Washington DC
Jennifer is donning her disguise again.
Suddenly, a communication pops up on Bobby’s computer system: Aussie appears on the screen and announces, “Hey mate, I’ve got an update on that Yank Johnson.”
Bobby responds, “What do you have?”
“I picked up some communications about him trying to bail on the feds in China, but that it did not go well for him.”
“Thanks for the info.”
“No worries. Catch you later.”
Aussie disconnects.
Jennifer has been observing and says to Bobby, “Well, that makes it even more important to find out what’s going on with Gates.”
“It also seems to make it very clear how dangerous this whole situation is.”
“I understood that when I saw what happened to Jim.”
“I know. I just don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll be careful. I’m just planning to do some reconnaissance for now.”
“Stay in contact with me. I have the area mapped out and will be monitoring you.”
“Thanks, your help made all the difference last time.”
Jennifer heads out, and Bobby monitors her as she walks down the street toward a Metro station. He uses the traffic camera network to watch her but loses the ability to monitor her after she heads onto the Metro. They planned for this, expecting the lack of video monitoring to last for about thirty to forty-five minutes. Bobby feels a bit apprehensive about not being able to see what’s happening, but he uses the time to make sure he is fully prepared for when Jennifer exits the Metro. Finally, after what seems much longer to him than the actual forty minutes of elapsed time, Jennifer reappears on video.
“Hi, it’s good to see you again.”
“Hi. How is everything looking on your end?”
“It’s looking fine; no problems.”
Jennifer walks a few blocks down the street to a nondescript three-story building, with signage indicating that it is a Homeland Security building.
“I’m here. Can you see it?”
“Yes, I can see you and the building.”
“There’s a coffee shop across the street; it looks like a good location for observation of the building.”
“Okay, I’ll also observe and record, in case you want to review it later.”
Jennifer goes into the coffee shop and is careful to pay in cash, which is a significant change for her after being so used to using a credit card for everything. She selects a seat with a good view of the Homeland Security building and begins the unexciting activity of observation. With the FBI, she had been involved in assisting with some stakeouts, so she knows the drill, including the general boredom of it. At least she finds the coffee to be tasty.
Several people come and go from the building; none of them seem very significant. Suddenly, a car pulls up next to the building, and the two men who had tried to bring Jennifer in just after James was killed get out of the car and enter the building. Jennifer feels very nervous and turns away for a moment to avoid being seen, but then she quickly turns back, as the logical part of her brain takes over again with the understanding that they won’t be able to recognize her in disguise.
“Those two men are the ones who tried to take me in.”
“Interesting. I have them on video.”
“Great. Obviously, the loose ends seem to be coming together.”
Smith’s plane lands in Washington, and he is met at the airport by a representative from the British Consulate, who turns over a black four-door Land Rover Defender to him. Smith thanks him and then drives off, remembering to drive on the right side of the road. He activates the navigation and communications systems.
“Hi, mates, anything new?”
A male voice responds, “No. Your navigation is set up to take you to where they are holding Gates.”
“Let me know if anything develops.”
“Will do.”
Smith arrives near the Homeland Security building. He parks down the street and walks toward the building, but on the opposite side of the street. Just as Jennifer did, he notices the coffee shop as being well located for observing the building and walks inside the shop. Being second nature to him in his job, he scans the coffee shop. Jennifer immediately stands out to him: she is in a seat ideally located for observing the building; she is looking directly at the building; she is talking but not into a phone; and she appears to be disguised.
Smith walks up to the counter, orders a black tea with lemon and pays for it.
“I’ll have it ready for you in a moment,” the counter server tells him.
Less than a minute later, the server hands the tea to Smith, who responds, “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
With a tilt of his head, Smith says, “Cheers,” and he then walks over to where Jennifer is seated and asks, “May I sit here?”
