Breach

by Nancy Nguyen

Winner, Waasnode Fiction Prize, selected by María Alejandra Barrios

File: tom_interview.mp3

Duration: 1:58:40

Subject: Toan Ngo, 56, was Christina’s maternal uncle. He works as an entrepreneur, despite not specifying his line of business. He preferred to go by Tom.

Description: The interview took place at Tom’s single-story residence. His living room was composed of mismatched sofas and recliners, and in his orbit were half-empty Gatorade bottles, piles of unopened mail, and a workout bench that primarily kept wrinkled clothes off the ground. He drank from a Snoopy mug, which he set on his coffee table without a coaster.

START AUDIO

Tom: Christina’s problem was that she always had everything handed to her. On a platter with caviar and gold flakes. She and her mother were like that. One and the same.

Interviewer: What do you mean by that?

Tom: Christina was a genius child. Always receiving certificates and ribbons from school. When she got a near-perfect score on the SAT, our family went ballistic, couldn’t stop talking about it for a whole damn year.

But Christina was spoiled, didn’t appreciate what she had.

See, her mother was a shark of a realtor. Every investment Trang gambled always seemed to pan out, as if she were some kind of clairvoyant. Trang, however, leeched off our family gold and jewelry. She said she would put the pawned cash towards property that would belong to all of us. But look at me now. A swindled fool.    

Interviewer: So, you never saw a dime?

Tom: Well, Trang signed over one of her rentals to me, but it was a total dud. Sold it for only half the estimated amount.

Interviewer: I see. How does this all connect to Christina Le’s disappearance?

Tom: Haven’t you been listening? It all boils down to one word: arrogance. Not only that, but Christina digested all the heroic Western media, like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. She really thought she could go to Vietnam and just find the Ma Da? Write a fucking academic paper on the fucking Ma Da? [WET LAUGHTER]

I really think overeducation is a problem in this country. When you stuff  your brain with too much knowledge, you actually become stupid.

…

Big Exec
Connor ol’ boy! Just checking in about the interviews. I see that we snagged the subject’s uncle but what about the other family members? We should perhaps aim for a holistic approach for this project.

Connor Williams
Hi Dick. Thanks for following up. We approached Christina’s other family members, but they all declined. Also, one of her aunts was especially hostile, saying something about a niece being a lawyer specializing in defamation cases.

I figured we can pull quotes from articles to provide background information.

Big Exec
Yeesh, they’re a prickly bunch, aren’t they?

This is not a promising start, ol’ boy. I’ve seen many proposals with great potential fizzle out because of the lack of substance.

Connor Williams
We’re working on it, Dick. The other interviewees seem eager to tell their side, and I get the feeling we’ll uncover something big.

Big Exec
That’s the spirit! I look forward to seeing more progress. Arvoir!

…

File: vo-mckinley_interview.mp3

Duration: 0:05:52

Subject: Dr. Evelyn Vo-McKinley, 48, was Christina’s mentor and advisor. Dr. Vo-McKinley is department chair of the Asian American Studies Department.

Description: Despite her director status, her office was rather cramped; her desk was a mess of loose notes, highlighters, and several open textbooks in precarious piles. There was a sticky quality to the linoleum floor, and the dead fluorescent bulb overhead periodically flickered back to life. The trashcan by the door was filled to the brim with empty chip bags and pudding cups, as if hadn’t been emptied in months.

START AUDIO

Vo-McKinley:  [FAINTLY] So, what is this? Some kind of student project?

Interviewer: A podcast series. In fact, we received an advance from a production company earlier this year.

Vo-McKinley:  [STILL FAINT] Ah… Well, good for you.

[RUSTLING FROM DR. VO-MCKINLEY CLIPPING ON MIC] [THROAT CLEARING]

Vo-McKinley: I knew Christina for three or so years. I approximate because when she applied, she was our top choice candidate, and I kept in touch with her while she was deciding between programs.

