Understood. Tell us in what direction they leave and we’ll send in escort. Good job.
I was looking for somebody in particular–a professor who had a job in plant sciences, meeting a new assistant. However, I didn’t have a name, and I didn’t have a facial profile to reference. If that didn’t make my job hard enough, I couldn’t directly interact with anyone in the vicinity either, in fear of making myself known to the asset. I could only find them by listening. And once I found them, it was my job to be their shadow and make sure they remained undisturbed by the other parties involved.
The meeting was supposed to take place at 1400 hours at the Starbucks Coffee on Russell Boulevard and Anderson Drive. The coffee shop was located on a strip adjacent to a busy parking lot with many passerbyers streaming up and down the sidewalk. The shop itself had every table occupied, mostly with UCD students furiously typing away at their keyboards or staring intently, presumably studying for upcoming midterms.
While usually not a coffee drinker, I waited in the extended line in order to listen into the rows of tables for key words.
“Oh I hope I can get this done soon. I want to be able to do something tonight.”
“Chemical engineering…” That sounded important. I turned directly sideways to them to let one ear overhear their conversation a little better. “…I”ve always been interested in the physical sciences and that major makes me feel like I’m really applying them…”
I tuned out of that conversation. I listened and listened, but none of the conversations seemed to match with who I was looking for. In what seemed like no time at all I was in the front of the line, hastily deciding on a drink order. A green tea frappuccino, no whipped cream. I remember having one of those before. Before heading to the outside tables, I did one more listening sweep through the customers inside. Nothing.
I sat down at a middle table, best for listening in on the surrounding but not the best for comfort since the low winter sun was just barely glaring into my eyes. I got comfortable in the black, basket woven seats and pulled out my laptop to appear busy, occasionally taking sips of the green tea frap. To my right, there was an asian man and a black man sitting across from each other, talking to each other like they just met. In front of me was a loud Indian man, seemingly explaining his entire life story from the time he was born. On the far table was a diverse study group of college students, textbooks out and nearly identical fluffy boots tapping in concentration. None of them fit.
But to my left, I heard something interesting.
“The roots…very fascinating. They will find water, crawl to it…”
I turned around toward the left as if I was looking for someone to arrive, catching a glance at the pair conversing. There was an old asian woman, wearing a dull orange, buttoned up jacket, jeans, and black and neon running shoes. I found the color choice odd, assuming her as someone who is constantly on the move, or someone that just really couldn’t care less about matching shoes. Her hair was short, shorter than mine, and shaved on the sides. Across from her was a young pale skinned man, probably in his early twenties. He had brown, curly hair, partially consumed by the collar of his grey windbreaker. He spoke in a german accent.
“But how would you do that while preventing the bacteria from spreading?” This was definitely an exchange worth some extra attention. I checked my email for any intel updates, pursing my lips in disappointment when I found none.
“Eventually destroying the chemicals…”
A later to middle aged white man with large, dark sunglasses sat at the empty table not far from me. He seemed to be minding his own business, constantly checking his phone.
“Hard to replicate the results… But there will be so much power behind it if it’s true…Now I always print extra labels with the serial numbers so I can add them to the list”
I noticed the middle age man glance up from his phone, scan the area, and look back down. He did this another two times. I made a mental note to keep an eye on him in case we were looking for the same person.
This was the asset. I took a quick video with my phone of the surrounding area and sent it to my team and marked the asian woman. I opened up the the chat box and quickly typed. VIP spotted. Then I glanced at the man in the sunglasses again, who once again, was looking in the direction of the professor. Possible tail by unknown party.
The reply came almost instantaneously.
