“We assume it’s to one of the boxes in Brunner’s bank.” Draco turned to Dmytro. “Is it possible we can get into that box with only the key?”
Dmytro held up a hand without looking up from his screen. “Anything is possible with money and/or the right technology. I was able to get past the firewall of Brunner’s bank after a lot of technical gyrations.”
Cate perked up. “Could you see the names on the Alpenhorn account?”
“I did,” Dmytro said. “Marcus Calloway was one. The other name was Roland Weiss.”
Cate leaned toward Dmytro. “Were you able to get a phone number and address for this other man?”
“I was able to get an address, but it will not help you,” Dmytro said.
“We need to interview him,” Cate said. “He could be the man behind the theft.”
Dmytro shook his head. “His address is a cemetery north of Zurich. He was found dead in his apartment nine months ago. It appears that he was only a nominee director of Alpenhorn Relief Logistics.”
Cate frowned. “What is a nominee director?”
Dmytro turned away from the monitor long enough to explain. “Someone who lends his name to the organization. He does not run it.”
“A figurehead to lend cover to the real owner?” Draco asked.
Dmytro nodded. “A placeholder allowing them to set up the corporation without revealing who is really in charge.”
Cate’s eyes narrowed. “Another man who served a purpose and was a loose thread to be disposed of.”
“Like Brunner,” Hammer said.
“You don’t think it was suicide, do you?” Cate asked.
Hammer shook his head. “No.”
Cate lifted the brass key. “We need to know what’s in the safe deposit box. Brunner must’ve thought what’s inside it is important.”
“Important enough to risk his life,” Marta added softly.
“How do we get into the bank?” Draco asked. “More specifically, how do we get in to use that key to open the safe deposit box?”
“You’ll need matching identification like a passport that matches the contract and, in Brunner’s bank’s case, matching biometrics, along with the key and the box number.”
Cate’s shoulders sagged. “We have two out of four requirements in the number and the key. I’m supposed to get my replacement passport at the US consulate. But the biometrics...” She shook her head.
Dmytro cracked his knuckles. “Myla divchyna, no challenge is too great for Dmytro.” He waved for her. “Come. I will show you how it is done.”
Cate rose and walked to where Dmytro sat.
Draco followed.
The older man tapped away at the keyboard. Screens flashed on the monitor and disappeared, replaced by others. Finally, he stopped, pulled a small biometric scanner from a drawer, and laid it on the desktop. “Please,” he said, nodding toward the scanner. “Place your thumb on the scanner.”
Cate pressed her thumb against the small device.
Dmytro had her do it several more times until her print was completely filled in on the monitor. He tapped the keyboard. “Now, we enter your name and thumbprint into their database as another signer on the account associated with box number one-five-seven.”
Cate’s lips curved slightly. “You hacked me into their system?”
“Hack is such a harsh description of what I do,” Dmytro said. “I prefer to refer to my work as weaving the fabric of credibility for the betterment of lives.”
With a laugh, Cate flung her arms around the older man and kissed him on the cheek. “You can call it anything you like as long as we get inside that bank as soon as possible.”