A Fresh Start
Chapter 3
oOoOo
Stephanie POV
I completed my MBA in 21 months at Rutgers as a full-time student. I also decided to explore psychology as one of my electives, with a focus on criminal justice. I could relate to many aspects from my incidental experiences and especially my close observations growing up in Trenton, and Chambersburg especially. The double standards that existed in that neighbourhood were ridiculously outdated, like they lived in a bubble, with all the pretence, the nasty gossip and the deceit. It was a false façade of deception and treachery.
As a child, life seemed quite normal, but with an adult's perspective, I now know it was a sham. It was all happening, from small-time crooks to mafia dealings. As a child I was innately observant and curious. "Children should be seen, not heard," was my mother's way of keeping me quiet. But no one said I wasn't allowed to listen! I watched and listened intently, I was good at that. Being curious was not a crime. I was imaginative, yet even though some of the topics went mostly over my head, as I grew into my early teenage years, I started to make the connections. Ironically, these were the times when I was on my best behaviour and my mother became complacent, assuming I was not very smart anyway. She told me that so often enough, along with the usual disparaging castigations about my faults while always bolstering and praising Saint Valerie.
There was always gossip and sniping at Giovichinni's Meat Market, the Italian Peoples Bakery, and even years later, while I worked at the Tasty Pastry. I overheard a lot and they didn't spare the details with their scathing news-sharing and that incessant one-upmanship. It was like trading, gossip was their currency. I discovered the undercurrent of nasty gossip, hearsay and innuendo also resulted in those people, about whom they were talking, suffering the consequences of the wrath of the Burg Grapevine. Worse still, other ramifications and punishments were meted out by other parties. My mother openly celebrated those with malicious glee. Being on the phone frequently to Angie Morelli after such events was always very revealing. As I discovered, gossip is their currency, and loose lips sink ships. In my mind I called them Torpedo One and Torpedo Two. Consequences be damned. Nasty they were. Malicious. Evil witches.
While I fiddled and played with my GI Jane and Batman toys, I also picked up on the nuances of their body language and facial expressions. In actual fact, I was already profiling the people in my neighbourhood, and I remembered. I remembered everything. I played the vague child perfectly for which I was frequently chastised, always, in front of mother's friends. She was ever the martyr, openly comparing Miss Prim and Clean Saint Valerie, to grubby, vague and naughty Stephanie, her vanilla pudding to my messy chocolate crumble cake. As mother would say, with a dramatic sigh, "Valerie was vanilla pudding, good grades, and clean white sneakers; Stephanie was chocolate cake, the dog ate my homework, and skinned knees." Then she would roll her eyes in despair coupling it with her favourite martyr-like line, "Why me?"
Ah. Bliss is Miami. I sighed as I stood up from the beach, shaking my head to rid those unpleasant memories. It was in the past now, and to a point, it shaped who I am now. Better. Stronger. Smarter. I am my own woman.
In addition to my studies I also took up Spanish, reviewing and consolidating on my high school basics. It's amazing how quickly it came back, much more readily than I expected. Having someone to practise with daily makes a huge difference. Maybe being a bit older and wiser, together with feeling the need and the benefits of choice, were essential factors. It was my decision.
Daddy gave me an allowance so that I could focus on my full-time studies, and therefore I didn't need to find a part-time job. It gave me time to pursue other electives, but also learning basic self-defence.
I joined the gym with a kick boxing class which included a combo of mixed martial arts. It was invigorating. Amy, my therapist, encouraged this to work off excess stress and tension. For me, I decided to name the big bag, Helen. I really pummelled it. Punishing Big Bag Bad Helen. It was very satisfying. Channelling my suppressed anger and resentment was definitely a great way to deal with those wasted emotions. The other kickbag, JoBlo, was for extra pummelling kicks, like practising my knee lifts and foot jabs, side kicks, and, my favourites, the spinning back kicks as well as the heel hook kick. In combo they were a great workout. JoBlo always got the greater punishment. It was very satisfying.
After completing my MBA, I took on some computer courses, short courses, most of which were from four to six weeks, learning about spreadsheets and which programs were practical and essential for collating data. I needed to upgrade my laptop. The Research and Investigative Skills Development Course really appealed to me, which was just four weeks. It was probably more relevant to media and journalism, but it beckoned to me. I'm so glad I did. In the process, one of the technicians helped me upgrade my computer. I practised my Spanish with him and he did so with English. We laughed when our translations were a bit off, but we got by. His name was Hector. He was very proficient and a great mentor. He recommended another course which would embrace my tenacity and curiosity with the research and investigative skills. There were three follow up courses in total. For the third one, the lecturer asked four of us to see him after class. He offered us the opportunity to hone our skills with one of the alphabet agencies, working with real data and real people. However, as part of the requirements we were required to undergo an intensive interview, have a police clearance and sign a non-disclosure agreement.
