Lena was at work one evening in late September. The door to the Department was closed, but a breeze with just a hint of fall wafted through a window. She was glad summer was over; the heat and humidity had seemed particularly harsh this year. She’d just finished photographing the latest batch of letters and documents and was putting the originals back into the file cabinet when she felt a draft. She spun around.
A man in an army uniform stood at the door to the Department, his gaze locked on her. The stripes on his shoulders said he was an officer. He had short bristly gray hair, pale blue eyes that were a touch rheumy. Frown lines etched across his forehead. He’d once been fit, she thought, but a large belly indicated those days were over. In the short sleeves of his summer uniform, his arms and the back of his hands were covered with heavy dark hair, which gave him a slightly simian look.
Lena froze. How long had he been there? Why hadn’t she heard the door open? What had he seen? Panic crawled up her spine. Her arms and legs felt like they had suddenly detached from her body.
The man folded his arms. “And just what are you doing, young lady?”
The blood left her head in a rush. She wanted to look down to see if her hands were shaking but she didn’t dare. This was it. She had been caught. Then she recalled one of Hans’ rules of tradecraft. If she was ever cornered or caught, the best defense was a good offense. She’d told Hans at the time she didn’t know if she could. He’d chuckled and said, “You will. You’ll see.”
Now, she realized he was right. There was no other option. She drew herself up, not sure where her courage was coming from. “I should be asking the same of you.”
The officer’s brows shot up. “Do you know who I am?”
Lena mustered what she hoped was an intimidating scowl. “I have no idea. So I will call security. This is a protected facility.” She started toward the telephone on her desk.
He took a step forward. “I am Colonel Charles Collins.”
Lena continued to her desk and slipped behind it. Her purse was on the floor, and as she got to it, she unobtrusively kicked it further under the desk. Then she lifted her gaze, as if she’d just made the connection. “Collins? You were here a few years ago.”
“I was. And now I’m back.” His expression bordered on arrogance. “Who are you?”
She eyed him warily. A wave of trepidation rolled through her, but she was damned if she’d let him see it. “The Department is closed, Colonel. In fact, I am obligated to report your unauthorized visit. How did you get this far? Our security is first-rate.”
“Whoever you are, you clearly do not know my position.”
“And you do not know mine.” Lena was amazed at herself. Where had she acquired this steely resolve? She opened her drawer, took out paper and pen, and wrote his name down. “A report will be filed tomorrow morning.”
“And to whom do you think the reports go?”
She looked him up and down, wondering if he could smell the fear on her.
“I am in charge of security. My job is to ensure there are no breaches at the Met Lab. Now. You either tell me who you are or I will have you detained.”
Lena didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but in case he was telling the truth, she answered. “I am Lena Stern, one of the secretaries for the Department.” She hesitated. “And if what you are saying is true, why was I not told about you?” It felt like a bird was fluttering inside her stomach.
“Obviously your security clearance level is not high enough,” he said.
The stress coupled with his self-importance made her want to let out a nervous laugh. She pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t.
“Why are you here?” he repeated.
She parried the question. “If you are who you say you are, you would know.”
He stared at her, his face reddening.
“There is so much work these days that I occasionally stay late to catch up.” She bent down and reached for her purse, hoping he wouldn’t spot the Minox lying on top. “But now if you’ll excuse me, Colonel…” She snapped the clasp of her purse shut. “…I am going home.”
She felt his eyes on her back as she walked out the door.