Free Tracks by Niv Kaplan

seemingly innocent ads in local newspapers and find themselves
engaged in whoring in countries around the world .
    The Center had received
hundreds of calls for help from Romanian groups representing families who had
lost children, especially young girls, to this whoring trade.  In some
cases, the families would find the child but be unable to bring her back home
due to legal obligations signed by the girls who never knew what they were
signing .       
    The problem had become so
enormous that focusing on specific cases would have been a waste of the
Center’s money and time. Natasha had long been trying to fight it at government
level, hoping to convince personnel to draw up laws that would abolish any such
criminal activity.  The reluctance on the part of government officials was
not initially evident but as time dragged on it became clear they would not or
could not fight it, or that by the time they did, half the teenage population
in Romania would have become whores . 
    In stepped UN officials,
encouraged by Natasha to put pressure on the Romanian delegation to assist .  
    “ For these things to happen, Miss Usher,”
Vassilli continued, eyeing her keenly, “you must first withdraw your official
complaint to the UN secretary, and you must send further notice that matters
have been resolved to the best of your wishes.”  By that he meant
withdrawing the official complaint sent to the UN by the US State department, a
letter drawn up by Natasha and signed by the Undersecretary of State .
    Natasha sat up.  She had
been expecting them to ask her to withdraw the letter but she was not going to
write anything to the contrary before matters really began to turn for the
better.  She smiled, having long learned it to be her most devastating
weapon.  “I’ll do that when you show me some progress,” she said quietly
but forcefully .
    “ This is progress,” Vassilli argued tensely.
“When were you ever allowed to meet with the Ministry or the police ?”
    “ Let’s meet them first, then we can consider
withdrawing our letter .”
    “ No deal, Miss Usher.  I’m not at liberty
to bring you over if that complaint is still present .”
    Oh, the art of negotiation,
she thought bitterly to herself. If only it was not at the expense of those
poor girls .
    “ If I withdraw the letter before we go, you’ll
have no incentive to oblige me.  You’ll just walk me in circles and we’ll
get nowhere .”
    “ You have the ambassador’s word,” Vassilli said,
putting his sweaty palm on his chest .
    At least he was smart enough
not to give his own word, she thought.  “Then you get me the ambassador’s
written word and signature and I’ll withdraw my complaint .”
    He looked hesitant. 
“I’ll need the endorsement letter as well,” he said .
    She smiled again.  “After we get the first girl home .”  
    He was not about to continue
arguing.  Getting the complaint letter off their back was progress enough
for the moment.   He was not ready to further push his luck. 
His own skin was at risk if the letter remained.  Romania, as well as most
Eastern European nations were barely surviving and no government was going to
risk US sanctions on account of some poor wretched girls presumed to be whoring
around the world .
    He nodded silently and got up
to go . 
    Looking sideways at the silent
blonde man, Natasha added: “We’ll pay for your travel Mr. Peka, assuming you don’t insist traveling first class.  I plan to spend a
week there and I’ll expect you to stick with me.  If more time is needed,
we’ll stay just as long as we need .”
    The blonde man nodded, smiling
mischievously.  Vassilli was at the door .
     “ Peka will escort you out Miss Usher.  I’ll
make sure the ambassador’s letter reaches you .”
    Natasha smiled again. “Make
sure you leave me enough time to withdraw my complaint before we take off .”
    He nodded and hurried out the
door.  The blonde man stood and swift as a