Chapter 19 - The Zurich HeistThe alarm system inside the Bank of Zurich didn't sound. There were no flashing red lights, no sirens, no shouting guards.
Claire walked out of the heavy vault door, pulling it shut behind her. The three-foot-thick steel doors locked with a heavy, final THUD, sealing Eleanor inside the air-tight, soundproof room where oxygen would run out in less than six hours.
Claire walked past the elderly Swiss vault attendant, handing him a fat envelope stuffed with cash.
"My companion wishes to spend a few hours quietly reviewing her family heirlooms in Vault 0909," Claire said in perfect, fluent French. "Do not disturb her under any circumstances until tomorrow morning."
"Understood, Madame Vance," the attendant nodded politely, bowing his head as he pocketed the envelope. "Have a safe evening."
Claire stepped out of the grand glass doors of the bank into the crisp, cool Zurich air. The city lights sparkled off the dark waters of Lake Zurich.
She boarded a private water taxi waiting at the pier. She pulled out the black hard-drive, connected it to her satellite phone, and executed the final transfer command.
[CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY VERIFIED] [100,000,000 USD TRANSFERRED TO ANONYMOUS OFFSHORE ACCOUNT]
As the boat sped across the lake, Claire pulled off her mother's signet ring and tossed it into the deep, dark water, watching it sink into oblivion.
She picked up her phone to call her private charter pilot to prepare for departure to South America.
But when she dialed, the line was cut off by an incoming encrypted call.
An unknown number from a restricted satellite line.
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Claire hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"
CHAPTER 19 HOOK: A deep, raspy, familiar voice echoed through the speakerāa voice that sent a wave of absolute terror through Claireās entire body: "Did you really think your mother died six months ago, Claire?"
