Kai Jai (ไข้ใจ – heart fever) Love sickness or heartbreak.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ben – The Proof

We did go to the Tingkee Ice Cream Shoppe. It was interesting because it had the feel of the ice cream parlor in St. Louis. They had the Orange Cream in three ways, elephant, water buffalo or bulk. Lilly picked

the elephant shape cream. She took one bite, closed her eyes and squealed the 'mmm' sound. Angie and I had one Orange Cream shake with two straws, two spoons, whip cream and a cherry on top. Lilly stretched over and plucked the cherry off our shake, plopped it into her mouth, closed her eyes and made the 'mmm' noise the second time.

Angie and I took a spoonful each of our shake, closed our eyes, and clanged 'mmm' very loudly. Lilly looked at us like she was going to frown, then a deep belly-laugh erupted and the cherry shot across the room. It hit an Army Sergeant in the ear. The sergeant looked like he could be a twin to Angie's brother Doug. I said, "Sergeant, sorry about the flying cherry."

"Ain't nut'n, da chil' di'nt me'n it. Use'ly get shot at wi't da' re'l bul'its." He said, in a deep Southern drawl.

His last name was Perch according to his nametag. As Sergeant Perch was leaving, he waved at us and said, "Ya'll hav' a gud' day, he'ah."

Angie said, He looks like Doug, only thinner, but his voice is totally different. "He is Uncle Doug," said Lilly. Angie and I looked at each other, and said in chorus, "No!" Lilly noted. "He waved just like Uncle Doug, with a little twisting of the hand."

That evening, when we checked the mail, Angie received a note from her aunt. In the letter was the front page of the St Louis Post Dispatch saying, "DOUG PAISLEY STILL ON THE LOOSE." The article said, "A year after his escape, Doug Paisley has not been found. The two that escaped with him were discovered within two weeks, but Paisley was not with them. The State Police said all their leads have come to a dead end."

Before I could say a word, Angie said, "That was Doug!" Lilly chimed in, "I told you so. Uncle Doug was here." I called Dawkmymy and asked her if she had her cousin John's phone number in Phuket. I briefly explained the situation. She said, "He is in Chiang Mai with a crew upgrading the security system of the Crystal Dragon Complex. I talked with his wife earlier. She signified they were going to dinner then to a movie." Angie and I were wrenching our hands. A trembling was spreading all over my body. Sweat was streaming under my shirt.

Fifteen minutes later, we heard a knock at the door. It was John. He said, "Two of my armed security team are discreetly positioned to watch every movement around your house. We have installed temporary cameras scanning the street and the rear of your property. The Ampher police are ramping up their regular patrols in the area.

The Missouri State Police have faxed me a picture that they had on file, but it is very grainy. Does Angie or her Mother have any clearer pictures of Doug?" Slowly I had the thought of a little boy sitting on a swing in the park. No one else was around, and a gentle breeze was flowing The world was a great place with no fighting and no bullies.

Angie said, "He sent Granny a couple of pictures, but they are over a year old. From what we saw he is thinner, and he speaks like he is from Mississippi or Alabama.

"The agency have artists that can take that picture and update it from your description. Do you think he would hurt you or your family?" A picture of that little boy interrupted my thoughts. Doug was pushing me out of the swing and the cold air was biting. It was winter. He and his buddies were laughing as they pulled my new coat from my body, and dumped me in an icey ditch Did I imagine the scene, or was it real? My mind was paralyzed for a moment.

"He was furious with Ben and me when we turned him over to the St. Louis Police. I imagine he would kill us or our daughter without hesitation. My parents helped trick him in making a confession. He might try to harm them."

"We have an armed security team on the way as we speak. They will guard the Olander Farm compound. What kind of people were his associates?"

"They were all gang members and he was their leader, He had his gang rape his own sister, Angie, because she was intelligent in school, and he wasn't. He blamed his laziness on her. He and his gang raped and killed a dozen women in the St. Louis area."

"That reminds me of the Meows and the Pink Handkerchief gang. I wonder if he has any connection with them," said John.

"There may be."

I went with John to the Paisleys and explained why we were looking for Doug. Beverly had a couple of photos of him in his prison garb. She pointed out it has been over a year since Doug had written. Her arms and hands were shaking violently while giving John the pictures. She could barely speak. Her John took her hands. The tension flowed away from her, and she spoke again. She said, "He is my son, but he is crazy. John and I are afraid of him.

John assured her that he had armed guards patrolling and surveillance cameras monitoring all entrances of the compound.

She inquired, "How did he get into Thailand?"

