Numbered Account

Rita Sutter flinched at the insult. She flew from her seat and rounded her desk, grasping Sylvia tightly by the forearm and forcing her to a grouping of sofa and chairs huddled low against the wall. "How dare you speak to me that way? What could you know about the feelings I have for the bank? Or for Herr Kaiser? Tell me this instant what's gotten into you."

Sylvia swung her arm free of the secretary's firm grip and sat down on the sofa. "Herr Kaiser is going to be arrested this morning. Happy? Now tell me where he's gone. Somewhere in the Tessin. Is it Lugano or Locarno? Bellinzona? We have offices in all those cities."

"Who is going to arrest Herr Kaiser?"

"I don't know. Probably Thorne- the American."

"Who has done this? Is it Mr. Mevlevi? I've always known he was a bad man. Has he implicated Wolfgang?"

Sylvia stared at the older woman as if she were mad. "Mevlevi? Of course not. He's going to be arrested with the Chairman. It's Nicholas. Nicholas Neumann. He's arranged it all. I think he's working with the DEA."

Rita Sutter smiled incredulously; then she shook her head and her features sagged. "So he knows? Oh, dear. What has he said?"

"That Kaiser helped Mevlevi kill his father. That he's going to stop both of them." Sylvia clenched her fists, willing the older woman to action. All she cared about was getting Wolfgang Kaiser away from the police and ensuring that no matter what, Rudolf Ott did not succeed him as Chairman of USB. "Tell me where we can reach him."

Rita Sutter snapped back to attention. "I'm afraid we'll have to wait," she said. "At least a while. They're in Mr. Feller's car and I don't have the number. They should be in Lugano in an hour. The Chairman has a meeting scheduled with Eberhard Senn, the Count Languenjoux."

"Where is the meeting taking place?"

"At the Hotel Olivella au Lac. The count lives there during the winter."

"Give me the number," Sylvia snapped. "Quickly."

"It's on my desk. What do you plan on saying?"

"I'm going to tell the receptionist that Herr Kaiser must phone us as soon as he arrives. When did you say he should arrive?"

"Wolfgang left my house at seven-fifteen," said Rita Sutter. "If it's not snowing, they should be there by ten-fifteen or ten-thirty."

Sylvia was certain she had not heard properly. "Excuse me?" she asked. "Herr Kaiser was with you last night? He spent the night at your home?"

"Why are you so surprised?" Rita Sutter asked. "I've loved Wolfgang my entire life. You asked whether I cared about the bank- of course I do. It's Wolfgang's." She found the phone number of the Hotel Olivella au Lac and held it out in front of her.

Sylvia snatched the number from Sutter's hand. She picked up the phone and dialed the number. When the hotel operator answered she said, "Give me the receptionist. It's an emergency."

***

Nick kept his eyes on the barrel of Mevlevi's pistol as he lowered himself to one knee. Snow enveloped the asphalt lot crowning the Gotthardo Pass. The limousine was somewhere behind him, the chauffeur waiting at its side. Visibility was near zero. They had arrived less than a minute before. Dutifully, he'd followed Mevlevi's instructions to step from the car and advance several paces into the mist. He knew he should be afraid, but he couldn't get past feeling stupid and ashamed. He'd been presented with a dozen clues and ignored them all. He'd let his heart blind him. No wonder Sylvia had had such easy access to his father's activity reports. No wonder Kaiser had accused Schweitzer. No wonder Mevlevi knew about his father's agendas. The source for their information was all too clear: Dr. Sylvia Schon. Nick applauded their efficient chain of communication.

Mevlevi stood above him, leering. "Thank you for giving me just cause to abandon you here on this inhospitable mountaintop. I trust you'll find your way home. But don't bother trying the restaurant. Its doors remain closed until May. And the phone," he shook his head, "I am sorry. I think you'll find it doesn't work."

Nick stared at the gun. It was the same pistol used to kill Albert Makdisi.

"You see, I can't have a man who cares so little for himself working for me. You really should be a bit more selfish. Kaiser was perfect. Our goals were always the same. It took so little to make him move in the right direction. I imagine he spoiled me."

Nick blocked out the Pasha's rambling soliloquy and his own self-abusive thoughts. He concentrated on when to use the knife, how to distract Mevlevi, and what to do with the chauffeur afterward.

"I thought you'd make a fine soldier," Mevlevi was saying. "Or I should say, Kaiser thought so. He was so pleased at being given the chance to seduce the son of the man who had threatened to betray him. You know the rest. And we can't have that, can we? It is a disappointment. As for Kaiser, I imagine he'll get over your loss soon. Probably Tuesday, when the Adler Bank takes over USB and he's out of a job."