The Charm School

in their mid or late forties, both somewhat swarthy, with black, greying hair and dark eyes. They moved like people who’d done heavy menial labor all their lives, and their accents seemed to be working class, though they were far from stupid. Hollis recalled a somewhat interesting conversation he’d had with Dick Kellum on the virtues and varieties of Milwaukee beer. Ann Kellum had once confided in him that her husband drank too much of those famous brews.
    Ann Kellum asked, “Did they pack your vacuum cleaner?”
    “Probably. Don’t worry about that. You can do a complete job for the next tenant after I’ve gone.”
    “You got a replacement yet, Colonel?” Mr. Kellum inquired.
    “Yes, a lieutenant colonel named Fields. I know him and his wife. They’re trying to get him here before I leave, and if they do, I’ll introduce you to him. His wife will probably come in later.”
    “I hope he speaks Russki like you so someone can talk to that crazy Russian groundkeeper for me.”
    Hollis smiled at Dick Kellum.
You son of a bitch. I’d like to cut your heart out.
“He’s fluent too but likes to keep that under his hat, if you know what I mean. So don’t push him on it.”
    “Gotcha.” Mr. Kellum winked.
    Mrs. Kellum asked, “This will be their unit then?”
    “Yes.”
    “Will the lady be working, do you know?”
    “I believe so. She’s an accredited teacher and will probably try to get a position at the Anglo-American School.”
    “Okay,” Mrs. Kellum said. “That makes things easier to schedule.”
    “I know,” Hollis replied.
    Mr. Kellum hefted his bucket. “I’ll get going on the head.” He walked to the second-floor bathroom.
    Mrs. Kellum watched him go, then said in a low voice, “Colonel, this is none of my business, and you can tell me to shut up, but are you joining Mrs. Hollis? She still in London?”
    “I’m not sure, Mrs. Kellum.”
    The woman seemed to be fighting some sort of inner battle, then blurted out, “Colonel, Dick and me like you, and I talked to him about this, and he told me to keep quiet about it, but I think you got to know. Your wife… Mrs. Hollis…” She glanced at Hollis, then looked away. “Well, she was seeing a gentleman here, a gentleman from the commercial section. I can’t say his name, but he’d come by whenever you were in the city or something or up to Leningrad on business.” She added quickly, “They could’ve just been friends, you know, and maybe they were, but I don’t think it’s right for a woman to be having male friends in her place without her husband being around.” Mrs. Kellum fidgeted for a moment, then picked up her bucket and went into the kitchen.
    Hollis took a drink of his scotch.
Spies lie
, he thought. Maybe the KGB were just indulging themselves in a last joke before he left. Then again, it might be true. In fact, the gentleman in question could have been Ken Mercer, one of the men Lisa had been speaking to in the lobby of the chancery. Hollis said, “Who gives a damn?”
    He heard the front door open again, and this time it was Lisa who came up the stairs. “Are you alone?” she called out. “Did I catch you? Are you screwing someone, Hollis?”
    Hollis greeted her at the top of the stairs. “Hello, Lisa.”
    “At least you have your pants on.”
    “Mr. and Mrs. Kellum are here.”
    She put her hand over her mouth, and her cheeks reddened. She whispered, “You idiot, why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I just did.”
    “Did they hear me?”
    “I’m sure they did.”
    She buried her face in his chest and muffled a laugh. “That’ll be all over the compound in an hour. Oh, my God, I’m embarrassed.”
    “They’re discreet.” He kissed her. “Why don’t we go to your place?”
    She looked around. “My place is a mess too. Let’s go into town. It’s not raining or freezing today.”
    Hollis hesitated, then replied, “All right, but…”
    “Oh, don’t let
them
run your life. Isn’t that our motto?”
    “Yes, it is.” He called into the kitchen, “Mrs. Kellum, I’m leaving.”
    She appeared at the kitchen door. “Oh, Ms. Rhodes, I didn’t know you were here.”
    Lisa exchanged a smirking glance with Hollis. She said, “Hello, Ann. Not much to do here, is there?”
    “No. Have they packed you too?”
    “All packed.”
    “Are you sad to be leaving?”
    “Yes, very.”
    “I don’t see why they couldn’t give you another chance.”
    “Well, they take minor violations very seriously