A Thirteenth Hour, page 10
Captain Wisen ended his recitation and continued more conversationally: “It might surprise you that she has a phone switch to her cell and home phone so that she can return calls later without risk of people noticing her absence,” Dr. Wisen said. “She is also engaged to one of our experienced agents’, in our present dilemma, fiancé. His name is Captain Linton. Your sister wants him back.”
“She wants him back enough to pull the family card with you; and we’re desperate enough to help her use it!” Captain Wisen seemed very serious.
Cobbishii accepted a cigar from Captain Phillips a half an hour later. Cobbishii had scanned through the documents first, and then read them at a slower pace. He then reviewed for the third time. He smoked his cigar for a few minutes, and, then took out a college ruled notebook. He started writing the facts down, Archie watched as he ordered and numbered his notes and drew arrows connecting to matching or conflicting notes. He noted reference material. He also made a half a page of notes titled “needed equipment.” The last thing he did was write down two plans of possible actions to take. He wrote these things down so fast that Archie Knew he must have had a lot of experience.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii put the notebook aside, after tearing off his paperwork, and, folded, put it in his inner sports jacket pocket. “The first thing we need is a car and cash, maybe some blank traveler’s checks.”
Cobbishii looked at Dr. Wisen. “Do we have a check-in time or anything?”
Dr. Wisen said “Tomorrow night at seven p.m.; until then were free agents.” It was an unintended pun.
Cobbishii and Tennessan sat two large roll-able pieces of luggage near the front door. Two roll-able carry on pieces of luggage sat beside the two larger suitcases. In Cobbishiis’ suitcase he had a sawed off pump shotgun and five boxes of shells; he also had ten clips for his Glock 50 caliber that was kept holstered to his side. He oversaw Archie’s bag, ready to go, and had stored twenty clips in Detective Sgt. Tennessan’s suitcase. Both men carried four clips in their prospective jackets. Their side-arms were loaded and cocked.
Dr. Wisen had $35,000 in cash. Each man carried $5,000 of it and the doctor held onto the remaining $20,000. Lt. Detective Cobbishii led the three men down the condominium corridor. He stopped at the last door on their left, in front of the elevator and knocked on the door.
Frances Cobbishii had noticed that a very pretty woman who drove a subdued but expensive Rolls Royce lived in that corner “apartment.” He hoped that she was in. His inner watch/clock showed in his mind that she was usually parking her car, in the gated lot, about an hour and a half previous to the current time. They were in luck; she answered the door.
She was surprised to see three grown, with one young, men at her door. Cobbishii noted that she didn’t check her door monitor. That meant that she was probably an outsider in the world of ‘madmen and agents;’ he concurred that with himself. He had deduced that from her look of surprise at the oddness of the situation.
Captain Phillips showed his badge of authority, and Cobbishii evenly, though he did notice she was prettier than he had realized before, explained that they were federal officers in distress. Archie simply slipped past her and said “sorry” as he combed her quarters; they had practiced that action in the past and Archie had remembered the drill.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii gave a brief explanation of their dilemma. He told her that they needed her car. He was explaining that she needed to go with them now; because the situation might be very dangerous. At just that time he saw Archie nod in the negative with regards to other people in her tastefully kept apartment.”
Capt. Phillips said “inside.” They all moved to the interior of the dwelling; with further explanation, they emerged with her, the keys, and $40,000, she had insisted.
They picked up Captain Phillips’ wife and drove both of the women, his wife and their situational Angel of mercy (Velda), to a remote cabin; found by Archie a few months before and known to only he and Detective Sgt. Tennessean. They were left with $10,000 and a very large cache of groceries; Archie thought that cans were enough when he stocked the cabin.
Captain Phillips and Dr. Wisen spoke to Dr. Wisen’s people on Dr. Wisen’s secure cell phone for about fifteen minutes, and it was arranged for our families to be secured under a fabricated kidnapping threat. Captain of detectives Phillips wanted and Doctor Wisen agreed to leave his wife and our new friend out of their “net.” Captain Phillips had two reasons for that: One) He didn’t believe that she would believe the “good agents” story; she had heard of the kidnapping ruse before Two) He wanted a safe place to fall back to in the event they needed help. Intelligence is a dirty game. They were being forced to use civilian family as pawns. Lt. Detective Cobbishii concluded that Captain Phillips had more steel than he had conjectured.
