Insider X (13 page)

“So what’s their agenda?” Lip said.  “What have they been doing with all these online fake profiles?”

“We have our suspicions.  Good news is it looks like we have an opportunity here to put some eyes on this.  Verify what we know, and find out what we don’t know,” Johnny Two-cakes said.

“Wait?” Lip said.  “We?  You said ‘we’.  And ‘opportunity’?  What opportunity are we talking about?”

“The extraction of this girl, of course,” Johnny Two-cakes said.  “Sounds like the perfect opportunity.  We need the proper chip for the EMex.  If Mei will provide that, as long as we get her this girl, then count me in… I’m on board.  And considering the circumstances, it would seem to make sense we broaden our scope.  Look into this facility when we get the girl.  Wouldn’t you agree?”

Lip gave Marks a look.  “They must think we’re stupid.”  He looked at Mei.  “You want to comment?”

“What?” Mei said.  “You think this was planned?  Me and Johnny Two-cakes talked about this?”

Marks smirked.  Typical.

“Next time just ask us,” Marks said.

Lip nodded.  “What the fuck guys?  Did you think we’d say no?”

Johnny Two-cakes sighed.  Mei looked embarrassed.

“Johnny Two-cakes thought you might,” Mei said, sheepishly.

“You two never learn, do you?” Lip said.

“Time to work on a plan,” Marks said.

“Yep.  Denny’s?” Lip said.

“I keep telling you,” Mei said.  “We don’t have Denny’s.”

“Pizza Hut it is then,” Lip said.

MEI EYED MARKS, not stepping into the corridor, yet, to join Lip and Johnny Two-cakes who were already heading towards the elevators.

“Mad?” Mei said.

“Why should I be?” Marks said.

“Me and Johnny Two-cakes talking before… doing that act of ours... all to get you and Lip to do our side mission?”

“Explains things,” Marks said.

“Things?” Mei said.

“That tell for one,” Marks said.  “Knew something was up.”

“You were joking,” Mei said.

“Was I?” Marks said. 

Mei frowned.  “No more games.  Do I have a tell?”

“You tell me?”

Mei pushed him in his stomach.  “Stop.”

“Okay,” Marks said.  “No tell.”  He looked around; thought of something else.  “Real shame.”

“What is?” Mei said.

“Nice place.  Hate to leave so soon.”

Mei smirked.  Pushed him again.  “Okay, Stanley.”

“Stanley now, huh?”

“Yes, I like.  Shut the door.  You’re last.”

Marks watched her cute little ass in those tight polyester pants go ahead.  He waited till she rounded the bend before glancing back into the room.  One last sweep with his eyes, and he closed the door with a handkerchief.  Crying shame.  Was a good looking apartment.

19

Facility 67096

THERE WAS PRACTICALLY a mini city contained within the walls.  But one thing that stood out to Na was that Huiliang never once mentioned the wall.  Not even a passing comment as their walking trail took them past it.

They had resumed their tour after that short spell of awkwardness.  Na curtailed the questions.  Huiliang’s cheerful upbeat chatter soon returned.  The fear Na had sensed in her was long gone like it had never happened.

Na listened as Huiliang pointed out other places.  The area within the walls was too big to see in one hour-long tour—it would take an entire day to see everything.  There were many others that were walking around, going into and out of buildings or enjoying the sprawling grounds and trails.

Huiliang had said salutations to at least two dozen people they’d passed.  Most of those young men or women had greeted her back, using her name.  Many of them had nodded and smiled at Na, as well.

None of them looked fearful, and none of them looked stressed.  Quite to the contrary, in fact.  Just like Huiliang now, they all had cheerful smiling faces.

They reached a section that was mostly hardscape.  Their walking trail had deposited them on a wide paved esplanade.  On both sides of them were shops.  Na looked in amazement.

It was almost like a scaled down version of Chunxi Road, an area of Chengdu known for its trendy shops, boutiques, and luxury brand stores.  It was much busier in this section.  There were hundreds of young men and women walking around, going into shops, enjoying themselves.

“This is my favorite area,” Huiliang said.  “We call it Luxury Lane.  They have almost everything here you would want to buy.”

Na noticed the brand names of some of the stores.  Some were high-end luxury brands.  For a moment she forgot she wasn’t supposed to be asking questions.  “And they… you… can afford this stuff?” Na said.

“Of course,” Huiliang said.  “We are very well compensated here.  I am saving most of my money, but I occasionally splurge.”  She glanced down at her feet.  “I have one weakness, as you can see.”

Na hadn’t noticed the brand when she’d first admired Huiliang’s open-toe shoes, but she recognized them now.  They were
Moomu’s
, an Italian brand that was very expensive.

“You bought those here?” Na said.

“Mm hmm,” Huiliang said.  “I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t resist them.”

They paused at one of the storefronts.  Petite-sized mannequins modeled some of the latest women’s fashion accessories.  Na noticed the price tags on some of the items.

“The prices?” Na said, in surprise.

“I know,” Huiliang said, “isn’t it wonderful.”

Na had done plenty of window shopping before.  She’d imagined many times being able to afford the designer clothes and expensive leather purses she’d seen in the upscale shopping centers.  She wasn’t an expert on what things cost, but she recognized that there was definitely a big disconnect here.  She looked at the leather purses and shoes that were shown in another storefront.  Everything was priced at least half or a third what they normally would be priced.  And some items were discounted even more.

“Those are Prada purses,” Na said.  The prices, she noticed, were a fraction what those purses retailed for in stores.

“Mm hmm,” Huiliang said.

“They can’t be real… not at that price,” Na said.

“Oh, they’re real,” Huiliang said.

“How?” Na said, forgetting again she wasn’t supposed to be asking questions.

