Chapter Seven

On her way to the café, Barbara was on the lookout for a convenient pay phone. She found it at a small park about a block from the café. She wrote down the phone number, then continued on to the café, where she took a table near the door and ordered a Cuban coffee. A few minutes later, Marianne came in, found her, and took a seat at the table. She also ordered coffee.

(The following conversation took place in German, but your author has translated it into English.)

"Marianne, you are looking wonderful," Barbara began. This was true.

"Yes, Susan, you are too," Marianne replied. She had exaggerated about how Barbara looked. To Marianne she looked much older.

"It's been such a long time, and so much has happened since we saw each other last. It's hard to believe that we're meeting in Miami, of all places," Barbara said. She had to figure out how to reach the real Marianne, quickly.

"Yes. The end of my old country, unification…," Marianne responded cautiously.

"I was so proud of all of you, what you did during the Wende*," Barbara said truthfully. "I was in Germany, in the west, in 1989. I would have loved to see it all in person, especially to go to Berlin, in November, just to watch it all unfolding. I could only watch it on American TV." What she said to Marianne was all true. She had dearly wanted to go.

[*Wende: literally "turning point", refers to the years during and right after German unification, 1989-1995.]

Marianne didn't know what to make of this woman. She had very much liked Susan Lampley, but when she found out that she was a CIA spy, she had wondered how her friend could have lied to her? Now, Marianne didn't know whether she could believe her or not.

"Why didn't you? Go to Berlin, I mean?"

"It just wasn't possible…," Barbara told her. "Marianne, how has the change been for you?"

"At the beginning I really wanted the GDR* to continue in a new form. That is what I would have chosen, if I could. But it just was not possible." She was aware she had used the same words as Barbara. Since their friendship in Leipzig, Marianne had learned a lot about what was not possible. She shrugged her shoulders and said: "I decided I would make the best of the new situation."

[*GDR: German Democratic Republic or East Germany. FRG: Federal Republic of Germany, earlier West Germany, now the official name of unified Germany.]

"Is that why you're here? Are you a journalist or something?" Barbara prompted.

"No. I'm working for the Bundesnachrichtendienst.*"

[Bundesnachrichtendienst: literally Federal Information Service, roughly equivalent to the CIA.]

Even though Barbara had suspected as much, she was taken aback. Marianne had always been very idealistic; she just didn't seem the type to join the spooks. But she had to laugh at herself, for she had been idealistic when she'd been Marianne's age, too. It was only after twenty plus years that she had gotten disgusted with the whole game.

"I see. How long?"

"Two years. They recruited me soon after the Wende. It seemed like a good way to be involved in the future of my new country." That sounded fine, but two years into her tenure in the BND, Marianne was already having reservations.

After her own experiences an operative, Marianne had a new perspective on what this woman had done during those sixteen months in Leipzig—and on what had happened after she was arrested. Since the day in 1985 when she was taken away by the Stasi, Marianne had heard nothing about Susan, except that she was imprisoned in Bautzen, a name that evoked fear in every East German.

While this was going through Marianne's mind, Barbara was observing her closely, believing that she could get the young German to help if she could get her to open up.

"You know, what you said about why you joined reminds me so much of me when I started in this business."

"Susan…," Marianne began.

"Barbara. My real name is Barbara. Barbara Williams."

"Barbara," she began with an earnest look, "are you still with the CIA?"

At that moment, Barbara decided to tell Marianne the truth, at least as much of it as possible. She didn't want to lie to her again.

"No, Marianne. I quit about two years ago. I got fed up with it all. Twenty-three years were enough."

"You did this for twenty-three years?" Marianne asked. She didn't think she could do this job for twenty-three years. "Can I ask you something else?"

"You can ask. I won't guarantee that I'll answer," Barbara said with a smile.

"What happened in Bautzen?"

Barbara did not want to answer this question, although she had expected it sooner or later.

"That's one of the questions I don't want to answer. Let's just say that I was very happy to get out." Recounting her experiences in that place would be too much truth. Barbara tried her best never to think about it.

"I'm sorry, Sus…Barbara. It's just that…, we never heard anything about you except that you had been sent to that prison. We were very worried."

Barbara was surprised. "You were worried? I thought you'd all be so angry, you'd be glad I was arrested."

"Oh, no! How could we be glad you'd been sent to that place? Yes, we were angry at you, but it was really the whole situation, not just you. The Stasi spying on our own people, and then you spying on us, too." Marianne was glad that those days were over, even if the present was not as idyllic as they had hoped.

Barbara said nothing. What could she say?

Marianne decided to ask what she dearly wanted to know: "Barbara, why are you here? You're not with the official security team."

Again, Barbara told the truth. "Because Carlos Costa is here."

Marianne inhaled sharply. She knew who Carlos Costa was. "Costa, here? How do you know?"

"Costa and I have history, Marianne," Barbara answered. She outlined the incident in El Salvador with an even voice, hiding her anger.

"I see." Marianne appreciated that Barbara must want Costa badly. Then she caught on. "Oh, you know what Costa looks like! I thought nobody did?"

