[Alex Hoffmann 02.0] Devil's Move

by Leslie Wolfe

  “The one thing I see as a positive in all this,” Steve said, “is the overall benefit that offshoring brings to those markets, to the people living there. I remember reading that offshoring has extended the life expectancy in those areas and has improved the health and mortality rates in those populations. Do you think this is what drives America’s commitment to globalization?”

  “In my entire business career, sitting in countless board meetings, I promise you I have never heard someone say, ‘Let’s outsource our manufacturing to China because people are dying or starving.’ Instead I have heard numerous times how outsourcing saves the corporation money and how much it saves, all demonstrated in colorful charts and plump cash-flow forecasts. For corporations this is a cost-driven decision.

  “However, you do have a point, Steve, and I agree with it. It is important that we actively work, as a nation, to improve the standard of living in other countries, but not beyond the point where we stop being able to maintain our own. If we continue to do that, we will soon lose the ability to help anyone, including ourselves. However, we can improve the standard of living in those areas in many different ways. We could share knowledge, innovation, healthcare advances, and best practices. We could make targeted infusions of capital and investment to the local economies.”

  “What do you think will happen, long term, with our economy?” Alex asked.

  “It’s hard to say. A lot is riding on who’s going to win the election. The Republican presidential candidate, Krassner, seems to have a good grasp of what could be done to stimulate the recovery of our standard of living. There are many things that could be done, by the government and by the consumers. The government, if it decides to take this path, could deploy taxes and duties to prevent the labor drain. It could also give tax incentives to create homegrown expertise. You see, part of the problem is that now, after more than thirty years of offshoring, you can’t even find skilled manufacturing workers anymore. People have abandoned this career path due to obvious reasons.”

  Brian paused a little, scratching his head. “As for the consumers, well, we’d have to decide that it might be worth it for everyone if we buy fewer quantities but higher quality products. Germany has such a culture, for example. People there do not buy seven pots and pans at a time; they only buy one when they need it. If the product is imported from outside the European Union, that product carries a significant customs duty tax that the government uses to fund development programs for the German workforce. In Germany and other places, offshoring funds their labor development, not ruins it, because it carries significant levels of tax. By having such a high tax applied to any outsourced work, offshoring also loses its low-cost appeal and stops being the Holy Grail of all corporations. It’s not worth pursuing anymore, so companies become invested in the local communities. In Germany, unemployment is low, GDP is high, and the country doesn’t have that much debt, either. So yes, there are ways to fix our economy; it just needs to become a priority for our political leaders.”

  “So, going back to our unofficial client, DCBI, offshoring these two contracts was a cost-driven decision, I understand?” Alex asked.

  “Robert Wilton’s team uses a points system to award contracts, with cost being a key component of their scale. They also look at the financial health of the vendor company, the experience, the clientele, the processes, quality standards, and many other aspects, but cost has a high impact in DCBI scoring.”

  “I remember he said he didn’t have to do anything to promote the selected vendor, that the vendor surfaced as a prime candidate on the points system without his help,” Alex said. “That means the vendor is good, right?”

  “Yes, that’s precisely what that means,” Brian confirmed. “The fact that the UNSUB decided to execute such an elaborate plan to ensure that the vendor would be awarded the software contract speaks to the determination and preparedness. It also speaks to the UNSUB’s reach; it knew everything about the competitors and filed an aggressive offer.”

  “OK. What else do I need to know?”

  “You’ll need to know how to interact with the company employees culturally and how to get ready for your trips.”

  “This is where I come in,” Steve said.

  Alex turned in her chair to face Steve.

  “All right, let’s start with Taiwan.” He consulted his tablet. “Taiwan is quite simple. Stay away from large gatherings, don’t fall for any advance fees or inheritance scams; this is their local flavor of the Nigerian scam, and they love to try it on Westerners who are new to the country. If you’re invited to a meal, wait to be invited to eat, as opposed to just diving in when food is served. Be careful not to lose face and not to cause anyone else to lose face. Losing face is any form of blemishing someone’s public image. Criticizing someone will cause him or her to lose face, especially if it’s in public. Getting angry and losing your temper in public will cause you to lose face. Umm...what else?...Ah, here. Always travel with your best friend, toilet paper.”

