Jake Sloan and his friend Aric Decker in Cafe Des Ami in downtown old Monterey...
"When he looked up he noticed something in the reflection from the large glass panels directly behind their seats. Jake’s back was to the door with Aric facing the front. The glass panels behind Aric acted like large darkened mirrors. Since being on the phone, two men came in and sat together at a table near the front window.
There were several tables throughout the café, with a large counter that stretched from the front door back toward the rear of the room. People were lined up, waiting their turn to order. They talked or just stood there looking at the menu posted behind the counter. The two men made it look as if they were reading, but Jake noticed that they made rotating glances around the room at regular intervals. Aric and Jake’s table was the only spot in the room where the men’s eyes seems to linger.
Jake casually pulled a small mechanic’s mirror out of his bag. A mechanic’s mirror is a small round mirror encased in metal, with a long, telescopic arm that is used to extend it. It is made especially for looking into hard-to reach spots around a car engine. He motioned to Aric to take his earplugs out, and Aric did so.
“Don’t look at this mirror, ok?” Jake said cautiously, “Don’t look over at the guys at that front table, either. Just look bored, or keep reading.” Aric did as he suggested. Jake extended the telescoping arm outward and lifted the mirror over his shoulder, just enough to catch a line of sight on the men at the table. In spite of several people who walked in or out of the shop, including a few pretty women dressed in bright-colored dresses, and a rather loud and argumentative couple at the counter, both men appeared almost glued to Jake and Aric’s table. “These guys seem especially interested in us,” Jake calmly observed.
“The question is, why?” Aric responded calmly, glancing up briefly to see them, and then down at his book, “Do you think they’re the same ones who were watching you before?”
“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve been able to see them closely. They match the general description of those others.” Jake adjusted the mirror to his other shoulder, “You wouldn’t happen to have the cell phone that has that built-in camera in it, would you?”
“No, not today,” Aric said, “Sorry.”
Jake wished he had his War Bag with him, the dark green duffle bag in which he kept a variety of tools. War Bag is what the men who gave it to him had called it. The bag was given to him by three Navy SEALs during his visit to Kodiak. Inside they’d put three sets of fatigues in different colors and patterns, and a Navy-issue K-Bar combat knife. It was a nice gift, he thought. It was their way of thanking him for what he did on the Munro. Since then, he’d added a wide variety of items. He was pleased with his collection of tools, but it was that camera that he really wished he had right now. He made a mental note to himself to keep another disposable camera in his book bag from now on. Better yet, he corrected himself, a small digital camera. That way, the pics can be transmitted online right away.
Rachel stopped by their table, “Hey guys, need a refill,” she asked, holding a steaming coffee pot in each hand.
“No thanks, Rachel,” responded Jake. “But Aric, here, might.” Her auburn hair bounced around her shoulders as she stopped at Aric’s side.
“Sir, would you like a refill,” she said with a French accent, playing with Aric, who was normally very serious around girls. Jake noticed her looking closely for his reaction. She had been working at the coffee shop since before the two boys discovered it. Rachel was often the person taking their orders or stopping by their table. Aric looked blankly at his cup, and then at Rachel. He didn’t say anything. Jake thought, Oh-no, he’s stuck!
“I think,” Jake interrupted, putting on his best British accent, “what young master Decker is trying to say is, ‘Why yes, lovely mademoiselle! I would be honored to have you refill my cup with hot java! You are so kind, and I might say, quite charming and not unattractive!” Jake held back a chuckle as Rachel smiled and poured his cup full of steaming coffee.
She grinned at Jake, raising her eyebrows at the same time.
“Thank you,” mumbled Aric as she turned to leave. His face was red. He turned an angry set of eyes on his friend, “What were you doing?!”
“What?!” Jake responded, “You looked frozen!” He couldn’t contain a small laugh, “You should thank me, you know. I think she likes you, buddy.”
“Oh, yeah, right!” Aric shot back, “As if any girl is impressed with the tongue-tied!”
“You never know.”
“I don’t think so, Jake. And you can stop trying to help me quite so much.”
Jake looked back at his mirror, restraining a grin. The man Jake observed most closely was a stocky, high-collared Caucasian in his early thirties.
His name was Larios Hawking, code name Aurora-17, and he was the commander of the Guevara team..."
-- from Chapter 2, Tailed in Town
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