Layers of Deception

by Leo James

  Steve put the muddy bike in the back of the car, whilst Millie waited to jump in alongside the BMX. 'Do you like your bike, Jake?'

  'I love it, thanks Dad, thanks Mom.'

  CHAPTER TEN

  Monday 23rd February

  THE SEGURO TEAM GATHERED at the Institute of Directors, also known as the IoD in Pall Mall, London. Steve had been a member of the prestigious organisation for many years. He was proud to belong to a club which had gained the UK Royal Charter in 1906.

  Steve grabbed a coffee and sat down. 'OK, guys, help yourself to a drink and biscuits. They’ll bring along sandwiches at 12:30.' He kicked-off the Q7 project.

  The Seguro team in Malaysia and two of the Wales-based UK developers, who did not travel down, connected into the meeting using Skype. Once the rest had taken their seats around the large oval table, Steve started the meeting. 'OK, I wanted to get us off-site, so we can plan the implementation at Q7 with no interruptions.' He smiled. ‘David will oversee everything. A great job - he has agreed to stay in Malaysia until the project is underway. David can you talk about last week’s meeting with Q7?' Keep him sweet and in Kuala Lumpur as long as possible until the money flows.

  'Sure,' David announced via the Skype connection. He outlined the aims, timescales, requirements of the project, and updated the team on the personnel involved from Q7. 'They want the standard SeguroPay authentication solution based on registration using hash key and email address or mobile phone number. They are working with Axiatel in Asia supporting millions of mobile phone devices. They want the SeguroPay Secure Payments software for all devices. Mark, can you expand on the configuration?'

  Mark took his Skype connection off mute. 'Yes, we’ll route all payments from the customers’ bank account, pre-paid cards, loyalty points, and our secure wallet. All the payment routing and notifications will use the Payment Service Grid software. They want to support crytocurrencies, starting with Bitcoin and then adding others, including Ethereum, Litecoin and Tether. Standard system configuration along with notification preferences such as text and email. Q7 want to allow people to change mobile devices without losing their account settings. Input or output accounts can be a bank, bitcoin, top-up, or wallet. Q7 want variable charge rates for bitcoin, bank, wallet, airtime and vouchers. We’ll hook into their existing forex and financial structure.’

  'And KYC,' David butted in.

  'Oh yes, know your customer. Q7 have their own KYC validation, so great for us.'

  They assigned the group to various roles in the project, including overall operations, development lead, implementation, and configuration.

  The team spent the rest of the meeting going through the detailed plan, in readiness for the next two months.

  Steve felt the stress easing and a more positive outlook was emerging. We’re getting there. Thank goodness.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Sunday 1st March

  MAI SAT BESIDE GLEN in the taxi as Glen instructed the driver on approaching Jalan Ampang road. 'It's Somerset Wisma, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.'

  'OK, sir.'

  'Number 187, 50450, Jalan Ampang.' Glen embraced Mai. 'We'll find the perfect place for us in the Golden Triangle.'

  The famous Golden Triangle main shopping and entertainment district was on the north side of Kuala Lumpur. At the centre was the busy shopping area of Bukit Bintang. The office towers of Raja Chulan, the five-star hotel strip of Sultan Ismail, the party street of Jalan Ram – all attracted many people day and night. Soaring scrapers, huge shopping malls, nightclubs, and top-notch hotels pierced the entire landscape.

  'Listen to this,' Glen read from the brochure. 'The stylish Somerset Ampang Kuala Lumpur features an ideal serviced apartment, within the prestigious Embassy Row area. Ideal for executives and families on business and leisure travel. That's you and me, Mai,’ Glen smiled.

  He continued, ‘We furnish each spacious residence with designer fittings and modern amenities, including an integrated kitchen, an iPad dock and Wi-Fi. The amenities, services and facilities make you comfortable no matter how far away from home. After work or shopping, work out in the gym or relax in the rooftop infinity pool and jacuzzi. Lovely jubbly.'

  Mai kissed his cheek. 'Hope we find somewhere. This area is great for us.'

