The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 24

"Officer Ho," Paul said, coming out of his hotel room. "I'm going down to the exercise room to use the stationary bike for a couple of hours." Officer Ho looked at him with a disapproving smile. He then rose from his chair and sauntered after Paul to the exercise room.

Most hotels in Singapore have air-conditioned exercise areas. Many locals, however, exercise outdoors, usually after dark, to avoid the daytime heat. Paul had been down to the exercise room every day since he arrived so he was familiar with the equipment and the room layout. There was a row of exercise bikes along one wall and two doors. One door opened into the hotel lobby and the other to a parking area behind the hotel.

The Officer went to get a chair so he could sit outside the room, as always, to avoid the sweating body odor. Paul planned to slip out through the rear door. It isn't far. Probably only ten minutes' walk to the Chinatown Center. I can check out the Jewel room and return before Officer Ho knows I'm gone. It was a comfortable walk even at ten o'clock at night. There were many people out so Paul didn't feel the least bit vulnerable.

Paul arrived at the ugly building, a giant box with a high rise apartment complex coming out of the top. Paul pushed through the nearest of several ground-floor entrances. Just inside was a mall directory kiosk. The shopping mall comprised several levels surrounding an open courtyard. Escalators and stairs lead from one level to the next. Cargo elevators doubled as handicap access to the upper floors. Shoppers strolled the hallways examining the window displays and venturing into stores for a closer look.

Let's see, on the website the Jewel room was on the third level. There, Jewel level 3, room 104. This is crazy, I'm not a cop. I need to think up a story in case somebody asks me why am there. Paul took escalators to reach the third. Room numbers painted above each door increased as he walked down a long well-lit hallway. This is the right direction. Paul passed several businesses: clothing stores, shoes, even one store that sold personal hygiene products like condoms. Paul chuckled to himself, Happy Condom. That's a kick. An image of a pink condom with a happy face was painted on the window. You'd never see that in New Jersey.

The further Paul walked the fewer businesses there were. He kept walking keeping track of the door numbers until there were no more businesses and only doors without store-windows. It's deserted here. This is getting scary. I'm the only one down here.

He reached for the door knob. It was unlocked, so he thoughtlessly opened it. Light from the hallway allowed him to see an empty room void of any furniture. What's this? He backed up turning his head to read the number above the door. No number. It must be the next door? He carefully closed the door and resumed his search.

After passing about twenty feet of blank wall he neared room 104. He stopped before reaching the door to consider his next move. I shouldn't be... This is stupid. What will I do if a crime meeting is going on? I should've told VK about this. No, he was already checking the Bijou Theater lead. I'm not going in there. I'm leaving.

Paul turned to go back toward the escalators, but before he could take a step, he saw a man coming toward him. Crap, he looks like he's coming here. Do something, quick! Paul turned around to open the door to room 104 just as the man arrived.