Salt 2

 

 

 

 Based on the movie SALT (2010) by Phillip Noyce
Idea: jmurdoch
Texte: jmurdoch
Images: Chat GPT Sora
Videos : KlingAI

 

 

    In the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Evelyn Salt, in exile for several years, single-handedly infiltrates an abandoned K.A. base, her former network of Russian sleeper spies. Despite fierce resistance, Salt remains determined and manages to confront and kill all the soldiers stationed there. Heavily armed, Salt is discreetly supported by the man who helped her escape. Peabody, a counterintelligence agent, understood Salt's thirst for revenge.

    Salt had learned that a military camp was conducting a new indoctrination operation targeting young prodigies who, after being brainwashed, would infiltrate wealthy American families as sleeper agents. Salt wanted to put an end to it all. This base was the last on her list. But she suspected another secret project was underway, and that she would find some of her answers in one of the base's computers. She was over the place, because it was much more heavily guarded than the last bases she had managed to dismantle. 

    She had no mercy. Every soldier she encountered was eliminated without warning. The soldiers knew Salt by reputation. They gave her no chance. Salt advanced cautiously through the base's corridors. She was well-prepared, having identified the layout, the number of soldiers on each floor, and their weapons. She herself was heavily armed and protected by a thick bulletproof vest. She was a sharpshooter and never missed her target.

    Among the soldiers, she noticed different uniforms. Certainly assigned to their posts, she bent down over one of the corpses and searched the soldier for a pass. She knew the computer room was locked and protected by a badge system that few soldiers possessed. The search didn't take long; she quickly found what she was looking for. She silently thanked the dead soldier, lying on the floor with a bullet in his head. The computer room couldn't be far now.

 

    Once inside the room, still heavily guarded by three soldiers who didn't resist for long, Salt began typing on the main computer. Although it was written in Russian, she spoke and understood it perfectly, as it was her native language. On a hard drive, she discovered a project called "Mirror Protocol." She shuddered when she saw the name of the project's initiator: Viktor Orlov Jr. She remembered that her mentor, Orlov, had had a son, but she had believed him dead years ago. Clearly, it had been a life filled with lies, secrets, and deceit. Viktor's photo appeared on the screen. He looked remarkably like his father. In fact, he looked just like her father, only younger. She downloaded the entire folder onto a USB drive. She had to share this information with Peabody as quickly as possible. She detonated multiple explosive charges she had hidden throughout the base.

 

    Mason Reiss had been notified by phone that a crime had been committed in the CIA parking lot. Having been an agent with the agency for over 20 years, he was already on the scene. He only discovered the victim's identity once he arrived. He recognized Peabody immediately and was deeply affected by the murder. Peabody, being a counterintelligence agent, was often at CIA headquarters. He had had several opportunities to discuss their ongoing investigations. Mason found him straightforward, honest, conscientious, and quite funny once you got to know him. 
    Mason began questioning the witness: A woman had reportedly discovered the body as she returned to her car. A simple executive assistant, who had no connection whatsoever with the victim. Peabody had been killed by a high-caliber firearm. A bullet to the heart. No signs of violence or a struggle. Mason assumed that Peabody knew his victim. Being in a government building under heavy security, Mason looked around to see if a security camera might provide more information, perhaps even catch a glimpse of the killer's face. Yes, there was a camera, perfectly positioned. What intrigued him immediately was that a professional killer would deliberately choose a different angle to kill without seeing the victim. Given the body's position and the force of the impact, the killer must have been very close to Peabody. He would therefore inevitably see the camera, which remained intact, revealing the murderer's face. 
    The only troubling clue was the presence next to the body of a photograph of a pretty young brunette woman. The photo was half-burned. Could it be a picture of the murderer? What connection did this woman have with the victim? The face didn't seem unfamiliar to Mason. He had the impression of having seen it somewhere before. A case he might have followed? In any case, it would be obvious that Mason would have an interest in questioning this person.

    Vanessa Shaw, a flight attendant on the route from Russia to the US, was having a pretty quiet day. For once, she didn't have any difficult passengers to deal with. The plane was halfway there. She continued to attend to the passengers' various needs. A young brunette woman, traveling alone, had started chatting with her every time they interacted. The young woman called her over for a pillow, then a glass of champagne. They were in first class. The young woman then asked her for something to read; she wanted a newspaper to catch up on current events. Vanessa gave her the paper and couldn't help but read the headline: "Mystery Murders.".

"So much violence in this world!" exclaimed the passenger.
"Yes, we live in sad times!" replied Vanessa.
"I read in the international news. There's been a massacre at a military base in Russia," said the passenger with a curious smile that surprised Vanessa.
"Let's hope it has no consequences. Let's hope it doesn't worsen relations between the two countries."

    The passenger closed the newspaper, noticing that Vanessa was bringing her a meal tray.

"Here's the meal you ordered!"
"Oh, thank you, I'm starving!"

    The passenger positioned her tray table, and Vanessa placed the tray on it, exclaiming:

"Enjoy your meal, Madam!"
"Oh, call me June," replied June with a lovely smile.
"Pleased to meet you, June, my name is Vanessa."

    Later, after the meal was finished, Vanessa came to collect the tray, then continued to chat a little with June, enjoying the tranquility that the other passengers offered her.

 

    Upon arrival, the cabin crew and passengers disembarked the plane. Vanessa didn't accompany the crew as is customary, but stayed behind to chat with June. They got off the plane and continued talking about current events. June asked her many questions about Vanessa's job. June loved to travel, so she found the job of flight attendant fascinating. Vanessa explained that she never had time to truly enjoy the destinations. When Vanessa asked June questions about her work, she remained strangely evasive, even somewhat contradictory in her choice of answers. They exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye. Vanessa Shaw wanted to relax for a while before checking into a hotel. She headed towards a café across from the airport.

 

 

   On the walk to the café, Vanessa lost the smile she'd worn throughout the journey. Her features hardened, became colder. She grew more serious. She ordered a coffee at the counter and absentmindedly glanced at the television screen behind it, which was showing a news channel. A news anchor was announcing the death of a counterintelligence agent. A photo of Peabody appeared on the screen, along with a picture of a young brunette woman. 
    Seeing the photos, Vanessa looked utterly shocked! She put down her cup and asked the bartender to turn up the volume, which he did, seemingly charmed by Vanessa's appearance. She still didn't smile, for she seemed distraught. The news anchor was announcing that an agent named Peabody had been coldly murdered by a young brunette woman, who might be Evelyn Salt. Already wanted for murder, suspected of attempting to assassinate a Russian president, she had strangely reappeared safe and sound. Then there was the alleged attempt to assassinate the President of the United States. Again, the journalist explained that there was still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding these stories.

