Page 3 of Go Now
‘Are you serious?’Kate asked.
‘Yes.I know how you apply, I just – ’ He reddened slightly.‘You guys do a lot of following people, right?’
‘It’s one part of the job,’ Kate said. ‘You seem to get quite a kick out of it yourself.’
'I wasn't trying to frighten you, I promise,' Tavone said.'I just wanted to see if I was any good at it.'
He still had that gawky, awkward look of kids whose minds couldn’t keep pace with their bodies.Every movement unsure, not quite calibrated, like a large duckling.
‘I made you pretty fast when you were in your car,’ Kate said.‘The brown SUV.And again this morning, outside the post office.’
‘There were lots of other times when you didn’t spot me then,’ Tavone said, a faint smile on his lips.And he still had a kid’s face, Kate noted, soft and open.
‘I don’t find it funny,’ she said, sternly.‘Imagine having to live like that, always looking over your shoulder.Not feeling safe, even in your own home.You scared me, Tavone.And I don’t believe your bullshit about wanting to join the Bureau.I think you’re just a creep.’
He looked genuinely upset, blinking fast, his cheeks reddening.'I'm not!'he said.'I promise you I'd never follow someone to creep them out!It's happened to my mom and my sister.You know, at night, waiting for a bus.Guys, just… It's one of the reasons I want to join the Bureau. And I actually stopped a robbery once, you know. When I was 15, it was in the local newspaper. I'll show you…'
He started to rummage in his backpack. Marcus put a big beefy hand on top of the kid’s.
‘We don’t want to see your press clippings, kid.This isn’t a big adventure.’
‘I know it isn’t!I’m serious.I’m “demonstrating a longstanding history of interest”.That’s what they said in the careers talk we had.Well, I’m interested.I stopped a crime.I received a commendation from Lieutenant Da Silva of the 8thPrecinct.He said I could go a long way.’
‘Mm.All the way to jail,’ Marcus said.Kate shot him a look.
‘Are you telling me the truth, Tavone?’she asked, looking him in the eye. She could usually spot a liar.
He looked her right back.'Yes, I am.And I'm sorry if I scared you.It didn't cross my mind.You don't seem like you're scared of anything.'
‘In this job, you have to be afraid,’ Marcus said.‘If you’re not, you’ll wind up dead.’
'I don't know how they're recruiting agents these days,' Kate said.'But when I applied, they were mainly interested in my degree, my fitness, and my prior work experience.'
‘Yes, but I don’t have any right now.’
‘Well, you kind of got to,’ Marcus said.‘Unless you’ve been in the armed forces.’
Tavone sighed and looked so defeated, Kate almost feared he was about to cry.
‘How old are you?’she asked.
‘I turned seventeen last month,’ he said, glumly.
'Well then, you've got plenty of time.The minimum entry age is 23.So that's time to finish High School, do your degree, and get a couple of years' work under your belt.'
'But that's years and years!'Tavone protested. Kate had to suppress a smile.She could remember thinking like that herself.
'It'll go very fast.And you need to vary your fitness routine as well.Work on upper body strength, build some mass.Skipping for boxers.Yes, I've seenyou,Tavone, because surveillance is a two-way street.It’s not just about watching. It’s about not beingseenby the person you’re watching.’
Tavone took this in for a moment.‘Hey, do you think I could come out one time with you guys?On stakeout maybe?So I can learn how it all works.’
‘Sorry, fella,’ Marcus said.‘The boss would shish-kabob us over hot coals.’
'But I do know that the Maine field office runs a couple of career open days each year,' Kate said. 'I can find out when the next one's due. How about it?'
Tavone nodded.‘Thanks,’ he said, gruffly, zipping up his coat.
‘You want a ride back?’Kate asked.
