Page 9 of Vienna Bargain

Terrorism. Few people knew that supply lines were one of the most vulnerable points in modern society. It wouldn’t be flashy terrorism the way blowing up a building was, but it would be highly effective. Take out a few key ports and the ability of companies like his to move massive quantities of goods, particularly food products, would be crippled. While repairs were made or alternate ingress and egress arrangements were being found, bread, milk and eggs would start to disappear in import countries. That would in turn lead to a run on scarce goods, wiping out the remaining supply.

In the net export countries that made more grain, produce or milk than they could consume, the value of goods would plummet, crashing the agricultural part of the economy. There were only a handful of countries who didn’t either heavily import or export goods, and therefore could survive if worldwide supply lines were compromised.

After that would come civil unrest and riots.

Alexander closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Alena wasn't a terrorist.

It was naïve of him, given what he saw, given the cool way she handled the interrogation, but he just couldn't bring himself to believe that she'd seduced him and used him as a way to begin a world-wide terrorist attack.

Put in that perspective, corporate spy hired by his rivals was the far less horrifying option.

Alexander open his eyes, and looked at Fisher, who had a professional, blank expression. The man hadn't asked exactly how Alena has gotten him to bring her into the house. He had to tell someone, but Fisher was smart enough not to ask embarrassing questions of a man who could easily report dissatisfaction to Fisher’s boss’s boss, or altogether terminate the relationship between Wagner Global and RTW Security.

Still, the question needed to be asked. Fischer would probably pass that grim duty off to those higher up the food chain. Damn it, that meant Zakaria was going to show up.

Or maybe they’d leave it to the Federal Police.

They’d ask him how and where he met her. He could say a private club, and hope everyone was cowed enough not to press the issue. But what if they asked her? Would she expose the Orchid Club, essentially destroying the organization that had, for years, been his secret haven?

“There are things she knows I would rather the BVT not be told.”

Fischer grimaced slightly. “Once we turn her over we will have no control over what she does or does not say to them.”

And that was a problem.

A very big problem, that risked not only his privacy, but that of every other member.

The Orchid Club allowed sex acts that were illegal in countries that still had sodomy laws. Austria was liberal in that respect—prostitution was legal and had been since the late 1800s. The same wasn’t true for all the places Orchid Club events had taken place. The hosts of events in applicable countries—he been to one in Rabat, Morocco, another in Alexandria, Egypt—might face criminal charges, based on sodomy laws, if information about their activities and proclivities were made public.

“It’s not just myself I’m worried for,” Alexander said.

Fischer looked at him and nodded slowly.

The more he ran through the possibilities of what could happen once Alena was turned over to the authorities, the more certain he became that the benefits outweighed the risks.

There was an alternative.

“Can you track where she sent the data?”

Fischer hesitated. “I’m not sure. It’s not my area.”

“Find out.”

Fischer nodded and reached into a pocket on his vest, then hesitated. “You’re proposing we do not involve the authorities?”

Alexander carefully composed the sentence before he spoke. “Not unless we have to. If your company can’t track it, I’ll hire someone who can.”

“Interpol’s database—”

“She mentioned the authorities,” Alexander said softly. “Asked if they would be joining us. Right before you arrived.”

Fischer paused. “You think she may have a plan to escape the police?”

“Bribes. Connections.” Alexander suggested.

“Possibly, though keeping her is risky.” It was clear Fischer didn’t like where this conversation was headed.

Alexander didn’t give a shit what the RTW commander thought.

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