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
"I had seen many crime scenes and this is the ceiling of it all." Visnu exhaled a long sigh"The gory details is beyond words. Do you know the first batch of police who arrived were so shocked that they fumbled for a while before they got down to their work? The same goes for the forensic team. They just, eh, don't know where to get started." Visnu explained.This is happening in the home of the richest family in Singapore. I thoughtMy eyes returned to the picture, taking in every detail - the cut, slashes, and crushed features and the shock in the remaining eye before life is snubbed out of it.The extent of injuries spoke of a dangerous force, uncommon in human murderers."Who could deliver such blows?" I remarked."I am trying to figure that out too," May added."How is John Chua taking it?" I asked, my eyes still fixated on the image."Stunned and shocked. He said something but swooned and we thoug
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
Ah Hock, the family chauffeur and gardener was dressed in a worn-out white T-shirt. He is a stocky man with strong arms which speaks of years of labour. Despite his greying hair, he looked alert and sprightly. He walked over to us with a slight limp upon being asked.Seeing all of us, he looked apprehensive like we were marauders."Uncle Hock ?" I extended my hand. He replied with an awkward smile and took my hand. The grip was lame but I could tell his area of work from the coarse texture of his palm."Hello, Uncle Hock. I am Adam. 你好."He shook his head "不好 no good. Someone has just died.""I heard you were the one who called the police?"He shook his head."When I came in the morning. It was about 6 am which was my usual working hours and I was shocked to see Towkay lying on the floor." Towkay is Hokkien for the head of the family, a reference to the boss or employer."Where was Mr John Chua at that time?""The
"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
"What crazy ideas have you got in that mind?" May demanded when we were all back in Visnu's car."I am accepting this commission, Visnu," I said directly to the man who gatecrashed my life this morning and destroyed the peace of my life for, probably, the weeks ahead."You sure? I am happy to hear that.""I had a hunch."There was stony silence."What did you see?""A touch of bad vibes but hazy darkness. It will be worth exploring.""Adam!" It was May, again"What ideas do you have? Can you not disrupt our investigation?""I promise. I just needed one night."Visnu was silent and it seems May is calling the shots now. I looked at her for signs of approval"I still remember when you last performed your rites at the hospital, the entire place caught fire, and two fire engines were despatched.""That's the past and it was not my mistake. We are dealing with a different…eh..prese
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
"I have only done a quick check on the internet, Dr Adam. It seems they have a Family Office which provided some writeup. Besides that, the business dailies and Forbest provided some business-related information about the Chuas.""It is good enough. I appreciate the quick turnaround. I am know I can be quite a pain.""Don't say that." Ah Mui said. " I am used to it." She winked to which I was at a loss of words and simply nodded."The Chua family information you had asked for."Mui turned her laptop screen over and shared a word document.I read "John Chua has three children – Eldest Son – Marcus Chua, second daughter -Mavis Chua and youngest son Jonathan Chua. Marcus Chua and family stay at the mansion from time to time.""I remember Visnu and May said once in a fortnight?""Then there is Mavis Chua and Jonathan Chua" "Marcus Chua is the General Manager of Four Seas." Ah Mui shared."He looked stern with that central parting.""A split image of his father," I said. I shifted to Mavis