1. The Assignment
THE ASSIGNMENT
HALSTON
Halston Devereux led a complicated life. It had been that way for so long, she wouldn’t know “simple” if she bumped into it.
As she walked toward her boss’s office in Central Office—located in the hub of the Russian government in Moscow—she passed a coworker. She offered a tight nod, but no smile, before casting her eyes downward.
Week in and week out, she dressed in muted colors and conservative suits, kept her long dark hair secured in a tight bun, her thick bangs tickling her eyelashes. Light on the makeup, no jewelry, and brown contact lenses concealing her light eyes.
Every day was the same.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
But this was by design. Minka Kotov was dependable, reliable, and hard-working. A loyal Russian employee and citizen.
She knocked on her boss’s open office door. “Vy khoteli menya videt', ser.” You wanted to see me, sir.
“Minka, come in,” said Yuri Bulgrov, Director, Russian Foreign Ministry’s North American Department.
For nine long months, Halston had been employed as Bulgrov’s top aide. Cut off from family and friends, her only regular connection was with her Staff Operations Officer at Langley. CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
She stood behind a guest chair, waiting for him to invite her to sit.
“English going forward, yes?” Bulgrov said.
“Yes, sir.” Her faux Russian accent cut through the air.
An accent that sounded so authentic, she was starting to believe the web of lies she’d spun.
She wanted to ask him why English, but she did not.
Her goal? Be the ideal employee. Respectful, hard-working, and subservient.
She never pushed back, hadn’t gotten called out on anything.
Daily, she arrived early, stayed past quitting time.
Though the past nine months felt like a prison sentence, she was filled with an abundance of patience.
Like a cat, she would wait until the exact right moment to pounce.
“I have news,” he continued. To her surprise, he smiled.
Average height with a trim physique, white-haired Yuri Bulgrov was fifty-nine years old. He was well educated and a loyal servant to the Russian government. As far as bosses went, he treated her with respect and professionalism. He went by-the-book, and she was grateful for that.
“I’ve been promoted. Russian Ambassador to America.” His smile morphed into a full-blown grin.
“Congratulations, Mr. Bulgrov. What an honor.”
He gestured for her to sit. She did.
“I’m promoting you to lead translator in charge of the translator team,” he proclaimed. “You’re coming with me.”
She stared at him.
Ohmygod, I’m going home.
Though she wanted to jump up and down like a four-year old, she extended her hand. As he shook it, she said, “Thank you, sir. It’s an honor to continue working for you.”
“You might not want to thank me,” he continued. “You will still be my assistant, so the workload will be demanding.”
“My primary focus is serving the Russian government.” After a pause, she asked, “When does this new assignment start?”
“Tomorrow.”
She tried hiding her surprise, but her eyebrows had jutted up before she could check herself.
He chuckled. “I’m leaving in a few days, but I have special assignment for you on route to America.”
Oh boy.
“Of course.”
“Minka, you’re going to stop by a villa in Italy and collect a thumb drive.”
“From whom?”
“From no one.”
“YA ne ponimayu.” I don’t understand.
He handed her a piece of paper. “The address. The first code opens security gate, the second turns off house alarm. The occupant is away. You’ll be alone.”
She nodded along as she glanced down at the information on the paper. “Where is the thumb drive?”
“Probably hidden in desk, maybe a safe. One of our top scientists tried to defect with highly classified information. We think on thumb drive.” He stood. “Your job… find it.”
She rose. “And not get caught.”
“Minka, if you are captured, you are on your own.” He walked her into the corridor. “Your airline tickets will be emailed to you. First class.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your stay in Italy will be day and a half,” Bulgrov said. “With extra time, you can explore city. I noted you haven’t taken any personal days. You deserve it.”
“Thank you. And congratulations, Ambassador Bulgrov.”
As she made her way back to her office, thoughts came rushing in.
A day and a half. That’s nothing. Give me a few days. How ‘bout a week?
Even so, she was thrilled she’d been given this clandestine assignment.
My first big one.
Bulgrov and the higher-ups trusted her enough to do their dirty work. She couldn’t wait to tell her handler at Langley.
And I’m going home!
That, above all else, was the best news.
An hour later, she received an email with her flight itinerary. She was flying out tomorrow, stopping in Milan for a day before continuing on to Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia.