  The new romantics arrived outside the building, and were greeted by Aisha, who was wearing a purple floral gown and a pink headscarf covering her head, neck and shoulders. The headscarf concealed her hair but showed an attractive woman with dark eyes, and pale orange lipstick.

  'I do not like her; she looks at me like I am nothing,' Mai said in a whisper.

  ’No probs,’ Glen said.

  Glen and Mai followed Aisha up to the sixteenth floor and into one of the show apartments.

  'Our apartment is a superior residence, close to business offices, embassies and shopping centres,' Aisha said. 'For all destinations within the city, the light rail from Ampang Park LRT station is ideal.'

  Glen wandered around the accommodation. 'OK, what do we get?'

  Aisha read from a list. 'Equipped gymnasium, residents’ lounge with games console and board games, rooftop infinity pool, jacuzzi, twenty-four-hour reception and security, plus closed-circuit TV surveillance.'

  'So, this is a one-bedroom suite?' Glen asked.

  'The room is big, and the bathroom has a nice shower and bath. A queen-sized bed. And a walk-in closet,' Aisha said.

  'Can we walk to KLCC train station?'

  'Yes, less than a five-minute walk to the KLCC.'

  Glen turned to Mai. 'Do you like it? No brainer.'

  'I like it very much, but not her.’ Mai pointed at Aisha.’ I not care for her, now she ignores me, I am not invisible,' she whispered to Glen.

  'You’re with me. No probs.'

  ######

  They celebrated finding a dream home by visiting their new favourite restaurant at Kin Kin, a hole-in-the-wall establishment in the Chow Kit area of Kuala Lumpur. No one visited for the extensive menu. Kin Kin was famous for one dish only, and it was always Mai's first choice: chilli pan mee made from minced pork, poached egg, dried anchovies and homemade noodles. It was spicy and delicious but served with no frills. Likewise, there was no fancy decor, just lots of plastic chairs, tables, and bowls.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Monday 9th March

  STEVE SPOTTED DAVID STANDING outside the coffee shop, focused on his iPhone. He smiled to himself. Typical David, wearing a business shirt and trousers, but balanced on his head an old canvas hat to protect him from the sun. Steve had arrived back in Kuala Lumpur earlier that day. 'Hello stranger.' Steve hoped the message David had left earlier about some concerns at Q7 was nothing that would hold up the project.

  David looked up. 'Hi Steve, how are you?' They shook hands.

  Steve shrugged his shoulders. 'I've checked into the Concorde. Arrived two hours ago. Knackered, but the shower has woken me up for now. Still sweating like a pig though.'

  David pointed towards Starbucks. 'Let's go in.' They joined the short queue.

  Steve shook the collar of his shirt. 'Air-con is great. Two weeks of crap weather back home and now I'm sweating as much as before my shower.'

  'Been bloody hot. What are you having?'

  'An iced tea, thanks. Cliff Lin is meeting me here in an hour. You're welcome to stay and chat.'

  David nodded.

  'I'm intrigued. What's wrong?' I hope he's not going to be a pain.

  David looked down at his trainers. 'I've found a serious problem. Our system has become an onion router, along with all the computers on the Q7 network.'

  Steve struggled to hear him over the noise of the coffee shop chatter. 'What have you found?'

  Once they had collected their drinks, David looked around and found a table in the corner of the cafe. 'We're the payment point; part of a dark net.' He stroked his beard.

  It concerned Steve how worried David looked. Bollocks! Bollocks! 'What do you mean? Payment point for the dark net?'

>   David whispered. 'It's the onion router. Online anonymity invented by the FBI in—'

  'I know what the bloody dark net is for God's sake.' Steve shook his head. ’That's where you can buy credit cards and hire contract killers. So where does the router fit?'

  David sat back in his chair. 'Sorry. Onion routing is a way for computers to communicate across a network anonymously, peeling off a layer of the onion to reveal the next computer along the path to receive the information.' David had an anxious look on his face.

  This can't be happening. Fucking hell! We're getting out of the shit. I'm not diving back into it. No way!

