There was but one reliable method of intelligence gathering—even on a soft target—and that was to observe and ask questions.  The issue was how to go about it without raising suspicion.  Addison, though not chronologically old, was an old hand at collecting intel.  Simplicity in all things, he thought.  Keep it simple and clean, and act like you belong.

That last was the most important, and had served him well over the years.  Even a moderately observant person could spot it when a man was trying too hard.  An overly elaborate lie, forced sincerity, even simply talking too much.  All of these preceded failure.  The best method was to remain invisible, whether when staking out a residence, or standing in plain sight as he did now.

“So, you d...

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