Auditory Viewpoint

by Lillian R. Melendez

  “I will not be using my cane here,” Gloria said.

  Anna and Benjamin suddenly stopped moving and looked at her.

  “I will fold it and put it in my handbag for the time being. Blind people have every right to be there, but we don’t want hackers to spend their time scratching their heads. It may be a silly idea,” Gloria added.

  “Well, we don’t want to have a hacker find a reason to stop what they’re doing. I don’t think they would even care to notice, since their agenda is top priority; but if that is what you want to do, we won’t try to change your mind,” Benjamin said.

  Gloria folded her cane and put it in her handbag. The sun was getting brighter, and Gloria took a minute to search for her sunglasses, then put them on. Benjamin took Gloria’s hand, and they began to go to their destination. After a few blocks, they reached West 48th Street.

  “Are we almost there?” Gloria asked.

  “Almost. In five minutes, we’ll be there,” Anna replied.

  After a few minutes, they reached 30 Rockefeller Plaza. They walked around the plaza, which had a large square area in the middle featuring flags from all around the world. The inner part consisted of a skating rink; Paul Manship’s large bronze sculpture of Prometheus stood centered behind the rink, in front of a waterfall. Anna, Gloria, and Benjamin finally came through the area and entered Rockefeller Center.

  “We’re now here,” Anna said.

  She took out some cash from her purse, but Benjamin refused the money.

  “I’ll be right back with the tickets, please wait here,” he said to them.

  Benjamin quickly purchased the tickets, and they took the elevator all the way to the top.

  “I need you to begin doing what I taught you, then we will meet up again. It has to be done quickly,” Gloria said.

  “I hope I can do this,” Anna said with uncertainty.

  “Trust yourself. All your senses are valuable,” Gloria replied.

  After a few minutes, they reached the observation deck and followed the other tourists outside.

  “More tourists are coming, and the hackers aren’t here to sight-see. They may meet each other for a quick second,” Gloria whispered.

  “And what about you both?” Anna questioned.

  “We will pretend that we are a couple,” Benjamin said. As Anna turned to explore the observatory deck before they entered, Benjamin’s eyes sparkled as he looked affectionately at Gloria. This was his fourth time of being near her. The long stare he gave Gloria left her sister bewildered. She tried to make sense of it, but felt there wasn’t enough time to think about his many different kinds of strange behavior.

  “Good idea,” Anna said dryly, and Benjamin quickly turned toward her.

  “My ears are more attentive. I think I can act like a couple for a short while,” Gloria said.

  “Let’s begin,” Anna said as she gave Benjamin a leery stare for a second. Anna started to walk to one of the binocular booths and looked at the view. Several tourists walked behind her, generating sounds of light and heavy feet. She kept her ears open, but wasn’t alarmed by any conversation among tourists walking by. People having a romantic discussion on her right side made her smile, but the persistent sound of kissing started to make her squirm a little. “Oh, get a room,” Anna said to herself in a low voice. She started to focus. The couple near her began to move away, and Anna heard their footsteps getting fainter. A heavy, single pair of footsteps came forth where a couple stood a few seconds ago.

  “Yes, I can now hear you… I am the only one here… I thought this was the hour we were all supposed to meet. Why the change of plans?… It must be huge to hold this from us now. Two are outside downstairs, around the Rockefeller Center area… Say the keywords. I hope I can remember, because I cannot open my laptop here. I do not have a pen… The reception is good. I am ready… Okay... Change of Wardrobe... what else?” the hacker said. “I have it now… I am hanging up. I am going to Starbucks in a moment. Go to the one on 47th and Eighth. The exact number of the store building is 770... Okay.”

  Anna did not hear another word from the person. She listened as the heavy feet moved away. Anna smelled the scent of cologne, which faded away with the man’s footsteps. She couldn’t guess anymore, and decided to turn around when she felt safe. Gloria, at the other end of the observation deck, clutched Benjamin’s hand. A small group of people walked back inside, and several new tourists came outside on the deck.

