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things different for me.
    "I know," I held up a hand. "Neither of us has
a choice in this. Thank you for voicing your concerns. When will the wrecking
crew arrive?"
    "Thursday."
    "Fine. Will he be sharing my groceries and kitchen
gadgets, in addition to insulting me every chance he gets?"
    "They didn't say. I assume that's true."
    "Will the smell of borsht be permeating my office?"
    "I don't know."
    "You know," I pointed a finger at August,
"Every time I think things can't get any worse, they always do."
    "There's more," August winced.
    "Oh, joy. Please—do tell."
    "He's an expert in Krav Maga."
    "Great."
    "Corinne, they'll ask him to take over your
lessons."
    "Just to keep him busy, huh?" I shook my head in
disbelief. "If he's occupied with obliterating the least important person
in the building, maybe he can't get into too much trouble?"
    "I think they want you to help keep an eye on him."
    "No. There are enough people in this building watching
what everybody else does. You don't need my help for that."
    "Corinne, I'm asking you to do that. With that special
insight you seem to have, maybe you can let us know if he's on the level or
not."
    "Wow. There go my plans of avoiding him altogether."
    "There's something else."
    "Lemmings have invaded the White House?"
    "Cori."
    "Okay."
    "You're expected to go to meetings with the Five from now
on."
    "Auggie, say it ain't so."

Chapter 4  
    Ilya
    "We'll allow leeway on your new name—within reason.
Nothing Russian—that should be obvious."
    "I'm from Ukraine." That should have explained everything
to the dolt sitting behind the desk, but it didn't.
    "Nothing Ukrainian, either."
    Fucker . "Rafe," I said. "Rafe Black.
That will do."
    "You sure? You won't be able to change it, once it's
entered in your dossier."
    "I don't intend to change it."
    He lifted an eyebrow but tapped the name on his computer
anyway. "We'll have legal documents sent to you at the Mansion. Is there
anything else?"
    "You say I'll have a kitchen available?"
    "Yes, but you'll share it with another resident."
    "I prefer not to share."
    "It's that or no kitchen at all. Those are your
options."
    "I hope he stays out of my way."
    " She will likely stay as far away from you as
possible, if the rumors are true."
    "Is she part of the Program?"
    "Yes, although she seldom participates."
    "By her choice?"
    "By her talent. She has little, according to my
records."
    "Her name?"
    "Corinne."
    * * *
    Corinne
    I eyed the new connecting door distrustfully, as if something
might pop through it at any moment. Realistically, I knew I'd probably be
introduced first, but that didn't keep my fear at bay while I checked on pot
roast and vegetables.
    Pot roast would last me two or three days, if I made
sandwiches. That left more writing time, and with the impending Russian
invasion, I could avoid seeing him as much as possible if I didn't cook so
often.
    Until he started beating me into a floor mat at the gym while
pretending to teach Krav Maga.
    August let me see the heavily redacted dossier on him, since
we'd share space. I learned his original first name, too—Ilya. Common enough,
and safe enough, since I didn't officially have a last name to go with it.
    I heard he spoke English better than most Americans, with no
trace of a Russian accent, and that he spoke many more languages—fluently. No
surprise, since he was a spy. No wonder the Russians were experiencing
palpitations.
    Rafe Black was his new name. I'd see how well it fit him. No
photographs were included in any of the information I'd been given, so I had no
idea what he'd look like. It didn't matter; I intended to stay out of his way
behind the new, steel door that divided my office and sleeping quarters from
the kitchen.
    * * *
    Ilya
    I didn't need the bulletproof vest I wore. My talent appeared
to be shielding—good enough to stop bullets. They'd been afraid to test
anything stronger against what I had. I could protect anyone standing near me,
too—up to four feet. Past