The Lonely Spy

ENEMY OF THE
STATE

B
lack Range Rover isspeeding past cars on a busy wet highway.
Yolanda’s car is swerving and switching lanes in the rain rushing
to the airport. Yelling and swearing at the motorists. The car
phone rang. On the phone screen the name “Charles” is displayed.
Reluctant and nervous, she picks up the phone.

“
I can’t talk nowCharles I’m
on the run. I will call you later when I’m safe” she
said.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, she
looked at the phone then hanged up.Surprised at what he is seeing
on the television news about her ex-colleague and ex-girlfriend. He
held his head with both hands and watching with disbelief, that
Yolanda is wanted by the C.I.A and the US Defense Force for
compromising the country’s security.

“
This is not the Yolanda I
know, this can’t be true” Charles said.

Tapping his fingers on the lounge
table, he turned off the television. The weather storm is started
to slow down but it’s still drizzling. Yolanda arrives at the JFK
airport. Pulls out the car keys from the ignition, takes her bag
from the passenger seat then gets out of the car. Opens her boot
and takes out her luggage. A feeling of paranoia came to her; she
thinks someone is following her. She closes the car boot then
starts rushing to the departure to check in. Her body trembled but
reassured herself that everything will be alright, as long she acts
normal. Breathing heavily with a little sweat on her forehead, she
joins the queue at the Departures.

While waiting at the queue, she sees a
poster of a wanted woman in her mid-30s with brunette hair. She
looked around to see if anyone recognizes her but she remembered
that her hair was dyed the night before.

“Next please” female voice
said.

Yolanda is miles away in thoughts,she
isn’t aware the queue has moved so fast

“You are next ma’am” The attendant
said.

Yolanda woke up from her thoughts and
rushed to the desk. “One ticket to Moscow please” she opens her
bag, takes out her fake passport together with her credit card and
hands it to the attendant.” Enjoy your trip Mrs. Jodie Williams
“The attendant said. She reluctantly grinned upon receiving her
ticket and rushed to board her flight.

She breathed a sigh of relief as soon
as the flight took off. An hour later tears flowed from her eyes,
reflecting on what she has done. What will the people of America,
her family, friends think of her? “I am a traitor; I’m not
different from Snowden, Oh my God, what have I done? Luckily the
passenger next to her was asleep, there is no way he heard her. The
flight attendant saw a hand up, she rushed to attend to the
passenger.” Can I have those 3 small whiskey bottles you have
please” Yolanda said. “No problem ma’am” Flight attendant replied.
After Yolanda received her alcohol, she drank 2 bottles. Her body
is at ease and relaxed and a few moments later she dosed
off.

7 hours later the flight arrives at the
Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. Passengers went off the plane. The
flight attendant realized Yolanda is still fast asleep, she put her
hand on Yolanda’s shoulder gently to wake her up. Yolanda’s eyes
open, eyes are red and she yawned “I’m up!!” After her passport is
stamped at the international arrivals, she looked for the people
who came to fetch her.

She saw a guy carrying a poster written
“Jodie Williams” she rushed and went to him. She came closer to
him, and then realized they are 2 of them wearing black shades,
black suits with a white shirt and a black tie. They also noticed
her they came to meet her halfway.

“
Ms. Yolanda Anderson?” The
tall man asked in a Russian accent “Yes it’s me” she said. She
looked at them with interest. “My name is Dmitry and he is Boris,
we work for the Russian Military intelligence and we are here to
fetch you” he said. With a small grin on her face she reluctantly
gave Boris her luggage. On their way to the car, she looks up at
both tall men on her left and on her right with a curious look.
“So… Where are you guys taking me?” They both look at each other
“Somewhere safe” They said at the same time. For a second, she felt
safe and thought with these tough looking Russian Military men
protecting her, no one can touch her.

Boris opened the car boot of the black
Mercedes Benz and put Yolanda’s luggage inside. Dmitry opened the
car and opened the door for Yolanda. The second she got into the
car she heard something similar like stones hitting the car;at
first she thought it was a hailstorm. “Get in the car, Get in the
car” Dmitry shouted.

