In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 124):

Vic sighs.  "Don't ever tell me I'm being a pain in the ass, 'kay?  You've got that down quite handily yourself."

He picks up some of your work.  "Okay.  So let's assume this Roger guy is using you.  Maybe like a stalking horse.  He wants you to go plowing in and see what shakes out.

"Or maybe he's really not as good as people say he is.

"Either way, what changes?  If you've made up your mind, you've made up your mind."  Vic adds, muttering under his breath, "Not like any a' us have ever been able to change your mind..."

He sets the paper work down.  "I'll tell Rob you're finishin' some clean up work on that Flo case.  That you need a couple of days.  Also, call Albert Finney."  Al is a contractor Vic and Rob sometimes use as a fill in.  He's good with surveillance work, but even Tate has made the comment Al is someone trusty to have your backside.  "Tell him to give you back up.  If you use one of our guys, Rob'll find out.  Let me handle the research stuff.  Text me when you need somethin' looked up.  I'll fit it in during the stuff I'm doin' for Rob.

"And keep me in the loop.  I can be down there quick as shit if you need it.

"So?  How are you gonna start?"

Aubrey gave Vic a mischievous smile

"I'm SO going to name my first child's middle name after you! Right this moment you are my favorite.. Don't f it up"

Aubrey takes down Finney's number

"Do you think this should be a passive surveillance or should I try to go in there as a student or staff?"

Aubrey puts the schools in her computer to see what the surrounding area looked like. Can she hide out and watch from an office building, try to be invisible by being part of the homeless, what outside sources were used by the school or is there a staff position available.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 126):

"Well, at least you know your kid'll be handsome that way..."  Vic shrugs.  "Hard to tell you how to play it without more info."

Speaking of which, you review what you know about the area.

There's not a ton of homeless in the area.  But there are some.  The neighbors seem to try to keep them away from the school though.

There are a couple of potential surveillance posts.  There's an apartment complex right across the street that usually has some vacancies.  Not the nicest of places.

You don't see any openings in the school.  But a vendor list shows that the security company that staffs the after hours guards are looking for someone.

There's also a couple of volunteer programs.  Tutors after school.  Shifts in the school library.

There is also a volunteer op for the program Veronica works in related to the foster kids.  They're looking for someone to do office work two nights a week.

Aubrey goes over all the options she had with Vic

"I'm thinking of getting a room in the apartment complex for a short term rental to have a base for the surveillance and maybe helping out for two nights a week at the volunteer op. Do you think helping as a tutor would be to much saturation at first? Just trying to find some space to look but a reason to be around. Something that will give me some access to bug a few things. "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 128):

"I think you're gonna be relying more on B&E for bugging rather than a cover story on this one.  But yeah. Goin' in as a good Samaritan might let you get the lay of the land.

"Just watch your six.  These guys are probably used ta people trying to infiltrate.  The fact they've been undiscovered this long means they know what they're doing."

---

There are three possible apartments:

Two in the complex directly across the street.  One ground level.  One on the top/fourth floor.

There is also a vacancy in Veronica's apartment complex.  The apartment under hers and to the south.  The neighbor of her downstairs neighbor.

The tutoring program needs someone dedicated to math and someone dedicated to history and geography.

"we should check out what happened to others in those positions. Maybe they 'turn' those people to their cause so don't need to worry about infiltration. Wouldn't it be crazy if Mr. Report was actually one of their recruiters"

Aubrey look through what was available and checked out what she could on the blueprints of the apartment in Veronica's complex. She wanted to see if there was any vents Aubrey could use to get some sort of listening device in. She wanted to make sure that 'saturating' targets world was worth the risk of gathering information. Otherwise she would rely on some sort of B and E into the apartment and getting a room across the street. The top floor would be the best to get a view and to set up cameras.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 130):

You would have to go through the walls to get in to Veronica's apartment with a crawling listening robot.

So B&E and room next door then?

In reply to Editor-in-Chief (msg # 131):

Yes sir :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 132):

Okie dokie.  We need to take a little break as I need to work something out.  I will post again tomorrow or Saturday.  Thanks.

still here :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 134):

I'm so sorry Bree.  I thought I posted Friday.

