“There is also the matter of the Swiss government itself.” The Baroness turned back to us. “The evidence implicates Lüthi and Brenner, but the rest of the Federal Council may be clean. If we can reach the others before February 15thand warn them about what is coming, they may be able to stop the Chamber Session before it starts.”
“How do we reach them without going through compromised channels?” Will asked. “And what if they aren’t clean? What if they’re part of this, too, and we’re walking into another trap?”
“A fair concern.” She hesitated. “There is a general. He is retired now but still quite respected. He has connections to the military and the Council. If I can convince him of the threat, he may be able to arrange a meeting with the Council President directly. I am confident the President has no knowledge of this scheme.”
“Are you willing to bet your life on that?” Will asked.
“My life has been in his hands many times, William. He is a good man. I doubt many things these days, but of that, I am certain.”
“A meeting will be dangerous. Just leaving this house exposes you,” I said. “If the Order has people in the military and in the police, which we must assume they do, the moment you surface, they’ll know.”
“Which is why I need protection I can trust.” The Baroness looked at Will. “The CIA team, you said they are in Bern, yes?”
“Four men. They’re working under diplomatic cover with limited resources, but they’re there.”
“I need them to provide security for my meeting with the general. Swiss faces will draw less attention, but Americans—” She shook her head. “If the Order sees Agency involvement, they may hesitate. They want this to look like an internal Swiss matter. Foreign operatives complicate that narrative.”
“How will the Soviets view it?” I asked.
“They will despise America for meddling.” The Baroness scoffed. “But they know your strength. They will not wish to cross your operatives unless it is absolutely necessary, and they would never do so in public, where sunlight shines brightest.”
“You want the CIA team as a deterrent,” I said.
“I want them as a shield. At least long enough for me to make my case.”
“And if they don’t hold back? If the Soviets or the Order aren’t deterred from making a public statement?”
“Then I will need men with guns who are not afraid to use them.” Her voice was matter-of-fact. “Bisch will be with Vogel. You and William cannot be everywhere at once, and you, Thomas, are in no shape to fight. Manakin’s team fills the gap.”
It made sense, I supposed. I still didn’t like it. Bringing in more players meant more variables, more chances for something to go wrong, but we were out of options.
“There’s something else,” Will said slowly. “It’s the infrastructure seizures. The letters said they needed everything in position by midnight on the 14th. They mentioned communications, transportation, and key intersections. If we knew which targets they were planning to hit, Manakin’s team could help us monitor them, maybe even disrupt them.”
“Engel’s documents also mentioned specific acquisitions,” the Baroness said. “Warehouses, a printing facility, and properties near transportation hubs. Cross-reference those with the personnel placements. We may be able to identify their targets.”
“That’s a lot of ground to cover with four men.”
“Four men and the two of you. And whatever resources the general can provide, if I can convince him.” She met my eyes. “I know it is not enough, but it is what we have.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s pretty darn thin.”
“Yes, it is,” the Baroness agreed. “But I have built entire networks from less.”
She pushed to her feet, swaying slightly before steadying herself against the table.
“Bisch, you will contact Vogel. Take copies of the payment records and the key letters, enough to convince him, but not enough to compromise us if you are caught.” She turned to Will and me. “You will contact Manakin’s team. Arrange a meeting. Tell them we need security for my meeting with the general and assets to monitor the infrastructure targets on the night of the 14th.”
“And you?” I asked.
“I will reach out to the general.” She looked down at her bandaged hands. “I cannot write. I can barely hold a telephone. But I can still talk. I can still convince.”
“You should rest,” Will said. “You’re still recovering—”
“I will rest when Switzerland is safe.” Her voice brooked no argument. “We have five days. Every hour matters. Every contact, every conversation, every piece of evidence that reaches the right hands—it all matters.” She looked at each of us in turn. “We have lost too much to fail now. Otto, Aldric, all the others who died trying to stop this, I will not let their deaths be meaningless.”
The kitchen fell silent. Outside, the morning sun was climbing higher, burning off the mist that clungto the mountain slopes.
It was a new day.
