Man with a Thousand Faces

Previous Chapter: Getting the Cold Shot

It’s after noon when we get back. I drop my stuff at my room and agree to meet in an hour or so for a late lunch. This time I get there first and Tessa and Isabel arrive together shortly after. Tessa is more diligent about scanning than Isabel. Not that Isabel isn't doing the job properly, she’s following the training protocol, but I know from personal experience that that protocol won't catch expert observers. You have to put in the extra effort Tessa is doing. As long as Isabel is partnered with someone more experienced, she should be fine. However, I hoped she might have developed more paranoia since I busted in on her at our first meeting. Of course, as the boss, she does have more things on her mind. One of the reasons I like to work alone is I don't have to worry about other people; life is so much less complicated.

I guess Tessa filled Isabel in on our activities because Isabel shows no curiosity when she arrives.

"Management still hasn’t made up their minds about the hit, but they’re staying with the commitment to make a decision this evening." Isabel informs me, "I looked in on the target from time to time while you were gone. His activities have stayed within expected parameters."

"Well," I say, "Since we have the day to kill, at a minimum, I’m going to do a few circuits around the target location in daylight, in case I missed anything."

We agree to meet again tonight at about ten. That should give management the time to make up their mind. I head back to my room and come up with a disguise different from the last one. I want to get a closer look at the area where I plan on taking the shot to see if there’s anything I missed. I want to use something different in case they keep accurate records (I would).

As I prepare myself, I come up with a series of changes I can make to alter my appearance enough that I won't be recognized as I stroll back and forth past the property. These need to be easy enough to do while moving, subtle enough so someone watching won't notice, yet resulting in a different enough look that I can plausibly be someone else when seen by someone who didn't see me make the change. Sort of like Robert Downey Jr. in his “Sherlock Holmes” movies.

It’s mid afternoon when I set out for my recon. A typical beautiful day here on the Med. I look out to sea over the forest of anchored yachts. I make several passes around the target's estate, changing my appearance each time. The front gate to the target’s estate is kept closed, and there’s enough of a bend in the driveway to make it impossible to see my chosen location. I decide to make a delivery to the wrong address; hopefully that will get me closer. A half hour or so to prep my excursion, but the guards are well trained and don’t let past the gate. I don't want to make too much of a scene, so when the guard points out that I’m at the wrong address, I act very embarrassed and hurry off. I hoped to get further in, but such is life. 

Including what I observed from the rooftop last night and now, having made several circuits during the daylight, I feel comfortable with my knowledge. I just wish I could make it more complete. However, in this business one rarely gets perfect information; it’s always a balancing act between detailed planning and improvisation.

It’s getting close to dinner time, but I’m too busy thinking. I debate the value of putting bugs in and around the estate. I’m not sure that knowing what the guards are talking about will be worth the risk. They seem quite professional. I haven't seen any mistakes yet, except for their lack of paranoia in depth. If I were head of security, I’d make sure the boss got in and out of the car (armored, I’m sure, though I can't be one-hundred percent positive since the manufacturers are very clever in their imitation of the non-armored versions) out of sight. I suppose the target doesn't want to change the look of his estate and the head of security is forced to allow this small window. Were I put in that situation, I would at least have thermal scans of the surrounding rooftops, particularly the one I’m intending to use. Because of the nature of the sloping ground here, it’s busy when looking from the entrance of the estate toward the roof where I was observing from earlier (meaning from that point of view there are houses behind the roofline where I was). Still, it’s a clear window. All I need is enough of a distraction that they don't figure out where the shot came from until I’m away. That’s where Isabel and Tessa will come in.

I wander around the target's estate in larger and larger circles until I know every road, alleyway and garage for blocks around. I’ve a three dimensional picture of the layout built in my head and I’m evaluating it from every angle. I’m not seeing any other access point. If we were to try and take the target out as he moves about, we wind up with even smaller windows and the need to rapidly setup. No, I think the original idea is by far the best. It’s a second, perhaps a bit more, but I feel confident I can make the shot in that window. I can set up ahead of time. I have a clear and unambiguous signal that the target is getting close (when he goes up the driveway). And I know, to within a foot or two either way, where he’s going to be in that small time frame.

It’s nearing dusk. Since I’ve been wandering around thinking, I've been avoiding any thoughts of food. Now, with my decisions made, I realize I’m quite hungry. I check my watch. Unfortunately it’s still a couple of hours until we meet. Too short to justify an independent meal, yet a long time to be hungry. I decide to go back to my room and exercise. Of course that’ll make me hungrier still, but I’ve certainly lived with worse and my hunger will make dinner taste even better.

As I head back to my room, and have a chance to relax from job mode, I reflect on how comfortable I was with Tessa. I thought my relaxed ease around Isabel was unique. I don’t think Tessa is at the same intellectual level as Isabel, more down on my level. Unless she’s hiding her brains. However, she sure is fun to talk with. I hope we can somehow keep that going.