read it, quickly paid her bill, and walked out the front door into the public square. At that moment, a tall blonde woman pushing a baby carriage bumped into her.
“Madame, please sit at the bench with me and make nice to my baby. Emil sent me. My name is Eva Schilling and I have the information you need.”
Alison was taken aback for a moment, surprised at the subterfuge in spite of realizing that’s how she wanted the encounter to happen. She turned to look at the woman, they made eye contact, and Alison bent over to do the goo goo exclamation with the baby.
Eva pointed to the bench where they both sat down and began their conversation.
“I’m sorry, I did not mean to seem rude, just had no idea if I’d be contacted by a man or woman, kind of like a spy movie.” Alison giggled, knowing she sounded like an idiot.
Eva laughed. “I understand. But I had to be sure it was you and not have any confusion. So that you know, Emil is my cousin. He trusts you with his life, so I have no reason to not trust you with mine. But he could not tell you about me so as to not jeopardize me in any way. I’m sure you understand.”
Alison looked at her directly and smiled.
“Of course I understand. But I’ve never done anything like this and also had to be cautious. We are good.” Alison reached to touch her hand and assure Eva that everything was fine.
They discussed the details of what Alison needed, identification that could be traced so that she did not come up a blank should it ever come to that, with the proper papers to travel throughout Europe and confirm her identity – passport, visa where needed, birth certificate, and an American Express card. Eva told her it would take one week and the delivery could be made in person. She also told Alison to be prepared to have only her new identity on her at that time.
Alison knew that meant she had to bury her papers in a safe deposit box before picking up the new ones from Eva at the given time. She also had to be prepared to leave Zurich at that time and not go back to the hotel; that she would be assuming a new identity that must coincide with the photo on the papers.
As Alison played with the baby in the carriage, she slipped the leather case that held $150,000 American dollars into the blanket. Eva knew it was safely nestled into the folds of the blanket.
Alison asked Eva about places she should visit while in Zurich, suggestions as to what to see, where to eat, what to avoid. They chatted for twenty minutes or so, then Eva said she had to leave and would be in touch one week later. More fussy over the baby and Eva and child were gone.
The days dragged by as Alison was not used to waiting for someone let alone play tourist and act busy. She wandered through all the museums and ate little meals all over the city rather than just going out for lunch or dinner. It was a beautiful time to be in Switzerland and nothing could keep her from enjoying people watching.
Chapter Thirteen
Finally she entered the Bank of Zurich to get a safe deposit box and leave the identity of Alison in that long steel container for the next year. She presented her identification and bank accounts from San Francisco. The charge was 24 francs. A small amount for what was necessary. She then followed the banker into the vault and was presented to box 171, up a few rows, but she and the banker were both tall enough. The box was put on the table, the banker left, but first handed Alison her key.
Alison sat at the table and looked over the contents of the small briefcase she’d brought with her. Her California driver’s license and U. S. passport. A visa to Switzerland wasn’t needed, so one less thing to worry about. She also had $10,000 in U.S. dollars that she’d decided to put in the box just in case she was met with a shortage of money. She turned off her cell phone and put it in the box as well.
She felt
“Madame, please sit at the bench with me and make nice to my baby. Emil sent me. My name is Eva Schilling and I have the information you need.”
Alison was taken aback for a moment, surprised at the subterfuge in spite of realizing that’s how she wanted the encounter to happen. She turned to look at the woman, they made eye contact, and Alison bent over to do the goo goo exclamation with the baby.
Eva pointed to the bench where they both sat down and began their conversation.
“I’m sorry, I did not mean to seem rude, just had no idea if I’d be contacted by a man or woman, kind of like a spy movie.” Alison giggled, knowing she sounded like an idiot.
Eva laughed. “I understand. But I had to be sure it was you and not have any confusion. So that you know, Emil is my cousin. He trusts you with his life, so I have no reason to not trust you with mine. But he could not tell you about me so as to not jeopardize me in any way. I’m sure you understand.”
Alison looked at her directly and smiled.
“Of course I understand. But I’ve never done anything like this and also had to be cautious. We are good.” Alison reached to touch her hand and assure Eva that everything was fine.
They discussed the details of what Alison needed, identification that could be traced so that she did not come up a blank should it ever come to that, with the proper papers to travel throughout Europe and confirm her identity – passport, visa where needed, birth certificate, and an American Express card. Eva told her it would take one week and the delivery could be made in person. She also told Alison to be prepared to have only her new identity on her at that time.
Alison knew that meant she had to bury her papers in a safe deposit box before picking up the new ones from Eva at the given time. She also had to be prepared to leave Zurich at that time and not go back to the hotel; that she would be assuming a new identity that must coincide with the photo on the papers.
As Alison played with the baby in the carriage, she slipped the leather case that held $150,000 American dollars into the blanket. Eva knew it was safely nestled into the folds of the blanket.
Alison asked Eva about places she should visit while in Zurich, suggestions as to what to see, where to eat, what to avoid. They chatted for twenty minutes or so, then Eva said she had to leave and would be in touch one week later. More fussy over the baby and Eva and child were gone.
The days dragged by as Alison was not used to waiting for someone let alone play tourist and act busy. She wandered through all the museums and ate little meals all over the city rather than just going out for lunch or dinner. It was a beautiful time to be in Switzerland and nothing could keep her from enjoying people watching.
Chapter Thirteen
Finally she entered the Bank of Zurich to get a safe deposit box and leave the identity of Alison in that long steel container for the next year. She presented her identification and bank accounts from San Francisco. The charge was 24 francs. A small amount for what was necessary. She then followed the banker into the vault and was presented to box 171, up a few rows, but she and the banker were both tall enough. The box was put on the table, the banker left, but first handed Alison her key.
Alison sat at the table and looked over the contents of the small briefcase she’d brought with her. Her California driver’s license and U. S. passport. A visa to Switzerland wasn’t needed, so one less thing to worry about. She also had $10,000 in U.S. dollars that she’d decided to put in the box just in case she was met with a shortage of money. She turned off her cell phone and put it in the box as well.
She felt
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