Interviewer: Why was she such a desirable candidate? 

Vo-McKinley: I mean, she checked all the boxes and then some. Graduated Summa Cum Laude at USC, clocked in more volunteer hours than Mother Theresa. Part of her senior thesis was published in an academic journal, for Pete’s sake.

Interviewer: She seemed like a good kid.

Vo-McKinley: On paper especially.

Interviewer: I saw that you specialize in Southeast Asian folklore. Can you talk more about the Ma Da?

Vo-McKinley: Well, the second word is pronounced “yah,” not “dah.” That might be good to remember for your listeners. 

[A BEAT AND MORE THROAT CLEARING]

The Ma Da is an urban legend specific to Vietnam, though neighboring Asian countries may have their own iterations. The Vietnamese supernatural entity takes the form of bloated corpses floating in lakes, rivers, and oceans. In testimonies, the Ma Da usually manifest as children to better lure their victims.

A spirit is made into a Ma Da when its life is taken too soon, typically by drowning. Really, they just want one last opportunity at life, which is understandable as far as vengeful spirits go. 

Interviewer: Testimonies? You mean to say there are accounts of people encountering the Ma Da?

Vo-McKinley: Of course! Walk down any street in Vietnam and ask some random passerby, they will at least know one person who has seen a Ma Da.

My own relatives have their ghost stories. My uncle once held an entire conversation with a man on a boat until he realized the man’s stomach was ripped open and his guts were spilling out.

Interviewer: You give these stories a lot of credence.

Vo-McKinley: I try to treat them with respect.

Interviewer: I didn’t mean to off end. Let me rephrase: are the Ma Da real or a figment of the collective consciousness?

Vo-McKinley: It seems you already hold a stance.

[RUSTLING AS DR. VO-MCKINLEY UNCLIPS MIC]

I don’t know what kind of soundbite you want, but I am not here to debunk or rationalize the Ma Da or cast an entire culture as overly superstitious or absurd. I apologize if that is why you came here.

…

File: tyler_interview.mp3

Duration: 0:30:16

Subject: Tyler Holt, 27, was one of Christina’s closest friends and the last to see her in America. Months after Christina went missing, Tyler became a prime suspect in her disappearance, but the case was dropped when a body was never recovered. Tyler is a fourth year PhD candidate in the English department.

Description: The interview took place in Tyler’s apartment, which was more of an efficiency with a kitchenette. There was scarcely room for a queen-sized bed and futon, but the space was neat and organized. The walls were bare aside from a large framed One Piece poster hanging above his headboard, and there was a pull-up bar in the doorway leading to the bathroom.

START AUDIO

Tyler: We met at a graduate student mixer our first years. You know, one of those poor attempts universities make to promote community in a cool way. So, we pilfered a box of cheese pizza and watched The Matrix at my place.

Interviewer:  Sounds like the two of you hit it off .

Tyler: We entered our respective programs fairly young. People tend to dismiss or are intimidated by their younger, more prodigious counterparts.

Interviewer: Did you and Christina ever date or have any romantic interest in each other?

Tyler: Ah. [LIGHT LAUGHTER] No, no. A few people have asked, but no, we never dated. I suppose we were too busy to even consider it. Christina is known to be incredibly dedicated to her work.

I would say we were best friends. Well, I guess we are best friends. I still contend she’s alive somewhere.

Interviewer: Is that what you told the police?

Tyler: Well… that was quite the segue.

Interviewer: I understand if it’s too soon to discuss your involvement in the investigation.

Tyler: No, no. I suppose I have been wanting to tell my side for a while now.

Interviewer: Great. You didn’t kill her, right? [LAUGHTER]

Tyler: [RECIPROCAL LAUGHTER] No, I am very much innocent. In cases like these, the media’s knee-jerk reaction is to incriminate the closest male figure, which is a long-ignored social issue I hope this podcast can bring to light.

[INCESSANT FOOT TAPPING] [FIX IN POST?]

