The problem was I enjoyed conversations and sometimes more with interesting Hong Kong women. Looking and not touching was hard. It didn’t seem natural. I loved being around women. Even with promises to behave, not fooling around was difficult.
Amanda traveled half the time, leaving me time for an occasional exciting adventure. I had to be careful. Temptation was always there. Being spotted with another woman was a danger. Amanda had girlfriend lookouts everywhere. I was torn between being a faithful partner and bedding attractive women.
Right away, I was attracted to Joy. I loved her American English accent. Most educated Hong Kong ladies spoke beautiful English, but with a British accent. The Hong Kong educational system still follows the British model.
Joy definitely spoke American English, so I asked about it. “You speak great English, but with an American accent. Did you attend college in the States?”
“Yes, I went to Princeton, then to Harvard for my MBA. Along the way my British accent and choice of words became corrupted by you Americans.” She smiled as she said the word corrupted.
“So you’re from Hong Kong? What work do you do?”
“I’ve lived here all my life, except for attending university in America. I’ve just returned and looking for suitable employment.”
I perked up. I’d been looking for a trading assistant. This interesting lady might just qualify. No problem with looks, education or language. She was sophisticated and spoke great English. And that perfume. I loved the combination of looks, dress, language, educational background and sensuous subtle fragrance.
“What type of work are you looking for?”
“I’m not desperate. I want to find something that’s a good fit. I’m analytical and want challenging work that’ll put my MBA to good use. Probably something in finance.”
“I’ll give you my business card. I’m looking for a foreign exchange trading assistant. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds interesting. I know a little about trading Forex. My dad’s always talking about exchange rates. Do you pay bonuses?
“Sure, I like to spread the wealth around. Give me a call and we’ll set up an interview. I don’t discuss business at a bar, so let’s relax. No interview today. Let me buy you a drink. Is that cognac you’re drinking?”
“It is. Hennessy XO.” Joy glanced at the business card. “I’m a little picky when it comes to cognac. Hope you don’t mind, Mister Gunner.”
“Just call me Jay. And I don’t mind. You drink my favorite cognac. And your name is?”
“It’s Joy. Joy Wong.”
That was a year ago. Joy proved to be a valuable addition to the trading team. She was worth every bit of her generous salary. With bonuses she earned a six-figure income. My only problem with Joy’s employment was with Amanda. She was jealous of our close working relationship.
Right after Joy started work, Amanda popped into the office. Amanda never came to the office without calling first, so I knew what that was about. Sure enough, I got an unwelcome ear full about hiring such an attractive assistant.
Work often extended well beyond normal working hours, and late into the night. Joy and I spent a lot of time watching charts and indicators dancing across computer screens, and meeting with clients. She was a beautiful young woman and I found her attractive. But my iron clad rule was never, ever, fool around with employees. Joy was off limits.
Differences in time zones made for strange working hours. One PM in New York was one AM in Hong Kong. When we worked late, I’d ride to her apartment with Joy. Then in the same taxi, I’d continue home. Amanda didn’t like this, and became suspicious I was fooling around.
After a year of Joy’s employment and Amanda’s suspicions, I was relieved when Joy revealed she had a boyfriend. She’d met a computer whiz.
“Joy, I’m happy for you. What great news. What’s his name?”
“Brian Andrews. He’s an American. I think you’ll like him.”
“You deserve a good man. Let’s celebrate. I’d like you and Brian to have dinner with us.
Joy looked pleased and said, “That’d be nice. Are you sure Amanda won’t mind?”
“Amanda will be happy to learn you have a boyfriend. She worries about frequent late night trading sessions. She hates I see you home.
“Really? You’ve always been a gentleman. She shouldn’t worry.”
“I tell her it’s dangerous for you to be alone in a cab late at night. She knows that, but is still unhappy. Will you help me out with a jealous Amanda and introduce Brian? What about dinner and drinks? Will Saturday night work?”