  Alex burst into laughter.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Better safe than sorry. Not all restrooms have it, and you might want to be prepared.”

  “Soon I’ll need a dolly to carry what I’m supposed to have with me everywhere I go. All right, got it, I’ll make sure I have plenty of TP.”

  “Remember the Taiwanese are very superstitious. Any mention of death or anything negative is bad luck. For any special situations where you don’t know how to behave or what to do, email me or search the Internet. Oh, and if someone laughs nervously, that’s because they’re uncomfortable with something and not necessarily amused. Think about that when responding.”

  “Got it,” Alex said, taking notes. “What else?”

  “I think this is it for Taiwan, for now,” Steve said. “Let’s move on to India. We’re used to the Indian culture because we have a strong Indian presence here in the States. We have colleagues and friends who are from India, and we are quite familiar with their culture, up to a certain point. I’m not worried about that at all. I’m more worried with some other aspects of your travel. Water, for example. You cannot drink any tap water when you get there, or let it get into your nose and eyes. You’ll get what’s called ‘Delhi Belly,’ and it’s not fun. Of course, there are other deadly pathogens in the Delhi water that can give you cholera, pneumonia, or dysentery.”

  “Oh, how lovely.” Alex scoffed. “Travel all around the world to die on some god-forsaken toilet. Not what I had in plan for this stage of my career.”

  “Be careful and you won’t die.” Steve smiled encouragingly. “Just don’t touch the water.”

  “Seriously? How the hell am I gonna brush my teeth, wash my face, and take a shower if it can’t get in my eyes, nose, or mouth?”

  “Bottled water. Brush your teeth and wash your face with bottled water. I heard that brushing with beer sucks, especially if you use Sensodyne toothpaste,” Steve said with a very serious face.

  They all burst into laughter. Alex mimicked brushing her teeth and spitting out copious amounts of foam.

  “All right, I get it; how about my hair? Washing my hair with bottled water will probably take two hours.” She continued her protests.

  “It’s either that or death on the toilet. Eat well-cooked foods, nothing raw or underdone, and do not eat any vegetables or fruits.”

  “Seriously? Why?”

  “’Cause they’re rinsed in the same water. Remember, nothing, nothing at all. No lettuce leaf on your burger. No tomatoes or raw onion next to your steak. No uncooked vegetables, under any circumstance.”

  “Good thing I like meat, then. I’ll just eat steaks.”

  Brian stifled a laugh. Alex gave him a homicidal gaze.

  “Do you think that’s funny? Really?”

  “Actually, yes,” Brian answered. “You aren’t focusing much today, or else you might have remembered cows are sacred in India.”

  “Oh,” she said. Brian’s laughter was contagious. Sh
e snickered. “Then what the hell am I gonna eat?”

  “First of all, they prepare chicken and mutton really well; you’ll love those.” Steve smacked his lips. “Really yummy. The slaughter of cattle is highly restricted, but some restaurants might still put a steak on their menus, especially those with high Westerner traffic. I do recommend you think twice before ordering beef, because you don’t know what that meat really is, considering how restricted cattle slaughtering is, and because even if it is beef, it might be processed by people whose deep beliefs are insulted by the idea of having to kill cattle to serve you and people like you.”

  “What are you saying?” Alex asked. “Will there be something wrong with it?”

  “No, not necessarily. Just bad karma, if you’d like to think that way. I, for one, wouldn’t like to offend anyone’s beliefs with the food I’m ordering if I can avoid it. Stick to chicken and mutton, try some of the vegetarian dishes and see if you like them. There’s also McDonalds in Delhi and Domino’s Pizza and other alternatives, only don’t expect them to taste like they do here. They are heavily spiced to add the local flavor. Just save your steak cravings for when you come home. Tom will grill you a monster one, I promise.”