It was not a hailstorm, they were
bullets. Boris sped off, Yolanda’s body trembled with fear as they
were being chased by the black van and shooting at them. “Who are
they?” she shouted. Boris turned into a sharp curve trying to lose
the van. “It’s the Bloody Americans” Boris said. Fortunately the
car was fitted with bulletproof. Yolanda covered her head and
prayed silently.

They heard a huge bang from the back of
the car, the tires screeched and the car swerved sideways. “The
tires are busted, they shot at the tires” Dmitry shouted. Boris
lost control of the car, it rolled in the middle of the highway at
a high speed. The black van came close and the hit men came out of
their car and started shooting. Yolanda’s body is shaking and
covered her head.

Dmitry and Boris pulled out their AK47s
got out of the car and killed 2 of the hit men. Boris got shot in
the chest and heart. Dmitry was also shot dead. The hit men came
closer with the intention of assassinating Yolanda. She looked at
Boris and Dmitry’s bodies lying on the road.

She felt hopeless as her last line of
defense has been breached. As the hit men were about to shoot
Yolanda Police cars and a helicopter arrived, shooting at the hit
men. The hit men realized they are outnumbered and fled. Yolanda
came out of the carand breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at
Dmitry and Boris’s bodies lying on the road with their eyes
open.”They died because of me, they died protecting me “she
murmured. Yolanda heard a voice behind her. “We will take it from
here”Yolanda looked behind and walked towards the man.

‘’
Yolanda, my name is Yuri
Abramovich, head of the Russian Intelligence. We will take you to a
safe place’’ he said. On her way to the safe house, Yolanda is
overwhelmed by feelings of paranoia. What if these soldiers kidnap,
kill or deport her back to the United States of America. Convoys of
military vehicles enter the forest and they arrive at the lodge.
She steps out of the vehicle and looks around. “This is your safe
house, you will also be provided with 4 bodyguards Yuri
said.

Yolanda looked at her suite and nodded.
“Your room service will be checked and cleared by your bodyguards’’
Yuri said. Yolanda looked at Yuri. ‘’I’m happy with the suite and
the bodyguards” she said. ‘’Good… Now where are the documents?’’
Yuri asked. Yolanda walked to her luggage, opened it and pulled out
a big brown envelope and gave it to Yuri. ‘’Here you go” she said.
Yuri grinned “Good girl, now this is your home away from home, make
the most of it, goodbye Yolanda.” Yuri said. Yolanda and Yuri shook
hands. Few moments later, Yuri and the military soldiers walked out
of Yolanda’s suite.

The bodyguards told her all the
security procedures just in case there is another assassination
attempt on her. Moments later, bodyguards leave her suite.Yolanda
closed the door and leaned on it. She looked at her luxurious suite
and sees everything is provided for including a phone which cannot
be traced when she is using it. She took off her clothes and walked
to the bathroom. A while later, she is feeling refreshed after
taking a shower. She took out the white hotel gown and wore it. She
went to the lounge, opened the mini bar fridge and pulled out a
bottle of champagne.

She opened the bottle and poured it on
the champagne glass. Impressed with herself, she took a sip and ate
light snacks. She looked around her suite and didn’t realize how
big it is and also saw a swimming pool. She stood up, picked up the
phone and dialed numbers.

“Hello Mom’’ she said. “Oh my God!!
It’s her are you alright my child, are you safe?’’ We saw what
happened on TV?’’ she said. Tears streamed down Yolanda’s cheeks.
‘’Yes mom I am alright and safe” Yolanda replied. ‘’Just know my
child we love you and whatever you did and did not do, we will not
judge you’’ Yolanda’s dad said.

Yolanda broke down uncontrollable.
‘’Thanks dad, I needed to hear that’’ Yolanda said. As they were
speaking, Yolanda kept hearing an annoying sound on the phone line.
“Guys I have to go, I’ll talk to you later’’ Yolanda said. She
hanged up and wondered what was that sound. Her mind was at ease
after she remembered that the military guys have assured her that
the phone was untraceable and the network is scrambled.

