by Peter Ralph
“Please, spare me your false sympathy. We both know why you are offering to help. If I begged you for the money but said I would not help you escape, would you still let me have it?”
“Everything has a price, Mr Lee, but you’re wrong, I do feel for you and your son.” Aspine lied. There was no point rubbing Lee’s nose in it and it may well tip him into making the wrong decision. “Let me tell you my plan.”
Surprisingly Lee had no objection to Chin. Perhaps because he still hadn’t made his mind up and Aspine could see him wavering. “How do my family and I get out? We’ll be crucified if we stay in Singapore.”
The tension in the little cell was overpowering and Aspine sensed the answer to Lee’s question would determine his fate. “I will pay one million dollars into your bank account as soon as I have your word that you will help. Your wife and children should fly to the US post-haste where Adrian’s treatment can commence immediately. I’ll pay the other million just as soon as I’m in Thailand. How does that sound?”
“Yes, yes, I can live with that and going to jail to save Adrian is not a burden,” Lee said.
Lee already knows too much about what I’m going to do in Thailand. What if he sings? He can’t be left behind. “You’re not going to jail, you’re coming with us. When we get to Thailand you can book a flight to Brazil, and your family can join you once Adrian is cured.”
Lee looked relieved, almost pleased. “Why Brazil?”
“It’s one of the few countries that’s reluctant to extradite and refuses point blank to extradite its own citizens. That’s why Ronnie Biggs fled there. It only takes a year to become a Brazilian citizen and Singapore’s authorities will still be preparing the extradition documentation while you’re swearing the oath.” Aspine laughed. “And with more than a million dollars, you’ll live like a king.”
“I don’t have any choice, do I? I’ll do it, Mr Douglas. I’m in.”
I’m Mr Douglas again. Phew that was close. I hope this is not a doublecross where he blows me off for a million. If it is I’ll make damn sure the authorities are tipped off to look at his bank account. “Bring the laptop and dongle in tomorrow.”
“I have them with me. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
Chapter 3
THE FOLLOWING MORNING SHORTLY after Aspine and Chin had finished breakfast, Lee appeared. “I wanted to see you both. We must firm up our plans starting with a date and time. Chin, Mr Douglas informs me that you are organising motor vehicles, and a cabin cruiser to take us to Thailand. How long will it take?”
“I had a visitor yesterday. It’s already in play. There’s no moon on Wednesday night in ten days’ time. We will move fifteen minutes before lights out and, all going well, we’ll be being rushed to Changi General by 9 P.M.”
“Good. My family flies out to the US tomorrow. There are those who might be suspicious about why my wife resigned her job so suddenly, and how she came to have the money to travel overseas. I have talked to some of my friends about the cost of Adrian’s treatment and they know I cannot afford it. The quicker we move the better.”
“Yes, yes. Raffles Marina is only nine kilometres from the hospital. The fastest speedboat in Asia will be waiting to take us to a cabin cruiser moored twenty kilometres out to sea. Once we are on it, we are free. Tell me about the security on the way to the hospital.”
“You will be in the prison ambulance and there will be two guards in the back with you. I’ll be one of them. It is standard procedure to manacle and handcuff prisoners, but you will feign unconsciousness, and I will ensure that you are not restrained. There will be police cars at the front and rear of the ambulance, and there will be guards positioned outside the emergency department and the operating theatres.”
“Is there anything else I need to know about hospital security?”
“The prison ward is on the fourth floor and prisoners are manacled to their beds. Security is tight and if you are taken there it will be impossible to escape. The police will want you admitted to this ward as soon as you get to hospital, but I will insist that you need treatment in the emergency department. It’s not going to be easy to get away.”
“Let me worry about that.” Chin grinned. “It will be far easier than you think.”
A curtain of doubt came down over Lee’s face. “I do not want anyone killed. I will pull out now if your plan is to kill police officers and guards.”
“I told you not to worry; no one will be killed. It would be far too noisy. There is one very important thing that you must remember to do – get rid of your mobile phone at the hospital or they will use it to track us.”
