Luke LaManna

Now, hours later, it was last call at a dive bar. Rick's mood turned grim as he fumbled for his pack of cigarettes and found it was empty. Luckily, Igor swooped in with a cigarette and a lighter. Rick lit it, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Igor asked him what was wrong. His friend seemed stressed. Was it trouble at work? Rick felt a flutter of nerves.

The smart thing to do would have been to stub out a cigarette, pay his bill, and call it a night. The last thing he needed was to give Igor insight into his life. But it was hard to keep his frustrations to himself. The fact was, Rick felt trapped. He hated his job. His boss was a jerk. And over the last few years, he'd begun to lose faith in the CIA as a whole.

The smart thing to do would have been to stub out a cigarette, pay his bill, and call it a night. The last thing he needed was to give Igor insight into his life. But it was hard to keep his frustrations to himself. The fact was, Rick felt trapped. He hated his job. His boss was a jerk. And over the last few years, he'd begun to lose faith in the CIA as a whole.

But instead of talking about work, Rick moved on to more personal problems. There were two of them. Money and marriage. Rick's last post with the CIA had been in New York City, and it was a job that came with a lot of perks. He'd lived in a luxury apartment with his wife of 12 years, Nan. But despite their cushy lifestyle, the relationship grew strained.

But instead of talking about work, Rick moved on to more personal problems. There were two of them. Money and marriage. Rick's last post with the CIA had been in New York City, and it was a job that came with a lot of perks. He'd lived in a luxury apartment with his wife of 12 years, Nan. But despite their cushy lifestyle, the relationship grew strained.

When Rick was offered the job in Mexico, he felt like he had to take it. He had turned down other overseas jobs in the past since Nan didn't want to leave New York. but foreign experience was too important an opportunity to pass up. Plus, a new backdrop might just be what he and Nan needed. So this time, Rick said yes, only Nan didn't take this well.

When Rick was offered the job in Mexico, he felt like he had to take it. He had turned down other overseas jobs in the past since Nan didn't want to leave New York. but foreign experience was too important an opportunity to pass up. Plus, a new backdrop might just be what he and Nan needed. So this time, Rick said yes, only Nan didn't take this well.

She said there was no way she was going to uproot her life for him. But Rick had already said yes. So in the end, he moved to Mexico without her. Their marriage had already been on shaky ground, but now it was on the rocks. The move had worsened Rick's money problems too. In New York, the CIA had covered most of the rent on his nice apartment.

She said there was no way she was going to uproot her life for him. But Rick had already said yes. So in the end, he moved to Mexico without her. Their marriage had already been on shaky ground, but now it was on the rocks. The move had worsened Rick's money problems too. In New York, the CIA had covered most of the rent on his nice apartment.

They also gave him a steady stream of cash to cover business expenses, like taking Soviet targets out to dinner or shows. After a couple years, he'd gotten used to high living. When he moved to Mexico, the New York subsidy ended abruptly. But since Nan was still there, Rick had to cover their expensive rent himself. And that quickly drained Rick's bank account.

They also gave him a steady stream of cash to cover business expenses, like taking Soviet targets out to dinner or shows. After a couple years, he'd gotten used to high living. When he moved to Mexico, the New York subsidy ended abruptly. But since Nan was still there, Rick had to cover their expensive rent himself. And that quickly drained Rick's bank account.

His job at the CIA only paid $36,000 a year. Rick coped with the stress by drinking more. And he started cheating on Nan, too. He'd been with three different women since getting to Mexico. His life was quickly turning into a mess, and he had to vent to someone. Tonight, his outlet was a KGB agent. Igor responded by ordering two last shots.

His job at the CIA only paid $36,000 a year. Rick coped with the stress by drinking more. And he started cheating on Nan, too. He'd been with three different women since getting to Mexico. His life was quickly turning into a mess, and he had to vent to someone. Tonight, his outlet was a KGB agent. Igor responded by ordering two last shots.

He forced one into Rick's hand and proposed a toast to better days ahead. As Rick stumbled back into his apartment a few hours later, he wondered if he had said too much. He reassured himself, no, his job was to get close to Igor. Maybe Igor hadn't revealed much about his own life yet, but that would surely come. If Rick was sober, he might have realized he had definitely said too much.

He forced one into Rick's hand and proposed a toast to better days ahead. As Rick stumbled back into his apartment a few hours later, he wondered if he had said too much. He reassured himself, no, his job was to get close to Igor. Maybe Igor hadn't revealed much about his own life yet, but that would surely come. If Rick was sober, he might have realized he had definitely said too much.

Complaining about work was one thing, but admitting his personal and financial issues gave Igor a direct line into his vulnerabilities. Igor could clearly see the hole Rick had dug himself into, and a KGB could offer him a way out of it. All it would cost him was some information.

Complaining about work was one thing, but admitting his personal and financial issues gave Igor a direct line into his vulnerabilities. Igor could clearly see the hole Rick had dug himself into, and a KGB could offer him a way out of it. All it would cost him was some information.

Four years later, on the evening of April 16th, 1985, Rick Ames stood at the doorway of the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C. His head was spinning. He'd had a few drinks before coming. Maybe not the best move, but he needed liquid courage for what he was about to do. In his sweaty palms, he held an envelope, one that could do serious damage to the CIA.

Four years later, on the evening of April 16th, 1985, Rick Ames stood at the doorway of the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C. His head was spinning. He'd had a few drinks before coming. Maybe not the best move, but he needed liquid courage for what he was about to do. In his sweaty palms, he held an envelope, one that could do serious damage to the CIA.

In it was a short list of KGB agents who'd volunteered to work for the US, and paperwork confirming his new job title as the CIA's new chief of Soviet counterintelligence. It was an unlikely position for a man whose career flamed out in Mexico. Rick's bond with Igor Shurigan produced lots of hangovers, but few results. His drinking had gotten worse.