5th and 6th Days

The fifth day in Austin is Thursday.  Anoush begins his monitoring process exactly as he did yesterday.

On that day both the Hamas agent and the Hezbollah agent are going separately to various locations within Austin.  Anoush wishes he knew what went on at the locations they stopped at.  He knows they are into money laundering but wonders who the contacts are they dealing with.  He knows the Israelis must know. 

Each agent made ten stops in the morning.  Both of the vehicles converged at the same location at noontime.  They must have a meeting with someone or are planning something together.

Fourth Day

Anoush and Edina have an early breakfast.  Anoush wants to have his laptop on by 7:55 am.  They return to their room at 7:45.  The room offers a spacious desk and leather office chair for comfort.  He sets the laptop on the desk and starts the computer.  The software allows him to split the screen and track both vehicles at the same time.  As soon as the laptop is loaded he can tell neither man has left the parking lot.

Over breakfast Edina told him she would be taking the University Tower Tour at 2:00 pm.  The tour is an hour long and is guided.  She told him she would be carrying her camera because you cannot have camera cases or even purses on you.  She would also take in the Tower Garden afterwards so she probably wouldn’t be back until 4:00.  Her admission ticket is already booked and she needs to be there twenty-minutes before 2:00.

“That is good, I want you to enjoy the sites.  I am going to track these two all day.  I need to find out where they go during the day and how their travels vary,” says Anoush. 

“Well well, our Hamas agent is on the move ahead of the Hezbollah agent this morning.  Let’s see if he goes to the office or where else he goes.  Edina, I need you to go down to the front desk and purchase a city map which shows business locations on it.”

“I’ll be right back with it.”

“The Hezbollah agent leaves a half hour later and he proceeds to the office.  Anoush is tracking the Hamas agent through Austin.  Anoush is recording the route he is taking and what stops he makes along the way.

Third Day in Austin

The report Anoush has indicates the men leave their residences anywhere between 8:00 am to 8:30 am.  He arrives at the condo complex at 7:30 am.  He parks near the entrance in order for him to observe when they depart.  What he is looking for is what kind of vehicles they drive.  His plan is to arrive at their office location mid-morning so he can spot the vehicles and memorize the license plates.

From the photos he has the Hezbollah agent leaves first, driving a green Ford Explorer at 8:15.  The Hamas agent leaves twenty minutes later, driving a red Toyota Camry.  If they both drive to their office instead of going in different directions it will make the next part of his surveillance easier.

At ten thirty he parks his car a block away from their office.  He lifts a briefcase off of the passenger seat and walks towards their parking lot.  This will give anyone the impression he is in the lot on business.  As he approaches the office he is pleased to notice both vehicles are there.  He takes his time walking by them to make sure he has the numbers memorized.  Then at the end of the building he goes around back and exits the parking lot from the rear exit.  This is a longer walk back to his car but no one will see him twice.

Entering his car he starts the vehicle to turn on the air conditioner and then records the plate numbers on the pad in his briefcase.

Arrived in Texas

Following breakfast the next morning, Anoush and Edina sit on the couch in their room.  He begins, “My idea is for us to ride around the known residences of these men today and where they have their office.  I want to get a good layout of the areas.  When we locate them I want to do a ten square block grid of each site.” 

“Why ten square blocks?”

“It would be a large enough area for me to know each and every street in case I need to make a quick exit.  It is just a precaution I want to take.  I did that in Iran and it makes for comfortable feelings in emergency situations.

“I will take you with me to rent a vehicle.  With the two of us in the car we should be considered tourists.”

“What about surveillance, will I come along?”

“Only on certain situations, I don’t want you in any jeopardy.  Remember what I told you before we left Albania.  If something should happen to me you check out and head back home, understand!”

Edina looks like she doesn’t want to reply then she says, “I remember what you told me and I agreed to.”

“Good, I can do this, I’m not sure how I will go about it yet but it will be a lot easier if I am not worrying about you.”

Edina shakes her head in the affirmative.

“Now let’s get the rental I’ve reserved.”

Last Day in New York

After an early breakfast Edina and Anoush take a taxi down to Battery Park where the ticket booths are located to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  The tickets are purchased and their wait will only be twenty minutes as they are getting on the first run.

While they wait Anoush points out to her how close they are to the memorial for the World Trade Center.  He explains how both buildings were destroyed by hijacked airlines flown directly into them. 

She tells him she is somewhat aware of what they call the 9/11 incident when over three thousand Americans were killed in the tragedy.  She goes on to say, “Those hijackers were insane.”

They stand in line to board the ferry.  The ferry is the only vessel allowed to dock at the Statue of Liberty.

As the ferry proceeds towards the site Edina begins taking photographs.  She is in awe of what she has been seeing in New York City.  She hopes that someday they will return for a longer visit.