33. Best Laid Plans
BEST LAID PLANS
The Taedong was gray beneath the afternoon sky.
A breeze came off the water hard enough that Marina had to tuck her hair behind her ear every few minutes. Across the river, the buildings on the opposite bank stood in orderly rows, pale against the haze.
Miss Park and Miss Wu were twenty meters behind them.
Not accidentally.
Marina had stopped twice to photograph the river, then walked faster afterward. Esmee had understood after the second time.
Now they were far enough ahead to talk quietly, but not so far that anyone could accuse them of trying to disappear.
Marina glanced over her shoulder.
Miss Park was saying something to Miss Wu.
Ri was farther back still.
“Don’t look,” Esmee murmured.
“I have to look. That’s my job.”
“Then look less obviously.”
Marina almost smiled.
They continued along the river.
“So,” Esmee said. “Next week.”
Marina’s expression flattened.
“What about it?”
“The airport.”
“I remember.”
“We need to go through it.”
“Go through what?”
Esmee gave her a sideways look.
“The plan.”
Marina kept walking.
“No.”
Esmee stopped.
Marina took another three steps before realizing she was alone.
She turned.
“Keep walking.”
Esmee caught up.
“I thought we had settled this.”
“No. You settled it.”
“I helped you, and now it’s time for you to help me.”
Esmee looked out over the river.
“I didn’t say today.”
“Oh, for God’s sake.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“You came to me.”
“Yes.”
“You asked me for help.”
Esmee paused. “I did.”
Bloody Esmee using the past tense.
“I helped you.” Her voice sounded detached.
There she was doing it again.
“You did. Now you are going to do what you agreed to do.”
“Which is not do something stupid and risky for the mission.”
Esmee was looking at her nails.
Marina walked another few meters ahead, mastering herself.
Behind them, Miss Park and Miss Wu were beginning to close the distance.
“Walk faster.”
Esmee caught up. They passed beneath a row of trees. Dead leaves skittered across the pavement ahead of them.
“Here’s the thing. You help me or?—”
Esmee nudged her like they were school friends deciding which movie to see. “Of course I will. It sounds like fun. We need access to the same area we visited before.”
Fun? It didn’t sound like fun.
“I will get it sorted.”
“Oh, did you take that test?” Esmee asked, her face the picture of innocence.
“Oh,” Marina said, mimicking her, “I did not.”
Esmee muttered something under her breath.
“What?”
“You should, because if you aren’t, we can call this off and get drunk.”
“Absolutely not,” Marina snapped. “We take care of our people.”
“Fine. Bon merde.”
“Esmee, I know what you’re saying, I speak French.”
“Barely,” Esmee shot back.
Marina rounded on her: “You are always so juvenile. Like this is the time to divide what’s left of our team and pick fights. We’re in a hostile country. They’re after us—we’re barely keeping them at bay.”
Esmee flattened her lips. “I’m not the one who divided our team. Besides, I’ve figured out something that you haven’t.”
Like a hundred ingenious knots for designer scarves?
But she took her own advice and didn’t argue.
“Pray tell.” That was the best that she could do.
“The safety and protection of our people comes first. Always. You said that. You were right. So I’m not helping you, as this clearly violates that.”
Marina advanced on her.
Esmee took one step backward. Then another, until her shoulders met the wall.
“Wrong. Because we have someone new on our team. Someone else. And you’re going to help me.”
“Or else?”
Marina noticed that Esmee didn’t ask who the new team member was. Marina looked over her shoulder again. Still enough distance.
Marina grabbed Esmee’s lapels. “I’m getting to the end of my rope here, Esmee.”
“Jeez.” Esmee brushed her off. “So touchy. Must be mood swings. Don’t worry, I will help you. And… the team,” she said obliquely, but swept her eyes to Marina’s waist.