Standing under the flashing neon sign the shadows leaped across the face first revealing a satin glow then nothing. He sat there entranced by the mystery of this dark figure dressed in black from head to toe. Roscoe Blunt had a gut feeling that he was about to step into some serious crap.

Three weeks prior, the Genco Corporation concerning the theft of trade secrets and hardware (the hardware being one of two prototype models) had contacted Roscoe. These thefts could cause irreparable harm to the corporation’s bottom line as well as threatening the national security.

Genco was under contract from the government to develop sensitive tracking technology. This technology was to be used to track, scan, and if necessary terminate the subjects of concern. The targeted subjects were illegal aliens, troublesome or thought to be troublesome Muslims and suspected terrorists. Genco placed the recovery of any and all items in Roscoe’s “hands”.

After Roscoe’s initial investigation, the circumstantial evidence pointed to an “inside” job. But the most pressing question was how could this be as each employee was not only interrogated, psychoanalyzed, background checked all the way back to his or her grandparents. Any blot, glitch, or bump during this selection process caused the applicant to be dismissed and their profile placed on a persona non grata list.

Roscoe’s apartment @ 20:30 hours

Nancy C had arrived at Roscoe’s apartment just for their usual “catch it if you can” candle light dinner. Nancy C was a beautiful, well proportioned five feet five with auburn hair, green eyes and an athletic body. Retired from the navy as a Lt. Commander, under honorable conditions at the age of thirty-five left her unsatisfied. To seek the satisfaction she had and the excitement of being a naval combat pilot, she became a liaison officer with the U.S. State department. This position demanded she travel out of the country for extended periods of time, without notice-she was a troubleshooter.

“Hi sweetie happy valentines day,” Roscoe said as he embraced and kissed her passionately and offered her a box of her favorite chocolates. “Hi yourself.” she said in return. After a scotch for Roscoe and white wine for Nancy C they sat down to a full course dinner featuring cracked crab, wilted spinach salad, Rodney Strong’s “Charlotte’s Home” Sauvignon Blanc and with dessert waiting.

During dinner the conversation turned to Nan’s (Roscoe’s name for Nancy C) recent travels to the mid-east with a stop in Caracas. Roscoe asked Nan “What is the temperament of the officials with respect our decision to cut off all oil purchases and stifle Citgo?” Nan replied, “It is like a pot ready boil over with all of the contents spreading throughout Central America and Cuba.