  Steve feigned calmness. 'Who set this up?'

  Oh shit. Let me think what to do!

  'Has to be someone within Q7,’ David said, ‘or a back-door set-up for an outside organisation.'

  Can't be right. Q7 are big. 'An inside job?'

  'Could be. Also, transactions on our system start and finish on the Onion…’ David stroked his beard.

  Steve interrupted, ’So, you mean people are paying for stuff and receiving payment for stuff on our system across the dark net? What on earth would they be selling?'

  'Drugs, laundering money, card fraud, you name it.'

  'What services have Q7 launched so far?' Steve said.

  'Top-up, person-to-person payment, mobile commerce and loyalty points.'

  'So, they could use these services to launder money.' Steve brushed his hand through his hair, feeling increasingly concerned. For fuck's sake, David. We don't need this.

  David increased the rate of stroking his beard. 'Yes, but it gets worse. One of the commission payment instruments, uses our solution—'

  'So, let me get this right,' Steve interrupted.' Q7 split the commission? So, money is being syphoned off from Q7 to illegal outfits?’

  But, Steve reassured himself. We can’t be sure it’s illegal stuff.

  'Yes, that's right. The system accepts bitcoin as input and wallet as output. That's where the dark net may come into play as Q7 purchasers can be anonymous.'

  'So, we may have a money laundering racket going on here? Could be an inside job? I need to talk to Farid. Leave it with me, I'll meet with him.'

  This needs to go away!

  They then huddled over Steve's laptop and worked through a series of issues, plans and strategies.

  ######

  Steve spotted Cliff as he entered the coffee shop. 'Here he is, we can talk more later.' He stood up to shake Cliff's hand. Cliff Lin was a gentleman with an optimistic outlook on life. His fine grey, shoulder length hair clashed with his smart black trousers and tailored white shirt, which caressed his small-boned frame. He was a strong supporter of Seguro, even making a financial investment in the company.

  Cliff shook hands with David. 'Good morning, gentlemen.'

  'Do you want a drink?' Steve asked.

  'No thanks. I need to go to a business meeting at my golf club this afternoon.' Cliff took a sip from his water bottle.

  'Are you still enjoying your golf?'

  'I love it. Roger tells me you won the Q7 deal.'

  'Yes, it’s immense and the timescales are short, so we will grow the revenue.'

  Cliff looked at David. 'Are you confident?'

  'Yes, confident. We agreed to go live within two months.'

  Right answer. We need to keep him on our side. He is important to us.

  Cliff smiled. 'I am looking forward to revenues and dividends soon!'

  Steve nodded. 'Have you met Farid Razak, Q7's CEO?'

  'Yes, I have seen him at the club, but I don’t know him well.'

  Steve and David talked further with Cliff about many subjects including Manchester United winning the league, unreliable London buses, great food on Emirates Airlines and the price of gold, before Cliff had to leave.

  Steve turned to David. ‘Cliff’s a great guy. We’re so lucky he’s a supporter. He knows Malaysian business and customs. If it gets sticky at Q7, I’m sure he’ll help smooth things out.’

  David nodded but looked uneasy and distracted.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Tuesday 10th March

  MAI ARRIVED AT THE dormitory building wearing a short white dress that Glen had bought her the day before. She wore her pink high heel boots accompanied by a matching patent leather handbag. Although early evening, the sunlight beamed onto the building. The video cameras and motion sensors tracked her progress. She pressed the buzzer entry on the metal door, entered and walked up the stairs to the third floor.

  ######

  She spotted a man lying in a doorway, beer can in hand, slumped against the door. Mai immediately thought of her father. The memories were not happy. She had spent the past two years in Kuala Lumpur after moving from Vietnam to find work and send money back to her family. Mai grew up in the countryside near Hanoi where her parents worked as farmers. They had been a poor family, but got by, even though her father always drank. His behaviour spiralled downwards when he lost his job at a local farm. He became violent. The family fell apart. Her mother, sister, and Mai moved out. Mai studied to become a nurse when she finished school, but when her parents split up the funds ran out, so they forced her to leave nursing and find work as a day labourer, harvesting crops for local farmers. She hated it; her dreams ended.