Interviewer: Right. Did Christina ever disclose her research or plans with you?

Tyler: Christina did not talk about her research all that much. She kept her work very close to the vest, which I respected. Mostly, we watched movies and documentaries together and lamented about our teaching loads. Things of that nature.

I know she was studying a decolonized perspective of Vietnamese ghost stories.

Interviewer: I see why she would want to work with Dr. Vo-McKinley. 

Tyler: [A SCOFF]

Interviewer: Do you have a certain opinion on Christina’s advisor?

Tyler: A few grievances, sure.

Interviewer: Any you are willing to share?

Tyler: Evelyn and Christina… let’s just say they hardly saw eye-to-eye. Evelyn belongs to a certain bygone era of academics. A rigid, stuffy generation. Christina, however, was willing to find answers, even if it meant going down less reputable paths. Christina was not afraid to roll up her sleeves and trudge through the trenches, but Evelyn tried to stifle her at every turn.

Interviewer: Can you elaborate?  

Tyler: For one thing, Christina wanted to apply for a research exchange program her third year, but Evelyn hindered any chance for Christina to be accepted.

Interviewer: Dr. Vo-McKinley never mentioned the research exchange in her interview.  

Tyler: Evelyn and Christina belong to a certain culture where it’s highly discouraged to admit fault. The term is “save face.” Thankfully, Christina was more self-aware and evolved. 

Interviewer: Huh. What is your area of research again?  

Tyler: Postwar Japanese literature and media as it relates to ecocriticism.

…

Big Exec
The professor and this nerd of a boyfriend. They’re a couple of cards, aren’t they? The reveal about the exchange program is quite compelling, but both these interviews are stiffer than a priest at a strip club!

Connor Williams
Yeah, I will admit that we could have handled both these interviews better.

Big Exec
Nothing to apologize for, ol’ boy. Sometimes, when you encounter a female professor and a potential murderer, you’re hard pressed to get good answers out of either!

Here’s a bit of advice: put some pressure on these two. Find their weak points. I get the sense that they’re hiding more than they let on.

Connor Williams
But Dr. Vo-McKinley said explicitly in her email that she did not want to participate in this project.

Big Exec
Another piece of advice: do whatever it takes to get what you need. It’s the golden key to this kind of business, believe me. Also, if I give you another nugget of wisdom, I’ll have to charge ya!

Godspeed.

…

File: tom_interview.mp3 continued

Tom: Christina and her mom had kind of a weird relationship.

Interviewer: Weird in what way?

Tom: You ever watched the movie Psycho? With that freaky kid Norman Bates?

Trang was a very hard woman. Very difficult to please. Hell, she had been that way her whole life. Probably why the doctors found stage four breast cancer when they did. Because Trang had a stone heart.

Interviewer: I understand that Christina’s parents divorced when she was a child. Do you think that had any impact on Christina and her mother’s relationship?

Tom: What the hell do you think? [WET LAUGHTER FOLLOWED BY A COUGHING FIT]

I have a lot of respect for Hien. He was one of the few people who decided enough was enough. Though Trang still sat firmly on her high horse, I could tell that Hien’s leaving wounded her deeply. Then, Hien remarried and had a son. [LONG WHISTLE]

Interviewer: So, sons more valued than daughters in Vietnamese culture?

Tom: Oh, the sexism in the Viet psyche is deep-seated. No amount of social progress could change that.

So, Christina became Trang’s mental punching bag. I’ll admit I felt bad for Christina at first, especially because she was just a kid for much of the abuse. But Christina grew up to walk in Trang’s footsteps. Not to mention Christina practically worshiped her mother, would do absolutely anything for her.

Interviewer: Can you give an example of how Christina was treated?

Tom: You know, stereotypical Tiger Mom shit but dialed to the extreme. Trang’s expectations became impossible to meet. She signed Christina up for all sorts of sports and clubs. Ballet, tennis, chess, mock trial. The girl was putting in more time in the seventh grade than a convicted murderer! [LAUGHTER]

Once, Trang showed everyone Christina’s progress report at a family gathering, criticizing Christina’s B+ in a photography class or something. Then, Trang took a candle lighter and burned the report.

