Chapter 10 - the Right Bait

   "Well. Where to begin. The beginning, usually a great start. There was once an old case, Junior. Years ago."

   "There's a lot of old cases. Care to narrow it down?"

   "Gonna have to. Mike is a stagecoach driver. You know that."

   "Sure."

   "He managed a case. There was a victim. The victim? Entered therapy eventually. And the story the therapist got coming out from the victim? Was just too wild to believe. She looked around for help, someone had to hear this."

   "Okay. Therapist gets a spooky story. Calls the cops. Pretty standard way to start a case."

   "Therapist? Had a boyfriend. The boyfriend? Had… once been an MP. This story, wasn't a local story. He called in all his MP buddies that had gotten out. Go figure what they're civilian jobs were, most of them."

   "Oh. All cops."

   "Just about. One of them, was FBI. Some state police. A few others. They looked into it. They didn't like at all what they found, and… it went from there."

   "All right. How does this tie in, to today. Other than Mike ran the stagecoach, I'm not seeing the connection."

   He pointed at Little lightning.

   "That? Was the victim. And, Elise here? She was one of the former MP's. City gold shield. She works a special kind of case."

   Elise flashed her case and smiled a little.

   "I'm on leave."

   "On leave, you were a naughty girl…"

   "On leave, is standard after a lethal outcome."

   "Oh. That's how you got…"

   "My beauty marks? Yeah."

   "Sorry about that, hope you're getting better and---"

   Elise flashed a little smile and looked away.

   "Its fine. Not like its the first time I went on leave. I tend to end up on leave, every year or two."

   "Christ. I hope it pays well."

   "It pays the bills."

   Panic cut back in.

   "Right. I'm sure you're wondering. How this ancient history, ties in."

   "Mike generally tells me what I need to know."

   "Little lightning? I'm sorry to have to break this news to you."

   "Go ahead and spoil my party."

   He sighed before continuing.

   "There's no easy way to break this, so. JG? That old case. A… member of the law enforcement team that was investigating it? He… was a casualty. The case was a dirty small town. Dirty cops. Dirty chief. Drugs, gambling, prostitution… you name it."

   "Christ. They had the stones to take out a cop?"

   "Apparently so."

   "I hope they got the guy."

   Elise waved.

   "Oh. They did. I can guarantee that one."

   "Elise, happened to be the one, that…"

   Elise took over gently.

   "I happened to be coming the other way, and I was closest to the shooter. Guy was one of my best friends he took out. I didn't hesitate."

   "Sorry about that, but… Panic? Where's the tie in, other than Mike."

   "Right about there. The shooter? Well, he didn't make it far. One of the dirty cops. Two other cops got picked up on the conspiracy. One? Got convicted of conspiracy to commit and whatever other tag a long changes went with that. He did state time. A dirty cop, but he was a cop. Non violent offender. He made parole… a little earlier than anyone concerned would have liked."

   "You said, two cops in on the conspiracy."

   "The other? Didn't go down on the conspiracy charges. He just got the usual couple years to smack his hands and say bad cop."

   "Is… this what you've been looking into quietly?"

   "Yeah. I was keeping a loose eye on the guy. It was Mike's old case he coordinated. He wasn't a huge fan of this guy."

   "Okay. I get the basic picture. What happened, then. Because something happened."

   "Well? I didn't like some of the guy's movements. I was trying to identify one of his playmates he couldn't wait to catch up with when he got out."

   "Dare I ask."

   "You just brought me confirmation. The face of his new best friend? It was one of the other cops. Actually, it was the one that didn't go down on the other conspiracy charge."

   JG rubbed his chin.

   "So. Who's watching the front of the apartment building, then. Your server party is going on in another state."

   "I said I had the basic idea what was going on. Sorry if I gave you the impression I knew exactly what was going down, and what was going to happen. You just got brought up to speed. What do you think."

   "I was asked, not instructed. Asked. To aid you in a little side surveillance project. I was asked, not instructed, again asked. Would I mind being the courier. Mike suggested, it would be helpful if I took my cues from you for now. That was Mike's latest instructions. I'm guessing he went by what he was stuffing into the envelope this time."

   "I'm not your boss, Junior. I'm just a consultant. I'm not issuing field orders."

   "Mike is my boss. He does issue orders. Last I heard? I was supposed to give you help, and follow your suggestions. I guess until I hear different? I can keep giving you that. For now."

   "When does now, change."

   "Mike obviously wanted this kept quiet. I'm not being the agent that wets his panties and starts calling people. If you suggested it? I could leave, and… you guys could, I wouldn't have to know."

   "I wouldn't put you in that position, JG. I don't have any plans on… throwing anyone into a trunk and dropping them in the river."

