HE PLACEDthe attaché cases on the floor next to the chair, unbuttoned his coat, and removed his leather gloves. The fingers of the left hand were absent any rings. On the third finger of the right hand, the one where an ordinary Russian would have worn a wedding band, was a heavy ring with a dark stone. In America, it would have been mistaken for a class ring or the ring of a military unit. Sarah, seated at her desk, forced herself not to look at it.
“May I take your coat?”
“No.”
“Something to drink? Coffee or tea?”
He shook his head, and sat without removing his overcoat or hat. “You’re not Herr Becker’s usual secretary.”
“She’s sick.”
“Nothing serious, I hope.”
“Just a virus.”
“There’s a lot going around. I’ve never seen you here before.”
“I’m a temp.”
“You’re not Swiss.”
“American, actually.”
“Your German is very good. It even has a bit of a Swiss accent.”
“I went to school here for a few years when I was young.”
“Which one?”
Sarah’s answer was interrupted by the appearance of Becker in the door of his office. Petrov stood.
“Your secretary was just telling me the name of the school she attended in Switzerland.”
“It was the International School of Geneva.”
“It has an excellent reputation.” He extended his right hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss…” His voice trailed off.
“Moore.” Sarah grasped the hand firmly. “Irene Moore.”
Petrov released Sarah’s hand and entered Becker’s office. Thirty seconds later, the formalities complete, the two men emerged and set off together toward the vault room. Sarah passed that information to Gabriel over the microphone concealed on her desk, then reached beneath the desk and unzipped her handbag. The gun was there, barrel pointed downward, grip exposed. She glanced at the clock and waited for the sound of the front buzzer. Her hand was beginning to itch on the spot where Petrov’s ring had touched her. It was nothing, she told herself. Just her mind playing tricks.
UZI NAVOT was waiting outside the entrance to the vault room when Becker appeared, followed by Anton Petrov. The Heathrow surveillance photos had not done justice to the Russian’s size. He was well over six feet, broad shouldered, and well built. He was also clearly uneasy. Staring directly at Navot, he asked of Becker, “Where’s the usual security guard?”
The banker answered without hesitation. “We had to fire him. I’m afraid I can’t go into the details. You may rest assured that no client assets were involved, including yours.”
“I’m relieved.” His eyes were still on Navot. “Quite a coincidence, though. A new secretary and a new guard.”
Again, Becker managed a swift response. “I’m afraid the only constant is change, even in Switzerland.”
Navot opened the secondary door to the vault room and stepped aside. The Russian remained frozen in place, his gaze flickering back and forth between the banker and the security guard. Petrov was obviously suspicious and reluctant to enter. Navot wondered whether five million euros in cash might be enough to tempt him. He didn’t have to wait long for the answer.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Herr Becker, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll see to my business another time.”
Becker seemed taken aback. For an instant, Navot feared he might improvise and ask the Russian to reconsider his decision. Instead, he stepped aside with the curtness of a headwaiter and gestured toward the exit.
“As you wish.”
Petrov fixed Navot with a cautionary stare, then turned and started down the corridor. Navot quickly considered his options. If the Russian managed to make it out of the bank, the team would be left with two choices: snatch him off a busy Zurich street-hardly optimal-or follow him to his next destination. Better to take him here, inside the premises of Becker & Puhl, even if it meant doing it alone.
Navot had one brief advantage-the fact Petrov’s back was turned-and he took it. Moving Becker aside with one sweep of his left hand, he delivered a knifelike strike to the Russian’s neck with his right. The blow might have killed a normal man, but Petrov merely stumbled. Regaining his balance, he quickly released the two attaché cases and reached beneath his coat with his left hand. As he turned to face Navot, the gun was already on its way out. Navot grabbed the Russian’s left wrist and slammed it hard to the wall. Then he turned his head and frantically searched for the right hand. It wasn’t hard to find. Fingers splayed, killing ring exposed, it was reaching for Navot’s neck. Navot grabbed another wrist and held on. You won’t be alone, Gabriel had said. Funny how things never seemed to go according to plan.
SARAH HEARD two noises in rapid succession: a man grunting in pain, followed by a heavy thump. Then, a few seconds later, she heard a third sound: the intercom buzzer. Gabriel and the others were waiting outside the entrance of the bank. It would take at least thirty seconds for them to be admitted and make their way to the vault room. Thirty seconds that Uzi would be fighting for his life alone with a professional Russian assassin.
I won’t hesitate either, Uzi.
You sure about that?
I’m sure.
Sarah reached beneath her desk and drew the gun from her handbag. Chambering the first round, she got to her feet and headed into the corridor.
ON THE third ring, the receptionist finally answered.
“May I help you?”
“My name is Heinrich Kiever. Herr Becker is expecting me.”
“One moment, please.”
The moment seemed to last an eternity.
“Herr Kiever?”
“Yes?”
“I’m afraid no one is answering Herr Becker’s line. Can you wait another moment, please?”
“Would it be possible for us to wait inside? It’s a bit chilly out here.”
“I’m afraid it’s against policy. I’m sure Herr Becker will be with you in a moment.”
“Thank you.”
Gabriel glanced at Mikhail. “I think we might have a problem in there.”
“What do we do?”
“Unless you can think of some way to break into a Zurich bank, we wait.”
NO AMOUNT of firearms training could have possibly prepared Sarah for the sight that greeted her as she entered the corridor leading to the vault room: one Swiss banker huddled in fear, two large men trying very hard to kill each other. Navot had managed to pin Petrov to the wall and was struggling to control the Russian’s arms. In Petrov’s left hand was a gun. His right was empty, but the fingers were spread wide, and he appeared to be trying to grab Navot’s neck.
The ring!
One touch of the stylus was all it would take. One touch, and Navot would be dead within minutes.
Gun in her outstretched hands, Sarah sidestepped Becker and moved toward the two struggling men. Petrov immediately took note of her approach and attempted to aim his own weapon in her direction. Navot reacted quickly, twisting the Russian’s arm and slamming it to the wall so the barrel was pointed toward the ceiling.
“Shoot him, Sarah! Shoot him, damn it!”
Sarah took two steps forward and pressed the gun against Petrov’s left hip. I won’t hesitate either, Uzi… She didn’t. Not for an instant. The round shattered the Russian’s hip joint and caused his leg to buckle. Somehow, the left hand managed to maintain its grip on the gun. The right was still inching toward Navot’s neck.