Sooner or Later..............

It's been a week since I'd staged a large number of Events here in Middlesex and down in Monmouth. I realized afterwards that I need to be more careful. The more Events I stage, the greater the chance that someone in law enforcement - outside of the DHS, of course - might get suspicious.

I decided to keep it down to one Event on any given day, maybe skip every other day or so, and to head out in different directions each morning.

Last Wednesday, I started out by heading towards Avenel. I was just going to drive around in the back streets for a while and see what came up. After about 1/2 an hour I was getting hungry, so I took a quick turn towards Dunkin' Donuts. That's when I saw this guy. He was just walking down the middle of the street.

In my mind, there's no reason to walk down the middle of the street. This isn't the Old West. Besides, he obviously had an attitude. I looked around quickly but it was only us. High Noon.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on, and had a nice breakfast.

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Thursday, I was out early but it started to rain and I went home early.

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Friday, I headed down to Sewarren. I haven't been down this way in a while and I drove around the side streets close to the park and the marina. That's where I saw this guy.

As he came closer, I slowed. I checked my mirrors. There was no traffic along here this early, and no one about.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on.

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Saturday, when I went out, I drove though the back streets of Avenel into Rahway. There's a lot of automotive junk yards back here, with a few related business buildings scattered around. There he was, just ahead.

The junk yards do most of their business later in the day and the businesses in the building would probably be closed on the weekend, I hoped. I slowed and looked around.

Point, press, Flash.

I drove on and, since I was in Rahway anyway. went to the library.

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Sunday is the seventh day. I rested.

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Today, I drove out towards Iselin. I took side roads, and passed several parks. I pulled into a parking lot at Merrill Park and got out to walk around. There was no one who drew my attention. I got back in my car and headed towards Edison, and then I saw this old man sitting on a bench on the side street outside of the park. I pulled to the curb and looked around.

He was out of the way. There were no houses visible, and very little traffic. I walked back towards him. He didn't acknowledge me. In fact, he didn't move at all.

Point, press, Flash.

I turned, walked back to me car, and headed towards Edison. I thought to spend some time in the air-conditioned mall.

If Gordon is watching me and he intends to contact me - as Doyle and his people seem to believe - then I hope this draws him out.

Sooner or later.

Common Sense..............

I drove down to Monmouth County this morning. I haven't been down this way in a couple of weeks and was hoping to come across something interesting at a library or the Good Will. I was also hoping to continue my string of Events.

I want to draw Gordon out. I want him to contact me. Not just for Doyle, but for me. I know they want to stop him, but I want to talk to him - to understand him. After all, we have a lot in common.

I got down there around 8:30. None of the places I wanted to visit would be open until 9 so I started out by driving around the streets in Union Beach, which is where I first lived when I moved to New Jersey. It hasn't changed much.

I rode up one street and down another, slowly working my way towards Hazlet, my first stop. On Haig Street, I came up behind this guy walking in the street.

The one thing I've always loved about Union Beach is how quiet it is. There was no one else around. I passed him with my windows open.

Point, press, Flash.

I turned the corner, took Anderson to Stone, up Stone to Poole, and on to the library.

The Hazlet library is open every afternoon, but the only mornings they open are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. That's why I only go down to Monmouth on those days. However, the Municipal Court is also open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and it shares a common parking lot with the library. I didn't bother looking. I headed for the overflow lot behind the library.

There was nothing on the sale table that I was interested in. When I got back to the lot, I saw this guy rooting around in his trunk.

This is an isolated location away from traffic, and we were alone. Sometimes it's too easy.

Point, press, Flash.

I got in my car and headed down to Middletown.

It was starting to get hot, and I could feel the change when I came out of the Middletown library. There was nothing there of interest so I headed back up Route 35 towards Good Will, then home. I saw the Barnes & Noble's on my left and, at the last minute, decided to stop there. I had passed the jug handle (for you non-Jersey drivers, that's a traffic configuration that allows for a u-turn) so I had to drive up to the Toys 'R Us and cut through their lot in order to come south again. As I drove around the back of the building I couldn't help but notice this old guy inspecting his front fender.

  We were in the back lot with nothing on my left but an untended field. I slowed as I approached. I stopped and watched him for a minute or two, still keeping an eye out for anyone else. I decided that I had no idea what he was actually doing and started the car.

Point, press, Flash.

I left the lot and went to Barnes & Noble's. Nothing interesting.

I headed back north, stopping at Good Will. I've been looking for some bookcases but they had none.