  “Oh, I know. It’s just a lot to remember and a lot of risk of getting sick.” She frowned.

  “Let’s talk immunizations now,” Steve continued, pushing a list in front of her. “You’ll need shots for Hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, polio—but I guess you have that done already. Rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever.”

  “Huh? All these?”

  “Yep, and you need to get started. I’m not sure if your doctor will want all of them done at the same time or staggered to make it easier on your body. Get your appointment set up with him, and make sure you’re immunized before leaving. He’ll also recommend a malaria prevention therapy, an oral drug like Mefloquine or Cloroquine, that you have to start taking a few weeks before leaving.”

  “Whoa, hold it just a second,” she stopped him. “Isn’t this drug responsible for psychotic rages in some veterans or active-duty soldiers? Not sure, but I remember seeing it on TV. There was something wrong with their malaria drugs. Are these the same drugs we’re talking about?”

  “Largely, yes. Antimalaria drugs have significant side effects, some of which can be neuropsychiatric.”

  “Can you be more specific, please?” Alex asked in her low, calm-before-the-storm tone of voice.

  “Anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, depression. But not all patients experience these side effects. “

  “Just what I need on a covert, high-risk investigation in a foreign, dangerous country. To become paranoid, see things that aren’t there, and be more anxious than I already am.” She stood abruptly and started pacing the floor. “Let me make it clear for you, Steve. Hell, no! Not taking them, and the hell with it.”

  “This is not negotiable, Alex. If you get sick with malaria, what will happen then? If you don’t get proper treatment you could die,” Steve said. “I cannot accept this risk.”

  “This risk is not yours to accept, Steve,” she snapped at him, instantly regretting it. “Look, I’ll wear a ton of mosquito spray, and I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  “Let’s be practical here.” Brian intervened. “Alex’s concern with maintaining the integrity of her cognitive processes is a legitimate one.”

  “Thank you,” Alex said, nodding in his direction.

  “Let’s explore options,” Brian continued. “If she gets malaria, what’s the treatment?”

  “The same drugs, or doxycycline,” Steve said.

  “I’ll take doxy anytime,” Alex said.

  “You can’t take doxy for weeks in a row to prevent it,” Steve said.

  “Yeah, but I can take it if I get sick. Case closed,” she said, not willing to discuss it any further.

  Great meeting, she thought bitterly, just uncovered fifteen million more ways to die.

  ...Chapter 39: Inauguration

  ...Monday, February 1, 1:32PM Local Time (UTC+1:00 hours)

  ...Overnight Delight Headquarters—Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav

  ...Prague, The Czech Republic

  Cameras were clicking constantly, targeting the precise moment when the mayor of Prague cut the red ribbon in front of the warehouse doors. It was an honor to have the mayor himself inaugurate a business; Karmal Shah knew that very well. He also knew that not every day a city like Prague gets such a large investment in one of its suburbs.

  The mayor cut the ribbon with scissors offered on a silver tray by Shah’s new executive assistant, Hana, a slender girl with flowing blonde hair and unforgettable cleavage. By the looks of it, the mayor wouldn’t be forgetting her cleavage any time soon. Perfect.

  A surge of applause marked the moment the ribbon was cut. The mayor then turned to Shah and shook his hand. They both smiled, posing for the media.

  “We are both grateful and excited,” the mayor said, “to welcome ‘Overnight Delight’ and Mr. Karmal Shah to Prague and to our community. Mr. Shah is a successful entrepreneur who has a lot to teach us about building a business in the modern, borderless world. Please join me in wishing Mr. Shah and ‘Overnight Delight’ the best of luck!”

  Another wave of applause. It was his turn now. He stepped in front of the microphones after shaking the mayor’s hand again.