They had located themselves in a small motel room in a small town ominously called “sanction,” Connecticut. It was a town away from Jeremy and Jackie’s surveillance location. They shared a surprisingly large two double bed room and it had a small refrigerator.
Cobbishii had “covered” the room a week in advance. He deceived the night clerk by tipping him generously for nightly deliveries of booze, mixers, and cigars. He equally deceived the day time clerk with an equal tip for chicken, Chinese and deli food during the day. He alluded that they were amateur photographers on a filming vacation.
Captain Phillips and Archie (as a man with his son) picked up their gadgets that they needed. They had “bugs” which Archie programmed and modified. Audio augmentation devices, small portable video “wires”, and visual high-tech review monitors were also programmed and modified by Archie. Cobbishii, being no stranger to high-tech visual monitors programmed them again after Archie was done. Detective Tennessan had made no errors, but Frances Cobbishii had seen government monitors back “in the day” that were the dreams of science-fiction. They also bought one of the best tools of all: ten standard size spiral notebooks and a package of fifteen disposable fine point pens.
Jeremy and Jackie had been at two separate surveillance locations. Doctor Wisen advised Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii not to enter Jackie’s office apartment. The door had been broken down and the room obviously searched. He had to assume that her location was compromised.
Detectives Cobbishii and Tennessan decided to enter Jeremy’s apartment complex location at 1 p.m. It was likely that maintenance would not be out in the hot sun at that hour. They wore exterminator jump-suits bought at a thrift shop. They carried a backpack; for a video monitor and video wires along with “bugs”. They also brought a canister filled with water and “over” the counter bug repellant. The canister had two sections inside. One with the repellant and the other section, well cleaned, to hold samples for them to study.
Inside and outside Cobbishii video-taped everyplace and what was in view from each place. He did that methodically and he was not afraid to video tape special points of interest from differing angles. Archie took all kinds of samples. Even a pair of unlaundered pants on the bedroom floor.
Back at the motel room the men spent a day working and Cobbishii took his notes from his video information. It took Cobbishii another day, and Captain Wisen calling for an extension to give them the time they needed, to refine his notes. The following day Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii sat down with the others who had busied themselves with noises with audio records of the “bugs” Archie and he had ‘planted.’
The modified “bugs” turned on and then off (with words or noise above the soft voice level). They had recordings for almost four hours that they had each reviewed together as a preview toward them discussing their case.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii personally turned off the light and they sat with large disposable cups; within they contained mixed cocktails. They all faced two monitors. Cobbishii sat in the one chair in the room. The other three sat on the two double beds in the room.
Cobbishii began confidently, I’ve examined these video records I think I have a working premise to go on. We might be ‘lucky.” He said “here are my final notes.”
1] A grill bin on the apartment porch was sampled-
a) burned bananas
b) burned underwear
c) burned animal flesh and fat
d) burned charcoal
2] A marijuana bush inside closet on the balcony which is incredibly overgrown
a) overgrown marijuana plant
b) one heat lamp in the closet
c) cold weather should have retarded plant growth
d) no marijuana residue found in apartment
3] A batch of very yellow bananas on the kitchen counter
a) when Jeremy bought the bananas they must have been green
4] A telescope on Jeremy’s porch facing Jackie’s surveillance post
a) video record showed a pair of binoculars on Jackie’s’ desk
b) a chair and umbrella stand were the only things on her post’s balcony- moving the umbrella was probably her inside/outside signal
5] A high-tech electronics plant located near and openly seen at Jackie’s post
6] Liver in the refrigerator
a) found four porterhouse steaks in the freezer
b) liver in refrigerator compartment as though it had a usual place
c) minute caked liver stains in compartment suggest that raw liver was usually kept there
d) Jackie has a fondness for animals mainly cats
7] Cat feces in the hedges next to Jackie’s’ office building
a) litter box barely showing in Jackie’s’ office (post)
8] Alcohol and distilled vinegar mix droplets found in plastic jug
a) Emulsification samples show that the mix was used in both sinks and the grill bin
b) The mix may have been used to destroy genetic matter before enemy examination
9) Time to destroy incriminating factors and the relatively pristine state of the apartment suggests Jeremy may have avoided capture
They reviewed footage together. Cobbishii spent his time switching footage back and forth, while concurrently listening to the four hours of audio monitoring they had compiled. Detective Tennessean and Captain Phillips added germane commentary, occasionally, to their audio compilation. After a seven hour stretch, lessened by editing, they had all come to some conclusions. The underwear and other burnt matter in the grill was a signal that they were still alive. Also, Dr. Wisen added, Jeremy loved steak and none of the food articles seemed to have been disturbed as well as anything else. Jeremy’s location most probably is still relatively secure.