We were interviewed, and encouraged to continue our studies while our particulars, and our personal profiles, were being processed. Profiling was another option he said would be worthwhile to give serious consideration. As it turned out, we all agreed to take this opportunity, including Hector with his superior IT skills, and were officially given a cadetship for which we were paid. Hector was so much more than just a technician.
An official from one of the agencies came to brief us, issuing us with a new laptop each which had new search engines for deep searches and investigations. We were not solving crimes, but investigating backgrounds of people suspected of being involved in certain nefarious activities. Part of our investigation was to explore and discover close contacts in their respective background checks. Identifying habits and common rituals and routines in their daily lives was another interesting aspect of these investigations. Nothing was sacred. Everything from their shoe size, to which make of vehicle they drove; criminal record; aliases; where they lived; where they shopped; places they frequented; family contacts; even right back to where and when they were born. Everything was relevant. My computer studies and spreadsheet skills were practical in collating a lot of this data. Analysing their expenditures gave us an inside look into their movements. How many bank accounts did they have? Which were used regularly, or not, and for what? Money laundering was a frequent pursuit in these investigations. Searching for those unusually, often infrequent, large sums of money, which were then transferred to other accounts were fascinating. The intrigue appealed to me. Agent Horsham referred to this as forensic auditing.
We were not making judgments, just gathering information, in creating a detailed profile on our subject. Education and achievements were definitely relevant. Where they lived and if they moved around, interstate, or within a state, was a prerequisite search. Work history and travel records were valid sources of intel.
Evidence in the form of video data and still shots, were often provided as part of the investigation, especially in identifying people and places. The long shots enabled us to see who else was in the same location, not actually close by, like in a café for example, but not necessarily sharing a table, perhaps even passing by. Comparing the many shots enabled us to look for commonalities. Facial recognition was also made available to us. The exchange of money or envelopes, even something superfluous such as a newspaper, or a book, were scrutinised closely. It was all so deliciously cloak and dagger, but there was also a lot of mundane data as well. Separating the essential aspects was part of the hunt for information and evidence.
Secrecy, along with tight security, was of the utmost importance. Somehow, I knew, that I had found my niche. It was interesting and intense. The first candidate for our investigation was a team effort. It was basically a practice, like a sample test, rehearsing strategies and alternative strategies and trying alternate approaches. Thinking out loud was encouraged. We often brainstormed together on the whiteboard, then worked on different aspects towards the common goal. These were more than intensive investigations and background checks, with the need to think outside the square being essential. Cross referencing and lateral thinking were encouraged. Being assigned a secure lecture room in the criminology department, which was screened daily for listening devices, was very reassuring. It had its own bathroom facilities, and a kitchen, with a fridge and a microwave. Best of all, it had an awesome coffee barista machine, with push button selections. We had a printer and work tables where we could spread out and collate our data. I was surprised when I saw the two treadmills in the room as well, but later on that became very handy. Lunch was provided daily with a selection of healthy foods. Taking a lunch break was encouraged to refuel and contemplate our findings. Hydration was essential. The room had no windows, but it did have natural lighting from skylights, plus it was air conditioned. Access was always with a security code and a swipe card. From the outside, we entered this wing just like other students, except we deviated to our own sector through another benign-looking security door.
As a team, we worked well together. The laptops needed to be locked in a secure safe as we completed our day's work. Nothing was stored on the laptops since everything was saved to the hard drives. Agent Horsham advised us that this was a trial running for three months, reminding us that some of these investigations would take days to compile. He observed, directed and guided us, checking our research, sometimes assigning specific tasks to each of us. Eventually, we worked in pairs, Hector and I were happy to be assigned together. Horsham called us his A Team.
At the end of the three month trial period, we were offered the opportunity to use our credits in further criminology and profiling courses which were only made available to trainees like us. Another interview at the end of this trial period was very intensive. They were keen to harness my skills and envisioned a future for me in this field. We had to consider our options and were given a week to think about it.
However, a disruption in my personal life put that on hold. I owe my safety and wellbeing to my friend Hector. As the days grew shorter, and it became darker earlier, Hector insisted on escorting me to my car. I suggested he come over for dinner and meet my Dad and Grandma. He talked to my father, suggesting that I carry a panic button, which turned out to be the most unusual yet essential gift I had ever been given. He suggested one for Grandma as well, just as a precaution. Hector knew my past and was very protective of me. He configured the panic button so that Daddy and he would get the alert. We discussed the type of scenarios that would warrant its use, hoping that it would not be necessary to implement. In that way, there would be no regrets.
I feel so grateful and indebted to Hector, who is like a brother to me. His response? "De nada."
That was an integral part of my life, especially in taking a new direction.
"A fresh start," Daddy said.
oOoOo