The next day I was back at our little debriefing location 2 hours early. Anne was able to drive the kids to school in the morning so I was able to try to set up a little surveillance of my own. I had told Anne I was getting picked up by a client and we were riding to their site up near Santa Barbara together.
After dinner with the family, homework, and walking the dog, I kissed everyone good night and went back to work.
Since starting my firm a month after the assignment termination protocol was enacted it wasn’t uncommon for me to get a couple of billable hours in each night before bed. That night, my hours were spent doing what I do best. Digging into the background of my three interviewers and their connections.
When I got up in the morning, I went for my morning run through the hills near my home. I guess the surveillance team just thought I would come back and decided not to follow. I didn’t run often in part because I had gotten lazy and in part because I don’t like the coyotes that seem to be everywhere in the morning.
About a mile and a half into the hills off one of the overgrown side trails was a path down to a neighborhood. From there I called an Uber and within about 15 minutes I was on my way downtown. I carried a small backpack that looked like it was a camelback water container on my run. In fact, it was a pair of jeans and a clean shirt to wear to the meeting. I took the time waiting for the Uber to duck behind some cars and change. I had no intention of showing up in running shorts or a suit and tie.
The Uber dropped me 3 blocks from the building we had met in and I took the time to casually walk up and scout around for a bit. I set up near the front of the parking structure, so I could see the coming and goings. I wanted to see what Christina, Morph and Mahen were driving. Also maybe get a glimpse of the surveillance team.
I wasn’t sure of the surveillance rotation or check-in timing but I was hoping that once they figured I was not returning they would show up at the debrief location and see if I was there. Or at least one member of the team would. Poor guys were already having a bad day.
About an hour before the meeting time, I saw Christina in a late model Toyota Camry with Arizona plates. I couldn’t see the telltale rental car bar code, but it was a safe bet it was rental. She wasn’t from LA.
I didn’t see Morph come in, but Mahen drove by in a BWM that proudly displayed Hertz Prestige Collection on the license plate holder. DOJ was not going to reimburse him for that.
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A few minutes later 2 guys drove by and I was struck with a wave of familiarity. I didn’t recognize the guys, but it was the same Prius I had almost hit on the way home yesterday. Was that the surveillance team? I didn’t remember seeing it in my neighborhood, but there are like 10 Priuses in the area. I might have missed it.
Sloppy sloppy sloppy… I really need to up my game
As the Prius pulled to a stop in front of the building, I took that as my queue to saunter into the building
As I approached a man and women got out of the car. I toyed with the idea of being an ass and waving but before I could the two entered the lobby behind me and for all intend and purpose escorted me to the elevator. When the doors closed the guy reeled on me saying, “That was really stupid man. I thought they said you were one of the smart ones.”
I was taken aback and stood there with my mouth agape.
He continued, “We are your protection detail. Someone thinks your important enough or the information in your head is important enough that we need to keep you alive. If you don’t want protection tell them and let us go back to New York.”
“New York?” I asked.
“Yeah New York” the women responded. “No one from the local FO is involved. We cant even check in. Not sure what you are involved in but… I looked you up. I know you quit after pissing off the USAO and I saw your posts about being vindicated but still. Like Joe said, if you don’t want protection tell them and let us go home.”
“Look, I thought you were surveillance for whatever game they are playing,” I said. “I appreciate you watching my back. I know it’s a crappy job. No more ditching you.”
With that we arrived at our floor. Or more correctly my floor as I got out and Joe hit the button for 2 floors down.
What the hell is going on? I mean I have been in some very tricky and scary situations but I have never been assigned a protection detail. Ive had back up and extraction teams but this was something different.
As I entered the conference room, ready to demand an explanation, Agent Peterson Christina was on the phone sounding like she was getting chewed out. Morph was there and gave me the shush finger.
Christina told the caller, “He’s here now and we will get started immediately. Yes, I know this is time sensitive, yes sir.”
Despite my questions about the security team and the situation, I was amazed by the “time sensitive” not because I was worried but because it’s some cliché trope from every FBI movie or book. For management, everything is time sensitive. Which is BS. The only time something is time sensitive is when a life or lives are at risk. Cases of crimes against children and acts of terrorism are time sensitive. You get those wrong, even once and lives are changed. All others or at least all others that I might have been involved in are not time sensitive.
Christina ended her call and looked at me with a bit of a scowl or anger or frustration. Maybe all three.
But before she could say a word I all but screamed “What the hell is going on here?”
The tone had its intended effect. Christina’s demeanor changed to one of defense, and Mahan who was sitting at the table looked up from whatever he was doing ready to jump into the fray. Only Morph stayed neutral.