   Elise piped up and chuckled.

   "Speak for yourself. I got a best friend, I had to stand at Arlington and listen to taps."

   Little Lightning piped up.

   "The guy they're talking about? He was my best friend, too. I didn't see nothing, if you guys wanna go down the alleys with flamethrowers."

   JG raised his hand. Panic smiled.

   "Junior. Jump right in."

   "Please tell me, I'm not going to be the only voice of reason here."

   "No. Of course not. JG? I think we all realize… this could be nothing more than, some jealous husband or boyfriend. Its an apartment building. You're the expert. You're in the field, for an informal look see. You? Think you might be seeing some kind of counter surveillance. What do you do."

   "Mike knows your location. We can now rule out, the bureau's right hand and left hand running into each other. Mike would already know."

   "Okay. Good."

   "Next up? I first start thinking… locals. Any cop might decide to watch somewhere. Uniforms? Looking to make a name for themselves. Picking up a kid dealing pot. Some detective, looking into… basically anything."

   "Advise me."

   "Oh. That's honestly, really routine. I just waltz down to the station, flash my badge to the chief. Hey. Nothing going down, just a little routine check up on something. Just curious, do you have anyone working anything around this general location? I think I picked up someone hanging around. You guys got anything official or unofficial around there."

   "Locals good about it?"

   "Smaller the area, quicker answer I get. Like instant. Bigger the town? Chief will get back to me, usually a couple hours. A city, well. 24 hours is the normal thing."

   "And here?"

   "Eh. Call back, couple hours. Or next morning. Its really routine. But, this goes to operational security, Panic."

   "Hmm. These guys? Are no longer cops. They can't run plates, get help, nothing. I have to make a gut call? That sounds safe. I'm thinking amateur hour."

   "Based on everything you gave me? I agree. I'd want that as soon as I could get it."

   "Okay. Go out and down the back, work the alleys to stay out of sight. Come back the same way."

   JG went off to handle that as quick as he could. He was already showing himself to be a huge benefit. He has a badge case, and can get things quick. He was back within the hour. He gave us a quick report.

   "I have good news and great news. Caught the chief coming off of work. Had a coffee in his office. Most chiefs are friendly on these things. He was pretty sure, they had nothing in this area. He made a couple calls, and confirmed it. He said he'd ask a few guys next morning, but if I don't hear back from him? Its not one of theirs."

   "That was the good news, I'm guessing."

   Junior was beaming.

   "And the great news, is…"

   "Hey. Its me. I have an FBI badge case. Chief asked me if I wanted access to the city cameras."

   Panic laughed.

   "You said no, you have no experience with technology."

   "Bite your tongue. All the cities started with the street cams a ways back. As prices dropped? Even smaller towns started to get into them. I got access to… they did it by grids. This apartment building? More or less in the middle of a grid. They're not bad, I eyeballed a few on my way back. Honestly? Pretty small, you'd almost think you were looking up at one of those day night things, if you think of streetlights as security lights."

   "That is great news."

   "No. That was more good news. The great news? Is I get to control my grid. Pan. Tilt. And? Zoom. As long as the locals aren't needing anything for an incident on this grid? I'm good."

   "Oh, that's…"

   "Yep. Pigeon man? Is back. Panic, you wouldn't feel like staying up all night, and helping me once again become… the terror that flaps in the night. Would you."

   "You're on."

   JG wagged his head.

   "First things first. If you want suggestions."

   "I do."

   "Counter surveillance. The big risk, is spooking the other side."

   "How did we…"

   "Just being thorough. This guy… if its him, I mean."

   "Go on."

   "Probably not his first time doing this. He's used to seeing Light here. Go to work. Come home. She has a schedule. She goes out, comes back in. As she does things."

   "And?"

   "Pretend you're him, Kemosabi. She's late from work. Elise showed up. Front door. Merry and her went for a walk and came back. Its weird, for her schedule."

   "I see your point."

   JG thought out loud.

   "Its not too weird. Not yet, anyways. Light… its the start of the weekend. She's… late home from work. Elise and Merry? Already here. And you, Panic."

   "What about me?"

   "Duh. If he was here for any length of time? You went out, and came in the back. You? Are still out there, on your walk. What's our rough plan, to salvage this weekend. Again, from his point of view."

   "Make another suggestion."

   "Light? Needs to go back out. And come home from work normally. You? Need to come home, so to speak, the same way."

   "What about you, Junior."

   "I was thinking I could go out and come back in normal, too. Lightning? Its her weekend. She has two girls, and two guys in. We're having a little get together."

   "That puts us all on his… radar."

