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“Apologies.” The bank manager scurries in. “I wanted to make sure the glasses were cold.” He sets down the tray and fills two tall glasses with water. “Nothing but the best for our important clients.”
Lina accepts the glass. “Thank you.”
I take the glass from the man’s shaking hands and wonder what’s making him nervous. My holster isn’t visible and I haven’t glared once. “Should we get on with it?”
“Of course.” He scurries around the desk and sits. “I just need the passcode, Mrs. Tarasov.”
“Mrs. Novikov. Tarasov is my father’s name.”
“Of course.”
I watch his hands shake and can’t understand why we got stuck with the nervous banker. My wife slides a piece of paper across the desk and takes a long breath while the man enters the information.
He nods. “Perfect.” He turns the monitor. “You have two accounts. The number at the bottom of the screen is the balance for both accounts.”
Lina leans forward, and I hear a small gasp. “Everything okay, love?”
“Sure.”
She tugs my hand, and I lean forward, seeing quite a few zeros.
“Would you like to go over a summary of our services now?”
“No. We’d like to access the security deposit box. Can you arrange that?”
“Of course.” He stands. “I will be right back.”
“The moment he clears the door, I hear a strangled laugh fall out of Lina’s mouth. “Yuri, that’s a lot of money.”
“Four hundred and fifty million is a tidy sum.”
“I can’t begin to wrap my brain around it.”
“There is no rush.” She moves closer and takes both my hands. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
I tip her chin. “Are you still hoping for a note?”
“Yes.” A tear slips down her face. “I know it’s silly. But the little girl in me wants to know if my father ever gave me more than a passing thought.”
“Perhaps the money is his way of telling you he did.”
“Am I being greedy to want more?”
“No.” I kiss her gently and pull away when I hear footsteps.
“I can escort you downstairs.”
“Thank you, Mr. Boden.” Lina shakes his hand. “Please print out the account information. We’ll want to take it with us when we leave.”
“Of course.”
We follow the man through the bank, and I look around to ensure no one is paying us any particular attention. Fedor is watching from the car parked in front of the bank, but given the interest in my wife, there is no such thing as too much caution.
Ten minutes later, we’re standing inside the bank’s vault with two metal boxes in front of us. “Are you ready?”
“No.” Lina runs her hand over the box sitting on top. “I was surprised the key worked.”
