Brainstorming Our Conundrum
Chapter 13
We had some information, but it was vague and sketchy at best. However, it was all we had and at least somewhat tangible. I was beginning to wonder if Jersey Briggs was right after all: a boondoggle and wild goose chase all rolled into one. If the trip didn’t produce Kris Amar, I’d never hear the end of it. I’d likely never get another assignment from the DSS either. I wondered if I promised too much in my overwhelming zeal to catch Kris. Well, my employer of last resort might have to suffice if I was unsuccessful. “Hi, may I take your order? Would you like some fries with that burger ma’am?”
It was a couple of days later when we next met. The meeting place was my hotel room where we could talk freely without worrying about any prying ears. Chi and Angie sat on the bed and I pulled up one of the chairs to face them.
“Okay, what have you guys brought me?” I immediately regretted using the word guys, but retracting it would only have made my gender gaffe worse.
“You’ve been doing the heavy lifting for the team while I’ve been lounging at the pool.”
It was true since I had no role to play at the moment except as a cheerleader. Moreover, that’s what government employees were expected to do while on an official junket abroad so it made sense in a nonsensical way. I thoroughly enjoyed doing laps every morning. The endorphin rush helped relieve my angst regarding the unknown dangers we would be facing. Maybe they would in some inexplicable way extend my expiration date too. I could always hope.
I’d tasked Chi to check with his police buddies to see if they had any information regarding Kris and his operations. It was ditto for Angie with her street sources and underworld ties. I meant to say Thais.
“Khun Avery, Nong Khai isn’t a large city and it seems that everyone knows everyone’s business here,” Angie said. “Yet information about your Amar is scarce. I did hear a vague rumor about a foreigner who is a monk from Laos that occasionally visits this side of the river. I showed your man’s photo to an informant in the drug trade and he thought it resembled the monk, but couldn’t be positive, maybe yes, maybe no. Your man had hair and the monk was bald, although the facial features were similar. Anyway, all of you foreigners look the same to us,” she giggled.
Angie did have a sense of humor after all. It was a nice change in demeanor from when we first met at the bar. She was downright dour and depressing then and her life story even more so.
Her comment about everyone knowing everyone’s business reminded me of the unofficial Diplomatic Security Service motto: “what’s a secret if you can’t tell a friend?” It was just another truism and inanity we had to deal with at the same time in the service.
“There’s more,” Angie continued. “The rumor mill has it that Albert Wu’s involved in moving opium south to Bangkok. Albert runs a prosperous mortuary here, but it’s merely a front for his drug trafficking, according to my source.”
“That’s interesting,” Chi piped up. “It jives with some of information I picked up from my former colleagues. There’s been a big, sea change in the drug business since I served here. Nong Khai is no longer a major, transit point for opium, yaba yes, opium no. Now shipments are going overland to China and Myanmar or by boat down the Mekong to Vietnam. The number of big drug busts and large seizures of product is way down from my day. Most of the activity today involves the arrest of petty street dealers, just nickel and dime stuff compared to some years ago.”
Obviously, I was mistaken. Chi did understand at least some American colloquialisms and coinage after all.
“By the way,” Chi added. “I heard Wu’s name mentioned by my friends too. They’ve taken a look at him in the past, but were unable to come up with anything incriminating. If he’s moving opium, they don’t know how he’s doing it. One problem the seniors in the drug suppression unit are having is with the local, district cops. Some are on the take from Wu. No, not protecting him from arrest for drug dealing, but for overlooking minor infractions of city ordinances relating to his mortuary business. Yet, they’re on his payroll regardless and look the other way. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve tipped him once or twice to police activities that might affect his legitimate business. Khun Richard, you know about the petty corruption in the ranks already. It’s an embarrassment for the honest cops; nonetheless it’s an endemic problem.”
I’d heard enough. It appeared that Albert Wu was the only major player in town and likely Kris Amar’s partner in crime on this side of the border. He was our only bird in the hand at the moment, but only time would tell whether we’d be safe or sorry with our assumption of his culpability.
“Chi, have your buds in the suppression unit set up an around-the-clock surveillance on Wu and his establishment. I want photos of his comings and goings and especially of any visitors to his place of business. Any chance we can get audio coverage on Wu? Check on it and let me know. Hell, you know the drill, so I don’t need to tell you how to suck eggs. Angie, I want the same from your watchers. Spread some money around. Move a noodle cart or whatever into the vicinity of his business and keep a close eye on him.”
“I want this guy covered like stink on shit!”
I did explain that one and they both laughed.