Phuong dreaded the thought of Bill getting involved with Mai, and what worried him most was Mai’s relationship and dealings with the all-powerful Anh Giang Trung who was rumored to be Mai’s lover. Phuong had seen them together on more than one occasion, Mai on the back of Anh white Vespa as they zipped in and out of the traffic around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Anh was beautiful, but dangerous. She controlled much of the Chợ Đồng Xuân from the back of her scooter and had witnessed on more than one occasion the savage beating of a vendor for not paying his weekly protection money by her enforcers.
Phuong had been non-committal earlier that morning when Bill had excitedly told him about his encounter with Mai the night before. He also was starting to get to know Bill and knew that his journalistic instincts would find Mai sooner or later. He had decided that the best thing would be to give Bill all the details, leaving nothing out and if he still wanted to pursue Mai then be it on his own head.
Next morning Phuong got to the Star a little earlier than normal, found a seat by the window and waited for Bill. After ordering their coffees – a hot American coffee for Bill and the traditional cold Vietnamese coffee for himself, he reached into his pocket and grasped the slip of paper, positioning it carefully in the palm of his hand so that no one could see it.
He reached across the table and stealthily palmed the slip to Bill, old habits die hard and you never can be too careful with who was watching he thought to himself.
There was a look of surprise on Bill’s face as he closed his fist around his friend’s hand and felt the paper in his palm. He slowly withdrew his hand but held Phuong’s gaze and nodding almost imperceptibly, Phuong smiled and said “for your cause”.
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