2. Two
2
TWO
ELIANA RICHARDS
CIA Headquarter, July 2022
“ M s. Richards, my name is Marta Gómez and this is Agent Oliver McGreen. We will do the interview with you. Would you please follow us?”
Excited was the wrong word for my emotions.
Fear wasn’t strong enough, either.
No, I was literally moments away from shitting my pants while I followed the two agents through the massive entrance hall of CIA headquarters. I had spent my last ten minutes exploring the entire room, unable to sit still because I was scared my anxious mind would take control over me and walk my body right out of the doors again. So I wandered around, gave my body and mind something to do while I watched the large CIA seal on the floor, or counted the stars on the memorial wall. Each star stood for one of the fallen agents. They had died in order to protect our country from external danger. Danger that the CIA tried to get under control.
My stilettos made loud clicking noises every time I took a step and I hated myself for the choice of shoes. Not even the Deputy Director walking in front of me was wearing stilettos, as if she knew how annoying that would be on the marble floor.
Thankfully, we stepped outside of the entrance hall quickly and passed a small atrium that was designed to imitate a Japanese garden. Interesting style choice.
I was surprised how perfectly aligned the two agents in front of me walked. For every large strike of Agent McGreen, Agent Gómez needed to take two small steps, but they were walking so carefree and well-rehearsed that I wondered how long they were working together already. I kept my distance of around two feet, but their shoulders were brushing against each other.
Strange. That’s closer than I expected it to be, but maybe it was only a coincidence.
Letting my mind wander to all potential scenarios why the two interviewers were walking so close was a good strategy to fight against my own anxiety and fear.
Agent McGreen’s wide smile had been welcoming, but the rumors about his task force had even reached my colleagues at the FBI. Becoming a member of McGreen’s task force was like winning a lottery, only with the difference that you need to train like crazy for it.
I decided to quit my job at the FBI and started preparing for this job for the small likelihood that I would be one of the lucky ones to have a chance in the terrorism task force.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, I knew myself well enough: if I didn’t quit my job, I wouldn’t give 120% in preparation, because I still had my safety net. Let’s hope that this was the right thing to do because I was running out of money.
We reached a second building and the two agents in front of me turned left with confident steps, still not saying a word to me. I preferred it that way. I was never someone for small talk, especially not in an interview situation like this.
We hope you had an easy arrival . Well, wasn’t really hard to miss the severely secured gate with people standing in front of it that looked at me like I was the next Osama Bin Laden. For the record: I wasn’t.
You don’t have to be nervous, we’re only asking you a few questions . No shit, Sherlock. Why would I be nervous if 95% of the interviewees failed the test to join the terrorism task force?
“We start with a classical interview and then head over to the other tests we prepared for you. Do you feel physically and mentally ready for this?”
I blink several times before answering, needing a second to jump out of my head and back into reality. Agent McGreen and Deputy Director Gómez had pivoted in front of me, now both staring at me with an intensity that let the hair on my neck rise. They entered interview mode.
To not look like an idiot, I nodded slowly while taking deep breaths, keeping the anxiety at bay.
Four months. I prepared for this for four months.
Today was the day I would get to know if it was worth it or if I had to crawl back to the FBI like a wounded animal and ask to get hired again.
No.
I won’t think about this now.
I will make it into this task force.
My hard work will be rewarded and I will be the first woman to make it into the CIA's most secret, but also most badass task force. Watch me, Peter Davis. I’ll be one of the few cadets who pass.
As if the world around us was happening in slow motion, I took a few steps into the room, taking place on the chair McGreen was pointing at. My chair was on one side of the small table, while the two agents took their places on the other side, both facing me with an emotionless expression on their faces. I turned my head around, but there was nothing else in this room. No cupboard, no other chairs, no plants.
This wasn’t a conference room.
This was an interrogation cell.
“Ms. Richards,” McGreen started, locking his gaze with mine, and I realized that there were hints of green in his otherwise blue eyes, making them look very special.
“Yes, sir. ”
“You applied for a position in the terrorism task force although we did not show any open vacancies anywhere. Why do you think we need someone like you in our agency?”
“Clearly you invited me to this interview, so something in my CV must have been worth your attention.”
McGreen’s outer lip curled up only a millimeter, giving me the confidence that I would be able to survive this interview without playing a role.
“True. What caught our attention is the fact that you quit your job four months ago, but only applied for a not-open position a week ago. How’s that?”
