Summary

Instead of a reprimand, Serena got an assignment. She and Shirley were sent on a secret mission outside the building. They were given the address of a safe house and cleaning crew uniforms. The place was a mess from the rotting food in the fridge to the filled ashtrays and dirty linens on the beds. They had to turn a bloody mattress. They were also instructed to purchase four bottles of Johnnie Walker Red Label for the house. They had to make sure to secure the house when they left. They had been instructed by desk officer Tim Le Prevost to never mention the house to anyone at the office.

It was a rather insulting assignment. As Shirley put it, “Cleaning ladies pretending to be cleaning ladies” (72). But Serena was more pragmatic. The Service couldn’t call in an outside cleaning agency to clean...