37

Mahadi takes a sip of wine, then changes tack. "You know, I met with Anaru Katariki just a couple of weeks before his disappearance."

"Oh?"

He waves away your inquiring look. "We talked only about work. He gave me no indication that he would vanish the way he has. Specifically, we talked about Pentifrome Five."

Pentifrome Five is a malaria vaccine developed by MetaHuman that is currently undergoing human trials and looks like it may be launched for sale in the near future. It has the potential to greatly reduce the number of malaria cases in the poorer regions of Asia. It renders a subject immune to malaria with just one injection, though you know that other variants of Pentifrome exist that require regular booster shots to maintain the immunity.

"Mr. Katariki spoke very persuasively about Pentifrome Five's effectiveness," says Mahadi. "So much so that I'd be willing to place a substantial order right now, on behalf of the agencies I represent. An efficient one-off vaccine for malaria is an attractive proposition. Of course, your company would make far more money if you were to supply a less efficient drug, one that required the regular purchase of the booster treatment. Perhaps I could forget all about Pentifrome Five, and tell the agencies I represent about some less efficient product instead. Of course, I would expect a small percentage of all future transactions as a broker's fee for setting up such a deal…."

Ahmed Mahadi is asking you to help him deceive his employers. If you conceal the existence of Pentifrome Five, you can guarantee repeat sales of the less efficient booster treatment against malaria in the future. Of course, you'll also be exploiting numerous health agencies in Asia, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to subject themselves to regular injections rather than a quick, one-shot vaccine.

"You spoke with Anaru Katariki about this?" you ask. "And he was in favor of supplying the less efficient variant of Pentifrome?"

"He was, yes."