Interviewer: And Christina never resented her mother?

Tom: What the shit do I look like? A psychologist? [ANOTHER LAUGH] I suppose when someone’s love and approval is just out of reach, you either run the other direction or spend your whole life chasing the thing you’ll never obtain.

Man, that was insightful. Maybe you should put some sentimental piano music to what I just said. Or sad violins.

Interviewer: I know that her mother passed when Christina was in her PhD program. How did Christina take her mother’s death?

Tom: Now this, I really don’t know. Christina kind of just kept to herself. Barely responded to relatives who reached out. Then, she dropped out of school and hid away in her mother’s house for a time and never answered the door.

If I were her, I would have been more grateful. Shit, she inherited a nice house in a gated community and probably some good life insurance money. Instead, she left it all behind to chase some ghosts in Vietnam.

…

File: vo-mckinley_interview_02.mp3

Duration: 0:25:48

Subject: Christina’s advisor and mentor Dr. Evelyn Vo-McKinley, age 48.

Description: This second interview took place at a coffee shop one mile south of the university. The venue was teeming with students picking up coffee orders, chatting with friends at nearby tables, or diligently working at their laptops while sporting earbuds. Dr. Vo-McKinley sat in the corner booth cradling a latte with sloppy leaf-shaped foam art.

START AUDIO

Vo-McKinley: It was wildly reprehensible that you went to the university board.

Interviewer: You weren’t responding to our emails.

Vo-McKinley: So, you resorted to speaking to my superiors?

Interviewer: They seemed enthusiastic about the potential exposure.

Vo-McKinley: Oh, sure. Because a shoutout from a true crime podcast is known to boost enrollment.

Interviewer: Any publicity.

Vo-McKinley: [MOCK LAUGHTER]

Interviewer: Listen, we will just ask a few questions, and afterwards, we promise to leave you alone.

Vo-McKinley: [BRIEF PAUSE AND A SIGH]

Interviewer: We heard from sources that you and Christina had a strained relationship. Is this true? If so, why was this the case?

Vo-McKinley: Sources? You’re going off petty school gossip?

Interviewer: We have a very reliable informant.

Vo-McKinley: Don’t tell me it’s that blond anime kid, the one implicated in Christina’s disappearance.

Interviewer: [A COUGH]

Vo-McKinley: [INAUDIBLE MUTTERING]

My work and mentorship with Christina were strictly professional, but she tended to be a bit intense. She didn’t seem to have an off  switch, and she would hardly hang out with her cohort outside of class. Or maybe she simply was not invited to informal gatherings.

I tried so hard to convince her to make nice. You know, to not just debate with her classmates or treat discussion as some kind of contest.

Interviewer: So, she had no life outside of academia.

Vo-McKinley: I know she had family. Well, there was her mother, who was super well dressed. I remember meeting her once briefly when she was visiting. Her short hair and elegant makeup reminded me of Meryl Streep in that movie. Ah, The Devil Wears Prada.

She also kind of acted like that character, making some offhand remark on the cheap quality of my blouse.

Interviewer: Do you think Christina took a leave of absence because of her mother’s death?

Vo-McKinley: [BRIEF CHOKING, LIKELY FROM DRINKING HER LATTE] I didn’t know her mother passed.

Interviewer: Christina never mentioned it? Her mother died of late-stage breast cancer in Christina’s third year.

Vo-McKinley: No, she never told me, but it would explain her behavior. 

Interviewer: Her behavior?