Jennifer is caught off guard, having just been talking to Bobby, but especially given that the coffee shop is not very busy, with plenty of unoccupied areas for sitting. After an awkward pause, she finally says, “Sure, go right ahead.”
“I’m new to the area. Do you have any recommendations for things to do?”
Jennifer is caught a bit off guard again; she is so focused on the building, and trying to figure out how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, that she is not ready for a casual conversation. After another awkward pause, she responds, “There are lots of museums.”
“You seem especially interested in that building across the street.”
Jennifer is very surprised by Smith’s comment and she gets up to leave, mumbling, “Not really. I have to go now.”
Smith gets up also, and they both walk out of the shop. Jennifer’s nervousness is rapidly increasing, and then she sees the two men she recognized earlier; they are now exiting the Homeland Security building. Jennifer’s natural reflex to turn away from the men to avoid being recognized takes over again; Smith notices this and comments, “You don’t seem to want those blokes to see you.”
Jennifer’s blood pressure is soaring, and she tries to walk away from Smith.
Smith comments again, “They probably won’t be able to recognize you in your disguise.”
Jennifer is considering whether to try running away, but she quickly reviews the situation and figures that the two men who just walked out of the building would be tipped off if she did so, and that Smith seems to be in excellent shape to catch her; so instead, she blurts out, “Who are you, and what do you want?”
“I was wondering the same thing about you. I think we need to have a private conversation. I have a vehicle down the street.”
Bobby has been listening and observing, and he says into Jennifer’s ear, “Don’t go with him. Get away now.”
Jennifer continues her evaluation of the situation, which now includes a growing desire to know how this man is connected to the puzzle, and she decides to disregard Bobby’s advice.
She says cautiously, “Okay.”
They head down the street to Smith’s vehicle. Once inside the Land Rover, Smith asks Jennifer which direction to take her, and he drives off that way.
Smith says, “How about if we get down to brass tacks? I’m thinking we are probably interested in the same thing, and there is really only one interesting thing about that Homeland Security building.”
“Which is?”
“Dr. Gates.”
Jennifer is surprised once again and responds, “What do you know about him?”
“Your turn,” he replies. “What are you up to?”
Jennifer considers the various possibilities for the current situation before shrugging her shoulders and saying, “I’m with the FBI, and a friend of mine, who worked for the Secret Service, was killed shortly after getting back from a trip with the president to China. Now they are after me, and it seems as though Gates, and potentially gain of function research, might be connected to what happened to my friend.”
“You’re doing well. I just busted out an associate of Gates, Dr. Johnson, but the bad guys got him while he was making a break for it.”
“We just heard about that.”
This time, Smith is surprised, as well as impressed. “How did you hear about it, and who are we?”
Bobby interjects in Jennifer’s ear, “Don’t tell him about me.”
Smith notices Jennifer listening before she replies, “A friend of mine is helping me.”
“A friend who would like to remain anonymous.”
Jennifer smiles slightly and tilts her head in apparent agreement before asking, “And who are you?”
This time, Smith pauses for a moment before responding, “Well, as you’ve probably surmised, I’m a devious kind of guy, involved in all kinds of skullduggery.”
“James Bond.”
“The same group, essentially.”
“So Bobby, what do you think? James Bond. Is it okay for me to bring him in?”
Bobby finally agrees with her, and Jennifer directs Smith to his place.
After they arrive and Smith sees Bobby’s computer system, he looks around in amazement and comments, “Very impressive. You have your own personal GCHQ.”
Bobby looks unsure for a moment, and Smith elaborates, “Government Communications Headquarters.” Bobby then nods.
Introductions follow, and Bobby says, “Smith, I’m assuming, is an alias.”
Smith replies, “It’s easy to remember.”
They all smile.
Then they get down to coordinating and planning. Smith introduces Bobby remotely to some of his MI6 associates assigned to the relatively new National Cyber Force, a joint effort between the Ministry of Defence and GCHQ, which just recently passed the five-year mark, and they coordinate on the computer side.