Avraham Azrieli - The Jerusalem Assassin

“ Only because of this young man.” Dr. Spilman patted Lemmy’s shoulder. “Another minute or two, and he would have left us forever.”

Paula stayed with her father, and Lemmy took a taxi back to the bank. Christopher was waiting for him. They hurried up the stairs.

Gunter stood in front of Herr Hoffgeitz’s door. His lips trembled.

“It’s touch and go,” Lemmy said. “He’s very ill.”

Gunter did not move from the door. He took off his glasses and began shining them nervously with his tie.

“Dr. Spilman and Paula are with him.” Lemmy took a step closer. “I’d like to check his office, in case he took some medications before-”

“I’ve already checked. No medications in there.”

“I must insist.”

“But Herr Hoffgeitz left instructions for such an event.” Gunter pulled a sheet of paper from his breast pocket. “I am responsible for all his accounts. Me alone!”

“ For up to thirty days-while I run the bank’s affairs on behalf of the family.”

“ Maybe longer. The board of directors shall meet and decide.”

“ Their job is to appoint a qualified person to take over. Do you feel qualified to run this bank?” Not waiting for an answer, Lemmy turned to go.

“Would you like to see the instructions?”

“I have my own copy.” Halfway down the stairs, Lemmy paused. “Were you in Herr Hoffgeitz’s office when he collapsed?”

Gunter stepped back as if physically assaulted. “Of course not! I would have called for help!”

“ You seemed upset when I came in this morning.”

Gunter hesitated. “We received a phone call. Very disturbing.”

“Why?”

He clearly did not want to say any more, but the desire to defend himself tipped the scales. “A man called, pretending to represent someone else.”

“ Who?”

“ He has done it before. Many years ago.”

“ Done what?”

“ Pretended to represent someone else.”

“Who?”

“An old friend of Herr Hoffgeitz.”

“Let me see if I get it straight.” Lemmy blew air in feigned frustration. “Many years ago a man called-”

“ Visited. In person.”

“ When?”

“ In sixty-seven.”

“ Twenty-eight years ago?”

Gunter nodded. “He had the signed ledger that recorded all of the deposits, but he didn’t have the account number and the password.”

“ So he went away, and after all these years, he called again this morning, claiming to speak for an old friend of Herr Hoffgeitz. I assume that friend still has an account with us, yes?”

“ It’s complicated.” Gunter seemed ready to collapse. “Herr Hoffgeitz was very angry.”

*

Bathsheba brought Chinese takeout. Elie wasn’t hungry. He stayed in the bedroom, reading his bible with a cigarette in hand. The two of them ate outside on the balcony, Gideon with a paperback edition of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity and Bathsheba with the binoculars, examining every detail on the imposing structure of the Eiffel Tower. Below, heavy traffic snarled across the Seine River on Pont de Bir Hakeim.

When the sun went down, Gideon went inside and lay on the sofa to read.

Close to midnight, the lights blinked on the eavesdropping equipment. He grabbed the headset and listened. Bathsheba called Elie from the bedroom.

When the conversation ended, Gideon took off the headset. He shook his head. “Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!”

“ Play it from the beginning,” Elie said.

The prince said, “Hello?”

“Allah’s blessings, Excellency.” The caller spoke with an Arabic accent.

“ Insha’Allah.”

“Your generosity was put to good use. The Palestinian revolution is indebted to you forever.”

Prince Abusalim hesitated for a moment. “The suffering of our Palestinian brothers is a bleeding wound in the heart of every Arab.”

“Indeed, indeed.” Abu Yusef exhaled audibly. “May Allah open the eyes of our more fortunate brothers so they follow your example.”

“Your courage is certain to break through their hardened souls. Though next time you should care not to hurt the French, our hosts.”

“Indeed it was unfortunate.” Abu Yusef sighed. “But when you cut wood, chips fall. We are fighting for the Haram El-Sharif, which deserves your guardianship, as destiny has prescribed, to spread the rule of Allah under the Koran.”

“ Insha’Allah.”

“ Our operation last week was just the beginning. Allah will bring us victory. And he will bless you with fortunes ten times your generosity.”

“Yes,” said Prince Abusalim, “I think He will. How much do you need?”

“The fight is long and costly. Very costly.”

“ Truth is, I’m having some difficulties right now.”

“ I understand.” Abu Yusef paused. “Can we help?”

“There is a man who stands in my way. He will be in Paris soon.”

“We shall be honored to remove that man from your way.”

“ Five million dollars.”

“Excellency!” Abu Yusef uttered a strange chuckle, probably out of shock at the size of the reward. “Your friendship alone is a sufficient gift. But of course, we accept!”

“ Good. I’ll arrange to transfer half the amount. Call me on Wednesday morning for the details. The other half will be paid after you remove him.”

“ Agreed! And who is that dog, that filthy infidel, who dared to stand in your way?”

Elie pressed the stop button. He took a piece of paper, scribbled on it, and showed it to Gideon. “Is this the target?”

“ Correct.” He looked at Elie with astonishment. “How did you know?”

Elie put his hand on the thick bible. “There are no new stories. It’s all in here.” He pointed at the recorder. “Make a copy of the tape.”

“Hey,” Bathsheba said, “I want to hear the end!”

“The end is near.” Elie went back to the bedroom. “Wake me up at eight.”

*

Tuesday, October 24, 1995

The three of them waited outside until the doctors completed morning rounds in the ICU. Paula explained to Klaus Junior what had happened to his grandfather and how the doctors were trying to help him recover.

The room was painted light blue, with framed posters of greenery and water. Armande Hoffgeitz’s eyes were closed and various tubes entered his body. Steady beeps came from the heart monitor above the bed.

“Hi, Grandpa.” The boy touched the hand that rested on the sheet. “I have to go to school now. Get better so I can see you later, okay?”

Paula and Lemmy followed him out of the room.

“Is Grandpa going to die?”

Lemmy kneeled, his face level with his son’s. “We don’t know yet. But he’s very ill. Will you pray for him?”

The boy nodded.

Paula smiled through her tears.

Lemmy took him to school and drove to the bank. Christopher had summoned the staff to a conference room. Lemmy gave them a brief update on his father-in-law’s medical condition and prognosis.

Herr Diekman, the most senior account manager, stood up. “All of us pray for Herr Hoffgeitz’s quick and full recovery. In the meantime, we have complete confidence in your leadership.”

“ Thank you. Paula and I appreciate your support and friendship at this difficult time.”

Everyone was silent for a moment.

“ Being one of the oldest institutions in this city,” Lemmy continued, “the Hoffgeitz Bank is a symbol of stability. We take pride in our superb and uninterrupted client service. As vice president, I have assumed all administrative and managerial responsibilities for the bank. Any and all account transactions that exceed the equivalent of ten thousand dollars, cumulative for a single day, require my signature-including the accounts owned by Herr Hoffgeitz’s clients, which are under the supervision of Herr Schnell.”