“With all due respect, sir, this task force is famous among all governmental agencies in this country. And probably even around the world. And although nobody knows much about the test you have to endure in qualification, I was very sure that I would need all my focus on preparation to have the slightest chance. That’s why I gave myself several months before pressing the send button on my application.”
Deputy Director Gómez studied the folder in her hands that pretty surely included my entire background check, including all classified information from the FBI. They did their homework because they would not invite someone without full transparency.
“How did the FBI react when you told them you would leave? And did you tell them that you plan to switch agencies?”
Great. Right to the complicated questions. But I prepared for this, I’ve created an entire storyline to answer these questions without giving everything away. I just need them to buy it.
“I was very transparent with my former colleagues. I told them that I would like to broaden my horizon by applying to the CIA and that I was more interested in investigations outside of our borders.”
“Is that why you originally started studying at the CIA Academy before switching over to the FBI after two semesters?”
McGreen’s gaze bored into mine and I could practically see the excitement in his eyes for every question that would come. Their goal was to break me, to get to know my real intentions. But I came prepared. I will not break today.
“Yes, sir.”
“When you left the CIA Academy, you told them that you would like to focus on the extensive crimes within our borders. Isn’t that a bit contrary to what you just told me?”
Shit.
I should have known that my conversation with Professor Banks back in the days would somehow land in my file. Everything we did or said landed in our files. Stupid me for thinking our criminology professor was just interested in me because we had a great connection in the two semesters that I studied in Chantilly. That was hell of stupid.
“I...” I started to stutter, but then regained my composure by taking a deep breath. Even the Deputy Director had raised her gaze from the folder in her hands, watching curiously for my answer.
“You?” McGreen said, clearly provoking me. I would expect him to be happy that he caught me off guard, but if I didn't know it better, there was a hint of disappointment in the way his brows furrowed.
“I changed my mind again. Joining the CIA had always been my dream and I had a small…period of distraction…while I thought the FBI would be enough. But it’s not. Every case I solved was to bring the U.S. some peace, but the more you watch the news and get to know some insider information through your agency, you know that most of the dangerous threats are not living on U.S. territory. And I want to be a part of making the world a little better.”
Both agents groaned at my last sentence. I could swear Gómez even rolled her eyes on me.
“Sorry, that was a little too pathetic,” I quickly added, gaining a small smile from McGreen.
Close call.
I almost ruined it with too much drama. The ‘I want peace’ bullshit should stay in Miss Universe tournaments and not in an application for the world’s deadliest, but most successful task force. Because all three of us knew that making the world a better place would always come with violence.
“And what tells us that you won’t change opinions again? We don’t like investing time and money in someone just to lose them again after a couple of months. ”
It was Deputy Director Gómez who had asked this question, earning herself a side-eye from McGreen. Looks like her asking questions was not planned beforehand.
“I applied for a position that is officially not even free, quit my old job, and lived off my savings for the past few months. Pretty sure this should be enough evidence to show you how much I want this job. And how much I will fight to get it.”
I held her intense gaze with a slight softness on my own, trying to not look like an arrogant bitch as I was called a lot in the last years. I’m not arrogant; I’m just very determined and I will shove everything out of the way that is between me and my goal.
Wait.
That sounds a lot like a super villain origin story.
Gómez only nodded at me in response before she lowered her gaze again to read something in the folder. My file couldn’t be that big that she would need the entire interview to read it. Right? Probably she just wanted to intimidate me by pretending not to care.
But I know she did. She hijacked McGreen’s interview tactics just to make sure I have the right motivation to join the task force. I’m sure that’s a good sign.
“That’s a good statement to lead over to the next part of the interview. Ms. Richards, how much are you really willing to fight for this position?" His voice brought me back to reality.
“So there is a position to fill?”
“In the last one and a half years, only one candidate passed all our tests to get considered for a position in the task force. And believe us that more than hundred tried. We’ll always have a use for someone who survives this evaluation day.”
His voice was dripping with pride and a shimmer appeared behind his eyes. I didn’t think sorting so many people out would be a reason to be proud, but if you want to gather the best people in one team, you need to make sure you chose the best.
“I’m ready for whatever is coming.”
“Oh, you’ll regret this sentence very soon, Ms. Richards,” Gómez said, and as soon as her sentence ended, the door behind me burst open and two people in full tactical gear stomped into the room. Within seconds, I had two rifles held against my head.
“Welcome to hell, Ms. Richards. Let’s see what you’re really capable of.”
And suddenly white, hot pain erupted in my temple before the world turned black after I lost the battle for consciousness.