Luke LaManna

She drove to one of the nicer neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., a spot she had insisted on. Even top secret spies worry about getting mugged. Anna walked into a Chinese restaurant and took a seat at a table for two. She asked for some water and took the liberty of ordering egg rolls, the kind her handler liked. Then she waited.

About ten minutes later, her handler walked casually into the restaurant and sat down at the table. They exchanged pleasantries and spoke idly about the news. To anyone watching, they were nothing more than old friends catching up. No one seemed to notice when Anna slid a floppy disk across the table while she picked up an egg roll.

About ten minutes later, her handler walked casually into the restaurant and sat down at the table. They exchanged pleasantries and spoke idly about the news. To anyone watching, they were nothing more than old friends catching up. No one seemed to notice when Anna slid a floppy disk across the table while she picked up an egg roll.

By this time, Ana had established herself as the foremost analyst on Cuban intelligence in the entire federal government. She received multiple commendations from her superiors for her work evaluating information gathered about the Cuban government and its actions.

By this time, Ana had established herself as the foremost analyst on Cuban intelligence in the entire federal government. She received multiple commendations from her superiors for her work evaluating information gathered about the Cuban government and its actions.

The two countries' simmering hostility didn't cool even for a moment into the 1990s, and Ana was often called into brief high-ranking officials about Cuba's strategies, politics, and most importantly, spycraft. To keep her cover airtight, Ana's work was thorough and damaging to the Cuban government. It was a compromise they were willing to make to keep one of their finest agents undetected.

The two countries' simmering hostility didn't cool even for a moment into the 1990s, and Ana was often called into brief high-ranking officials about Cuba's strategies, politics, and most importantly, spycraft. To keep her cover airtight, Ana's work was thorough and damaging to the Cuban government. It was a compromise they were willing to make to keep one of their finest agents undetected.

Anna saw herself as the dominant voice in the agency on Cuban affairs, and she didn't take kindly when others disagreed with her analysis. If any other employees dared to have a difference of opinion, Anna would make an example of them. Half respectfully, half derisively, Anna's co-workers at the DIA called her the Queen of Cuba.

Anna saw herself as the dominant voice in the agency on Cuban affairs, and she didn't take kindly when others disagreed with her analysis. If any other employees dared to have a difference of opinion, Anna would make an example of them. Half respectfully, half derisively, Anna's co-workers at the DIA called her the Queen of Cuba.

To her colleagues, she was an enigma, introverted, intense, and incredibly private. They assumed whatever secrets she was keeping, she had good reason to. And they were right. While she climbed up the ladder of US intelligence, Ana fed mountains of information to the Cubans. Three nights a week, she would turn on her shortwave radio and receive directives from Havana.

To her colleagues, she was an enigma, introverted, intense, and incredibly private. They assumed whatever secrets she was keeping, she had good reason to. And they were right. While she climbed up the ladder of US intelligence, Ana fed mountains of information to the Cubans. Three nights a week, she would turn on her shortwave radio and receive directives from Havana.

Then Ana would meet for dinner with her handler and hand over an encrypted floppy disk containing intel and techniques the Americans were using against Cuba. She divulged details about a top-secret satellite program and gave up the real identities of over 450 American operatives working in Cuba and Central America.

Then Ana would meet for dinner with her handler and hand over an encrypted floppy disk containing intel and techniques the Americans were using against Cuba. She divulged details about a top-secret satellite program and gave up the real identities of over 450 American operatives working in Cuba and Central America.

But Ana's position had become too prominent for her to just steal documents for the Cubans and walk out with them. Ana had to spend time painstakingly developing her ability to memorize so that she could recall the contents of thousands of documents and pass them on to her handlers. Over the years, she took two trips to Cuba for the Defense Intelligence Agency, ostensibly as fact-finding missions.

But Ana's position had become too prominent for her to just steal documents for the Cubans and walk out with them. Ana had to spend time painstakingly developing her ability to memorize so that she could recall the contents of thousands of documents and pass them on to her handlers. Over the years, she took two trips to Cuba for the Defense Intelligence Agency, ostensibly as fact-finding missions.

During each trip, she would slip away at night to meet with important members of Cuban intelligence. Just like their American counterparts, Ana's Cuban higher-ups gave her commendations and medals for her work, some of which had caused the death or disappearance of American agents. The strain of maintaining this double life took a toll on Ana. She barely had any friends and rarely dated.

During each trip, she would slip away at night to meet with important members of Cuban intelligence. Just like their American counterparts, Ana's Cuban higher-ups gave her commendations and medals for her work, some of which had caused the death or disappearance of American agents. The strain of maintaining this double life took a toll on Ana. She barely had any friends and rarely dated.

The Cuban government even went so far as to set her up on a blind date with a fellow agent to help her mood, but she didn't feel a connection. More often than not, Anna sat alone in her apartment and stewed in her isolation, developing a few nervous tics along the way. But the stress was worst of all with her family.

The Cuban government even went so far as to set her up on a blind date with a fellow agent to help her mood, but she didn't feel a connection. More often than not, Anna sat alone in her apartment and stewed in her isolation, developing a few nervous tics along the way. But the stress was worst of all with her family.

Lucy, her sister, had become something of a rising star within the FBI, carrying out national security investigations out of their Miami office, no less. And she had even married one of her fellow agents. Anna could barely force a smile in the lead up to Lucy's wedding.