Vo-McKinley: Christina went off  the rails that year. She returned from a visit home with matted hair and two eyes that burned like charcoal. She picked fights with her colleagues and professors when they had the misfortune of crossing her path. As her advisor, I intervened and gently reminded her that her behavior could result in academic probation or suspension. That was when she started directing her rage at me. The things she said about my fraud position as director and my unsophisticated theories…

Then, I arrived at my office only to find papers slipped under the door. They were printed copies of my articles. Christina, I assume, marked the places where I got things wrong or made bogus claims.

Interviewer: Wow, that sounds like a lot to deal with.

Vo-McKinley: You’d be surprised by the number of graduate students who have public meltdowns.

But Christina’s situation was much more direct and intentional. As if she were looking for answers.

Interviewer: You mean she was searching for the Ma Da.

Vo-McKinley: I suppose that was her goal.

Interviewer: Was it her behavior that prevented her from going to Vietnam for a research exchange?

Vo-McKinley: The anime kid told you that, did he? [DEEP SIGH] When Christina expressed interest in the research exchange, I was happy to help her through the application process, but she wanted to go to Vietnam immediately, far before the application window.

Eventually, she grew too impatient and submitted her leave. Christina and I had our differences, but I would not have supported her studies abroad if I had known.

Interviewer: If you had known that she would disappear?

Vo-McKinley: If I had known that her obsession would consume her.

…

File: tyler_interview_02.mp3

Duration: 2:06:49

Subject: Suspected murderer and Christina’s closest friend Tyler Holt, 27.

Description: Th is second interview took place at the Korean Barbecue restaurant near his apartment. It is likely he frequents this venue because of the occasional discounted all-you-can eat meat and all-you-can-drink soju. Much of the relevant conversation unfolded aft er the meal.

START AUDIO

Tyler:  Oh yeah, I saw Christina all the time aft er she took her leave. I drove the two hours to her house every weekend. Mostly, I brought food and tidied up a bit. [CROAKING BELCH]

Interviewer: Here, drink some water. Was she distraught?

Tyler: It was more that she was doing intense research. There were highlighted books and scribbled notes everywhere. The television was playing a constant feed of these YouTube videos from sketchy accounts. All in Vietnamese. That language kind of grates the ears. No offense.

Interviewer: Did she tell you what she was researching?

Tyler: Not outright. But I could glean that it was about those Vietnamese water ghosts. The Ma Da. [MISPRONOUNCING THE DA AS “DAH”]

Interviewer: What was Christina like during this period?

Tyler: I’m sure she was grieving and in a kind of depressive slump. She often woke up in the afternoon and very rarely brushed her teeth. She wore the same tee-shirt and sweatpants for days or weeks at a time. It didn’t really seem like something out of the ordinary.

Interviewer: And was there any discord during this time? Any disagreements?

Tyler: No disagreements. Christina hardly spoke, so there was no basis for us to argue.

Interviewer: What about when Christina’s neighbor called the police to report a domestic dispute?

Tyler: The actual hell? You digging up dirt on me? All the while I’m here complying and answering all your stupid questions?

Interviewer: You’re not under oath, Tyler. I just want a clearer picture.

Tyler: [ANOTHER BELCH] How about that for an explanation?

Interviewer: According to the report, Christina’s neighbor heard a man shouting. What led to this outburst?

Tyler: You guys are vultures, you know that? Actual leeches. [STEADY INHALE]

Fine, if you are so insistent on making me look like the bad guy, you should know that Christina did not press charges. Because she was not in any real danger.

Interviewer: That doesn’t answer my question. Why were you shouting at her?

Tyler: God, just give me a second. [TREMBLING BREATH, AS IF ABOUT TO VOMIT]

Christina was hardly someone I recognized, and like I said before, she almost never talked. I wanted to get through to her and maybe get some glimpse of what was going through her head.

I kept asking and asking her what was going on and what she needed, and maybe I raised my voice for every question I asked, for each time she ignored me and kept writing notes or scanning pages. Also, that gated community was also unnaturally quiet, and those old rich residents were practically foaming at the mouth to play neighborhood watch.

Interviewer: Maybe drink more water.

