Chapter 10: Surveillance and Counter-Surveillance

The Streets of Miami

Alex walked out the doors of the airport after watching Ben disappear from sight. He was standing around, waiting for a taxi when he heard Ben's report on what the CIA agent's phone call was about. After gathering that information, Alex figured it would be easier to put his plan in motion if he disappeared onto the streets and forced the agents to look for him, rather than stand around in the last place he had been known to be in.

Once on the streets of Miami, Alex just walked around randomly, using every aspect of counter surveillance that he knew. After about four minutes, he noticed a tail who had just spotted him. Alex changed his pace size and ever so slightly walked a bit faster. Then, he ducked down the nearest alley way and kept taking random streets. He figured that most of the CIA agents in the area must be out looking for him, because he lost several different tails, and each time found a new agent following him.

Once at the city's central park, Alex slowed down his pace and started walking down one of the trails that lead through the woods.

As soon as Alex found a clearing, he stepped off the path and hesitated in the open area. Something felt wrong. His instincts were screaming 'Run! Danger!' but he couldn't see anyone.

Just the same, he tensed himself for a fight. Something sinister was out there, and he wanted to be ready.

He didn't have to wait long. Two minutes later, he heard a twig snap, right before 10 guys ran out of the forest and surrounded him.

As soon as Alex saw the symbol that was sewn onto all of their sleeves, he sighed and cursed his luck.

It was the symbol of the terrorist organization that he was supposed to be working undercover in while in Australia. Obviously, someone had betrayed him.

One man stepped forward, "Hello, agent. Let me tell you how things are going to run down. You're going to come with us or be shot. It's not really of that much consequence to us. After all, our bosses don't know of your existence, so it's not like we'll get in trouble for shooting you. If you really want to know, this is a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. You gave yourself away as an agent while in airport while you were talking to your buddy on that stupid watch. We just happened to see you, and well, we think you'll be a great asset to our organization. With the kind of information that's in your head, that could bring our organization to the top very quickly. What do you say? The easy way or the hard way?"

Alex pretended to think for a moment before answering, "Oh! I'm sorry. Were you talking to me? I wasn't really paying attention. Your speech bored me after the third sentence. Would you mind repeating it?"

"You have one more chance to surrender before we take you by force or shoot you."

"Hmm… all of those methods are so dull. Can't you dumb-heads come up with something original for once?" Alex taunted.

"I'm going to love getting information out of that head of yours. With an attitude like yours, my bosses will allow me to be…forceful," the man replied with a smile. "Yes, so much fun. Ready for long and painful torture?"

"Are you still talking? I'm sorry but please shut up. Your voice is soooo boring. Do you plan on talking me to death or something?"

A look of rage crossed the man's face.

"Men. Take him down," he commanded the nine other men who had their guns drawn.

They all smiled sinister smiles and tightened the circle around Alex.

One man lunged at Alex, but Alex got him knocked out within a 10 second span.

Alex stuck up his fists and asked, "So whose ready to become chopped liver and get beaten by a guy half their age?"

This ticked two men off who both rushed forward. This fight took more like 30 seconds, but neither landed a punch on Alex before he had knocked them out.

Soon there were only 3 men left. The leader and two other men who were more experienced than the others who had given in to Alex's taunts. The leader hung back as the other two engaged Alex.

About a full minute into this fight, Alex was getting slightly worried. Every one of his punches were blocked. Three minutes into the fight and only a few punches and kicks had landed on these men, while he was just barely blocking some of the punches away from vital points, and he was growing weaker. He still hadn't had any time to recover from his jet lag, and his attack was beginning to slow. Suddenly, he felt his legs being swept from underneath him, and he fell heavily to the ground. With surprise, he realized that he must've knocked one of the men out, as only one guard and the leader were standing over him. Their guns were pointing at him. The leader clicked the safety off of his gun. There was no visible escape.

"You fight well. Perhaps you will cooperate and we can train you further. I'm sure you'll be happy to switch sides with a little bit of...a push in the right direction. Before that happens, though, we do need that information, and we need to make sure that you don't escape while we take you. After all, badly wounded men have a harder time of getting away."

The man pulled the trigger. A shot echoed through the woods.