The Assassin

Chapter One

The greatest thing about surveillance is when something actually happens. And that isn't often, but today, the man I'm following is busy. He talks to a woman ahead, but I'm too far away to hear them, but it's not his normal meet up. The regular lady isn't there, and I can't help but wonder where she went. While they sit and talk, I stop by a fruit stand, picking up an apple before he begins moving again. Paying for my food, I continue following him.

If this man is the big bad agent everyone told me he is, he has to know I'm following him. Hell, if he's the big bad agent, he's probably known that I've been following him for weeks. Or maybe his reputation is just a myth. I've followed him from the Smithsonian and now we're up in Dupont Circle. What are you up to?

Street vendors begin to fade away as we get closer to the circle. Carts are replaced by buildings, mostly embassies. Embassies full of people who will gamble with him.

Cars on the street begin to disappear into the tunnel below, leaving the one green patch in the city. Today it's probably brown, a muddy river as everyone dodges the rain. They keep saying it's going to snow this afternoon, and the moment it does, I'm abandoning this mission for a Starbucks hot chocolate. Freezing cold rain? I'll tolerate that, but snow is a no-go.

We've stopped at an intersection, and I'm trying to keep my distance. Even if he knows I'm following him, it's better to stay back. With a wide frame like his, he could strike me with no warning and from a distance.

Most days, I'd be out here with my gear, but I couldn't make it to the office before I found him. Sometimes I feel like he knows I'm following him, the way he hovers every morning around the Hoover building - he has to know.

For weeks now, I've been tracking him, trying to establish a hard case against him to bring him in. A former FBI agent, someone who abandoned his country to make big bucks gambling with international figures. The only problem is, no one at the agency seems to know why he left. He left before I came around, which is why they sent me - hoping he won't know recognize me as agent. So far, I think I'm safe, most of the time, I feel like he has to know.

As the group of people we're in begins to move, he turns right down P Street, and I wonder where he's going. A woman accidentally hits him, and he turns around to apologize to her. I freeze; if he looks up, he'll be looking right at me. I slide a little further to my right, trying to hide behind the man in front of me, but this guy isn't any taller than I am. At 5'7", it surprises me just how tall I am compared to some men. This time is no exception, and I find myself trying to shrink without being obvious that I'm trying to hide.

He turns again, this time to the left, at 17th street, and I wonder what's going on. We've never been up here before, and I'm curious to see where he's taking me. Tracking him is easy; he stands so tall above the rest. The fact sheet in his file says he's 6'4". While I've seen plenty of men that tall, none of them have had his build. He's not fat; he just has broad shoulders that make him seem so much more menacing than other men.

A car honks at me, and I realize I haven't paid attention. I jump back to avoid it and ignore the middle finger the driver gives me. When I make it to the other side of the street, my stomach drops. My man is gone.

I make it to the end of the sidewalk, a new intersection. There are less people here, further away from Dupont Circle. Looking both ways, I don't see anyone who stands above everyone else. Hmm, where is he?

Out of ideas, I begin walking to the left, hoping he's trying to hide in some store. Maybe, if I just act like I have no idea where he is, he'll feel confident enough to pop out. Wouldn't that be convenient? All this following is in vain. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't bring him in today. There's not enough evidence quite yet (at least that I know about - the Director swears I'll find everything I need) and the man could throw me like a rag doll. Taking him down will require an army, and when I'm ready, I'll get that army. Good things come to those who wait. Isn't that how the adage goes? If that's the case, I'm willing to wait as long as I need to.