Revenge of the CEO Read online

  REVENGE OF THE CEO

  Peter Ralph

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

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  Prologue

  DOUGLAS ASPINE HAD SPENT eight years in Changi Prison for a crime he had not committed. Worse, he still had another seven years of the twenty year sentence to serve before being eligible for parole. Yes, he had got away with many white collar crimes, ruined the lives of thousands and had been, and still was a selfish, greedy bastard, but in his mind, that in no way warranted the injustice that had been perpetrated on him. Framed! Framed for smuggling drugs into Singapore. Framed by a vicious bitch and her conniving brother because they blamed him for her spineless husband’s suicide.

  Aspine was fifty-six but looked many years older. He had been a big man, but now his ribs showed through his white prison t-shirt, he was bony, gaunt and the 70 kilograms he weighed seemed to hang from his 185 centimetre frame like a wrinkled shroud. His face was stark white, his forehead heavy with lines and his once perfect teeth were yellow and rotting. He had kept his hair which was shaved prison style but whereas it had been jet black only ten years ago, it was now white. Changi does that. There is the pretence of rehabilitation to the outside world, but prisoners know that once inside Changi not even lip service is paid to it – Changi is a prison committed to punishment, and canings are frequent and meted out with brutal ferocity.

  Aspine considered himself unlucky. Had he been incarcerated a little earlier he may have found a way to break out. The old Changi prison used by the Japanese in the Second World War had offered the possibility of escape but was replaced in 2004 by the modern, electronic, escape-proof new Changi prison. Aspine had racked his brain in a fruitless pursuit to find a way out of what was hell on earth.

  The keyless Changi prison is broken into five rings, starting with small cells where prisoners wear tracking wrist bands containing barcodes that they have to scan at strategically placed readers. In many ways this is an overkill as they are locked in their cells for a draconian twenty-three hours a day, every day of the year. The second ring is the housing unit where prisoners have medical checks and supposedly exercise, but there are no exercise or physical recreational activities – the twenty-three hours a day in the cell leaves no time for exercise. The prison laundry is in this unit and contains an X-Ray machine to detect inmates hiding in laundry baskets. It is under constant CCTV monitoring as are most of the cells. The third is the institution ring where prisoners and officers are screened and verified. The fourth is the cluster ring where visitors pass through a metal detector and have their possessions x-rayed and scanned for weapons and unauthorised objects like cigarettes, lighters, mobile phones and cameras. Two fences surround the cluster ring, the first has vibration detectors, taut wires and anti-climb features. These are encircled by a network of video motion detectors. The cluster ring contains the Cluster Control Centre, the nerve centre of the prison where all the security systems are integrated. The fifth ring is the complex ring and encompasses the main entrance to the prison. Visitors and prisoners use separate secure underground tunnels to get to face-to-face cubicles. Visitors have their thumb prints biometrically tested at the entrance to ensure that only those authorised have access to inmates. Observation towers outside the complex give guards armed with sub machine guns optimum visibility. Aspine knew the security layout of the prison better than most of the guards and had long given up hope of attempting a breakout by himself. He had not given up hope of getting out though, but knew he’d need the help of prison officers to have any chance of being successful.

  Aspine was blessed with rat cunning and when the inevitability of jail became certain, he had taken out some insurance with the most powerful gang in Singapore. Most of the tiny cells housed four prisoners but when Aspine was incarcerated, he was locked in a cell with only one other prisoner, Chin Kheng Hua, convicted lifer, murderer and gang member, who would serve as his body guard while he was imprisoned. The cell they shared was one of the few not monitored by cameras. Other than that it was typical of a Changi cell. Tiny, with a hole in the wall serving as a small air vent. A squatting toilet bowl held a shower head that didn’t spray but gushed in sporadic ten second bursts. Inmates not only washed with this device, it was also their source of drinking water. On his first day, Aspine was being strip searched, and a guard screamed, “You are not a CEO in here, you are nothing. You shit, piss, bathe and eat in your cell. Think of it as home for the next twenty years.” There were no fans or air conditioning. Computers, radios, televisions and cameras were strictly forbidden, as were family photographs. Not that family photos worried Aspine. Sleeping arrangements consisted of a straw mat, a flimsy blanket, and a flimsier blanket that prisoners rolled up to make a pillow on the concrete floor. Recreational activities comprised three paperback books – hardcovers were not permitted, perhaps because prison authorities thought they could be made into weapons. The toothbrush was made of soft rubber that could not be fashioned into a weapon, and clothes pegs were made of a brittle plastic that crumbled under minimal pressure. He had also been given a tube of toothpaste, a plastic drinking mug, a roll of toilet paper, a plastic spoon and a small towel. The clothing issued was a white t-shirt, black shorts and shockingly uncomfortable plastic sandals. Aspine would have paid a fortune for a fan, but nothing that conspicuous would ever get through the five security rings.