  Anna returned to Gloria and Benjamin, and they all proceeded out of the observation deck, took the elevator, and left Rockefeller Center.

  “What’s wrong?” Benjamin asked in a very low voice, having noticed Anna’s uneasy behavior.

  “That smell,” Anna hinted. “I caught a scent of dough.”

  “Dough?” Benjamin questioned.

  “Yes, a scent underneath his cologne,” Anna replied.

  “People have a distinct bodily smell. Still, perfume and cologne are very useful for those who do not really notice it,” Gloria said.

  “I only caught the word Starbucks located on 47th and Eight Avenue,” Anna explained. “He had a gruff tone of voice and a smell of dough like when you’re making bread – underneath his cologne. He was speaking on his cell phone.”

  “Were they saying anything in technical terms?” Benjamin asked.

  “First let us leave this building,” Anna replied.

  “Good idea,” Gloria said.

  “I heard nothing technical, but I heard keywords, which were ‘change of wardrobe.’ That plus telling the person on the opposite end of the line that their partner is downstairs and the other hackers are meeting in a Starbucks on 47th and Eighth Avenue right now,” Anna said.

  Benjamin took out his phone. “The keywords can help us, but it is insufficient to give to my colleague. ‘Starbucks’ is general, and so is ‘change of wardrobe.’”

  “It seems that the killer wants to attack me with other hackers’ help,” Anna said.

  “Why the need for more hackers?” Gloria asked.

  “It seems like a bigger plan is in the works,” Benjamin said.

  “I think you’re onto something. How do you figure this?” Gloria asked.

  “It is Thanksgiving Day today. That is all I am thinking of at this moment,” Benjamin said as they turned a corner.

  “We need to go now,” Gloria said.

  They continued to walk and passed two homeless people nearby. One was sitting down with a cardboard box, and one was standing up.

  “Spare some change, please. Spare anything so that I can get a bite to eat,” said one of the strangers, who was in poor condition.

  Although Benjamin continued to speak to both women, he heard the stranger rattling change in a cup. He took out some coins from his coat pocket and placed them inside the cup without looking at the stranger.

  “What train are we taking?” Benjamin then asked.

  “Let’s take the number two or three subway train there,” Anna replied.

  All three walked closer to the subway to take the ‘1, 2, and 3’ train line.

  “How many stops is that?” Gloria asked.

  “About one or two,” Anna answered.

  They all went downstairs to get on the train.

  Philip watched the three walk further away from him, and headed down to the subway. He then became distracted by several coins being dropped into his cup by strangers. His cell phone rang, and another person came to put money in his cup. “Please hold on, I have a phone call,” Philip said to the woman, who had a puzzled look on her face and then walked away in disgust.

  “Jimmy, sorry I had to cut you off for a second. I am in charge now... Yes, for some idiotic reason, an officer picked me up from the sidewalk I was sitting on and brought me into his car. An old woman’s purse was stolen. I went to the lineup, and she finally found the right guy after a very long few minutes. Several had to stay a little longer because they already had a record in the police database. I was the first one to go�
�� right... The officer took everything out of my pockets, but I regained all materials including the USB drive... Thanks for taking over when you heard no response from me… I will be right there.”

  Philip ended his phone conversation and moved from his post. He walked over to a real homeless person and handed over his cup of coins, then proceeded to his destination.

  CHAPTER 17—UNWISE

  Gloria, Anna, and Benjamin went into the Starbucks at 47th and Eighth Avenue. The place was less crowded than they had expected. Many customers sat down at single small tables with their laptops in front of them, all absorbed with their computers.

  “This cafe has strong security, why would the hackers be here then?” Anna asked.

  “They could do work that does not involve hacking such as sending emails to each other or posting information on forums. It’s the first process of their business before finding people to victimize,” Benjamin explained.