 

 

    Vanessa immediately headed to the first motel she came across. She wanted a quiet, secluded place to take stock of the situation. 

    At reception, Vanessa Shaw asked for a room, just for one night; she knew for sure she wouldn't be staying long. She took the key the receptionist gave her and headed towards her room. She entered the room. It was small, but comfortable enough.

     Vanessa placed her suitcase on the bed and unpacked some of it to reach a laptop, which she picked up and placed on the small desk. She immediately turned it on and began to connect to the internet. She launched various encryption and security tools. A terminal appeared, and she typed in a series of commands that opened a browser window displaying the CIA website. She searched for Peabody. She found no more information than what she had already heard on television. She learned only that an agent named Mason Reiss was in charge of the investigation into Peabody's death.

    Vanessa sighed, then was overcome by a wave of sadness that brought a smile back to her face. Vanessa Shaw was just a facade. Vanessa Shaw was actually Evelyn Salt. For several months, Salt had created this fictional persona of Vanessa Shaw, a young, single flight attendant working for one of the largest airlines. This cover allowed her to travel the world discreetly.
    Salt could never have done all this without Peabody's help. Several months after managing to escape the authorities with Peabody's assistance, they had re-established contact and were meeting discreetly and regularly. Salt had only one thing on her mind: revenge. And Peabody saw it as a simple and unexpected opportunity to destroy this Russian terrorist cell. The deaths of Orlov and Ted were just the first cogs in a larger machine.
    Peabody had supported Salt in her quest, providing her with all the help he could: weapons, documents, equipment. Salt, having not been cleared of the charges against her, absolutely had to remain anonymous for a while. Before, she was alone without equipment; her disguises were rudimentary: hair dye, contact lenses, false dentures. Facial recognition had made great strides. Salt had obtained a device to create very convincing, realistic masks. She could now create new identities, even assume the identities of existing people.

    Salt read as much information as she could about Mason Reiss. She managed to obtain his entire career history, his military training, his various missions for the CIA, and even details of his personal life. Mason was a good agent, decorated several times for his service to his country. He seemed to be of high integrity. He was also married to a young woman named Jennifer, and they had no children. He was an only child. A true patriot. 
    Salt picked up the phone and performed a few steps to make an encrypted call. Given the late hour, Salt called Mason at his home. 

    Mason had recently returned home. He had apologized to his wife, Jennifer, explaining that he needed to finish a report and therefore still had work to do. His wife understood the importance of his job and said nothing. She went about her business while Mason wrote his initial notes on Peabody's murder. When the phone rang, Mason was surprised to see the call was from an unknown number. In his line of work, any number was fair game. His own home phone was also monitored. He answered. A soft, female voice, which he didn't recognize, began to speak: 

"Mason Reiss?" asked Salt, who had kept his voice-masking device on and was therefore still speaking with Vanessa Shaw's voice.
"Is that him on the line?"
"I'm Evelyn Salt. Don't try to trace this call. I won't be staying here long. You are in charge of the investigation into the death of... Peabody."

    Salt almost shed a tear when he mentioned that name. Mason could hear the distress in Salt's voice.

"Listen, Salt! You'd better surrender. You have a lot to tell us. Agent Peabody's death has only increased the pressure to find you!"
"I didn't kill Peabody. It's a setup! Why am I being accused?"
"We have evidence: surveillance video."

      Salt was still logged into the CIA website and continued looking at the attachments that accompanied Mason's notes. She saw that there were several video files. She opened them. At first, the camera images appeared blurry. 

     But then Salt's face and silhouette became visible. She was shocked when she saw the footage. How was this possible? The date and time were clearly marked on each video. At that time, Salt wasn't in the United States. It couldn't be her. Yet, it was indeed the building's parking lot where Salt and Peabody managed to meet discreetly.

 

    The next video showed Salt threatening Agent Peabody, who appeared surprised. Then came the gunshot to the heart. Peabody collapsed to the ground. The assassin stared at the camera with a huge smile, as if she were fully aware she was being filmed. The scene saddened Salt even more, and he remained speechless for a few moments.

"Are you still there?" Mason asked on the other end of the line.
"Yes... Yes... I understand how I was accused so quickly. But you have to believe me. I'm innocent. I have to clear this up!"
"I can help you, Evelyn. Let's meet. It will be easier for everyone. I'll listen to you."
"How could those images have been leaked to the press so quickly? Besides, do you think I'm stupid enough to expose myself like that in front of the cameras? This... This woman isn't me! She's deliberately trying to frame me..."

    Salt continued to think at breakneck speed. She couldn't trust anyone; she was alone again.

"I'll get back to you..." Salt then hung up immediately.
"Salt, hold on..."

     Jennifer, having remained in the same room as Mason, had overheard the entire conversation. Mason put down his phone and seemed annoyed.

"Oh, darling! Is everything alright? Who is this Salt?" she asked him.
"She's the prime suspect in a crime I'm working on," Mason replied.

    Jennifer approached him and stroked his hair. This gesture often had the effect of relaxing Mason. Then Mason took her by the hips and sat her on his lap. Jennifer hugged him. Mason turned off his computer and kissed his wife. He smiled for a moment. Then he thought of Salt. He had a job, supported by other competent agents. He also had a life with his wife. Salt was alone. He remembered that Salt was suspected of having tried to kill the Russian president. The latter had been declared dead, curiously, from a spider bite. He remembered that Salt's husband was a spider expert. It couldn't be a coincidence. Just like the suspicion of having tried to kill the president in his bunker. Another agent working with Salt who was present in the bunker turned out to also be an undercover Russian agent: Ted Winter. This whole story was too murky for him.

 

    After hanging up, Salt continued to ponder her conversation with Mason. Could she trust him? She thought of Peabody. Without admitting it, she realized she had, in a way, become friends with Peabody. She was alone again. She took a photo from her suitcase and sat down on the bed. She removed Vanessa Shaw's mask. She hadn't noticed she was still wearing it. She had been wearing it for hours. She had finally forgotten about it, as if it were a second skin. 

      Salt began to shed a tear and exclaimed upon seeing her wedding photo with her late husband, Mike Krause, who was killed by a member of Orlov's organization.

"I miss you, honey. I will avenge you."

    Once her tears were dry, Salt grabbed Vanessa's mask and headed back to the bathroom. She needed to know more about this Mirror Protocol project. From the data she'd retrieved from her USB drive, she discovered that a diplomat likely had more information on her cell phone. All the details of the project should be there. She had to understand who this fake Evelyn Salt was and what Orlov Junior's plan was. This diplomat was scheduled to attend a diplomatic reception in Berlin.

