Andy took a snack bar out of the mini-fridge and unwrapped it. This stakeout was taking a toll on his attentiveness, and he needed a boost this late.
Johnson, as usual didn’t seem tired in the least. The agent was staring at the suspect’s house through mini-binoculars, searching for any sign of movement.
The two were expecting a report from Bionic any moment now. The wildcard agent was trailing the suspect at a supermarket, making sure the suspect didn’t surmise anything. Once Bionic reported in that everything was okay, the other agents would make their move.
Frink’s voice suddenly came over the speakers in the room. “Bionic called in. Suspect is entering the supermarket now. You have the go ahead.” Frink was back at the office, making sure all electronic signals and things were in order.
Johnson looked at Andy and nodded. “I will watch the street, just in case,” Johnson said. He then picked up a handgun, cocked it, and handed it to Andy. “If you find any threats, use it. I will come with larger weapons.”
Andy nodded in return and put the small firearm in a belt holster. He made sure he had an extra magazine.
After Andy put on his equipment vest and latched it, he was out the door. His black turtleneck and dress pants suited him best for this late-night mission. He wanted to be as close to invisible as possible.
He leaped down the stairs and out the building’s side door. Then the agent stealthily crept across the lawn and through the hedges separating the properties.
Once he made it through the brambles, he made a mad dash for the suspect’s house. He reached the door and lockpicked it, breaking some of his minute tools. He didn’t bother putting them back into their holding compartment on his vest. He tossed the picks aside, knowing that his gloves prevented fingerprints being traced back to him.
Once the door gave way, Andy flicked on his red headlamp. He had to search for the basement door. That’s where Johnson saw the suspect drag the body. Although Frink’s heat signatures didn’t confirm it, Johnson never hallucinated. It was their best lead.
Andy could hear the thump of techno music coming from another room. The Suspect must’ve left it on. Ignoring it, Andy crept along the kitchen wall, looking for a door.
***
Johnson carefully observed the red glow coming from Andy’s headlamp. It was moving about the room, searching for something. The door.
Then Frink’s agitated voice broke Johnson out of his observation. “Bionic’s lost sight of suspect . . . Bionic’s headed to the parking lot to look for him now . . .”
Johnson glanced at the street. No cars matching the suspect’s were coming down the road. He contacted Andy anyway via earpiece. Now the red glow paced around the room, changing directions constantly.
***
Andy stumbled around the room, desperate to find the basement. Then he saw a crack in the wall.
He walked up to it and pushed gently. The crack sealed. Then he put his fingers around the edges of the frame and pulled. It gave way.
Before Andy were a set of old wooden stairs. He could smell something putrid. The agent pulled a glow stick out of its compartment and tossed it down the stairs. Then he took out several fluid detectors and a sample-taking device.
Andy proceeded down the stairs just as Frink’s harried voice came over his earpiece. “Suspect’s vehicle is not in the parking lot! Bionic has lost him . . .”
Andy froze. Then Johnson’s ever-calm voice said in his ear, “Agent Andy, I suggest you vacate the premises. The suspect’s vehicle is moving toward us down the street. Agent Johnson out.”
Andy spun around and ran to the door just as headlights pulled into the driveway. Andy knew he was toast.
***
Grans Himmel got out of his van with his bag of groceries. He moved toward his kitchen door when he saw a few small, discarded metal instruments on the ground. He looked in his kitchen window and saw a red light go out. A thief, he thought.
Then he heard movement from behind him. He whirled around and saw a man in a dark suit walking up his driveway. Then he realized it wasn’t just a dark suit. It was a black suit. And matching tie. And shades. A man in black, Grans realized. The government had finally learned of him. But, he thought, they aren’t going to catch me!
Grans dropped his foodstuffs and snapped his fingers. Then he was gone.
Andy popped out of the kitchen door just as Johnson reached the bag of dropped groceries. “Thanks for saving my arse there,” Andy said with relief as he packed away his tools. “Too bad we didn’t catch the freak.” Andy heard Johnson repeat, “Too bad.”
Home