Hiding The Truth

On The Way

Douglas Reever stood at Lydia's apartment entrance, bouquet in hand. She came down to the lobby after ten minutes or so, dressed in a tailored pearl snap blouse and matching square dance skirt that looked like it was made from a quilt top with a lightweight muslin backing in patriotic red, white, and blue. She religiously adhered to the rule for courting that demanded a woman always make a man wait a short while for her appearance. The rule served two purposes: to build anticipation and appreciation in the man's mind, and to show him the woman in the situation was neither too eager nor at his total beck and call. Of course, Lydia would never abuse the rule by disrespecting her escort's time, either. The trick was to make him want her company all the more, not imply she had poor time management skills and couldn't get herself ready for a date at the proper time. To be seen stepping out with her was a privilege, she maintained in her mind, and any fellow who wanted to retain that privilege had better recognize the honor she bestowed upon him. She had worked too hard to go from the unremarkable and unpopular middle child in a large family of well liked and successful siblings to the Southern belle of every ball to let anyone see her as any less than a sparkling diamond of the first water.

Doug on the other hand wore a summer weight blue suit with a Columbian flag tie. Lydia wondered if she should have dressed more formally. Did her outfit betray her small town roots? No, she told herself, Doug was slightly over dressed for an outdoor barbecue, even at the Arsenal. At least his tie matched her clothes. She'd have to address his wardrobe and sartorial choices when they were engaged, she supposed.

He offered her his arm and some meaningless comment and she made pleasantries and small talk with him as he helped her into the luxuriously appointed Organization car. She was pleased to find Andra Wellington and her date inside. The gloved driver tipped his hat, closed the door behind Doug, and they were away.

"Andra, I didn't know you were seeing anyone!" Lydia exclaimed.

"Oh yes, let me introduce Bill. He's a teacher. We met while I was touring the primary schools in Druid City." Andra said.

"Do you three all work together? Andra tells me she's doing some great work as a Legislative Assistant." Bill asked.

There were introductions and handshakes all around. Lydia wondered if Bill was a target for some assignment Andra had been on. He clearly didn't work for the Organization and didn't know they were all Agents based on what he had just said, obviously repeating the cover story Andra must have concocted about her life. Anyone outside the Organization was kept in the dark as to its existence to the fullest extent possible, although some higher level Government officials surely knew since they worked alongside Agents and Administrators to protect the public from Nazis. One thrill Lydia never lost was that of being in the know, of carrying around a big secret shared only with coworkers and the most trusted and powerful members of the ruling class. She was helping in a small way to pull the strings of society now, far from her backwater upbringing, and she relished the thought of further climbing the ladder of status, someday leading the Organization or the country. Then she would truly be the most important person in the room at all times, and even when she eventually retired she would command international respect and special treatment as her natural due.

Doug took over the conversation smoothly, "I'm an accounting manager, and Lydia here works in a different department in Andra's building. They're chums from University, I believe."

Bill looked from Lydia to Doug. The man had to be close to ten years older than his beautiful companion, and Bill noted he was overdressed to boot. Bill quickly dismissed Doug as a stuffed shirt corporate type and probably not a prospective friend if he was full of himself enough to wear a suit to a community picnic.

"Sorry I didn't say anything, Lydia," Andra said, "you and Doug are just always so busy this was the first chance I've had to arrange a double date. I thought it would be a fun surprise to ride together!"

Lydia had been expecting the car, Doug had been expecting the car. Neither had expected Andra and Bill's company, which means the arrangements had been made by someone above their security clearance. Probably the Assistant Administrator? Lydia wasn't sure, but she was accustomed to taking things in stride at this point in her work for the Organization. Things like this happened, maybe not often, but periodically. Plans changed, contacts were changed, train tickets appeared on her desk with itineraries attached for this purpose or that, all without explanation. It was the other part of being part of the Organization that chafed at her mind. She hated the sense of being controlled rather than taking total charge of her own missions, but she supposed it was the price she had to pay for her position.  Soon she would learn just how high a price it truly was.