1202 North Heights Boulevard is one of those large old homes someone divided up in to apartments.  The land lady shows you unit 4.  It's on the third floor and has the best view of the school.  There's an old balcony that's shared with unit 5 that looks out over the blacktop  behind the school and offers a view through one of the large, plate glass windows that show the main hallway inside the school.  It's probably the most coverage you've seen in all the places you've looked at.

The room itself is pretty sorry.  But the rent is cheap.  Very cheap.  Very, very cheap.  So it's what you would expect.

The landlady watches you look over the claw tub in the bathroom.  So you know:  there's a lotta single guys livin' here.  So if you're lookin' for a fella, you'll have your pick.

Aubrey walked around the room taking a mental inventory in where she could place some video bugs to spy on the school across the street. She was pretty happy with the location.

Aubrey smiled over at the landlady and laughed

"Well... my boyfriend is enlisted so not sure if he would like that."

Aubrey shrugged her shoulders

"The people next door are they loud?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 136):

She shakes her head.  "Nah.  A couple a' fellas who...well.  I think they're like cops or somethin'.  Military kinda bearing.

"But they're like all the fellas here.  They do they're drinkin' at the Whiskey Sour down the street.  I tell 'em to keep the antics there.  Mostly, they're good guys.  Well behaved.

"If you have any problems, lemme know.  So...takin' the room?"

You may need to figure out how to hide the bugs.  But yes.  The balcony should give you good coverage.

ooc: No worries :) I've done that before...and more than once :)


IC
Aubrey smiled and laughed

"Yes... this room feels perfect. Don't think I'll have any problems. Just feels good to take that forward step in life"

Aubrey looks over whatever contract she has and when she gets a chance she looks over the balcony to figure out if she can hang the video bug somewhere on the wall to hide it in the material of the building or perhaps get some balcony seats or table to hide it within the furniture. She also looks for any window in her own apartment that she might be able to use for her surveillance.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 138):

Let's talk about the surveillance.  I'm assuming Bree wants to get as much area covered from her balcony as she can.  Getting audio will be trickier.  Also, do you want to break into the school and plant any bugs?

Let me know which you think please.  Thanks.

I don't think I can get audio from the apartment so she will need to go go in after hours and place some around the school. So audio bug in the area she can see from her balcony coverage would be a plus. Video/audio duo bugs i'm thinking the volunteer area where Veronica is, and any sketchy "basement" locations where secret meetings might happen. I'm not sure if she knows enough sketchy places, but if she does then there :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 140):

We'll get to the sketchy areas later.  For now, I'm assuming you'll put audio on the:

-School Office
-Nurse's Office
-The Front Hall (though that's like to be a noisy spot during the day)
-Entrance

Let me know if there's anywhere else you want to rig for audio.

Video is set up.

As you fiddle the last camera into place on the balcony, you see a group of men walking down the road.  They're all in their late teens or early twenties.  They look street punk, but they carry themselves with a military bearing.  There are five of them.  You notice at least two of them have an odd tat:  an upside down V under their left ear.

They come up to the apartment door.  Seem to be talking about the basketball game last night.  One of them holds the door open, but the last one happens to look up and see you.  He thumps the shoulder of the guy ahead of him.  They both look at you.

It's the guy look.  You don't think they notice the cameras.

"Well well!  We finally got some beautiful scenery around here!"

"Smooth Jeff.  Real smooth."

The guy who was holding open the door...you think he's probably the oldest...looks in the direction they're all looking at and sees you.  "Hey!"  he calls at the others.

They all glance at him.  But they settle down and move inside.

The older guy looks up at you.  "Sorry," he says and then follows the others inside.

ooc : Sounds like good areas :)

IC

Aubrey fiddled with the last camera and saw a group of men walking down the street. It was not unusual to see men walking down the street, but what was unusual is they carried themselves as military and didn't seem to be of the age for military. Aubrey glances at their necks to see if they had dog tags but noticed a particular tattoo. Determined to draw it and research it later Aubrey pretended to not hear them until they spoke up. She looked over and gave a soft smile, not particular flirty but nice and neighborly.