3 - Meeting Brian Andrews
I made reservations for four at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Pierre restaurant. An expensive French restaurant in a five star hotel, the Pierre was one of my favorites. Amanda and I were regulars. We tipped well, so received VIP treatment.
Brian Andrews and Joy appeared at the restaurant at eight PM. Amanda and I arrived a minute later. Joy introduced Brian just as the maître d’ arrived to escort us to a table.
The maître d’ was, as always cordial, “Good evening Mr. Gunner, Ms. Lee. It’s good to see you again. Ms. Lee you look stunning. I’ve arranged a table next to the window. You’ll have a commanding view of the harbor. I hope you enjoy it.”
As promised, our table had a magnificent view of Hong Kong harbor. Huge cargo ships, mixed with Chinese junks, navigated the harbor waters. In the moonlight the ships created shimmering wakes. Lighted ships looked festive as they coursed through the harbor. It was a wonderful setting for a fine dinner.
“It’s perfect Mr. Yu. I can always count on you. Thank you.”
I extended my hand to offer a handshake and transferred a $50 dollar bill.
“Thank you, Sir. It’s my pleasure to be of service. Please let me know if you need anything. Anything at all.”
The waiter appeared, dressed in formal attire. After ordering drinks I asked Brian how he met Joy.
“I was lucky. I was drinking a cappuccino at Starbucks on Connaught Road. I noticed this lady sitting alone at the adjacent table. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
I laughed and said, “She was waiting for someone to buy her a cappuccino.”
Joy said, “I can buy my own. I do it every Sunday.”
Brian gave Joy a look, like he believed her every Sunday comment. Then he continued, “I feared she might think me a disturbed character so I manned up. I told Joy I found her attractive. She smiled back, and asked if I was visiting Hong Kong. That’s how it started.”
Joy blushed before speaking. “I don’t usually speak to strange men, but Brian seemed pleasant enough, and a bit lonely. Guess I was feeling lonely myself. It was Sunday and I was wondering what to do for the rest of the day. We hit it off, and have been dating ever since.”
Amanda smiled as she told the story about our meeting at a Tokyo Starbucks. She said, “There must be something romantic about Starbucks. Several friends met their mates there.”
Brian spoke up. “It must be the laid-back and civilized environment. You’re able to have a conversation in Starbucks. That’s not the case in noisy nightclubs or crowded bars. Good relationships start with good conversations. At least, that’s my opinion.”
I liked this guy. Brian was quite bright. He didn’t dress to my standards, but few people had the income to play in that league. Brian wore a respectable blue blazer, a white shirt without a tie, and dark gray trousers. His large frame glasses and chiseled face gave him a preppy intellectual look.
According to Joy, Brian was 28. He looked older. It was his graying hair. Gray streaked hair, green eyes, and thick black rimmed glasses made him look like a nerd. Joy told me he was a computer whiz. In my book that explained his dress. He was a nerd, and nerds seldom dress up.
I asked, “What are you doing in Hong Kong? How long have you been here?”
Brian paused a few seconds before replying, as if deciding how much information he should disclose. “I’ve only been here three
months. Can’t say I’m doing much of anything except hiding out. I’ve set up an interview with a South China Post reporter. After that I expect life will become exciting.”
“Hiding out? That sounds serious. And interviews? What’s that about?” I became interested in the geeky looking Mr. Andrews. What was this guy into? How much did Joy know about this man?
“We’ve just met, so I’m not sure how much I should tell you. Joy tells me you’re a stand-up guy as well as the smartest guy in any room. What the hell. I’ll be frank with you.”
Joy looked at me with pleading eyes. “Let’s order dinner first. I’m starving and Brian’s tale is interesting, yet upsetting. It should wait until after dinner. OK with you?”
Before I could answer Brian cut in. “Joy, you’re right. Let’s relax over dinner. My story is best told with a stiff drink in hand. Anyone here speak French? I believe I'll need help. I hate to order food without knowing if it’s fish, fowl or frog legs.”
