Chapter 16 The Plan Succeeds

2300 Zulu, Saturday, August 22, 1981, Maria’s Apartment in Arlington, Virginia

Everything goes just like they planned. Maria selects an apartment in Arlington, although small and expensive, it has the virtue of her being able to come and go with little notice from neighbors. More importantly, Klaus can visit with little notice. Maria makes the call to the number Klaus gave her, asks for Karl Schultz and gives the address of the diner she selected for meeting Klaus at 9:00 am on a Saturday. She says the message is from Heidi, which means everything is going smoothly.

Klaus, rather Claude now, arrives without incident on Friday morning and stays at the Key Bridge Marriott. They connect on Saturday morning at the diner as planned. They decide Claude should maintain a separate apartment until he settles in his new job and they can make plans to marry without causing suspicion from either of their employers. Claude will take an apartment in the District a short Metro ride from the French embassy. He can take the Metro to near Maria’s apartment so he has no need for a car. Maria purchases a used car because she finds it inconvenient to take buses to her job and shopping.

As Maria prepares dinner for the two of them Claude brings her up to date with his status. “I am to report to the French Embassy on Monday morning. Then I’ll learn what my new job involves. There is a person at the Embassy who is part of the network. He was key to getting my position there. I learned there are others in Washington in the network; one at the East German Embassy but I am allowed to only know my new contact at the French Embassy, at least for now.”

“Oh Claude, I am so glad you chose to be French. I know it will make my French father happy if I have a French husband. Besides, you are really French by birth. Tell me your new last name again. I was so excited to see you I didn’t pay attention. How did you get a new identity and what happened to your old identity?”

“Yes, It’s Montfort and I am partial to the French because of my French parents. My identity change was complex but it was flawlessly handled. I am pretty sure the network hired a smuggling ring to get me from East Germany to France. The way Klaus was erased was simple but effective. He fell overboard from the ferry headed for Sweden and presumably drowned. No body was found we can be sure. After that, I used names I made up or were given to me until I got my new identity at a safe house in France. I met some unusual characters; particularly a tough but kind old woman who I suspect was part of the French resistance during the war. I believe she is in the network now and her house was where I was handed over from the smugglers to the network. I spent several days in Paris learning about the area where “Claude” lived for the last ten years. I wish you could have been with me in Paris.”

“Claude Montfort, I like it. It sounds distinguished as well as very French. I will be delighted to be Mrs. Montfort.  Did I tell you I like your new suit? Charcoal looks good on you Claude but you do need a different tie. The one you are wearing goes better with your old blue suit.”

“You are probably right Maria. I should have bought some ties in Paris. Are stores open here on Sunday? I can get some new ties before starting work.”

“Yes. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the big shopping center at Tyson’s Corner. It’s as close to Paris shopping as you can find here. You should get some new shoes Claude and throw away those old East German shoes. No distinguished Frenchman would wear those. I wish I could have been in Paris with you. I regret in all my time in Germany I never took the time to go to Paris as a tourist. Some day after we are married let’s go on a vacation to Paris and you can show me where “Claude” lived.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll look forward to it. And I’m looking forward to going to Tyson’s Corner with you tomorrow.   Now, what have you learned about having or getting access to secret American policies or plans?”

“My job is in Operations, which deals with recruiting agents in foreign countries and in secret operations. I have easy access to the plans for operations involving the US and foreign agents whose work I am responsible for coordinating. Other plans and policies are only available on the Agency computer and I don’t have the “need-to-know” to access those files. The computer only allows me to open files involving my work.”

“I suspected as much Maria. I talked to the guy at the Embassy Friday afternoon who is my new network contact about that possibility. His name is Jean Rousseau and he happens to be a computer expert. He says he can teach you quickly how to access anything on the computer without being detected. According to Jean most organizations using computers use pretty simple means of controlling access. It works because very few people are experts in computers or programming. Some of the experts have developed ways to get around the typical access control techniques but these ways are not known by many people or organizations. Are you willing to learn?”

“Yes, if I can be assured I won’t be detected and end up losing my job or worse.”

“I asked him about it and he says there are ways to avoid leaving any traces of your accessing files not supposed to be available to you. He says he can teach you those ways also.”

“Ok, then. How do I go about learning?”

“He says he can arrange to have a computer terminal and a minicomputer put in your apartment. He will put files on the computer with typical access control software. He will teach you how to gain access without leaving any trace. You just have to work on it after work. He can come here as well and instruct you. First, he wants you to read a book on basic computer science and programming so the specialized training will go faster. He says you can find such books in any bookstore or library. If you agree it will take a week or so to get the equipment and install it in your apartment. You can do the book homework while that’s going on.”

“Ok, I’ll pick up a book Monday after work and start reading. How long does he say the training will take?”

“He said it should take only four or five weeks to get started with the basics.”

“I hope it works as well as he told you. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t love you and I sure don’t want to be used by you or your network if you don’t love me as much as I love you.”

“Don’t worry Maria. I love you and I want us to be together whether or not you can become a part of the network.”

“Keep telling me Claude, I never tire of hearing it. Now dinner's ready. Let’s eat and then we can find something more fun to do. Tomorrow you can tell me what I need to know about Claude’s background.”