT AT THE table. 'Why have you stopped me? I'm in Malaysia on business.'

  The uniformed officer checked each page of Steve's passport. 'Malaysian border control sir.'

  'I've just arrived on the London flight, knackered. What’s going on? Why are you keeping me waiting?'

  The officer did not look up from his task. He mouthed, 'Mobile phone?'

  Steve took his mobile out of his jacket inside pocket.

  The officer remained focused on the paperwork. 'Put it on the desk, sir.'

  Steve complied. The officer deposited the phone into a plastic bag, sealed it, and wrote on the label which adorned the bag.

  'The Royal Malaysian police have asked us to detain you. Wait here until an officer arrives.' He gathered the paperwork, the bag containing the mobile phone and Steve's passport. He left the room and locked the door behind him. They furnished the sparse room with a single table and four chairs. White walls
with spotlights placed across the centre of the matching white ceiling. Steve leaned forward in the chair and placed his head in his hands, elbows resting on the table. He did not wear a watch as he relied on his mobile phone to change to the local time zone; uneasy that he did not know the time as there was no clock on the wall.

  'Hello. Is anyone there?' He stood up and paced the parameter of the room. 'Hello. What's happening?'

  He wondered if this had any connection with David's findings at Q7, or even David's murder.

  A uniformed man entered the room. He sat at the table and pointed across to the other chair. 'Please take a seat, Mr Roussos.'

  Steve sat down. 'You can't keep me. I have rights.'

  'I am Sergeant TetLeong from the Royal Malaysian Police.'

  'When can I go?' Steve stood up.

  The sergeant gestured to him to sit down. 'We received a Red Notice International Wanted Person Alert from Interpol. So, we have detained you pending an investigation into international money laundering and illegal financing. I am from OCB – Organised Crime Bureau.'

  'Why me?'

  'You must understand, we work with the Criminal Intelligence, Narcotics, Customs and Excise Department, and Immigration Department. The battle is to find and limit leaders of gangs, terrorists and the criminal network. You are under investigation.'

  Steve protested. 'What's going on? I'm a UK citizen. Living in the UK. I was born in the UK. I'm not involved in money laundering or anything else. This must be a mistake. I need to get to my hotel to rest.'

  'No mistake Mr Roussos. We know you are receiving money from Malaysian companies.'

  'Yes, my company, Seguro, has a customer in Malaysia. We have been working with them for over three months. We won a contract to deliver a new secure online payment service for their customers. I've told the UK police. What's going on? I met with Superintendent Anwar Tempawan and told him our suspicions of a dark net. The company is Q7. Ask him.'

  'The Royal Malaysian police are investigating companies who are money laundering through Malaysia to finance illegal activities.'

  'OK. I understand, and I reported Q7 to you.'

  'The UK police provided information and we believe this involves you and members of Seguro. We have detained you for further questioning,' TetLeong said.

  'Oh my God. What? I've done nothing wrong. This is crazy. I'm innocent.'

  The officer left the room.

  Steve was dumbstruck and shocked.

  What will Beth think? What time is it?

  ######

  A short time later the officer returned to the room. ‘Mr Roussos, we believe the illegal laundering and financing taking place is to finance drug trafficking. Did you know, you can get the death penalty in Malaysia for drug trafficking? If convicted you could serve a long prison sentence in a Malay prison, which I do not recommend for my worst enemy.'

  'Can I call my wife? Where's my phone?'

  TetLeong ignored his request. 'There is one way, Mr Roussos. If you cooperate and work with the Malaysian police to break this illegal operation, we may reduce your sentence.'

  'Sentence? What sentence? What have I done? Nothing for God's sake!'

  'If you cooperate with us, we will protect you.'

  'Protect me. What do you mean?'

  'These are dangerous people.'

  'OK, I will help.' Steve held his hands out in front of him, conceding to his fate. 'What do I need to do? Can I go now?'

  'You can go for now, but you must assist us.'

  Steve looked to the floor.

  'Here is your phone. You can go. I will be in contact with you.'

  'OK, thank you, I will help you, but just want to clarify that I’ve done nothing wrong. And anyway, what about my passport?'

  ‘We must hold on to it for the time being.’

  Steve shook his head and breathed in deeply. ‘How can I check into the hotel? I need my passport.’

  ‘I will call the hotel. They will let you check-in. Tell no one we have spoken. If we suspect anything, we will bring you in.’

  'I'm innocent.'

  Fucking Bastards.

  'Remember, we will be watching you.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Monday 27th April

  AFTER A RESTLESS NIGHT, Steve arrived by taxi at the opulent clubhouse of The Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in Klang Valley, surrounded by manicured fairways and a scenic backdrop. He spotted Cliff Lin waiting at the entrance, chatting with the receptionist.

  'Cliff. You're looking well, I guess you're playing lots of golf?' They shook hands.

  'Welcome,' Cliff said. They strolled into the restaurant. 'Yes, I am well. Not much golf, but I am well.'

  'Traffic is crazy this morning. Grid-locked Kuala Lumpur,' Steve said.

