Irecognize the forty-something-year-old woman walking across the gallery toward us asEliza, code name “MonaLiza,” from her picture in our briefing.FromwhatIread, she has a military background, and it shows in the way she holds herself with refined authority and in her outfit choice.She’swearing a navy blazer with embellished brass buttons, a cream-colored silk blouse, and tailored trousers with polished oxford shoes.Hermedium brown hair is in a sleek, low bun, and she has a lightweight scarf in an abstract art print draped elegantly around her neck.
Milasays, “Mr.TobiasRennertis here, and his administrative assistant,Ms.KailaSonnenschein.”Shetrips over both the words “administrative” andKaila’slast name, but otherwise is pretty amazing at speaking a language that is not her own.Andthen she turns to leave us alone withEliza.
“Tobias!”Elizasays in aBritishaccent as she places her hand in his for a gentle handshake. “It’sso good to see you again.”
IgiveLedgera glance.Wedidn’t know they’d seen each other before.Isuddenly wonder if this is going to go south.Ledgerand the realTobiaslook similar, but it’s not like they look like twins or even brothers.
“Ithas to be what?Tenor twelve years sinceIlast laid eyes on you?”
Okay, so long enough ago that she probably assumes that he looks different.Maybeshe doesn’t remember him exactly.Ormaybe they were just in the same room together but didn’t really get to know eachother at all.
“Itfeels like a lifetime ago,”Ledgersays, totally nailingTobias’scadence. “Youare looking radiant, as always.”
Elizatakes a step back to take him in. “Andyou are looking beefier thanIremember.Haveyou been hitting the gym?”
“Everyday.I’mtrying to make sureI’mmore sculpted than the piecesIbid on.”
Shelaughs and playfully swats at his arm. “Well, it is definitely working for you.”Iam surreptitiously looking around the room and at theTrustpiece, deciding on my plan of action for placing the tracker, whenElizaholds out a hand and says, “I’dlike to introduce you toMr.Savovic’shead of security,Flynn.”
Iturn to see that a man has come up behind us without me even hearing him.It’spretty impressive.Mostpeople hire heads of security that are bald, look like tanks, and dress in black suits.Thisguy, though, is anything other than whatIexpected.He’sgot light brown hair in unruly curls and is wearing a khaki sleeveless jacket over a long-sleeved polo shirt, cargo pants, and scuffed but sturdy boots.Hedoesn’t look like he can squash me like a bug, either— he’s only maybe an inch taller than me and is relatively thin.
“Well, should we take a look at the art, then?”Elizasays, and she andLedgerstart to walk toward the first piece.
Mostpeople will place security guards around a room or at the exits when the room is filled with this many valuable things.It’snot always the most effective method, but in a lot of ways, it works.Ilike it because it’s easy to usedistraction, smooth motions, and body language to my advantage, which is whatIhad planned to do.Butthis head of security apparently knows more than your run-of-the-mill heads of security, and he sticks to me like glue asLedgeris withMonaLiza.
Istop and take a look at a painting on the wall, and he stops next to me.Ihappen to glance down at his right arm, which seems to be missing a hand and has the sleeve pinned up.Flynnnotices me notice it and says, “Iused to be in wildlife conservation,” he says in anAustralianaccent— also somethingIhadn’t expected to encounter here. “Thishere is a reminder not to get too friendly with crocodiles or they’ll eat you for brekky.”
Iwince. “I’msorry.”
“Noworries, mate.”
“Huh,”Isay. “Goingfrom wildlife conservation to head of security doesn’t seem like it’d be the typical job progression.”
Helaughs. “Itmight not seem like it, butIthink the animals are what trained me to be good at this job.Theycan be sneaky, cunning, adaptive, and have mastered the element of surprise.”
Iwalk to the next piece, really hoping he won’t follow soIcan make my way to theTrustpiece and place the tracker, but he follows me like an attentive puppy.Iglance at him from the corner of my eye. “Whichanimals taught you the most?”
“Youmean besides the crocodile?”
Thistime,I’mthe one to laugh.
“Becausehe taught me about patienceand timing.Crocscan stay still, nearly invisible in the water for hours, just waiting for the right moment to strike.Healso taught me about the importance of a good grip and never letting go once you’ve got hold of something.Dingos, though— they teach you all about stealth and adaptability.Isaw one evade a trap for weeks on end.Sheknew how to change her route, timing, everything— she always stayed one step ahead.”
Basedon the way he snuck up on me, it looks like the dingos taught him well. “Itsounds like wildlife conservation should be required training for heads of security.”
“I’vebeen saying that for years.”
Wechat asImove around to look at different pieces because everywhereIgo, he goes.ButIkeep watching for an opportunity to get away from him enough to go to theTrustsculpture that’s on a pedestal in the middle of the room and place the tracker.
Andevery chanceIget,Ialso sneak a peek atLedgerandMonaLiza, making it look likeI’madmiring a piece of art whenI’mreally admiringLedger.It’samazing how easily he connects with people.Ihave to admit that it draws me to him, too.Hehas even convincedElizaCholmondeley, the woman who we had trouble finding any pictures of online, to pose with him for a selfie in front of an abstract art painting so he can post it on social media.
Ihave been seeing him so differently the last couple of days, and not only because of the baby doll in the stroller thing.Partlybecause his comment at the fudbal field made me realize that maybe he wouldn’t have actually taken the win inMoldova.Istill haven’t absorbed that bit of news infully or figured out what it means for the two of us.WhatIdo know is thatIrather enjoy watching him work.It’sfun to watch someone who is an elite spy.It’sa thing of beauty.
Andit’s partly because of the conversation we had last night.Insome ways, hanging out with him as we ate and chatted on the bed reminded me ofMoldova— of theLedgerIknew then.TheoneIhad laughed with and joked with and shared things with thatIhadn’t shared with anyone.TheeasyLedger, not the oneI’min competition with.
Butit also wasn’t the same asMoldova.Ourconnection feels different.Maybebecause inMoldova, we had just barely met.Wewere getting to know one another in that cabin for the first time, and neither of us knew how good the other person was at being an intelligence operative.Now, after bumping into each other on missions eight times, we know exactly how good the other person is.So, now as we talk, it comes with an additional layer of admiration and respect.
Ofcourse, it also comes with several layers of mistrust and rivalry that have been building for a year and a half.Plus, back then,Ihadn’t thought through any implications of a relationship withLedger.NowIhave.SowheneverIstart feeling all warm and fuzzy aboutLedger,Iremind myself that getting attached to someone is a good way to make them step out of your life.
