Exfil by Anthony C. Patton

Author:Anthony C. Patton [Patton, Anthony C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

“I imagine you and Jiao are pleased to be overseas again?” I asked, slicing my prime rib and bathing it in the red wine and mushroom reduction. The implicit message hidden in my seemingly innocuous question was that we had been tracking his career and knew that this was his first overseas assignment with his family since Islamabad.

He set his silverware down neatly and finished chewing with a slight nod.

“We wanted our daughter to attend an American school to learn English.”

I nodded back, seeking evidence of an emotional reaction on his blank canvas—not out of the ordinary for the Chinese—but we had missed this important detail, a possible angle. It wasn’t clear whether China’s one-child policy had shaped their decision to have one child. “I know many Chinese diplomats aren’t allowed to travel overseas with family.”

“We are most fortunate,” he said and sipped his red wine. “How are Beth and the boys—Andrew and Troy, correct?”

“Good,” I said, managing the demands of eating and sustaining a polite conversation. “Thanks for asking. Beth is teaching at West Point. I hope to join them shortly.”

He smiled and nodded. “I enjoyed her book. Please pass on my congratulations.”

Nicely done, I thought, embarrassed that I hadn’t even finished her book myself. “I will,” I said as I sliced my steak. The dozen or so tables near us seemed oblivious to what was happening.

“If I am correct,” he said, with a glance upward as if consulting his memory, perhaps for effect, “you should be pinning on your first star soon?”

I nodded, pondering the best response. “Fingers crossed for this year.”

He was revealing his knowledge of my situation and pushing my buttons to show that he too could play the same game, which didn’t bode well for the pitch.

“Now that you’re here in Washington,” I said, deciding to shift gears and counterpunch, “I imagine you’ll go on some family vacations. Travel can be expensive, but you can find many good deals on the Internet.”

He bowed his head with a gentle smile. “I would appreciate any recommendations you have.” He set his silverware down again and looked at me. “Although my wife and I are hoping to save some money during this tour.”

Come again?

Every professional Intelligence Officer knows that it’s verboten to hint at any kind of a vulnerability to a foreign counterpart, financial or otherwise. He was practically begging me to ask why. But I restrained myself as my heart raced, and merely nodded.

As we continued our dinner, I raised mundane topics and cleared the pitch from my mind. Many Intelligence Officers underestimate would-be sources, forgetting that most people can discern when a conversation is being manipulated. For that reason, it was beneficial to set aside your true intentions and dissolve Zen-like into spontaneous discussion, to tap into the flow of the dialogue with natural responses and pauses. As we ate dessert, our chitchat served its ultimate purpose: setting his mind at ease and allowing the magic of rapport to operate again below the surface.

When the waiter

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