“I left school a long time ago, Gina,” she says.
“Yeah, except for the school of hard knocks,” Gina says, getting up and going to the coffee table, picking up a bottle of California Chablis, filling up Noa’s wineglass.
Noa doesn’t object.
Gina returns to her chair. “Speak.”
“Can’t.”
“That high up?”
Noa takes a healthy sip. “Mount Everest high up.”
Gina purses her lips, picks up her own wineglass. “When I’m in my windowless workshop, doing my best to make a foolproof passport with the appropriate exit and visa stamps showing the exact shade of color and wear, and I sneeze and get droplets on the ink, and I have to dump two days of work and start over again … lots of times, I envy you folks out in Operations.”
Another sip of wine from Gina. “But not today. Give your girl a hint or two. It’ll make you feel better.”
Noa wants to sink into the couch and sip her wine and watch the Netflix episode forever and think of nothing else, and she hears herself saying, “From the Gospel of Matthew, Gina …‘Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.’”
The room is quiet, and Gina says, “You’re weirding me out, girl.How does a nice Jewish girl like you know so much about the New Testament? You saying you’re Jesus, and the devil is … Acting Director Fenway?”
Noa says not a word, but makes a thumbs-up with her free hand, and gestures to the ceiling.
“Oh, that’s pretty high,” Gina says.
“You know it.”
“And you’re tempted.”
“Yes, because up there, you can see a lot. And do a lot. But also concerned … because …”
“The air is pretty thin up there.”
Another few seconds pass. Noa looks at the Netflix episode. Unimaginative and simple, but God, sometimes it’s good to be unimaginative and simple.
Gina says, “Don’t care if the air is thin, or if the view is great, or if all the kingdoms are at your feet … if you get pushed off and start tumbling, Noa, where are you going to end up? Besides on that pert ass of yours.”
“Probably in a crevasse, so I can keep on falling, just for the amusement factor.” Noa rubs at her forehead. “Forget it. Things are fine, I’m doing important work. Just sometimes, you want to be sure you’re doing right at the same time.”
Gina says, “I had an instructor once, back in the day. She said some of the biggest dangers you’ll face in the Agency come from coworkers or supervisors. She said that every time you’re told to keep quiet, not take notes, or don’t keep records, that’s the time to take notes and keep records. You need something to save your butt in case things fall apart.”
“Like playing poker.”
“How’s that?”
Noa sips again and decides she’s going to see how this couch feels when it does open into a bed. “My uncle Benny told me once, that if you’re playing poker and you can’t tell who the sucker is, then it’s you.”
Gina says, “If you’re in an op, Noa, and you can’t tell who the fall guy is going to be …”
“Yeah,” she says. “Then it’s going to be you.”
On Netflix, the tough yet tender woman police detective has just tenderly shot someone twice in the chest who was threatening to assault her.
Gina says, “I think I might be able to help.”
Noa says, “I was hoping you’d say that.”
CHAPTER 29