CIA Tip#8: Always record conversations. You will need it later as evidence.
Amelia and I slowly crept across the tiny alleys, the scent of vomit and urine mingling in the air. Rats and cockroaches roamed on the dirty ground.
Where was the sound coming earlier? I continued to loom around with Amelia. This wasn't the best idea, as I could become exposed, but this was the only idea I could come up with.
Then, I heard footsteps from the distance. I turned to the right and saw the tall lanky man earlier at the subway. He was walking alone, as if looking for something.
"Amelia, it's him!" I exclaimed silently.
Amelia took out her phone and began to take pictures of him. "Should we interrogate him?" she inquired. She snapped some more pictures of him.
I shook my head. "We should follow him." Luckily, today we were mostly wearing black, so he wouldn't be able to find out our identities.
We continued to follow him, occasionally taking pictures for evidence and further research. Along the way, he lit a cigarette, exhaling the toxic smokes into the night. Nothing unusual happened; all he seemed to be was a mere member of the triad, trying to survive and earning the leader's favor.
I checked my watch. It was right now 9:30 p.m. From this guy, we couldn't collect any new information. Either he was extremely careful about what to say in public or this guy had a boring life.
His cell phone rang. He picked it up and began to swear in Mandarin. When he stopped talking, I heard a high-pitched voice answering and cussing the heck out of him. Exasperated, the guy hung up, as if already bothered by the person behind the phone.
"Stupid girl. Can't seem to stop asking me for money," he muttered in English with a trace of the famous Brooklyn accent.
I looked at Amelia, who nodded at me in reply. It was time to head back home, as there was new information.
"So far, we have no idea what this guy's name is. For now, let's call him Lanky," Amelia declared. She scrolled through her phone, which revealed an almost full body picture of Lanky.
"He called someone and addressed them as dai-lo. This could mean Leon, one of the insane triad leaders who is filthy rich from all the drugs he sells. Not to mention he likes hot girls too, especially the one with fiery tempers." Amelia eyed me with a wide, sneaky grin. I slapped her arm in return.
"Well," I began. "He also happens to know Enrico too, because he's part of Leon's gang. And judging from his Brooklyn accent, he is also a New Yorker, which is why Leon wanted him to show Enrico around while he's in New York. But there's one thing that bothers me." I paused for a moment.
"Why is he in New York instead of Las Vegas? Gambling in New York is illegal, but in Las Vegas, it's legal so long as you're eighteen or over," Amelia pointed out. She totally nailed my point.
"Either he's here for vacation or for some serious business. Or…he totally saw the CIA's plan." I slammed my hand hard against the table.
"Dang it! I didn't even see this! How can I be so stupid and let them go!" I yelled aloud. "At this rate the triads will be more powerful!"
Amelia grabbed both of my shoulders as I swore Vietnamese. "Liên! Just calm down! You're here in New York to spy on Mei Wang, not get involved with some triad member! Even if she is part of the triad, it doesn't matter. You need to find out about Mei Wang."
I sat down. I licked the roof of my mouth. It tasted sickening. "Okay, you're right Amelia. I really need to work on Mei Wang, not the triads. I will do my best."
"Brofist?" Amelia sheepishly asked.
I didn't even hesitate for this invitation.