“I’ll need to talk to my wife in the US. How will I know how my son is? Can I buy a prepaid?”
“I don’t trust the Americans.” Chin growled. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they tap her phone. You must not make contact with her until you are out of Thailand, and Skype would be a safer means of contact.”
“How are we going to fake serious injuries? We haven’t worked that out yet.” Aspine asked.
“It’s under control,” Chin replied. “I will let you know in good time. However, the plan cannot go ahead without money. My colleagues need the million, and they need it now.”
So Chin is now our leader. Does he really know about Skype or is he just big-noting? A week ago he wasn’t even involved and now he’s calling the shots. How does that work? “I’ll transfer five hundred thousand today and the balance when I set foot on dry land in Thailand. That’ll give your friends an incentive to make sure I make it, and I won’t have to worry about being scammed and left high and dry in Singapore.”
“That was not our deal,” Chin said, his upper lip turned up in an ugly sneer. “My people won’t like it.”
“Tough titties. They’re getting a million bucks for a four day cruise. If they don’t like my payment terms they can forget the deal.” As if I give a flying fuck what they like or don’t like. They’re not gonna walk away from an easy mil. No way. Who does this little fucker think he’s talking to?
Chin looked at Lee and spoke to him rapidly in Mandarin. Lee nodded before responding and they both eyed Aspine off.
“Look, I don’t know what the fuck you two are talking about but the next time you talk that shit in front of me, the whole thing is off.” You fuckers. What I’m paying you upfront is more than enough. Make the most of it ‘cause neither of you is going to be getting one cent more.
Chin’s face registered nothing, but his eyes were cruel and cold. Aspine could not hold his gaze. As he looked away a shiver ran down his spine when he thought about the many murders Chin was reputed to have committed.
Chapter 4
WEDNESDAY CAME AROUND SURPRISINGLY quickly. The atmosphere in the cell had been tense and Aspine regretted the way he had spoken to Chin. He had even offered up a half-apology that Chin had greeted with a thin smile but his eyes had remained cold. Aspine had pumped him day after day about how they were going to fake their injuries, and now, with less than two hours to go, was stressed to breaking point. “It is nearly time, and you still haven’t told me.”
“Don’t worry,” Chin responded. “It’s all under control, old man. Why don’t you try and get some sleep, you’re going to need all of your strength.”
“Sleep? Are you mad? How can I sleep? Please, I’m begging you, tell me how we’re going to fake our injuries?”
Chin put his hands behind his head and stretched out on his mat. “I’m going to grab a quick nap. Don’t worry. Buddha has preordained our destinies and we are in his hands.”
Fuck, how can he sleep at a time like this? Aspine paced the small cell relentlessly, hoping that Chin would wake up and reveal some cunning plan. His face was relaxed, content, and the viciousness that it portrayed when he was awake had vanished. Aspine cursed, it was clear to him now. The two oriental fuckers had played him for a sucker and taken him for one and a half mil. He noisily washed his face but Chin’s eyes remained closed.
At 8.40 Chi
n woke up and looked around the cell. “It’s time.” He smiled, getting to his feet.
Aspine was beside himself with worry. “Please. How are w…”
Chin’s fists struck repeatedly with blinding speed and brutal force. Aspine felt dreadful pain as his nose and cheekbones broke and his eyebrows split. As he went down in a mess of blood, he could feel teeth rattling around in his mouth. Out of a bloody daze, he looked up, unable to move. Chin was screaming and smashing his own face into the cell wall before he slumped to the floor next to the semiconscious Aspine. “I told you not to worry,” he gasped, out of a blood soaked mouth.
Lee was first into the cell followed by two guards and a prisoner doctor. “They must have fought and knocked each other out. They look terrible,” Lee said, squatting down and taking Aspine’s pulse. “He’s in a bad way, and the other one doesn’t look much better. We have to get them to hospital.”
“There’s a lot of blood, but I’m not sure they need to be hospitalised,” the doctor said. “I think we can treat them here.”
