Spy v. Spy

I was initially going to write about something else until I was writing a story to my brother and thought others might appreciate it. 

Jimlim had to work with her Aunt/mother today so we weren’t able to spend the afternoon together.  I went shopping for plane tickets to China, hotel rooms for me and my friend Meike in Beijing, DVD player, and new movies.   I spent the morning working out and  writing a couple of overdue emails.  As I was walking to the Sky Train (hereafter called BTS), I thought a couple of people were following me.  I  discretely checked my back-path once and determined a total of three men, who appeared to be Thai, were following me.  I know…I know…a lot of you are probably thinking I’m a nut-job; I assure you – I AM a nut-job, but I was most certainly being followed by two men and mirrored by a third. 

Almost 100%  of the  time, gut instinct is correct; these men struck me as coppers.  I immediately thought the aunt of Jimlim had put her uncle up to watching me, and I was most certain that these were his men so I decided to play a game with them.

In Bkk, all you have to do if you’re followed is get on a ‘motorscooter taxi’ and take it to the next intersection; take the first left (training has taught me that most of Earth’s population are right handed; if someone runs, they tend to go towards their strong side, which is right.  Humans will run for no more than 100M before lying low after turning right.)  Get on another motorscooter taxi to the next intersection, then take another left.  I could have easily lost them with traffic being the way it is.  Here is the game I played…

I got on the Sky Train to a destination which was opposite of where I was going; the two following me also got on.  I waited until the train began beeping when the doors were about to close and jumped off; my trailing left foot got stuck in the door, but I quickly removed it.  The train left with the men on it.  I descended the stairs, and assended to the tracks which would take me to my destination. 

I saw the ‘mirror’ looking at me and noted another who stood out in my mind.  When the train arrived, I hung back as did the other two.  The ‘mirror’ got on the train at the last moment as did I.  I did my best to make eye contact with him and finally succeeded; when we made contact, he immediately sat down and his his head behind the head of some woman. 

I think we went through four or so stops before I found a stop where there were only a couple of people; I got off.  I waited until the platform cleared.  An older Thai man peered over a handrailing at me, then disappeared.  To be honest, I thought I was losing m y mind.  I chuckled at myself when I thought this; then another ‘stand out’ appeared.  I descended the steps and left the station.  I walked against the flow of traffic and crossed to the opposite side of traffic and re-entered the station.  When I appeared  on the opposing platform, his facial expression gave it all away:  They’d been made.  hahahahaha!  Curse words are flowing through my mind at the moment.  I got on the train, switched again, and went to my destination.  About 15 minutes after I left the station, my phone rang.  Guess who. 

Triangulation is alive and well.  Who knows if they use it here, but I was suspicious.   I’d already called her twice today and now, all of a sudden, my phone rings from her.  I answered it, and didn’t look back again.  I can appreciate her family’s concern for her…if that’s who it was…