LOSING PAIGE - DECEMBER 1987

It wasn't Renee Beeman who had called Henry Jennings up at St. Edwards Academy.

It had been Henry who had called her. At her home. Collect. The FBI had fumbled that one, it was easy enough to check, and they'd not. On such do civilizations rise and fall.

Renee, by December she had already left her civilian job downtown, even had her 'going away' party that Stan did not attend. She was now waiting for the new year, and her new position at the FBI personnel office. So she now had something she was not used to - plenty of time at home, in Falls Church. At least she'd get Christmas shopping done this year.

A pay cut to be sure, but come January there were days that she and Stan might commute together. And she was soon to be working 'for her country'.

So there she was at her own Falls Church kitchen table, sipping coffee…. her coffee, made in her kitchen. One that had had quite the upgrade now that she was claiming it, organizing things in it, and Stan was thankfully taking a back seat.

Oh, he still insisted on doing his share of the cooking - or as Renee called it, the 'heating' - after he'd opened a can. Still, regardless of the late hours he might have had on any one day, she always left clean-up to him. When she awoke in the morning, the kitchen was always immaculate, his work ready for another day of domesticity.

He'd quip, "I can't clean up the streets, but I can clean up in here."

These days, it was hard not to think of the Jennings. The smozzle around Thanksgiving two weeks' previous was one for the ages. Stan had cautioned to make nothing of it, that the Jennings' parents were not exactly 'Father Knows Best', or 'The Donna Reed Show', where American families lived behind picket fences and raised perfect, straight-teeth'ed teenagers.

The Jennings were not unusual in the middle-class, suburban phobia about being seen as 'normal'.

Stan had told Renee about Philip's business troubles. "Philip had even bought a new suit," Stan said soberly, "the kind bought by a family for a loved-one, for him in a coffin. He's really depressed, Renee, I've never seen him like this. I offered him money, he refused." Stan had welled up, "I love that man like a brother, Renee….. something's going on, and this is the first time I think he's holding back. From me. He's not a secret keeper, but this is different. He knows I'd do anything for him, anything for any of them…. he's not letting me."

At that the morning telephone brought Renee back from her recollection of Stan's angst. The Jennings as a struggling suburban couple was now on the line.

Answering it, she heard, "station to station call from Henry Jennings in New Hampshire, will you accept the charges?" Renee said she would. The next voice was Henry's.

"Hi, Mrs. Beeman. Is Stan there?"

She said, "no, Henry, I don't think you'd even get him at work…. something is going down, down at his office. Stan has said that Dennis Aderholt has canceled all leaves…"

Henry was insistent, "I really need to talk with him. It's about Paige, I think Paige is losing it."

Renee asked, 'how so?', but Henry said he could only talk about it with Mr. Beeman. Renee, she reminded Henry about their agreement. About the secrets they had on one another.

There was a long silence at Henry's end. Despite being on the hook for the price of the call, Renee knew she could outlast him.

Finally, he said, "Paige called last night. She was hysterical. Told me not to come home for Christmas, to get as far away from mom and dad as possible. Said that some friends of hers at George Washington, that they'd found out that mom… that mom….. holy cow, I can't say it." He paused then blurted, "that mom was a whore. That that was the reason why dad couldn't stand being in the same room as her."

Renee's head was spinning. Elizabeth Jennings, a 'whore'!? Paige had said that!? What did that even mean? Yet, this was not something Renee had got straight from Paige, it had been something passed on by Henry….

"Slow down, slow down, Henry. I don't know what you're talking about," Renee said. "Why would Paige say something like that?"

"Paige has finally cracked, Mrs. Beeman. It's always been like that, she always thought our house was an insane asylum." Henry paused, then gave a little laugh, "she said that they were Russians - that basically mom and dad were Boris and Natasha." He paused again, "I need to talk with Stan, maybe Stan can go over and find out what's going on… talk some sense into Paige."

Renee panicked, but only slightly. She said, "I'm glad that this is you and me, Henry. Stan, he is not to hear this, do you understand me?" There was only silence on the other end. She repeated, "I'm sorry to do this to you, Henry, but Stan is not to hear this. Tell me you understand."

Henry finally spoke, "no, not really. But you're right, we have our agreement."

"Henry, I promise you," Renee ad libbed, "I'll get back to you. Let me find out what's going on. No telling ANYONE until we talk again."

FINDING PAIGE - DECEMBER 1987

After hanging up, Renee went to the window where she could see across the street. Staring at the sedate, suburban house where the Jennings were, it was hard to comprehend what Henry had just told her. Philip and Elizabeth, as Boris and Natasha? 'Were they running Stan?' she heard herself speculate? She immediately dismissed it, 'they're nice people, but not THAT smart.' Renee wondered about wasting Claudia's time with it…

Returning to the kitchen, she picked up the phone and dialed the number meant for emergencies. When the young woman at the other end answered, Renee said, "I need to speak to someone about the washing machine repair. I'm unhappy with it. I'm willing to meet the guy who does the repairs, but need to know a time."

Being told a time for later today, she hung up, and returned to the window overlooking the street. She had not seen it drive in, but in the brief time on the phone, Paige's car had suddenly appeared, parked at the Jennings, and she was obviously now inside.

Renee got her shoes on, grabbed a coat for the cold weather, and started walking over to the Jennings. She actually did not know what she was going to do when she got there, but stopped by the Jennings mailbox, because of the obvious yelling inside. Now that Renee had alerted Claudia for a reason to meet - later that afternoon - she needed to know what was going on in the Jennings' house.

