Sphere Of Influence by Kyle Mills Page B

traffickers. The timing is obviously not a coincidence--these countries know that their action or inaction will play in the President's decision." A hand must have gone up somewhere in the crowd, because Russell waved his own dismissively. "I'll take a few questions at the end--relating to this topic only--but first let me go through this year's list. . . ."
    Volkov pressed the mute and turned to Pascal. "Haiti and Cambodia will remain decertified but get national interest waivers. Myanmar will remain decertified with no waiver." He paused dramatically. "Mexico will be decertified with a national interest waiver."
    Pascal shook his head. "This is going to be the year you're finally wrong, Christian. Myanmar has done almost nothing to curb heroin trafficking, but it's more than Nigeria is doing. The Americans certainly wouldn't be swayed by Nigeria extraditing two insignificant drug traffickers last month. And they wouldn't dare decertify Mexico, no matter how corrupt the new government is."
    Volkov put his finger to his lips and turned the television's sound back on.
    "The President has certified twenty of the twenty-four countries," Russell continued. "Myanmar has been denied certification as it was last year. Haiti and Cambodia were not granted certification but have been granted national interest waivers." He paused just as Volkov had. "Also, this year, in light of the poor record of its new administration, Mexico has been denied certification but has been provided a national interest waiver." Russell held up a hand, again fending off questions. "Following President Fox's assassination--"
    Volkov turned off the television and smiled. "My flawless record remains intact."
    Every year since the certification program's inception, he and Pascal weighed in with their predictions. And every year he was right and Pascal was wrong.
    "I'm told that Carlo Gasta's experience with Afghans isn't the only evidence of disruption in the heroin supply line this week," Pascal said, changing the subject. He obviously didn't want to dwell on the fact that he'd lost their little competition again.
    "Really?" Volkov said, deciding to wait until dinner to gloat.
    "We have reports of five separate instances that promised heroin shipments could not be delivered."
    "And the Mexicans?"
    "They're angry. Obviously they have their own production capability, but it certainly isn't sufficient to meet demand."
    Volkov nodded silently. Most of the heroin that flowed into America every day originated in the Middle East, was transported into Mexico, and then was smuggled across the border by a confusing confederation of Mexican organized crime, police, and military. Problems, until now unheard of, could create dire consequences for the extensive but delicate Mexican distribution system.
    "We aren't seeing any open fighting between the Mexican smuggling cartels," Pascal said. "But if the unreliability in supply should continue--and particularly if it should worsen--I don't think fighting is far away."
    One of their informants had told them of the Afghans' failure to deliver product to Carlo Gasta in L . A ., and Volkov found that failure telling. It had been a direct transaction, quietly circumventing the Mexicans. These deals would be prioritized, as the quick cash they provided was critical to al-Qaeda's operations.
    "Exactly what you predicted is beginning to happen, Christian. Mustafa Yasin's ambitions are becoming known throughout the region. Refiners and transporters are expecting the attacks, making al-Qaeda's victories more costly. More importantly, though, they are resigning themselves to their eventual defeat. They are strategizing to inflict as many casualties on al-Qaeda as possible and then completely destroying their own infrastructure and warehoused product so that Yasin comes away with very little." Volkov took a sip of water from a heavy crystal glass on his desk and listened to the rain begin. In a few minutes they would have to raise their