Luke LaManna

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.

Her sister kept asking what was wrong, but Anna couldn't tell her sister that the problem was the growing number of FBI agents in her family. To make matters worse, Lucy encouraged their brother Tito and his wife to become FBI agents as well. By the time Anna became the Queen of Cuba, four members of her family had taken oaths to uphold the Constitution as FBI agents.

Her sister kept asking what was wrong, but Anna couldn't tell her sister that the problem was the growing number of FBI agents in her family. To make matters worse, Lucy encouraged their brother Tito and his wife to become FBI agents as well. By the time Anna became the Queen of Cuba, four members of her family had taken oaths to uphold the Constitution as FBI agents.

Every family event suddenly became a minefield for Anna. All she could do was stay quiet, just like she did at her bi-weekly Chinese dinners with her Cuban handler. On the morning of February 24th, 1996, Anna's cell phone rang. Lucy was on the other line, sounding worried. She seemed surprised to hear that Anna wasn't at the office. It was a Saturday, the only day Anna could actually relax.

Every family event suddenly became a minefield for Anna. All she could do was stay quiet, just like she did at her bi-weekly Chinese dinners with her Cuban handler. On the morning of February 24th, 1996, Anna's cell phone rang. Lucy was on the other line, sounding worried. She seemed surprised to hear that Anna wasn't at the office. It was a Saturday, the only day Anna could actually relax.

Why would she be at work? Lucy cleared her throat. She explained that she'd just seen on TV that the Cuban government had shot down a Brothers to the Rescue plane. Ana felt like she'd got the wind knocked out of her. Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based group of Cuban expatriates who flew planes to rescue defectors and dropped anti-communist pamphlets over the island.

Why would she be at work? Lucy cleared her throat. She explained that she'd just seen on TV that the Cuban government had shot down a Brothers to the Rescue plane. Ana felt like she'd got the wind knocked out of her. Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based group of Cuban expatriates who flew planes to rescue defectors and dropped anti-communist pamphlets over the island.

Two of their planes had flown into Cuban airspace and Cuban authorities shot them down, killing four people. Lucy had called Ana to ask what was going to happen. But Ana could barely speak. The conflict between the two countries she served had come to a boiling point. She was going to be expected to guide the US's response to the crisis while somehow trying to help Cuba too.

Two of their planes had flown into Cuban airspace and Cuban authorities shot them down, killing four people. Lucy had called Ana to ask what was going to happen. But Ana could barely speak. The conflict between the two countries she served had come to a boiling point. She was going to be expected to guide the US's response to the crisis while somehow trying to help Cuba too.

Anna communicated with her bosses, who asked her to come into the office early the next day. She arrived at the DIA at 6 a.m. on Sunday, and it wasn't long before she received word that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had formed a task force. Anna was being called in.

Anna communicated with her bosses, who asked her to come into the office early the next day. She arrived at the DIA at 6 a.m. on Sunday, and it wasn't long before she received word that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had formed a task force. Anna was being called in.

The United States hadn't used military action against Cuba since the Bay of Pigs invasion, but suddenly a show of force seemed like a certainty. ANA was meant to brief the Joint Chiefs on Cuba's military preparedness and help them evaluate the best options for retaliation. Anna crossed the Potomac and arrived at the Pentagon around 11 a.m.

The United States hadn't used military action against Cuba since the Bay of Pigs invasion, but suddenly a show of force seemed like a certainty. ANA was meant to brief the Joint Chiefs on Cuba's military preparedness and help them evaluate the best options for retaliation. Anna crossed the Potomac and arrived at the Pentagon around 11 a.m.

She spent the rest of the day there, filling in the Joint Chiefs and keeping tabs on new intelligence. All day, Anna stood in anxiety. She was trapped in the walls of the Pentagon, unable to contact her Cuban handlers and inform them of the U.S. 's counterattack plans. Around 8 p.m., Anna decided it was time to get out.

She spent the rest of the day there, filling in the Joint Chiefs and keeping tabs on new intelligence. All day, Anna stood in anxiety. She was trapped in the walls of the Pentagon, unable to contact her Cuban handlers and inform them of the U.S. 's counterattack plans. Around 8 p.m., Anna decided it was time to get out.

She told her team that she was exhausted from the events of the day and needed to go home. But Anna's decision immediately raised eyebrows. Intelligence officials working on a Joint Chiefs Task Force are supposed to stay at their post until dismissed.

She told her team that she was exhausted from the events of the day and needed to go home. But Anna's decision immediately raised eyebrows. Intelligence officials working on a Joint Chiefs Task Force are supposed to stay at their post until dismissed.

More than a few analysts were surprised, even suspicious, when the so-called Queen of Cuba left the Pentagon early amidst the most significant U.S.-Cuba conflict for over 30 years. But Ana needed to meet with her handlers. Over the next three days, Ana would continue to update them as often as she could.

More than a few analysts were surprised, even suspicious, when the so-called Queen of Cuba left the Pentagon early amidst the most significant U.S.-Cuba conflict for over 30 years. But Ana needed to meet with her handlers. Over the next three days, Ana would continue to update them as often as she could.

One Cuban agent even stopped her on the street before her morning commute, taking the massive risk of being seen out in the open together. They were deathly afraid that the United States was about to attack the island. Despite her suspicious exit, Ana did manage to influence the task force's response, arguing strongly against taking military action.