  “Thank you all for your warm welcome and your incredible hospitality. It was the world-famous Czech hospitality that prompted me to relocate my business interests from France to the Czech Republic. It is friendship I am looking for and a sense of community in a place I can start calling home. Personally, I am looking to put down roots in a welcoming community such as yours. My business, which already employs twenty-two people here, has unlimited growth potential. I am investing millions of dollars to promote our products on Google and other online venues, and I am planning to open a business-to-business catering service. Our website and online marketplace are state of the art, and our customers are exigent connoisseurs with a high degree of loyalty once they find a good product and excellent service. The sky is the limit, and we can reach it together.”

  He put his hand up to silence the applause that was igniting. “How better to celebrate,” he asked, “than by sampling my product while visiting the facility? Please, help yourselves, and don’t forget the open bar!”

  Now they were free to applaud, and they did, for a long time. The Czech people were impressionable and easy-going. Perfect.

  Shah led the way into his building. He stepped into the front office, showing them around.

  “This is our office. We have accounting there and order management here. Through that door is my own office. I will be spending a lot of my time here, making sure we get everything organized to service our growing customer base. Online advertising is over there,” he said and pointed toward a couple of desks in the back corner. “We’ll need to add more space and more resources to this area. Can we do more with online advertising?” Shah asked, then answered the question himself with a lot of poignancy. “Yes, we can. We just need the right resources to get things done. Through here,” he said, opening two large doors, “we are entering the main warehouse. The left side of the warehouse is entirely refrigerated, dedicated to perishables. We keep caviar in there: oysters, foie gras, truffles, fine cheeses, smoked salmon, and sturgeon. The rest of the warehouse, as you can see, is climate-controlled, yet not fully refrigerated. In here we maintain a temperature of fifty-seven degrees Fahrenheit, or fourteen degrees Celsius, and less than 50 percent humidity. It’s the equivalent of the dark, cold basements from old times. Ideal to store chocolates, fine liquors, olives, and gourmet oils.”

  He showed the crowd a couple of large tables to the side, covered in fine linens, displaying a generous variety of mouth-watering delicacies. “Please sample to your heart’s desire; there’s a lot more in the warehouse if we run out.”

  His guests scattered immediately, scouting the goodies on the tables and get
ting wine glasses from the improvised bar. It was hard to say who was there for anything other than the rare opportunity to sample all these exotic foods. They were expensive, and the average person rarely, if ever, indulged in real Beluga caviar priced at $115 per ounce, served on the finest crackers, or tasted pâté de foie gras, freshly imported from France and going for $295 a can. They will remember this day for a while. No one would ever suspect Overnight Delight was in anything else but gourmet foods. Perfect.

  He was ready for the next phase.

  ...Chapter 40: New Horizons

  ...Tuesday, February 9, 10:47AM EST (UTC-5:00 hours)

  ...New Horizons Cardiology & Transplant Center

  ...Burlington, Vermont

  Alex drove slowly, heading north on Shelburne Road and looking for her turn. Every other minute she checked her rearview mirror, trying to remember all the makes and models of the cars to figure out if anyone was trailing her.

  The Agency team members had been more than careful since they’d started working this case. Burn phones with encryption software, regular bug-screenings in their homes, offices, and cars, but so far nothing was found. Yet. Regardless, working the case gave her an uneasy feeling in her gut, and she hated that. She liked being in control as much as possible, and she hated her own fears more than anything. No one can be in any control if they can’t control their fears. Get it together, girl; there’s no one there, she encouraged herself after checking the mirror for the fifteenth time since she had left her hotel. She was expecting them, the UNSUB, to be watching the clinic closely, looking for people who came snooping around. If she were the UNSUB, that’s what she’d do. Carefully put surveillance at the clinic, the only location that correlated Robert Wilton with the UNSUB. The starting point of any investigation into this case. Her starting point. Therefore, she’d have to be very creative. That, fortunately, was one of her top strengths.