    It was time for Vanessa Shaw to check in as staff for the project trip to Berlin. Salt put her Vanessa mask back on and changed her contact lenses, which had fallen out in her grief. In front of the mirror, she tried to recapture Vanessa's charming smile.

    The next day, Evelyn Salt, portrayed by Vanessa Shaw, landed in Berlin. That evening, a diplomatic reception brought together important diplomats from around the world. Salt's objective was to meet a Russian minister and his advisor. They were mentioned in documents Salt had managed to extract from computers at the Kyrgyzstan base.

    In Berlin, arriving on the same plane as Salt, Dr. Clara Weiss, an Austrian physicist, was invited to the same diplomatic reception on cybersecurity. She checked into a prestigious hotel near the reception venue. The journey had exhausted her, but she showed no signs of it. She remained a stunning blonde woman with a radiant smile. The hotel receptionist handed her the key with a broad grin. She couldn't wait to get to her room, finish her speech, and then take a shower. She felt dirty and sweaty from running through the airport, having almost missed her flight.

    Clara didn't even bother unpacking her suitcase once she got to her room. She simply took out her laptop, placed it on the small desk, and turned it on. The screen displayed a Word document containing her speech, which she had partially written on the plane but hadn't had time to finish. She began rereading it and picked up where she had left off. She knew she didn't have much time left. This speech had to be ready before tonight's reception.

    After her speech, Clara headed to the hotel bathroom. She appreciated the comfort of the hotel's bathrooms. She was used to staying in the same hotels during her travels. She regularly gave lectures. She liked to take a nice, hot shower before facing the crowds at receptions. She took out a conservative outfit and hung it on a hanger in the bathroom. She didn't want anything too flashy or sexy. She knew she was attractive, but wanted to capture everyone's attention with her words, not her appearance. Then she undressed and stepped into the shower.

    She stayed there for a good 20 minutes. The shower was spacious and modern. She would have liked to enjoy it longer. But she thought about switching to television, or perhaps ordering a snack, not knowing what she would find to eat at the reception desk. She got out of the shower, put on the hotel bathrobe, took a towel, and began to rub her hair to dry it.

    Clara was lost in thought, rehearsing her speech in her head, when there was a knock at the door. She asked :  

"Who is this?"
"Room service, Ms. Weiss. May I come in? The room hasn't been fully cleaned. I won't be long."

     Clara looked around, examining the room. Curious, she found it rather spotless. The bed was neatly made, towels, bathrobe, slippers, iron... Nothing seemed to be missing. She approached the door and peered through the peephole. She saw a rather elderly woman dressed as a maid, near a trolley filled with cleaning supplies and towels.

"Just a moment, please," Clara cried.

    Clara checked that her bathrobe was properly closed, then opened the door.

"Please excuse us. The hotel is very busy, and we're running late. We're very particular about the quality of our service if we want to maintain our 5-star rating."
"I understand. Please come in. I'll just finish getting ready."

     Clara let the old woman in and looked her up and down. She couldn't say how old she was, but she didn't find her attractive. Clara hoped she would age much better than her. Clara was amused to note that they were the same height. The chambermaid pulled her trolley with impressive strength, without any difficulty. She must be able to defend herself. It just goes to show you shouldn't judge a book by its cover; Clara would have thought her, at her age, weak and frail. Clara had a curious thought. In this hotel chain, she didn't remember having such an elderly woman on staff. What did it matter? She continued drying her hair, no longer paying any attention to the chambermaid.

    Innocently, Clara chose a spray bottle and a large cloth and began to polish the furniture. Then the maid sprayed a generous amount of liquid from the bottle onto the cloth. With her back to her, Clara didn't see the maid approach quietly from behind her. Clara was about to yawn when she saw a hand holding a cloth in front of her. Before Clara could react, the woman pressed the cloth under her nose. She recognized a very strong smell of chloroform. Before she could react, Clara fell asleep instantly and fell backward. The elderly maid was strong enough to support her and help her gently fall back onto the bed.

     The maid gently laid Dr. Clara Weiss on the bed. Clara slept soundly. And she would for several hours. She would most likely wake up with a terrible headache. The product she had sniffed was very effective and almost instantaneous. The maid touched Clara's face and examined her. She gently opened her eyelids to confirm the color of her eyes. She then continued to examine Clara's entire body.

     The first stage of infiltration was a success. Evelyn Salt noticed a complete outfit, strict and elegant, hanging on a hanger. Clara had helped her choose her next outfit for the evening. Salt removed her mask. She was prouder of this result. She could have kept the Vanessa Shaw mask for the role of the maid, but she would have been taking a risk. A traveler who happened to take the same flight might have been surprised to see the same beautiful woman dressed as a maid in a prestigious hotel. 

    Salt had created a new, temporary identity. The disguise was longer and more elaborate than Vanessa's. A silicone-treated layer on her arms gave the impression of aged, wrinkled skin. The mask and wig completed the disguise.

     Hidden in the cart, Salt retrieved her laptop and a disassembled 3D printer. She placed everything on the desk and assembled the printer. When she turned on the PC, the screen displayed a 3D replica of Clara Weiss's face. She pulled out a complete file on Clara Weiss, thanks to hacked connections to the CIA website. She had all the information she needed on the Weiss file: her biography, her resume, her connections. Everything was there. Salt had an excellent memory, so she memorized as many details as possible while the printer began generating the silicone mask. She silently and sadly thanked Peabody for providing her with the equipment.

    Salt undressed and went to take a shower, making sure to remove all the makeup that had allowed her to play the role of the elderly maid. But she knew she wouldn't be Salt for very long. The reception was about to begin. She dressed in the outfit Dr. Weiss had chosen. Salt had selected the woman who was closest to her height and measurements from the guest list she had managed to hack. Luckily, this Dr. Weiss had a very similar physique to Salt. Perhaps with a slight difference, Salt had a slightly larger bust than Dr. Weiss. No matter! She wouldn't be impersonating her for long.

    The mask was ready and perfect. It was an exact replica of Weiss's face.

     Salt began by tying her hair back; she would have to wear a blonde wig, in addition to the mask that would cover her entire face.

    Once the mask was properly positioned and her hair was in place, Salt gently pulled at her cheeks to position her mouth correctly. She would have to speak, to talk. The mask absolutely mustn't create any creases. She would be quickly unmasked.