The marijuana plant/bush was undoubtedly part of Jeremy’s cover.
Captain Wisen didn’t know why the bush was so large, but supposed that it was possibly part of his cover to be a horticulturist; though he had once described himself of having a “brown thumb” to Dr. Wisen. Why so many bananas and why did he buy them green so that he would have to watch them “turn?” No-one could guess.
The telescope was a partial mystery; until he heard a woman recorded saying at the apartment complex saying repeatedly: “do yoouuuuuuu, do yooouu noooo sign language.” That was said to a purring cat, and that must have been the way Jeremy and Jackie communicated from their posts. The neighbor probably knew that Jeremy was fluent in sign language. The umbrella could have been the conduit of the way they briefly met and “talked.” Jeremy’s signals probably had something to do with the grill on the balcony.
As for the rest of the information; Cobbishii mentally discarded it. The important fact was that Jackie was an animal and cat person. She would be back for her liver eating cat. He knew how to succeed. They would “surveille” the cat at Jeremy’s apartment complex. Jackie, or one of the other two, might still be in the area. Over the past two days the same woman had complained about the cat’s frequent absences. The cat ignored the rebukes and paid attention to the “cat snacks” it was given.
By the time the four of them had finished discussing the situation from different and similar points of view it was 10:30 p.m. The decision was to drink some of the largess of liquor they had accumulated, and on the following morning rent an apartment at Jeremy’s complex. By the following morning they could monitor and watch the area around Jeremy’s apartment residence. In the mean-time they laid out the clothes and packed for the following morning. They checked their small arms and ammunition also; just to be careful. They would leave at 9:30 a.m. and would not tell or leave a forwarding address for the day manager.
In the mean-time they had a couple of hours to kill. Whiskey shots and beer beckoned to them. Archie was a special case. We had him stick with the MD2020 we had procured for him. It was stronger than wine but lacked the hard alcohol “kick.’
Captain Wisen and Lt. Detective Cobbishii rented two adjacent apartments, so they would have a 365 degree view in all relevant directions. The complex name was Hamish apartments. They were out of the apartment office by 9:50 p.m. the following morning. They had been, seemingly, upfront and explained that they would be there for a little over four months on business; Captain Wisen explained that there were two other associates with them. They told the office manager that they were in the process of renting some furniture. The office manager seemed to be happy at getting her price for monthly rent and it was paid in advance.
They swang by a diner twenty-plus blocks away to join Captain Phillips and Archie. They ate and then went to a thrift shop to buy light lawn furniture and cots. They had been fully moved in, in just twenty minutes.
Dr. Wisen was the first to spot the cat. They were looking both at monitors linked to two video cameras; as well as observing by eye. Captain Wisen whistled softly and turned up the magnification of the video cameras. The cat’s fore-body filled up the screen. He saw a cheap manufactured jeweled collar on his neck; with a tag connected to the collar which read “I like liver.”
Cobbishii had given this situation a lot of thought. He zoomed the video onto the collar. The glass studs on the collar showed some minor, even scratches. He said: “ahaa”; Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii realized he had guessed correctly. Jeremy was a technological expert and he must have bugged the cat. He told the other three men and said to all three: “we don’t go near the cat. Some-one else may be seeing and hearing from that collar by now.”
He gave strong direction: “one man waits by the video monitors; the others of us wait outside the complex gate. And no contact until one of them reaches the fence-line or gate. Cobbishii swore %#@$#@@, “-we need disposable cells. I’ll get some and hope, if it’s them, that I’m back in time to intercept any of our guys.” On the way to pick up cells he decided to change direction and go to a medium size agri-business. He picked up two special packages and six disposable cell phones as well. He made it back in time to see the neighbor lady. She was feeding him bologna; not liver as requested. While watching the cat he took the time to turn two of the “cells” into detonators for his special packages.
