โThe po1iceย are blocking the street,โ Andrรฉ Vernet said, walking into the waiting room. โGetting 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 Sauniรจreโs 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. โWe 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. โMademoiselle 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. โWe need to take it.โ
Vernet nodded. โVery 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.
โThis 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 oร?ย He was sweating now.
Vernet motioned to one of the bankโs small armored trucks.
Transport sรปrย was another service offered by the Depository Bank of
Zurich. โGet in the cargo hold,โ he said, heaving open the massive rear door and motioning to the glistening steel compartment. โIโll be right back.โ
As Sophie and Langdon climbed in, Vernet hurried across the loading dock to the dock overseerโs o ce, let himself in, collected the keys for the truck, and found a driverโs uniform jacket and cap. Shedding his own suit coat and tie, he began to put on the driverโs jacket. Reconsidering, he donned a shoulder holster beneath the uniform. On his way out, he grabbed a driverโs 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 driverโs cap down low and peered in at Sophie and Langdon, who were standing inside the empty steel box.
โYouโll want this on,โ Vernet said, reaching inside and flicking a wall switch to illuminate the lone courtesy bulb on the holdโs ceiling. โAnd youโd 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 driverโs 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 driverโs 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.
“Quโest-ce qui se passe?โย Vernet asked, his tone rough.
“Je suis Jรฉrome Collet,โย the agent said. โLieutenant Police Judiciaire.โ He motioned to the truckโs cargo hold.ย “Quโest-ce quโil y a lร dedans?โ
โHell if I know,โ Vernet replied in crude French. โIโm only a driver.โ
Collet looked unimpressed. โWeโre looking for two criminals.โ
Vernet laughed. โThen 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. โWas this man in your bank tonight?โ
Vernet shrugged. โNo clue. Iโm a dock rat. They donโt let us anywhere near the clients. You need to go in and ask the front desk.โ
โYour bank is demanding a search warrant before we can enter.โ
Vernet put on a disgusted look. โAdministrators. Donโt get me started.โ
โOpen your truck, please.โ Collet motioned toward the cargo hold.
Vernet stared at the agent and forced an obnoxious laugh. โOpen the truck? You think I have keys? You think they trust us? You should see the crap wages I get paid.โ
The agentโs head tilted to one side, his skepticism evident. โYouโre telling me you donโt have keys to your own truck?โ
Vernet shook his head. โNot 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 Iโm lugging.โ
โWhen wasย thisย truck sealed?โ
โMust have been hours ago. Iโm 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 Vernetโs mind.
A drop of sweat was preparing to slide down Vernetโs nose. โYou mind?โ he said, wiping his nose with his sleeve and motioning to the police car blocking his way. โIโm on a tight schedule.โ
โDo all the drivers wear Rolexes?โ the agent asked, pointing to Vernetโs 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. โThis piece of shit? Bought it for twenty euro from a Taiwanese street vendor in St. Germain des Prรฉs. Iโll sell it to you for forty.โ
The agent paused and finally stepped aside. โNo 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?