CHAPTER NINE

GIVING A HIGH-LEVEL AMBASSADOR A BUGGED PAINTING

How to Embed Cameras and Microphones When It’s You Who Needs to Spy on Someone

THE REQUIREMENT: Find the means to collect intelligence from Vietnam’s ambassador to France to aid the United States in ongoing peace talks.

PARTICIPANTS: C/O Daniel Novack, hereafter referred to as alias MARCUS.

Access Agent Pierre Perdue, hereafter referred to as alias MONTE.

TARGET: Don Bach, hereafter referred to as alias/krypto VADIM.

I met MONTE not long after I arrived in France, and he had all the qualities a case officer looks for in an access agent. MONTE was smart, charming, and highly educated, and he and his wife loved to entertain in their palatial apartment. Even better, MONTE was incredibly well connected and part of a very powerful social circle. Everyone loved to attend his cocktail parties, because you never knew who you might run into. There were professors, artists, actresses, musicians, wealthy businessmen, and—luckily for me—ambassadors and other high-level government people. When you’re a case officer, you’re always looking for someone who has access, and MONTE had access to nearly everyone. It took a long time to develop him; MONTE didn’t need the money like other people I had worked with. Over time, though, I learned that MONTE agreed with the United States on certain issues. It was that mutual philosophy that eventually got MONTE working for me as an access agent. I also think he found the idea of spying very exciting, which most people do. I really enjoyed working with MONTE because he was clever and quick. We tried some crazy things while we were working together, and let’s just say some of them worked out better than others.

THE ART-LOVING DIPLOMAT

DATE, TIME, & PLACE OF CONTACT: September 15, 19XX, 9 p.m., Home of MONTE, CLASSIFIED LOCATION.

My requirement was to collect intelligence from a diplomat who represented the interests of the North Vietnamese government. Big peace talks were happening, and it was my job to get any information I could that would help the United States. I didn’t always know exactly what my plan would be to fulfill a requirement, and this was one of those times. After months of watching the diplomat and the people who worked in his house, I had come to the conclusion that I wasn’t going to be able to get any of his staff to help me out. They were too loyal. I had to find another way in, and I never imagined that MONTE would come up with a great idea at one of his infamous parties about how to bug an embassy.

MONTE had hosted a dinner party one night, and after dessert guests were hanging around in the living room and on the veranda drinking wine and chatting. MONTE realized he hadn’t seen VADIM in a while—he wasn’t with any of the groups in the living room or outside. VADIM was a diplomat from North Vietnam, and he was someone MONTE paid much attention to. Getting information from VADIM could be the key to fulfilling our requirement, but we still hadn’t figured out how to do it. MONTE had picked up some good bits and pieces of information from cocktail chatter, but nothing that could really help the United States with the peace talks. We needed something much bigger.

MONTE saw that the door to his library was open and there was a light on. He walked in, and found VADIM standing in front of the large painting that was hanging behind MONTE’s desk. VADIM was so transfixed by the work of art that he didn’t even notice that MONTE had entered the room. After a few moments went by, MONTE said something so that VADIM wouldn’t be surprised by his appearance. “It’s a beautiful piece of art, isn’t it? My wife gave it to me as an anniversary gift and it’s one of my most cherished pieces. It was actually painted by an artist in the South of France.” MONTE was always a quick thinker. The truth was, it wasn’t a gift at all. His wife was from an old French family, and this painting had been in her family for several generations. Much to his wife’s chagrin, MONTE didn’t even like it all that much. But it was clear that VADIM did. They spent the next half an hour talking about the painting’s various characteristics—the brushstrokes and the artist’s use of lighting. And that’s when MONTE got the idea that he should present VADIM with a gift.

BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS

We all know to “beware of Greeks bearing gifts”—and that things didn’t end well for the Greeks after they accepted the “gift” of a wooden horse left outside of their city gates. They pulled the massive horse inside, only to later find out it was filled with Trojan warriors ready for a fight. While the gift MONTE had in mind wasn’t quite so dramatic, using a “Trojan horse” as a listening device is always very risky. Intelligence officers can use a Trojan horse in the form of a gift, but it’s not something that can be taken lightly. The gift might appear to be just an ordinary sculpture, pen, or vase—but inside are listening devices so that every conversation that takes place can be recorded and listened to. The problem is that if the recipient discovers the bug, they know exactly who is responsible, and obviously that creates a really big mess. And in certain countries it’s enough to get someone killed.