Each man took a remaining cell and a card from the package that housed the cells, Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii wrote names and numbers on the cards that came with the packaging.
Three of them took positions outside the apartment complex fence-line. Doctor Wisen had the job of reviewing the monitors; because he could I.D. them easier.
Cobbishii told Doctor Wisen “whatever happens follow the cat; use audio if necessary. Don’t use your cell unless you confirm an identification or it’s a true emergency. Lead the cat with the bugs, and don’t be afraid to look by eye. If they recognize you they’ll hopefully make direct contact. It’s a calculated chance that they will trust you. Remember if she is dead or captured they will probably be using the cat for counter intelligence. He smiled with some irony. I trust that the reason the neighbor lady is missing the cat because he’s spending time with one or all of them. I think they decided to go ‘under’ deep. At least I hope so.”
From Lt. Detective Cobbishiis’ vantage he watched a slightly slender woman leave a McDonalds located about two-hundred and fifty yards away.
He watched as she took a sealed lid off a “soft drink” cup, that he noticed had a milk shake inside, and place the contents in two small disposable paper water cups from the restaurant. She sat the cups down at the edge of the parking area, and two cats came out from the hedges to drink. She still had a carry out paper sack in her hand.
His heart thumped and walloped. She was so well within average-to-pretty “looks “he couldn’t be sure, but his gut told him it was Jackie Skea. She started to move in his direction; so he casually, and not too slowly, moved around the corner of the building that would shade him from observation.
Once around the corner he quickly moved to an intercept location. Captain Phillips noticed, as he had traversed to a midway point, him moving. He covered Cobbishii by moving forward at a forty-five degree angle towards Cobbishii. Once Captain Phillips was in position he laid down to be more inconspicuous.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii waited behind the apartment Laundry-mat where she was behind him, geographically speaking. His decision was to approach her from behind, because she would not see him approaching, and run away.
He took a sudden risk and jogged the twenty feet, toward her back, between him and her and put his badge in her free hand. Immediately after this he said “I’m Detective Cobbishii!- don’t call the cat, and follow me!” He walked in front of her and added “away from that apartment,” and he motioned to his right. He continued walking and he saw, from the corner of his left eye, Captain Phillips stand-up and move toward a second apartment parking lot area in the direction Jackie Skea and Cobbishii were moving toward.
“She wants him back enough to pull the family card with you; and we’re desperate enough to help her use it!” Captain Wisen seemed very serious.
Cobbishii accepted a cigar from Captain Phillips a half an hour later. Cobbishii had scanned through the documents first, and then read them at a slower pace. He then reviewed for the third time. He smoked his cigar for a few minutes, and, then took out a college ruled notebook. He started writing the facts down, Archie watched as he ordered and numbered his notes and drew arrows connecting to matching or conflicting notes. He noted reference material. He also made a half a page of notes titled “needed equipment.” The last thing he did was write down two plans of possible actions to take. He wrote these things down so fast that Archie Knew he must have had a lot of experience.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii put the notebook aside, after tearing off his paperwork, and, folded, put it in his inner sports jacket pocket. “The first thing we need is a car and cash, maybe some blank traveler’s checks.”
Cobbishii looked at Dr. Wisen. “Do we have a check-in time or anything?”
Dr. Wisen said “Tomorrow night at seven p.m.; until then were free agents.” It was an unintended pun.
Cobbishii and Tennessan sat two large roll-able pieces of luggage near the front door. Two roll-able carry on pieces of luggage sat beside the two larger suitcases. In Cobbishiis’ suitcase he had a sawed off pump shotgun and five boxes of shells; he also had ten clips for his Glock 50 caliber that was kept holstered to his side. He oversaw Archie’s bag, ready to go, and had stored twenty clips in Detective Sgt. Tennessan’s suitcase. Both men carried four clips in their prospective jackets. Their side-arms were loaded and cocked.
Dr. Wisen had $35,000 in cash. Each man carried $5,000 of it and the doctor held onto the remaining $20,000. Lt. Detective Cobbishii led the three men down the condominium corridor. He stopped at the last door on their left, in front of the elevator and knocked on the door.
Frances Cobbishii had noticed that a very pretty woman who drove a subdued but expensive Rolls Royce lived in that corner “apartment.” He hoped that she was in. His inner watch/clock showed in his mind that she was usually parking her car, in the gated lot, about an hour and a half previous to the current time. They were in luck; she answered the door.
