The café was nearly empty at this time of day. The morning rush was over, and the lunch crowd had not arrived yet. A few students sat in the corner using their laptops, and an old man read a newspaper by the window. JD sat at a table in the back, with his chair against the wall so he could see the entrance clearly. He chose that spot so he could watch both the door and the street outside through the nearby window.
Drayke arrived ten minutes later. He noticed JD immediately and walked over, then slid into the seat across from him. He kept his jacket on. His eyes moved around the room once, carefully checking the other customers, the staff behind the counter, and the door that led to the kitchen.
"I don't think Charter can find us here," Drayke said. "But it doesn't really matter. If he wants to find us, he will."
JD nodded. "He already knows enough. Where we are doesn't change that."
A waitress walked up to them. She looked tired, like she was close to finishing her shift. They both ordered coffee and nothing else. After she left, Drayke leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out under the table.
"So," he said. "The lab."
JD waited until the coffee arrived. The cups were plain white and chipped along the edges. The coffee inside was dark. Then he began to speak.
"The public wing is exactly how Charter described it. There is controlled access, monitored sections, and restricted areas behind keycard readers. We saw the layout and the staff."
"We also saw that doctor," Drayke said. He stirred his coffee but did not drink it. "The one with the pale blonde hair. He was moving quickly and kept looking over his shoulder like he had done something wrong."
"I noticed him," JD said. "He seemed uneasy. Something was off."
Drayke shrugged. "It could be anything. Maybe he has a deadline, made a mistake, or has a supervisor pressuring him. Or maybe he just hates his job. People work in places they dislike all the time."
"That's possible," JD said. "Or it could be something we can use. He didn't look comfortable there. People who are uncomfortable tend to talk, and we can plan around that."
They sat quietly for a moment. The old man turned a page of his newspaper. The students in the corner laughed at something on their screen.
"Look," Drayke said. "If we're going to do this, we should move fast. We go in and out before anyone notices us. I don't want to hang around in that place."
"Speed matters," JD said, "but only if we know what we're doing."
"And we can't go in without a plan like Charter wants," JD continued. "That's how people get caught. We need to know exactly what we're looking for, where it is, and how to get out. We need a map, a clear target, and a timeline."
Drayke nodded. "Yeah. That makes sense."
Drayke took a sip of his coffee and frowned at the taste. "So we need someone on the inside. Someone who knows the restricted areas and can tell us what Charter is after."
"The young doctor," JD said.
Drayke nodded. "He's our best option. He was already nervous, and people who are nervous usually have a reason. We can use that."
JD thought about how the doctor had moved between stations, the tension in his shoulders, and the way he kept glancing around.
"He is either hiding something or afraid of something," JD said. "Either way, he is not loyal to that place. Loyal people don't act like that. That gives us an opening."
"So we approach him," Drayke said. "We find out what he knows—what Charter wants, where it is, and how to reach it."
"And we find out what he wants in return," JD added. "People don't give information for free. He will expect something, so we should be ready for that."
Drayke thought about that. "Money?"
"Or protection. Or a way out," JD said. "We won't know until we talk to him, so we prepare for all three."
They sat quietly again. A group of office workers walked in, speaking loudly about a meeting. The noise in the café increased, making it easier to talk without being overheard.
"There's risk," Drayke said. "He could report us. He might still be loyal, even if he looks nervous. He could even lead us into a trap."
"There is always risk," JD said. "But going in without information is worse. Charter won't give details, and the staff won't talk. The doctor is the only opportunity we have, so we work with that."
Drayke slowly turned his cup on the saucer. "So when do we act?"
"Tomorrow," JD said. "Before he settles back into his routine. Before whatever is bothering him disappears."
"Where?"
"Outside the lab, after hours," JD said. "We follow him, see where he goes, and talk to him away from the building—somewhere without cameras or colleagues."
Drayke nodded. "Alright. We can do that."
"And if he refuses to talk?" Drayke asked.
"Then we adjust," JD said. "But realistically, there isn't another option. Not with the time we have. Charter said this needs to happen soon. The doctor is our only path forward, so we make this work."
They finished their coffee and did not order anything else. The office workers eventually left. The old man folded his newspaper and walked out slowly. The students packed up their laptops and left as well.
"So we're really doing this," Drayke said.
"We're preparing to," JD said. "Tomorrow, we follow the doctor. We observe him, learn his routine, and wait for the right moment. After we speak to him, we make the final decision. We don't fully commit to Charter's job until we are sure we can complete it."
Drayke stood up and placed money on the table, adding a small tip. "I still don't like it. Charter, the lab, the doctor—there are too many unknowns. But we'll figure it out."
"You don't have to like it," JD said. "You just have to be ready."
Drayke nodded and walked toward the door without looking back. JD remained seated for a moment, watching the café as the waitress cleared their table.
He finished his own coffee, which was now cold and bitter. Then he stood up and left through a different door, stepping into the afternoon light. His thoughts were already focused on tomorrow—and on the pale-haired doctor, who had no idea he was about to be approached.