Born with a slight, but not fragile, build, hair that could not be distinguished between blond and brown, and blessed with a near-photographic memory for both facts and mannerisms, as well as a face that blended into most Western European crowds, MacAlester seemed the perfect choice to become an undercover agent. Perhaps because of these features, MacAlester joined the CIA, becoming a counterintelligence agent, and soon came to view disguise and infiltration as more than merely a career choice but also the most exciting game in the world.