She was surprised to see three grown, with one young, men at her door. Cobbishii noted that she didn’t check her door monitor. That meant that she was probably an outsider in the world of ‘madmen and agents;’ he concurred that with himself. He had deduced that from her look of surprise at the oddness of the situation.
Captain Phillips showed his badge of authority, and Cobbishii evenly, though he did notice she was prettier than he had realized before, explained that they were federal officers in distress. Archie simply slipped past her and said “sorry” as he combed her quarters; they had practiced that action in the past and Archie had remembered the drill.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii gave a brief explanation of their dilemma. He told her that they needed her car. He was explaining that she needed to go with them now; because the situation might be very dangerous. At just that time he saw Archie nod in the negative with regards to other people in her tastefully kept apartment.”
Capt. Phillips said “inside.” They all moved to the interior of the dwelling; with further explanation, they emerged with her, the keys, and $40,000, she had insisted.
They picked up Captain Phillips’ wife and drove both of the women, his wife and their situational Angel of mercy (Velda), to a remote cabin; found by Archie a few months before and known to only he and Detective Sgt. Tennessean. They were left with $10,000 and a very large cache of groceries; Archie thought that cans were enough when he stocked the cabin.
Captain Phillips and Dr. Wisen spoke to Dr. Wisen’s people on Dr. Wisen’s secure cell phone for about fifteen minutes, and it was arranged for our families to be secured under a fabricated kidnapping threat. Captain of detectives Phillips wanted and Doctor Wisen agreed to leave his wife and our new friend out of their “net.” Captain Phillips had two reasons for that: One) He didn’t believe that she would believe the “good agents” story; she had heard of the kidnapping ruse before Two) He wanted a safe place to fall back to in the event they needed help. Intelligence is a dirty game. They were being forced to use civilian family as pawns. Lt. Detective Cobbishii concluded that Captain Phillips had more steel than he had conjectured.
They had located themselves in a small motel room in a small town ominously called “sanction,” Connecticut. It was a town away from Jeremy and Jackie’s surveillance location. They shared a surprisingly large two double bed room and it had a small refrigerator.
Cobbishii had “covered” the room a week in advance. He deceived the night clerk by tipping him generously for nightly deliveries of booze, mixers, and cigars. He equally deceived the day time clerk with an equal tip for chicken, Chinese and deli food during the day. He alluded that they were amateur photographers on a filming vacation.
Captain Phillips and Archie (as a man with his son) picked up their gadgets that they needed. They had “bugs” which Archie programmed and modified. Audio augmentation devices, small portable video “wires”, and visual high-tech review monitors were also programmed and modified by Archie. Cobbishii, being no stranger to high-tech visual monitors programmed them again after Archie was done. Detective Tennessan had made no errors, but Frances Cobbishii had seen government monitors back “in the day” that were the dreams of science-fiction. They also bought one of the best tools of all: ten standard size spiral notebooks and a package of fifteen disposable fine point pens.
Jeremy and Jackie had been at two separate surveillance locations. Doctor Wisen advised Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii not to enter Jackie’s office apartment. The door had been broken down and the room obviously searched. He had to assume that her location was compromised.
Detectives Cobbishii and Tennessan decided to enter Jeremy’s apartment complex location at 1 p.m. It was likely that maintenance would not be out in the hot sun at that hour. They wore exterminator jump-suits bought at a thrift shop. They carried a backpack; for a video monitor and video wires along with “bugs”. They also brought a canister filled with water and “over” the counter bug repellant. The canister had two sections inside. One with the repellant and the other section, well cleaned, to hold samples for them to study.
Inside and outside Cobbishii video-taped everyplace and what was in view from each place. He did that methodically and he was not afraid to video tape special points of interest from differing angles. Archie took all kinds of samples. Even a pair of unlaundered pants on the bedroom floor.
Back at the motel room the men spent a day working and Cobbishii took his notes from his video information. It took Cobbishii another day, and Captain Wisen calling for an extension to give them the time they needed, to refine his notes. The following day Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii sat down with the others who had busied themselves with noises with audio records of the “bugs” Archie and he had ‘planted.’