THE GREAT SEAL BUG

One of the most famous Trojan horses was given to U.S. Ambassador W. Averell Harriman in August 1945. The Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization (a kids’ organization not unlike the Boy and Girl Scouts in America) gave the ambassador a hand-carved replica of the Great Seal of the United States as a gift. This gift was hung in the residence of the ambassador, in a place that was absolutely perfect for picking up conversations. What no one knew was that the seal contained one of the first concealed listening devices. Inside the seal was a high-frequency radio bug—that meant it didn’t require an outside power source, but was activated by a radio signal from outside the building. In the 1950s, some British radio operators reported hearing a British attaché speaking while listening to Russian radio traffic, and that was deemed very suspicious. Even with this tip, no bug could be found inside the embassy. The device wasn’t actually discovered until three ambassadors and many overheard conversations later.

A PAINTING WITH UNIQUE PROPERTIES

The gift that MONTE had in mind was a painting. Since the ambassador loved the painting so much, we decided to have a replica created for him. However, this painting would have a little something extra—a covert listening device. We worked with technical services, who assigned one of their highly skilled artists to create a beautiful replica of MONTE’s painting. Nothing about the painting looked out of the ordinary. The canvas and the frame looked normal, and if you picked it up it didn’t seem unusually heavy. However, embedded inside the lining of the canvas were a microphone, a transmitter, and a battery powerful enough to run for two years. While we were excited to give this to the ambassador, we were also nervous. Anytime a Trojan horse is used in an operation you have to carefully weigh the risks vs. the rewards. If the listening device is discovered, MONTE would be in big trouble. While he wouldn’t be killed in the country we were working in, he would be exposed and would lose all his access. Treason was also a very big concern. We had decided early on that in this case it was worth it. MONTE had worked very hard to develop a relationship with VADIM, and VADIM had no reason to suspect that MONTE would try to bug his house. He planned to give the gift as soon as it was ready.

THINK LIKE A SPY: WEIGH YOUR RISKS AND REWARDS

There’s no point in taking a risk just for risk’s sake. Giving the ambassador a bugged painting was incredibly dangerous, and there could be major consequences. However, after the risk and the reward were carefully considered, it was decided that it was not very likely the bug would be found, and that the amount of intelligence that could be gathered was very great. Compare the risks to the rewards before going forward with decisions that could have unwelcome or even dire consequences.

HANGING THE PAINTING

DATE, TIME, & PLACE OF CONTACT: October 12, 19XX, 7 p.m., Home of VADIM, CLASSIFIED LOCATION.

MONTE went to VADIM’s beautiful town house to present him with the painting. MONTE told him that he truly appreciated VADIM’s friendship, and was deeply moved by his appreciation for art. VADIM was of course delighted with the gift, and accepted it graciously. What VADIM didn’t know was that I was sitting in a car right outside with one of my colleagues. We were thrilled to discover that the listening device worked perfectly. We could hear everything they were saying as if we were in the exact same room. VADIM had some high-level people over for dinner that night, and we got a few good tidbits of intelligence. I couldn’t believe how brilliantly the painting was going to work out.

The next morning I was back outside the ambassador’s town house, eagerly listening for more information. The painting was still sitting in the foyer, not yet hung up. I heard VADIM ask one of his maids a few questions, and then I heard him speaking to another man. The nature of the conversation made it sound like he had a close friend or family member staying over. Whoever this guy was, he also loved the painting. In fact, he thought it was so wonderful that it should be hung in “a place of great honor.” VADIM immediately agreed. Those were the last words we heard from VADIM’s house. He had decided that the place of honor was on a wall at the top of the stairs—a place where no one in the house ever seemed to have a conversation. I sat outside for a few weeks just to make sure, but it became clear we weren’t going to hear any secrets from that beautiful painting after all.

