YES.........

It's been 2 weeks since I got my "marching orders" - the change to how I should be pursuing Phase 2. A lot has happened, but none of it applicable to my task at hand.

Firstly, we've been suffering through a series of Heat Waves since July 2nd and the long Holiday Weekend for the 4th of July. Out of the 16 days so far this month, I understand that 10 of them have been above 90. Records have been set all over the tri-state area. This leads into...

Secondly, in this heat, no one goes out. I thought that finding people during the winter months was tough, but it's almost impossible to find one single person, alone, in this heat. We seem to crowd together at beaches, or jam together in car caravans to get there, or we don't leave the air-conditioned comfort of our own houses. I don't think I've seen even 1 single jogger. It's as if subconsciously we need to have someone with us in case we succumb to heat prostration. Which leads to....

Thirdly, I had a bout of dehydration, which kept me home for several days and necessitated a quick trip to the hospital for blood work and an Echo-cardiogram. Everything was fine, but I need to drink a lot more then I feel like. (Also, I had a biopsy scheduled for this week, and although I haven't gotten any of the results, I assume that no news is good news.)

So every morning I went out, usually with some errand or other to do, and although I wasn't "hunting" I did have my eyes open for any opportunity. No luck, until this morning..

I try to have a plan each day. What to do, where to go, and how to get there. This morning, I stopped for gas on Rahway Avenue, went to the Post Office there to mail some bills, and stopped at the Avenel Pathmark  on St. George's Avenue to see if they had a couple of things. They didn't.

On my way out of the store, I realized that I'd parked a little further to the right then I'd supposed. I turned in that direction, and noticed that halfway to my car, someone was sitting in theirs. I looked around. No one. I thought I felt my heart rate go up.

I took the Flasher from my back pocket, and held it by my side. I kept walking. Closer. I kept looking around. No one. She sat in the passenger seat, with the window rolled down. It looked like she was reading something.

Closer. Closer. Still no one. I lift the Flasher. Point, press, flash. I keep walking, putting the Flasher back and taking out my keys. I don't look back. No one calls out. It seems unnaturally quiet.

I get in my car, start it up, and drive past hers. She sits, slumped in the seat as if still reading. I drive on. The confirm comes in about 20 minutes. I spend the next several hours visiting libraries in Edison, Metuchen, Woodbridge, and Rahway. I get nothing. I see no one else. I don't care.

I'm back.

Back to Basics......

It's been 2 weeks since Givings met me, and filled me in on what was happening. As far as I know, the People Upstairs are still trying to figure out how to proceed. Since I wasn't moving forward, I've been enjoying my private life. There was an Engagement Party, a child's birthday, and Father's Day - which all kept me occupied for several weekends. But those are over now, and I'm faced with a lot of free time that I'm not really sure what to do with. That is, until yesterday when...
Doyle called.

We agreed to meet again by the Veteran's Memorial outside of the Main Library in Woodbridge. I drove this time, and saw him sitting on one of the benches as I walked over from the parking lot - his arms across the back and his face turned up towards the sun. Surprising. He was wearing a yellow, short-sleeved golf shirt over tan slacks - totally out of character with the button-down, suit wearer I was used to. As I got nearer, I saw that he was wearing loafers with no socks. He'd gone casual on me. But, I could also see that his face was different. He was paler then I remembered, and his flesh was slack, like he'd been sick, or lost weight.

Without moving, he said, "Nice day. Pull up a seat."

"Nice outfit."
"Thanks. I'm on vacation, or will be after we finish here."
"Couldn't Givings tell me whatever it is you want me to know? She did last time."
"Yeah, she could. But I wanted to, and after "torturing" me with 3 weeks of useless arguing, trapped in a windowless room with 6 fanatics, I deserve time off, and you deserve to know something concrete."
"Oh? Tell me."
He sat up a little straighter, and rolled his shoulders as if trying to work out some kinks.
"Here's the deal. Givings told you that the People Upstairs were very impressed with the Forrest Event, especially with how you took advantage of the situation. Very impressed. Me too. Anyway, she also told you that the second target hasn't been established. They want you to do a politician, but they can't agree on one. Apparently, the political situation in New Jersey is too volatile to meddle with right now."
"What, no one corrupt enough to take out - or not corrupt enough?"
"Not the point. They can't agree. End of discussion."
"So what happens now?"
"I'm coming to that." He stood. "Man, being locked in like that really got to me." He stretched. "I'm more of an outside kinda guy. I need to get back in shape. I look pasty and I feel bloated."
"I noticed. The pasty face, anyway. Bloating is beyond my observational skills."

