Inspector Zhang and the Disappearing Drugs Read Online Free Page A

ourselves," said Inspector Zhang.
    They left the apartment and Inspector Kwok locked the door and pocketed the key. They rode down in the lift together and walked through reception. "Before we go to New Phoenix Park, I'd like to see where your surveillance teams were," said Inspector Zhang.
    Inspector Kwok took them around to the back of the apartment block to the car park and showed them where the surveillance team had been parked. Inspector Zhang looked up at the building. They had a clear view of the bedroom windows. There was no way that the drugs could have been moved through the windows without being seen from the car.
    They then walked to the front of the building.   Inspector Kwok pointed at the apartment block across the road. "We were able to use an apartment over there," she said. "I had two men in a bedroom on the fourth floor with a clear view of the balcony."
    "Can we go inside?" asked Inspector Zhang.
    "It is just an apartment," said Inspector Kwok.   "It is owned by a prison officer who was happy to assist the police."
    "I would just like to see what the view is like. If it's no trouble."
    Inspector Kwok nodded and took them across the road.   There was an intercom by the entrance and she pressed the button for the apartment on the fourth floor and after a couple of minutes she went back to Inspector Kwok and Sergeant Lee.   "The husband is at work but his wife is home and she's happy for us to go up," she said.
    "Excellent," said Inspector Zhang.
    They went up to the fourth floor and the prison officer's wife already had the door open for them. She was Indian in a bright blue sari and she offered them tea which Inspector Zhang politely declined.   "We only want a quick look through your window, madam, then we shall be on our way," he said.
    Inspector Kwok pointed at a door. "We used that bedroom," she said. "We had two men in there at all times, working in eight-hour shifts," she said. The prison officer's wife opened the door and smiled for them to go through. It was a small room with a single bed and a small built-in wardrobe and dressing table. There were no personal effects so Inspector Zhang assumed it was a spare bedroom.
    There was a single window overlooking the apartment block opposite. Because the apartment they were in was on the fourth floor and the apartment where the drugs had been kept was on the sixth floor, it was impossible to see inside. In fact all that could be seen was the balcony. "One cannot see inside the apartment from here," said Inspector Zhang.
    "No, but they had a clear view of the balcony. And no one went onto the balcony throughout the surveillance."
    Inspector Zhang went up to the window and stood so close to it that his breath fogged on the glass.
    "I do not wish to cast aspersions on your team, but you are sure that they were never away from their post?"
    "They are professionals, Inspector Zhang. And they kept logs every fifteen minutes."
    Inspector Zhang nodded thoughtfully. "Very well," he said. He turned around to face her. "Now it is time for me to look at the surveillance footage," he said.
    Inspector Kwok drove her Lexus to the New Phoenix Park headquarters.   Inspector Zhang and Sergeant Lee followed her. "That is a very nice car," said Inspector Zhang.
    "Very expensive," said Sergeant Lee.
    "I did not see a wedding ring on her finger."
    "No, she isn't married," said Sergeant Lee. "Are you wondering how an inspector can afford a Lexus?"
    "Like you said, it is an expensive car," said Inspector Zhang. "Is she from a wealthy family?"
    "No, her father is a waiter, I think. And her mother works in a department store."
    Inspector Zhang folded his arms. "And is there gossip, Sergeant Lee?"
    "There is always gossip," said the sergeant. "This is Singapore. Shopping and gossiping are our main occupations."
    "And what is the gossip concerning Inspector Kwok?"
    "I really couldn't say, Inspector," she said.   "She is a colleague and I am pleased for her."
    "Pleased for