On my way back, my daughter texted me, and I wound up meeting her for lunch at the deli in Raritan Center that I'd met Doyle in on Sunday.

I didn't get anything on the trip but I did have a nice lunch. And I did continue with my part of the plan.

I'd be back in Middlesex tomorrow, but I'd staged four Events here yesterday so I'd have to be a little more careful. I can't be crowding the Events too closely. I need to spread them out.

I need to use some common sense.

No More Chances............

Last night I couldn't help thinking about my conversation with Doyle. It came down to sticking with the plan. My part was to escalate Events, and his part was to trail me until Gordon made contact, then grab him. Sounds easy but it hasn't worked so far and I'm afraid I know why - I haven't really escalated anything.

I've relied completely on chance encounters. Sometimes I'd get a couple of Events in one day, but then days or week may go by until I had another. I decided to go back on the hunt, like I'd had in the early days.

I woke up early, and was out of the house at a little after 8. I decided to go up through Woodbridge then through Avenel. I had the windows open and the Flasher at the ready. After only a few minutes, I saw the man walking ahead of me.

I slowed a bit, checking the surrounding area. No one else around. I came up beside him.

Point, press, Flash.

In my rearview mirror, I saw him drop into the bushes on the side.

I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for a bagel and unsweetened iced tea, then drove towards Colonia. It was quiet here, too. Driving around for a while, I came across another guy while crossing over one of the streams that criss-cross this area.

We were alone out here. I passed him just as he reached the lower guard rail.

Point, press, Flash.

I didn't look back, but I'm pretty sure he went over the rail and down the slope to the stream. I headed for Iselin. It was getting on towards 9:30.

I drove through the streets here, slowly. An occasional car passed by, but I didn't come across anyone for about 1/2 hour. That's when I saw the PSE&G meter reader.

She was just off the corner, in the shadows of a back yard fence. She was the only one around back here.

Point, press, Flash.

I headed for Edison. It was starting to get hot out, so I was only going to stay at it until 11.

15 minutes later, I came across this guy who'd been out walking but now sought the shelter of some shade.

There was no one else around here, either on foot or driving. I pressed my luck, stopped, and went for the long shot.

Point, press, Flash.

He dropped to the side, and I headed home.

Tomorrow, I'd head down to Monmouth, still on the hunt.

Not relying on chance encounters anymore.

You Can Never Be Too Careful................

Doyle called. It's been close to 2 weeks since the last time we were supposed to meet, when he hadn't shown up. While I hadn't expected him to call right away, 2 weeks is a little long. I'm not complaining this time though. We've gone through a couple of heat waves, and I have to admit that the last one wore me down.

When I woke up last Thursday morning I felt light-headed and clammy. I remember having been dehydrated a couple of years ago. Back then, I was hospitalized for a night for observation. They keep telling you to drink plenty of water but, really, how much water can you drink? Especially when you aren't thirsty.

Anyway, thank God the heat wave broke that day.

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Doyle wanted to meet at 10:30 at a deli in Raritan Center. Unusual because it's a Sunday, but not a problem. Although it is late for me, on a Sunday.

I have a morning routine which I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before. It's all timing. I have to take certain pills at certain times. Sunday's I have an extra pill that needs to be taken 1 hour before any others, and the directions say I can't lie down for an hour. I take it by 7, go to mass at 8, then take the other pills at 9. This gave me an hour and a half before the meet.

I had breakfast at Denny's. I wasn't gonna wait till I met Doyle before I could eat.

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After breakfast, I still had about 45 minutes before the meet. It was a nice morning, so I took the scenic route through Metuchen. Traffic was light and with the windows down, there was a cool breeze. It is a pretty residential area where you don't see many walkers. The closer you get to the town center, however, that changes. I came up behind this guy.

He was heading towards the cathedral along the street behind the rectory. I had the Flasher ready, as always, but wasn't gonna use it. I wasn't out looking for an Event. He caught my eye because I've always been amused by a guy who wears a belt and suspenders.

I drove back up through Edison, and got to the deli around 10:20. I actually come here often. I have lunch here about once a week with my daughter. There were only a few cars in the lot.  Today, of course, being Sunday, most of the businesses in the area were closed and the only workers around would be in the warehouses. And it was a bit early for the lunch crowd.

I went in and turned left into the dining area.  Only Doyle was here, sitting all the way in the back. (There's no table service - you buy you food at the counters to the right of the entrance - so nobody comes by to bother you once you sit down.)