He laughed, and sat back down.
"OK. Here's the deal. Givings told you that Phase 2 is on hold until they can make a decision, right? Well that's not gonna happen any time soon. besides the problem they have with deciding who to target, there are outside situations that have some demands on some of their time over the next month or so."
"What kind of demands could be more important?"
"Don't know. Don't want to know. Personal stuff, I guess, for a few of them. Whatever. The bottom line is that there won't be a continuation of Phase 2 until late August, at the earliest. I didn't think that would be a good use of your time."
"I'm flattered. What do you think I should be doing?" Since I didn't know what to do with myself, I was genuinely interested.

"You've got the new Flasher. I convinced them that you should use it."
"How? I mean, under what circumstances?"
"Back to basics. Random Events, like you did in Phase 1, only this time it'll be for real. And since the Flasher can be used up to 3 times before recharging, you may be able to stage 2 Events on the same day. What do you think?"
"Actually, it sounds pretty good. I can do that. Will I still be monitored?"
"Of course. And all the other guarantees will be in place in case you get caught, etc. Oh, and you should try to space out the Events geographically if you do more then 1 a day. You stay in practice and the Project moves forward - it's a win/win."
"All right. I can do that. Is there a number I need to stage?"
"Nope. That's the beauty of this. You're completely in charge. We're upping the price to $1,500 an Event, but the only limitation on you is the recharge time on the Flasher. You in?"
I didn't have to think about it.
"I'm in."
"Good." He stood. "I'm out of here. Givings will be in touch over the next few weeks, if necessary. Next time you see me, I'll be "Back in the Black", as we say at the office."

He chucked to himself, and walked away.
Now I had something to do for the Summer. And I knew that the People Upstairs are "6 fanatics". Knowledge is power.

Well, Well, Well ....
I hadn't heard anything since the Event last week, and I've been quietly making myself nuts by constantly checking my emails for the name of the next target. That stopped yesterday when I got a text message from "James" to meet this morning behind the Starbucks stand in the Food Court at the Menlo Park Mall at 9:00 AM. When I got there about a quarter to, there was no Doyle so I grabbed a table to wait for him.

"What? No coffee?" I looked up, and it was Givings.
"What? No Doyle?" She sat down across from me.
"Nope. He's all tied up in meetings with the People Upstairs. Which is why I'm here. The meetings I mean. They have to do with you."
"Oh? How? Haven't I been doing what they want?"
"Actually, you've turned out better then they expected. Let me get some coffee and I'll explain. Want anything?"
I shook my head "no" and she went to the Starbucks stand. It's bad enough that they charge so much for coffee, but she had to stand in line, too. It took about 20 minutes, but she was finally back with a coffee, and a muffin that probably cost $5. I was drumming my fingers on the table while she set herself up. Finally, she said,

"OK. Here's the deal. We told you - when we started Phase 2 a couple of months ago - that the People Upstairs were very impressed with how you handled Phase 1, remember?"
"Yeah. I remember. And Phase 2 is another 6 months, with only 3 Events. But we just pissed away a week, and I still don't know who the next Event involves."
"Patience..patience...all will be made clear in a few minutes." She drank some coffee, and ate some muffin. I tried to slow my breathing down. "Your efforts on the Dr. Forrest Event, putting aside the fact that you initially dragged your feet, also impressed them. In fact, they liked that you were planning something out involving the garage, but instead took advantage of an opportune situation to carry out the assignment."

I didn't bother to ask how they knew what I was planning.  I knew they had me watched, and the implant made following my movements extremely easy. I asked, instead,
"OK. So what do they want now? Why the delay?"
"There's no real delay, actually, since they are changing the rules slightly. The target they originally had for you is no longer viable. They've had Doyle in with them for the last week trying to decide on who the new one should be. Since the delay is on their part, they've decided to alter the time frame. Now you will be given 2 months in which to stage the next Event, starting from when they send you the name. After that, it will probably be another 2 months for the 3rd Event in the Phase, again starting from when they identify the  chosen target for you. understand?"
"Yeah. It's not that hard, but why the change?"
"They liked the way you thought on your feet, so I get the feeling that they are trying to pick a target that will be a little more challenging."
"So when, or how, do I get the name?"
"I don't know, so keep checking your emails. But once a day is sufficient. When they send it, it will be between 1 and 2 in the afternoon. That's what they said. Also, they are aware of your upcoming biopsy so they wanted me to assure you that if you need some time "off" due to a medical situation, they will place the Phase on hold until you can resume the effort."
"What do you mean by medical situation?"
"If it should become necessary for you to be hospitalized for observation, lets say, then - simply put - the clock will stop ticking until you're back in the game."
"That's real big of them." Sarcasm is lost on Givings. "Do they know something I don't?"
"No. But they are aware that you are only on one anti-rejection medicine as opposed to the usual two. They just wanted you to know that they are willing to be flexible since the Events are not time-specific."