  There were no communal meals. Breakfast was four slices of white bread and a cup of vile, lukewarm, brown liquid. Lunch and dinner comprised overcooked cabbage, huge portions of rice and tiny pieces of fish or chicken. Inmates were also given one piece of fruit; apple, orange or banana on alternate days. The diet had minimal nutritional value.

  Prisoners were expected to stand at attention in the presence of prison officials but this was something Chin Kheng Hua never did and Aspine copied him. The guards were very wary of Chin and knew what his gang could do to their families if he was disrespected or mistreated. Clearly he was the most powerful inmate and other prisoner
s avoided him in the hour each day that they had out of their cells. No prisoner would risk attacking Aspine and prison officials were courteous and respectful when dealing with him. For his part he never regretted one cent of the quarterly insurance premium he paid to the gang by bank debit.

  Aspine had contemplated suicide but pulled back from the brink many times over the years. He smiled grimly recalling the times as a younger man when he had been told that hate would eat his insides out and destroy him. Hate was not a pointless and worthless emotion. Hate was the only thing keeping him alive in Changi − blind hate.

  For the first time in eight years Aspine saw a glimmer of hope. Lee Kim Wee was a young, deputy prison superintendent and Aspine had something that he was desperate for.

  Chapter 1

  SINCE THE DAY ASPINE was imprisoned he had been trying to find a contact that might enable him to see the outside world again. He had tried to befriend many guards and prison officials, all to no avail. His cell mate, Chin, told him that he was wasting his time, and that prison officers were rigorously screened. Besides, they would be extremely fearful of the retribution that the Singapore Government would unleash if they were found to have accepted a bribe. “Don’t waste your time, old man,” he said. Aspine resented being called old man, but would agree, while never giving up hope.

  It took months to get to know Lee Kim Wee. It started when Aspine stood to attention in his presence and touched his forehead in a form of salute. One day Lee said to him, “White collar crime was very lucrative for you, wasn’t it?”

  “I was wrongly convicted for smuggling drugs. I was framed.”

  “Yes, that is what you claim, everyone in here claims they are innocent.” Lee smiled. “But your local newspapers and articles on the internet claim you robbed your old employer of millions.”

  “I’ve never been convicted of a white collar crime.” Aspine grinned smugly.

  “Mr Douglas, all that proves is that you are a very clever white collar criminal. We’ll talk again, soon.”

  It was 8 P.M., an hour before lights out when Lee entered the cell. Aspine was lying on his mat reading a paperback and got slowly to his feet. “Sorry, I can’t offer you a chair, Mr Lee.”

  “I wanted to see you by yourself, so I organized for your cellmate to have a medical check-up.”

  “Go on,” Aspine said, leaning against the wall.

  “My son has leukaemia. He is only seven, far too young to be suffering in the way that he is.”

  “That is terrible. I feel for you,” Aspine responded, false compassion written all over his face. Oh, I know what you want. I’ve been praying for this day. “I’m honoured that you would share something so personal with me but I am confused. Why?”

  “The drugs that keep this dreadful cancer in remission are very expensive,” Lee said, looking at his feet. “They have a cure in the US and if I can keep my son alive, the treatment will eventually be available here.”

  “What’s your son’s name?”

  “Adrian.”

  “I’m not a doctor and I have no medical contacts so I don’t know how I can help poor Adrian.” Aspine lied, wiping crocodile tears away.

  “They say you have millions stashed away and I was wondering if …”

  “Of course. I feel your pain, Mr Lee, and I’ll do anything and everything in my limited power to help you and Adrian. How much do you need?”

  “Thank you, Mr Douglas, thank you. If you can lend me fifty thousand, I will have enough for six months’ supply of drugs. I will be indebted to you.”

  You sure will. “It’s not that simple. You may face many questions if you’re ever investigated and there’s a credit from a Cayman Islands bank in your account. I need a little time to move some cash to another account before transferring it to you.”

  “Thank you, but don’t worry about me. I need the money desperately, my son is dying before my eyes.” Lee sniffled. “When can you get it to me?”

  It’s getting better. He doesn’t even want me to try and disguise the payment. “Do you have a laptop and dongle?”

  “Yes.”

  “Bring them in tomorrow, together with your bank account details. I’ll make the transfer and it’ll be in your account within twenty-four hours.”

  “You are a good man, Mr Douglas.”

  You’re a better man, Mr Lee. You’re my ticket out of here.

  Aspine had not accessed his account with the Royal Bank of Toronto in the Caymans since his trial. He was pleasantly surprised to see that the balance of the account had grown to more than fifteen million and Lee’s fifty thousand was insignificant.

