Inspector Zhang and the Disappearing Drugs by Stephen Leather

 
    Inspector Zhang and the Disappearing Drugs
     
    By Stephen Leather
     
     
    Inspector Zhang smiled fondly at his wife as she placed his kaya toast in front of him. Kaya could be bought in a bottle in any supermarket but Mrs. Zhang made it herself, slow cooking coconut milk, eggs, sugar vanilla and a hint of pandan leaves, using a recipe that had been handed down from her grandmother. She spread it on a slice of wholemeal toast with a little butter and served it with a soft-boiled egg, just the way he liked it. "You make the best kaya toast in Singapore," he said.
    "You can buy it in McDonald's these days," she said.
    "You can buy many things in McDonald's but nothing they sell comes close to your cooking," said Inspector Zhang.
    "Such sweet talk," she said, blushing prettily and sitting down opposite him. She poured more coffee into his cup.
    Inspector Zhang took a bite out of his toast and sighed with contentment. "I would have married you for this toast alone," he said.
    Mrs. Zhang giggled and put her hand over her mouth. She'd done that on the first date, more than thirty years earlier and it was one of the many things he loved about her.
    His mobile phone rang and he sighed. It was in the pocket of his suit jacket, hanging on the back of the sofa.
    "I'll get it," said his wife. "You finish your breakfast."
    She went over to the sofa, retrieved his phone, and took the call. She pulled a face and took the phone over to him.   "It is the Senior Assistant Commissioner," she said. "He wants to speak to you."
    Inspector Zhang swallowed and took the phone from her. "This is Inspector Zhang," he said.
    "Inspector, I am sorry to bother you so early, but I need to see you this morning," said the Senior Assistant Commissioner. "Can you come to office at the start of your shift today?"
    "Of course, Sir," said Inspector Zhang. "Can you tell me what it is in connection with?"
    "It is of a highly confidential nature, Inspector. I shall explain when I see you."
    The line went dead and Inspector Zhang frowned at the phone.
    "He sounds different," said Mrs. Zhang. "Not like the man we used to know."
    "He is Senior Assistant Commissioner now," said Inspector Zhang. "He is a very important man."
    "He is your friend."
    Mr. Zhang put the phone down next to his plate. "We haven't been friends for a long time," he said.
    "I don't think he remembered me," said Mrs. Zhang.
    "It has been a long time since we socialized. More than twenty years."
    "Twenty-five," she said. "We had a celebratory drink, do you remember, when he was promoted to sergeant."
    "Was that twenty-five years ago?" mused Inspector Zhang. "You know, I think you are right." He looked at his watch, finished his coffee, and picked up his phone.
    Mrs. Zhang helped him on with his jacket, then kissed him on the cheek.   "I shall cook you fish head bee hoon tonight," she said.
    "You spoil me," said Inspector Zhang, but he was already looking forward to his favourite dish.
    He drove to police headquarters at New Phoenix Park. The block that housed the police was next to a twin block occupied by the Ministry of Home Affairs.   The Senior Assistant Commissioner's office was on the sixth floor, a corner office with a huge desk and a wall full of framed commendations.
    Inspector Zhang had to wait for fifteen minutes on a hard chair until a secretary showed him into the Senior Assistant Commissioner's office.   The Senior Assistant Commissioner seemed much older than the last time that Inspector Zhang had seen him.   As he sat down Inspector Zhang tried to remember when he'd last seen the Senior Assistant Commissioner and decided that it had been almost five years when they'd both attended the funeral of a former Deputy Commissioner. The five years had not been kind to the Senior Assistant Commissioner. His hair was thinning and he'd put on weight and there was an unhealthy pallor to his skin.
    There was a cup of tea in front of the Senior Assistant Commissioner and he stirred it