Vera Kelly is an agent with the CIA.
The year we first start following the activity of Kelly is 1966 which makes the fact that she is a field operative quite unique, considering her sex and the predominantly male dominated Agency of that era. Toss in the fact that she is working on her own on the other side of the planet, living and operating as she is doing in Buenos Aires, and her occupation and employment become even more interesting.
And then there is fact that Kelly is a lesbian. Since in most states in the country at the time of her employment that inclination is illegal and since the background security check on her would absolutely have brought that out, her job and assignment becomes even more noteworthy.
Kelly is 25 years old on that initial meeting. She has been living in Argentina for just a short time, taking as her cover identity that of a Canadian student studying abroad.
She has been with the Agency for over three years when we first meet. She was recruited based on her skills with electronics, especially being able to operate as well as repair things like small listening devices, and her language talents, speaking French and Spanish with ease. She must be good with the latter because while she is not taken as a native in Argentina, the first guess of her origin is Brazil, not somewhere in North America.
Kelly's life will change quite a bit over time. Her employment with the Agency will come to an end and she will take up private investigation as a trade to make a living. She will continue, though, to have a very interesting life that is fascinating to follow.