4 – Brian’s Tale
Brian finished dessert and said “Thank you for a fantastic dinner. The chocolate mousse was amazing.”
I said, “My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it. Let’s have an after dinner drink. And your story.”
Brian gazed out the window at the Hong Kong harbor. After a moment he turned to Joy. “Can you stand hearing my tale again?”
“Tell it all. It’s incredible, but I believe you. You’ve shown me documents.”
I was curious. Was Brian fleeing US Police? The FBI? The CIA? Interpol? A former employer? A former wife or lover? Would he tell the truth? I could almost hear the wheels turning inside Brian’s head as he paused. I guessed he was deciding how much to reveal.
The waiter arrived with four cognacs in hand. Brian proposed a toast. “In the end, may patriots win.”
I thought the toast strange, but didn’t say anything. I sipped my drink, wondering what Brian would say.
He began. “From the time I was eight years old, I was a computer freak. My dad was an IT guy so encouraged me to develop computer skills. Within three years my skills surpassed dad’s. By the time I entered high school, I was an advanced hacker.
“My senior year I got into serious trouble. I decided to prove skills by hacking into government websites. Even worse, I hacked into computer systems used by the US military and government agencies. I didn’t mean any harm. I wanted to see if I could do it.”
I said, “You must have a real talent. A reckless one. I’ve heard of skilled hackers, but never met one.” I began to wonder how such skills would give an edge in foreign exchange trading.
Brian went on, “I thought I was a hotshot. So skilled I had nothing to fear. I made the mistake of hacking into the National Security Agency (NSA) computers. It wasn’t long until FBI agents swarmed into the house.
Amazed at what I was hearing I said, “That must have been exciting.”
“Yeah, it was. Especially for my wide eyed parents. They didn’t know what was going on. I’ll never forget the look on their faces. Their only child was handcuffed and shoved into the back seat of a big black SUV. I was scared shitless. I didn’t feel so invincible then.”
“Shit, man. That’s heavy.” I looked at Amanda. She looked stunned. She stared at Brian like he was a dangerous alien from another planet.
“I was turned me over to the NSA. After hours of relentless interrogation, including real time demos of hacking skills, I had two choices. They would throw the book at me, and I’d go to jail for 10 years or more, or I could accept a job working for NSA. They were looking for top flight hackers and willing to make it worth their time.
I exclaimed, “You’re kidding. You’re offered a job?”
“I would start at $85,000 a year. That sounded better than being tossed into a juvenile detention home, then at 18 off to prison.”
“No way! You’re a 17 year old high school student and offered $85,000 a year by a US government agency dealing with national security?” Could Brian be telling the truth? If so, his hacking skills must be off the charts.
“I know it seems wild and crazy, but I swear it’s the truth. But hold on. My story is about to get crazier.”
Joy chimed in. “The sad part is coming. At first I didn’t believe Brian, but he showed me supporting documents. Let him finish.”
“For 11 years I worked for the NSA. Early on I had top-secret security clearance. My superiors were so pleased my salary increased to $200,000 a year. That’s not much for a successful foreign exchange trader like you, but for a kid who never finished high school it’s not so bad.”
I said, “Not bad at all. Impresses the hell out of me.”
“I was in hacker’s heaven. I had sophisticated computer equipment and told to commit hacking operations. Of course, my hacking was to fight terrorism and to support national security. I considered myself, and by the NSA, a hero. I earned respect for doing my little part to keep America safe.”
“Jesus Christ, man. What type of information were you after?” I drained my glass and motioned for the waiter to bring another round.
NSA missions are to protect US national security systems and to collect foreign intelligence information. I hacked in to foreign computers and extracted information useful to our intelligence efforts. It was a fun and challenging job. I was doing a valuable service.”
I thought a moment and said. “So your work was with foreign computers?”
