1- Meeting the Contact - RT Shoressuspence

My reflection told me I was crazy. Where were my trenchcoat, umbrella and Hamburg? I knew that was sixties spy-wear, so opted for soccer mom apparel: jeans, running shoes, T shirt and a light jacket. My make-up was light and my hair pulled back in a loose pony tail. I nodded and thought it would work.

I let a green bandana hang out of my jacket pocket and left my condo to hail a cab. 

"Starbucks on Trade, please." The driver nodded and took off. My gun, in my lower back, bit into me. I straightened in my seat and thought about the meet.

I remembered my supervisor's words: 'Don't do anything stupid this time!' 

It wasn't my fault I was emotional, loud and made mistakes in the field. Well, it was, but I had a lousy handler.

The taxi braked quickly and I slid off the seat.

"Sorry, lady." He wasn't. I gave him a smaller tip and headed inside to meet my contact.

I hadn't sat with my back to any door in over ten years, so picked a table in the middle of the far wall, emergency exit to my left. 

While I waited for my coffee order, someone took my seat, but I could get rid of them.

I sat next to my seat thief and just began talking and asking questions. By the time I asked if he was married, he hurried out and I scooted into his spot. Now I was set.

Thirty minutes passed and I wondered if I had missed someone. My jacket was in plain sight with the bandana showing and I was reading an ebook on my tablet.

A man sat down to the left of me. He was  'just a normal looking guy'. 

"Good book there?" I would know if it was my contact with his answer.

"Yes, The Passage. Have you read it?" 

"Actually, I have and I'm reading The Twelve now." 

"I am ready to read that. This is my second  reading of book one."

"If you don't mind a paperback, I have a spare here. My wife bought it for me, but I already had the ebook."

"If she won't mind, I would love it." He handed it to me, picked up his coffee and left. 

I stayed another thirty minutes, reading the book and then packed up and hailed another cab.

It dropped me at the train station on Trade and I boarded, heading North. I got off at Sixth Street and double-backed and walked through Fourth Ward until I got to the office. 

I went in the public entrance and asked if I could speak with someone about a quack of a hypnotist in town. 

I handed the receptionist my ID and he scanned it. "Right this way, Ma'am." He had me sit in a small waiting area which let  me bypass the metal detector.

My boss walked in and we shook hands. He made a show of taking notes and nodding, even asked a few questions.

We both stood and shook hands again and I left. No one saw him pick up the book I left behind.

~~

I continued surveillance of different sights, suspects or assets and waited to hear news of my most important meeting to date.

After two weeks I was told to meet at South Park Mall in the food court and order anything and sit in the middle wearing a green shirt and white jacket.

I was early and I was sure my contact was too. Sitting in the middle was very uncomfortable; no one had my back.

A woman walked quickly to me and greeted me by name. I gestured the empty chair to her and she perched on the edge.

She was loud and bubbly and professed missing me for so many years. I nodded, smiled and laughed.

She lowered her voice a bit, "I remember your last report in school. It was quite good. Did you go on to be a writer?"

"I just dabble now. The kids keep me running." She nodded.

"I still remember your paper and how a kid newspaper reporter broke up a ring of dog thieves. Good job. Okay, I have to run now and you take care." She was gone.

So, I had helped break up some kind of criminal ring. I smiled to myself and finished eating. It wasn't the meet I expected, but I loved the good news.