Dtui twiddled her fingers and he handed her the key. She knew that if he felt the need to tell her he was fine there had to be some doubt. Even in the carless streets of the capital there were potholes and sleeping dogs, and her husband had worked thirteen hours that day. He’d be safer on the pillion seat. They’d started toward the street when Siri remembered his letter.

“Oh, wait,” he said, and pulled the folded paper from his top pocket. “A quick translation and you can be on your way.”

He explained how the note had been attached to Ugly’s tail sometime that morning. Nurse Dtui, hoping for a study placement in America, had put in many hours to learn English. In’75, armed with a scholarship and high hopes, she’d watched the Americans flee, and, like their Hmong allies, Dtui was stranded. She looked up from the words with an expression of horror on her face. Her English was competent enough to read Siri’s letter and good enough for her to realize the menace it contained. She called Phosy back from the street and had the team sit once more around the table beneath the buzzing fluorescent lamp while she translated. Siri and Daeng appeared to be unmoved by the content.

“You don’t seem that concerned,” Phosy told them.

“It wouldn’t be the first threat we’ve received,” said Siri.

“Almost a weekly event,” said Civilai.

“Well, I’m your friendly local policeman,” said the chief inspector, “and I’m not going to let you laugh this one off. It isn’t just a threat to you, Siri. The writer is promising to hurt your loved ones and that includes everyone at this table.”

“I don’t love him,” said Civilai. “I’m not even that fond of him. That should let me off the hook.”

“Ignore him,” said Daeng. “He’s having one of his difficult years. Go ahead Phosy. What do you suggest?”

“First, I suggest we look at the letter for what it does, not just for what it says.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Civilai.

“Well,” said Phosy, “the fact that it’s in English sends a message in itself. As Siri doesn’t speak the language I doubt he’s antagonized too many English speakers in his life. And, even if the writer knows more than one language, why would he choose English for this particular threat?”

“I’m assuming you’ll just be asking a batch of questions and have us fill in the answers later,” said Civilai.

“I think that’s a splendid system,” said Madam Daeng. “Continue, Phosy.”

“Secondly,” said Phosy, “why does he only have two weeks to complete his mission? If he lived here there’d be no restriction.”

“So, he’s a visitor,” said Nurse Dtui.

“On a visa,” said Siri. “We aren’t that generous in the immigration field.”