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I am well aware that posting a thread with such a provocative title may be cause for eye-rolling even among our Brotherhood, but grant me the opportunity to explain.Just four days ago (Tues., Oct 9th, U.S.) I had finished running a few personal errands and had returned to the townhouse where I am currently employed as a house-sitter. Now understand this: the residence exists in a community that is considered solidly upper-middle class, with a predominantly white/Asian population and (as a matter of course) nationally ranked high schools. Crime is virtually non-existent, and neighbors tend to know about and keep their eyes on each other's properties when someone bops off for an extended period of time (vacation, business travel, etc.). People here KNOW the routines, who has kids, who drives about in what, who has pets, the whole nine yards, plus some. I return to the townhouse in the early afternoon, say 01:30-ish or so, open the front door, toss my grocery bags on to the foyer floor and leash up the dogs for their poop-walk. That's when I notice the late model, charcoal grey Honda parked by the curb that leads to the townhouse driveway. Some late-middle aged, clean shaven Hispanic dude with a blue baseball cap and neatly pressed polo shirt is slumped in the driver's seat, casually chewing gum, with his line of sight directed towards the residence I've just emerged from. I've seen neither this guy nor this vehicle around here in all the time I've undertaken house-sitting gigs around the neighborhood. I know something's up; he tries to act casual, but it's obviously forced, as in someone pretending to be nonchalant. A weird vibe. I walk the circle with the mutts; out of the corner of my eye I see he's straightened up and is glancing into his driver' side-view mirror in the direction I've just taken. I come abreast this guy from across the street and notice he's gazing out through his windshield, as if scanning the street for nothing in particular. I go back inside, rush up the stairs to the second floor balcony, and see this clown staring in the direction of the townhouse again! By this time I realize that this is just as likely to be a real cause for concern as it could be a symptom of underlying paranoia. I decide to walk outside and grab the Honda's licence plate number, just as he's gotten out of the driver's side and is heading towards the trunk. I get the plate number; he opens the trunk and is rummaging around for something. We make eye contact. He asks, "How's it going?" I respond with "Okay." and keep strolling. I walk the cul-de-sac. return to the townhouse. He's still there, but THIS TIME is standing behind the trunk space, munching on some carrot sticks he's extracted from a small plastic bag. WTF? He lounges on the Honda's trunk, staring out at the street with that casual "I'm just hangin" pose.Just stands there for nearly 15 fucking minutes. I'm taking a couple of camera phone pics from the second floor balcony, hidden behind a corner wall. He opens his trunk, takes out a few white plastic grocery bags and dumps them in a nearby trash receptacle, gets back into the Honda and sits there, glancing at the townhouse now and again.I decide to go about my business. No use calling the cops because he's not doing anything wrong.By the time a wrap up a few household chores, he's gone. The next day, I decide, "fuck it", contact law enforcement and detail the story along with descriptions, etc. TODAY I get a personal visit from an LEO. It turns out that the vehicle is registered to a security company that contracts out to CORPORATIONS who may have need of their particular services.
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