Dimitricametothelobby,whichthe1989earthquakehadbadlydamaged.Afteryearsofrestoration,ithadbeenpletelyrenovatedahturystylefurnitureanddecor,withitsgradrefi,addedanairofgraothepce.DimitritookhisseatbeforetheFrendows.Thoughhecouldnotsee,hepicturedtohimselfthemagnifit,multi-coloredcloudsthatmustbectheskies.Hethought,“Normallyatthistime,Iwouldbewalkingleisurelyaroundtheke.Nowmyphysicalbodyinincarceratedinthistinystudio,butmysealheartotbeimprisohepastyearsofwanderingwillwaystugatmymemory.”Thesoundofeidpurposefulfootstepswalkingtowardshiminterruptedhisdaydreams.Awarmhandpattedhimontheshoulderandsaid,“Hi!Mr.DimitriJa?”Thoughhecouldnotsee,Dimitri’sworldseemedtolightupasifabrilliantsunshoneonhim.Inthebrightness,heseemedtoseeabeautifulyoungwomanwithamassofblondehairtalkingtohim.
“IamMary,thesocialworkerhere.Youareourresident.Ineedyoutofilloutacardaboutwhomtotaergency.Couldyouetomyoffiorr?”
“Ofcourse,”Dimitrireplied.Marysaidgoodbyeandhecouldhearherfootstepsgoingtowardstheentrance.Dimitri’simaginationwasreallyuny,forhejureduptheexactportraitofMary,thegolden-hairedyoungwoman,whowaseventhengoingthroughthedoorsoftheseniorcitizenfacility.
Mary’sspiritsalwaysrosewhefortheday,feelingasupliftedasabirdfreedfromitscage.Buttoday,sheseemedmoody,ruminatingosthathappehatdayasshewalked.Herdarkgreywalkingshoesweredeeplycreasedandcoveredwithalightcoatofdust.Astheywereherfavoritepairwhichsheworetoworkeveryday,theleatherseemedloosewithstantwear,butwasextremelyfortable.Leavingtheseniorcitizenfacility,Maryturheleft,crossedAliceStreetandmadeforDimitri’sBakerybytheke.Thepairofgreywalkingshoessustaiheweightoftheirmistressasshewalkedonthesidewalkuhefierysu.Havingworkedalongsidetheirmistressallday,theywereastiredasshewas,butliketwosmallboatslinedonebehiher,theycarriedheronherhome-boundvoyage,lookingforwardtorestingagainintheirpier.Theyhadbeenwhardforalongtimeandwereverytired,buttheykhatthemomehome,theirownerwouldhastilydiscardthenattheirrestihestepoutsidethedoor,theirhaven.Whennightfelndthemooheywouldlietherequietlyinthedisorderlyfashiontheyweredocked,uhegentlemoonlight.Afteranight’srest,theirownerwouldputthemonagainandtakethemoowork.
Marythoughtofhowshewascalledintothemanager,Mrs.Ge’sprivateofficethatmassoonasshearrivedforwork.Twowell-dressedaableyoungmeherewaitingforher.Mrs.GeintroducedthemasagentsfromdFBIrespectively.Marydidnotquitecatchtheirnamesbecauseshewastakenabackbythissuddenenterwithagentsoftwoofthergestsecretservicesofthetry.Theirbinedappearaheseniorcitizenapartmentbuildihatsomethingunonwasafloat.Thefourofthemsataroundtheferenceableforameeting.
“Ithasbeeedtous,”saidthesharp-eyedyoungCIAagent“thatretlyrgequantitiesofgoldhavebeenboughtupfrommarketsalroundtheworld.Asaresult,thegoldreserveofmanytriesisattheirlowestlevel.Butoknowwhothebuyeris,orwhereallthisgoldhasvao.Weatonvestigatedthematter,folloossiblecluestogettothebottomofthemystery.Wefoundoutthattwomen,RichardandJamaz,weredeeplyinvolved.Thesetwowereformerlyhomelessvagabondswhosuddenlyrosemeteoricallytobeepresidentandvice-presidentofWorldBank.Mysourcestellmethesetwomenaredeeplyimplicatedinthevanishinggold.”
“Sofarasweknow”theotherrestrainedandcautious-lookingyoungFBIagenttinued“RichardandJamazfrequentlyunicatedersoncalledDimitriJa,whoresidesatyourseniorcitizenapartmentbuilding.”
“Butheisanoldblindman!”criedMary,whocouldn’tbelieveherears.“Howcouldhepossiblybeinvolvedinthemassiveout-flowingofgoldalroundtheworld?”
“Nothingisimpossible”repliedtheFBIagent.“Hisblindnessmayonlybeablind.Wehavearrangedforround-the-clocksurveilnce.Hisphoappedandhisroomisbuggedbyminusculeeleicequipmentalmostinvisibletothenakedeye,hiddenalroundhisroohemomentheleavesthebuilding,hewillbefollorofessioswillenterhisapartmentsurreptitiouslyseargforevideoenostonesareunturned.Everysinglepersonthatesintactwithhim,nomatterhowcasuallywillbequestionedandiigated.readoutawideoverhimsothatnotasinglemovementeludesus.”
“Yourduty”Mrs.Gesaid,“istomakeadetailedreportdailyofMr.Ja’sactivities.Youomakeachartdetailiakeshisshower,whesandwhenhegoestothebathroom.Itmustbeasmeticulousaspossible.Wewanteveryoneheesintactwithtospyforus.Youwillmakeaweeklyreporttothesetwogentlemen.”
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