  Her good friend, Tien, moved to Kuala Lumpur a few years earlier. When she came back to visit, she told Mai she had earned a lot of money as a waitress. Gossip in the village presumed she did something other than waitressing; which she always denied. Tien asked Mai to come with her, but at the time the suggestion scared Mai. Two years later, when Mai gave birth to a son, she changed her mind. She told her mother she needed to earn money in Malaysia, so left the baby with her. Mai wanted a decent future for her son. She did not tell her mother what she intended to do.

  Everyone in Mai's village suspected how young women made good money in tourist towns. Families maintained face in the village by saying their daughters worked in a hotel or restaurant. Women found their way into the sex industry where, if attractive, they earned many times more money than working on a farm. They thought of them as good daughters doing their duty; as long as they sent back enough money to support the family.

  When Tien took Mai to a bar in Kuala Lumpur for the first time, Mai walked out - she could not cope, so she got a job serving drinks, earning a fraction of what Tien earned. If she could make enough to start a new life, she could finish her training and become a qualified nurse. Mai wanted to make her son proud of her. After many restless nights, she talked herself into sleeping with men for money. She convinced herself that this was a means to an end.

  Her first customer, a western man in his thirties’, terrified her. She hated her job but consoled herself with thoughts of her family and the money. When he left, she showered for a long time. She cried and worried about what her mother would say. None of her customers ever asked her about her life. Mai supposed they did not care.

  Mai wanted to achieve a level of financial security she could not dream of in Hanoi. She hoped, after two years in the industry she would save enough money to return to the village and raise her son.

  ######

  Mai walked along the corridor to the cramped dormitory where she had lived with Tien before moving in with Glen. It was a squalid area shared by four other women from Vietnam, above one of the establishments where they worked. They looked out for each other. Whilst she stayed there, Mai always kept her phone near her and called her best friend if she experienced problems with any of the men she satisfied. Tien would drop everything and come to help her. Deep down Mai dreamed of earning enough money to allow herself to move somewhere where she could study and then set up her own business. Financial security was what she wanted, and she could get that for herself.

  A prominent gang owned bars and ran a series of criminal activities such as drugs, extortion, and prostitution. They controlled the women by confiscating their passports. The clan fined and beat them if they tried to escape
and dished out threats against the women’s families. If the girls sought help from the authorities, they risked being deported.

  ######

  Mai entered the room and Tien embraced her. They sat on the floor, opposite each other; a small grey mat separating them. They shared a plate of noodles and talked to each other in their local Vietnamese dialect. Tien placed her chopsticks on a side plate. 'How is Xuan?'

  'He is growing fast. I would love to go back to be with my boy.' Mai looked to the floor. 'I miss him.'

  Tien leaned forward and placed her hand around Mai's wrist. 'They grow so quickly. Is Glen treating you well? Does he hurt you?'

  Mai looked up and smiled. 'He is a good man. I like him very much. He treats me very well. I like being with him.'

  'How long can you stay with him?'

  'I am with him at the Concorde Hotel. He wants me to live with him. We looked at apartments in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.'

  'Did you find out anything?'

  Mai shrugged. 'No, he has said little. He seems happy. Work is good. So, no problems.'

  Tien squeezed her wrist. 'Did he talk about Q7?'

  'No, nothing.'

  'You must find out any information. Mountain Master wants you to keep him happy. Listen and talk to Glen, tell me what you can find.'

  Mai pulled her wrists out from Tien's grasp. 'OK, but I can dream.'

  ‘We must do our job. We don’t want to make them angry.'

  'Glen is strong, and gentle. He can help me start a new life.’

  'They will hurt our families. Please do your job.'

  'I will try.'

  Tien made oolong tea, and they talked about work, clothes, their friends and what was happening back home in Hanoi.

  They left the dormitory together, both going to work. Mai headed back to the Concorde and Tien set off for the Beach Club.