Slow Boat To Purgatory, Book One by Baker Vernon

Author:Baker, Vernon [Baker, Vernon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-07-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Zurich, Switzerland, May 2010

The plane touched down in Zurich in the early morning hours just after dawn. Alex had returned to reading the book after his nightmare, if that was what it was. He’d been strangely shaken by the dream and was relieved when he was able to escape the confines of the jet.

Alex had asked Lucas if he knew of a hotel in Zurich. The lawyer had arranged not only the hotel, but a car to pick him up at the airport.

As he exited customs, he spied a tall man dressed in black holding a card that read “Mr. Alex Donovan.” The man offered to take Alex’s only bag, a small leather carry-on, then escorted him to the curb and a black Mercedes Benz. Ensconced in the back of the car, Alex took in the sights as they made the twenty minute trip to the Hotel zum Storchen.

Once they arrived at the hotel, a grand looking granite building on the banks of the River Limmat, Alex paid the driver and entered the lobby.

For 650 years the Hotel Zum Storchen had been hosting guests in high style, and the understated elegance wasn’t lost on Alex.

He checked in, booking the room for three days. After depositing his bag in the room and taking a quick shower, he decided to have breakfast before setting out for the bank. He put both books and the charm in the room safe and went back downstairs.

After an absolutely decadent breakfast of pastries, cheeses, and coffee, he gave the concierge the address of the bank. He was pleasantly surprised to find it only a short walk away on Zunn Bahnhof.

He set off and found himself walking down cobbled sidewalks, alongside narrow streets. The buildings along his way were all rather imposing, solid looking stone structures, which gave off an air of strength. Most had shops on the lower floors, a mishmash of jewelers, boutiques, and high end food purveyors. A few restaurants were mixed in as well. Everything was clean and tidy, and the people he passed seemed well off and happy.

He was surprised when he found himself in front of the bank’s address. The building wasn’t much different from those around it and looked more like a home than a bank. Other than a small brass plaque next to the highly varnished wooden door which was engraved with the bank’s name, a person would never guess it was, in fact, a bank.

Alex tried the door and found that it was locked. He spied a black button above the bronze plaque and pressed. A clipped and proper voice spoke in German, “Bergen en Cie, Kann ich Ihnen helfen?”

Alex couldn’t speak or understand German, but responded, “My name is Alex Donovan. I have an account here.”

After a brief pause the same voice responded, this time in English, “Please come in, Mr. Donovan.”

Alex could hear the sound of several locks being released and, when he tried the door a second time, it swung open silently.

He entered, finding himself in a spacious and well appointed foyer.

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