Chapter 9

Monday morning I was up early enough for another run with Boris. I arrived back to find the girls eating breakfast. Just as I sat to eat mine, Christian came in and announced that my passport had arrived.

Nora immediately responded, “Excellent! Adam needs to go to the consulate, the bank, and then to meet with Frederick at Alt-Zurich Holdings.”

“Who’s Frederick?” I asked.

“A friend of your father’s,” answered Nora.

“The man handling your allowance,” answered Rebecca.

It was decided I would go to these appointments on my own, as the others weren’t involved. I changed my clothes, but it was then decided I didn’t look professional enough, so the two picked out new clothes for me to wear. As they were leaving, Rebecca gave me a surreptitious fondle of my balls and cock, and reminded me, “Don’t stay out too late.”

The consular office was only ten minutes by car. There was some issue with the Marine guard, as I didn’t have ID, but I was allowed in, and took a number for the service desk. Eventually my number was called, and I stepped up to the caged window. I explained who I was, and the woman nodded saying that I was expected. I had to pay for rush service, plus the normal fee, then sign for receipt, and finally was handed a brand new, dark blue, American passport. I checked the picture, it looked good.

I thanked her, and exited the consular office, climbing back into the SUV. Guido, who was my personal security for the day, had to drive around to the other side of the lake to get to the bank. There I waited in line for a teller, introduced myself, showed my ID and asked to speak to Vermögensberater Müller. She invited me to take a seat in the lobby, which I did.

I waited for almost 10 minutes before he arrived in the lobby, looked around blankly, then the teller pointed at me. He walked up to me and asked, “Mr Barkley?”

I stood, towering over him, and offered my hand, “Adam H Barkley Junior.”

Recognition came into his eyes, and he invited me back to his office. We sat, and he offered me coffee, which I refused. “Mr Barkley, I’m so sorry to hear about your father. We had hoped to have a long association with him here at Bank Weigelien & Co.”

“Thank you, but we are still hoping for a full recovery,” I replied.

“Of course, of course. Now let’s see how we can assist you today. It seems we need to start an account for you.”

“Yes, I have been told that there is an allowance, but I haven’t met with Frederick yet to learn the details.”

“We have the initial deposit of 100,000 dollars US. That exchanged on the day it arrived to 99,870 Swiss francs. Additionally I see that since the first is a Sunday, you will also receive a second deposit, December’s allowance of 100,000 on Friday. Today’s rate converts that into 99,859 Swiss francs. Fridays will be about that, give or take. So your total balance at this time is 99,870 CHF.

“If you will sign here, initial there, and provide your ID we can open the account and give you access.”

I gave him my passport, which he looked at oddly, expecting a red one. “Do you have a brother?” he asked.

“No.”

I signed the paperwork, while he turned and copied my passport. Then he removed a folder from a drawer and opened it up. He handed me a temporary bank debit card, and several papers on my new accounts, and bank services. He handed back my passport, with a comment, “I see that you will need to get a visa stamped.”

“Yes, I hadn’t considered that,” I said.

“Mr Barkley, I don’t know how quite to say this, but your father spent a considerable sum for identification documents for you, and I find it quite surprising that you used that,” gesturing at the passport, “instead.”

“My father was unaware of certain factors in my own background,” I replied.

Suddenly, he stood at attention, and barked in Dutch, “Attention!” I lazily stood, and gave a half hearted salute.

“As I thought, definitely Dutch military, based on the hints your father dropped. Please be seated,” he said, sitting himself.

“I apologise for the test, our bank has special opportunities for young men of wealth, who don’t wish to be tied strictly to their families income, and have certain training. Those shots on the freeway were simply exceptional.

“If you perhaps were to use the identity we helped your father acquire to open an account, we could from time to time offer jobs to you.”

Suddenly it clicked, he thought that I was the shooter that had protected my father!

“I am highly skilled. Would I have the opportunity to turn down work if it wasn’t convenient?”

“Of course. We strictly limit our subcontractors to six jobs their first year, all organized thru our secure bank web portal.”

“And what do the jobs pay?” I asked, wondering if I really was being hired as an assassin.

“Ten to fifty million CHF, depending on speed and difficulty.”

“I’ll not take a job for less than 25,” I said, “and please include if the job requires natural causes, accident, disappearing, or obvious violence. I can do any of those, without collateral damage. I won’t take a job that requires collateral damage.”

“I had not expected you to be an experienced contractor.”

“There is a reason I’m not allowed to talk about my military service.” I said, honestly, because it happened 66 years ago.

“Excellent, so shall we set up that account for you?”

“Of course.” I reached into a pocket and removed the drivers license and passport from my pocket, after conjuring it there. I handed it to him. He peered at it, then looked at me. Seeing his confusion at the differences I answered the unanswered question.

“I wore contacts for those photos. I liked the idea of having a spare and impeccable identity.”

“You truly are a professional, then. It saves the expense of sending you to a small training school.”

“Perhaps a refresher course in a few years, but I’m confident of my abilities as they stand.”

He handed me another card, this one with blue edging, and not looking temporary but anonymous. “As a sub contractor this account receives a 100,000 franc deposit to cover initial expenses. When you accept the contract, the amount will be credited as pending, until the contract is complete. Once complete, the amount is immediately available.”