Hans looked at Jim. “You have my sincere apologies sir. Those are not US dollars, those were in British pounds.” He hit a button and the amounts were instantly changed to US dollars. “Of course this does not include the items in the vault or the safety deposit box.”
The amount was updated real time based on interest and changing stock prices. Jim read an amount, once liabilities were removed. The account value was somewhere near $92 billion US dollars.
Chapter 64 – The AfterShock
It took a few minutes for the shock to wear off. “You have done a fine job of managing my portfolio.” Jim said almost indifferent to what he had just seen.
“I can show you some trends. There were a few years where we did not do so well. I apologize for that. Overall, though, I believe we outperformed just about any measure.” Hans was pleased he was the one at the bank to meet and share the information in person with Jim.
“So, what is the account history?” Jenny asked.
“It looks like the account has been out there since the late 1970’s. It was opened by your father, James Conrad, with a considerable amount of money. Let’s see.” Hans was going through different computer screens that meant almost nothing to Jim or Jenny. It was nomenclature in German and was abbreviated. Hans continued. “You inherited the account from your father. A few years after his death a woman came claiming to be his wife. She had all of the correct paperwork showing that his entire estate should go to her. She even knew about the email account. She did not know the account number. However, there was an even bigger issue for her, your father wanted the account given only to his child – you.”
“So he died just a few years ago?” Jenny asked.
“No, he died in the late 1980’s. He had arranged an email account before they were wide spread. We eventually got a response back from the email that stated where to send account status. It indicated where and when we could get your blood. We took your blood and validated that you were indeed his son. Then we documented you as the account owner. You became the sole heir to his fortune. I guess it is fortunate for you that you found the account information. Perhaps your mother or stepmother can explain–whoever gets the email.”
“Do you have a picture of the woman, she came in didn’t she?” Jenny asked hoping for additional clues.
Hans looked at some info on the tape and then switched to a different system where he proceeded to go through a serious of picture until he pulled up one. “According to when she came in and our security system at the time, this would be her.”
Jenny didn’t say a word, nor did Jim. But they drew the conclusion at the same time–it was Heidi that had assisted them from Interpol on the sting operation. Jenny knew that it meant Frank might be in trouble and this whole operation may be a farce for an even larger agenda. She knew that Frank volunteered for this assignment; the real question was who decided this was the operation to have in the first place.
“Where are the vault and the safety deposit box?” Jim asked while Jenny continued to contemplate their predicament.
“The vault has been with a bank in the UK for many years. It is small like this one. We keep track of it as one of your assets. It is at a very specialized bank that secures interesting items. It was donated to your father by a James Timmons shortly after your father opened his account here. The safety deposit box is in the back. He came in about a month before his death and opened that box. It looks like he also transferred nearly $25 billion dollars into the asset pool of this account. That is when he added you to his account as the sole heir also.”
“I do not have a key, can you access the box?” Jim asked.
“Oh they are not locked. They are in a vault and it is locked, but the boxes are basic. I assure you the contents are confidential. I can bring yours out.” Hans offered.
“Please.” Jim responded. Hans left the room. Jim was just waiting to say something. “Jenny, I guess I really am rich.”
Jenny looked at him. “I would think you could walk out of here with the money and nobody would even know–except the ones who are really after it right now.”
“Who is that?” Jim was almost scared to ask. This little adventure had all of the sudden become personal. He thought he knew his father. He grew up with the man who claimed to be his father. The man he called father had married his mother when she was pregnant with him. Now to find out that his father was someone else.
Jenny looked at him. “This whole mission was a set-up. I just don’t know by whom.” This was a lot of money and whoever was orchestrating the effort would soon be coming after them. “We will have to find a way to shake some trees to find out who is behind this. They will come after us.”
Jim looked a little disturbed by what he was about to suggest. “Okay, you’re my financial manager, but the best way to find out who it is would be to move the money they want further out of their reach.”
“I think you may be right.” Jenny said just as the banker walked back into the door.
“As you say in America, the customer is always right.” Hans commented realizing that perhaps it might have come across as listening in on the conversation.
Hans handed the closed box to Jim and started to turn for the door. Jenny stopped him. “Hans, you do not need to leave. We would like to make a few changes to the account.”
Hans turned, his face turning a bit pale. He looked a little worried. Often changes meant that the account would move someplace else. Jenny continued. “We would like to move all of our assets and account history to a new primary account at this bank. I am concerned that we have compromised the account ourselves. It would also provide a way for us to potentially figure out who has been monitoring the account without informing Jim. We can leave the old account open with only, say $100 in it.”
“That is an unacceptably low amount for one of our accounts, but in your instance I believe we can make it work.” Hans said. “Should I have the occasional deposits transferred out as well?”
“Who is making deposits?” Jenny asked instinctively.