    Salt completed her transformation into Clara Weiss with subtle touches of makeup. She wanted to be able to distract her future interlocutors with a hint of charm, but above all, a discreet one. She was tasked with retrieving information from a phone about a Russian minister or his possible advisor. She learned that they were both susceptible to feminine charm, particularly blondes. Salt knew, therefore, that she would have to charm these gentlemen.

    As the final step in the preparation, Salt put on a very special bracelet. It was connected to a tablet for configuration. This bracelet allowed the transfer of data from a mobile phone to a microSD card over a certain distance. She configured the connection on a very specific mobile phone. The bracelet should connect to the phone if she was close enough. If the bracelet flashed, the connection was established and the transfer was underway. The problem was that the phone could only be in the hands of the minister or his advisor. She had to identify the right person and then stay with him long enough for the transfer to complete.

    Salt, disguised as Dr. Clara Weiss, was ready to face the world. She left her room, took the elevator, and went to the reception hall on the ground floor. In the elevator, enjoying one last moment of solitude, she checked that her mask was properly applied and tried speaking. The illusion was perfect. She had carefully placed the voice changer under her shirt.
    When she reached the hall, she was somewhat surprised by the number of people. She wandered among the guests, searching for the minister and his advisor.

     She didn't have to look far. The largest group she saw was obviously the one most interested in the minister's presence. She approached them discreetly and slipped in among them. The minister noticed her almost immediately. Probably charmed by her beauty, he approached to greet her. Salt held her hand for as long as he could, with his biggest smile. Not too big, so as not to let his mask slip. She started a small talk, introducing herself and explaining her role at the reception desk. Luckily, the minister wasn't in a hurry to let go of her hand.

    A few minutes later, she took advantage of the minister being approached by other people to slip away. She looked at his bracelet. Damn, no reaction. Either he didn't have his phone on him, or it wasn't the right phone. She then set about finding the minister's advisor.

     The minister's advisor was at the opposite end of the room. She walked purposefully toward him, but slowly, nodding her head to the people she passed. She hoped no one close to her would approach her with questions.
    As with the minister, she used her charm to hold his hand for as long as possible. Slightly younger than the minister, she complimented him several times on his physique. Touched and charmed, he didn't notice that Salt hadn't let go of his hand. Salt smiled as she felt a slight vibration on her wrist. The transfer was taking place. The minister noticed the flashing LED on the bracelet. While still holding his hand, she told him a simple lie. She explained that it was a connected health monitoring device, reminding her to take her medication.
    She apologized for leaving him for that reason. She had calculated in her head the time needed for a complete transfer of the phone's contents. It should be fine. She walked away from the assistant and promised to return very soon, claiming she had many questions to ask him.

     As she was about to leave the reception hall, Salt was approached by a handsome young man in a suit. She silently prayed he wasn't an acquaintance of Dr. Weiss.

"Good evening. I don't have the pleasure of knowing you. My name is James Ivory. And you are…?"
"Weiss, Dr. Clara Weiss," Salt replied with a slight smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Dr. Weiss. Are you here as a guest?"
"No, I have a speech to give later…"
"Oh yes, how silly of me, I read it in the program. I expected such charm, seeing your name…"
"That's very kind of you."

    Salt noticed that at the entrance to the hall, security guards were talking amongst themselves, then questioning the guests they encountered. Salt sensed an unease in their demeanor. She stopped paying attention to James. He had launched into a long speech about chance encounters. Salt remained focused on finding a way to slip out of the room unnoticed. She apologized to James, claiming she had left her speech notes in her room.

    Salt was about to leave the room when a security guard approached her. He was wearing an earpiece and holding a pad of papers that appeared to be the guest list.

"Ma'am, could you please show me your invitation?"
"Of course," Salt replied, showing him Dr. Weiss's stolen invitation. "What's going on?"
"It's for security reasons. There are important people at this reception. We can't take any risks."

    The guard then pressed a finger against his earpiece to hear better. Salt couldn't clearly hear what the guard was saying. She only caught a few words: "Doctor... unconscious... arrested." The guard's expression immediately changed. His gaze hardened.

"Ma'am, you will escort me without incident." "But I don't understand... What's happening?... What did I do wrong?"

    With a gesture, the officer indicated that he should move towards the exit. Salt preferred to walk away for the moment, only with the guard.

 

    No sooner had she left the room than Salt elbowed the agent in the stomach. Surprised, he dropped to his knees in pain. Salt followed up with a well-aimed blow to the back of the neck, just like in his training. The agent fell completely to the floor.

    Unfortunately, Salt hadn't seen that another agent was approaching them. She immediately took to her heels. She knew the place perfectly, having studied it thoroughly.

     Salt quickly managed to lose the second agent. But now that the alarm was about to be raised, all the other agents would be searching for her. She wondered if the real Dr. Weiss had woken up earlier than expected. Turning a corner in a corridor, she stumbled upon a tray of champagne glasses. A simple idea came to her. She wasn't far from the electrical panel for that part of the building. She picked up the tray and headed toward the electrical room. Once inside, she opened the panel and threw in the contents of the tray. The effect was immediate. Small flashes and sparks erupted. The lights in the room began to flicker. Then, after a mini-bang, the room went completely dark. As she left, she saw that the same thing had happened to that part of the building.

    For most people, a power outage is nothing out of the ordinary, but during a reception with prestigious and important guests, the idea of ​​an attack, an assassination attempt, crossed the minds of more than half the guests. Some men and women screamed at that moment. The security personnel on site stopped searching for Dr. Weiss to reassure the guests.

    Salt took advantage of the agents being temporarily occupied to go to the restroom. Luckily, no one was there. She approached the mirror and figured the agents were looking for a young, pretty blonde woman. It was time to say goodbye to Clara Weiss. Salt then removed her mask. She'd have a better chance of leaving disguised as a brunette than as the blonde they were looking for.

    Upon leaving the restroom, Salt threw his mask in the trash. The agents were surely briefed to arrest any blonde woman matching Clara Weiss's description, or potentially an elderly chambermaid, which the real Weiss would likely have given as a description to security.

    It was much later, after Salt had left the premises, that the agents found the mask in the trash.

     In a secret location, Viktor Orlov Jr. was talking with a woman who looked almost identical to Salt. She was preparing her weapon, loading the ammunition, all while remaining silent and focused.

"You did an excellent job. Now that Salt is accused of Peabody's murder, the police will pull out all the stops in the search."

    Viktor handed the young woman a file marked confidential.

"Here is your final target. A high-ranking Russian official."

