If Freddie hadn’t been missing, Calloway hadn’t been playing dead and Brunner hadn’t been murdered, the day would have been nice—just two couples out shopping in Zurich, like any other day in the lives of tourists.
They returned to Hammer’s headquarters and prepared for their rigged entry into the vault at Brunner’s bank.
Cate used Hammer’s office to change into her new clothes.
Draco stepped into the armory where he changed among racks of weapons, comms and body armor. Hammer knew how to outfit his team with the best equipment.
He emerged minutes later in his new clothes, wishing he was still in his jeans, T-shirt and the old jacket he’d arrived in when he’d stepped off the plane in Europe, ready to kick ass and do whatever it took to free Cate and Marta.
The door to Hammer’s office opened, and a gorgeous curly-haired woman stepped out in a tailored slacks suit and sunglasses. Bright red lips curved into a teasing smile as she slid the sunglasses down her nose. “Hey,” she said in a sultry voice. “You clean up well.”
His mouth spread in a wide grin. “You’re not so bad yourself.” In that moment, staring at this stunning version of Cate, Draco was glad they’d insisted on the clothes he’d purchased.
“Are you ready to open Pandora’s box?” Cate asked, still using that sultry tone that had Draco tied in knots.
“I’m ready,” he said and held out his arm. “Just remember how spooked Brunner was inside the bank.”
Cate nodded. “The walls have eyes and ears. We need to keep our conversations to a minimum.”
Hammer had a car service vetted and waiting outside the building to take them to the bank. The driver was instructed to park nearby and wait for Draco’s text to pick them up and deliver them back to the Brotherhood Protectors International headquarters, where they would review what they found in the box.
Passports in hand and the key tucked in Draco’s pocket, they entered the bank like they belonged.
Draco prayed Dmytro’s hack job proved effective, or they might never know what the safe deposit box contained.
The same receptionist approached them, a little less confident and with a smudge of shadows beneath her eyes that her makeup barely concealed.
Even the bored guard of their last visit straightened when Draco and Cate entered.
They had to know by now of Brunner’s death, thus putting them on edge.
Draco held up the key and said, “We’d like access to our safe deposit box.”
“Number, please,” the woman said.
“One-five-seven,” Draco replied.
“I’ll need to see a form of identification.”
Draco and Cate handed over their passports.
The woman carried them to her computer, clicked on the keyboard, her gaze going from the passports to the monitor.
Draco held his breath. Cate’s hand on his arm tightened.
Moments later, the woman returned their passports to them. “Herr Carlson will see you to the vault.”
A man emerged from the doorway behind the receptionist’s desk, wearing a navy-blue suit and tie. He stopped in front of Draco and Cate and held out his hand. “Passports, please.”
He briefly glanced at the passports and at Draco and Cate’s faces. “Follow me.” He turned on his heels and led the way to the door behind the receptionist’s desk, then pressed his thumb to the biometric scanner. A lock clicked, and he held the door open for Cate and Draco.
Once through, he took the lead again and stopped at a heavy vault door. Here, he stood back and motioned for Draco and Cate to approach. “Press your thumb to the biometric scanner.”
Draco nodded for Cate to go first.
Her jaw tight, she pressed her thumb onto the scanner and waited.
The light turned green.