  'It's a protest. Happens every year. Malaysian ethnic Indians claiming rights abuses which go back to colonial labour schemes. The British brought their ancestors to Malaysia as forced labour workers. They want Britain to pay damages of one million pounds to each of the two million Indians from Malaysia.'

  'Will they ever get it?'

  'No, they're claiming British officials didn't honour their responsibility to protect ethnic Indians when they granted independence to Malaysia in 1957.'

  They strolled along to the restaurant. The back wall supported a procession of framed photographs of club committee members through the years. Steve smiled to himself as the early pictures showed only white-skinned men, then it changed to only dark-skinned men. He figured it must have been the change in 1957. 'That would create two million millionaires. Wow.'

  Cliff smiled. 'They will protest for the next thousand years and the response will still be no. How are things at Q7?'

  'We installed and launched within five weeks. A minor miracle. And we're already receiving payments.'

  ‘Good. So, my investment is making good progress then. I am looking forward to dividends soon.' Cliff smiled.

  'Me too,’ Steve nodded.

  'Dear David,’ Cliff said, ‘Tragic news. It is a great loss.’

  'Yes, we'll all miss him, It's devastated his family.'

  'Please send my condolences to them.'

  'Thanks, Cliff… Have you met Prem Jothi?'

  'Jothi, yes I know him, but not very well. I saw him here a few times playing golf. He is an interesting man with a strong reputation. I believe he has dealings in many areas of business and government. Great for Seguro to associate ourselves with him and his companies.'

  'Ah, Prem Jothi is the reason I wanted to talk to you. As well as wanting to be in your excellent company of course! The head of Q7, Farid Razak introduced me to Prem Jothi. Farid Razak and Prem Jothi are close.'

  Should I tell him? About Q7?

  Might spook him. He's pumped money into Seguro.

  Not sure.

  'OK. Is Prem involved with Q7?'

  'No. Although he has attended some meetings we have had with Farid. Prem offered his help and introductions to companies and government agencies in Malaysia.'

  No, I won't tell him yet. I will prove they murdered David. I need to think.

  'OK, great. Good to get his help. That is my advice.'

  'Thanks, Cliff.'

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Tuesday 28th April

  STEVE ARRIVED AT GLEN'S new Somerset Wisma apartment, on the upmarket Jalan Ampang Road. He took the elevator to the twenty-sixth floor and rang the doorbell. Glen greeted him, and they exchanged pleasantries. The large living room impressed Steve, comfortably equipped with a dining table, chairs and leather suite. A large TV covered a significant part of one wall. He smirked when he spotted the fridge poised by the side of Glen's easy chair, brazenly displaying the sign “Man Cave”. Typical Glen. Idiot.

  Mai came out of the kitchen and bowed.

  Steve kissed her on both cheeks. 'Hi, how are you? It's nice of you to invite me to dinner.’

  Mai bowed. 'I enjoy it. I love to cook.’

  'Beer, mate?' Glen mimicked drinking
out of a glass.

  'Yes. Thanks.'

  'Take a seat. Mai will bring the food. I'm starving mate.' Glen rubbed his tummy. They sat down on the settee to watch the soccer game on TV.

  'How are you doing? Nice apartment.’ Steve said.

  Mai is really nice. Glen is a lazy idiot! What on earth is she doing with him!

  'We love it. I've been swimming every morning in the rooftop pool. It's brilliant. I can walk to the office. I love it. Cushty'

  ‘How’s Jack and Lauren?’ Steve asked

  Glen smiled. ’I Skype them every morning before they go to school. But I do miss them. I’m planning on going back for a couple of weeks.’

  ‘Yes you should go back soon…How's Mai?' Steve said.

  'She is great. Just lovely, and a superb cook. Mai is smart you know. She trained to be a nurse in Vietnam.’ Glen beamed.

  'Wow, can she get a job as a nurse in Malaysia?'

  'No, she doesn't have a work permit. I'm gonna help her get one. No brainer….and I’m teaching her to use the PC and apps. She is excellent.’ Glen said.

  'Great. Are you managing OK with money for the kids and expenses over here?'

  Glen hung his head. 'Nah not really. I'm behind on my expenses from Roger. Still waiting. It's been over six weeks since I sent him an expense claim, and I still haven't received payment. Without the prepaid card Farid gave me, what would I do?'

  'I'm worried you're taking money from Farid. Could be dodgy,' Steve said.

  'Dodgy. How can it be? Just don't tell Roger. I need my expenses paid.'

  'I can't talk about it now. There's something going on in Q7.' Steve's forehead creased with worry.

  Glen leaned closer to Steve. 'What things? It's going well. The Seguro system is up and running. Oh, and Prem Jothi, you talked about him last time. He'll introduce me to sales opportunities in Malaysia and Singapore.'

  'Be careful. I don't trust him. Although Cliff Lin said we could get good opportunities from Prem through his contacts.'

  'Cliff is right. Prem is going places and can help us bring in more sales to Seguro. No brainer.' Glen gave a half shrug.

  'I don't like it. What if Farid and Prem deal in illegal stuff?’