Before she could retreat back across the street, Paige emerged from the house, slamming the front door - a sound which echoed down the street. Renee managed to recover quickly as Paige started her car and angrily headed for the road…

Standing precariously in front of that angry car, Renee waved at Paige, who luckily had the presence of mind to stop. Renee went to the driver's window, and asked, "hey Paige, if you're headed to George Washington, can I get a lift? My 4x4's on the fritz…"

MEETING WITH GRANNY - DECEMBER 1987

Claudia: If you'd signaled tomorrow, I would have been gone. Things are not working out with our people. The war s shifting - from here to the streets of Moscow…

Renee: Well, I'm busing it today… Paige Jennings gave me the ride downtown. I'm telling you, Claudia, that that family is blowing up. I got a call from Henry last night…..

- silence, Claudia just sat on the park bench, knowing that she could out-wait Renee, but was also on the clock -

Renee: Why does Paige Jennings think her parents are Russians? No one thinks that, and I can guarantee you not even Stan thinks that. - pause - If they were, would you tell me? Is this what I've been on the lookout for?

Claudia (pausing): This one is above even my paygrade, Renee. I'm seen as a failure no matter what happens - START will be signed, or START will blow up and Gorbachev is exiled… me, I'm headed home to fight more battles, just like The Great Patriotic War, like we always have, it never ends….

Renee: Claudia! World War 2!? What does START have to do with this? That means nothing, not to me. - pause - Oh shit,what are you not saying! - pause - Okay, you're now going to tell me what's going on! I've delivered for you, it's now time to tell me….

- silence, Claudia got up -

Claudia: Come with me, Renee. You're about to get a field promotion. It's within walking distance. There's someone I want you to meet.

- they walked in silence for 25 minutes, then Claudia scoped out the street outside of some nondescript houses in a middle-of-the-road residential area, paying particular attention to cars, both parked and those going places on the street -

Claudia: It's clean, let's go in. We go in near the back at the side, there're stairs there. If you see mail in the mailbox, don't go in. Go somewhere else. - pause - I want you to meet Joan. More importantly, I want Joan to meet you. From here on in, she'll work for you, she'll report from The Centre to you. - on entering 'Joan's place', Claudia looked around wistfully, almost nostalgically at the sophisticated communications equipment -

- entering Joan's place -

Claudia (to Renee, smiling at Joan): Joan will rehearse all the protocols with and for you. It'll be a steep learning curve, but you'll get it. You, Renee, are now the Directorate S Illegals handler. You're the only one in position right now, until The Centre assigns someone else. Before I go, I need to tell you something about the Jennings. My cab is in 15 minutes, then I'm out to Washington National airport. - including Joan in the comment - It's been an honour working with you two.

Claudia enlightened Renee about all things 'Directorate S'. Renee, she most stood there with her mouth open. On her own return to Falls Church by cab, just as it turned into their street from the main road, Renee saw Elizabeth's car hurry the other way, not even stopping for the sign. For the first time Renee thought in horror what she'd only meant in passing previously, 'she'll get ticketed for that!'

Renee now appreciated why both Philip and Elizabeth Jennings needed to steer clear of the law. The only question was if Paige needed to as well?

'Or Henry?' she thought.

'My first day on the job, and I'm working without a net.' Or a map, or a flashlight.

FBI INTERVIEW PART 4 FBI BUILDING WASHINGTON D.C. - JANUARY 1988

Renee: I have no idea why Stan would say that…..

Agent: … that you may be 'one of them'.

Renee: Well, I'm not. I would know! Check the security report written about me so that I can work at this place! Call the Seattle Field Office…..

Agent: I already have. - reaching into the file, pulling out a grainy photo of a woman at a distance - Do you know this woman?

- in front of Renee was a picture of Claudia, who'd just stepped out of what looked to be a European-looking, small car -

Renee: Let me see it. - she picked it up - Where was this taken?

Agent: Answer the question?

Renee: Lay off! I am! - pause - It would help if I knew when and where this was taken. It doesn't look local! Help me out here….

Agent: -demanding - Do you know her!

Renee (replacing the picture onto the table): Just that she's every old lady you see walking around with a shopping bag…..

Agent (mispronouncing an obvious Eastern European, Slavic name): This lady, Mrs. Beeman, is a Hero of the Soviet Union, for her heroism at the Battle of Stalingrad.

Renee: Look, you now have me consorting with all sorts of sordid characters. I remind you, sir, that I both work for and am married to the FBI.

- long silence -

Agent: What if I told you that your husband, Special Agent Stan Beeman, once interceded for someone named Oleg Burov who used to work at the Soviet Residentura…. that he also made some iffy calls while on duty, with relation to another Residentura employee, Nina Krilova?

Renee: I've only ever heard of one of those.

Agent: Which?

Renee: It was not what you think. Stan proved himself.

Agent: Yes, but that was well before you were on the scene. Does he talk about all his operations?

Renee: Yes, no, wait, but… wait a minute, are you saying that Stan is throwing me under a bus? To divert from himself? - long pause - We're a long way, sir, from talking about the Jennings. Why aren't you chasing them? Rather than casting aspersions on Stan - or me - Stan is loyal to this country, I can assure you!

Agent: Is he? - pause - So, you don't know the old woman in the picture. I won't ask if you know where Paige Jennings is.

Renee: …. which is good, because I have no idea where she is. I assume with her parents.

Agent: - silence - Henry Jennings, he doubts that.

Renee considered that it seemed like Henry had violated their 'agreement', not that she was going to mention any of that to the Special Agent interrogating her. Was it Henry who was throwing her, 'under a bus'? The FBI, they now had her at a decided disadvantage, which was a bad place to be.

(to be continued…)