Huiliang didn’t seem to notice or care that Na was being inquisitive again.  She just smiled.  “I don’t know.  Does it matter?”

Na didn’t think it was possible they could be real.  But then again, she knew that many luxury brands that were sold globally were actually made in China
. 
Regardless of the fact they said they were
Made in Italy
or
Made in France
. 
Certain brands got away with saying that by either just plain lying or by assembling those wares in those host countries.  By “assembling” that might mean the item was made here in China, and then the last piece: a belt buckle, rivet, shiny button, or some other superfluous piece was fastened in the host country so that host country could state it was “made” there.  It was still cheating, but those brands apparently got away with it.

And then, of course, even when it wasn’t really made in China, there were those factories abroad—like in Italy—where they used cheap Chinese labor.  Sweat shops.  Smuggled in illegals.  Men and women promised a better life, only to find even more horrible living conditions than here.  Those factories made the goods in Italy off the backs of Na’s sisters and brothers.  Yes, the product was Made in Italy.  But it wasn’t really.  It was made by the Chinese.

Those countries had no shame.

So Na paid no attention to labels.  If they were honest, most designer goods should say Made in China.  Because that was usually the case.  Burberry, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Bally…

All of them made such pretty stuff.  But few knew they were all outsourcing to China.  Because the Chinese were the best at making things.  Big shout out, peeps!

The best! 

Like Apple’s iPhone.

Made in China.  True.  Manufactured, assembled, kissed lovingly by workers.

Well… not really.  Apple paid like poo.  Workers made nothing.  But Na forgave them; she had a big heart.  She loved Apple.  Don’t ask why.  Maybe because Apple was doing what every boss did here.  Exploited workers.  Paid like poo.  So why single them out?  They were like all companies here that made stuff.

Take tools.  All those tools sold back in America.  Made by American companies?  Hardly, sillies.

Made here!

Yippee!

Like
Craftsman
tools.  Americans still bought the old advertising slogan by that company:

Made in USA.  All Craftsman sockets and wrenches are proudly made in USA.

Big funny joke now.  Not the case.  Made here!  And that slogan was hung up in a locker, Na had heard from someone who used to work there.  Inside joke among the employees.

This is USA!  This stinky smelly cheapo place is USA.  We should form union.  Ha ha!

Husky
hand tools.  Know them?  Sold in USA.  Husky big man.  Well, Mr. Big Man, did you know your tool was made in China?  We give lifetime warranty for you.  The best!

Milwaukee Tools
.  Same thing.
 
You like?  Good!
  No ‘Milwaukee’ in Milwaukee Tools, though.  We mean to change sometime.  Should be ‘China Tools’.

Ha!

Didn’t know?  Everything.  We make everything!

The only cool thing, in Na’s opinion, was at least, sometimes, those brands got played like fools too.  Had a taste of their own forked-tongue duplicity.  Na glanced down Luxury Lane.  These names.  Big European companies.  Charging so much money for this stuff.  Yes, it was all cool stuff.  She wanted.  She admitted it.  But they cheated.  They lied.  So right back at you!  We play same game on you.  Works both ways!

Na thought of the time she’d worked in a factory near Dongguan.  During the day, the factory line churned out leather purses for the client, and then after hours, when the factory was supposed to be officially closed, the lines would start up again.  Same supple leather designer purses, with the same gold-embossed letters for its clasp, were assembled and stitched again, only this time all those purses went out “the back door” to be sold at much cheaper prices.

Ha!

Maybe that was the deal here?  Or maybe all these were just plain fakes?  Na looked at the purses.  They certainly didn’t look fake.

They looked good.  Looked like they were Made in China.

“Can we go in?” Na said.

“Of course,” Huiliang said.

They went inside the store.  It had that modern vibe, clean lines and expensive-looking finishes for the walls and floor.  There were three other customers in the store.  A young man was looking at jackets, a young woman was trying on shoes, and another girl was picking up and examining handbags.

Na didn’t see any store clerks.  They must be in the back of the store.  Huiliang went over and admired some of the shoes.  Na accompanied her.

“Oh, I like those!” Huiliang said.

The prices were all so cheap.  Na was amazed.  Huiliang picked up a pair of taupe colored sandals.  “This is how it starts.”  Huiliang giggled.  “I wonder if they have my size?”  She looked at Na conspiratorially.  “Let’s go see.”  Huiliang carried the shoe towards the rear of the store.

Na still didn’t see any store clerks.  There was a marble-topped counter and a pay station, but no one was manning it.  Huiliang walked around the counter and headed through a cased opening that presumably led to the storeroom area.  Bemused, Na followed behind.

“Now, where do they keep these?” Huiliang said, looking at the inventory lined up on the shelves.

“Can we be back here?” Na whispered.

“Of course,” Huiliang said.  “Oh, silly me, I forgot.”  She paused, and stopped looking for her shoes.  “These stores are all self service.  We help ourselves.”

“No clerks?” Na said.

Huiliang nodded.  She began to search for her shoes again.

This was so weird, Na thought.  She looked at the shelves with the inventory.  So well maintained.  All neatly stacked.  Self service?  In a store like this?  That made no sense to her.

But several minutes later, Huiliang was “cashing out” with her new shoes in a tangerine-orange-colored bag she’d retrieved from behind the counter.  She paid for the item using her keycard, by just swiping it across a reader that was on the counter.  It was the same type of card that Na had been given.

“Could I buy something too?” Na said.  “Using my card?”

“Mm hmm,” Huiliang said.  “They extend credit.  Do you see something you like?”

Na looked around.  “I’ll wait.”

Huiliang glanced at her watch.  “Oops, we’re going to be late.  We need to hurry.”