Yates didn’t bother to reply, hastening towards the doors, running past the elevator, and taking the steps up to the pool two at a time.

Manhattan

5th Avenue

Same Day

Seated in a cab, Elena glanced at her watch. She was late. The students were due to meet up in minutes. Everything had taken longer than she’d expected – far longer to drive to Harlem, longer to get into Mr Austin’s apartment and longer to get out again. Fearful that the American secret police were watching, she’d been guided out of Austin’s building through the back. She’d waved goodbye to Austin unsure whether he would show up tonight. He had not made any promises. She’d done all she could.

The hotel was up ahead, only five hundred metres away, but the traffic wasn’t moving. Not knowing the correct English phrase she said:

—I pay now.

She put some money down, far too much, not waiting for her change. She jumped out and ran down the street. Instead of heading to the main entrance she turned down the hotel service alley. A series of steel ladders were attached to the back wall, leading up to the sun terrace on the fifth floor – a fire escape for those caught outside if the main pool area and corridor were impassable. Before climbing the ladder, Elena took off her clothes. Underneath her blouse and skirt she was wearing a swimsuit. When she’d climbed down this morning a bundle of clothes and a pair of shoes had been left for her, disguised and hidden behind the huge trashcans. Elena had no idea who planted the clothes, a member of the CPUSA perhaps. She threw these temporary clothes into the garbage before climbing the ladder. Red-faced and out of breath, she reached the fifth-floor sun terrace, peering over the edge. It was a sunny day a bunde terrace was crowded. She climbed up, walking determinedly towards the pool, unsure whether anyone had caught sight of her unusual entrance.

The man she’d seen in Harlem, the American police agent, was by the edge of the pool. She couldn’t enter without being seen. If he’d already checked the sun terrace he would be suspicious if she suddenly appeared. He might find the fire escape. He might find her clothes in the garbage. The only place he couldn’t have checked was the women’s changing rooms. It was accessible from both the pool and the outside deck. Elena switched direction, walking away from the agent. She pushed on the door and stepped inside.

Heading towards her locker, a hand came down on her shoulder. Startled, she turned. It was Raisa.

—Where have you been?

—I was in the sauna.