It's not spying, it's observation (Geo)

Susan had been shopping. In downtown New York.
That was a first.
She figured since she was officially on the run, living in an almost-police-officer's apartment, she now possessed some privileges that were denied back in school. Or at 'home'. Privileges such as... dressing like a normal person.
She borrowed clothes from Elli. Also, sunglasses. That should do the trick. A Susan-in-jeans must have sounded more crazy to anyone who knew her than a Susan-with-green-tentacles.
She spent the whole day wandering from one shop to another, feeling more lost than she'd ever been. She forgot about time - probably this was the main reason why stepping out of the umpteenth shop she suddenly realized it was dark outside and all the lights were on. She could have suspected that. The shop was already closing up. The manager shot her a few annoyed glances during the last half hour. Quite a few.
Making her way back to Elli's apartment, she decided not to cut through Central Park. She was a mutant, but in the past few days she familiarized herself with the terms 'passive' and 'active' mutation, and also with the fact her abilities had no use in any physically threatening situation, except for scaring a person with the eye color change. Fat chance, huh.
All right, she didn't like parks after dark. At all. Blame it on the boarding school and the overprotective foster parents.
Taking the long way towards the other side of the park, Susan was deep in thought; she only recognized the police car sirens when their unique blue and red sounds enveloped her. They were still far away, but the light already hurt her sharpened senses; she slipped into her own little world of colorful sounds, and the darkness of the night was suddenly dotted with car engine waves, fluttering voices and all the sounds of a city at night.
Even in this world, the park seemed dark.
Susan walked away from the police cars in an unhurried manner. If she had to choose between a park at night and St. Joan's at broad daylight...
Park it is.