Tyler: I didn’t do anything to her. She’s not dead. Her body was never recovered, and nothing in her notes indicated she committed suicide.

[VOICE RISING, NEARLY BLOWING OUT THE MIC] For all we know, she could be walking around Vietnam.

Interviewer: Is that what you believe? That she is roaming Vietnam under a different identity?

Tyler: [CLATTERING OF DISHES AND UTENSILS] This interview is done.

…

File: tom_interview.mp3 continued

Interviewer: Have you seen a Ma Da?

Tom: Of course, I have! Did you know that numerology is a big part of encountering the supernatural? My birth date and time are quite significant. A fortune teller once said I belong to a certain alien race called the “Moon Children” and that I would return to my people after I die. [GUTTURAL LAUGHTER]

Interviewer: So, there are prerequisites to encountering a Ma Da.

Tom: The Ma Da pick and choose who they want to show themselves to. In fact, people who can see the Ma Da attract a lot of other spirits and supernatural entities. A little ghost girl once appeared in my backseat while I was driving cross country. She and I did not speak a word to each other the entire time. I also got in the habit of sleeping with my thumb hovering the power butt on on my TV remote. They gravitate to me at night, like fruit flies to vinegar!

Interviewer: But what about the Ma Da? Have you seen a ghost floating in the water?

Tom: [A PAUSE] I have. But only once.

Interviewer: When was this?

Tom: Years and years ago. Back when I was getting sober. I went to Vietnam to shake off the withdrawal symptoms. Terrible time.

Interviewer: This was at your family’s house in Vietnam? In Long An?

Tom: Yes.

Interviewer: And what happened?

Tom: [LONG SIGH] On the night when my withdrawal symptoms were the most intolerable, I took a stroll outside to get my mind off  it. When I walked by the river, I saw a small child hanging onto a low branch, trying not to be swept away.

But the child was pale, almost green. He was swollen, but I still recognized him: my younger brother who passed away from pneumonia as a small child.

Interviewer: Did it see you? Speak to you?

Tom: He knew I was there. Like he was waiting for me. Then, he called out. “Anh Toan,” he said. “Help me. Please help.”

Interviewer: How did you respond?

Tom: [POSSIBLY DRY HANDS RUBBING TOGETHER] I did not. I just stood there. I couldn’t move.

But the child kept calling to me, begging. “Anh Toan,” it said, “why won’t you help me? You are my older brother. You’re supposed to save me. Please, anh.”

Interviewer: Were you tempted to go in?

Tom: Honestly, no. I was never much of a swimmer. Even now, I avoid beaches or pools. Also, the river was moving too quickly. What good would it be for the both of us to be swallowed up?

Interviewer: How did the entity react?

Tom: Eventually, he stopped begging. Gave me this sad, disappointed look. Then, he let go of the branch.

Interviewer: Wow, that’s a remarkable Ma Da story. Really heartbreaking.

Tom: [THROAT CLEARING] I am sorry, but I must ask you to leave. I just remembered I have plans. Important, important plans.

…

File: nam_interview.mp3

Duration: 0:38:11

Subject: Nam Anh, 63, lodged Christina in his short-term rental for one month. Nam was a rotund man with jet black hair. He sported a Lacoste polo and a large gold watch as well as several gold chains and rings.

Description: The Airbnb was comparable to a granny home or an in-law suite. Nam lives alone in the larger, two-story home in front of the rental. The area was more rural and spread out compared to Ho Chi Minh, and the beach was a hilly ten-minute walk away. The interview was conducted in Nam’s patio with the help of a translator.

START AUDIO

Nam: [BIRDS AND WILDLIFE THRUMMING IN BACKGROUND] Beautiful, isn’t it? A quaint two bedroom bungalow, right against the water.

Interviewer: It’s a very nice place. Very peaceful.

Nam: I have hosted hundreds of tenants, especially foreigners who want a quiet space to conduct their remote work. And I have never heard a complaint!