"A red shirt? Really? All your white ones in the wash?"
Denny! How are ya" He grinned up at me. "No, they're at the cleaners...Sit down. You want anything?"
"No thanks. I ate already." Up close, he looked tired. I told him so.

"Yeah," he said, rubbing his face. "It's been a busy coupla weeks. Sorry I bailed on you last time."
"No problem. I got your message. The young guy said Gordon had hit in Freehold. Is that right? during that big storm?"
"Fraid so. He's the reason I didn't meet you that Monday. He hit in Matawan early that morning. And he's hit down in Ocean County and up in Union County since then."
"Really? How about that. Sounds like he's not as sick as you thought."
He nodded, and shrugged.

"Whatever. He seems to be concentrating here in New Jersey so we're pulling out of Delaware and Pennsylvania for now."
Oh? But you still can't track him, right?"
"Right. But the shrinks still believe he'll contact you, so we'll continue with the plan."
"You mean, I escalate and that draws him to me. When he does contact me, you grab him. That's the plan, right?"
He grinned, although a bit weakly. "Right."

His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it, then looked up at me.
"Also, I thought you should know that we've had to reduce the number of agents assigned to this. Mr. Jones insists we continue, but there are other demands on the Department's time."
"Like what?"
"Well, it is a Presidential election year, so we have to cover both sides. And we sent agents to Colorado to help out with the movie theater attack. And we're sending agents to London for the Olympics. We're stretched a bit thin, but so far every thing's covered."
I thought about all that for a minute or two.

"Hey, Doyle, look. I'm sorry. I never really gave it much thought, but you guys really do a lot."
His phone buzzed again. He stood up.
"We do what we have to do, Denny. You can't be too careful. I gotta go, so take it easy."
"You too, Doyle"
We shook hands, and he left.

As I went back to my car, I couldn't help but think of that guy with the belt and the suspenders and I laughed.

To me, that is being a little too careful.

Some Things I Just Don't Understand............

Doyle called. He asked me to meet him at 9:00 AM in the Menlo Park Mall, on the lower level just outside of Nordstrum's. There are some tables set up out there that should be empty that early in the morning. I didn't sleep well last night, so I left my house even earlier then usual, and took the long way to the mall. This took me down Main Street in Woodbridge. I hadn't gone this way in a while and I almost caused an accident when I pulled up short in front of "Sarge"'s house.

It looked empty. There was a realtor's sign out front.

I didn't really know the guy. But before I got the car - when I used to walk up to Woodbridge Center - I would pass by his house. He would always be sitting out there. On the porch in bad weather. At a table he'd dragged out from somewhere in good weather. Sometimes with a friend, sometimes alone. Sometimes with a beer, sometimes with a cup of coffee or tea.

Looks like he won't be sitting out there any more.

I thought of him as "Sarge" because he always had an American flag and a Marine Corps flag flying off the side of the porch. I thought of him as "Sarge" because he didn't seem like an officer. I thought of him as "Sarge". I would always snap off a salute as I passed by.

I think I still will.

Semper Fi, Sarge.

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I got to Menlo Park about 8:15 and decided to park in the back, under the deck, because it was closer to the place Doyle wanted to meet. As I walked towards the entrance, I noticed a young man sitting against one of the pillars.

I went inside, and found the tables empty. I thought that Doyle would've been here already.

Then there was a voice from behind me.
"Mr. O'Neill?"
I turned around, quickly. The young man that I'd seen outside was standing there holding out a folder with a DHS badge.
"Sorry about the change, sir. Special Agent Doyle sends his regrets but something has come up. My name is Cummings and I'm here to brief you on what has changed."

I looked at his credentials, but I couldn't find anything wrong with them.
"So...Cummings?...Why am I here? what did Doyle want to tell me?"
He put away his ID and took out a notebook. He flipped through some pages. He wasn't as young as I'd first thought.
"Special Agent Doyle wanted you to know that a Mr. Gordon created some sort of Event in Freehold on Saturday night."
"Saturday night? Wasn't that when they got hit by that terrible storm?"
he looked at his notebook, flipping back and forth between pages.
"I don't have anything to suggest that. I was only told to tell you that Mr. Gordon was still active, and that you should keep an eye out."

"OK...So where is Doyle now? Why isn't he here?"
"I don't know, sir. All I know is that something came up and, apparently, I was the the only agent close enough to make the meeting."
I looked at him for a minute or two, I could only shake my head.
"Thanks, Cummings. Let Doyle know that I got the message and that I expect to hear from him soon."
I stuck out my hand and, after some hesitation, he shook it.

I walked away.

There are some things that I just don't understand.