Singapore Under Attack (International Espionage Book 1)

by Uzi Eilam

  “I’ll talk to the old man,” he promised, “and you can be certain he’ll agree to meet you. After that, it’s all up to you.”

  ***

  Driving from her home to the Shangri La Hotel at this early hour took only twenty minutes. Her new role dictated her schedule. She also attributed importance to her relationship with Gideon, who intrigued and attracted her. He definitely deserved attention and gratitude for facilitating her connection with Fang Quan Lin. She remembered the threat of a cyber attack that the bank was facing and regretted that she hadn’t taken the time to learn about the bank’s current defenses.

  “Good morning. It’s a pleasure to see you looking so vibrant,” Gideon said as he entered the car.

  “What are you carrying in that big plastic bag? We’re not going to have a picnic in the park.”

  “Be patient. I promise you’ll see what’s inside once we’re at the park.”

  Ronit parked the car in Bedok’s parking lot and got out to stretch her legs. She slanted a look at Gideon, who was exiting the car slowly, holding the bag. It contained two cardboard boxes with the Adidas logo, and Gideon opened both lids.

  “Adidas smart shoes?”

  “We were talking about them, weren’t we?”

  “We were, but I thought we were just talking. How did you do that so quickly? And how did you know my shoe size? You’re something else!”

  Gideon tried to curb her enthusiasm. “Let’s see just how smart these Adidas shoes are. We’re conducting an experiment, right?”

  “All the same, Gideon, tell me how they showed up here so quickly.”

  “Dan Avni came back from California and brought shoes for both of us. It’s all thanks to the special relationship between New Horizon and Adidas. The two companies collaborated on the smart software for the running shoes. This was an important incentive for Dan’s entry into the world of IOT. And as for the shoe size, Ronit, I checked it out during our drive back to the hotel after our previous run. Now, let’s get going.”

  Sweaty and breathing heavily, they ended their run after circling the lake in the park twice. Two large glasses of lemonade were exactly what they needed.

  “How did you feel in those shoes, Ronit?”

  “Wonderful! It’s unbelievable how comfortable and pleasant they are. How much do I owe you?”

  “No, it’s a gift from the company, and the only thing I’d recommend is writing them a letter of appreciation and thanks. It’ll please them very much. But first of all, you can thank Dan, who went to the trouble of carrying the package from California to Singapore.”

  “No problem, Gideon. I’ll be happy to meet Dan after I do a bit of homework on the bank’s preparations against cyber attacks.”

  “Dan will call the moment you say you’re ready,” Gideon promised. “Now, tell me something else: how did your meeting with Quan Lin go? What was your impression of him? Did he commit to helping you?”

  “Yes, he sounded intelligent and experienced and was a pleasant conversationalist. He promised to talk to his father in Hong Kong and, after I get back from Israel, I hope I can fly to meet Old Fang.”

  “That’s wonderful, Ronit. I knew it would work out.”

  Chapter 16

  “Any news on the task force’s activity? Damia, is there anything new on the investigation of the three Malaysian students who were arrested at the Johor Causeway?” General Tan asked.

  “The head of the Counter Intelligence Division updated me. The commander of the Counterterrorism Unit is on his way to a residence, based on information uncovered in the investigation.”

  “Connect me to the head of the Counter Intelligence Division immediately,” Tan instructed his office manager, “and locate Dr. Ben Ari. Ask him to get here as soon as he can.”

  The office manager reminded him that Gideon Ben Ari had returned from Taiwan and was waiting for their meeting. In the meantime, Tan browsed the folder with the red cover that had been placed on his desk. He scanned the most recent report regarding the investigation into the three students arrested while crossing the Johor Causeway. Tan noted with satisfaction that they had been promptly released and had received an apology for the mistake made by the causeway’s security personnel, per Gideon’s recommendation. Now they could only hope that the students would, indeed, perceive the arrest as a mistake and continue their activity without suspecting they had been detected.

  “What do we know about the apartment building the Counter Terrorism Unit is currently approaching?” Tan asked the head of the Counter Intelligence Division, who was on the line with him.

  “Immediately after the students were released and returned to their studies, they naturally refrained from returning to the apartment. While they were under arrest, the unit’s people entered the apartment and copied whatever was found on the computer there. We’re going over the material, seeking encrypted information. Questioning the other residents revealed that someone had started using the building’s basement. The lock on the basement door had apparently been replaced, and none of the residents knew why or who had done it. We found an unbelievable trove of explosives, sophisticated electronic equipment, computers, and surveillance equipment there. We’ve kept the residents at bay, and we’re installing a smart lock so that no one can get into the basement.”

  “Prepare a preliminary report as well as your assessment regarding our next moves.”

  “I’m on it, sir.”

  “I want to convene the entire task force for an urgent meeting in an hour,” Tan instructed his administrative assistant. “And send Gideon Ben Ari in.”

  Once Gideon came in, Tan updated him on the latest details. Gideon debated briefly.

  “That equipment in the basement changes things. I don’t think we can allow them to move around freely. It’s hard to believe they won’t be suspicious and will continue to behave as if nothing happened. They should be arrested, so the investigation can go deeper. We should find out exactly who is deploying them and how they managed to smuggle in such quantities of equipment.”