“The only influx of money, besides the growth in the portfolio, comes from an anonymous deposit into one of your Cayman Island accounts. It is then transferred here until we decide how to reinvest.”
“Yes, let’s move that to the new account also.” Jenny asked.
Jim called Arthur at the hotel just to let him know they would be back soon.
Hans set up the new account, explained how it would work and provided Jim and Jenny with a password they could use for limited transactions over the phone. He agreed to send an update to the email address indicating the new balance. Jenny took a few minutes to create a new g-mail account and asked that the updates for the new account be sent to [email protected] as well as any pictures of anyone who came to the bank inquiring about the old account. Jenny also withdrew enough cash to keep them going for a while.
Jim found time to gather the contents of the safety deposit box. It was a single item. He wouldn’t tell Jenny until they left the bank even though she kept trying to get an indication of what it was. As they walked out the bank towards the taxi Jim pulled out a key with distinct markings on it “DMW” and a hand written piece of paper with the same coordinates as were found on the back of the plate. He then said. “I think I know where we are going next.”
Jenny looked at him. “Where?”
“What do you think of Iowa?”
Chapter 65 – The Lie
“What are you doing in Switzerland? I have a team in Belgium in case you need help and you are in Switzerland.” Frank was furious with Jenny and called just moments after he had received a call from Tom, his boss at Langley, letting him know that one of their operatives at USB had been in contact with Jenny and Jim directly.
Jenny and Jim were in the taxi and she couldn’t be as direct as she wanted. “I felt it was a good idea for Jim to meet his banker in person so we changed our travel plans.” Jenny was not at all happy with the phone call, Frank was not supposed to
call her number unless it was an extreme emergency – too much of a chance that their cover might be blown.
“When you are done, do you plan to come back to Paris?”
“We are going to have dinner and then head to the train station to go to Paris.” Jenny knew that it would not be the case and she wanted to warn Frank about Heidi but this was not the time or the place. She would call from the airport–either Zurich or across the pond.
Chapter 66 – New Arrangements
Professor Arthur Borden was not given a complete explanation. He knew it and it bothered him. He was told the account belonged to some criminals and that their best approach was to just leave it alone. Jenny assured the professor that they would find him a safe home in the area and would contact him when they were sure he was safe. His only consolation was he could keep the plate and paper while he waited. He was warned to not try researching anything online or contacting others until this thing blew over. It was a warning that they did not need to give. Jenny arranged a quick call to his children so they knew he was safe.
Jenny called Ricardo who was very pleased to hear from his new friends. She called for a favor, “Of course, what can I help you with?”
Jenny explained that they wanted out of the country and needed a “different” identity so that they would not be tracked. They also needed a safe place for Arthur to hide out. Ricardo was happy to oblige and within the hour had someone at the hotel assisting with proper documentation. It was expensive, but at this moment money was not an object. Professor Borden was given new credentials just in case he needed them. The forger would also become Arthur’s new friend and his place to hide out for a while.
Jenny and Jim, with their new identities, made their way to the Zurich airport.
Chapter 67 – The Gathering
Amir was greeted at the hotel room door by Heidi. “The Captain is inside.”
Amir walked into a spacious hotel room, larger than most for a downtown Paris room. There was the Captain sitting in a wing backed chair with an oxygen tank next to him. He did not have to use it, but it certainly made breathing easier, especially after a cigarette. The ash tray was full but the Captain did not have a cigarette lit at this moment.
“Sit down Amir, let’s chat.” The Captain said.
Amir made his way to the couch that was near the chair. He pulled a piece of paper out and handed it to the Captain.
Heidi asked Amir as she sat down next to him “Are you sure it is correct, Professor Alto was able to translate it.”
“I am sure. Now where can we move my family?” Amir said almost demanding.
“Do you think she will even be a factor anymore? She has served her purpose.” The Captain responded afterwards taking a gulp of oxygen.
“She will find out and she will come after you and she will come after me. She is very resourceful.”
“I can imagine she would be more interested in you than in us. It was, after all, you that arranged the death of her parents.” The Captain said directly.
“Yes, at their request.” Amir pleaded almost to himself for a crime he committed and had never forgiven himself for. He never knew why, but when the Captain approached him those many years ago and told him that he knew everything that happened Amir panicked and agreed to watch over Yuri and then to eventually betray her to save his own skin and that of his family.
The conversation was interrupted by the vibrating of the Captain’s phone and at almost the same time Heidi’s phone. It had a distinctive beep that caused each of them to immediately reach for their phone.
It was an email message that might have just saved Amir’s life but he would not know that or the contents of the message. The Captain looked at Amir and told him to get out. They would contact him later.
He didn’t question the Captain’s word. He had seen that look on Yuri before and knew that it was time just to do what he was told. After the door shut behind Amir, The Captain looked up at Heidi reciting the email from memory. He spoke the words slowly to Heidi to emphasize each syllable.