  In the weeks that followed, Lee occasionally smuggled soft drinks and chocolates into Aspine’s cell, and let him have limited access to the laptop and dongle. Aspine knew where he was going and what he was going to do – he also knew that Lee would get him out –what he couldn’t work out was how. He always knew Lee was going to visit whenever Chin was taken away from the cell.

  One day when Lee entered the cell he was distraught and didn’t bother with pleasantries. “The drugs are no longer working and Adrian is slipping away. They were holding the cancer at bay, however, now it is accelerating. I feel sick. What am I going to do?”

  “Do you have any other children?”

  “Yes, a daughter, Donita, who I love dearly but she could never replace Adrian, if that is what you’re saying?” Lee replied tersely.

  “Mr Lee, you have mistaken my intentions. That is the last thing I would suggest. I only wondered how many in your family would need to travel.”

  “Travel?”

  “Yes, to the US.”

  “You don’t understand. The treatment costs half a million dollars and then there’s the air fares, accommodation and living expenses. I could never afford it,” Lee said, wiping a tear from his cheek.

  I just got lucky. Lee’s predicament is manna from heaven. “Yes you could. I’d pay two million to get out of here. That’s enough to save your son and for you to start a new life somewhere else.”

  “No, no, I won’t even think of it. No, it would bring terrible dishonour on me and my family. No, I will not help you.”

  “It may hurt your pride, Mr Lee, but it’s a chance to save your son’s life. I know how much you love him, and you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t take every opportunity God offers you. Think it over.”

  Lee flushed. “God? More like Satan. There’s nothing to think about. I won’t trouble you again.”

  Yes you will, Mr Lee. After your wife tells you too. Don’t leave it too long though, as time is running out for Adrian – and for me. Please hang on in there, Adrian. Please don’t die before I’m free.

  Chapter 2

  ASPINE HAD A DOCTORATE in exploiting the misfortune of others and knew it would only be a matter of time, before Lee caved in. The first part of his plan about getting a prison official onside was complete, but he still hadn’t worked out a way to escape.

  Aspine had shared a cell with Chin since the day he’d been locked up, but despite this, he hardly knew him. He knew that Chin was dangerous, connected with the gangs and perpetually surly, but he needed help and had to tell someone what he had achieved.

  “Congratulations. You fooled me, old man. You’ve got an official on the hook, and a fairly senior one at that, but you have no idea how to use him. Even if you’re lucky and get out of Changi you’ll never make it out of Singapore,” Chin said, through tightly compressed lips. “And when they catch you, they’ll add ten years to your sentence and throw Lee in jail with you.”

  “Well, you seem to know everything. How do I get out?”

  “You mean, how do we get out?”

  “Hang on. I don’t know if Lee will help you. I’m not going to ruin my chances by telling him that he’s gotta help you too.”

  “You just don’t get it, do you? You need Lee, but you need me more, and without me, you’ll never get off this island.”

  Fuck, he’s probably right. “All
right, if it doesn’t upset Lee you’re in. Tell me what we’re going to do.”

  “They hate letting inmates out of here for any reason but when someone gets violently ill or severely injured they take him to Changi General. He has to be near death though because they’d far rather use the prison’s doctors and medical facilities. The security at the hospital will be tight but nothing like what it is here,” Chin said. “I’ve got friends who can’t get me out of here, but getting me out of hospital won’t present them with any problems.”

  “Okay, I’m with that. So we get out of here and then we get out of the hospital. How do we get off the island?”

  Chin grinned and rubbed his fingers together.

  “How much?” Aspine begrudgingly asked.

  “One million dollars.”

  “Fuck! What am I paying for?”

  “My plan, my gang, the transport from the hospital to one of the marinas and the high speed cabin cruiser and crew that will get us out of Singaporean waters and on our way to Thailand. We’ll be in Pattaya in less than four days.”

  It’s a plan, a good plan and Thailand is where I want to go. “How sure are you that we’ll be taken to the hospital? How are we gonna fake the sickness or injury?”

  “Lee will have to authorise it. Don’t worry about how we’re going to fake it, I’ll take care of that when the time comes.” Chin smirked.

  The following morning Chin was carted off for yet another medical check and five minutes later Lee entered the cell. His eyes were red and swollen and it looked like he hadn’t slept. “Adrian coughed up blood last night and we had to rush him to hospital. If he isn’t treated in the US, he’ll be dead within four months.”

  Fantastic, the chips are finally falling my way. “I cannot tell you how sorry I am. The poor kid.”

  “Please, spare me your false sympathy. We both know why you are offering to help. If I begged you for the money but said I would not help you escape, would you still let me have it?”