The modified “bugs” turned on and then off (with words or noise above the soft voice level). They had recordings for almost four hours that they had each reviewed together as a preview toward them discussing their case.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii personally turned off the light and they sat with large disposable cups; within they contained mixed cocktails. They all faced two monitors. Cobbishii sat in the one chair in the room. The other three sat on the two double beds in the room.
Cobbishii began confidently, I’ve examined these video records I think I have a working premise to go on. We might be ‘lucky.” He said “here are my final notes.”
1] A grill bin on the apartment porch was sampled-
a) burned bananas
b) burned underwear
c) burned animal flesh and fat
d) burned charcoal
2] A marijuana bush inside closet on the balcony which is incredibly overgrown
a) overgrown marijuana plant
b) one heat lamp in the closet
c) cold weather should have retarded plant growth
d) no marijuana residue found in apartment
3] A batch of very yellow bananas on the kitchen counter
a) when Jeremy bought the bananas they must have been green
4] A telescope on Jeremy’s porch facing Jackie’s surveillance post
a) video record showed a pair of binoculars on Jackie’s’ desk
b) a chair and umbrella stand were the only things on her post’s balcony- moving the umbrella was probably her inside/outside signal
5] A high-tech electronics plant located near and openly seen at Jackie’s post
6] Liver in the refrigerator
a) found four porterhouse steaks in the freezer
b) liver in refrigerator compartment as though it had a usual place
c) minute caked liver stains in compartment suggest that raw liver was usually kept there
d) Jackie has a fondness for animals mainly cats
7] Cat feces in the hedges next to Jackie’s’ office building
a) litter box barely showing in Jackie’s’ office (post)
8] Alcohol and distilled vinegar mix droplets found in plastic jug
a) Emulsification samples show that the mix was used in both sinks and the grill bin
b) The mix may have been used to destroy genetic matter before enemy examination
9) Time to destroy incriminating factors and the relatively pristine state of the apartment suggests Jeremy may have avoided capture
They reviewed footage together. Cobbishii spent his time switching footage back and forth, while concurrently listening to the four hours of audio monitoring they had compiled. Detective Tennessean and Captain Phillips added germane commentary, occasionally, to their audio compilation. After a seven hour stretch, lessened by editing, they had all come to some conclusions. The underwear and other burnt matter in the grill was a signal that they were still alive. Also, Dr. Wisen added, Jeremy loved steak and none of the food articles seemed to have been disturbed as well as anything else. Jeremy’s location most probably is still relatively secure.
The marijuana plant/bush was undoubtedly part of Jeremy’s cover.
Captain Wisen didn’t know why the bush was so large, but supposed that it was possibly part of his cover to be a horticulturist; though he had once described himself of having a “brown thumb” to Dr. Wisen. Why so many bananas and why did he buy them green so that he would have to watch them “turn?” No-one could guess.
The telescope was a partial mystery; until he heard a woman recorded saying at the apartment complex saying repeatedly: “do yoouuuuuuu, do yooouu noooo sign language.” That was said to a purring cat, and that must have been the way Jeremy and Jackie communicated from their posts. The neighbor probably knew that Jeremy was fluent in sign language. The umbrella could have been the conduit of the way they briefly met and “talked.” Jeremy’s signals probably had something to do with the grill on the balcony.
As for the rest of the information; Cobbishii mentally discarded it. The important fact was that Jackie was an animal and cat person. She would be back for her liver eating cat. He knew how to succeed. They would “surveille” the cat at Jeremy’s apartment complex. Jackie, or one of the other two, might still be in the area. Over the past two days the same woman had complained about the cat’s frequent absences. The cat ignored the rebukes and paid attention to the “cat snacks” it was given.
By the time the four of them had finished discussing the situation from different and similar points of view it was 10:30 p.m. The decision was to drink some of the largess of liquor they had accumulated, and on the following morning rent an apartment at Jeremy’s complex. By the following morning they could monitor and watch the area around Jeremy’s apartment residence. In the mean-time they laid out the clothes and packed for the following morning. They checked their small arms and ammunition also; just to be careful. They would leave at 9:30 a.m. and would not tell or leave a forwarding address for the day manager.
In the mean-time they had a couple of hours to kill. Whiskey shots and beer beckoned to them. Archie was a special case. We had him stick with the MD2020 we had procured for him. It was stronger than wine but lacked the hard alcohol “kick.’