“Dear Mr. James Conrad,
We appreciate your continued business with us. Your recent withdrawal brings your new portfolio balance to $100. We will provide our typical asset summary at the end of the month.”
The Captain’s phone rang as did Heidi’s. After each having a brief conversation, The Captain said, “It has to be Jim. No one else could access the account. You need to get to the bank and pull their security tapes. I don’t care how much protection they have. You must confirm who accessed the account.”
Heidi responded, “I can do better than that. I work for Interpol and my American friends have told me that Jim and Jenny were seen with a wanted man, Professor Arthur Borden. I can put out an all-points bulletin to bring them in. Every law enforcement agency in Europe will be looking for them.”
“Brilliant. That should get them in much quicker.” The Captain said anxiously.
“I will still make a trip by the bank to confirm it was Jim and to see if Yuri is also involved. I am not sure where he would have acquired the account number otherwise.”
“Yuri and Jim working together, wouldn’t that be ironic?” The Captain concluded.
Chapter 68 – Frank talks to Jenny
Finding a quiet place within an airport to make a call without it being evident that you are standing in an airport is not an easy task. Jim and Jenny finally paid an enormous fee to get into a first class business lounge for one of the airlines. Inside the lounge were several small and nearly soundproof rooms. Sophisticated equipment might pick up the background noises but she was just calling Frank. He wouldn’t feel the need to monitor and evaluate the call to that level of detail.
Frank did not waste any time. “Are you someplace you can talk?”
“Yes, it is fairly secure.” That was the best way for her to assure Frank that the location was random enough that someone wouldn’t be recording her conversation but had not been checked for bugs or other listening devices.
“Are you on your way to Paris like we agreed?” Frank sounded like he was angry and firm all at the same time.
“Frank, things have changed.” Jenny started to explain.
Frank would not let her finish. “Yes, Interpol has decided to put you on a watch list and as someone wanted in questioning.”
“For what?” Jenny asked in disbelief. But she realized the reason and figured out who had likely put them on the list even before Frank answered.
“For harboring a fugitive, you were seen with Professor Arthur Borden.” Frank continued.
“He is hardly a fugitive. That aside, I would bet it was Heidi who issued the bulletin.” Jenny continued.
“Why would you say that?” Frank asked.
“She is a crook, a thief or something. She is part of this whole thing.” Jenny said.
“What whole thing are you talking about?” Frank pushed.
“This whole operation is a front for a petty theft or rather a large theft.” Jenny threw it out now. Frank would have to delve into that comment.
“You mean our operation is a farce. I don’t think so. We have a legitimate plan to track and capture the arms dealers to terrorist. We have already connected with one of the biggest and most elusive, Yuri.” Frank explained.
Jenny now had to give more information than she wanted to, but she needed Frank’s help. It would put him in jeopardy also. “Jeez Frank. Jim Conrad had a real bank account with billions. Our Jim is the only one that could access it because he is the real Jim Conrad’s son–they know that because of DNA testing. Jim was a real person and we have been played into thinking he is a fictitious character.”
“Are you saying this whole operation is a front for a robbery?” Frank concluded and asked in the same breath. And thinking about Jenny’s words, specifically ‘had an account’ he continued. “And you said he had an account, does that mean it no longer exists?”
“I am not only saying this is major theft, but that there has to be a mol
e in the agency, someone who helped orchestrate this entire event.” Jenny said.
“I get it. You really should come in. We can figure this out when we get you and Jim safe. Putting him at risk is not fair. Besides, if there is a mole and you are a wanted criminal. It might look like you were guilty.”
Jenny had considered her options and was fairly certain that it was more dangerous coming in not knowing who the mole was than staying on the run. Besides, Interpol could look all they wanted, in less than an hour she would be out of their jurisdiction on the way to the states. “I can’t come in. With the mole, it isn’t safe. But you can help.”
Frank concluded in his mind that her logic was sound. He didn’t like it, but in a similar situation he would do the same. He knew that it was fruitless to argue with her about it. “How can I help?”
“You can find out what you can about Jim’s family or shall I say Jacob’s family. Really both. You can create a short list of potential moles in the agency.” Jenny explained.
“Your name and my name will be on that list, you understand.” Frank knew that he had to approach it analytically and consider all possibilities even if it some were absurd. “What will you do?”
Jenny responded. “There is a vault in the UK that belongs to Jim Conrad. There might be answers there. Also, Professor Borden is knee high in this thing. Perhaps we can find more about his connection in the UK. But pretty much we will keep a low profile, incognito you know.”
“Incognito huh, that is pretty much how Jim Conrad has been his whole life.” Frank concluded.
Then Jenny added, “Frank, Heidi is in on it. I know that for a fact and have proof. She is a connection. Find out who she might know at the agency. And watch yourself.”
Convergence Page 17