    Jennifer Reiss, a stay-at-home wife, had made a habit of joining her husband at lunchtime. She would stand in front of the CIA building and wait patiently for him to come out. She always gave a little advance notice of her imminent arrival. Mason hadn't received any text messages, but he saw no conflict in his wife's schedule that day. When he reached the reception area, he saw his wife already pacing back and forth. She seemed serious and focused. She was wearing only a small, rather tight-fitting green sweater and a miniskirt. As always, he found her stunning. Seeing him approach, Jennifer smiled again and walked towards him. They kissed, and Jennifer followed her husband to his car, parked nearby. Lost in thought, still considering his current case, the Salt case, something was bothering him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Jennifer asked him for a comment on how he'd spent his workday. He remains vague in his explanations, which does not seem to surprise Jennifer, given the confidentiality that always surrounded her work.

    Mason took the wheel, and Jennifer sat beside him. He remained focused on the road, heading towards a small restaurant they both frequented. Mason was surprised by his wife's demeanor since they got in the car.

    After a few minutes, Jennifer reached for her purse, opened it, and pulled out a gun, which she pointed at Mason.

"Hello Mason, it's about time we met. We need to talk!" said Jennifer.
"But what's wrong, darling?" asked Mason.

    Jennifer gave him a huge smile before replying:

"I'm not Jennifer..."
"Salt?"
"You guessed it! I wanted us to be alone to talk."
"What did you do to my wife? We were supposed to..."
"Don't worry about her. She's been sleeping peacefully in the living room since I left."
"I don't like these methods, Salt! I hope she's all right."
"You live a very comfortable life, Agent Reiss. Your house is beautiful and well-maintained. And your wife is lovely. Don't worry about her. You can call her after we talk. Keep driving; in 3 kilometers, you'll turn right. I know a place where we can talk in peace. An abandoned house."

    Mason continued to follow the instructions he received from Jennifer, or rather Salt, who was disguised as his wife. He had truly been careless. He knew, having read Salt's file, about her ability to transform, to disguise herself as another person. He had learned that Peabody had worked closely with her, supplying her with weapons and high-tech equipment, including a device for creating ultra-realistic masks, as well as voice modulators. He had been completely taken in.

    Mason parked his car, then got out, still threatened by Salt. It always seemed strange to him to be threatened like this by his wife. Their resemblance was more than uncanny. As it happened, Salt and Jennifer were almost the same height, within a few centimeters, undoubtedly compensated by high heels. Salt invited him into the house. It was a small cottage with very few rooms, but in very poor condition.

    Salt decided to defuse the growing tension between her and Mason. She lowered her weapon and put it away, and they both sat down at a makeshift table and chair. Mason pulled some documents related to his case from his pocket, including photos of the alleged Salt from the security camera footage.

 

“You know I didn’t kill Peabody. He was my ally… my friend. The only one who helped and supported me in my fight against the last infiltrators. I was at a military base, putting an end to that organization, at the time of Peabody’s murder.”
“But you can’t deny that it’s you in those images.”
“It’s not me!” Salt shouted, her voice ripping off her mask and throwing it to the ground. 

    Mason was a little shocked to see "his wife" react like that. But he was happy to see the face of the real Salt. 

"That's not me in those pictures! Maybe it's related to the file I found. The Mirror Protocol... Does that ring a bell?"

     At these words, Mason asked Salt for permission to retrieve a document from her car. She let him out and began to calm down. Mason returned with a folder. He opened it and began to explain its contents.

"I didn't believe it when I read it. But I think the mirror protocol is a project related to cloning. You see, you seem to be the best agent in the organization Orlov developed. It would appear that this woman is a copy of you. She apparently named her Evelina. Part of the document remained in Russian; I didn't have time to finish translating it."

    Salt snatched the file from Mason's hands and began to read it. Then, seeing the impatience on Mason's face, he translated and summarized it for him in English.

"That's right. This Evelina is a... clone of me! But it seems she's acquired all my physical skills and intelligence, but not all my memories... I read here that, to make her more effective, she doesn't possess any of my memories of my relationship with my husband, Mike. They believe that's what affected my work and my personality."

    Reading the rest of the file revealed Salt's entire past and her relationship with her husband. The organization resented Mike for squandering the potential of their best agent. Salt realized she had been under intense surveillance. Her marriage had been perceived as a perfect cover. But then Mike was described as a major weakness. This brought back memories of happier times, days when she almost forgot who he truly was.

    Mason watched Salt's attitude change before his eyes. She grew sadder as she read through the file. She stopped translating aloud but continued reading. Mason was touched by Salt. Mason placed his hand on Salt's shoulder.

"I... I understand. And I believe you. You saw that the file was written by Orlov's son? Viktor Orlov has managed to occupy an important place in Russian politics. He denies his father's past. But we suspect him of being his worthy heir. We think he is planning something."

     Salt raised her head, she remained even more determined to eradicate this entire organization, as well as Victor Orlov and this Evelina.

     Mason took a small box out of a bag he had taken with the file to his car. He opened the box. It contained a syringe and a fluorescent green substance that Salt, despite his extensive knowledge of drugs and anesthetics, couldn't identify.

"According to our researchers, we believe Evelina is indeed a perfect clone of you. And that she possesses all of your memories, especially those of your life with Mike. We think these memories are simply 'locked in,' and that if we unlock them, she could be able to distinguish between right and wrong and become an agent of the same caliber as you. The product is experimental, but we believe it to be effective."
"Should I inject her?"
"Yes! I know your instinct will be to eliminate Evelina first. But we see immense potential in her, just as we see in you. She could serve our countries better, whether it be Russia or the United States."

    Salt took the small box and picked up Jennifer's mask from the floor, then turned to Mason.

"And now?"
"Vickor Orlov will be at a global cybersecurity summit. He'll be representing his country. He says he has an important announcement to make. There will be high-ranking officials at this conference. I think you absolutely must be there!"
"It won't be easy! Security will be extremely important."
"I'll help you. You're not alone anymore."

    Salt regained her composure and gave Mason a small smile. As she left the house, Salt put Jennifer's mask back on. She could see that it seemed to bother Mason.

    Mason made one last grimace before saying to Salt:

"You know! My wife kisses much better than you. I should have noticed."

    Salt didn't answer; she continued adjusting the mask on her face. She had slightly damaged the mask, but it would do for a while longer. Mason moved away from Salt and took out his phone to call his wife. Wanting to speak to her discreetly, he headed back toward the house.

 "Hello, darling? Is everything alright?"

     Jennifer Reiss heard the phone ring, which woke her up. She answered it immediately and heard her husband's worried voice.

"Yes... Yes... I'm fine... I... I must have dozed off... What time is it?"