   "Panic? We have no idea to guess how long this might or might not have been going on. I stop by every couple weeks, just to keep my eye on her data rack and her workstations. I've met her at this very apartment before. If its after hours? She has to take me and let me in and out."

   "The cruiser?"

   "No. I don't think I ever brought a work car from the motor pool and parked out front here, I don't think. Remember. I tend to pop in here, and I like to head up and spend the weekend at the range. If the weather's nice? I stay at the range, meet whatever boys are in at the moment. Weather's bad? I stay at the bank. I mean, you know my routine. I had a cruiser at her work once or twice, but… honestly I think I had my personal vehicle every time I stopped here."

   "Stroke of luck there. You? You're just some guy pops in now and then."

   "Okay. But you and Merry? You guys stay here sometimes."

   "I wonder what the guy would think. Sometimes, I stay here without Merry, or with her. It varies."

   "What would any amateur think. He probably thinks you and Merry are a couple. And really, my best guess is that when you pop in yourself? Little Lightning is a sweet little girl having an affair with her best friend's guy."

   "What's that make you then, JG."

   "Hmm. At that point? I guess… she has the big affair with you… then what would I even be. The younger guy on the side now and then, my best hunch. We assume they can't run plates and all that. Without the cruiser, what would he even know. But… he's seen everyone? Except Elise. She's the only new thing."

   Lightning giggled.

   "I guess I am having a party this weekend."

   "JG? You do counter surveillance. You call it."

   "I say be normal. Act normal. We all come and go up until now. Can't change things on that score. Honestly? Once Lightning gets home from work, and all of us are actually here. You know what I mean. What do people… do, when they get together for the weekend? Man, I'd open those drapes. We all walk around. Man, its springtime. You open those windows, and we point and look at people going by. Wave. We… order pizza. We go and get drinks and march the party supplies in the front door. Some of us? We go sit outside on the steps and bullshit. You know. What people do, when they have a little party."

   "You're right. It covers the… weirdness of her real schedule. She leaves and goes out of town, or people come in and stay. For extended periods of time. Its not normal. Do you… think she ever got tracked to Wrightsville?"

   "Anything's possible, but. An amateur. Has a name, an address. Probably not. Even if he tried it? Once you're off the highways, you'd notice a tail on all those side road making your way there. Then? An outsider trying to follow someone around that little hunting town? They might as well wear a blinking neon sign. No. If I was an amateur? I'd stay on my name and address, right here."

   "Sounds good to me."

   JG cleared his throat. Then, he did it again.

   Panic looked at him.

   "What?"

   "Uh. No one is… bringing it… you know. Up."

   "Bringing what up. What did we miss."

   "The, uh. I mean… if I'm doing surveillance? Means Mike loaned me out. He manages long term cases. He likes to cycle me around to them."

   "So? Its your job."

   "Panic? That's the main point. Its my job. There's a point, to my surveillance. Or my counter surveillance, buddy. This guy? What's the point. No one's bringing it up. Or… did I just point out the dead cat in the room. Sorry if I did."

   No one was rushing to pick up the dead cat in the room. Panic mentioned it quietly.

   "I was going to… sort of ease into that end of things, a little later."

   Little Lightning caught the drift quick, though. She sighed.

   "You know? I've been dealing with this. Whether I want to or not. One way, or another? Since I was 14. I honestly thought this was over, a long time ago. So? Go on. Someone say it. What's really going on. I'm pretty sure I got it, I just wanna make sure I got it right."

   Elise raised her hand.

   "Light? When I was an MP. I started out, trying to catch a purse snatcher. Around the base. That? Was my first case. I eventually… we eventually, got the guy."

   Lightning wagged her head.

   "Okay."

   "I walked around, dangling my purse. Flashing my new cell phone, my wad of cash. I was the bait, dear. Do you have any idea what I went on to do, after that? I really don't talk about it around you. For obvious reasons, honey."

   "Well. Go ahead, Elise."

   "I do basically just about the same thing, Light. Its just… I don't try to catch purse snatchers anymore. But. I'm the bait."

   "You mean…"

   "Sorry to be the one to point it out, Light. But yeah. Much as I hate telling you? You're the bait."

   Panic took her by one arm around her shoulders, and sat her down. She asked quietly, what was she even the bait… for.

   "Lightning? I can't come up with a lot of reasons. And none of them? Are any good. Now. That said? We still haven't proven that this isn't just… some weird coincidence. You know, some guy watching his girlfriend he thinks is cheating on him. But… depending on what comes out of this, and believe me? We intend to be thorough. But…"

   "No. If its one of them, and not someone else here in the apartment building? I get it."

   He rubbed her shoulders.

   "No, honey. You don't get it. They do. You're not alone."