* * * * *
The landing went without a hitch; a mirror image of the launch. Buck shuffled his way toward the front of the disembarking passengers, blowing off each comment regarding his lack of civility with a gastric grunt. He needed desperately to be as close to first off as possible. He waddled up the ramp with the grace of a badger through tall grass. He passed through the boarding gate and within arms reach of the iridescent wall in the concourse. As he past the wall a pain pierced his chest causing him to gasp and curse. Whizzing a deficit of air he slowed and decided to pick the nearest roof column as his observation site. Unloading his bags he set himself to watching the three men as long as he could in hopes of singling out his target. One by one the three potentials eliminated themselves. The first met his family; there was nothing in the file to suggest a family. The second carried a flight crew uniform over one arm; it must have been stored in the crew compartment. Buck observed the third accessing an ATM with a Credit Union of Dover card.
His man was not here. How could he have gone so invisible? Had Buck overlooked someone? How could that have happened?
In desperation Buck again looked through his file, then through his updates. Maybe he had overlooked a clue. At that moment an announcement was made, reminding individuals waiting for arrivals to check for rerouted flights due to the current weather conditions.
Buck had considered the possibility early on but had dismissed it when he thought that both flights would arrive in London. Now he had to face the likelihood that his mark was about to arrive in Brugge. Though he had the necessary authority to access official records, he couldn’t see how they would add to what he already knew. In addition he wanted to keep a low profile and do this job on his own.
He had three to four hours to get to Brugge and the next ferry left in two hours. In good weather the crossing plus intermediate stops took 2 plus hours. With fuel powered air travel halted and the Chunnel out of service he was without any other option.
Buck sat in the lounge reviewing his dilemma over and over in his head. There had to be a way.
In the midst of the terminal noise Buck’s old instincts kicked in and his ears locked on to a tell. Just as an owl locates its prey by ear, Buck’s ears were trained to sift the slightest hint of trouble; even if the clue was buried in the white noise background of the terminal. The raucous behavior of the young boys sitting several seats from him suddenly reduced to a mischievous giggle. Though their behavior was intended to avoid undue attention, it actually drew Buck’s. He glanced over at their laptop screen and though it was at an angle Buck could still see that they had broken in to a data bank for some investment company. “You guy’s planning to make a withdrawal?”
The laptop flipped shut and the boy plying the keys turned to challenge Buck’s stare. “What’s it to you, old man?” hoping to minimize the threat. “We’re just having some fun.”
“Don’t you guy’s have anything better to do? You got a job or something or are you look’n for work?” hoping he already knew the answer. Hoping to corner and calm them.
“Yeah I got a job.” The young fellow locked on “but there is always room for a little extra money.”
The boy’s streetwise demeanor was just what Buck was looking for. “You any good at that?” Buck nodded at the computer implying a reference to the boys hacking ability.
“Yeah, what do you need?” He knew where this was going and was willing to bite in spite of the smell of Cop.
Buck needed to pass on the small talk. “I need access to arrival and departure info.”
“You can get that up there.” The boy pointed at the overhead monitors.
“Not for this terminal and I’m talking about a video stream from the arrival cameras.” Buck did his best to keep the challenge low and casual for the sake of keeping the price within reach.
“I thought you meant something challenging.” The boys chuckled.
“You interested or not?” Buck wanted to cut to the chase. He opened his wallet, leaving the flap over his UNIS badge but so that the boy could easily see the fifty.
“Depends on which terminal?” hoping to leave bargaining room.
Buck blew off the attempt at bargaining and dangled a fifty in front of the boy. Not wanting to miss the chance the boy snatched the bait and paused to demonstrate some control over the deal.
Buck didn’t hesitate to advance the cause. “I’m going for a cup of coffee. If you have a demonstration for me when I get back, and a list of what I need to do to repeat the link then there will be another fifty for you.”
“No sweat! What terminal?”
“I want to see the arrival gate for the Wave-Schooner in Brugge. It should be landing in a couple of hours so I need to access it later from a public Web-term. A current passenger list would get you another twenty-five.”
“You got it.” The challenge was too great and the money too welcome for the boys to just abandon the deal and abscond with the first fifty.