Stage Eight: The Pre-Arrest Stage

This is where unmistakable signs of surveillance get noticed.

Finally, the drama may be coming to its bad end.

As mentioned, this development is almost always because of information carried over from “the other side.”

Later, counterintelligence officers will belittle the sloppy tradecraft exhibited by insider spies at this juncture.

However, their observations are probably off the mark, for at this point, the insider spy is simply exhausted by the futility of the game.

He has ceased to care about maintaining his tradecraft, and seeing his bad end clearly in sight, he just wants to get it over with.

He will play out this drama to its bitter end.

As unwelcome as getting caught will be, he will welcome relief from his grinding daily uncertainty.

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