    Jennifer saw that she was lying on the sofa. She tried to piece together her last memories. She didn't understand why, at this hour, she was still in her nightgown. She remembered getting dressed nicely that morning... And then... And then... She remembered that an old lady had rung the doorbell... An old lady who was trying to promote an animal charity. Jennifer had let her in and invited her in for a cup of tea. The old lady was very kind, very refined. She left her for a few moments to go get the honey she had forgotten. When she returned, the old lady was still drinking her tea. Jennifer had started drinking hers. Then... Then... She felt her head begin to spin... Then everything went black. It was the ringing of her cell phone that woke her up. It seemed that several hours had passed since that visit.

    Jennifer recounted this adventure to her husband, who seemed neither worried nor intrigued. Even the fact that he had been changed into different clothes didn't surprise him. She thought she heard a sigh of relief at his explanation.

"Everything's fine, darling. I'm going to work, I have an arrest warrant to help a colleague. Then I'll be home very soon."

"I'm going to take a pill, I have a headache. I'll wait for you, darling."

    The day of the cybersecurity summit arrived. Snow had begun to blanket the city. Large billboards promoted and highlighted its importance, given its role in the summit that was to bring together high-ranking officials from around the world. Mason had told Salt that Viktor Orlov was going there to make an important announcement. She had learned of another assassination of a Russian official, and that Salt was once again a suspect. This had to stop.

 

     The night before the event, in a nightclub, Tatiana Mirova, an investigative journalist critical of the Kremlin, wanted to unwind before the long day ahead. She was on the guest list for this global cybersecurity summit. Her journalistic skills had finally been recognized. She was at the nightclub with her friends, drinking and dancing. Suddenly, she saw two police officers approaching her.

 

"Tatania Mirova?" asked one of the police officers.
"It's me! What's going on?" replied Tatiana.
"You must come with us."

 

    At these words, one of the policemen took her by the arm, and the second did the same. Immobilized and stunned, she wondered what was happening.

"But what does this mean? Why are you stopping me?"

 

    The police officers didn't respond. They were only following orders that had come from much higher up than their usual superiors. One of the two officers even thought he understood that it was coming from the CIA. Tatiana struggled, but couldn't do anything. Her friends stood there, impassive, not understanding what was happening. Perhaps one of her articles had stirred things up. 

 

     In an abandoned hangar, Salt had just received a text message from Mason, informing her that Tatiana Mirova had been arrested for questioning. Upon seeing the message, Salt smiled and understood that she had received Mason's approval. An invitation, a spot had just opened up. Tatiana Mirova had been chosen not only because she was invited to this summit, even though the seats were reserved, but also because Salt and Tatiana were quite similar in appearance and height. 

    Salt began analyzing Tatiana's various television appearances and interviews on her screens. She memorized her mannerisms, her way of moving, speaking, laughing, and expressing herself. Salt had an excellent memory. She practiced speaking in the same way. The computer prepared the initialization of the module that would later transform her voice. All that remained was to replicate the way Tatiana rolled her Rs in her sentences.

 

     While Salt read through Tatiana's complete file, sent by Mason, the printer began printing a new mask bearing Tatiana's likeness. Salt had also already prepared her outfit for the summit. She drew inspiration from the outfits the beautiful journalist wore in her interviews. She maintained a slightly rebellious edge by choosing black leather pants, a black leather jacket, and a t-shirt with a bit of a neckline. This tended to lower the guard of the male security agents she was likely to encounter.

 

 

    Salt dressed, then put on the mask once it was finished. She let out a final sigh. She seemed tired of this game of identity. How many times had she had to assume another's face to move about more freely, to live more simply? She desperately wanted to be done with this, to clear herself of all the suspicions that weighed on her. Mason seemed to believe in her. His help would be invaluable. 

 

    Salt placed the mask on her face and precisely adjusted it over the sensitive areas: her eyes, her mouth. Everything had to be perfect. Everything had to create the illusion. After positioning the voice modulator, she tried speaking like Tatiana. It took her a little while to adjust the frequency on the module, then she listened again to video clips of Tatiana's speeches and repeated the same phrases until she could no longer hear any difference.

 

    An hour later, Salt, disguised as Tatiana, arrived at the reception of the main hall where the summit was being held. There were a great many guards, soldiers, and security agents. She saw a line reserved for VIPs, privileged guests, by invitation only. She approached the agent who seemed the youngest, the cutest, the most likely to be susceptible to her charms. Because, yes, she had to admit that Tatiana was charming. She was going to be able to take advantage of that.

 

    The guard smiled broadly when he saw her. She gave him a discreet wink and immediately presented her badge. Once it was checked, she tucked it inside her jacket, subtly revealing her low-cut t-shirt. The guard glanced down at Salt's chest, a small smile playing on his lips, but also a slight blush. He let her pass without asking any questions.

 

     Salt wandered around the room, carefully examining the premises, noting the various exits she had already memorized. She also counted the people armed, whether openly or discreetly. She recognized a great many important, influential people, both political and otherwise.

    Viktor Orlov was there, already talking to a group of people. Salt walked past him without looking at him, without paying him any attention. She followed Tatiana's lead. Viktor glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, continuing his conversation. For a moment, Salt hesitated. Had he recognized her? Impossible, her disguise was more than perfect. Perhaps he was simply captivated by her appearance.

 

     Salt played her role as a journalist, randomly interviewing people she recognized. She found the right questions, a little sharp, a little provocative. The effect was immediate; the people she interviewed always tried to change the subject. She wasn't even surprised to sometimes be openly flirted with. This amused her and reassured her about the effectiveness of her disguise. She concluded that she could go ahead and interview Viktor. She approached him, microphone in hand. Viktor didn't seem to recognize her.

 

- "Mr. Orlov. What is your response to the various accusations against you? Your father has been accused of orchestrating an attack against the President of the United States, and of creating a group of spy agents who infiltrated ordinary Americans over time?"

 

"Well! You don't beat around the bush, do you, Miss?..."

 "Mirova? Tatiana Mirova." 

"Well, Miss Mirova. I can assure you that these allegations are false. I came to present my company, a cybersecurity expert. We are effective both in the office and in the field. We would like to protect Americans. And I will soon provide you with proof of our effectiveness."

 

"And what is this proof?", asked Salt, with what was certainly annoyance.

 

"You'll find out in a few minutes. I think it's time for the announcement."

 

    Orlov moved away from Salt and headed towards a platform. On the way, he gave an order to one of his henchmen. The man moved away and went towards the curtain behind the platform. Orlov approached a microphone.

 

- "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like your attention, please."

