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Third of the Rooni-"Puppet Master" series. This is a multicache, using various types of containers, each containing a clue to the next container. This is a "muggle-opolis", so stealth will be vital. YOUR SKILLS WILL BE TESTED!
The final container has a small container inside which holds a clue to the FINALE of the “Puppet Master” series. This is not a trade item, so please leave it and it’s contents behind! Spies to learn, smileys to earn! Un-activated GC for FTF!
Crazy Ivan
The mark finally showed up for the drop, and I watched as he sauntered into the small little park, umbrella shielding the rain from his shaved head. He seemed to have no purpose about him, just an ordinary guy out for early evening walk in the rain. He carefully chose a strategic spot to sit, so he could watch to see who was coming and going, as well as who might be watching him. Just his positioning and his demeanor advertised his purpose to me.
I continued to sit at my vantage point, sipping coffee from my now empty cup, and glanced at my watch once every few minutes, as if waiting to meet someone here.
The waiting game was on… he was not going to do anything until I left, as well as a few teens laughing and teasing one another near a sculpture. Now that I had him spotted, I was confident that I could dog him pretty well. I decided to move down the path a ways, and give the appearance of leaving the area.
As I walked past him, his cell phone rang. Carefully, he glanced down, checked the face of the phone, and then flipped it open. His greeting was in Chinese, but then his conversation turned to Thai. I had to keep appearances, so I looked quizzically at him as I passed by, just as any other Italian would, when seeing a westerner speak an asian language. The momentary glance gave me some much needed details that would come in handy for identification purposes later.
I didn’t focus on trying to pick up any of the conversation, as that would have alerted him, but a few words were all I needed, to pick up the notion of what he was up to. He was going to go and grab a quick bite to eat. Restaurants, huh? That is a tough environment to have to follow someone in! Especially if they’ve got connections, because you can be barred from entering if you’re not a local or regular. I was definitely neither.
Around the corner a few seconds later, after ducking into a stairwell, I flipped my long coat inside out, (reversible is the only way to spy), ditched the bowler I was wearing, and pulled the facial hair from my face. After removing a one inch lift from the soles of my shoes, I had a very different appearance.
As I walked out of the stairwell and back onto the sidewalk, he passed the opening. It was very easy to just step into line behind him, and the hustle and bustle of the street was great cover for tailing. Every once in a while, he would stop, and either glance behind him through reflections, or just simply turn and stare. I recalled a movie where a submariner used the same turn and glare technique as a counter pursuit measure… “The Crazy Ivan” it was called.
I was far enough behind him, that I could keep the appearance of just happening to be going the same direction. As I began to read, and learn his pattern, I would have the timing down enough that I could guess when he would make his move. At one such moment, I actually ran into him from behind (on purpose of course), as if I wasn’t expecting his sudden stop. As just an ordinary person on the same sidewalk, that was simply to be expected! The “bump” also was a great way for me to determine if he had the package. He did. I took it from him. He had no clue.
After apologizing to him in Italian, he nodded, and gestured for me to pass. I accepted, and stepped up my pace. Moving ahead about a half block, I stepped into a shop that offered hats in the front window. Watching for him out of the corner of my eye, I noted that he crossed the street, and went down an alley. I knew where the alley led, so I wasn’t concerned. He was going for a pizza. Across the way was a little coffee shop, with a great view of the pizzeria, and vice-versa. I opted for coffee. Either way, it could have been perceived as a coincidence. I purchased a plain cap, and crossed the street. Entering the alleyway, he was no where in sight, but after a block, I saw him enter the pizzeria. Espresso was calling my name!
I sat at a café table, rifling through the day’s newspaper, peering out from under the bill of my cap, watching “Ivan”. Eventually, the coffee was gone, but he took his order to go, and back into the street we went. Back up the alley, and back onto the main street, I pretended to speak on my cell phone. He made the turn, and I followed. Just as he was about to make his “crazy Ivan” move, I ducked into a bus-stop, seeming to peruse the schedule. He didn’t actually notice me this time, so I hung back a little further. After a few moments, his cell phone went directly up to his ear. I was really far back of him, but could see the conversation was short and direct. He picked up his pace a little, and then turned into a grocery store. Even “Ivan” has upper management to answer to!
A few moments later, he emerged from the shop, a bag of produce in one hand, pizza in the other. “Ivan” walked down the front of the shop, and then ducked into another alleyway. I hung back a step or two, then slowly followed him into the alleyway. After winding around the block for a short distance, I spied the pizza box on the ground, and a pepper laying near it, crushed and spilling its seeds.
No “Ivan”, no trace, no “bogeys” at the end of the line. I didn’t like this one bit…
UPDATE 3/7/08 Dropped difficulty by a point, simplified the hint for WP1
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)