“I know, it was to be one of our flagship efforts. But when the changes came down we had to abandon pure research and go toward marketable uses.

“We still kept up with a small research group, but sent the rest of the trained reporters out into deep cover. Or that’s what it was called. Actually they were all put out to pasture. We kept tabs on them for a while, but mostly they were forgotten.”

“But how can that be? I was in deep cover for years, and only last week was summoned into action. I must have been remembered.”

“Who asked you to begin the mission? Who sent you the dossier?”

“It was just a normal sealed document file, hand delivered by courier according to protocol. Nothing special, no names.”

“But how are you to report, and who do you report to?”

“I don’t know their names, but the work is already very advanced. At HQ it looks like PW is a big priority. I’m really thrilled to be back in the game. It was a long time away, and missed the team efforts. But no one I used to know is still there, everyone is new, and has had a very different training program.”

“I know there’s a new system now. I was very much part of the old guard, and I have only a few friends still there. Of course, I retired soon after the investors got their hands on our work. I just knew I couldn’t trust them to make the best decisions when money was always hovering in the background as a component to all research. But tell me more about PW and how it is happening today.”

I suddenly felt myself withdraw. I wondered, who IS this woman anyways? How can I tell her what I am not supposed to divulge except to HQ? Yet I feel I can trust her.

With these conflicting thoughts in my mind, I began to speak. I felt almost compelled to open up to her. She asked me questions, and keeping eye contact as her hands moved while she talked. At first I thought it was just very expressive speech but later when I thought about it all I realized she was doing some sort of hypnotic hand gestures that accompanied her interrogation. I fell victim to her technique, and told her more than I ever imagined I would tell anyone. At one point I felt like crying, at another, I was proud and elated. Going through the gamut of emotions, I poured out all my thoughts. It was a debriefing covering all my time undercover. But I didn’t feel free afterwards, I felt used, hypnotized.

Still exhausted, I was now totally spent. Even the strong coffee wasn’t enough to keep me awake. I found her leading me over to the couch in her paper-filled living room. I laid down and she put a hand-crocheted wool throw over me as I closed my eyes.

“Well, what do you think of that?” she asked the purring cat on her lap. “Will she do?” and answering her own question she replied, “She’ll just have to. No one else has come to us. Let’s find out what she’s capable of.”

When I opened my eyes it was early evening. I’d slept all afternoon and I felt more rested than I had in months. I was reset and ready. Reaching for my glasses, I realized they were on an unfamiliar side table. And I recalled where I was but not what had happened.

“Hello, love,” she said, handing me a little tray with tea and a warm scone. “It looks like you really needed that sleep. Did you have a good rest?”

“Yes I did,” I replied, sitting up and stretching. I still felt a big groggy and not sure of what exactly had happened earlier. She answered my unspoken question.

“You just got so very sleepy after we had our little chat, so I took you to lie down here on the couch. It was really no bother. But I have to say you were a little bit boring.” And she chuckled as she folded the afghan, her eyes catching mine with an infectious joyful glance.

I took a bite of the scone as laughed in reply, then stood and walked over to the window. Still cold, and now night was coming quickly. “I’m so sorry,” I said, “Thanks for all your patience with me, I really have no idea what happened. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Outside, trees moved in the wind, papers and leaves rising from the sidewalk. I didn’t want to spend more time outside but had to get to the subway. It would be a long trip home.

I gathered my things, and rushed out the door in a fumbling goodbye.
I stood on her steps wondering what the hell had just happened. I felt I’d been robbed, but I hadn’t been. It was one of the strangest afternoons. But I had a bit of an answer. I hadn’t been in deep cover. I’d been dumped.

But if that was true, then why had they contacted me again?