"Hey Isaac. You're no illegal, are you?" Bobby asked wide-eyed. "What? Oh gods, no. I'm not even an immigrant." Tayaw chuckled in response. "What did the report say, officer? If I may ask?" Tayaw asked the officer. "We received a call that you, Mr. Yawat is working illegally in the bar." It was the man in suit and tie that answered the question this time. "We'd prefer it if we continue this conversation in the precint, Mr. Yawat. If you would cooperate, please, there won't be trouble." The cop added.
While Tayaw has no problems because he knows he did nothing wrong, the other people in the room become vigilant. "This is no arrest, is it, officer?" Rez asked. "No. It's only for questioning." The officer replied. "Then Isaac don't have to come with you, right?" Rez asked again.
"I'm agent Ross from Homeland Security. Yes. Mr. Yawat does not have to come with us to the precinct, but it would be best if we do it there so we can document it immediately." Agent Ross' reply stumped Rez.
Tayaw is still while listening, suddenly has an idea. "Officer, Agent Ross. Isn't doing paperwork a little tideous? What if I can save us the time?" Tayaw said. This actually got the attention of the officer and the agent. "What do you suggest we do?" Agent Ross said.
"Where's Henry? I need him. Also, why don't we continue this on one of the tables at the bar room? I think the bar's customers have long gone home by now." Tayaw said. The agent and the officer entertained the suggestion. If this would save them from the chore that is paperwork, then they have nothing to lose.
As the group arrived at the empty bar room, Tayaw spotted Travis looking through the bar entrance's glass door. With his enhanced eyes, he saw Travis is smiling smugly. 'That *sshole.' Tayaw thought to himself, annoyed at Travis' actions. Tayaw then pulled out his phone and made a call to Chala.
"Who're you calling?" The officer said, suddenly becoming apprehensive. Tayaw ignored the question because Chala answered immediately. "Hey Chala. You have my passport, right? Yes. May I borrow your laptop too? Thanks. Bring it over to the bar; I'm in a little bit of trouble. I'm fine. See you." After Tayaw confirmed that Chala is on his way, he hung up the phone.
Because Tayaw spoke Teungebian on the phone, the people concerned are curious about the phone call. "Hey Isaac, you didn't call your lawyer, did you?" Bobby asked. "What? No. Where would you even find an immigration lawyer at this hour? You remember that guy that drives me around? That's who I called. He's bringing my passport right now." Tayaw replied.
"Alright. While we wait, can we start with some questions?" Agent Ross said as he pulled out his notepad, ballben, and a tape recorder. Tayaw was amused at the tape recorder. In the future, once more advanced smartphones would come out, tape recorders will be outdated.
"Before we begin, is it okay for my friends here to listen in as well? They look curious as hell." Tayaw joked a little to lower the officer and the agent's apprehension. The whole of Strawberry Front, Henry, and Oscar the bartender actually surrounding Tayaw and the law enforcement duo might also be contributing to the tension.
"Everyone, silence is of importance during the questioning. And, don't interrupt." Agent Ross said, and the people in the bar nodded. Agent Ross turned on the tape recorder and spoke to it. "December 3, 2011 1:15 am, Blackbird Café, Hillsboro Pike Nashville. Subject is one Isaac Yawat, approximately 6ft in height, Pacific Islander descent." Agent Ross set up the record.
"State your name please." Agent Ross said starting the questioning. "Tayaw Legno Dagem." Tayaw replied. When the people present heard Tayaw's real name for the first time, and they felt Tayaw become more mysterious because it sounded a lot different compared to what they've been calling him. Agent Ross handed his phone to Tayaw to type his name in. After getting his phone back, Agent Ross sent Tayaw's names to his buddies in his office to look Tayaw up.
"Age and birthdate, please." Agent Ross continued. "18 years old. Born September 15, 1993" Tayaw replied, winking at Henry and Oscar. Oscar especially, after all, he served Tayaw a lot of drinks over the past week. Even though Henry and Oscar were agitated at Tayaw's answer, they chose to keep it to themselves. Strawberry Front's members, on the other hand, were shocked. Rez and Bobby especially because they have the best approximation of Tayaw's guitar and singing skills out of all the people present; they could not believe Tayaw's skills belong to someone so young.
"Place of Birth? Be as specific as you can, please." Agent Ross continued. "Nabla Children's Hospital. Nabla Province, Teungeb." Tayaw answered. "Legal status in America?" Agent Ross asked, getting ready to write on his notepad for the first time. "Non-immigrant resident." Tayaw replied, deciding to hold back just to get a reaction. True to his desire, Agent Ross and the cop flinched at that. "Legal." Tayaw continued, which helped only a little with the situation.
"Visa?" Agent Ross moved on. "E2 Treaty Investor Visa." Tayaw answered. Except for Agent Ross who raised his brows in interest, all of the people present were clueless. They only heard of Work and Student visas in their life. Agent Ross' phone also rang and read the text message. Whatever Tayaw said so far matches with the text his buddy sent from the office.
