Zoyechka had just left a meeting with Vyacheslav Menzhinsky. Women were not taken as seriously in the homeland but it never stopped her from trying to get involved and finally her persistence had paid off and she had gained the trust of the OGPU executive. It had been made clear that if she had been caught that he would act as if he had never known her at all but the scars on his back would always be a reminded otherwise. They both knew it. This was all before he became an invalid so she hadn't needed to worry about that with him further and what a relief that was. 

For years her main job was to smuggle and hide people that she was asked to. There were hidden spaces in her home, but better yet she had a small network of family and friends who were all too ready to help her transport these people to their final destination. There were no hiccups, only few close calls. Every time someone suspected her she used her feminine traits to turn their heads and make them forget that she could be anything but an innocent woman passing the time. To them she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

When Menzhinsky passed away in May of 1934, she gained the eye of Genrikh Yagoda. Zoy had wondered if there was some sort of note that was left where her name was on it but she decided to find her way out Russia. Putting aside a little money until she could finally get herself out of Russia. 

In just a few weeks she found her way to the United States. Landing in New York at first it was no time before a OGPU illegal resident named Boris Bazarov had found her. For a week or two Zoyechka had felt a small bit of safety but it was soon apparent to her that she was at risk. Quickly leaving New York, she found herself in Chicago. 

Another large city provided some sort of anonymity and safety. It was not long until she was looking over her shoulder as she had not known that Boris had left the country in 1939. While working in a dingy diner Zoyechka's path crossed with Bella Brusca and it was soon after that a change of jobs was in order and she found herself working for the Sanctuary of Savages.