Page 30 of Spies Don't Fall for Their
Milalooks toward her nephew, then her niece. “Um, sure.”Shepicks up her niece and places her on her hip again as the little girl tries to pull each seed individually from the white dandelion.Wewalk a dozen feet away so we aren’t by any other people as we talk.Buteven if we were, we aren’t speakingSerbian, so probably most wouldn’t know what we are saying.
Mila’snot just confused now— she’s also a bit alarmed.Irealize that having the stroller near us isn’t enough, soIturn to the baby like it’s fussing and coo at it, reaching in to give its little hand a gentle squeeze.
“Idon’t actually work at a financial firm,”Zoesays. “Iwork for theCentralIntelligenceAgencyin theUnitedStates, and this is my coworker,Lincoln.Wecould really use your help.”
I’mglad she just went with “coworker” for my description instead of bringing up theCSAor fumbling over what to call me.
Milais full-on alarmed now, and she keeps eyeing us like we’re about to tell her that she’s arrested and needs to come with us or something.SoIreach into the stroller, liftout the swaddled baby doll, and put her against my shoulder, making sure the blanket covers the back of her head.ThenIstart patting her on the back.Milainstantly releases her tense shoulders and relaxes her stressed expression.Wow.Itactually worked.Scoreone forDamjan.
Sheis watching me curiously, though.Asif she hadn’t pictured me as a dad when she saw me in the pub and is now wondering ifIstopped at the daycare to pick up my child afterIleft.
ZoeandIgo back and forth, almost like we’ve practiced this, explaining that one ofSavovic’sart pieces is going to get stolen by bad people who are going to use it for bad purposes, leaving out the specifics.Wetell her that we need to place a tracking device on the art piece so that we can find it— and the thieves—once they steal it.Wesay we’ve heard that the only way to even get close enough to the sculpture to place that tracker is if she can turn off the security system at a time when we can sneak in, or byZoeandIscheduling a private viewing to see the piece.
Andthe only way to get a private viewing is if we impersonate someone who is already on the guest list for the auction.Preferablybeforethe auction takes place, since we think that the men plan to steal it then.Andwe tell it to her all while the little girl she’s holding is trying to put dandelion seeds up her nose.Whatis it with toddlers and noses?
Atone point whenMilaisn’t even looking at me,IrealizeI’mbouncing the baby, but only whenIcatch a look onZoe’sface thatIcan’t quite decipher.AnexpressionI’venever seen on her before.Istop bouncing andplace the baby back in the stroller, arranging the blankets so her face can’t be seen.
“Ican’t turn off the security system,”Milasays in her thick accent, setting her squirming niece back on the grass. “I’mnot even sure the head of security can.Mr.Savovicis very distrustful.”
ZoeandIgive each other a look.Somuch for doing things the easy way.ThenIaskMila, “Doyou have access to the list of people who will be coming for the auction?Canyou get it for us?”
“Youwant me to steal the list from my work for you?Icould get fired for that!”
“Justacopyof the list,”Zoesays. “Weknow that it is risky and that you could get caught.Butthese are very bad men who want to steal that art piece, and by helping us, you could also help to save a lot of innocent lives.Wealso know that you don’t love your job, so as a thank you, we will get you a new job.”
“You’regoing to make me leave my job?”
ZoeandIboth shake our heads, andZoesays, “No.Justhelp you get one where your contributions will be recognized and you’ll really be able to shine.And, as a bonus, you won’t even have to deal with art people.”
“Listen,” she says, putting both hands up like she’s trying to stop this conversation and stop anything from moving forward that we’ve suggested. “IknowIcomplained about my job, and my boss is not nice, butIlike the work.AndImade friends.Ihope someday it will help me get a positionIreally want.”
Okay, so we were far from coming up with the perfectmotivation forMila.Zoegives me a look that says,Well, do you want to offer the money, then?AndI’mabout to open my mouth to do it when another idea hits me.OneIcan’t believe we didn’t come up with when we were all brainstorming ideas.
“Mila, would going back to school help you to get that position you really want?”
“Da,” she says, but she shakes her head. “Butthat’s no longer possible.”
“Whatif it was?”
Hereyes are on me, andI’vegot every bit of her attention.
“Youdidreallywell in school, soI’mguessing you liked it.I’malso guessing the reason you stopped going was because you needed a full-time job to help your sister after your brother-in-law died?”
Hereyes are wide like she’s surprised we know all this about her, but she doesn’t say a word— she just nods.
“Whatif we could get you back in school, and for the two years you’ll be in school until you graduate, we pay you the same amount per month that you’d be earning at your job?”
Tearsliterally start falling down her cheeks as she looks between me andZoe. “Youwould do that?Youwill help me go back to school?”Hereyes finish onZoe.Shealready heard it from me— she’s looking for confirmation.
“Wewill,”Zoesays. “That’show much we need your help.”
Thenshe hugs us both.Allright.That’snot somethingIusually get when asking someone to putthemselves at risk.Imight have to start taking a baby to all my asset negotiations.
Wegive her a secure phone, tell her she can call if she has any problems, and she says she’ll get a copy of the list for us at work tomorrow.She’sleaving work a bit earlier to go to her nephew’s fudbal tournament that is part of the city’sSummerFest, so she’ll be back on this field at three.Wetell her that we can’t meet her again in the same location without raising suspicions, so we’ll need her to do a dead drop that we pick up later.
Zoepoints to a small, run-down structure made of cinderblock and adorned with graffiti at the edge of the field. “Arethose restrooms?”
Milanods.