“Yes, for the first several years. I was happy at NSA. But mission creep began. Some high level geniuses had grand ideas. We began to hack ISP servers, Internet hubs, and routers. We could spy on millions of individual computers. It was a much more efficient way of collecting data.”
Amanda frowned, her pert nose wrinkling in disgust. “So you think spying operations are okay? Were you spying on Hong Kong computers?”
“All developed country governments actively spy. Even when they consider the country they’re spying on a friend. You know how things are always changing. Look at Japan. 70 years ago, they were a bitter enemy. Now they’re one of our strongest allies. The same goes for Germany.”
Amanda exclaimed, “So you’re spying on everyone? Even friends and allies? That’s incredible.”
Brian adjusted his glasses and said. “Keeping up with friend and foe is vital for national security. I have no problem with that. So yes, NSA was collecting data from Hong Kong computers. The United States has a complex relationship with China. We can’t decide if they’re more foe than friend.”
I took Amanda’s hand. I saw how angry she was. She hated the thought of spying. She liked to look at porno sites and didn't like the idea of anyone knowing her secret passions.
I said, “So you had no problem with the NSA surveillance program?”
“Not at first. They were doing what Congress authorized them to do. What we were doing may be immoral to some, but under US law was legal. I became uncomfortable when fallout from 9/11 led to the surveillance of United States citizens. Spying without search warrants and probable cause was not within lawful bounds.”
“Whoa. NSA spying activity morphed into casting a wide net and spying on American citizens living in America?” A look of disbelief distorted my face.
Brian raised his voice as he said. “It’s worse than you imagine. NSA data mining extends to everything. Phone conversations, emails, financial transactions, TV programs watched, personnel files and medical records. There’re no plans to roll back the program.”
Amanda was getting mad. Her blood came to a boil. “Brian you must be joking. You’re making a cruel, ridiculous joke.”
“Afraid not Amanda. A new NSA center in Bluffdale, Utah hosts supercomputers that store gargantuan quantity of data. Data from emails, phone calls, and web searches. Even Google searches merit recording by NSA. The entire life of Americans is stored.”
I exclaimed, “My God, man. You’re thinking of going to the South China Post and revealing this information in an interview? Don’t do it. Your life will be turned upside down. The
US government will never forgive you. In their eyes you’ll become a traitor and hunted down. Many nasty things will happen to you. You might even disappear.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that. That’s why three months ago I left NSA. I told my boss I had some urgent medical problems. I had to take time off for treatment and recuperation. I came to Hong Kong to decide on a course of action.
“Once I go public I'll come under attack. I’ll be branded a trouble maker, a traitor, a double agent. But, I’ve made up my mind. I have to do it. Americans have the right to know how invasive their government’s spying operations are.”
Amanda spoke up, her beautiful face distorted and animated like an unhappy cartoon character. “I just don’t get it. You’re throwing a sweet life away. For what? You’ll become a despised whistleblower. What’s in it for you? “
“I have confidence in the American people. I’m willing to take the risk of blowing the whistle. Once my story goes public I believe other NSA employees will step forward. NSA supports illegal activity. I have a duty to report it. It’s something I have to do. I realize many people will brand me a traitor rather than a patriot.
“I expect most Congressmen will be livid with rage and demand my immediate persecution as a traitor. Believe me, the stronger the protests, the more accurate my information.”
I asked. “Aren’t whistleblowers protected? Can’t you report wrongdoing without fear of losing your job and getting nothing but trouble?”
“That’s only in theory. Whistleblowers using official channels had lives turned upside down. They lost their jobs, received audit notices from the IRS, were taken to court, and had reputations trashed. I’ve spoken to many of them and they all say stay away from official reporting channels.”
I felt I was talking to a doomed man. “You must know that Hong Kong has an extradition treaty with the US. Once you go public I don’t think you’re safe here. I understand your attraction for Hong Kong. It’s a fabulous city, and Joy is a remarkable woman.
Torn (Jay Gunner, #1) Page 2
