The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 52

Crap, the caterer is here to pick up the dirty dishes. I'd better do something quick before the others in the back hear the knocking. Paul opened the door wearing a caterer's uniform himself. In front of him stood the caterer that brought the food a little over an hour earlier. Paul stepped out into the hall and shut the door leaving it slightly ajar.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the caterer said. He wasn't angry but confused.

"No need, I already took care of it," Paul said.

"What you mean? That's my job."

"The boss told me that the customers called and wanted the dishes removed early. I was available, so the boss sent me. I'm just getting the last few things now."

"Oh, okay, I guess. I'll have to talk to the boss about this though." The man strolled back toward the elevator.

Paul re-entered the room and quietly closed the door. That was close. I think he bought it? It'll take him a while to find the boss and for them to come to investigate. They'll both be wondering what's going on. I should I have time to look around.

He crept down the hallway hearing the subtle sounds made by reading or working on a computer. He silently entered the first door off the corridor. Don't turn on the light. Someone might notice. A small window provided enough light for him to see it was storage or work room. File cabinets lined one wall and there was a laptop computer sitting on a table in the center of the room. The computer was on but the screen was dark. It's probably asleep. Off to the right labeled boxes stacked on the floor appeared ready for shipping. Looks like their getting ready to move. Video cameras, microphones, and miscellaneous connectors piled loosely on metal shelves seemed ready for the partially full open box sitting on the floor. Video production accessories are already in the box. The label on one box, on the bench with the computer, read- Multi-array Placement Research Apparatus, and another Mouse Experiments.

Paul went over to the computer and activated the screen by brushing the touch-pad with his finger. A desktop screen appeared with several icons lined up along the left side. One looked interesting- test trials. The file menu listed a handful of videos. Paul played the first one labeled- Sunset Bar trial. I better mute the sound. He paused the video while he sat down at the desk in front of the computer and put on the earbuds that were lying there. Then he started the video again un-muting the sound. Do I have time?

Wow, great production. They must've used multiple cameras and those wireless microphones stored in the bin? Even smartphones can pick up voices if they're close enough. Someone must have had fun putting this together? Paul listened to every word and examined every scene.

Sand Bar Trial

That's Suke talking to a friend sitting at a table in the bar. "Do you come to the Expats in Singapore events often?" Suke said.

"This is my first," the girl said. "I saw the flyer at the office and thought it might be fun. It's difficult to find people from Laos."

"I've come to several of these for just the same reason." They started speaking Laotian so Paul couldn't understand them. He could see maybe fifty people visiting in small groups. Then everyone walked toward the MRT station. The video focused on a few that stayed behind looking very confused.

The next scene showed the group standing in the plaza in front of Ngee Ann City department store on Orchard Road. Everyone in the group then raised their hands in the air waving them back and forth like a tree in the wind. They looked at each other bewildered but did not stop. After a few seconds they lowered their arms and talked about their bizarre behavior. This is what Suke described. They probably chose people from Laos because they knew they wouldn't report to the police. They wouldn't trust the police.