| Internal Musings

𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐍

It took me less than twenty minutes to pack. I've lived in Moscow for six years, but I've never acquired possessions I cared about. I had some makeup, a hairbrush, a change of underwear, my fake passport, and my gun — and that all went into my large Gucci handbag. I also made sure that the clothes I was wearing - designer jeans tucked into knee-high flat boots, a cashmere sweater, and a thick, well-fitting parka - were both warm and stylish. If anyone saw me leaving the apartment, I'd look much as they'd expect: a young woman heading off to work, bundled up against the brutal cold.

After I was done packing, I wiped down the entire apartment and erased my fingerprints before walking out, carefully locking the door behind me. I no longer cared if thieves broke in, but there was no need to make it easy for them.