Page 29 of Spies Don't Fall for Their
“Isay go for that,”Kellasays. “Asa backup plan,PackstonandIwill get with our directors to see what kind of a compensation package they’ll approve if you end up needing to offer money.What’sthe timeline?”
Zoehikes a thumb to the northeast. “Sheis going with her nephew and niece to a soccer— or ‘fudbal’— field about two blocks away for her nephew’s practice at seven.It’dbe good to approach her there.”
Weall look down at our watches.That’sin fifteen minutes.
“We’llgo work on that now,”Packstonsays. “We’llcheck back in with you before seven.”
Damjanclaps his hands together. “Okay, let’s talk about the approach itself.”Heaims his clapped hands in my direction. “Becauseyou, my giant friend, are intimidating, and you’re going to scare her.”
Myhead pulls back in surprise. “What?Iam not.”
“Hey, listen.Iknow you’re just a big fun-loving guy.Firstimpressions, though?”Hewinces.
“Isaw the wayMilaflinched whenIsaid goodbye to my ‘date,’”Zoesays. “He’sright.Weneed to make you softer.”
“Softer?”
“Don’tworry,I’vegot you,”Damjansays as he goes around to the back of the car and opens the trunk.Theguy spent a good amount of time in theUnitedStates, but hisaccent is still plentySerbian.Hepronounces all his vowels clearly, rolls hisR’s, stresses the first syllable of his words, and rises in pitch at the end of sentences, but hisEnglishis perfect, including slang. “Justthink of you asJamesBondand me as your own personalQ.”
Zoelights up. “Ooo.Doyou have gadgets for us?”
“Somethinglike that.Whenyou guys were in the bar,Ileft.Ifound a little girl with one of those baby dolls that looks and feels like a realistic baby.”Helifts the doll from the trunk and holds it up by one arm. “Checkit out— doesn’t it look like the real thing?”
“Andyou just took this from a little girl?”Zoeasks.
“Whatkind of a monster do you thinkIam?No!Thegirl was holding the doll by its ankle while gazing longingly at a group of kids riding bikes, looking for all the world that she drew the short stick.SoIbought a bike and traded her.Madeher entire year.”
“Anda baby doll is going to help us… how?”Iknow the lookI’mgivingDamjanright now isn’t a generous one, butIcan’t help it.
Damjanpushes the doll into my chest, and whenIgrab hold, he reaches into the trunk and pulls out a very pink stroller.Ashe’s opening it, he says, “Becauseyou are going to be a dad when you go talk to her.”
“Andthat’ll make me ‘softer?’”
“Youbet it will.Markmy words— with that woman,Mila, in particular, if you show up like you are, you won’t even get through your pitch to turn her before you’ve scared her off.Ifshe’ll even talk to you at all.Ifyou have a baby with you, she’ll relax enough to hear you out.Youmight even be able to convince her to help you.”
“Fine,”Isay.Luckily, the doll came with a couple of baby blankets— also pink— which is good, because just tossing the doll in the stroller isn’t going to convince anyone.Ispread one of the blankets out in the trunk, place the doll so its head is by one of the corners, and then wrap the blanket so it’s swaddling the doll, just likeIdid withBlake’sdaughterHeidiwhen she was a baby.ThenIput the baby in the stroller and arrange the second blanket around her.
WhenIstand back up again,Damjanis appraising me with his arms folded and nods. “Yep, that’ll work just fine.”
ZoeandIwalk to the soccer field with me pushing the pink stroller like we are a cute little family out for an evening walk.
Yeah, like that could ever happen.Ayear and a half ago,I’dthought maybe it could.Ihad tracked a rogue scientist to an abandoned research station in the dense forests nearMoldova’seastern border.ZoeandIcrossed paths and discovered that there had been some sort of inter-agency miscommunication, and theCIAhad sent her to do what was essentially the same mission as mine.Atthe time,I’donly heard ofZoe— we hadn’t met.I’dknown her name and who she worked for, but not much else.
We’dteamed up to complete the mission, and for three days, we’d worked together to stay warm, shared stories of our pasts, flirted, became a little vulnerable, took turnsstanding watch, shared some life-altering kisses, and built whatIthought was trust.Shewas the most incredible womanI’dever met, and like a fool,I’dfallen for her completely.
Socompletely thatI’dalready started imagining a life with her.Nota traditional life, of course, but one that would work for who we are.Onewhere we would be open with each other like that all the time.Discusscrazy things going on in the world that few people knew about over breakfast.Comparedaring feats we’d done while snuggling under the covers at night.Gosky diving, snowboarding, or river rafting together on the weekends.Maybeeven go on a few missions together.
I’dthoughtshe felt the same.Ihadn’t even suspected it was all an act until it was too late.Andby then, she’d not only taken my trust but she’d also taken my heart.I’mnot about to give her either again.
Justas we reach the fence,Kellasays in my earpiece, “Ijust sent you the approved amount you can offerMila.”
Ipull out my phone and take a look.Ifwe can’t get her to help us by offering to get her a new job, the money should do it.WespotMilathrough the chain-link fence.She’sstanding on the sidelines, a toddler on her hip, cheering for the five-year-olds playing soccer on the field.
Shedoesn’t see us as we get the stroller through the gate and head up the sideline toward her.We’veseen a few other soccer fields in the city that were much nicer than this one.Thisis mostly a fenced-in yard with dirt and weeds on the sidelines, a grassy field with linespainted on it, and an old building that looks like it houses restrooms on one side.
Itisn’t untilZoeputs a hand onMila’sshoulder that she turns her attention away from her nephew on the field or her niece who’s now sitting at her feet, playing with a dandelion.Sheturns and seesZoe, and confusion washes over her. “Shauna?”Sheglances fromZoeto me to the pink stroller. “Whatare you doing here?”
“Canwe talk to you for a moment?”