She paused, finishing her coffee and muffin. I tried to think of something to say, but there was too much to get my mind around for a quick response. She stood.

"You'll hear from us, I believe, shortly. Most probably within the next week. Meantime, if I were you, I'd relax and enjoy the rest. Who knows when you'll get another."

With that, she turned and walked away, dropping her empty coffee cup and muffin wrapper in a receptacle, and taking the escalator to the ground floor.

I sat for a while, and thought about getting some coffee from the Burger King on the other side of the Food Court.

Serendipity, Who'd Have Thought....

Last Friday, my cardiologists office called. My next biopsy has been scheduled for July 14th at 8:30 AM, and they'd like for me to make a change to my meds. The level of the anti-rejection drug I take has been slightly high since my last biopsy in March and they wanted me to lower it. Starting that day, my dosage went from 2 mgs. twice a day, to 1 and 1/2 mgs. They also wanted some new blood tests, so they were going to mail me the scrip and I was to let them know when I went.

I held off going to stake out the hospital until I got the scrip, which came in yesterday. I went down this morning. As usual, I drove to Woodbridge Center and took the bus. The out-patient testing facility is in the Annex, on the 3rd floor. I signed in, showed my paperwork, and in under an hour, I was done. Since my cardiologists office is on the 6th floor, I decided to go up and let them know I'd had the blood drawn rather then call.

The upper floors of the Annex are laid out in the same manner. The elevator banks are on the extreme left-hand side, facing each other. There is a short hallway, with sets of doctor's offices branching off on either side. The hallway ends in a small waiting area, with 2 rest rooms, Men's and Ladies.

I got off on the 6th floor, and turned down the hall towards the cardiologists. Guess who came out of the door at that same time . . .

Dr. Grace  Forrest.

She didn't acknowledge me in any way as I continued toward her. She turned to her left, and the rest rooms. I followed. There was no one else in the hall. I assumed there had been a camera in the elevator. I looked around but saw no cameras in the hall.

I took out the Flasher as she opened the door to the Ladies room. She entered. Point, press, flash, and the door closed slowly as she sank to the floor. I entered the cardiologists office, and left word at the receptionists that I'd just had the blood work done. Back out to the elevators, down to the 1st floor, and out of the building.

I caught the next bus back to Woodbridge. While I was on it, my cell phone went off. A text message from James....

                                            ONE.

All that time trying to find a way to set up the Event in the garage, and I just walk right in to it.

Serendipity.

Trial Run, Take Two.....

I've spent 4 more days "AT" the hospital, alternating buses to and from, and varying where I stake myself out. These 4 days straddled the 3-day Memorial Day Weekend so I may need a few more days to complete my observations. What I have learned so far, however, is interesting.

I spent these days in and around the Annex and its near-by garage. I'd start the day in the cafeteria, then move to the lobby, or sit outside for a while - they have some benches set up out there. Or I'd take some time and wander through the garage, familiarizing myself with as much as possible of the 6 story structure with roof-top parking. Here's a few things I've learned:

1. No matter where I was sitting - the lobby, the cafeteria, or even the 5th floor which is where my cardiologist's office is - no one paid attention to me. It seems that the hospital staff only notices someone if they are looking for someone specifically, or they're hunting for an empty seat at a table they can eat at.

2. The concept of "security" doesn't seem to apply to the Annex or the garage. I know there are security guards in the hospital - I saw enough of them when I was there - but I've yet to see any in the Annex or garage.

3. The garage appears to be used by day trippers, and long-term parking. Dr. Forrest's car was easy enough to find, and it's always in  the same parking space on the second floor.

4. There is only one way from the Annex to the garage. Out the front door, across the street, and in, where the stairs going up are immediately to the left and the elevator is just a few feet further on.

There are a few more things to figure out. Where are the cameras in the garage, and how to get around them being the most important. But I now know it's just a matter of time.

I know where and how, I just need to figure out when.

Trial Run, Take One . .

Meeting with Doyle made me realize how pressing my situation was. I hadn't done anything, and They knew it. They were keeping tabs on my through the implant and there was nothing I could do about that, except make an effort. Show them I was doing something.

I went to the hospital twice that week. Tuesday and Thursday. I took the number 810 bus from Wooodbridge Center on Tuesday, and the number 815 from Amboy Avenue and Main Street on Thursday. I figured that by mixing it up, I wouldn't be easily remembered if something happened, went wrong.

I had to be careful at the hospital. There were a lot of people - doctors, nurses, orderlies, etc. - who would recognize me. I tried to stay away from areas where they might be, but I did need to find Dr. Forrest and she, naturally, would be in those same areas.