Captain Wisen and Lt. Detective Cobbishii rented two adjacent apartments, so they would have a 365 degree view in all relevant directions. The complex name was Hamish apartments. They were out of the apartment office by 9:50 p.m. the following morning. They had been, seemingly, upfront and explained that they would be there for a little over four months on business; Captain Wisen explained that there were two other associates with them. They told the office manager that they were in the process of renting some furniture. The office manager seemed to be happy at getting her price for monthly rent and it was paid in advance.
They swang by a diner twenty-plus blocks away to join Captain Phillips and Archie. They ate and then went to a thrift shop to buy light lawn furniture and cots. They had been fully moved in, in just twenty minutes.
Dr. Wisen was the first to spot the cat. They were looking both at monitors linked to two video cameras; as well as observing by eye. Captain Wisen whistled softly and turned up the magnification of the video cameras. The cat’s fore-body filled up the screen. He saw a cheap manufactured jeweled collar on his neck; with a tag connected to the collar which read “I like liver.”
Cobbishii had given this situation a lot of thought. He zoomed the video onto the collar. The glass studs on the collar showed some minor, even scratches. He said: “ahaa”; Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii realized he had guessed correctly. Jeremy was a technological expert and he must have bugged the cat. He told the other three men and said to all three: “we don’t go near the cat. Some-one else may be seeing and hearing from that collar by now.”
He gave strong direction: “one man waits by the video monitors; the others of us wait outside the complex gate. And no contact until one of them reaches the fence-line or gate. Cobbishii swore %#@$#@@, “-we need disposable cells. I’ll get some and hope, if it’s them, that I’m back in time to intercept any of our guys.” On the way to pick up cells he decided to change direction and go to a medium size agri-business. He picked up two special packages and six disposable cell phones as well. He made it back in time to see the neighbor lady. She was feeding him bologna; not liver as requested. While watching the cat he took the time to turn two of the “cells” into detonators for his special packages.
Each man took a remaining cell and a card from the package that housed the cells, Lueitueinant Detective Cobbishii wrote names and numbers on the cards that came with the packaging.
Three of them took positions outside the apartment complex fence-line. Doctor Wisen had the job of reviewing the monitors; because he could I.D. them easier.
Cobbishii told Doctor Wisen “whatever happens follow the cat; use audio if necessary. Don’t use your cell unless you confirm an identification or it’s a true emergency. Lead the cat with the bugs, and don’t be afraid to look by eye. If they recognize you they’ll hopefully make direct contact. It’s a calculated chance that they will trust you. Remember if she is dead or captured they will probably be using the cat for counter intelligence. He smiled with some irony. I trust that the reason the neighbor lady is missing the cat because he’s spending time with one or all of them. I think they decided to go ‘under’ deep. At least I hope so.”
From Lt. Detective Cobbishiis’ vantage he watched a slightly slender woman leave a McDonalds located about two-hundred and fifty yards away.
He watched as she took a sealed lid off a “soft drink” cup, that he noticed had a milk shake inside, and place the contents in two small disposable paper water cups from the restaurant. She sat the cups down at the edge of the parking area, and two cats came out from the hedges to drink. She still had a carry out paper sack in her hand.
His heart thumped and walloped. She was so well within average-to-pretty “looks “he couldn’t be sure, but his gut told him it was Jackie Skea. She started to move in his direction; so he casually, and not too slowly, moved around the corner of the building that would shade him from observation.
Once around the corner he quickly moved to an intercept location. Captain Phillips noticed, as he had traversed to a midway point, him moving. He covered Cobbishii by moving forward at a forty-five degree angle towards Cobbishii. Once Captain Phillips was in position he laid down to be more inconspicuous.
Lt. Detective Cobbishii waited behind the apartment Laundry-mat where she was behind him, geographically speaking. His decision was to approach her from behind, because she would not see him approaching, and run away.
He took a sudden risk and jogged the twenty feet, toward her back, between him and her and put his badge in her free hand. Immediately after this he said “I’m Detective Cobbishii!- don’t call the cat, and follow me!” He walked in front of her and added “away from that apartment,” and he motioned to his right. He continued walking and he saw, from the corner of his left eye, Captain Phillips stand-up and move toward a second apartment parking lot area in the direction Jackie Skea and Cobbishii were moving toward.
