AWACS - An American With A Chinese System
Copyright© 2025 by PT Brainum
Chapter 52
The taxi at the airport was refreshingly clean, piloted by a friendly and honest driver, who knew right where to take me. I was dropped off in front of the bank, and stepped into an old building filled with marble and glass.
The door keeper greeted me, and asked what I was here for, I told him I was opening a new account, and he directed me to the correct booth.
A pretty lady, mid forties greeted me, and I explained I was interested in opening an account, as well as having the bank establish credit for me using certain assets as collateral. She took my information, slightly surprised at my freshly stamped UN passport. Once in Europe, everyone expects you to be there legally. Switzerland, with its reciprocal freedom of movement agreements with the rest of the European Union, accepted my Germany exit stamp, and gave me a new Swiss Entry stamp. From here, going being in the EU would be much easier, and unquestioned.
With my personal details taken, I was personally escorted to an office, the name Gerard Mikel was stamped in brass on the door, where a much older and dour man waited.
“How can we help you Mr Roberts,” he said, offering no handshake or polite greeting.
“I have a certain asset that I wish to use a collateral to establish credit. I also have a substantial amount of cash I would like to deposit in an account.”
“How much cash are we talking about?”
“I have US dollars on cash cards amounting to around 300 thousand dollars, and US dollars cash amounting around another 300 thousand. My company recently purchased a ship, or I’d have an additional 2 million to deposit.”
“And is that ship the asset you wish to use as collateral for a line of credit?”
“No, I have original 1907 swiss bank notes, with an approximate value of 105 million dollars, US.”
“Really, I’d very much like to see that.”
I reached into a jacket pocket, my clothing skill having dressed me in an impeccable three piece suit for this meeting, and pulled out the quickly summoned envelope.
“Six 1000 franc bills, six 500 franc bills, six 100 franc bills, and six 50 franc bills, all in near mint condition,” I told him, setting the envelope on the large wooden desk between us.
He smiled widely, and reached into a drawer to procure a set of white cotton gloves. He opened the envelope, and carefully spread the cash across his desk.
“If these are real, this is the numismatic find of the century.”
“I’ve had them verified, but please, do so yourself. As I said, the estimated value is 105 million, but in the right auction, at the right time, with the right advertising, they could go much higher.”
“As a set they would undoubtedly go much higher,” he said, placing the bills back in the envelope, but leaving it on his desk.”
“So what would you like first?”
“Let’s start with opening the account, you said you had cash cards?”
I handed over the last full Wind card, the Spirit card, and the last partial Wind card.
He took them to his computer, and swiped them thru a reader, peering at the amounts shown.
“352,521.05 US Dollars in total to open the account. We can give you a check card for the account, but find it much better to set you up with a Bank Credit card, that is automatically paid from your account. There is no interest as long as it is paid each month, and allows full protection of your assets in the event of the theft or loss of your Credit card.”
“That sounds fine to me,” I told him, “I also have some funds with JP Morgan Chase, and have a similar system there. At the moment I’m not sure I can retrieve those funds.”
“We would be happy to do a bank transfer for you.”
“My former employer was depositing my paycheck into that account, and I’m sure they are monitoring its usage. If they aren’t I’m sure the FBI is.”
“The American Investigation Bureau?” he asked, puzzled.
“Yes, I was on assignment for my real employer, when an attempt on my life was made by my former employer. That’s why I’m currently traveling under a UN passport.”
“Yes, that was very curious, as it listed no country of origin. We see the occasional UN passport with wealthy refugees from areas of conflict, or even the occasional UN worker, but they usually state where the holder is from.”
I nodded gravely, “Yes, that’s my next stop to check in with the boss.”
He gave me a serious nod, and finished processing the paperwork. When he completed it, he called on his phone and asked for someone. Since he wasn’t talking to me, it didn’t translate. Soon a young woman arrived to get us refreshments, immediately followed by a young man with a studious air, and a much too bright orange sweater vest.
“Daniel, This is Mr Roberts. He has acquired a singularly wonderful collection of old Swiss Francs. We will need to authenticate them, and then perhaps place them at auction for Mr. Roberts.”
That translated nicely, as he directed all of that at me, hardly looking at Daniel. I turned to Daniel, and held out hand, which he reluctantly shook.
“Nice to meet you Mr Roberts, I’m head of the antique and treasures department here at the bank.”
“Excellent, are you familiar with the 1907 1000 Swiss Franc?”
“Yes. Do you have one?”
“He has six!”
Daniel saw the gloves on the desk, and swiftly pulled out his own pair, sliding them on. His were not quite as white, as they obviously got used more.
The dour Gerard handed him the envelope with visible reluctance. Daniel did a quick review of the bills, and even gave them a slight sniff test to my amusement. He filled out a form he pulled from a back pocket, identifying the bills by serial number and signatures, and handed it to Gerard, who made a copy, and handed the original to me, after he countersigned it.
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