Tuesday, I started on the 6th Floor of the Tower, where cardio-surgery patients are kept. I thought I'd know a lot of the staff since I'd spent weeks here, but it has been a year and a half, and they must've had some shift changes or turnovers. I recognized a couple of people, but they paid me no attention. I found Dr. Forrest's office alright, exactly where it was before, but she wasn't there, and it's not private anyway. Staff from the Transplant use it when they're on the floor. Bottom line, the floor is too crowded, with too much going on, to afford me the luxury of a simple Flash.

I went down to the Second Floor, where the Cath Lab is located. This is where the "simple" cardio-surgeries take place - pacemaker adjustments, biopsies, etc. You can't get in without someone buzzing you in, so there was no way I could check it out. Sitting in the waiting area would just be inviting recognition, so I went home.

Thursday, I went back and started in the  hospital cafeteria. This is on the Second Floor, near the Cath Lab, and almost everyone in the hospital - staff and visitors - shows up there at one time or another. I thought I could wait there for Forrest to show up, then follow her, but I got nervous after about an hour worried that someone might ask me why I was there. Paranoia, I know, but what're you gonna do? I went to the Annex.

This is a separate building, but connected to the hospital by a walkway running from the hospital first floor, to the Annex's third (because of how the OR and underground parking at the hospital are situated). I figured on staking  out the cafeteria here, on the Third Floor, and watch the people going to the elevators. I actually did see Dr. Forrest. She came in for coffee while I was there. I even said "Hello", but she just nodded, as if she didn't know me. I was tempted to follow her out, but to what end? No matter where we went, there were just too many people around. This was not going to be easy.

On my way home, I got a text message from "James". It read..."Go back and read the bio. Remember its "AT the hospital, not IN the hospital".

 I did that today. At first, there was nothing I hadn't seen. Stuff I didn't need, stuff I knew already. Where she went to school, where she lived, where she worked, and - then - what kind of car she drove, and where she parked it. A silver, four-door, Honda Civic with MD plates in a parking facility across from the Annex.

Something new has been added.

Turning the Screws.......

I've been stalling. I opened the e-mail from "James" back on the 30th and haven't done anything with the information. The People Upstairs provided me with a lot of personal and biographical information on Dr. Forrest, but I couldn't see how I could use it. Knowing what schools she'd gone to, and where she'd interned, did her residency, etc., doesn't help me at all. Giving me her address was nice, but I didn't know where the town was - probably the far side of the state in an area where my beater would stick out like a sore thumb.

I already know where she works.

In the back of my mind, I knew I should be doing something, but 3 Events in 6 months means 2 months for each, so I haven't been in a rush. I admit, I got involved in some family stuff - which has nothing to do with any of this - and I let things slide. Until now....

Doyle called.

We met this morning at the Woodbridge Memorial Park, alternating marble slabs and benches in a semi-circular area outside of the Public Health Center between the Main Library and the High School. As I walked across the grass I could see him on one of the benches, his back to me.

"No car?" He asked, as I came up to him.
"No. I decided to walk. It's not too hot and I could use the exercise. No Givings?"
"Nah. She's in charge of the Watchers for a week or so."
"Watchers?"
"The people who keep tabs on you, among other things. We told you about them. They follow your signal, though not too closely that they're obvious and sweep in to clean up after you, if necessary. That's how I knew about the car, and the walking."
"OK. Yeah. You did tell me about them. Good for Givings. Gives her something to do."
"You're not kidding, since you haven't been so busy lately." I nodded. Taking the jab. I deserved it.
I had nothing to say, so I just shrugged.
"You know, you're supposed to report in. E-mails to "James", Remember?"
"Yeah." I sat down next to him. "I remember, but I thought it was once a month."
"It is, officially, but unofficially you should report every two weeks. The People Upstairs are a little antsy about this whole program, and they're not too happy that you haven't done anything yet."
"I read the material they sent, but I can't see how it helps me. It's not easy with a real target. It's much easier picking targets at random."
"They know that. I told you they were happy with you results in Phase 1. But nothings happened yet, and the clock is ticking. If you fall behind now, it could be harder later on. They thought a target like Dr. Forrest - someone you knew - would make it easier. Especially knowing that she wasn't as professional with you as she could've been."
"What? How do you know that?"
"We have our ways, you should know that. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you get off your butt and do something."
"Is that why you're here? To remind me?"
"Partly. Mostly to let you know that the People Upstairs - unhappy with how things are going - have decided to tighten things up. Make it easier for you."
"How?"
"They've decided to make a decision for you." He took a slip of paper from his inside, jacket pocket and handed it to me. "This is what they want you to do, now. Good Luck."

He stood up and walked away. This was getting to be a routine I didn't like.

The slip of paper said...

DO IT AT THE HOSPITAL.