Tamping down her excitement, she focused on closing out tasks, then composed an email letting Bulgrov know what projects were still in play. She memorized the address of the Italian villa and both security codes, shredded the paper, and left her office without glancing back.
I won’t miss this place.
After securing her scarf around her neck, she buttoned her coat. Down the elevator and through the lobby, she pushed through the door for what she hoped would be the last time.
Outside, the thirty-degree temp chilled her bones, but she’d gotten used to the frigid air.
She left the historic high-rise on Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square, walking the short hike to the small apartment she’d been calling home.
In some ways, she felt like a zombie going through the motions.
But she’d been a dutiful employee so she could earn her boss’s trust. And he’d finally shown it by sending her on a mission to hunt down a thumb drive.
What he didn’t know was that she had a thumb drive of her own containing numerous folders filled with files she’d downloaded from his computer. Would they provide important intelligence to her American boss? She had no idea, but he’d have plenty to review as soon as she could hand it over.
After entering her small apartment, she extracted her other laptop from beneath the mattress and logged into a secure site.
Been promoted to Lead Translator/Manager and continuing as 1st Aide. Leaving for US tomorrow with one-day stopover in Milan.
She waited. When no reply filled her screen, she made herself something to eat, retrieved her suitcase and packed. After getting ready for bed, she checked for a reply from her handler.
Contact me when you return. Safe travels.
Then, she pulled out her personal phone, sent a text.
Leaving for US tomorrow morning. One-day stopover in Milan. Where are you?
Planet Earth
She laughed.
Smart ass
I can get to Milan. Meet me at Ristorante Da Giacomo Milano, noon
A shot of adrenaline powered through her. She couldn’t wait to see him.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Halston arrived at the airport hours ahead of her flight.
While she could have been concerned about the information she’d lifted from Bulgrov’s laptop and placed on her thumb drive, she wasn’t.
The legend Langley had created for her was airtight.
She was a Russian citizen with professional ties to the Russian government.
She had a work laptop and a personal laptop.
She had a work phone, also had a personal phone.
That didn’t make her a criminal. Didn’t make her a spy either.
It made her a responsible Russian citizen who never took advantage of her beloved country by using government-owned technology in her personal life.
Not that she had one.
She sailed through Customs, boarded the airplane, took her seat in first class.
Like every other day, she’d dressed well, but simply.
Today, a black pantsuit with a black sweater.
She’d pulled her long hair into her signature Minka bun, leaving her bangs to brush against her eyelashes.
Every time she blinked, strands jumped. She’d dabbed a light layer of cream blush over her cheeks, smeared a little petroleum jelly over her lips. Brown contacts in place.
Her goal? Blend in and go unnoticed.
As the plane taxied down the runway, she hoped she could close this chapter of her career and open a different one in the US.
She missed home, missed her family. Every time she went deep undercover, she rarely saw her parents or her friends until the mission ended.
Though a lonely life, it was a job she felt called to do.
She spent the five-hour flight staring out the window focused on her mission.
When she woke after a brief nap, she jumped onto a realtor website to review the layout of the Milan villa.
Unless the owner had done major renovations, she had the entire map of the home memorized. Every room, every closet, every window.
As the plane braked on the Milan runway, a smile ghosted across her face.
One step closer to home.
She collected her stuffed bag from the overhead compartment, taxied to the hotel. Though she had scant clothing, she did have her shoulder-length, dark blonde wig, which she tugged on. Next, she traded her black heels for black running shoes and headed out.
The day was cold, the sky a brilliant blue, the dazzling sun filling her with hope.
She kept checking for a tail but saw no one.
Just because Bulgrov had given her a covert job didn’t mean he wasn’t having her watched.
She walked the half mile to the heart of Milan.
Standing in the Piazza del Duomo, she gazed up at the massive cathedral, the Duomo di Milano.
“That is breathtaking,” she blurted.
“Yes, ma’am, you sure are,” said a voice next to her, his American accent catching her ear.
She glanced over. Some rando stood there, a broad grin on his plain face, his phone held out in front of him. Either he was about to snap her pic or he was videoing her.
She held her hand over the phone’s camera, then lowered his phone.
“Are you traveling alone?” he asked.
Her skin crawled, her fingers curled into a fist. “No.”