Cat and Mouse game

Chapter Four

As Elias left the airport, he immediately took a taxi and headed to the address that had been given to him. While driving through the city, he looked out the window and admired its unique architecture. He watched as the various buildings flashed past him and people went about their daily routines.

It occurred to him that most of these people had no idea about the dangerous operations that agents conducted on the streets of this city almost every minute. And not just in this city, but all over the country, all over the world. 

Every day, people like Elias put their lives at risk so that civilians could follow their measured lifestyle without worry and fear.

He also noted that unlike Mexico City, it was quite cloudy in Washington. Perhaps this was due to the early morning hour. In general, he liked the weather here more, because it was not as hot and stuffy as in his hometown.

Approaching the destination, the car turned again, and Elias checked the map on his phone. It showed that they were now in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Low commercial buildings with a meager palette of colors – shops and offices - were harmoniously intertwined with the same low and similar residential buildings.

After driving a few blocks from the nearest gas station, the car stopped in front of a six-story brick house surrounded by other apartment buildings. That was the building he needed to go to.

Agent Morales paid the taxi driver for the ride, grabbed his suitcase, and walked down the walkway to the front of the house.

The lazy rays of the morning sun were playing with reflections on the windows. And in the shadows under the green trees, it was pleasantly cool and fresh. As the young man approached the front door, he looked around to check if anyone else was there, and then called apartment number 34.

"Who's there?" asked a rough male voice a few seconds later.

"A migratory bird in colder lands," Elias answered quickly.

"Ok, got it."

Right after the confirmation, the door opened and Agent Morales entered the building.

He went up the stairs to the fifth floor and looked for the apartment he needed. As he found it, he confidently approached the door. Instead of ringing the doorbell, Elias knocked. Three short knocks, followed by two long ones and then one more short one.

As the lock clicked, the door opened in front of Elias. He was met by a big, dark-haired man with a short beard. The man was probably about thirty years old, although because of the deep wrinkles on his forehead, he seemed a little older.

The man, holding one hand behind his back, carefully looked Elias up and down. And apparently confirming that he was the expected guest, he gave a brief nod. The man pulled his hand out from behind and put his gun back in its holster.

"You're just in time. Come in," he said, stepping aside to let Elias in.

Following precautions, the man checked the corridor and only then closed the door.

Elias left his suitcase in the hallway and went further into the apartment. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary apartment. But when he stepped into the living room, he saw that the entire room was filled with various equipment, desks with computers and massive black boxes with piles of documents.

Besides, a large screen was hung on the wall, showing a satellite view of the city with several "targets". They were lit up with red and green dots, tracking their location.

A red-haired woman was standing next to a desk that was noticeably more cluttered with folders than the others. With her back turned to Elias, she was intently looking at the screen. Her hair, tied into a messy bun on her head, was held by a pencil instead of a hairclip.