She took another sip from her glass,
put it down on the side of her bed and lied down. Her eyes stared
at the ceiling, with hands behind her head with legs crossed. She
reflected on her actions whether she did the right thing or not.
Few hours later, her heart was filled with guilt and regrets. What
if she did not collude with the Russia and Wikileaks?

What if she did not steal NASA’s secret
documents and leaked them? The only thing she ever wanted was
respect from her colleagues at NASA. She felt belittled constantly
by her male colleagues because she is a woman. Her scientific
research findings were ignored and were never acknowledged. If she
was a man, her work would have received awards and recognized all
around the world.

Yolanda shook her head as she is deep
in thoughts. She thought of the dark matter and dark energy
research. She considers it as a breakthrough research in the
history of the universe. It was frowned upon. Part of her felt she
was justified by stealing the documents and leaked it to Russia and
Wikileaks. She got up from bed and poured champagne. She picked up
the phone and dialed with a smile on her face. The phone rang 3
times and it was picked up. ‘’Hello Charles’’ Yolanda said. ‘’Thank
God, are you alright? Where are you? Charles said ‘’I’m fine
Charles, I just called to tell you that I am safe and sound.’’
Yolanda said ‘’I’m glad you are safe but are you aware the mess you
are in? You are the most wanted criminal in the United States of
America and your face is everywhere’’ Charles said ‘’I know…I know
Charles but I will fix this, I don’t know how but I will.’’ Yolanda
replied ‘’Alright be safe and take care’’ Charles said. ‘’I will
call you soon, cheers’’ Yolanda said.

She hanged up the phoned, picked up her
champagne glass and took a sip. Thoughts of Charles flashed in
Yolanda’s mind. As an 18 year old first year student at the
Astronomy University, she had a crush on her 28 year old lecturer.
They dated for a year and broke up after that. They kept in touch
after she graduated and never dated anyone else after that. ‘’Oh
Charles’’ she murmured. Her head felt heavy, she lied down on her
bed and fell asleep.

Moments later, FBI storm into Charles’s
house and arrest him. Neighbors come to see what is going on.
Charles is nervous and also curious why he is being taken for
questioning. Few hourslater FBI officers question Charles about
Yolanda’s whereabouts in Russia and his involvement with her. ‘’I
want to see my lawyer immediately, I know my rights’’ Charles said.
‘’we will let you go if you answer our entire questions sir’’
Officer said. Charles sighed “Alright alright… my phone records all
conversations. Yolanda called me once and I don’t know where she
is, she just told me she is safe.’’ Few minutes later the FBI
officers played the voice recordings and corroborated Charles’s
story. Charles was released and sent home.

The U.S Defense Minister, Brad Williams
has received intelligence from C.I.A that Yolanda has been granted
political asylum in Russia. He dropped the phone, fuming with
anger. His assistant gives him another bad news. “Sir Yolanda’s
phone is untraceable and we cannot locate her location based on the
phone conversation she had with her old flame Charles’’ The
assistant said. ‘’As the US Defense Force Minister I’m responsible
for protecting this country, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect
our country’s security and space programmers’’ he said. He picks up
his cup of coffee, sips and spits it out. ‘’It’s cold.” I’m going
to the White House and brief the president about the new
developments’’ Brad said.

A year later, Yolanda realized she
cannot live in Russia for the rest of her life. She took out her
laptop and typed. An hour later she printed out the 2 page
documents. It was an application for amnesty, she proofread and
folded it. She gave the letter to her bodyguard. ‘’Please send it
to the USA to the White House via the post office. 3 days later,
the US Defense minister Brad received and read the amnesty letter.
‘’This broad is selling us out to the Russians and now she wants to
be pardoned. She must be out of her damn mind’’ Brad said. He
forwarded the letter to the White House.