“And if one of them dies and you have to face an inquiry, are you prepared to accept responsibility?”
The doctor paused and looked at them. “It’s not my call, but I’m advising you that we can treat them here.”
“So you want me to accept responsibility for your decision,” Lee snapped. “Well, I’m not prepared to do that. Guard, bring gurneys, notify the ambulance and advise the police. We’re taking them to Changi General.”
Chin and Aspine were placed in the back of the ambulance, and Lee, the prison doctor and an armed policeman got in after them. “Make sure they’re manacled and handcuffed,” the doctor said, addressing the policeman.
“No need, the hospital is only four minutes away and they are both unconscious,” Lee said, banging on the front panel and shouting at the driver to move.
“It’s standard procedure and must be complied with,” the doctor persisted.
“How dare you challenge my authority? My decision is made, and unlike you, I am prepared to accept responsibility for the decisions I make.”
“I…I’m sorry,” the doctor responded, “I’ve seen prisoners transported to the hospital many times before, but never without being secured.”
“They’re unconscious,” Lee snapped, in frustration. “I’m sure this officer is not concerned.”
“Not in the slightest,” the policeman responded, resting his hand on the large gun sitting on his hip.
With sirens blaring the convoy pulled into the hospital’s emergency department, where nurses were waiting with gurneys. Two minutes later, Chin and Aspine were wheeled into the hospital where they were surrounded by doctors. Four Buddhist monks dressed in long flowing red robes were hovering over another patient.
Chapter 5
THE DOCTORS MADE THE decision to operate and repair the men’s facial bone damage, and Lee followed the nurses wheeling Aspine into an operating theatre, while Chin was taken to the adjoining theatre. Three policemen took up their positions giving them unimpeded vision of the double doors to each theatre. A few minutes later the Buddhist monks shuffled into the operating theatres without challenge from the policemen. Lee came out of the first operating theatre where two monks had taken control and went into the theatre that Chin was in. Chin and one of the monks were tying up the doctors and nurses while the other monk was covering them with a pistol. Lee left the theatre and ambled over to the three policeman. “They’ve just started operating. They’re under heavy anaesthetic and will be out for at least two hours. Why don’t you go and grab a coffee while you can?”
“You know we can’t leave. Procedure states that prisoners are not to be left unattended under any circumstances.”
“They’re out like a light, and they won’t be unattended. I’ll be here and I won’t move until you return. Grab something to eat and get a coffee while you can. I’ll cover for you for the next hour, but if you’re running a few minutes late, don’t worry. I won’t move until you’re back.”
“We shouldn’t, but I suppose if they’re heavily anaesthetised they’re not going anywhere. Come on boys, the food in the hospital canteen is not all that bad. Thanks, Superintendent, if I can ever do the same for you I will.”
As soon as the police had gone, half a dozen male orderlies appeared wearing hospital attire. Lee entered the theatre where Chin was and less than a minute later the orderlies wheeled a gurney out with a sheet drawn up over the face and body of an apparently deceased patient. A monk walked on either side looking sad and praying. The same process was being repeated in the adjoining theatre and a black hearse was waiting at the entrance to the hospital and the bodies were quickly dispatched. The driver travelled only three kilometres to a darkened side street where he drove up a ramp and into the rear of a furniture trailer. “I felt you move,” Chin said accusingly, “I thought you were going to give us away.”
“I didn’t,” Lee responded defensively. “Those trolleys are designed for one person, not two.”
“So you’d rather I left you there.”
“Knock it off you two,” Aspine growled. “Where are we?”
“In the back of a furniture van, just in case our escape is detected early. The police will be looking for a black hearse and it’s hardly likely they’ll look in here.”
“How long until we get to the Marina?” Aspine asked. The plan was perfect and there were far more members of the gang involved than I anticipated. Chin is a lot smarter than I gave him credit for. The five hundred thousand was money well spent.
“Not long, we’re almost there. Another hour and we’ll be on the cabin cruiser and in the clear.”
