“Surveillance?” Grant asked.
“Sure. While the building was under construction, I had orders to watch who was coming and going, then report anything suspicious. It was safer from here than trying to observe from anywhere outside.”
“I see,” Grant said, as he walked to a small front window. “I assume that’s the Consulate over there.”
Kwan leaned toward the window. “Yes. The main entry is through double doors in the front.”
The white concrete building was situated across the road at eleven o’clock. There weren’t any windows at the back for security reasons. The grounds surrounding it still didn’t have grass, but patches of green were starting to appear.
Grant noticed the house across the alley was low, and had a flat, wooden roof. Much of it had caved in due to heavy rain and decay. It was low enough to not inhibit any view of the Consulate. But any view of the street was impossible.
“What about outside access to the roof? Any?” Grant asked turning his attention to the Consulate.
“I’ve seen workers on the roof. They must be using a fire escape on the west side.”
“What about this place?” Adler asked, as he circled a finger overhead. “This one window won’t help much for surveillance.”
Kwan shook his head. “They weren’t concerned much about safety when these places were built.”
Grant turned to Novak, and motioned to the window. “Mike, post yourself here.”
“I’ll get my gear, Boss.”
Grant looked at James. “I don’t know if we’ll have any luck, DJ, but get the ‘shotgun’ mike. We’ve gotta try everything.”
James nodded, “Aye, aye, sir. Oops! That just sorta slipped out,” he winked.
A “shotgun” mike resembled a long tube. It was about eighteen inches in length, had a wire running from the handle to an earpiece, and the opposite end had a “sight.” A collapsible dish opened around the mike in order to capture more sound.
The only sounds in the room came from Novak as he attached the tripod to his rifle, and James preparing the “shotgun” mike.
Grant hooked his thumbs in his waistband and started walking the room. Adler caught up to him. “Wanna talk about anything, Skipper?”
“We’re wasting time, Joe.”
Adler lowered his head momentarily. “Yeah, but maybe we’ll catch a break. Look, if what you suspect is true, maybe our guys are close.” Trying to be encouraging, he pointed and said, “Shit! They could be in that building for Christ’s sake! And if that’s the case, that damn ‘shotgun’ mike should hear something.”
“Like maybe a gnat’s fart?” Grant smiled, as he unhooked his canteen from his belt.
“Damn straight!”
“We’ve got movement, Boss,” Novak reported.
“Where? How many?” Grant asked on his way to the window.
“Consulate grounds. Deuce,” Novak answered, focusing the scope.
Adler lowered his NVGs, then handed Kwan a Starlighter. “Do you recognize them?”
After readjusting the focus, Kwan kept the scope trained on the two men. “No, but I was never here long enough. It’s not likely any workers would be here this time of night.”
“I don’t even see a generator, unless there’s one on the other side,” Adler commented. “And what about guards?”
“I’ve never seen any outside. I can’t say about inside. I don’t know if the power’s even been turned on.”
“Doesn’t make sense,” Adler mumbled. “That’s U.S. territory on foreign soil.”
“You must remember,” Kwan said, “this is China. There usually aren’t problems with break-ins. And for now, the only thing to protect is the building itself.”
“I say again — this is U.S. territory. Skipper! Maybe we need to check inside, or at least take a look. I think we should take the chance.”
Grant put a hand out. “Let me have that,” he said to Kwan, then he looked through the Starlighter. “Right now, Joe, I’m more interested in those two trespassers.”
Adler wasn’t about to let it go. “One quick look, Skipper. That’s all it’ll take.”
Grant lowered the scope, hesitating before he said, “Okay, but you stay here. Ken, Frank, make a quick recon. Check if there’re any guards inside. You’ve got ten minutes.”
Grant turned his focus again to the two men. “They’re wearing Mao-type jacket and pants. Those are pretty typical for civilians, right?”
“Yes. Black or blue is the most common,” Kwan responded.
Grant continued watching the two men as they walked toward the rear of the Consulate. They stayed close to the building itself, obviously trying to remain hidden. “Can anybody see if they’re packin’?”
“Those jackets are too loose to tell if they’re hiding anything underneath,” Adler commented.
Grant continued to stay focused on the two men, as he asked James, “DJ, any luck with the mike?”
James pressed a finger against the earpiece, while he aimed the mike toward the Consulate. “Negative.”
Ten minutes later, Grant heard Slade in his earpiece, “Four-One comin’ in.”
Grant went near the top of the stairs. “Well?”
“Couldn’t get a good look, Boss, but there was someone walking around; seemed to be checking rooms. Didn’t look like there was full power, though. Lighting was limited.”
Grant nodded. “That’ll have to be good enough.” He turned again toward James. “Anything yet, DJ?”
“Negative.”
“Gotta chance it,” Grant mumbled.
“Are you planning on going down?” Adler asked with surprise.
“If those two leave, I wanna know where they’re headed.”
“But you said… ”
“I know what I said, Joe. As long as it’s dark, we should be able to follow them.”
Grant handed the scope back to Kwan. “Keep watching those two.” As he was adjusting the throat mike, he said, “DJ, you stay here with Mike. Ken, Frank, Doc, come with us.” He drew his .45 from the holster.
As everyone started heading to the stairs, Novak called in a loud whisper, “Boss! We’ve got separation of parties.”
Grant rushed back to the window, taking the Starlighter from Kwan. Standing behind Novak, Grant finally focused on one of the men, who was at the far corner of the building. “Don’t see the other guy, Mike,” Grant said as he moved the scope.
“He ducked around the side of the building. Wait one! Hello! He must’ve used the fire escape. I can just see his head ‘breaching’ the top of the building now.”
“I see him,” Grant said. “Joe, watch the guy below.”
The man on the fire escape scanned the area, then he finally crawled onto the roof. Maintaining a low profile, he stayed along the outer edge as he made his way to the front.
Adler kept himself focused on the second man, when something caught his eye. “Skipper, the guy’s gotta be packin’. Looks like he’s adjusting a side holster.”
Grant and Novak continued watching the man on the roof, who was now standing up, walking cautiously down the length of the Consulate.
“He’s pacing it off,” Grant said quietly. It was time for a change in plans. “DJ, take Joe’s place over here. You and Mike keep an eye on those two.” He tapped Kwan on the shoulder. “Over here,” he said as he walked away from the window. Grant was already feeling guilty and responsible for getting Kwan involved. If the agent’s cover was blown, the CIA would blame him. Even though Kwan didn’t realize it, Grant was trying to protect him.
Once they were all together, Grant looked at Kwan. “We’re gonna follow those men. I want you to stay here.”
“I told you before… ”
Trying to keep his voice barely above a hoarse whisper, Grant said, “Fuck your deliveries! With the shit that’s already happened, and about to happen, your ass will be a helluva lot safer here.” He poked Kwan in the chest. “Think about it.”