CHAPTER 66: BROKER (2)

Okay if this is the case then I will also open my account, he thought. It was a good idea. Having a personal account would make future transfers easier. It would create a small legitimate record he could use if needed.

They waited. The line crawled.

Finally their turn came. Two counters opened up.

Adam went to a teller to open his account. Kevin went into a loan officer’s cabin.

Adam filled out the paperwork. The teller treated him like any other customer. He was just another face. The process was quick. He now had an account at the Shining Star Bank.

When he finished he saw Kevin walking out of the cabin. Kevin was holding a freshly printed check. He was leaving.

Adam followed him. He caught up with him on the sidewalk just outside the bank. They started walking together.

"I thought you would take more," Adam said. "The maximum amount is fifteen million dollars. You only took one."

He was genuinely confused by Kevin’s move. Why take such a small amount from a bank you planned to "rob".

"The interest rate is only one percent anyway," Adam added.

Kevin smiled. "You have done a lot of research on me," he said. "But you still don’t know me."

He paused for a moment letting his words sink in.

"Actually I have no intention of giving them interest," Kevin said his voice dropping. "And I am not going to give them back the total amount."

Adam was very surprised. He stopped walking. He stared at Kevin. The man was not just a money launderer. He was a thief. He was planning to default on the loan from the very beginning.

He was exactly the kind of person Adam needed.

Adam stared at Kevin. The man’s audacity was impressive.

"Then fifteen million would have been more beneficial for you," Adam said. It was a statement not a question.

Kevin looked at Adam. He laughed a short sharp sound. "You think like a greedy amateur," he said.

He gestured back towards the bank with his thumb.

"If I had taken fifteen million dollars then these people would have definitely followed me for a long time."

He took a step closer to Adam.

"A debt that big gets noticed. It gets managers fired. It triggers audits. They would have sent investigators. They would have hired lawyers. They would have spent more money just to make a point."

Kevin shook his head slowly.

"But I have taken only one million dollars from them."

He looked around at the city street.

"As far as I can see this bank is a phenomenon. Look at their crowd. Think about their fame."

He pointed a finger at Adam’s chest.

"According to that even if this one million dollar amount is shifted here and there they will not pay much attention. It’s a rounding error for them right now."

He smiled a predator’s smile.

"In a short time they will give up. They will get busy in their other work. They will forget about this one million dollars. They will write it off as a loss. A cost of doing business."

Adam listened to every word. He was very surprised. Kevin had analyzed the situation perfectly. He understood the psychology of a booming business. Small losses get ignored when big profits are rolling in.

Kevin again said "Anyway this bank is spreading very fast."

"I am sure that after becoming so famous these people will not be able to handle the responsibility that will come on them."

His words hit Adam. Kevin was not just talking about the loan. He was talking about the entire operation. He saw the potential weakness. The rapid growth was a vulnerability.

Adam got even more impressed with Kevin’s critical thinking.

"You are right," Adam said.

He met Kevin’s gaze.

"Now we can go to some lonely place."

Kevin’s smile returned.

"Okay," he said. "Come with me."

Kevin turned and started walking. Adam followed him. They walked for a few blocks. They turned a corner onto a quiet side street. There was a small cafe with a green awning.

Kevin pushed the door open and went inside.

Adam followed him.

The cafe was empty.

Completely empty.

There were no customers. There were no waiters. The tables were all set. A soft melody played from unseen speakers. But the place was a ghost town.

Adam looked around. He saw the clean counters.

He looked at Kevin who was already walking towards a area in the corner.

Adam followed him and sat down across from him.

"Let me guess," Adam said.

Kevin just looked at him waiting.

"You have bought this whole cafe for some time. So that both of us can talk alone here."

Kevin did not say anything. He did not need to. The silence was his answer.

He leaned forward putting his elbows on the table.

"Tell me," Kevin said. His voice was all business now. "You were telling me about oil. What is the business? What do you want to do?"

Adam smiled back. It was his turn now.

"Kevin I have a proposal for you," he began.

He let the words hang in the air for a moment.

"I know that you carry black money from one place to another for rich people."

Kevin heard this. He did not flinch. He did not look surprised. His expression remained calm. He simply waited for Adam to continue. He had heard this before.

Adam looked at Kevin.

He saw the man’s calm exterior. But he knew what was underneath.

Most of Kevin’s clients were medium-sized rich. Small-time players in the grand scheme of things.

But Kevin’s dream was different.

He wanted the big fish. He wanted to have contact with the truly rich people. The ones who moved mountains with their money.

Adam decided to offer him the mountain.

"I want you to move money for me," Adam said.

"Not small amounts."

"I want you to move very big amounts from here to there."

He paused.

"And you will do it without any cost to me."

He watched Kevin’s face for a reaction.

"The government agencies will be watching," Adam added.

Kevin was not surprised. He slowly reached for the coffee cup on the table. He took a long sip. He placed the cup back on the saucer without a sound.

"Tell me your plan properly," he said. His voice was steady.