It took a little over thirty minutes to drive from the city to the affluent area of Ponari on the north shore of Lake Scutari. The banker’s home was opulent to say the least, with a high perimeter wall and heavy security gates. Their car pulled up to the front portico and the chauffer quickly jumped out to open the door for Jack. The evening was warm with a clear sky, and a full moon illuminating the luxurious gardens. In the shadows, cast by the mature trees, Jack could see, what he surmised to be, at least three security men.
As they entered the large hall, a young man greeted them and said, ‘Good evening and welcome, gentlemen. Please come this way.’
They followed the flunky along a marble hallway, past a large curving staircase and into the main drawing room. The big double doors were open, and Jack could see there were probably 40 or 50 guests assembled. He turned to Bogdan and said quietly, ‘Just a small gathering eh?’
As they entered the elegant room, Silvio Schlovan immediately left the group he was chatting with, and scurried over to welcome Jack. ‘Mr Smith,’ he said with a knowing smile. He offered his hand, and as they shook, continued. ‘Welcome to my humble home.’
‘Thank you, Silvio.’
The banker nodded to Bogdan. ‘And good evening to you, Mikael.’ No handshake was offered.
Bogdan smiled and looked the man straight in the eyes. I hope I get to kick your ass, you fucka, he thought to himself.
Schlovan turned and said, ‘Let me introduce you to some interesting people, Mr Smith.’
‘Please. Call me Jack.’
The banker’s knowing smile returned. ‘Jack… Yes, of course.’
The banker, a permanent smile on his round face, presented Jack to various men in the room. ‘This is, Jack. Soon to be a very special client and hopefully a future friend.’
Jack nodded, smiled, shook hands, and made small talk, as the sycophant Silvio continued to parade him around the assembled guests, with Bogdan, ever at Jack’s shoulder, looking somewhat menacing.
Finally, Jack was introduced to the banker’s wife. ‘Esther, may I introduce, Jack. Jack this is Esther, my wife.’
Jack smiled and gently shook the offered hand. ‘My pleasure, Esther.’
‘Welcome to our home.’
He felt her hold onto his hand for longer than necessary, as her beautiful eyes held his gaze. She was perhaps 35 or 36, and at least twenty years younger than the banker.
‘You have a beautiful home, Esther.’
‘Yes, thank you. We do love the place.’
The party progressed into the evening and although there was no formal dinner, a sumptuous buffet had been provided, which the big Russian made full use of.
Jack had made it clear he wished to stay on after the party to discuss business. A request the banker was more than happy to comply with. It was after 1 o’clock, when the last guests were waved off by Schlovan and he returned to the drawing room.
Bogdan was sitting at the other end of a large chaise, chatting to Esther. Jack stood at the big patio windows looking out into the gardens. He could see at least one security guard patrolling the grounds.
‘Esther,’ said the banker, ‘I need to talk to Jack for a little while. Why don’t you go on up, my darling?’
Before she could answer, Bogdan was alongside her, a switch-blade in his hand. The steel glinted under the light from the huge chandelier.
‘Sit down, Silvio,’ said Jack, as he pulled the heavy drapes across the patio windows.
‘What the hell…?’
‘Shut up and sit down,’ said Jack menacingly.
The banker took a seat opposite his trembling wife. Jack moved quickly to the big double doors and closed them, the tie-back cord from the curtains in his hand.
‘You are crazy if you…’
‘I said shut the fuck up,’ snapped Jack, then quickly came over and used the cord to secure the red-faced bankers wrists to the arms of the chair.
Tears ran down the woman’s face, as the big Russian placed the tip of the knife on her cheek.
Jack put his most serious face on and looked Schlovan in the eyes. ‘Mikael here was in this part of the world during the late unpleasantness. He was one of Dushan Grasic’s interrogators. You remember Dushan Grasic don’t you, Silvio?’
The banker, his red face now fearfully pale, shook his head.
‘Ah, okay. Well, Grasic was one of the more sadistic war criminals during the Balkan War. He was one of the top-ten most wanted, once the war was over. Ring any bells, Silvio?’
Again, the terrified banker shook his head. ‘No… I…’
‘Not to worry. It’s not important. What is important, and you must understand this, Silvio, Mikael here was Grasic’s favourite. He could torture a person for days, and still manage to keep them alive.’
‘Oh, God. Please don’t…’
‘Shhh. Just calm down and listen. All we need is a little information, then you and your lovely wife will be free, and we’ll be gone.’
The man, tears rolling down his cheeks nodded… ‘Yes, yes anything.’
‘Good, good. Take a deep breath. Relax and focus.’
The man sucked in a lungful of air, then let out a huge sigh, as Bogdan removed the knife from his wife’s tear-soaked cheek.
‘You have a study here?’
‘Yes, yes, I do.’
‘And you can log-on to the bank’s server?’
‘Yes. But I can’t transfer any funds. You won’t be able to steal anything.’
‘We don’t want money, Silvio.’
‘Then what do…’
Jack held up his hand. ‘Just information.’
‘But I…’
Jack raised his hand again and smiled. ‘Let’s all go to your study, shall we?’
Bogdan took hold of the woman’s arm and helped her to her feet, as she looked like she was about to faint. He bent down and deftly slit through the cords that secured the bankers wrists.
‘After you, Silvio,’ said Jack, ‘and please don’t try anything foolish. We’re not here to kill anyone. But that all depends on you. Whether you live or die tonight is entirely up to you.’
‘Yes, yes, this way, this way.’
As the group left the drawing room, Jack caught Bogdan’s wink.
The study was as elegant as the rest of the house, with a huge antique mahogany desk in the corner. Jack quickly closed the drapes and said. ‘Log-on.’
Bogdan helped the woman to a chair and stood behind her, his hand resting on her bare shoulder, the knife inches away from the side of her face.
‘I’m in,’ said Schlovan.
Jack sat on the corner of the desk and turned the screen, so he could see as well. ‘There was a transaction a couple of days ago. Three billion pounds came into your bank.’
The pale face had returned to its usual red, and the banker looked up. ‘I…’
Jack put his hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘All I want to know is where the three billion went to, Silvio.’
‘I can’t bring it back, I…’
Jack squeezed the shoulder. ‘I just want to know where it went.’
‘And be fucking quick about it,’ snapped Bogdan, waving the knife in the woman’s face.
‘Yes, yes, I’m sorry…’
Jack turned his head away and smiled at Bogdan’s outburst.
The banker deftly tapped at the keyboard and a few minutes later said, ‘Here.’
Jack read the screen. ‘So, it’s evenly disbursed between three accounts.’
‘Yes.’
‘Less three million pounds?’
‘Yes. Our commission.’
‘Wow, we’re in the wrong fuckin business,’ said Bogdan.
Jack smiled at his friend’s comment. ‘You can keep your commission, Silvio.’
‘Is that all you…?’
The pressure increased on the shoulder. ‘Where are those banks?’