  ***

  Dan was curious when Gideon told him about Ronit, the Israeli who was working in a senior role at Singapore’s main bank. He remembered seeing a pretty young woman sitting at Gideon’s table. Gideon had told him about Ronit’s involvement in defending the bank against cyber attacks and of the importance of having “one of ours” take part in Tan’s task force defending Singapore. Gideon had mentioned that Ronit Hart needed some basic guidance in the cyber field, and Dan’s part in the training would fit in with the efforts of Tan’s team. Gideon had expressed his appreciation of Ronit’s qualifications and his faith that her background as a graduate of the French INSEAD Institute would allow her to pick up the required information quickly.

  “Hi, Dan, it’s good to meet you,” Ronit told Dan, who was waiting for her in the lobby of the Shangri La Hotel. “And thanks for taking the time to see me.”

  Dan shook Ronit’s hand. Gideon had told him about her dedication to long-distance running, and he wondered if her firm handshake indicated she also played tennis or took part in some other intensive activity at the gym.

  “The topic Gideon asked me to talk about is a central, important one. But in any case, I’m committed to doing whatever Gideon asks of me. Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get here? Where did you serve in IDF4?” Dan asked as he led her to a distant table looking out on the hotel’s well-tended garden.

  “Ahhh…my story’s not that interesting,” Ronit replied, sipping her coffee. “Definitely not as interesting as your background.”

  “Still, though,” Dan encouraged her. “It would help me keep the training more focused.”

  “I studied economics as part of the Israeli Army’s academic deferment program and was then appointed as an officer in the army’s and Ministry of Defense’s budget division. I’ve loved math ever since I was a high s
chool student, and I earned my bachelor’s degree with a final research thesis focusing on models of economic prediction.”

  “And what happened in the budget division?”

  “I was assigned to the division’s intelligence budget department and, quite quickly, I was promoted to head of the department. I was exposed to your secrets and learned about surveillance and decrypting.”

  “That seems to me like a great starting point for entering the field. Let’s take a look at what we currently know about the risks of cyber attacks, with a special emphasis on bank-related threats. I’ll email you some links to important articles and studies you should browse.”

  “Thank you. I’m ready to listen. But before all that, maybe you could explain the connection between IOT, which we’ve been hearing more and more about, and the array of cyber-related issues as a whole. Gideon told me you were involved in developing the Adidas smart shoe. But you’ve also been collaborating on this topic with our industries, right?”

  “I’ll soon clarify what the true threat of cyber attacks is. As far as the Internet of Things—or IOT, a field that’s just coming into its own—it could be defined as communication between different sensors, which makes use of algorithms and broadband channels. Those who deal with IOT are fearful of cyber attacks on this new field as a whole. Generally speaking, we can actually define the connection between IOT and cyber issues, particularly through the need to protect the field against cyber attacks.”

  An entire hour went by, and the two young people weren’t aware of time passing. Dan didn’t hide how impressed he was with Ronit’s swift comprehension as she took in the variety of technical information he threw at her. Her questions were intelligent and precise. She, in turn, was impressed by the breadth of the information Dan presented to her and by his clear, accurate explanations. They parted with a promise to meet again, after Ronit did her “homework” by studying the background material Dan would send her and nailing down the details of the bank’s preparations to date.

  * * *

  4Service in Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israeli army, is mandatory for most Israelis.

  Chapter 17

  The elegant lounge serving Singapore Airlines’ business-class passengers was one more characteristic of Ronit’s new status at the bank. The exemplary cleanliness, the dizzying array of food arranged on the serving tables, and the quiet atmosphere were exactly what she needed. She was grateful for the meetings with Osman, who had volunteered to share his experience with her, and with the bank manager, who had taken the time to remind her she would be meeting Chinese people, whose culture was different than the Singaporean one. She turned on her laptop and immediately connected to the business lounge’s Wi-Fi. She accessed the website for the Hong Kong branch of the People’s Bank of China, delving into private banking activity at the branch. In a small notepad she kept in her wallet, she jotted down several points for her conversation with Mr. Fang, the bank manager.

  Ronit moved on to the “reminders” file on her computer and found her notes from the meeting with Dan Avni. She hadn’t allowed herself to take explicit note of Dan’s recommendations, but had compiled, instead, a list of hints and main points. Gideon had taught her the importance of uncovering the routes through which Iran and the terrorist organizations channeled the funds for their activity. He had also emphasized that, in the course of her meetings in Hong Kong, she should not expose the true focus of her interest. She understood it would be better to ask questions that would seem innocuous and reasonable. The international laws prohibiting money laundering by the crime syndicates, Gideon had said, might be a good opening point for questions, as this was a legitimate concern in Greater China, as it was in every Western country.