Ten minutes later the speedboat was powering through the pitch black of night and Aspine savoured the salt water spray drenching his face. He put his hand up to wipe it away and felt the pain of the swelling and cuts. “Why didn’t you tell me what you were going to do, Chin?” Aspine shouted, over the roar of the twin Mercury engines.
Chin laughed. “If I had told you, you would have fretted. The fear would’ve been too much for you. You may have even called the escape off. I couldn’t run the risk, old man. Look at my face, I am in far worse shape than you, but I feel no pain, only the joy of being free. You would’ve never got out without me.”
“Nor you, without me. You could’ve told me. I wouldn’t have been scared.” Aspine lied.
“Neither of you would’ve have escaped without me,” Lee chimed in, looking miserable. “What have I done?”
“It’s too late to worry about that.” Chin laughed. “We’re a team and if any one of us had not been involved then none of us would be here. Yes, a team. That is what we are.”
Yeah, but I provided the money you little weasel. I was the key.
Thirty-five minutes had elapsed since their escape when they boarded the Oriental Princess, a souped up thirty-metre Hatteras. There was no moon, and the only sound was the cruiser’s throbbing engines as it powered through a calm sea. The two escapees and the prison officer stood on the deck looking back at Singapore, each with their own thoughts.
“We did it,” Chin yelled. “We did it.”
Aspine tried to smile but the pain was too much. “I’ll never set foot in Changi again. What a relief to be out of that tiny cell. Eight years! Eight years of my life in hell because I was framed.”
They were joined by an elderly Chinese man wearing seafaring attire. “Captain Goh, it is good to see you again,” Chin said, ignoring the opportunity to introduce Aspine and Lee.
“The feeling is mutual, Mr Chin,” Captain Goh said, touching his forehead in deference to the gangster. “There is a stateroom for each of you fully equipped with toiletries and fresh clothes. We’re doing thirty knots but we’ll drop back to cruising speed once we are well into the South China Sea.”
“No,” Aspine said. “Maintain maximum speed.”
“Mr Chin, we will not make Thailand at this speed without having to refuel. My instructions from your colleagues
were that I was not to make any refuelling stops.”
“Don’t listen to him, Captain,” Chin said, looking at Aspine. “Travelling at high speed during the day will also draw attention to us. Continue as planned.”
“I’m going to clean up and grab some sleep,” Aspine said. Fuck you, Chin. I’m going to enjoy stiffing you for five hundred thousand.
“Me, too,” Lee said, still looking morose.
Chapter 6
PANDENOMIUM HAD BROKEN OUT in Singapore when the three policemen had returned to the operating theatres after sixty-five minutes only to find that Lee had disappeared. Worse, they could hear muffled sounds and when they entered the operating theatres they found the doctors and nurses bound and gagged. Little did they realize that the escapees were more than sixty kilometres away en route to the Gulf of Thailand and Pattaya.
The policemen were immediately suspected and taken to Changi Police Station where they were subjected to fierce interrogation before being released and suspended from duty. It was only the evidence of the prison doctor that cleared the policemen and laid the blame firmly at the feet of rogue official, Lee Kim Wee. The Commissioner of Police hauled the Director of Prisons into his office and read him the riot act. This was more than an escape, it was a national embarrassment. All police leave was suspended and the force was put on full alert embarking on a huge search to find the escapees. The black hearse could not be located, none of the Buddhist churches had any knowledge of four monks attending Changi General, and the orderlies had disappeared without trace.
Raj George, billionaire Singapore businessman was shocked. No one escaped from Singapore’s prison system. He immediately phoned his sister, Jasmine, in Melbourne. She had mourned her deceased husband, Kerry, for what seemed an eternity after his suicide. She was stunningly beautiful and men fell over themselves to ask her out but she showed no interest, instead devoting her life to raising her two boys, Jack and Sam. Raj did not tell her that he had already organized for a highly respected Melbourne security company to watch over her. He knew what Aspine was capable of and that he would seek revenge on those who had framed him.