John Hopkins

He knows Soviet Russia is no place for carelessness.

And he knows that honey traps have been used in the past to lure other intelligence officers to their deaths.

This could be another example of that Soviet cunning.

And yet Riley is not like other agents.

He has spent his life believing that he can see the angles others miss, and that he can navigate danger where others would falter.

Besides, he's got out of tighter scrapes in the past.

But perhaps the biggest factor clouding his judgment is that he really needs this to be real.

He needs the money, but he also needs to feel relevant again.

And right now, he's getting encouragement on the home front to take a closer look at the trust organization too.

Despite his reservations, Riley convinces himself that the opportunity outweighs the risk, and in 1925, he makes the decision to meet them.

Initially, he is cautious.

Riley insists he has no intention of wandering blindly into Soviet territory, where he could potentially be arrested or worse.

He is a busy man.

If there is to be any cooperation between them, it can be discussed safely on neutral ground.

The trust agrees.

They invite him to meet in Finland, near the border with Russia, for a discreet conversation.

No risk and no commitments.

It is exactly the sort of compromise a careful operator would offer.

So, reassured, Riley agrees.

He crosses into Soviet Russia, still fearing the worst.