Chapter 17: Scheming

Cody took the poster board off the light post and folded it in quarters. He shook his backpack off his shoulders and stuffed the stiff bright poster into his bag next to his laptop. He looked around hesitantly. His first concern was that time would stop and Elaine would appear, wondering who left the sign. He was also looking, though not expecting, to see the person who hung the sign. He then wondered why anyone would have said, “The Big O”? He then guessed it was intentional. Others would think “orgasm” and smirk at the message and not understand the true meaning.

After a moment, when nothing happened, Cody continued to the coffee shop. He ordered his traditional coffee and when asked his name, he surprised the barista when he said, “Spade, as in Sam Spade.”

She gave him a funny look since she knew it was not his name, but played along and wrote the name Sam Spade on his cup.

Cody took a seat at a table in the corner and took out his laptop. He tried to surreptitiously watch the other customers to see if any showed interest is his nom de plume. No one seemed to have given him a second look.

“Sam Spade?” called out the barista. She held a large coffee in her hand. Cody approached the counter and took his drink. Again, no one seemed to notice. He returned to his seat and tried to concentrate on his job. He had recently been promoted and he now had to actually work a lot more than when he was only doing data entry. He hated the additional work hours. He had established his alternative income streams, so this was all for appearances. He finished his coffee, got a refill, and more than an hour later he had received no indication that anyone wanted to talk. Frustrated, he packed his computer back into his pack and rose to leave.

“Excuse me,” said a barista who had just started his shift. “Did you order your coffee and use the name Spade?”

Shocked, Cody slowly nodded his head.

“Here, this is for you. A guy gave me five bucks and this note as I got to work. Said to make sure you got it before you left.”

Cody took the note and said, “Thank you,” before he quickly turned and left the shop.

He walked slowly as he unfolded the note.

“Sorry for the cloak-and-dagger routine, but hanging the sign, and now exchanging a note with information to meet in person, is very dangerous, for both of us. Please do exactly as instructed. If you get any feeling that your handler may know something is planned, abort immediately.”

Cody nervously looked up and scanned the sidewalk. Everything seemed normal.

The note continued, “At noon, go to Best Buy. Head to the laptop section and look at webcams. If anyone asks, say that you are just browsing.”

It was only 10:00 AM so Cody went back to the apartment and dropped off his bag. He started a load of laundry and changed out of his sweatpants and t-shirt. At 11:00 he folded his dry clothes and put them away before grabbing his car keys and heading to Best Buy. He was still early so he went through a fast food drive through and got a burger and a shake. He sat in the Best Buy parking lot to eat his lunch. A five to noon he exited his car to enter Best Buy. Once inside, he slowly meandered to the computer aisles.

He found the aisle with webcams and for a moment forgot about his mission. He was really impressed with one model, and the price, that he almost took it off the shelf and headed to the register.

“Can I help you?” asked a man in a blue shirt.

“Oh, no thanks, I’m just browsing,” said Cody automatically.

“Yes, I know, Cody,” the man said quietly.

Cody’s head flipped up and took a second look. The man had used his name. He was wearing a blue shirt, but it did not have any logos. Cody started to speak when he was cut off.

“Give me a small head start, then follow me without looking like you’re following.”

The man turned and started walking to the back of the store.

Cody put the webcam back on the shelf and started after the man in the blue shirt. Every few aisles he would stop and glance at an end cap. He felt ridiculous. If anyone was actually watching him they would know he was up to something.

After his second pause, Cody gave up all pretenses and walked directly behind the man. The man did not pause when he arrived at, then entered, a double-wide swinging door that was clearly marked “employees only.” Cody did not pause, either.

Around the corner, Cody saw that they were at a loading dock. A nondescript sedan was parked just inside the door. A woman was leaning against it holding what appeared to be an electronic tablet. Cody could hear the man speak as he approached the woman.

“Are we clear?”

She did not look up but nodded her head. The main went to the back door and got into the car. The woman finally looked up and said, “Please, get in.”

Cody proceeded to the door that was left open. The woman opened the driver’s door and took a seat. She started the car, and once the back door shut, she pulled out of the bay and started driving. She was watching the tablet and scanning the road ahead intently. The man in the blue shirt was watching out the rear window.

“Still OK?” she asked.

“Yeah, I think so, but give it another minute.”

The next sixty seconds were tense as both driver and backseat passenger maintained a heightened level of vigilance. Eventually, the tension dropped a notch but the car was still a charged atmosphere.

“OK, we’re good for now. Make it quick,” said the driver as she cast a meaningful look to the backseat.

The man nodded to her and then turned to Cody.

“Cody, nice to meet you,” he said as he extended his hand. Cody looked at him with bewilderment.