  The seats in the plane’s business class were comfortable and indulgent. Ronit ordered a gin and tonic and asked the flight attendant to go light on the gin and heavy on the tonic so she could stay awake. She meant to lean back and relax during the flight to Hong Kong as the days preceding the flight had been hectic, leaving her no room to breathe. She wanted to gear up for the meetings in Hong Kong, but the conversation with Dan stayed on her mind. The entire topic of defending against cyber attacks still seemed mysterious and intimidating to her. Ronit didn’t feel as if she were ready to ask innocuous questions and use them to produce essential information. She had no choice, she spurred herself on, but to get going with the knowledge currently at her disposal and the information she had learned from Dan and from reading the articles he had recommended to her.

  A young Chinese man standing in the arrivals hall was holding up a sign with her name on it. He was wearing a dark business suit, a white button-down shirt, and a dark blue tie. Taking her small suitcase, he led her to a chauffeured black Mercedes with its engine already running.

  “Mr. Fang asked me to welcome you and to tell you he will be waiting for you tomorrow at nine a.m.,” the young man said. “My name is Ming Hua, and I’ll be escorting you to the Inter-Continental Hotel in Guilin.”

  The highway from the airport to Guilin passed through several modern bridges, with plenty of Hong Kong’s high-rises visible on the way. Arriving from Singapore, Ronit was not surprised by the impressive architectural display of skyscrapers, each of which was designed and constructed in a different style. Her young escort pointed out the bank’s tower, soaring seventy stories into the sky, from afar.

  When they got to the hotel, Ronit quickly unpacked her suitcase and hung up the suit she had brought for meetings at the bank. She chose a dark blue dress with a matching jacket that was not ostentatious. The large window in the room looked out on the harbor. On the horizon, the cloud-cast heights of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island were visible. Ronit made herself a cup of coffee and sat down across from the window, watching the lights come on, one after another, in the city’s high-rise buildings. She thought of the task awaiting her and debated which opening she should use in her meeting with the bank manager. Suddenly, she experienced an oppressive sense of loneliness. She turned on her computer and pulled out her little notepad as well, trying to generate some confidence from the lists she had compiled. Osman’s advice and Gideon’s suggestions echoed in her ears. She attempted to calm herself down. What’s the worst that can happen? At the very least, I’ll learn something about Chinese banking from the meeting with Mr. Fang. Ronit knew that Quan Lin, Old Fang’s son, had prepared his father for meeting her. She reviewed all the main points in her notes once more and gradually felt calmer.

  “Table for one?” asked the hostess at the entrance to the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, requesting her hotel room number as well.

  “I’ll just get some appetizers,” Ronit told the waitress, who arrived at her table at the speed of light. She was still feeling the effects of the airline food. Ronit chose a variety of dim sum filled with vegetables, seafood, and chicken, served in a wicker basket taken straight from the steam cooker. She allowed herself a glass of white wine, thinking it might imbue her with the peace she yearned for.

  At the table next to hers sat two young Chinese men in business suits, conversing quietly. She noticed them staring at her intermittently and did not know if this was mere curiosity on their part. Ronit’s discomfort with her neighbors increased as the meal went on. She didn’t linger, deciding to skip dessert, signed the slip the waitress presented to her, and returned to her room.

  The phone persisted in ringing for quite a while until Ronit realized it was the wake-up call she had requested. The gym in the hotel basement was empty, and she began her walk on the treadmill slowly, gradually increasing her pace until she was running. Even on the gym’s treadmill, the advantages of the Adidas smart running shoes were evident, and Ronit recalled with a smile how Gideon had surprised her with the gift. She also remembered his guidelines, leaving her to choose how to obtain information about the routing of terrorist funds. She recalled Gideon’s understated tone when he’d told her to be cautious and
not to expose the true purpose of her questions.

  The English-language newspaper was full of financial articles, and Ronit lingered over those that seemed pertinent to her upcoming conversation with the bank manager.

  Her young escort greeted her in the hotel lobby at precisely eight o’clock. “Good morning, Ms. Hart. I hope you’ve had a quiet night.”

  “Yes, thank you. And I particularly want to thank you for recommending the hotel’s Chinese restaurant to me,” she added. “I was impressed with the selection, even though I wasn’t that hungry. Everything I tried was delicious.” She didn’t say a word about her neighbors at the adjacent table who had stared at her. Perhaps it had just been her imagination, she told herself soothingly.

  “Traffic is heavy in the morning,” her escort apologized as the driver tried to maneuver into a faster lane. “In the meantime, we can enjoy the sights of the city. Our main office is in the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. Here, you can see the structure, which is over three hundred yards tall, from nearly everywhere in Guilin and Hong Kong Island, where it’s located. The tower is on One Garden Road, not far from the station for the tram that goes up to the top of Victoria Peak. If you want, we can ride to the top of Victoria Peak this afternoon for a short sightseeing outing,” he suggested.

  “Thanks, I’d love to look down on the city from up high if we have the time but, meanwhile, please tell me, what’s the relationship between the bank here and the bank in China itself?” This was one of the introductory questions she had prepared.

  “Legally, our bank is a separate entity from the parent company in China, but we do share close ties, and we carry out all transactions in renminbi, China’s own currency, on their behalf. Our bank is authorized to print Hong Kong dollar currency. It gained this status primarily due to our manager. Beijing wouldn’t have authorized it if it wasn’t for the universal appreciation and respect toward Mr. Fang Chok Tong.”