Friday 16th October

-[Isn’t life interesting?  Just when you feel that boredom may be overtaking you a problem like Janek falls into your lap.  As you know he was technically working under my supervision, although we had never met, even on camscreen.  But I felt somehow responsible when he disappeared.  But despite not hearing anything for a few months I was quietly confident that he would pop up somewhere.  And of course he did.  He became careless, (as they all do) and forgot to keep his face well-hidden.  He had somehow evaded our surv-cams all this time, but he let his guard slip eventually.

I was quietly reviewing the latest stats on the anti-deceiver programme, and of course they showed a slight but noticeable dip in our success rate ever since Janek’s absence.  It s almost as if his not being there has affected the whole team; they seem a bit disparate and lost without his quiet presence.  We had promoted another to fill his place, but he was far slower and most of his ‘guesses’ led nowhere.   I was quietly wondering if we would ever again achieve the old rates when my screen quietly spoke to me.  It informed me that an 87% face-rec match had been found with lost operative Janek Smith.  “Janek”, I almost cried out loud, “welcome back.  You’ve been away too long.  Hang on there a bit longer; I’ll be over to see you soon.”

Of course 87% was nowhere close enough, but I had the new images and library images beamed up in parallel, and I felt my heart surge.  Yes, dear reader, contrary to rumour, I do have a heart.  Damn these stats I thought, I could see the resemblance straight away.  Strip away that bushy beard, cut back the hair a bit, it surely was him, even in three-quarter and head down view, it must be him.   Involuntarily my hand closed around the crystal goblet I was drinking from.  I had my man, 87% or not, I was sure I had my man.]-