I said, "He is wearing an Army uniform that had a name tag with Perch on it. I imagine he had a fake I. D, passport and orders. Enough time has passed permitting him to change uniforms, rank and I.D.s"

He was seen in the shady part of Chiang Mai entering a beer joint. When the agents searched the tavern, there was no sign of him. He must have fled through the back door.

A tuk-tuk driver reported taking him to the same bar the next day. The saloon owner claimed American military men came in and out all day. Maybe he had seen him, but was not sure.

One of the bar girls said he had been there, and left without paying for his drinks. She said he was with a Thai woman that probably worked at another pub, because she was dressed in a short skirt and a lowcut see through blouse.

The owner pointed to the surveillance cameras. He said that they are positioned to film every bit of the bar. The security service changes the film weekly, or when needed after a fight or a robbery, Their regular service time is tomorrow. If he called them. they will have a representative here within thirty minutes, but there is a charge of one hundred Baht ($5.00) if I call them today.

I gave the man the one hundred Baht, and turned the film over to John. His technicians were able to produce clear pictures of Doug from four different angles. There were pictures of his female companion. A check of the bars in the area found that she was known as (แสงดาว – Starlight.)

Doug was now wearing a New Zealand Army field uniform with the rank of a Lieutenant. His nametag read Trout. He and Sangdoaw were on a commercial flight to Don Muang. They were on the turn-around flight to Chiang Mai She was using the name and was dressed as a college student. He was using the name Martin Armstrong wearing a white dress shirt, black pants and was sporting a beard.

They were not seen leaving the airport. Taxi and tuk-tuk drivers had not taken them anywhere. If they had a car, no one was aware of it. One baggage handler had seen them entering the restrooms, but had not seen them exit the area. An investigation camera filmed them entering the restrooms. However. they were not recorded leaving.

Agents reviewed the film a dozen times before discovering a heavyset older American or European couple emerge with the same luggage. The man had hair on the sides and back of his head, but the top was bald. The woman had a pudgy face with dirty blonde hair.

John reported to Angie and me that they are probably already in a different disguise. It is apparent that someone keeps informing them what we have learned. John suggested that we back-off, and make the pressure lose its grip.

The guards were pulled from my house and Rufus' farm. All was quiet for a few days. We went about our normal business. John and Beverly had moved to the farm into one of Rufus' empty houses. They had put in new screens on the windows and doors. They added insulation, and connected two Western style bathrooms. Additionally, they painted the house a brownish red.

Angie, Lilly and I were invited to their new house for dinner. We had just finished cobbler and homemade ice-cream, when we heard a quiet knock at the rear door. It was Doug and Sangdoaw. He said we do not have any weapons, but we want to talk with you. John chuckled, and invited them into the kitchen.

Doug said, "Ken Greng yaks (แข็งแรงยักษ์ – Strong Giant,) a friend has been keeping me up-to-date on the security agents after me. We are tired of running. Sangdoaw and I are going to disappear into a remote part of Thailand. She knows that my life is filled with crime even to my family. Forgiveness is beyond my hopes. A deep sorrow has surrounded me, and death is deserved because of my evil actions. You will never see the snake that stands in front of you again. Sangdoaw accepts me, and has transformed my being. Her love is not deserved. I am blessed because of her.

Two minutes later he and Sangdoaw were out the door. We never heard from him again. Beverly and Angie wanted to know more how this reformed Doug was thinking as their minds were slowly trembling. They presented hard gray stares, and possessed a feeling of dread, negativity and hopelessness. Both were withdrawn and wanted to be alone. General John appeared a few minutes later. Angie and I attempted to tell him what Doug said. John interrupted. "We had placed listening devices in your house, and in your in-laws new home. We heard what was said. It is our assessment that Doug is not a threat to our national security. He will be pursued as an illegal immigrant."

Beverly asked, "What does that mean?"

"It signifies that the immigration bureau will be following up on his location. They are good, but their methods are different than The Royal Thai Intelligence Agency. An illegal settler may never be discovered. If that person contributes to the betterment of the village, they will hide his presence, and treat him like family."

"Why would they do that?"

"These small villages are extended family. If you marry a young woman from that community, and treat her family well, you will be an asset to that community. That happens if you build a small school, or install a simple water treatment plant. You might purchase a tractor that helps the community to farm.

There are French and English residents who have used their retirement benefits to pay off loans that a family has made to keep their farm operating. Now numerous American retirees are joining the pack. Some are legal, but several maintain a low and unlawful profile."

Angie replied, "What you are saying is Doug could remain in Thailand the rest of his life?"

"Yes mam, as long as he stays out of trouble and keeps Sangdoaw happy."