Point of Contact

“I haven’t run it yet. It would take several weeks to do a decent audit of Dalfan’s books, so all I’ll be able to do is a few random spot checks.”

“I still think we need to keep at it.”

“I get paid either way.” Paul swallowed his disappointment as he drained his glass. He fought back a monstrous yawn. “Mind if we grab a cup of coffee before we head back? I’m beat.”

“Sure.” Jack waved at the pretty server. She smiled and came over.

“A coffee for my friend here.”

“Of course. Cream and sugar, sir?”

Paul nodded. “Please.”

Jack nodded over at Park again. “And be sure to give me his check. I think the two of us got off on the wrong foot.”

* * *

After lunch, everyone got back to work, including Jack and Feng. Feng pulled information about the two small manufacturing plants they operated in the city not far from where Jack was sitting, the only other buildings that Dalfan owned on the island. Jack quizzed him about working conditions in those places, security protocols, and production schedules. Anything Feng couldn’t answer he made notes about and promised to get back to Jack with the answers as soon as possible.

Jack’s analytical brain absorbed all of the information, but he also took copious notes on his laptop. He enjoyed this kind of work, pulling all of the puzzle pieces out of the box and trying to fit them back together. But he still hated being here. Less than two weeks ago he was fighting for his life on an oil rig in the North Sea in the middle of a blizzard.

His biggest risk right now was a paper cut.

While the rest of The Campus was on a training mission in the Colorado Rockies, he was sitting at a desk, sifting through leasing contracts, employee benefits plans, and production reports.

“I need to stretch my legs, Feng. How about you show me the outside of this place?” Jack figured the old smoker was craving a cigarette pretty badly by now. Feng brightened at the prospect. “Glad to.”

Feng’s first chance to light up was on the roof, where Jack checked out the palm trees and sun deck and spectacular views of the city. A half-dozen butts later, Jack had seen everything else the Dalfan building had to offer, all the way down to the loading dock and parking lot, with a quick run through the garage where the company vehicles were parked and even the boiler room for good measure. Jack had a good eye for architectural details — especially the kind that came in handy during an emergency.

By the time they were done and back at his office, it was quitting time. Jack shook Feng’s hand again and thanked him for the tour, then tapped on Paul’s door.

“You ready to roll?”

Paul turned around in his swivel chair, yawning. Bai looked pretty frazzled, too.

“Is it already that time?”

“Yeah. Let’s get out of here.”

Lian knocked on the door frame. “Gentlemen, how was your first day?”

“Productive,” Paul said.

Lian glanced at Bai. The young accountant nodded. “Very.”

“You can go home now,” she said to Bai.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Bai stood and grabbed his jacket. “See you tomorrow, Mr. Brown.” He nodded toward Jack and said, “Mr. Ryan,” as he stepped past him and out of the door.

Lian watched him leave. When Bai was out of earshot, she asked, “I’d like to take the two of you out for dinner and drinks. Show you some of the city.”

“What’s the occasion?” Jack asked. He was hoping she was actually becoming human.

“It’s my responsibility to show you my city as well as my company.”

Paul fought another monstrous yawn. “I’m sorry, I need to take a rain check.”

“I understand,” Lian said. She looked at Jack. “You’re probably exhausted as well. Perhaps another time.”

Jack shook his head. “No, I’m good. Let’s go.”

Paul yawned again as he stood.

Jack jerked a thumb at him. “After we drop him off.”

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.