Although it was already mid-November, Jakarta, located in the tropics, was still oppressively hot at night.
Even within the neon-lit, cosmopolitan city, there were dark and damp corners—behind those bright and shining worlds were deep alleys, filthy sewage, and poor inhabitants.
Yusuf Zuck and Fleur Carson, wearing similar long coats reminiscent of trench coats, walked down one such deep alley where sewage flowed and people who couldn't sleep sat outside to cool off or played cards.
Yusuf Zuck carried a canvas bag which was filled with money, consisting mainly of US Dollars and Indonesian currency.
Fleur Carson led him into a dimly-lit grocery store deep in the alley, which sold a hodgepodge of items, from food to parts for electrical appliances and bicycles, among others.
At the very back of the store was a counter, behind which sat an Indonesian man dozing off. He appeared to be in his fifties.