The Charm School

spotted me and took me to a hospital. My people wanted to reassign me to someplace nice. But I wanted to stay here. To even the score.”
    Hollis said, “I heard your friends in D.C. did that.”
    Alevy replied, “I had nothing to do with that.”
    “With what?” Lisa asked.
    “Nothing.” Alevy moved toward the padded, airtight door. “Look, I can tell you this is a dirty, dehumanizing business, but it takes something like the events of the last few days for it to become real. Right? In military intelligence you deal with stats, numbers, capabilities, and talk about thermonuclear destruction. Means nothing. But then you get slammed against a car by a smelly goon, like I got my testicles kicked into my abdomen, and hey! The Soviet-American power struggle takes on new and deeper meaning.” Alevy opened the door. “I have good motivations to take care of this. Charlie Banks can blow smoke and utter platitudes all fucking day, and I’ll smile and nod all fucking day. But I have my job, and he has his. As for you two, the diplomats would say this matter is ultra vires—beyond your power or authority.”
    “I’ll make that decision,” Hollis said as he went through the door with Lisa. “Not you or the diplomats.”
    “I know you will, Sam.” Alevy added in a lighter tone, “Oh, the party is Saturday at six-thirty, in the reception hall. The ambassador will put in an appearance. The persona non grata parties are more fun than the regular end-of-assignment parties. Be prepared for some kidding. Make up funny speeches about why you’re being kicked out and all that.” Alevy extended his hand, and they all shook.
    Lisa said, “Don’t let this place, this job, dehumanize
you
.”
    Alevy thought a moment before responding, “As long as I’m still capable of going out into the cold night to help a woman who is being persecuted, then I know I’m okay.”
    “I hope so.”
    “Me too.” Alevy closed the door.
    As Hollis and Lisa walked toward the elevator, she asked, “What happened in D.C.?”
    Hollis considered a moment before replying, “Seth’s friends arranged to have a Soviet diplomat’s teenage daughter mugged in Washington. They left her on the campus of American University with a broken jaw.”
    Lisa stopped walking. “But… Seth didn’t know…”
    “I think not.” But Hollis was sure he did.
    She began walking again.
    Hollis added, “In Seth’s company there are people who deal with the Soviets on an unofficial and personal level. They call themselves the Tit for Tat Gang. A broken arm in Moscow or Budapest is a guarantee of a broken something in Washington or London.”
    Lisa shook her head.
    “This philosophy of assured retaliation has actually reduced the number of broken limbs. In fact, things have been cool for a few years. The fact that Burov opted for the wet stuff is suggestive… indicative of the degree of the KGB’s concern. A signal to Seth and me that things can quickly get out of hand.”
    “They’re not very subtle, are they?”
    “No. They reacted too strongly and got everyone interested.”
    They took the elevator up to the seventh floor and walked to Lisa’s office door. She asked, “Can we do something useful before Monday?”
    Hollis replied, “We shouldn’t talk too much outside the safe areas.”
    She nodded. “Is it true that we bug ourselves? To see who’s violating talk security?”
    “Maybe. I get tired of whispering in the ears of people I don’t know that well.”
    “You’re not unhappy about leaving, are you?”
    “I don’t like the circumstances. How about you?”
    “I’m sad. But I’m glad it was both of us. We
can
get together on the outside, Sam.” She smiled. “General.”
    He returned the smile. “They’ll play ball. If we do.” He looked at his watch. “I’m going to clean out my desk.”
    “Me too.”
    They stood there a moment, then Lisa said, “For the record, I think I’m falling in love with you.”
    “A little louder for the microphone, please.”
    She smiled. “Can I see you tonight?”
    He opened the door of her office. “Dinner?”
    “Your place. I’ll cook.”
    “I only have beer and mustard. But I’ll go to the commissary if you give me a shopping list.”
    “No, I’ll go to Gastronom One.” She said, “I’ll cook a Russian meal. You get the vodka.”
    “You shouldn’t leave the compound alone,” Hollis reminded her.
    “Gastronom One doesn’t deliver.”
    “Be careful.”
    “I’m only