Collateral Damage by Dale Brown Page A

think.”
    â€œPerhaps,” said Kharon. “You have the key for me?”
    The princess rose from her couch and walked to the settee across the room. She was a real princess, the daughter of a tribal leader whose claim to some sort of local royalty extended back several centuries. But that claim aside, the real attraction for the rebels following her were her looks. At thirty-five, she had the body of a woman ten years younger. But assuming that she was just a pretty face being used by others would have been a dangerous underestimation. The presence of the Venezuelan was proof of that. He was clearly a counterbalance to the Europeans and especially the Americans, who strongly suspected that his government was trying to curry favor with the eventual winners of the power struggle here.
    They were right, of course.
    The princess returned with a small thumb drive. Kharon gave it only a precursory glance as he took it.
    â€œThe man who delivered it was very scruffy,” she said. “You really should deal with a better class of people.”
    Kharon ignored the comment. “The rest of the money will be in the accounts by this evening,” he told her. “I appreciate your help.”
    â€œMaybe you should stay until then,” suggested the Venezuelan.
    Kharon turned his head and looked at the short, fat man.
    â€œSeñor Sifontes, are you suggesting I would cheat the princess?” he said coldly in Spanish.
    â€œOh, no, no, you misunderstand.” Sifontes smiled weakly and turned to the princess. “He’s worried that I think he’s going to cheat you.”
    â€œAre you?” she asked Kharon.
    â€œMy integrity should be beyond doubt.”
    â€œWhen you deal with Russians, one wonders.”
    â€œThe Russians have their pluses and minuses,” said Kharon. He put the thumb drive in his pocket.
    â€œI had heard that there were government planes near the city that was attacked,” she said.
    â€œI have heard that as well,” said Kharon. “Do you think they made the attack, or the allies?”
    â€œIt would be convenient if they did. But from what I have heard, this was not the case.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œI was wondering if you knew why the government chose that time to attack.” The princess stared at him. “They have not flown their airplanes for several weeks, and now yesterday they come up. Perhaps they made the allied planes miss.”
    â€œI wouldn’t put it past them,” said Kharon.
    â€œYou have many contacts.” The princess sat down on the couch, folding one of her legs beneath her. “I’m told you were south just recently.”
    â€œWho said that? The Russians?”
    â€œI hear things.” She waved her hand.
    It had to be the Russian, he thought. Or had the Americans realized what he was doing?
    Impossible. He would be dead by now. The fact that he could move around freely proved that they didn’t know he existed.
    â€œI do my share of traveling,” Kharon told her.
    â€œTo both sides.”
    â€œAs I’ve said several times, I don’t care for either cause. Whatever advances my own goals are all I care about.”
    â€œSome people think you’re a spy,” said the Venezuelan.
    â€œWho?” Kharon glared at Sifontes.
    â€œSome people,” said Sifontes. “I don’t doubt that you are loyal.”
    â€œI am loyal to myself. That, I freely admit. In this case, our goals were similar.”
    â€œStealing information from the Americans did not necessarily help my people,” said the princess.
    â€œBut the money did.”
    â€œYes.” She smiled at him.
    â€œI will stay if you wish.”
    â€œOh, it’s not necessary. Your payments have always arrived in the past.”
    â€œThis one will as well. Until we have the pleasure of seeing each other again, Princess.”
    He nodded, smiled as evilly as possible at the Venezuelan,