Narrator/Denise Chan

As the others around the table piled pieces of pork and fish onto their plates, Charlie kept focused on Dev, asking question after question. The thing is, this is going to be about my brother. That's why I kept on asking questions. She asked Dev about visas, work permits, and how they get employees out of the country. She asked whether they were licensed and even the logistics of travel.

As the others around the table piled pieces of pork and fish onto their plates, Charlie kept focused on Dev, asking question after question. The thing is, this is going to be about my brother. That's why I kept on asking questions. She asked Dev about visas, work permits, and how they get employees out of the country. She asked whether they were licensed and even the logistics of travel.

After that lunch, Dev even offered Charlie a free plane ticket to go see for herself. She flew to Bangkok and traveled to the place where Max would be working. After three days checking things out, she felt reassured. She flew home and told Max the place was cool. If he wanted to take the job, it seemed safe to do so.

After that lunch, Dev even offered Charlie a free plane ticket to go see for herself. She flew to Bangkok and traveled to the place where Max would be working. After three days checking things out, she felt reassured. She flew home and told Max the place was cool. If he wanted to take the job, it seemed safe to do so.

A week later, Max sat in the back of an SUV on his way to his new job. He had finally landed in Bangkok. He was 1,400 miles away from home, with the South China Sea between him and his family for the next year. But his journey was only just getting started. Beside him sat a woman who was also from the Philippines, heading to the same area.

A week later, Max sat in the back of an SUV on his way to his new job. He had finally landed in Bangkok. He was 1,400 miles away from home, with the South China Sea between him and his family for the next year. But his journey was only just getting started. Beside him sat a woman who was also from the Philippines, heading to the same area.

Max, as you'll hear, is a pretty matter-of-fact kind of guy. He doesn't elaborate much on details. Max just isn't a man of many words. And so, he sat largely in silence in the back of the SUV. The driver turned onto the highway, and Max looked out his window watching the crowded cityscape outside. Colorful billboards with Thai advertisements hung in front of buildings.

Max, as you'll hear, is a pretty matter-of-fact kind of guy. He doesn't elaborate much on details. Max just isn't a man of many words. And so, he sat largely in silence in the back of the SUV. The driver turned onto the highway, and Max looked out his window watching the crowded cityscape outside. Colorful billboards with Thai advertisements hung in front of buildings.

Street vendors lined the sidewalk. Motorbikes darted between cars. An hour passed, then another. They had left the city far behind, and now all Max could see were trees and the occasional gas station and roadside vendor. They tried to ask the driver where they were going, how much longer it would take. But the driver just responded with, no English, and kept driving.

Street vendors lined the sidewalk. Motorbikes darted between cars. An hour passed, then another. They had left the city far behind, and now all Max could see were trees and the occasional gas station and roadside vendor. They tried to ask the driver where they were going, how much longer it would take. But the driver just responded with, no English, and kept driving.

How far was this campus exactly? The sun had set, and beside him, his travel companion looked antsy. The driver had turned off the big highway, and now they were driving up a mountain.

How far was this campus exactly? The sun had set, and beside him, his travel companion looked antsy. The driver had turned off the big highway, and now they were driving up a mountain.

The car swayed from side to side as the driver zigzagged on the windy road. The two of them held on to whatever they could grab to steady themselves. Outside, Max could see they were surrounded by trees in the middle of a forest. He looked at his phone. It had been five hours since they'd started driving. There was no cell service.

The car swayed from side to side as the driver zigzagged on the windy road. The two of them held on to whatever they could grab to steady themselves. Outside, Max could see they were surrounded by trees in the middle of a forest. He looked at his phone. It had been five hours since they'd started driving. There was no cell service.

Max's companion was getting worried, and he tried to comfort her. He told her, don't worry, I'm here.

Max's companion was getting worried, and he tried to comfort her. He told her, don't worry, I'm here.

But even Max was getting a little anxious. At 11pm that night, seven hours after they left the airport, the driver turned down an unmarked road and slowed to a stop in front of a hotel. As the two of them got out of the car, it was eerily dark and quiet outside. A wooden sign with the name of the hotel in Thai was nestled between two trees.

But even Max was getting a little anxious. At 11pm that night, seven hours after they left the airport, the driver turned down an unmarked road and slowed to a stop in front of a hotel. As the two of them got out of the car, it was eerily dark and quiet outside. A wooden sign with the name of the hotel in Thai was nestled between two trees.

Other than a few houses on the road, it was mostly farmland.

Other than a few houses on the road, it was mostly farmland.