Luke LaManna

Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to redacted, declassified mysteries early and ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. On the morning of September 21st, 2001, Ana Montes got up early and stepped into her shower. She turned on the hot water and then started using her many bars of soap, one after another, as she meticulously cleaned every inch of her body.

Ana had a secret she was trying to scrub off. She stepped out of the shower and got dressed quickly. Her apartment in the upscale Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Cleveland Park was clean and organized, with not a thing out of place, or so she thought. She sped off to work in her red Toyota Echo. As she breezed along the highway, Anna steeled herself for a busy day.

Ana had a secret she was trying to scrub off. She stepped out of the shower and got dressed quickly. Her apartment in the upscale Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Cleveland Park was clean and organized, with not a thing out of place, or so she thought. She sped off to work in her red Toyota Echo. As she breezed along the highway, Anna steeled herself for a busy day.

She worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Things had been hectic in the 10 days since Middle Eastern terrorists had hijacked planes and flown them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Ana was the chief analyst of Cuban intelligence, but now, with the country preparing for war, it was all hands on deck, even for people like Ana, whose jobs seemed far removed from the Middle East.

She worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Things had been hectic in the 10 days since Middle Eastern terrorists had hijacked planes and flown them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Ana was the chief analyst of Cuban intelligence, but now, with the country preparing for war, it was all hands on deck, even for people like Ana, whose jobs seemed far removed from the Middle East.

Under different circumstances, Ana might have noticed there was a car tailing her. But today, she was too focused on getting to work to pay any attention. Ana arrived and settled into her desk. But just as she began work, her phone rang. It was Dave Curtin, a high-ranking intelligence official.

Under different circumstances, Ana might have noticed there was a car tailing her. But today, she was too focused on getting to work to pay any attention. Ana arrived and settled into her desk. But just as she began work, her phone rang. It was Dave Curtin, a high-ranking intelligence official.

She noticed his usual friendly tone with her had become curt and impatient, but she chalked it up to the stress of a national emergency. Curtin said there was a problem with one of her employees' time cards, and he didn't have time to deal with it. Could she please go to the Inspector General's office and fix the problem? Anna didn't hesitate.

She noticed his usual friendly tone with her had become curt and impatient, but she chalked it up to the stress of a national emergency. Curtin said there was a problem with one of her employees' time cards, and he didn't have time to deal with it. Could she please go to the Inspector General's office and fix the problem? Anna didn't hesitate.

Dealing with administrative issues was commonplace since she'd become acting division chief. She marched down to the fourth floor, where a receptionist directed her to a conference room. Anna opened the door, but there was no employee having timecard issues. Instead, she found two FBI agents waiting for her.

Dealing with administrative issues was commonplace since she'd become acting division chief. She marched down to the fourth floor, where a receptionist directed her to a conference room. Anna opened the door, but there was no employee having timecard issues. Instead, she found two FBI agents waiting for her.

Then, one of the agents looked directly at Anna and said, I'm sorry to tell you, but you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit espionage.

Then, one of the agents looked directly at Anna and said, I'm sorry to tell you, but you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit espionage.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called Codename Blue Wren.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called Codename Blue Wren.

The United States and Cuba have been feverishly spying on each other ever since communist revolutionary Fidel Castro overthrew a U.S.-backed dictatorship in Havana in 1959. Suddenly, America had an enemy less than 100 miles from Key West, Florida, and both sides were desperate for dirt on the other.

The United States and Cuba have been feverishly spying on each other ever since communist revolutionary Fidel Castro overthrew a U.S.-backed dictatorship in Havana in 1959. Suddenly, America had an enemy less than 100 miles from Key West, Florida, and both sides were desperate for dirt on the other.

Cuba's close ties with the Soviet Union gave American officials heartburn and brought the adversaries perilously close to nuclear war in the early 1960s. But even when the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War thawed in 1989, Cuba and the United States continued to be sworn foes. Each country worked tirelessly to recruit

Cuba's close ties with the Soviet Union gave American officials heartburn and brought the adversaries perilously close to nuclear war in the early 1960s. But even when the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War thawed in 1989, Cuba and the United States continued to be sworn foes. Each country worked tirelessly to recruit

and implant their agents at the highest levels of government, sometimes with startling results. Take Ana Montes, a most unlikely turncoat. By all accounts, she was very good at her job, which involved gathering damaging information to use against the Cuban government. At the time of her arrest, Ana was trusted with America's best-kept secrets.