Interviewer: So, about Christina Le, can you tell me what you remember about her?

Nam: Well, I can promise you that she hardly stayed at the bungalow, despite all the amenities. Really, she only used the space for a place to sleep during the day. The girl went out a lot at night, which is not recommended even in the safest places around the world. [HEARTY LAUGHTER]

Interviewer: Is it dangerous here at night?

Nam: Not at all! You can walk around with a wallet in your pocket, unlike the more touristy parts of the country. I would just warn young women against roaming around in the dark. This is not unusual advice! [ANOTHER HEARTY LAUGH]

Interviewer: In the month that she stayed here, were you able to speak with her?

Nam: I tend to try to be a warm host, greeting my guests and providing advice on what to do in the area.

But Ms. Le was very difficult to communicate with. We only had a brief conversation in the beginning, when I met her and gave her the code to the bungalow. Afterwards, she walked briskly past me, ignoring any of my greetings or efforts to create some rapport.

I figured she was one of those American-born Viets who thought they were above the people of their mother country.

Interviewer: Did you notice anything unusual about her?

Nam: I usually try not to judge my guests by their appearance or the way they smell! [MORE LAUGHTER]

But Ms. Le was often, eh, let’s say unpresentable. There were a few times I was startled at the sight of her, and she moved around the property like a shadow.

Unknown woman: [UNINTELLIGBLE SCREAMING FROM SEVERAL FEET AWAY]

Interviewer: What the hell. Who is that woman? What is she saying?

Translator: She’s speaking with a northern dialect, so it’s hard to understand. I think she’s saying something about her daughter.

[SCREAMS BEGIN TO HALT, AS IF FROM CHOKING ON SOBS]

She says, “My daughter, my daughter! She killed my daughter! She stole and killed my daughter!”

…

File: tyler_interview_03.mp3

Duration: 0:07:01

Subject: Once again, Tyler Holt, 27. Christina’s closest friend and the last person to see her alive.

Description: Th is interview was conducted after the Korean Barbecue dinner and the crew helped Tyler back to his apartment. Because of the impromptu nature, the audio quality is more muffled as the interaction was recorded on an iPhone.

START AUDIO

Tyler: I saw her.

Interviewer: [ALMOST OUT OF RANGE] Who? Who did you see?

Tyler: [SNIFFLE AND HICCUP] I saw her in Vietnam.

Interviewer: [STILL ALMOST OUT OF RANGE] Are you referring to your visit to Vietnam one month after Christina’s disappearance?

Tyler: Once she stopped answering my messages, I spent my entire month’s stipend on a plane ticket. [DRY HEAVING] You don’t think it’s my fault, do you? You don’t think it’s my fault for letting her go?

Interviewer: [FURTHER AWAY] Tyler, please stay on track. You saw Christina during your visit?

Tyler: She looked exactly like her. Same almond eyes, same round nose, same beauty mark above her lip. [TREMBLING INHALE] We passed each other on the street, and I grabbed her by the arm.

Interviewer: [INAUDIBLE] [INFLECTION THAT OF A QUESTION]

Tyler: She looked at me as if I were a stranger. I apologized, though it seemed like she couldn’t understand a word. But she got the general gist.

She relaxed and smiled in relief. I never knew Christina had a gap in her molars.

…

File: untitled.mp3

Duration: 0:32:34

Subject: The woman who appeared in Nam’s driveway was Ly Nguyen, unknown age. It is likely she is between 40 and 50 years old. Ly is the mother of missing person Sang Nguyen, who would be 22 years old today. 

Description: The interview took place at Ly’s apartment, which was down the road from Nam Anh’s rental. The living room was minimal but clean. There was a small shrine that featured a picture of an attractive young woman with a dimpled smile and wearing a floral dress.

Disclaimer: Th is transcript is merely a textual reproduction of the interview, not a reflection of this production’s opinion related to Christina Le’s disappearance. Any allegation presented her solely belongs to the subject of the interview.

