Page 8 of Vienna Bargain

He stared at her forehead, worried that if he met her eyes he’d be taken in by her deceit. She was a good actress.

And part of him wanted to believe.

“How did you learn about Wagner Global’s security?” Fischer asked.

She signed, shoulder dropping for a moment before she took a deep breath and shifted her attention back to the security commander. “I bribed people.”

“Who?”

“It would hardly be kind of me to reveal their names after they were so helpful. Oh, I will say the bribes were not small amounts.”

Alexander took his phone from the pocket of his slacks and sent a quick message to the head of employee services asking her to reach out to each facility—there were several dozen spread over five countries—and ask for the names of anyone who’d quit recently, gone on a last-minute expensive vacation, or made a large-ticket purchase. They'd start there and if needed would audit the financials of everyone who worked for him from the vice presidents down to the dockworkers and truck drivers.

“How did you know there was a server located here?”

“More bribes.”

“Did you approach Mr. Wagner with the intention of deceiving him into allowing you access to his home?”

Alexander could feel it when she turned her attention to him, the weight of her gaze causing him to clutch his phone so tight his fingertips turned white.

“Yes,” she answered softly.

“Did you have any plans to harm Mr. Wagner?”

“No, though I'm sure I hurt him. That was the last thing I wanted.”

“If you had not been caught, what were you planning to do?”

“Exactly what I told him I would do—have his driver take me to the airport.”

“And where would you be flying to?”

“I hadn't decided. I don't have a ticket booked, I would have done it when I got to the airport.”

Fischer was quiet for a moment, then started questioning over again. Alena appeared bored, and her answers were the same the second time around.

And the third.

An hour later, when they started the fourth round of questioning, Alexander accepted that Fischer wasn’t going to get any answers out of her. Not like this.

“Stop.” Alexander motioned for Fischer to join him out in the hall.

“Sir,” Fischer started, “we can bring in an interrogation specialist, or we can—”

“Interrogation specialist?”

“A former detective we keep on retainer. I’m not proposing anything criminal.”

Alexander nodded. He wouldn’t let anyone torture information out of her. He found that morally reprehensible. And besides, he was the only person who should be allowed to torture her.

Alexander stiffened at that thought.

“We will turn her over to the federal police. You will need to file a report of the break-in, and we may need to give them the security footage. Given your international ties, the investigation will most likely be elevated to another organization.”

“Interpol?”

“Possibly. If there’s any possible connection to terrorism then the BVT may get involved.”

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