Her statement was echoed by the two men, who nodded. Switzerland was renowned for how punctual the trains were. Adriana figured the time keeping thing went hand in hand with mass transportation systems. The logistics behind moving all those trains, however, and keeping them on time, was a staggering proposition to consider.
The driver Hummels had arranged was someone he vetted through the head of his security team. Before leaving Innsbruck, Koenig asked why they weren’t taking some of the guards with them on the trip.
Hummels said that he’d rather not cause a scene, and walking around with a bunch of bodyguards tended to do that. The professor accepted the answer without much fuss, but Adriana could tell he would have preferred to have some extra muscle along on the trip. Then again, keeping a low profile also had its advantages.
The group exited the enormous train station and headed to the car.
“The driver should be waiting just over here,” Hummels explained.
Zurich was a standing contradiction of styles, cultures, finances, and history. While the Swiss way of life had remained fairly consistent through the centuries, there was a great deal of visual evidence to the persistence of change and its influence on the great city. Colorful buildings stood next to drab stone ones. Near those, LED billboards flashed high-definition advertisements for makeup, beer, and financial advice. Farther along the street, one of the more modern-looking buildings added to the contrast. Standing twenty stories tall with a metal framework and surrounded by glimmering glass windows, it gave the impression it had been constructed a hundred years into the future.
“There he is,” Hummels said, taking Adriana’s attention away from the buildings and the people. He pointed to a black Mercedes-Benz.
A tall, chiseled man wearing Ray-Bans and a black suit and tie exited the driver’s side. He rushed around to the curb and opened the front and rear doors for Hummels and Adriana. His thick, dark chocolate-colored hair didn’t move in the city breeze that blew through the canyon of buildings. Adriana figured him to be in his twenties, with tanned skin that still looked young and healthy. She’d seen his type before. Good looking, confident, and way too full of himself. No doubt he would be at a local nightclub later that evening, trying to pick up any number of women and hoping one would bite at the lure of his sex appeal.
She walked around the open door and behind the trunk to the other side, choosing to sit behind the driver’s seat. Koenig smiled and thanked the young man while accepting the gesture on her behalf.
The driver’s face twisted for a moment, confused, but he quickly recovered and returned to his place behind the wheel. “I’m taking you to Tohn and Volmer, yes?” His accent was a strange blend of French and German, hedging more toward the latter. The English, though, was good.
“Yes,” Hummels responded. “I have an appointment with the branch manager, a man named Dolf Immelman. Do you know him?”
The driver nodded. “I’ve driven for him once or twice. Most of the time it is for his clients. He is a very powerful man here in Zurich.”
“I would expect so. He runs one of the oldest banks in the country. The assets they take care of must be immense.”
Adriana listened to the conversation while watching the city go by through the window. People bicycled and walked to their various destinations. Some sat in the cafes or at the sidewalk tables that were so prevalent in Europe. It was close to lunchtime, so that explained the rush-hour-like feel. The talk between the guy behind the wheel and his primary passenger was something the Swiss considered customary. While much of the Western world considered it to be small talk, the Swiss considered it etiquette.
“What business do you have with Immelman?” The driver asked the question innocently.
Hummels gave a curt reply. “Personal.”
“Well, he is not a very personal man. Always polite and courteous but ever focused on business. He knows how to get things done.”
Hopefully, he knows how to get things too, Adriana thought.
With the heavier-than-usual traffic, it took a few minutes longer to reach the Tohn and Volmer Bank. When they stopped at the curb in front of the entrance, the driver hurried to get out and open the door for Adriana. His fingers had barely touched the handle when she again beat him to the punch, opening it for herself.
The bank’s façade was made of granite. Sculptures of lions, bears, horses, familial crests, and royal symbols adorned the outside next to a set of flags, making it look more like a government building than a business. The windows on the second story and up were small, contrasting the trend that most modern buildings used, installing giant glass panes to bring in more light and enhance the view.
A hundred years ago, most of the business structures, especially banks, would have more closely resembled Tohn and Volmer. Now it stood as a reminder of the way things used to be.
The driver waited with the car as the three visitors passed through the metal and glass doors into a vast lobby. Stairs on the right led to the upper floors. Two sets of elevators, shielded by brushed steel doors, were just next to them. The floors were checkered in white and black marble. Tall cylindrical pillars towered over the room at four points in the center. Directly ahead, eight clerks worked busily, assisting customers with their deposits, withdrawals, and other banking needs. On the right and to the left were the bankers’ offices, where people met to get a loan or discuss personal finance. The rooms were essentially glorified cubicles. The only difference was that they had windows to the outside as well as the big interior square windows so workers could also see into the lobby. Above, each of the three additional floors had a wraparound walkway with what Adriana assumed were more offices.
An eager young man in a navy blue blazer and pants, red tie, and white shirt left his desk and hurried out to greet the newcomers. His dark brown hair was brushed to the side, hanging just above the ear. He had what so many people referred to as a baby face. Adriana couldn’t help but wonder how old he was.
“Welcome to Tohn and Volmer,” he said in English. His face beamed brightly as if he’d just opened the best Christmas present ever. “Is there something I can do to assist you today?”
Hummels took the lead. “We are here to see Dolf Immelman.”
The response had an immediate effect on the young banker. “I… I’m sorry, he is only available by appointment.”
Hummels grinned to ease the banker’s discomfort. “We have an appointment. Please let him know that Friedrich Hummels is here to see him.”
The banker swallowed hard. His wide eyes told the guests that he was terrified of even the idea of calling Immelman. He reluctantly turned around and went back to his desk. As he picked up the phone and made the call, he stared out the window at the three in the lobby.
Adriana took inventory of the room. A large safe in the back protected the day’s assets as well as a few additional pots of cash. She knew that the real valuables would be either buried deep inside the building or up on one of the other levels. Her guess was that the majority of the wealth would be kept below, protected by bedrock, concrete, and steel. The upper levels certainly housed the higher-ups — the bank officials who handled the bigger deals and brought in the lion’s share of business. That would mean Immelman’s office should be located somewhere on the top floor, likely in one of the corners.
The young banker ended his call and, after fumbling the receiver for a second, managed to place it back on the base. He returned to the guests with a droopy face full of nervous apprehension. “His secretary said he’s expecting you and that you can go ahead up to the fourth floor.”
“Thank you,” Hummels said with a smile. “I will tell him you are a bright young member of the firm.”