It's rained, on and off - and pretty heavy at times - almost every day since I last met with Doyle. Kinda suited my mood, since I had a lot of stuff to sort out .First and foremost was the heightened alert level at DHS. As Doyle had explained it, since the Bin Laden kill every able-bodied field agent was being reassigned to proactive roles. Even the People Upstairs would be occupied. This meant that the "The Project" has sorta fallen between the cracks.
It didn't bother me that there would be no one watching my back since Jones and his crew would be off the table too. It didn't bother me that there would be no money coming in from that source, since I'd never touched any of it anyway. It didn't bother me that the test subject from Delaware was on the loose, since I didn't think he knew exactly who or where I was. What I kept coming back to was why had they let me keep the Flasher?
I've come to the conclusion that Smith wants me to continue. I'm also pretty sure that they'll bail me out of any trouble I may get into - legally speaking - because they wouldn't want the Flasher to become known. At least I hope so.
Two days ago, the weather changed. The sun came on strong and the temperatures soared. That can certainly improve one's mood.
I was up early this morning, so I took a ride to the Barnes & Noble store by the Menlo Park Mall and got there just after they opened. I was looking for something specific, and I always start on the 2nd floor. I used one of their terminals to find the section I would need, and then headed down towards the back of the store. I glanced down one of the rows and noticed this older man sitting in one of the chairs by the windows.
Now, I had been to this store Wednesday - just killing time - and seen this guy in the same chair, probably wearing the same clothes, eating the same breakfast, and reading the same book. This is something that - I have to admit - ticks me off. If you want to sit around and read a book without buying it, go to a library. That book he's so callously dropping crumbs in (and probably drippings from his Dunkin' Donut Iced Coffee) will probably wind up back on the shelf for some unsuspecting shopper. Man..I hate that.
I moved into the next row of books - part of the Science Fiction section, and browsed my way towards the window. I had the Flasher in my right hand. I don't usually use that hand, but it was better logistically and my body should block most of the flash from being seen.
I looked around a bit but. like I'd said, it was early so the store wasn't crowded.
I got to the end of the row, then...
point, press, Flash.
He slumped a little as I turned around, exited the row, and walked down to where the book I was looking for would be located. I found it alright, but no longer had any interest in it. From that section, I could see most of the window-side. No one seemed to take any notice of the old man. I went down to the first floor, exited through the side door, and entered the mall itself. I walked up and down the length of it, taking my time, then went back to Barnes & Noble.
No cell phone confirmation, but also no activity, no emergency service vehicles, no police. I browsed around a little on the first floor, checking out the sale books, and left through the main entrance.
I drove down to Roosevelt Park, just a few blocks away off Parsonage Road, and pulled into the first parking lot I found. I lowered the windows, turned off the car, and just watched the people.
They were walking, jogging, riding bikes, or just sitting. Parents or grandparents watching the kids play. They were out on a sunny, warm, pre-summer morning doing just what they wanted to do.
Just like me.
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