Excerpt

“They know we love to hear that anti-Soviet conversation. It makes us think that the cold war is for a reason.”
“Yeah, Jennifer. Why? What would be the point of getting us in trouble?”
“Well then, how did he hear about the shoes? I’m sure he wasn’t sitting with us then…”
“He overheard us. You can hear David talking across the street sometimes,” Maria replied.
Maybe she was overdoing it with this cloak and dagger stuff. Where had she got these ideas about espionage? From Volodya, mostly. But now this man, if he could be believed, was confirming everything that Volodya had told her.
★
The next day she resolved to ask Natasha about surveillance. After all, as a tour leader she had a right to know if someone was following them. After breakfast, Jennifer caught up to Natasha crossing the vast lobby alone on her way to the bus.
“Could you tell me, Natasha,” she asked breathlessly, “if the Soviet authorities are likely to have any of us followed if we go outside of the group?” There was nothing as good as the direct approach, she thought, but the older woman turned such a withering gaze on her that Jennifer wilted, then continued rapidly. “We often hear this in the west—that visitors are watched or followed for whatever reason.”
Natasha halted her brisk walk. “Absolute nonsense,” she answered crisply and stared at Jennifer as if she were demented. “The people of the Soviet Union will do no such thing to tourists. Have we not welcomed you? Am I not showing you the sights of the city?”
“Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Jennifer rushed on. “You’re being very helpful. It’s just that I have a friend who…well, lost her wallet in this country…” She recounted the story that Volodya had told her, concluding with: “The wallet was found very quickly and returned to her but she had reason to believe that someone was following her. She thought that the person, the one who was following her, had maybe stolen it and that’s why it was recovered so quickly.” She regretted starting this conversation but now there was no choice but to finish it.
This time the ghost of a smile crossed Natasha’s lips.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763246