This cache is part three of a five part series. Click links for other caches
PART 1 PART 2 PART 4
At least I know Charlie is still around and reasonably safe but now I am not totally sure I want to be involved with this. Part of me still thinks Charlie is pulling my leg but there are too many inconsistencies for me to believe that it is that simple. The minute I notice anything suspicious, like guys in suits with earpieces just hanging around, black helicopters that won’t go away, or little magnetic devices with blinking LEDs attached under my car, then I’m dropping this like a hot potato.
I've been checking the "hummers" periodically for a sign from Charlie. Last night, I finally saw his mark. I found the hidden message drop without too much trouble. Charlie is pretty clever with the way he hides things in plain sight. I really liked this one
When I opened the container I found a small map with a note on the back. Charlie must have used Google Earth or some kind of online mapping application. I think I know what the numbers mean, at least the numbers on the perimeter. The long number in the middle is probably some kind of ID number. Maybe that will lead me to his location. Here is what was written on the back of the map:
“Sarge,
Your geocaching friends are remarkably adept at puzzle solving. I wish I could show them some of the incredible codes and cryptographic techniques I learned while I was “in”. But that will never happen. I love my country and I will take her secrets to the grave in order to protect her…but I will not exert any effort or take any risk to protect corrupt government officials engaged in illegal activities. But there is time for that later.
I believe you will still need your geocaching friends' help for a little while as I reveal what I know. I think we can trust them with this low-level information as they are not really learning anything secret- as far as they know anyway. The actual special information I have been protecting will never be seen by them. I will only entrust that material to you and then only in the event of my death.
So far our communication pathway seems secure. I’ve monitored my hiding locations and have not detected any surveillance or suspicious activity.
But I think you should know there have been quite a few visits by geocachers. For every find they log on the web page there must be thirty visits from folks who struck out but don’t log it (yes, I am very thorough). It is very entertaining to watch their searches.
One of them found it after an exhaustive search and muttered as he signed the log, “I’m really glad this one is not as hard as that Big Red Puzzle.” Whatever that means.
One showed up at midnight and I almost missed seeing him since he was wearing all black, moved like a cat, and had his face covered except for his eyes. He smelled like pineapples. Weird.
Another man came by the "hummer" cache and figured it out right away. As he was putting away the container, he got a weird look on his face like he had forgotten something and then looked very concerned. Then he started to carefully scan the area like he was looking for snipers or something. All of a sudden, he lept to his feet and ran off in a zig-zag pattern before he tucked into a roll and slid under his truck. I wonder what that was all about.
Then there was the guy that came by with a large black dog. The dog apparently knew where I was the whole time but the cacher paid no attention. I don’t know how he found it because he did not have a GPS or phone. He just stood in the area for a few minutes rubbing his chin as he looked around, then checked a couple of places and walked right to my hidden message.
The last two were pretty funny. They came within a few hours of each other. The first one arrived in the most amazing van I have seen in a long time. I knew it would be special because I could feel it coming before I heard it coming before I saw it. An old Pink Floyd song loudly escaped the van as he opened the door. He found the cache quickly and left something behind. It was a menu card from some chicken place and it was smeared with a red substance that made my fingers burn. His female companion also took the coffee cup I abandoned at the cache site and threw it away. I hate leaving trash, but they arrived just as I was walking back to get it and almost saw me hiding behind the tree.
The last notable visitor was a nice looking fellow who walked up to the cache area like he was out for a nice stroll. He looked at his GPS device once, found the clue I left, and located the container quickly. Before he left he threw a weird looking salute at the cache and then ran off to help an old woman cross the street.
Anyway I’ve gotten long-winded. I guess I miss our chats and the stories we shared.
I’ve got to test your powers of observation one more time before start to reveal more important information. Each one of my hides has shown you something or taught you something that will matter later. I am sure you will more fully understand what I am doing as this progresses. It will make sense then.
Your friend, C.T.
Here is the map
NOTE--- The cache is not in any building. The cache has been placed with the manager's permission but he asks that you do not visit this cache during lunch hours. Visits before 11 or after 3 pm are best. Parking is at a premium. If the lot is busy at all, please park well back in the lot so you will be out of the way of patrons. Or you could park up by the doors and have lunch. :-)
