One-on-one with Helen
Place: Washington, DC
Setting: Helen is interviewing for the Project, an elite undercover operation. She went through two days of intensive online testing and now is in the middle of an interview with Moira Wilkinson, a member of a powerful Consortium that oversees the Project. For Helen, who wasn’t told who Moira is, this is the last session in a series of interviews with anonymous operatives.
Interviewer: Marital status?
Helen: Single.
I: In a relationship?
H: No.
I: The nationality of your maternal grandparents.
H: Gramps was born in Boston. His family went back to the Mayflower, they claimed. Grams was born in Amsterdam and came to America in her early twenties.
I: And on the paternal side?
H: Grandpa was English and Grandma Swiss. They both came to this country at a very young age.
I: With which grandparents did you spend more time?
H: Grandma and Grandpa. The paternal side.
I: What did you do?
H: Travel a lot.
I: Places?
H: Sweden, Greece, Sardinia, the Azores, and Switzerland, of course. Grandpa was stationed there at the end of his career and they stayed.
I: Are you on any medication?
H: No. No meds, no drugs, occasional glass of wine.
The woman looked sharply at Helen.
I: I didn’t ask you that.
H: No, but it was your next question.
Her poker face intact, the woman looked down, giving Helen a few seconds to observe her unnoticed. Perfectly polished brunette hair. Cashmere top, designers suit, the jacket draped around her shoulders. No rings. Nails cut to the quick, unpolished. A nail-biter?
The woman tented her fingers and raised her eyes to meet Helen’s.
I: What’s the most important thing in life for you?
H: Connections.
I: Why do you want to work on the Project?
Being selected for the Project meant everything to Helen. She had to get the job. But could she tell the woman the real reason why?