Chapter 1Tuesday, 5th March 2024"Dr Wong? Dr Wong? Adam!"The sharp words sliced through the quietude of my room and shredded my concentration into pieces. I looked up, irritated. I slotted the pencil over my right ear.The intruder was my trusted assistant Angela Poh, the lady whom I fondly called Ah Mui. She used to be my student and, after her graduation, applied to be my assistant. We have been working together for three years.Her head popped over the edge of the door. My ire receded upon seeing her peaches-and-cream countenance, cherubic face with a pair of bright eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses. "What is it, Mui? I thought I had asked not to be disturbed." I said, frowning, as I scribbled on the notepad. "I needed another thirty minutes of solitude."She adjusted her spectacles which seemed to slip down her nose bridge."I know. I am sorry but you have a visitor.""Visitor?""Inspector Visnu is here."Then unexpected arrival There was an uneasy silence. "ASP Visnu? Ce

When we finally reached our destination, I realized the roads leading up to Chua's Mansion, at 86 Oaks Drive, were sealed. I counted at least five police cars parked by the side of the road with some uniformed police guarding the area outside the estate, and some more plain-clothed police combing the street.The gantry police motioned Visnu through the gate, and he drove right through and parked inside the estate just by space next to the guardhouse. Once I alighted from Visnu's car, I had a clear view and was amazed by the vast space behind the walls. Ah Mui's exclaim verbalized my surprise at the size of the estate. The garden is enough to fill two hundred guests on any day. A walk around it may take a good thirty minutes. Ah Mui was ready with her handphone camera until I reminded her" Please, Ah Mui.""Sorry Dr Adam. It is just that this is my first time seeing such a huge property. These Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) are a rarity in Singapore. Now I know this is how the rich liv

"Gentlemen, I am a staunch Christian. Please do not set up an altar here. I do not believe in such stuff. Mr Adam! It makes me feel unrespected.""It's Doctor Adam…" Mui intercepted but quickly stepped back with a tight smile. My trusted assistant. The act caught John Chua by surprise. He was not used to being contradicted. He was irritated and fighting for words."Can I ask you something about your partner or girlfriend?" I ventured before he could ramble on. There was a stony silence before he said blandly "Ask.""Do you know if Claudia has any enemies? Does she have bad blood with anyone now or in the past?""Excuse me but I thought I had already answered that question twice when the police spoke to me two hours ago. Now you asked again!"John Chua threw up his hands in exasperation. His expression of feeling made me felt awkward like I had made an odd request that he jump off a building."Let me reiterate

After Visnu dropped me at the office, it was way past lunchtime. Ah Mui dutifully ordered lunch and we waited by the working desk in my office. This is not Ah Mui's first assignment and she had already breezed into the momentum. She had her laptop in front of her, ready for my instructions. The past outings have its close shaves and she made important contributions. However, an exorcist assignment has its risks and I prefer not to push Ah Mui to join even if I need her help."You don't need to come if you have classes," I said referring to her postgraduate course."No, that starts next week. You have forgotten about that."I tapped my forehead lightly "You are right."" I am ready." She continued"The first thing I need is the floor plan of the Chua's mansion. I had spoken to Visnu about that before he dropped us off.""I will keep a lookout for that." Ah Mui said and pored over her handphone "Once I receive it

John Chua has lived up to his word of allowing me to return to the mansion for my audit and investigation.When I reached the gates to the Chua Mansion, the security already knew about our assignment, and let us in. However, I was not allowed to park in the mansion for security reasons.I parked outside and the moment I walked through the side gate with Ah Mui, I sensed a heavy mood of paranoia and pessimism. I saw Visnu and May Li waiting in the guardroom."Good to see you again Adam. Did you receive my message?" Visnu said as we walked down the boulevard towards the house.I nodded "The floor plan is great, very useful. We also needed some help with the history of the development of this particular plot of land. Can you help Ah Mui with that?""Dr Adam, I have already written to ASP Visnu. I texted him while you were driving us over here."I whistled my approval of her efficiency, and spotted a wink from Visnu. "A