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.)

[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).

[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.