  “Benjamin, I have been practicing with my sister how to focus intensely, but you haven’t. It’s best to find a medium-size table which seats several people around it and sit near,” Anna almost whispered to him.

  “Yes, Anna is correct. I also believe the hackers will stay at the far end of the store; opposite from the entrance door, as if they were a group of students studying for a major test and in need of a quiet area. Benjamin, all we would like you to do is to eavesdrop on hackers’ conversations and try to remember what they say. Whatever you do, don’t look at them,” Gloria instructed.

  “All right, I will try to pick up as much as I can. It will be a bit harder in a cafe, but I will try,” Benjamin replied.

  “Are you ready?” Gloria said.

  “I guess I have to be,” Benjamin responded.

  He ordered a blueberry muffin with a cappuccino and moved to the far end of the room. There he found a small round table with two chairs on opposite sides, and it was near two medium-sized couches with a corresponding table in the middle. A small group sat there with their heads looking down at their laptops as they typed away. Benjamin took a seat on the chair facing the entrance door, then kept his ears open while sipping his beverage. He heard nothing suspicious for fifteen minutes. Suddenly, several strangers grabbed Benjamin’s attention, and he honed into their conversation.

  “A message appeared on the forum,” a woman said with a throaty voice.

  “I can’t log in,” a gruff man said.

  “David, I will send it to your email right now,” said the throaty woman who first spoke. “And get your computer checked out, we don’t have time for screw-ups.”

  Benjamin did not hear anything from them for a few seconds.

  “Boss wants us to split up into six,” a man with a southern accent said.

  “A new forum post came in instantly,” the throaty woman said.

  “Four will be in the parade and four of us at Penn Station. We have to call before we head there because two of our members are going to the theater district to pick up some things for us,” the gruff man said.

  “It starts at nine and ends at twelve noon. The boss wants us there at eleven-thirty. It is quickly over with. We will have a half hour, and that’s all we need,” the throaty woman said.

  “Yes, but lower your voice,” the gruff man said.

  “Another message on the forum. The USB drive is in effect, it says,” the throaty woman added.

  “‘I have the USB drive’. Yes, I see it now,” said a man with a southern accent.

  Benjamin heard the shifting of laptop cases and the noise of several zippers closing to secure their devices. The hackers walked past him to the entrance door, and one of them turned his head to toss a piece of paper in the trash can and then quickly left the store. The crumbled paper did not go in securely, landing on the floor instead. Benjamin caught sight of part of the hacker’s face right before the man left Starbucks. Benjamin felt it was wise to get up from his chair and pick up the paper ball. Before him were directions on how to go to Herald Square in Manhattan from Starbucks. After skimming the paper sheet, Benjamin folded it and returned to the sisters.

  “Any information?” Anna asked.

  “There are eight hackers in total, and they’ll be divided into two groups,” Benjamin said. “Four at the parade and four in Penn Station. I also heard that they are waiting for supplies of some kind to be provided by two of their members, who will be in the theater district very shortly.”

  “Theater district!” Gloria repeated under her breath after some thought.

  “But why are eight hackers splitting into two groups?” Anna asked.

  “Something is occurring at the Thanksgiving Day Parade and in Penn Station, something about USB drives,” Benjamin replied.

  “Why is a USB drive so important?” Anna asked.

  “There must be something valuable on the device. I believe I heard the hacker say he has it.”

  “You believe or did he actually say this?” Gloria asked.

  “I really thought he made this statement,” Benjamin said. He suddenly stopped talking, and stared at the bent paper he picked up earlier. “I have to go now.”

  “It’s best to wait here,” Gloria said.

  “Wait here? I can easily catch one of the hackers who has the USB drive. The drive is crucial. What can be there? Information on Anna, how to kill Anna? Something else?” Benjamin replied.

  “Then go,” Anna said.

