Day 147 - The Loan Shark

 The Loan Shark

 Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

Rama had become a chauffeur, driving Junko and Yaz from their hotel to meetings with his bosses. He was designated to wait at the car while the real business was attended to. He knew all the other drivers, but they were just as much in the dark as he was. He hadn’t seen Bagus or Maliq in a week and had no idea what they were working on. If his bosses trusted him, it was only so far.

In the car, Yaz and Junko barely spoke. When they did it was usually in Japanese. Rama knew a few words, but not enough to pick up a feeling for their conversations. Once or twice, he heard the world Naxis. He had assumed they worked for Naxis, but perhaps not. Perhaps they were just clients in the same way his bosses were. If Naxis were funding them all, he had no idea what their expectations were in Jakarta.

Rama usually wasn’t allowed to carry his own phone while driving. Junko and Yaz had their own entourage and bodyguards. Once one of the guards forgot to search him before escorting them into the car and Rama was able to make a recording of their conversation and translate it later. Most of it was casual talk about their hotel and the prostitutes they were often supplied with. Yaz said something that was hard to follow, but then teased Junko about which she preferred, men or women. Maybe it was an insult or perhaps genuine inquiry. Rama thought about her appearance and they way she dressed like a man. Maybe back home this was a real pressure point. Rama didn’t know how to exploit that yet, but he made a note of it. Junko didn’t respond to it either way. Rama tried to remember her face in the rearview mirror and if she had appeared annoyed or angry at any point. Yaz wanted to go out to bars and it seemed as if Junko was there to keep him on task. She mentioned his father and that kept Yaz quiet for the rest of the trip.

He would ask Rikard the next time he saw him about his transport business. If Rikard were the one to always supply the prostitutes then perhaps he had a woman who could speak Japanese as well as Javanese. Rama was pretty sure he could trust Rikard. If anything, Rikard would probably accept a bribe and figure Rama was trying to collect information for his bosses. If Rikard were bribable, and Yaz were amenable to her advances, perhaps she would overhear something of use.

One night Maliq appeared at his door with new orders. Rama was to start spreading cash around to some of the local loan sharks and underground casinos. Rama had never worked deliveries like that and Maliq called it a test. A test of me or a test of the money, Rama wondered. He was pretty sure this was Naxis money, either being laundered, or perhaps their counterfeiting operations had begun.

The next day Rama began making deliveries to a man named Ruel, a local loan shark who worked out of the back room at a family restaurant. Tall and lanky, Ruel was in the kitchen chopping vegetables when Rama arrived. There was an old man tending the meat and Rama wondered if this really was an actual family restaurant and not just a front. He wasn’t offered anything to eat or drink and was in no position to ask. Ruel was a man of few words and they headed for the back office.

Rama looked around and was instantly shocked by what seemed like madness. There was a tall stack of cash behind his desk. Just sitting there. Ruel saw Rama’s face and laughed.

“The men are afraid and would never consider it. And it makes the customers feel like I’m important.”

It makes me think you’re an idiot, thought Rama.

“That’s not the bosses’ money, is it?”

“All that’s mine. I like to watch it grow and grow.”

There were blood stains on the floor off to the side of the desk.

“Trust me,” continued Ruel, “no one will dare cross me.”

Keep telling yourself that.

They exchanged packages and Rama was given more than he brought. A gift or profit for his bosses.

After Rama left, he realized he was being followed by two men. Were they Ruel’s men protecting their payment or some desperate thief. Rama was in no mood to find out and was in no position to fail his bosses. Rama was about to run when one of the men spoke.

“Police. We’d like to have a word…”

Rama’s day had just gotten a lot worse. He had worked too long and hard to blow his cover over a small shipment like this. If he revealed his was undercover, he might get out of jail easily, but then his bosses would wonder if it was too easy. He could spend the night in the jail, but there was no telling what would happen to the money and Maliq would probably never trust him again with anything important. But if he ran, there was no telling what these officers might do to him.

He had to risk something and trusted his feet more than he did his ability to lie to Maliq. Rama began to run.