THINK LIKE A SPY: YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING

The biggest concern for MARCUS and MONTE was obviously getting caught. They didn’t want MONTE to get burned if someone found out they had bugged the ambassador’s house. There was another concern, though: that the ambassador would choose to put the painting someplace where it wouldn’t do anyone any good (and that’s exactly what happened). Much time and effort is put into creating devices like VADIM’s painting, even though everyone involved knows it’s entirely possible it won’t work out in the end. Spies simply can’t control every element of their environment. If you decide not to put effort into something just because it might not work, you might ultimately end up missing out on some good opportunities. It’s often worth a shot.

SMUGGLING IN A SHORTWAVE RADIO RIGHT UNDER SOMEONE’S NOSE

PARTICIPANTS: C/O Daniel Novack, hereafter referred to as alias MARCUS.

Agent Kwasi Okar, hereafter referred to as alias LINDEN.

I learned very quickly as a case officer that you had to get very creative when it comes to concealing audio devices. You always had to ask yourself, “What might work? What can we conceal something in?” After months of development, I had recruited a third-country diplomat from Africa who was living in North Korea. We were putting him in as a press secretary—some kind of made-up job that wouldn’t fall under suspicion. But communicating with him was going to be difficult. Mail couldn’t be used at all, because we knew that everything would be read and censored. I needed to get him set up with a shortwave radio, but getting it to him would be nearly impossible. Security was incredibly tight, and anything this man would be bringing with him would be carefully inspected.

THE LUMBER SHORTAGE THAT SPARKED AN IDEA

If I believe in the underlying cause, I’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

I started to notice that when various officials moved into the area, it was normal for all of their belongings to come packed in wooden crates. It was also normal to keep the crates around after they was unpacked, because lumber was very scarce. I wondered if technical services could find a way to build a crate that could somehow conceal an entire communications system—everything someone would need to run a shortwave radio. Once again, the technical services guys came through. They managed to create modified four-by-fours that could open up and house the different components of a shortwave radio. Once the wood was reglued and reassembled you couldn’t tell it was anything but a regular crate. It didn’t even feel heavier than a normal crate. The real test came when it was time for LINDEN to unpack. The security people arrived at LINDEN’s house and carefully inspected every single item in the crate. Furniture was inspected for hidden items. Anything that could hide anything was opened up. LINDEN reported that it was a nerve-wracking process that took a very long time. Finally, the security people were satisfied that nothing had been smuggled in. When the crates were empty, LINDEN explained he wanted to keep the lumber and dragged the crates into the backyard. Once he got settled, LINDEN carefully set up the equipment. It worked perfectly, and we got excellent intelligence from LINDEN for several years. This was yet another example of how creativity plays such an important role in intelligence work. You can never stop thinking about new ways to solve problems.

YOUR INNER SPY

Staying Safe When You Are Alone

I realize it’s unlikely you’ll ever find yourself in a situation where you need to forge a painting to bug an embassy. However, there are many instances where embedded cameras and microphones can keep you safe. For example, at Spy Escape & Evasion we teach many Realtors how they can use audio and video equipment to stay safe at work, to avoid horrifying situations like the one Beverly Carter found herself in.

When Arron Lewis, thirty-three, was asked by reporters why he killed forty-nine-year-old real estate agent Beverly Carter, his answer was chilling:

“She was a rich broker. Because she was just a woman who worked alone—a rich broker.”

Carter’s body was later found in a shallow grave approximately twenty miles northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas. Carter had called her husband to let him know that she was showing a property at five-thirty, and let him know where the house was. Three hours passed, and when he didn’t hear from his wife, Carl Carter felt strongly that something was wrong and decided to go out to the property. When he arrived, the door to the home was open, her car was in the driveway, and her purse and wallet were still inside. He entered the home, but found no trace of his wife. He later received text messages saying, “My battery is low” and “I’m out drinking with friends.” But Beverly Carter didn’t drink. Her husband feared the worst, and unfortunately he was right. Tragically, Beverly Carter was found dead near the concrete company where the killer worked. Carter’s death caused tremendous fear within the community of real estate agents, who often work alone and with total strangers.

When Your Loved Ones Are Alone

In New York City, a babysitter was accused of abusing a six-month-old baby who was in her care. The family had installed cameras and witnessed the babysitter “appearing to grab the child out of the crib and throw the child down.” In California, a mother viewed her nanny-cam footage to find what appeared to be her babysitter smothering her thirteen-month-old-son to quiet his crying. Thankfully, neither child was seriously injured. Young children aren’t the only ones who are at risk. In Queens, New York, camera footage showed a home health care aide abusing an elderly stroke victim. The aide was seen slapping him and trying to force-feed him.

