Herr Egard's wife spent Sunday morning preparing a traditional Swiss dinner; Rhine Sauerbraten, roast beef sliced and served in a sweet sauce with roasted potatoes and dumplings on the side. While unable to remember when his wife had last cooked the dish, he immensely enjoyed the meal, for they had been living under a cloud ever since their only son's arrest in Thailand.
He had been a bad boy and even worse teenager and young man, but Herr Egard had loved him since birth as would any father.
The Swiss government viewed his son as a hardened deviant deserving of prison. The bank had been no help at all. Herr Egard had even traveled to Chiang Mai to bribe different prison officials. Despite their smiling promises, his son remained in jail.
60 men to a cell.
Beatings, murders, no food.
Two days ago he had received a phone call from their son. He said that he was awaiting a change in sentence and hoped to be freed within the month. His wife had declared that her prayers had been answered, though Herr Egard understood that this miracle was owed to a mortal man and not God.
When two large amounts of money were transferred into the account set up at his bank for the Kurt Oster, Herr Egard had examined the source of this money several times and discovered they were from various Telex companies around Germany, just as stated by Herr Oster.
Everything seemed in order, but the German could have gone to any bank in Switzerland and received the same service provided by Herr Egard's bank and he understood that there is always a price to pay for the kindness of strangers.
After the Kaffee of the Sunday meal, Herr Egard went into the living room. He was content for the first time in months. His son was safe and he found himself looking forward to watching the World Cup final this afternoon. The warm sun and full stomach acted as powerful somnifers. He slept for more than hour in his favorite chair.
The telephone's ringing woke him from a delightful slumber. Normally he would have let his wife answer it, but today he was on his feet before the second ring.
'Is it him?" His wife looked at him with glee. No one called on Sunday during the Ruhezeit and he waved his wife back into the kitchen, signaling it was business.
"No, it's nine at night in Thailand."
He picked up the phone. "Egard residence."
"It must have been good to hear from your son," Kurt Oster said on the other end.
"Yes, it was." Herr Egard had no urge to exchange pleasantries with the German. He would have loved to tell the man from Hamburg to never call him again, either at home or the bank, but instead he had to ask, "What can I do for you?"
"Sorry to disturb you, but has everything arrived into the account?"
"Your funds are in the bank and all is in order."
"Good, because I have an American, Herr Coll, coming to pick up the money on Monday. He will give you the number for the account. Please give him this money in thousand Swiss franc bills."
"As you wish." Herr Egard was eager to ask about his son's future, but these questions were inappropriate over the telephone.
"Another sum of money should reach the account on Tuesday. Herr Coll will be there following Monday as well."
"So I can expect him every week from now on?"
"Is that a problem?"
No, we are prepared to service this account as best as we can."
"In that case, have a good Sunday. Your son will be with you soon."
Herr Egard hung up the phone. His wife peered at her husband from the kitchen. Upon seeing his face, she asked, "Was ist los?"
"Just business, that is all, just business." Herr Egard kissed her on the forehead, then picked up a towel to dry the dishes.
In all the years they had been together, her husband had never received a single business call on a Sunday. He was lying. She was not angry, but concerned, since she believed this phone call could help her son. She said a prayer for her husband and son, beseeching God to keep them safe. Seeing her lips moving, Herr Egard said, "Everything will be fine."
"I believe you."
"Good." Herr Egard only wished he could do the same.
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