  “No, Anna. Benjamin, this isn’t the plan,” Gloria said as she sounded slightly agitated.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I can catch the hacker. I just saw him,” Benjamin said.

  Gloria gasped. “You use your eyes every day. For once, I wanted both of you to follow my lead here without using your eyes. That was the plan I wanted you two to try.”

  “I found a transit map near the garbage bin; the hacker accidentally dropped it on the floor. He downloaded two copies of the transit directions, maybe to make sure to have a backup in case he lost one,” Benjamin responded.

  “I advise you to forget about whatever was in the trash can,” Gloria said.

  “But why? That might be just the answer we are looking for,” Anna said.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Gloria maintained.

  Anna looked at her sister with a perplexed look.

  “Sorry Gloria, but this is an opportunity I cannot pass up,” Benjamin said and touched her shoulder.

  “Just don’t look at them directly. It will make them nervous, and then who knows what they might do. If you look away, they might not notice that they’re being followed. This is the best advice I can give you,” Gloria said.

  Benjamin went towards the fourth floor exit stairway and quickly took the stairs, whereas Gloria stood up.

  “You still don’t think he will catch the hacker?” Anna asked.

  “I honestly don’t know what to think at this moment. This may or may not be a waste of valuable time,” Gloria replied with frustration. “I just don’t know, it’s a huge risk.”

  Benjamin stood on the sidewalk in front of the cafe when he hailed for a taxi. One came by seconds later, and he entered it.

  “Where to?” the cab driver asked.

  “Take me to Seventh Avenue and Times Square, please,” Benjamin replied.

  The taxi approached his destination, and Benjamin began to grow edgy and nervous while waiting for a traffic light to turn green. The main train station by Times Square was so near that he could see it in the distance. Once there, he paid the taxi driver and quickly stepped out. He looked around at the busy street, and saw the hacker walking toward the train station. Benjamin quickly crossed the street. The hacker swiped his metro card and walked down the stairs at a steady pace. Benjamin quickly paid and went into the Times Square main subway station. He paid for a single ride, swiped the card in the entrance machine, and went inside. He glanced down. The hacker was on the last few steps as he passed other people on the escalator. Benjamin slowly moved down the escalator and walked onto the f
loor. At this point, he was still a few feet from the hacker, who turned a corner and stopped at a Record Mart. A small group of people surrounded the large flat screen television while watching a sports game. A few seconds later, the hacker looked away from the television screen and continued to move. Benjamin slowed down. Then the hacker also lowered his pace, and took out a sheet of paper which Benjamin believed was the first copy of the transit map. The hacker lowered his head and brought the paper closer to his eyes; apparently he was nearsighted. He skimmed through the paper sheet, looked up at the subway numbers before him and on each side, then walked up the steps just in front of him.

  Benjamin turned to the right and looked at his copy of the map, which he then put in the back pocket of his pants. Heading up the stairs, he followed suit while trying to keep an eye on the hacker amongst the large crowd of people headed in the same direction. Benjamin came close enough to watch the hacker frown and move his eyes left to right, then lower his head and put his hands in his pockets. Just when Benjamin felt confident that he could easily catch him, the hacker slowly moved his head and then quickly turned his whole body around.

  Benjamin and the hacker locked eyes. The hacker quickly turned around again, and started running down the long hall leading to the A, C, E, and number 7 trains. Benjamin quickly accelerated his pace, and the hacker almost stumbled down the short steep hill. The hacker shoved himself away from a group of people, and two of them fell on the ground. Benjamin was now closer to the hacker, and tried to dodge several people who were already pushed against the wall. He continued, but nearly tripped over someone lying on the ground. The downhill chase was difficult for Benjamin, who almost stumbled twice. The hacker was still a little distance from him, and both accelerated. While running at maximum speed, Benjamin moved to the far side and repeatedly brushed against the wall, which he then used as support to regain his balance. The hacker reached the number 7-Grand Station train line and ran down the stairs, soon to be followed by Benjamin.