AUDIO START

Ly: I knew there was something strange about that American girl the moment I met her. My neighbors told me not to be so judgmental and that it was a good thing an American took interest in my daughter.

Sang wanted to become a concierge at a hotel in Saigon, and maybe the American could vouch for Sang’s English skills.

Interviewer: How did Christina and Sang meet?

Ly: Sang was young. Very rambunctious. Like anyone else her age, she went out with friends to restaurants and clubs. It was after Sang had gone out to celebrate her birthday that she gushed about meeting a worldly American, how this person was a doctorate student at a prestigious university. They made plans to meet at a nearby coffee shop the next day.

Interviewer: Did Christina reveal why she was here? That she was interested in the Ma Da?

Ly: She did not say one word about ghosts or the Ma Da. Instead, she lied through her teeth. Every time she came by the apartment, she spoke to me all too sweetly, carrying on about her family in Long An and how much she preferred the Vietnamese weather to America’s.

But her smile was forced. It looked like she was wearing a porcelain mask that cracked at the edges.

Interviewer: But Sang never sensed anything malicious in Christina.

Ly: [TREMBLING SIGH] Sang had a good heart. She wanted to be friends witheveryone and went out of her way to be kind.

Maybe it was my fault that I made her too soft. Too sympathetic towards other people’s sufferings.

Interviewer: Christina disappeared one month after she arrived in Vietnam. Did Sang also disappear around that time?

Ly: They both went missing aft er going out that night. Sang had told me that they were meeting by the water, which I thought was a little strange. But there was a night market by the river, so I figured they were headed there.

Interviewer: What do you suspect happened?

Ly: I have given it plenty of thought, and I believe the American was using Sang. Treating Sang like a toy or some kind of currency for whatever the American wanted. The girl probably thought anything could be bought or exchanged, like a sweater at a store.

But the Ma Da are also greedy.

Interviewer: So, you think that Christina was trying to exchange Sang for another soul? Possibly for Christina’s mother?

Ly: You seem incredulous. As Americans, it is your instinct to question everything, especially phenomena outside of your limited imaginations. Regardless, the truth of the matter is that my daughter was taken from me.

But now it is my turn to ask questions. Why did two people go missing but only one was searched for, huh? Is it because people can only understand loss and grief in a language they know? Why was my Sang—my wonderful, beautiful child—so hastily overlooked and forgotten?

Now it is time for you to tell me precisely why.

…

Big Exec
Holy cow! What a revelation! You’ve got a gold mine in your hands, ol’ chap. A real lightning in a bottle! No need to worry about possible litigation from Christina’s family. I’ll handle that side of things.

I can imagine this bombshell tacked on to the end of the fi rst episode. Really hook the audience for the remainder of the series. You may even see a second season.

Big Exec
I would love to get this podcast to production as soon as possible. Strike while the iron is hot, etc. etc. Maybe another juicy advance will snap you boys out of your hangovers aft er a night of debauchery in Southeast Asia!

(Been there more times than I can count!)

Big Exec
Connor, ol’ boy. It isn’t like you to go this long without answering messages. I was going to speak with you about how your prompt texts make you appear too eager, but these are unique circumstances.

Big Exec
Hello? Connor, ol’ boy?

Big Exec
I’m afraid I am losing interest in your project as I review other proposals and oversee other productions.

This is a fast-paced business, ol’ chap! Here’s my last piece of advice: fling yourself through the first window of opportunity as if it’s your last. Perhaps we will cross paths again, but if we are being honest with ourselves, we probably won’t.

Arvoir!

Nancy Nguyen grew up in Orange County, California, and currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she is an Advanced Opportunity Fellow and an English PhD candidate at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was a 2019 Aspen Words Emerging Writer Fellow and a 2021 Susanna McCorkle Scholar at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Her writing has appeared in The Rumpus, The Georgia Review, swamp pink, and the Jellyfish Review. Nancy is at work on a speculative collection and novel.