Tracking pointers?

[rachelmanija]

I need an extra scene or two in which two secret government agent track down a fugitive. These scenes are actually just excuses for them to banter, bicker, and male-bond. This story is not intended to be especially realistic, but... does anyone happen to have any pointers as to where I could do some reading on how fugitives are actually tracked down, or any brilliant ideas they'd care to share? All I can think of are database searches (not exactly brimming with visual interest) and interviewing people who might have leads (I don't want to spend too much space, which is very limited, on third parties who are only there for plot purposes.)

Comments

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

I had something similar, and I just called the FBI and DEA, and asked to speak to a PR director. Both times the agents were quite helpful in giving me just enough of a general overview that I could fake it from there. I went into it with specific questions, however, like: would the agents interrupt surveillance to stop an unrelated crime in progress (answer: yes, because they're still agents of the law and sworn to uphold the law); do the agents carry .40 or .45 weapons (answer: depends on the agent's preference); and so on.

But I've found that FBI, DEA, and the like are more than willing to answer any and all questions they can (and they're clear about where they can't, mostly if it's related to an ongoing investigation). All the agents I interviewed said they dislike seeing their work maligned and misrepresented in books and movies, so it's no surprise they'd jump at the chance to have at least one writer getting it right. ;D

Note: this might not be the best option if it bugs you to know an agent has your home number or cell phone number. (Heh.)

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

This is an imaginary illegal secret government agency, not a real one, so I'm a little wary of calling those guys lest they ask me what I'm actually writing about ("Oh, it's about gay mutant black ops.") I'm probably paranoid, but I'd rather not forcibly bring it to the government's attention that I'm writing homoerotic fantasies about government agents, in a story whose overall thrust is critical of the US government.

Still, thanks for your answer about the unrelated crime in progress, as that actually does happen and they do stop it, so at least that part isn't utterly implausible.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Well, I was calling about a story in which a part-Tanuki is working as a Tokyo cop and gets offered a job with the DEA by an agent who's really a Norwegian Sea Troll and is over a hundred years old. Oh, and the Tanuki is gay.

But all I did say is, "I'm writing an urban fantasy novel, but I wanted to make sure that what correlates to The Real World is, well, real. If for the story I need to tweak reality, I will, but at least I'll know that I am, and be able to explain to people (if they ask) that this isn't how it would really happen. I'd rather make mistakes on purpose than flail in ignorance."

And in fact, speaking with the DEA agent about what the DEA does, and how it proceeds through its operations (on a basic, procedural level) ended up changing the story a great deal. Suddenly my Army Ranger Sea Troll was a DEA agent, and my Tokyo Tanuki was no longer "on loan" but working a permanent position in the District of Columbia -- all because the DEA agent explained some of the things the DEA does that you just never hear about, which was very cool.

I'm not sure how he'd feel about getting a copy of the book (which includes the Tanuki's first kiss), but I still intend to thank him in the acknowledgements.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I have a friend in the FBI and a friend in the Marshals. Since they're both knights in the SCA, I don't think they'd think you're weird. I can ask them if you can call them.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

What? The ACTION-FILLED DATABASE SEARCH isn't enough for you? XD You might want to poke through Death Note a bit and see how they do some things - there's less action and more detecting there and Obata manages to make scenes where people are sitting around talking visually interesting without resorting to much physical action. So don't discount the database search. :)

There's also ... *thinking about various television shows* ... physically sorting through stacks of paper to find clues, physical detecting of looking at bodies or crime scenes, stakeouts where they're stuck in a car while waiting for something to happen with nothing to do but get on each other's nerves, phone calls to various people trying to get them to reveal information, perhaps phone calls back to base to give or get more information.

They also don't necessarily know that the fugitive's in that area - they might want to eliminate the possibility that he's hitchhiked or stowed away on something and left, or look for clues that he's still there (having not looked at the outline since last night and thus forgotten where this goes in the timeline).

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Will you hate me if I have more than one scene that takes place inside a car?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I will curse your name mightily and do it anyway.

However, this time it will be easier because now I know that when I took all my reference photos before, I took them from totally the wrong angle. Mind you, I'll have to find another car, since the car I used before is down in Houston. I *could* use mine, but it's a kind of dorky Saturn Ion sedan (http://www.saturn.com/saturn/showroom/ion/sedan/index.jsp?nav=100), which you may or may not want your Cool Secret Government Agents (TM) driving. It is black, though. :D And has a bizarre dashboard (click on 'interior' on that site to see it) because the instrument panel is located in the middle, so that when they sell the car in countries with right-hand drive all they have to do is rotate the assembly.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Government agents drive boring, plain American cars, or cool looking SUVs with little tiny police lights along the edges of the hood.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

The problem is, all my friends here in town drive pickups or beaters. No normal plain cars or cool SUVs. *sigh*

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

The problem is, all my friends here in town drive pickups or beaters. No normal plain cars or cool SUVs.

I'm just describing the ones I've seen that have been issued by the various government agencies. (Several in California, one in Idaho.)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Yeah - my problem is getting good photo ref of the interior and exterior of the car, with the angles, perspective, and point of view I need. The Sekrit Government Agents [TM] are probably going to end up driving a Saturn Ion 3 with its funky dashboard instrument panel if I can't find something more suitable - and said funky dashboard instrument panel is going to be a major problem if it's not referred to in the manga.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I really like the idea of Sekrit Government Agents [TM] driving a Saturn Ion 3. Since they're government, they have to use what they're given, right?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

It could work, as long as we mention the funky instrument panel, otherwise all the readers are going to be going "OMGWTFBBQ?" and writing us nasty letters about how cars are built, instead of paying attention to the story. XD

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

You could have them checking things on the hood of the car, or the trunk (can't remember which is flatter in that kind of car). A map spread out, and then you've got a chance to establish scenery and suchlike.

[mcdolemite.livejournal.com]

I'm more familiar with the procedures than bail bondsmen and skip tracers use than anyone governmental, and I only know that through reality shows like FAMILY BONDS (where they're at least amusing and somewhat likeable, unlike the horrid DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER on A&E). My impression is that people like the late Domino Harvey (subject of the upcoming Kiera Knightley movie) basically went door-to-door in the target's old neighborhood. Of course, that's with small time junkies, dealers and hoods. I have no idea how it works with a high-profile fugitive who is seriously trying to elude a manhunt.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Look for a Discovery Channel series on the U.S. Marshals that plays periodically. The Marshals track down fugitives, and this series covered the South Central L.A. division of the Marshals. There was some interesting banter, etc. Also, my ex-roommate Michael (who is very colorful all by himself) was featured quite a bit in a couple of them, and said some great things.