HOW TO BE A HUMAN LIE DETECTOR
GUARDIAN ANGEL: Evy with Bill Clinton and, below, at World Trade Center ruins
“No comment,” she says. “George W Bush’s favourite pastime on his Texas ranch was trying to outpace his Secret Service detail during his ‘leisurely’ trail rides around the property. He was fast, and agents often fell behind.”
Evy protected Bush amid hostile crowds visiting Egypt, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton in a New York gay rights parade surrounded by thousands of unvetted strangers. But the presidents could also be unexpectedly humble. “George H W Bush always made it his business to show his gratitude for others – the ones most people tend to ignore,” says Evy. “On a luxury yacht in Greece during the 2004 Olympics he spoke to the crewmen and wait staff, the bosun and bartenders. “Barack Obama taught me magnanimity, and tremendous self-control. He’d meet with his fiercest critics and show them the same courtesy he extended to all.” Becoming bulletproof begins trouble in the first place.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” Evy says. “When you enter a restaurant, take five seconds to spot two exits, and sit facing the crowd. In a cinema choose a seat by the aisle, near an exit farthest from the crowd. Map an escape route, and identify cover in case all hell breaks loose. If you take a lift regularly in a building, check that its emergency phone is working. Know the stairwells and rooftop.“You begin to wonder how much fun she must be out on a date with her husband, also in government security. “Look around to see what is nearby that you could use as a weapon. Silverware on a table, a hot cup of coffee, a chair, a pint glass of beer. Anything you can
‘You don’t have to be trained in martial arts or built like a brick outhouse to protect yourself’
by avoiding
AWatch the person you’re questioning – don’t let them hide behind a table. Listen more and say less. Ask open-ended questions to get more than a yes-no reply.
Perfect your poker face. Rolled eyes will discourage confessions. Ask non-threatening questions to observe how someone reacts without stress. Watch their facial tics, body language and hand movements. Listen to their vocal patterns.
Then note how those change when you start asking stress-inducing questions. A person lying might clench their jaw, fidget with their hands, widen their eyes, or smile – but you must have established a baseline to ensure these aren’t their usual mannerisms.
Someone hiding their hands may be trying to hide more from you.
Crossed arms or legs suggest defensiveness. Watch for bouncing legs or tapping feet, paying attention to when they start and stop.
People under stress tend to yawn more. Look for clusters of behaviours.
People tell true stories in the past tense; those who slip into the present tense may be lying. Trust your gut instincts.
throw, smash, or stab with.” Life with Evy sounds exhausting, if not slightly paranoid.
When you go somewhere new identify the nearest hospital, police and fire station, and rehearse escape routes, she advises.
T HOME keep doors locked, lights on and curtains closed, with a go-bag of cash, credit card, flashlight and a knife. And don’t present yourself as a victim. “Self-awareness is equally important. Predators target the weak, so walk with confidence, shoulders back and chin up. If you look like you’ll fight back, an attacker might choose another target.
“Listen to your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, listen to that feeling.”
Overcoming your weaknesses is empowering, she insists.
When told she wasn’t tough enough to be a Secret Service agent, Evy trained relentlessly. She hates the cold, so hardens herself by taking cold showers. She runs because she hates running. At jujitsu she always picks the biggest sparring partners.
Leaving the Secret Service, Evy is now a TV pundit, teaches criminology at university, and stars on US reality TV series Spy Games.
“Heroism isn’t about being the biggest or strongest,” she says. “It’s about what’s in your heart, and mind, and spirit. You are the hero you’ve been waiting for.”