Reconnaissance

[Dave Paprocki]

The act of reconnoitering; preliminary examination
or survey.

[Becky]

Long for Recon, a term for gathering [preliminary] information.
Explore, investigate, examine, [scrutinize], inspect, observe, take a close look at; patrol;, observation, investigation, examination, inspection; search; reconnoitering; check out, [scope out], recon up close, exploration.

[Agnes]

Information [gathered] [on the sly] about a lover/friend/[enemy].