Subject: The Installation Man

One of the least understood threats to young reality criminals (especially so-called "orphans") is the Installation Man. In several recent cases in the NYC area, reality criminals under our observation have disappeared without explanation. Typically, they were residents of apartment buildings. When our operatives questioned building residents about the disappearances, no one recounted any unusual events.

Of course this is typical for NYC. In numerous cases, residents have failed to hear screams and shotgun blasts in neighboring apartments. Last summer, when our Metropolitan Slum Clearance Unit used powered armor suits to clear a Lower East Side squatter chantry, other homeless did not remember the incident even under special interrogation. This survival mechanism seems to be intrinsic to the New Urban Paradigm.

We have, however, detected a correlate among the recent disappearances: In each case, residents recall an installation man having been in the building shortly before their fellow resident disappeared. Residents report that the Installation Man is a white male, 30-35 years old, with a trim beard, work clothes, and a tool belt. He identifies himself as Tom, Gerry, Troy, Dave, or Todd. The only residents who report that the Installation Man entered their apartment are those who lived in apartments directly adjacent to the ones rented by the disappeared reality criminals. These residents report that the Installation Man inspected either doors or windows, or a common wall with the adjoining apartment, frequently using a tape measure to get exact dimensions.

The building superintendents in some cases recall giving a key to the Installation Man, so that he could enter the reality criminal's apartment to measure for doors or windows. In no cases do landlords' records indicate that such services were ordered, nor that payment was rendered to a contractor.

HYPOTHESIS : We conjecture that the Installation Man is an independent agent. His motives are unclear. It is very possible that he is a reality criminal himself. Perhaps his "installations" represent some kind of trap for unsuspecting novices. It is also possible that the Installation Man is simply a Master Builder. If his measurements and installations are sufficiently precise, he may unwittingly create spontaneous, if short-lived, Correspondence sutures between locales.

RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION : The Installation Man should be targeted for recruitment. If he declines, termination is recommended.