The Dead Drop

The Dead Drop

Dec 2, 2019

ECO


I would awake refreshed and reinvigorated.

However, I was nervous. I knew what I must do - but felt as if I didn’t have enough information. So, I would spend the first half of my day studying the dead drop location.

Loove Labs was an established recording studio, shrouded in mystery. Their goal was to blend technology, culture, and music in an innovative way - but the actual description of how they planned to do it was non-existent. With more than 100 employees - I knew that they weren’t solely a recording studio.

Clearly, they are in need of leadership. Clearly, they are expecting me. I had all of the context necessary to come to this conclusion:

  • My Slave clearly directed me to go here. The Relaxer would also hint at this fact, telling me to leave payment at the “undisclosed location.”
  • The Loove’s website is unfinished. The menu “button” is broken - just like mine is. The “About” section is confusing and poorly-worded. The homepage is completely empty. Clearly, they are waiting for somebody else’s input.
  • Via Google Maps, I noticed the video doorbell at the front of the store. This was important; I must not be captured on video.
  • Perhaps the most compelling signal was the out-of-place red light upon the porch:

There goes my baby

She’s gotta know

She’s gotta know

That when the red light’s on there’s no one at home

— from Birds of Tokyo - “Silhouettic”

In this instance, we use juxtaposition. In a recording studio, a “red light” means that there IS somebody home. That they are actively recording.

If I were to knock, or to enter - I would be caught.

Now I understood what must be done. I grabbed another Uber, the package, and headed to the Loove.

Upon arrival, I would speak to the driver:

“Excuse me. Could I pay you $40 to deliver this package for me?”

“Sure, no problem!” he said, clearly not understanding. His English was broken; he asked no questions, and made no move to deliver the package.

“Okay…” I said, thinking about how to handle this situation. “Walk with me.”

The two of us left the car, and headed to the front of the Loove. I gave him the package, pointed at the door, and hung off by the side - out of sight from the video camera.

“Just there,” I said. “Put the stuff through the mail slot.”

“I, uh…” he said, clearly confused about the situation he found himself in.

“There’s no need to worry. It’s just some t-shirts and a couple of autographed CD’s. We’re not doing anything wrong.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, while feeding the materials through the slot. Finally, he had finished.

“Thank you so, so much,” I said, walking with him back to the car. “You don’t know how much this helped me out.”

“Here you go,” I said, handing him $60. “Also, take this.”

I gave him my business card.

“Hold onto that. It’s going to be worth A LOT some day.”

CAT


data.stats.symptoms = [
    - nervousness
    - excitement
]