 

     The audience fell silent and turned toward the stage. Orlov adjusted the small microphone clipped to his jacket and tested the sound. A sound engineer signaled that it was OK. Orlov began his speech, introducing himself and then the cybersecurity company. He announced that his company wished to be responsible for the IT and personnel security of US political dignitaries.

 

"To demonstrate the effectiveness of our services, I present to you the person responsible for the various murders of recent days. She cold-bloodedly assassinated high-ranking Russian and American officials, and a counter-espionage agent. She is also suspected of having wanted to kill the Russian president, as well as the President of the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Evelyn Salt."

 

    Hearing Orlov call her name, Salt's tension rose a notch. Had he spotted her? She expected to see police officers heading towards her, but nothing happened. Orlov turned towards the curtain. Two police officers emerged. Evelina stood between them. Handcuffed, head bowed, she walked towards the platform to join Orlov.

 

- "We have just arrested Evelyn Salt. In less than 24 hours, once our services were contacted, we were able to quickly apprehend the most wanted and dangerous fugitive."

 

  

"Lies!" Salt shouted.

    Everyone turned to Tatiana, who then stepped onto the stage.

"If this woman is really Evelyn Salt, then tell me who I am!" Salt shouted, unable to use his own microphone.

 

    Salt quickly tore Tatiana's mask from her face, revealing her true identity to the cameras. How could anyone know who the real Salt was? Why this charade? The audience seemed stunned, bewildered. Orlov was beginning to lose credibility. The audience's gaze toward him shifted.

 

    Salt was surprised to see Evelina running towards her, looking menacing. Salt saw Evelina's handcuffs fall to the ground. Salt took a step back. And Evelina began to clench her fists.

    In front of the crowd, Salt and Evelina began to fight brutally. Punches flew back and forth. Orlov, seeing that Salt was gaining the upper hand due to his greater experience, headed for the exit. He hadn't been prepared for his presence, and especially not for this reaction. He wouldn't know how to explain this deception.

 

    Salt managed to throw Evelina off balance. For a brief moment, as Evelina struggled to catch her breath, Salt pulled a syringe containing the substance Mason had given him from his pocket. He managed to grab Evelina from behind and quickly injected her with the drug.

 

"What are you doing to me?" Evelina cried.
"I'm trying to help you! You're me! You can't be completely bad."

 

    Evelina stopped fighting, took a few steps back, and staggered under Salt's gaze. Evelina leaned on a chair. Images flashed before her eyes, like a film playing in fast-forward. Each image evoked different emotions: pain, sadness, anger, love... She often saw the face of a man she didn't recognize. But memories of their wedding made her understand the importance of this man in her life. That he was the only person who had supported her, helped her, loved her despite the reality. She remembered that he was the one who had gotten her out of prison, that he had moved heaven and earth to free her. Evelina smiled, thinking back to the wedding, to the intimate moments they had shared. Then came the tears for the day of his execution, just as she had found him again. And finally, a feeling of dark anger, a thirst for revenge. The effects of the drug had finally worn off. Evelina stood up and looked at Salt.

 

"Is he really... dead?"

    Salt, his eyes filled with sadness, replied:

"Yes, they took everything from us!"

 

 

     Salt realized that if no agent had reacted, it was because Mason had just arrived and given the order not to intervene. Salt held out his hand to Evelina. Evelina approached him, and Salt took her by the neck.

 

"Come on! Let's get out of here! We have to finish this..."

    Quickly, Salt and Evelina headed towards the curtain and disappeared. Mason gave instructions and intervened to reassure everyone, telling them that everything was under control. He asked where Orlov was. Orlov had already fled.

 

    Several hours later, Salt and Evelina settled into a hotel room in Moscow.

 

     Once their disguises were removed, Salt and Evelina began to prepare their plans. Evelina had revealed Orlov Junior's hideout to Salt. Viktor planned to infiltrate government bases in several countries, promising both security and cybersecurity. Evelina was the pawn to be sacrificed. He would let the justice system convict her, likely to the death penalty. He then planned, using new Salt agents, to eliminate important diplomats, destabilizing the country. Evelina shared with Salt all the information she remembered and revealed that the last remaining leaders of Orlov's organization were living in that base.

 

     Evelina continued to see images of the real Salt's life regularly flash by, memories both happy and sad. She asked her tons of questions as they came to her.

 

"Mike was a kind man with a big heart..." Evelina said at one point.
"Yes, I... we had orders to infiltrate the country by seducing this man. Our feelings for him quickly became tangible, real, deep... We... We planned to start a family. Just before his execution... I had decided to have a child with him, despite the risks involved. But, the day arrived..."

 

    Salt turned his head away so Evelina wouldn't see her tears. Well-positioned to understand her feelings, Evelina approached her to comfort her. Salt wiped away her tears and walked over to the wall where they had hung the Kremlin plans.

 

"So this is where he's hiding?"
"Yes, the buildings are very old. No one knew there was an underground level. Who would have imagined that a terrorist organization ready to act was hiding under the Russian government?"
"How can we get in?"
"I read a report during my training that said the place is safe and ultra-secure, but that there was one weakness: the rooftops. That's where the guards are least concentrated."
"So that's how we'll get in."

 

    Salt had stayed in touch with a skydiving expert while she worked at the CIA. They had become friends. She tried calling him, unsure if he believed her capable of committing all those horrific acts. Luckily, her television appearance, when she was Tatiana, was broadcast. He realized then that Salt was innocent. He helped her and Evelina parachute onto the Kremlin rooftops. The snow could have been a problem, but her contact was an excellent pilot.

    As they descended, Salt and Evelina eliminated the guards on the roof one by one. Once on the roof, Salt sent a message to Mason. She had already texted him from their hotel to let him know they were in Moscow. She would wait until the last minute to mention the Kremlin.

 

 

    They then found the entrance to the elevator shaft and discreetly descended through all the official floors to reach the infamous secret level. When they exited through the elevator shaft's roof to reach the level, no guards were expecting them. Salt and Evelina moved down the corridor. This corridor was identical in every way to the upper levels. Perfectly isolated, no one could hear the numerous gunshots. Salt and Evelina eliminated each guard one by one. Their perfect teamwork meant they never missed their targets. As they advanced, the guards became more agile, more difficult to hit.

    Salt and Evelina paused when the last guard fell. They reloaded their weapons for the final assault. Evelina knew the access codes for each door, and especially for the one that led to Orlov's office.

 

     Orlov was at his desk when the door exploded. Evelina had used C4 to surprise him. Five guards were still stationed in the office. They didn't last long.

