Chapter 14
Surveillance Report—Person of Interest
Author’s Note:
I cannot prove that the two men outside the Fort Clayton pub were tracking my frantic conversation with Short Straw. The surveillance log that follows is fictional—my reconstruction of what that moment might have looked like if someone had logged it.
UNITED STATES ARMY SOUTH (USARSO)
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE – CONTRABAND & MONITORING
FORT CLAYTON, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
FIELD SURVEILLANCE LOG
CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL // LIMA-TANGO OVERWATCH
DATE: 13 Oct 1995
LOCATION: Outside Fort Clayton Pub
SUBJECT: Unknown Female Observed
ACTIVITY LOG:
1. 15:10 – The presence of multiple unsupervised children in the immediate vicinity drew initial operational attention. High probability of administrative or security breach at the local educational facility.
2. 15:14 – Subject (Unknown Female) observed approaching the primary MP gate guard. Subject utilized the specific code name “Short Straw” to initiate high-priority contact with gate personnel. Guard’s posture shifted immediately to high alert upon receipt of the phrase.
3. 15:16 – Subject observed traveling on foot at high velocity toward the Colonel Staff housing sector. Movement patterns suggest urgent delivery of information or evasion of local faculty.
4. 15:35 – Subject last seen entering the residence of Warrant Officer Jackson, effectively terminating open visual tracking.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Follow-up surveillance indicates highly irregular student dismissal patterns at the elementary facility today. A formal sanction notification has been processed and delivered to the school principal regarding the uncoordinated release.
STATUS:
Subject designated as a temporary Person of Interest (POI). Continued observation authorized under current drawdown security protocols.
OBJECTIVE:
Discover the true purpose, command structure, and operational meaning behind the reference: “Short Straw.”
FILE STATUS: ACTIVATED