Numbered Account

"What list? What are you talking about? I've never given Konig a thing."

Rudolf Ott slithered to his master's side. "How could you, Armin?"

"Whatever you've heard, they're lies," said Schweitzer. "Garbage, pure and simple. The bank is my home. I've given you thirty years. Do you think I'd ever do anything to endanger it? Be serious, Wolfgang."

"Oh, I am, Armin. Deadly serious." Kaiser paced in a circle around the accused man. "I saved you once. If this is how you choose to repay me, fine. Enjoy your new post at the Adler Bank. Your stay here is at its end. Next time you see me on the street, cross to the other side. Next time we happen to dine in the same restaurant, you'll leave immediately, or else I'll stand up and publicly accuse you of these crimes. Do you understand me?"

Schweitzer's eyes were open wide and he blinked wildly to clear them of tears. "You can't mean this. This is a mistake. I never-"

"No mistake has been made, save yours to work for Konig. Good luck to you, Armin. Now get out of my bank." Kaiser's arm pointed stiffly toward the hallway.

Still, Schweitzer refused to leave. He took a few off-balance steps as if walking on the rolling deck of a seagoing vessel. "This is madness. Please, Wolfgang- Herr Kaiser- at least give me the opportunity to clear my name. You have no right to-"

"I said now, dammit!" yelled Kaiser, in a baleful voice Nick had never before heard. "Leave!"

The indignity was complete, the Chairman's cavernous office as silent as a tomb. Schweitzer turned and walked from the room under the bewildered stares of his colleagues.

"And the rest of you," the Chairman commanded, "go back to your posts. We haven't lost her yet."

CHAPTER 53

The witnesses to Schweitzer's dismissal gathered in the anteroom to the Emperor's Lair and exchanged expressions of disbelief. Ott and Feller appeared energized by what they had seen. Nick thought they could barely keep the smiles from their faces. Rita Sutter, though, sat behind her desk in a sort of stunned silence, shell-shocked. Nick waited until Feller had left the office, then approached Rudolf Ott.

"I've been asked by the client I was escorting yesterday, account number-"

"Mr. Mevlevi," Ott cut in. "I know the man's name, Neumann."

"He asked me to deliver all correspondence from his account being held at the bank." Nick had wanted to broach the issue with the Chairman, but Schweitzer's arrival- and departure- had prevented him from bringing it up. Now he was stuck playing to Ott.

"Is that right?" Ott stepped closer to Nick and like a courtier eager to catch up on the latest rumors, linked arms with him and set off down the corridor. "I understood he reviewed his file yesterday afternoon."

"He was interrupted." Nick jostled his arm, trying without success to remove it from Ott's clutch. "News of Cerruti's death."

"Ah." Ott nodded as if now he understood what had transpired. "When does he want it?"

"This evening before seven. I had planned on asking the Chairman but…" Nick let the sentence drift off.

"A wise decision," said Ott. "This is hardly the time to bother him with administrative matters. As for Mevlevi, can't he wait to read his correspondence while at the bank?"

"I suggested the same to him. He says he wants to review his mail before we drive to Lugano Monday morning."

"Wants it by seven tonight, does he?" sniffed Ott. "And he expects you to bring it to his hotel?"

"That's right. To the Dolder. I'm supposed to leave it with the concierge."

"Well, Herr Kaiser will be relieved to know where he can contact Mevlevi, won't he? Though he can hardly risk a visit. Much too public to be seen with one of Mevlevi's sort. Especially now." Ott looked up at Nick, who stood a head taller. "All righty then. Let me give security a call. Be at DZ in ten minutes. That's three sharp."

Nick extricated himself from the man's clinging grip. He had taken only a few steps when Ott called after him. "And Neumann, be sure to take Mr. Feller with you. He spent a year with Karl. He'll help you find what you're looking for much faster."