 

"How did we find each other?" Evelina asked.
"Evelina, how could you betray us? I had placed so much hope in you!"

 

    Evelina approached him and struck him on the head with her weapon. Orlov fell to the ground but quickly got back up. He rushed at Salt and began to fight. Viktor was as skillful and agile as his father. A tear was hidden in his shoe. He made numerous movements with his weapon. Salt had some difficulty fighting back. He was obviously younger, more agile, and stronger than his father.

    Evelina intervened and struck him with all her might in the face. He collapsed to the ground again. But as he got up, he reached for his ankle to pull out a small revolver hidden in his sock. He was about to shoot Evelina when a gunshot rang out.

 

     Mason had shot Viktor in the arm. Viktor cried out in pain, mixed with rage. Salt was surprised to see Mason.

 

"Mason? You're already here?" Salt asked.
"Yes. I was already in Moscow. You remember in the abandoned house, when I hugged you? I had placed a tracking device on you."
"You're clever!" she said with a beautiful smile..

 

Mason approached Orlov..

 

- "Victor Orlov. You are under arrest."
- "No one can arrest me! You'll see..."
- "We know the drill. Shut up! ... Now take this away!"

 

    Two officers grabbed Orlov to take him away. Mason touched himself towards Salt, then Evelina. Mason gave Evelina a very hard look.

 

"So, what are we going to do with you now?"
"Give us a moment. We both need to talk things over."

 

    Knowing Salt's abilities, Mason reflected that it would have been pointless to stop him. But Evelina would pose a problem. Out of respect for Salt, he let them go. He trusted her.

 

    The day after the attack, Salt and Evelina had discreetly returned to the United States. Only Salt continued to exchange messages with Mason. They took a short time to talk in a café.

 

"Evelina, I spoke to Mason on the phone. He made us an offer. He wants to bring us back into the CIA," Salt explained."
"Back into the CIA?"
"Yes, look at this document!""

     Salt produced an employment contract. They reviewed it together. It contained numerous confidentiality clauses. They would be constantly in the field, presumably on many undercover missions. Mason had admitted to being impressed by Salt's performance in impersonating his wife. Evelina remained skeptical.

 

"I... I still killed many innocent people!" Evelina retorted.
"Yes, but you were brainwashed. You weren't entirely yourself."
"But their blood will be on my hands forever."
"There's a way for you to redeem yourself..."
"You don't understand, Evelyn. When I carried out those orders, I took a certain pleasure in it. I had no feelings, no attachments. I need time to know who I truly am."
"I understand."
"Will you accept?" Evelina asked.
"I think so. I need to get back to a normal life. To find new bearings. And I already know where I can start..."

 

    Salt was emotional returning to the building where she'd lived in her old apartment, the one she'd shared with her late husband, Mike. She knew it had been quickly re-let, but that wasn't her focus. Salt remembered leaving something in a neighboring apartment. She estimated how many apartments she'd walked past from the outside up the building's ramp.

    She rang the doorbell. A little black girl opened the door.

 

"Oh, it's you! It's been a long time!" said the little girl.
"Hi sweetie, how are you?" replied Salt.
"I'm fine. Still working on my homework. Did you come to pick up your dog?"
"Yes, if you don't mind. He means a lot to me."

 

    A bark came from behind the little girl. Salt's little dog, a gift from her husband, started running towards Evelyn. He seemed to have remembered her. The little girl picked him up and gave him a little kiss on his furry head before handing him to Salt.

 

"We'll come and see you."
"Yes, that would be wonderful."

 

    Salt said goodbye to the little girl, and spoke to his dog.

"I missed you... You missed me."

 

    In response, the dog didn't bark but licked her face, which made Salt laugh. She realized she hadn't laughed in so long.

 

     A few days later, Salt had found a new little apartment downtown. It would do the trick for starting a new life. She had a meeting with Mason in front of the CIA offices. She never could have imagined walking back into the offices like that, through the main entrance. She had hesitated to go back to her old blonde hair. But she felt that was her old life, the old Salt who had infiltrated the US.

 

"Hello Salt," Mason said, extending his hand. "Welcome back to the CIA."
"Hello Agent Reiss. Thank you for reinstating me."
"Have you heard from Evelina?"

 

    Salt hesitated for a moment before answering.

 

"I... I think she's going to disappear for a while. She needs time."
"You can imagine we'll have to keep a constant eye on her."
"I'll take care of that. I'll take responsibility. After all, she's... me."
"We've cleared everything out of the Kremlin. There's nothing left. Our experts are going through all the plans Orlov had made for the future. We're going to raise security on many levels. I'll leave you to direct operations."
"Good, Agent Reiss."
"Call me Mason."
"OK, Mason, you can call me Evelyn."

 

    Evelina was staying in a hotel room. She had remained in the United States for a while. She kept in touch with Salt. She finally decided to refuse to join the CIA. Those memories of the CIA weren't her own, and she still felt guilty about the murders she had committed in the name of Orlov's organization.
 

    Salt understood and respected her decision. Wanting to remain discreet for a while longer, Salt gave her all the materials she had to create new identities. She gave her the disguise of Vanessa Shaw. As a flight attendant, she could travel the world freely.

   Evelina was getting ready to put on the disguise spread out on her bed. How much longer would she have to hide? Salt explained that she would be like his probation officer, his contact. They arranged one last meeting at the airport.

     Salt was strangely shocked to find himself in the guise of his alter ego, Vanessa Shaw. It felt as if she were saying goodbye to this identity that had served him so well. Evelina didn't understand his reaction at first. Then she realized that seeing that face on someone else was bound to be unsettling.

 

"So, no regrets? You don't want to join me at the CIA? We could accomplish great things. You'd be like a sister to me," Salt asked.
"No, Evelyn. I need to understand who I am first."
"You know, you can't stay behind this mask. Change your look, your hair color, your style of dress. Create a real and definitive identity for yourself."
"I'll think about it. I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance. Your first instinct would have told you to eliminate me during the summit."
"I couldn't bring myself to do that. You're my reflection. I was sure I made the right decision."
"Goodbye, Evelyn."
"Goodbye, Evelina."

 

    Evelina had always dreamed of visiting Paris. It was ideal, a place devoid of memories of Salt. She could create new ones, perhaps start a new life here. She knew more languages. She finally felt comfortable on that café terrace. She knew she was being watched, but for once, in a positive way. She had noticed a handsome young man behind her who seemed to be undressing her with his eyes. She paid the bill and walked away from the café. She set herself a new goal: to say goodbye to Vanessa Shaw. And so, a new life began for Evelina.

  

 

THE END