Chapter no 45

The Da Vinci Code

โ€œThe po1iceย are blocking the street,โ€ Andrรฉ Vernet said, walking into the waiting room. โ€œGetting you out will be di cult.โ€ As he closed the door behind him, Vernet saw the heavy-duty plastic case on the conveyor belt and halted in his tracks.ย My God! They accessed Sauniรจreโ€™s account?

Sophie and Langdon were at the table, huddling over what looked to be a large wooden jewelry box. Sophie immediately closed the lid and looked up. โ€œWe had the account number after all,โ€ she said.

Vernet was speechless. This changed everything. He respectfully diverted his eyes from the box and tried to figure out his next move.ย I have to get them out of the bank!ย But with the police already having set up a roadblock, Vernet could imagine only one way to do that. โ€œMademoiselle Neveu, if I can get you safely out of the bank, will you be taking the item with you or returning it to the vault before you leave?โ€

Sophie glanced at Langdon and then back to Vernet. โ€œWe need to take it.โ€

Vernet nodded. โ€œVery well. Then whatever the item is, I suggest you wrap it in your jacket as we move through the hallways. I would prefer nobody else see it.โ€

As Langdon shed his jacket, Vernet hurried over to the conveyor belt, closed the now empty crate, and typed a series of simple commands. The conveyor belt began moving again, carrying the plastic container back down to the vault. Pulling the gold key from the podium, he handed it to Sophie.

โ€œThis way please. Hurry.โ€

When they reached the rear loading dock, Vernet could see the flash of police lights filtering through the underground garage. He frowned. They were probably blocking the ramp.ย Am I really going to try to pull this oรŸ?ย He was sweating now.

Vernet motioned to one of the bankโ€™s small armored trucks.

Transport sรปrย was another service offered by the Depository Bank of

Zurich. โ€œGet in the cargo hold,โ€ he said, heaving open the massive rear door and motioning to the glistening steel compartment. โ€œIโ€™ll be right back.โ€

As Sophie and Langdon climbed in, Vernet hurried across the loading dock to the dock overseerโ€™s o ce, let himself in, collected the keys for the truck, and found a driverโ€™s uniform jacket and cap. Shedding his own suit coat and tie, he began to put on the driverโ€™s jacket. Reconsidering, he donned a shoulder holster beneath the uniform. On his way out, he grabbed a driverโ€™s pistol from the rack, put in a clip, and stuffed it in the holster, buttoning his uniform over it. Returning to the truck, Vernet pulled the driverโ€™s cap down low and peered in at Sophie and Langdon, who were standing inside the empty steel box.

โ€œYouโ€™ll want this on,โ€ Vernet said, reaching inside and flicking a wall switch to illuminate the lone courtesy bulb on the holdโ€™s ceiling. โ€œAnd youโ€™d better sit down. Not a sound on our way out the gate.โ€

Sophie and Langdon sat down on the metal floor. Langdon cradled the treasure wadded in his tweed jacket. Swinging the heavy doors closed, Vernet locked them inside. Then he got in behind the wheel and revved the engine.

As the armored truck lumbered toward the top of the ramp, Vernet could feel the sweat already collecting beneath his driverโ€™s cap. He could see there were far more police lights in front than he had imagined. As the truck powered up the ramp, the interior gate swung inward to let him pass. Vernet advanced and waited while the gate behind him closed before pulling forward and tripping the next sensor. The second gate opened, and the exit beckoned.

Except for the police car blocking the top of the ramp.

Vernet dabbed his brow and pulled forward.

A lanky o cer stepped out and waved him to a stop a few meters from the roadblock. Four patrol cars were parked out front.

Vernet stopped. Pulling his driverโ€™s cap down farther, he effected as rough a facade as his cultured upbringing would allow. Not budging from behind the wheel, he opened the door and gazed down at the agent,whose face was stern and sallow.

“Quโ€™est-ce qui se passe?โ€ย Vernet asked, his tone rough.

“Je suis Jรฉrome Collet,โ€ย the agent said. โ€œLieutenant Police Judiciaire.โ€ He motioned to the truckโ€™s cargo hold.ย “Quโ€™est-ce quโ€™il y a lร  dedans?โ€

โ€œHell if I know,โ€ Vernet replied in crude French. โ€œIโ€™m only a driver.โ€

Collet looked unimpressed. โ€œWeโ€™re looking for two criminals.โ€

Vernet laughed. โ€œThen you came to the right spot. Some of these bastards I drive for have so much money they must be criminals.โ€

The agent held up a passport picture of Robert Langdon. โ€œWas this man in your bank tonight?โ€

Vernet shrugged. โ€œNo clue. Iโ€™m a dock rat. They donโ€™t let us anywhere near the clients. You need to go in and ask the front desk.โ€

โ€œYour bank is demanding a search warrant before we can enter.โ€

Vernet put on a disgusted look. โ€œAdministrators. Donโ€™t get me started.โ€

โ€œOpen your truck, please.โ€ Collet motioned toward the cargo hold.

Vernet stared at the agent and forced an obnoxious laugh. โ€œOpen the truck? You think I have keys? You think they trust us? You should see the crap wages I get paid.โ€

The agentโ€™s head tilted to one side, his skepticism evident. โ€œYouโ€™re telling me you donโ€™t have keys to your own truck?โ€

Vernet shook his head. โ€œNot the cargo area. Ignition only. These trucks get sealed by overseers on the loading dock. Then the truck sits in dock while someone drives the cargo keys to the drop-off. Once we get the call that the cargo keys are with the recipient, then I get the okay to drive. Not a second before. I never know what the hell Iโ€™m lugging.โ€

โ€œWhen wasย thisย truck sealed?โ€

โ€œMust have been hours ago. Iโ€™m driving all the way up to St.

Thurial tonight. Cargo keys are already up there.โ€

The agent made no response, his eyes probing as if trying to read Vernetโ€™s mind.

A drop of sweat was preparing to slide down Vernetโ€™s nose. โ€œYou mind?โ€ he said, wiping his nose with his sleeve and motioning to the police car blocking his way. โ€œIโ€™m on a tight schedule.โ€

โ€œDo all the drivers wear Rolexes?โ€ the agent asked, pointing to Vernetโ€™s wrist.

Vernet glanced down and saw the glistening band of his absurdly expensive watch peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his jacket.ย Merde. โ€œThis piece of shit? Bought it for twenty euro from a Taiwanese street vendor in St. Germain des Prรฉs. Iโ€™ll sell it to you for forty.โ€

The agent paused and finally stepped aside. โ€œNo thanks. Have a safe trip.โ€

Vernet did not breathe again until the truck was a good fifty meters down the street. And now he had another problem. His cargo.ย Where do I take them?

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