"Yes, and I've seen him here at the hotel. He's the head of security for the Cubans."

"What? Why would the Cubans do that? Have you told anyone?" As a German, she did not have the baggage about Cubans that Americans did, but this was crazy.

"No, I've told no one. You're the first." Barbara stared at Marianne, willing her to understand what she was saying.

Marianne was amazed. "Why are you telling me? You should tell your security people."

"I'm telling you because I want your help. I'm planning to kill Costa, Marianne, and I need your help."

Marianne was shocked. Why would Sus…Barbara think she would help her murder Costa, she asked herself? No, she could not have anything to do with this.

"Barbara, I can't help you with this! It's out of the question. I have to tell my superiors immediately. I have to go." She started to get up.

"Wait, Marianne, hear me out, please," Barbara implored the younger woman.

Some time ago, Marianne had decided she owed this woman something. Despite everything, she was certain in her heart that Barbara had helped them end the corrupt regime, and it pained Marianne to think how she must have suffered in Bautzen because of her efforts. Plus, she had come to understand that the American had been her role model, showing what a woman could do, even if it meant putting herself in great danger. She didn't know anyone like Barbara. Marianne sat down.

"I'll listen."

"Look, we both know what Costa has done. I saw with my own eyes how he gunned down fifteen hostages for absolutely no reason. He is totally ruthless, devoid of conscience." Barbara's voice had taken on the passion she felt about Costa.

"But he's wanted internationally, Barbara. Why not turn him in?" This seemed the logical solution to Marianne.

"Can't you see what would happen? The Cubans would argue that he's not Costa. It would be his word against mine. He has a diplomatic passport. They would send him home, and we would never get him." After letting this sink in, she continued: "You've been working long enough in our shadow world to know that this is the way it works."

Indeed, Marianne had been working long enough in their world to suspect it did function as Barbara said.

Barbara could see her waver, so she pushed harder: "Another thing. Why is he here? Is it really to provide security for the Cubans? Or is he here for another reason?"

"You mean he might be targeting the meeting?" Marianne had already thought of this.

"Or someone at the meeting." Barbara was certain she had her now. "Look, Marianne, I don't want you to do very much. All I need to know is his room number."

"That's all?"

"And a time when he won't be in his room."

Marianne thought about it. She could do this. But what if someone found out? Not only would her career be over, but she could be arrested for helping Barbara. Still the risk seemed relatively small. Nobody would notice if she asked a few questions about the man, she told herself.

There were other concerns, though. Should she trust Barbara? If she was telling the truth, was it the right thing to do, to let her kill Costa, she had to ask herself? Maybe the worst of all, Barbara might be killed. He was a ruthless terrorist; she didn't look like she could kill anyone.

Barbara watched as these thoughts passed through Marianne's mind. It was clear to her what the younger woman was thinking. Time for some more pressure, she decided

"Marianne, I bet I know what you're thinking: I lied to you before. But I never lied about what was important, believe me. What I said about democracy and socialism and freedom, I meant all of it. The only lies were about my name, and who I worked for." Barbara had put her hand on Marianne's, willing her to accept what she was saying. It WAS the truth, all of the truth.

Marianne believed her, but she was still worried about the other part. "Isn't it going to be very dangerous for you?" she wanted to know.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Marianne. Costa is a very dangerous man, but I am a very dangerous woman."

Part of Marianne thought of Barbara as Susan Lampley, English teacher, even though she knew she had been a spy for over twenty years. It was hard to take all of this in. Nevertheless, she had to make a decision, and she did.

"I will do it." When she heard the words come out of her mouth, Marianne was afraid. But she had decided, and she would be true to her word.

"Thank you, Marianne." Barbara was triumphant. Costa would not live to see another day, she was certain.

Marianne already had a piece of information Barbara needed: "There's one thing I can tell you. There is a meeting at 3:30 this afternoon to coordinate security. Costa should be there. About the room, I'll have to look into that when I get back to the hotel."

"This is what we'll do," Barbara instructed. "You find out the room number. There is a pay phone a block from here. Call me at 2:30 with the information. Will that work?" She gave Marianne the number of the pay phone.

"Yes."

"Good. Then you will have to let me know he's really at the meeting."

"How am I going to do that? I can't phone during the meeting."

"No. But you can use the restroom. I'll be stationed outside the meeting room. If you come out and go into the restroom, it will mean that he is inside. If you don't, he's not there. How does that sound?"

"Good. OK."

"How long is the meeting supposed to last?"

"About half an hour."

"Perfect."

"What are you going to do?"

"It's better you know nothing more, Marianne."

"Yes, I think you're right." She stood up, ready to leave. She was nervous.

Barbara stood up, too. "It is the right thing, Marianne. Thank you very much." She hugged the younger woman.

With that, Marianne left. It was 1:00. Barbara ordered another coffee and a sandwich. After finishing, she paid the bill and walked back to the hotel. She had a few things to take care of before she got the call from Marianne.