"Business enganged in?" Agent Ross wanted a clarification. "Investor for Pink Apron and Cognito Technologies. Both based in New York City." Tayaw replied. "Position on the companies?" Agent Ross asked an important question. "Majority Owner." Tayaw replied. Agent Ross wrote it down. "Founder?" Agent Ross dug deeper. "No." Tayaw replied, already knowing what question would come next.
"Ownership status?" Agent Ross continued. "51% on both companies." Tayaw replied, and Agent Ross nodded. Tayaw knows that if he wants to just be an investor, and not to manage the company himself, he has to have at least 50% ownership of the entire enterprise.
"Capital invested?" Agent Ross asked. This surprised Tayaw. He did not expect to actually be questioned about the money he invested. "Excuse me?" Tayaw asked. "The amount of money you invested on the companies." Agent Ross restated his question. "I know. But, do I have to answer?" Tayaw said, regretting having his bar acquaintances listen in. "Yes. It would help to clear your status." Agent Ross said, with no signs of deception that Tayaw can detect.
"$12 mil to Pink Apron. $15 mil to Cognito." Tayaw said in resignation. The people present, including Agent Ross either gasped, or sighed. Agent Ross, who recovered quickly after a sigh, continued to do his job. "Source of capital?" This question once again made Tayaw freeze so he just looked at Agent Ross. Agent Ross got Tayaw's meaning, "It's important." Agent Ross said as he wants to make sure that Tayaw's money came from a legitimate source and not laundering money.
"Fiction author." Tayaw answered. "Title of the novel and the publisher." Agent Ross continued. "May I state the publishing company only?" Tayaw asked. "The title of your works would help." Agent Ross did not back down. Tayaw, feeling he already revealed a lot, decided to just cooperate fully. "'Grimm's Fairy Tales' and 'The Halfling', printed by Topaz Publishing Inc. in Teungeb." Tayaw replied. This answer pulled out the largest reaction from Agent Ross as he stayed silent for a few seconds.
Tayaw figured Agent Ross recognized one of his books at least. He also saw Henry, Rez and the police officer react. Agent Ross stared at Tayaw this time, as if asking if Tayaw is telling the truth. Tayaw nodded in response. Agent Ross did not show any signs of being convinced and moved on to the next question.
"Is it true that you have started working in Blackbird Café as a musician last week?" Agent Ross asked. "I was performing but I wasn't getting paid, therefore I wasn't working." Tayaw corrected; he knows that getting paid from anything aside from his investments is illegal. Agent Ross processed his answer for a second and wrote something on his notepad. "Can you prove that?" Agent Ross as he scratched his brows; he knows he just asked a stupid question.
The people present also shook their heads as if saying 'He's a millionaire, why would he need to get paid?' "Henry can vouch for me." Tayaw said as he pointed his hand at Henry. Agent Ross also looked at Henry, scrutinizing him for the first time. Agent Ross then motioned Henry to sit with him and Tayaw. Henry was hesitant but with Tayaw's reassuring look, he walked to the table and sat on the vacant chair.
"State your name for the record." Agent Ross asked Henry. "Henry Spencer." Henry answered. "Age and relation to Mr… Dagem." "68 years old, manager of Blackbird Café.". "Can you say, in honesty, that Mr. Dagem is an unpaid performer in the bar?" Agent Ross asked. "Yes sir." Henry replied. "Please clarify."
"Isaac, as what he told us to call him, proposed to me that he will perform for free in the bar. His supposed pay will be distributed to the performers who are most in need." Henry clarified. "Can you prove that arrangement?" Agent Ross asked.
"Yes. I have copies of all the pay slips I gave to all the singers. Isaac has no pay slip. You can see that some of the performers have their pays suddenly increase since last week too." Henry replied. Agent Ross nodded. "Thank you Mr. Spencer." Agent Ross said. Henry stood up from his chair to go back next to Oscar, and Agent Ross also did not stop him.
*Knock Knock Knock* Everyone heard a loud knock from the bar's entrance, and they saw Chala. Oscar recognized Chala so he hurriedly opened the door for him. Chala, noticing that everyone is quiet, and that Tayaw is sitting in front of a police officer and what looks like a law enforcement suit, raised his shoulders in guard.
Chala then handed Tayaw's passport to Tayaw. Tayaw flipped his passport to the page where the visa was stamped and passed it to Agent Ross. Agent Ross took the passport and studied it for a moment. Agent Ross sighed and passed it to the police officer. The police officer also studied it even though he does not really know what he's supposed to look at.
The police officer however, knows for sure that Tayaw is in the clear and he handed the passport back to Tayaw. Agent Ross then turned off the tape recorder and returned it back, together with his notepad and his pen, back to his pockets. The people in the bar, seeing Agent Ross' actions of wrapping up, are relieved for Tayaw. The police officer fixed his tucked uniform and sighed. "Well. That was a waste of time. Unless … I bust him for underage drinking." The police officer said.