Still cautious

“Did you find out what the mutterings were about?” Mr Anderson asks.

“A little pep-talk for herself when she’s feeling stressed.” you reply. “She knows it unnerves the other workers, but it is her native tongue, and when she’s stressed..".

“She regresses linguistically. I’ve heard of it happening.” Mr. Andersen says. “You’re sure she offered to spy for you?”

“Positive.” you say. "She said it clear as a bell. In her country, disloyalty is...severely looked down upon. Now, sir, I must be honest with you. I sense something else in this assignment.”

“I figured I wouldn’t be able to fool you.” Mr. Andersen says. “I’ve been in this game a long time, my boy...”

“You’re not retiring, sir?!” you ask.

“Ha! Not while I’m still breathing, Vic.” He closes the door. “No, but I was mentored by the guy who is. Ned Fuller. He said that when he had to have a nurse come with him to work and was unable to ‘make full use of the situation,’ it was time to step down. This is going to leave a hole, which some of the lower-downs are going to try to fill. No matter how they shuffle it, though, there’s going to be space for a new executive, and I’m scouting some people.”

“I probably shouldn’t ask who the competition is.” you say.