Aubrey smiled at the older guy and when she heard him say sorry she shook her head

"No worries, I have thicker skin then that. Have a good day"

Aubrey doesn't expect a response but after a few moments goes back in to the room to see if she picked up any of their faces.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 142):

You got good shots of all of them.  Running them through the facial recognition software and some detective work gets you a couple of leads.

Jeff a/k/a 'Mr. Scenery' has a mugshot online.  It's four years old, when he was sixteen. But it's easy to tell it's the same guy.  He was charged with manslaughter, tried, and convicted as an adult.  Nothing more about him.  No APBs or notices he's wanted for escape.

Jeffrey Pultza.  Other than his conviction (he was robbing a drug store with two other guys.  He threatened a clerk with a baseball bat.  She had a stroke), you can only find a little bit about him.  His mother died when he was young.  He bounced from foster to foster.  Guess where he went to school?  At least while he was in school.

The other tidbit you find is on the tat.  It's called a downfang.  And that's all you can find on it.  Downfang.

Aubrey sends off the information she gathered so far and sends it off to Vic.  She looks to see if she can find out or have Vic find out if any of these people she finds had similar counselors, foster parents, social service reps, teachers and any other noteworthy person in common.  Aubrey looks for a way to 'hide'( ie. in a big box of maxi pads etc) any of her gadgets that she doesn't have on her person and heads out to check out around the building using the laundry situation as an excuse.  She is hoping to find out where those boys went and to get some eyes on who might be her neighbor.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 144):

The neighbors are quiet and, if home, not obliging.  They don't come out or go in all day.

The building is set up with basically three to four units on a floor.  Your level has singles, as is the one above where Veronica lives.

Your floor has four units.  You are in 2C.  The room you share the balcony with, 1C, is the door to your right as you come out of your apartment.

The door to your left, and the apartment under Veronica's, is 3C.  4C is across the hall from 3C.  It's the only one on your floor that has signs of life.  You can hear a TV playing from inside.

Fourth floor has three apartments, all singles.  Veronica's is 3D.  1D seems to be above both you and 1C.

You head downstairs with your basket of 'laundry'.  Second floor is three units, but all are doubles.  More lively down here.  You can hear people in two of the apartments.  This floors seems to be a mirror of the fourth.  1B is below you and 1C.

The first is a bit larger.  There are four units, each being a double.  The landlady has 1A.  The post boxes are by her door, which is right in front of the entry.

You see the older guy who held the door open for the others.  He's checking his mailbox.  He doesn't seem to see you...but.  You're kind of reminded of Rob.  Even if Rob isn't looking at you, you know he's always aware of everything going on around him.  This guy seems to have that vibe too.

You still have no idea where the laundry room is.

Aubrey sighs and heads over to the one guy out and about. She's a little nervous that it is too soon for her to ask him, but the nervousness should sell her story as well. So perhaps it is a win. She watches his reaction to verify if he is like her brother's, always aware....

"Um.... excuse me sir. Sorry to bother you, but could you direct me to where the laundry room is?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 146):

He looks up, almost doing a double take, and smiles.  Oddly.  Like he's not good at smiling but someone told him in situations like this he should give it his best shot.

"Oh.  Ah...yeah."  He points at a door that looks like an apartment door.  "Downstairs in the basement.  Turn left at the bottom of the stairs.  Nothing on the right 'cept some old storage."

Aubrey smiles back like it was a normal exchange.

"Thanks! ohhh I wasn't very neighborly! Hi i'm Eden"

Aubrey puts out her hand to see how he responds to other social norms

"Old storage sounds spooky and bugs living there" Aubrey shivers

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 148):

"Eden.  Right.  Nice ta meetcha.  I'm Alan."  He scratches at his belly with his free hand.  "No.  This place is pretty clean.  You must have just moved in.  Settling in alright?"

He's got the downfang as well.

As he's speaking, one of the apartment doors open and an older woman comes out.  She stops for a moment when she sees you and Alan, nods, shuts the door behind her, and shuffles past the two of you to head outside.

Alan nods at her.  The smile he gives her seems a bit more genuine.  "Mrs. Hernandez.  She's lived here longer than the Super.  She makes great pupusas."