These are obviously worst-case scenarios, and I hope you never find yourself in any of these situations. If you are concerned about staying safe while working alone, there are many safety measures you can take to protect yourself. If you want to make sure that a loved one is being well cared for, or that your personal property is safe, there are many forms of technology you can easily use to monitor what’s happening in your home.

TACTIC #1: USING A CAMERA

Cameras and audio equipment can be used to monitor the behavior of people caring for kids or the elderly, and can let you know with certainty if the people you have working inside or around your home (cleaners, contractors, gardeners, landscapers, dog sitters, repairmen, etc.) are as honest as you hope they are. Cameras can give you peace of mind. Any parent knows how difficult it is to use a new babysitter—even when that babysitter comes highly recommended and has provided excellent references. Being in the position of caring for an elderly or sick parent is also difficult. You naturally want to make sure they are receiving the best care possible. And of course we want to make sure our valuables are safe from anyone who has access to our homes. Today there are more options than ever before when it comes to using a camera. To ensure that you are using a camera properly, be sure to do the following.

Know the Law

In some states you cannot record audio of someone without the knowledge and consent of the person being recorded. This is why some video security cameras capture visual images only. Research what is allowed in your state before installing cameras. I’ve suggested to the Realtors I work with who are concerned about their own safety as well as the property in the homes they are showing that they simply have their clients sign in, and on the sign-in sheet it says, “To protect the homeowners, there are cameras placed throughout the house.” It would also work to hang a sign in the entryway warning individuals that cameras are being used throughout the house.

Find the Right Camera for You

Cameras can be put in nearly anything today. I’ve seen cameras used in Kleenex boxes, clocks, teddy bears, and picture frames. There are also many different services that enable you to use your smartphone to monitor what’s going on in your home when you’re away. In fact, one of my colleagues was recently on a plane, in midair, when the woman next to him was able to see via her smartphone that she was receiving a package at her front door. Research the options available and decide what suits your purposes best.

Know What’s Legal in Your State

Whenever installing video or audio equipment—even in your own home—take the time to find out what’s legal in your state. Know if you can videotape someone in your home without their consent, and be aware of areas that are likely off-limits, like bathrooms and bedrooms.

Review the Footage on a Regular Basis

None of the footage you’re taking will do you any good if you don’t actually watch it on a regular basis. You’d be surprised how many people go to the trouble of installing cameras, and then never watch what they’ve recorded. Pick a regular time when it’s convenient to review the footage, and make a habit of doing it consistently.

Listen to Your Gut

I’m not suggesting you suspect ill of everyone who comes into your home. However, trust your gut. If you’re reviewing the camera footage, and you see nothing wrong but still feel like something is wrong, take other measures. Talk to the person about what’s going on, or start coming home at irregular times to see what’s actually happening. If you do not feel comfortable with someone who has access to your home, ultimately you should obviously not have him or her there, even if you don’t have concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

TACTIC #2: ENSURING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY WHEN WORKING ALONE

As I mentioned, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many business owners, especially real estate agents, who are concerned for their safety, and for good reason. It’s essentially real estate agents’ job to walk into private property with strangers, and sometimes they are even expected to drive them around in their own personal car. As we saw with the Beverly Carter story, being a real estate agent can actually be incredibly dangerous. Of course, real estate isn’t the only profession that puts an individual in danger. Kala Brown from South Carolina was answering a cleaning ad with her boyfriend when she found herself in a horrifying situation. The individual who had placed the ad was actually a convicted sex offender. He allegedly shot and killed Kala’s boyfriend right in front of her, and then kept Kala chained by the neck in a metal container for two months before she was rescued. There are many service-driven or client-driven jobs that require a person to enter a home of someone they do not know—home health aides, nurses, insurance agents, child-care providers (that includes young people who might be babysitting to earn some extra money), tutors, occupational therapists, contractors, electricians, plumbers, cleaners, and so forth. It’s important that you always practice the following safety measures: