A PUPPET ON A STRING

CHAPTER 3

The man in the dark suit resumed his paper to read of the unfolding events on Capitol Hill.

Passed unnoticed by the man on the street. But not to Smith.Looking over his paper to catch Frank leave the bar. And nods, but Frank doesn't acknowledge the gesture and heads out the door pulling up the collars of his coat.

The man in the dark suit takes a sip of his red wine. Savoring the rich characters before swallowing. Frank had been under observation for several months. After overhearing countless discussions between Frank and the barman,he had pieced together his situation. And the type of man he was. Or was capable of becoming.From the brief case beside him, pulls a large black diary. And with a fountain pen begins to scribe the day's observation.

Making note of the banter Frank had made to the barman, Tomo. His observations would soon be coming to an end.Closing the book, returns it to the briefcase and places it on the floor beside him.He knew enough about Frank's routine to know he would be back tomorrow.And the next day. Knowing where to find him when the time came.

Profiling Frank over the past months had taken patience. But patience, was something the man in the dark suit had in abundance.It was now time to approach the barman."Another?" Tomo asks automatically looking up to see the man in the dark suit standing at the bar before him."I'm good thank you. But hoping you could help me..." Smith asks.

"How so?" Tomo asks curiously.

"That gentleman who was just here... How well do you know him?" Smit hprobes Tomo carefully.

"That's kind of private isn't it? ... If you don't mind me saying."Tomo eyes the gentleman with content. Confirming Frank's suspicions.

"You a Private Investigator or something?"

"Not quite... But I could be in a position to help him out... If you know what I mean?" Smith reaches into his pocket and slides a hundred dollar bill over the bar towards Tomo.

Tomo's eyes fall to see a Benjamin under the man's fingers. No harm in a little banter he thought to himself. Unlike his clergy brethren, he had not taken avow of silence.

"How can I help?" Sliding the note from view before stealth-fully pocket edit.

"I appreciate that... That man you were talking to... Frank... What's his  situation?" Smith began.

"Ah Frank... Frank Drake... He's a regular here... Even before he had lost his job... Been some months now... Got made redundant from what I heard...An accountant or manager of some sort... Seems to be having trouble finding work ever since... Hangs out in here to pass the time. The recession has hit him hard here... A hit a lot of people hard... What of him?"

"Family?" Smith continued unperturbed. Dismissing Tomo's question.

"Not really... Messy divorce and all that... Three kids, all grown now... Anex-wife from hell so I hear... Did a real head case on him ... And the kids... If you know what I mean?"But Smith did not. He had never been married. The Agency was family. He was an only child himself. The way the Agency preferred their employees. In some way Frank was an exception to the Agency's rule.

Something Smith hoped he wouldn't regret

."Girl-friends... Boy friends?" Smith continued.

"He's not gay if you're asking... Not that would worry me these days... But he had a live in girl-friend. Mexican lady... Marilyn."

"Really?" Smith sounded intrigued. He would have to look into that.

"A real beauty if you ask me."