The Set Up
Edward Mullen
Copyright Edward Mullen 2016
The Edward Mullen Podcast is available for free on iTunes and www.EdwardMullen.com
The Set-Up
Copyright © 2016 by Edward Mullen
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and events are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person (alive or dead) or event is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a published review.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-928196-04-4
The Set-Up
Also by Edward Mullen
The Art of the Hustle
Destiny and Free Will
Prodigy
The Secret Manuscript
Prodigy Eternal
The Set-Up
The Paradeplatz, also known as Parade Square, is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Switzerland. Located in downtown Zürich on the famous shopping avenue of Bahnhofstrasse, it is home to the world’s most prestigious banks such as UBS and Credit Suisse. Known for their secrecy, these Swiss banks attract wealthy foreigners looking to hide funds, avoid paying taxes, and conduct business without scrutiny from their governments. In many ways, the banks are the perfect place to hide one’s greatest secrets.
Despite being early in the morning, the renowned district was bustling with commuters, shoppers, and tourists. Erik and Lena sat in their father’s cherry red Ferrari, waiting for Credit Suisse to open. A passing trolley momentarily obstructed their view of the large stone structure, which resembled a medieval castle more than a bank.
Erik looked at his watch – it was 8:59 am.
“You ready?” he asked his sister.
Before Lena responded, she recalled the days when they were kids. Born two years apart, Lena idolised her older brother and was constantly looking to tag along with him and his friends. In some sense, this situation was no different.
“I’m ready.”
Watching through the window, the security guard approached the door at precisely nine o’clock. That’s when the two made their move. They dashed across the street and entered through the front doors.
“Good morning,” the guard greeted the two with a smile.
What the guard did not realise was that the two unassuming kids were about to pull off the greatest bank heist in history. Their plan wasn’t to go in with masks and guns, nor did they intend to hack the bank’s database. In fact, the delicacy and brilliance of their plan was such that, if it worked, nobody would even notice the money was missing.
Erik was nineteen, but looked much older than he actually was. He had a naturally deep voice, which commanded authority when he spoke. It also helped that he was wise beyond his years – a result of his private education as well as spending so much time with his father. When he and his sister Lena approached the young female bank teller, Erik did the talking.
“Good morning,” the woman greeted them. “How can I help you?”
“Our father has an account here, but unfortunately he has fallen ill.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I appreciate that, thank you” Erik said sincerely, “In light of his recent decline in health, I’ve been entrusted with a power of attorney for my father, and I will need access to his safe deposit box to collect his personal effects.”
Erik slid the necessary paperwork across the counter. Of course, the documents were fake, but they were sure to fool an unsuspecting bank teller first thing Monday morning. The teller studied the POA carefully, and then asked for two pieces of government-issued ID. Erik took out his Swiss passport, opened it to the photo page, and handed it to the woman. Before searching his wallet for his driver’s license, Erik deliberately placed the key to the Ferrari on the counter so that it was in view for the teller to see. It was all part of instilling confidence so the teller would be less suspicious of him. “Here you are,” he said, handing over his driver’s license.
The teller took the IDs and examined them carefully – both were real. She recognized the surname immediately – it matched the name of a prominent client and businessman, Lukas Leutzinger. Mr. Leutzinger had a great relationship with the bank, although she had never met him.
Lukas Leutzinger was a Swiss capitalist who owned many companies, most notably Leutzinger Mining – a multi-national mining company responsible for extracting precious minerals and gems. He had considerable holdings with the bank, and had a net worth of over six billion dollars. His health had been deteriorating over the past year – that part of the teen’s story was true. He had developed pancreatic cancer and wasn’t expected to make it through the summer. As of yet, nobody but his immediate family knew.
In preparation for this untimely departure, he had told his children that he planned on donating his entire estate to charity since he thought bestowing billions of dollars on a person without them earning it was an undue burden.
‘Developing one’s character is akin to building muscle,’ he would often say to them, ‘it needs constant resistance to grow.’
Lukas Leutzinger was well aware of this so-called ‘handicap of wealth’ and was determined not to let his burgeoning fortune spoil his children. He had built his empire from nothing and wanted his children to develop a similar determination and passion he had. However, Erik and Lena didn’t see it that way. In their minds, they had grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle and considered the family’s fortune to be their birthright.
The teller made some notations on her computer and then handed Erik’s IDs back to him.
“I presume you have the assigned key?” she asked as another measure of security.
Erik promptly presented it to her, and she went back to her computer to make some additional notes to the account. This was standard practice as Erik had accompanied his father to the bank in the past and was accustomed to the procedure.
“Alright Mr. Leutzinger, if you would please just sign this for me, I’ll show you to the safe depository.”
As Erik reached for the pen, his hands shook nervously. Gripping the pen tightly, he scribbled his name on the bottom of the form, and re-docked the pen in its holster.
“Perfect, right this way,” the teller said.
Erik and Lena walked confidently, following closely behind the teller as she led them across the opulent lobby to an elevator. The teller took out her RFID badge and swiped it across a sensor, allowing the doors to open. She then entered the elevator just long enough to press the button to the third floor.
“When you reach the third floor, our depository representatives will be able to assist you. I’ve let them know of your arrival.”
“Thank you,” Erik said politely.
Although they had gotten this far, it was no time to celebrate, especially since they were being watched. They acted normally to convey that they belonged there. That was the best way to not arouse suspicion. It was already a dubious circumstance having two teenagers visiting their wealthy father’s safe deposit box, but there was nothing the bank could do except act in accordance with their protocol.
The elevator ride was short. When they arrived on the third floor, the doors opened, revealing a horrific scene of violence. Two banking representatives were lying on the floor, covered in blood. The brutal, execution-style murders were far too much for two rich kids to handle, especially without warning. Lena’s instinct was to scream, and Erik’s was to keep his sister safe. For all he knew, the killer, or killers, were still in the depos
itory. He incessantly pressed the button to bring them back down to the main floor. The doors closed and within seconds, the siblings were back in the lobby, running toward the exit.
Their agitated state caught the attention of two security guards, who stopped them on their way out.
“Is everything okay?” one of the guards asked.
“They’re… dead!” Lena cried. Her bottom lip quivered as she spoke.
“Who’s dead?” the guard asked, taking the comment seriously.
“Two banking representatives…” Erik managed to say, feeling only slightly less rattled than his sister, “…shot in their heads… third floor.”
The guards took off, leaving Erik and Lena on their own.
“We need to get out of here,” Erik said, rushing his sister out the front doors.
Upon exiting, a pair of police officers approached the two teens, grabbing them firmly by the arms.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Erik asked, jerking his arm free. “Do you know who I am?” The police had to figure whoever