The Weizmann Protocol

Jake stared at the number on his phone. He pressed the send button but before the connection made, he pressed end. Who had called him? He still had some friends at the U.S. embassy in Zurich, but he didn’t recognize the number. And even if he knew the caller, did he want to talk to anyone from Switzerland? Wouldn’t it open old wounds from the affair? Like leaving a piece of shrapnel in the skin, removing it could cause more problems. But then again, he didn’t know how to let things lie. He was the cat that curiosity hadn’t killed.
Yet.
He pressed send again, the connection made, and after four buzzes someone answered.
"This is Henry Walsing." The voice was masculine but pleasant.
Jake dispensed with the preliminaries. “How did you get my cell number?"
"Your secretary.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. He doubted that. His assistant Debbie had been a legal secretary for over twenty years. She knew better than to hand his cell phone number out to clients. For some reason, he decided not to call Walsing on the lie.
"I’d like to hire you," Walsing said.
"For litigation or transactional purposes?"
"Neither. Investigative."
Jake’s P.I. license was more than a resumé filler. He earned it a few years before going to law school, and it helped land him the job with Treasury. Now the license allowed him to put another title on his office door and expand his potential client pool. Unfortunately, business remained stagnant, and he spent too much time hounding clients to pay their fees, which only fueled his pessimistic feelings about people.
"What sort of investigation are we looking at?"
Walsing hesitated. "It’s delicate, even complicated. I’d rather not talk about it over the phone." Jake didn’t like the response. He could have described the gist of the job without divulging anything particularly sensitive. Did the guy want him to look into some corporate impropriety? Or was it a personal matter? The lack of candor and the fib about the phone number didn’t sit well. Jake’s instinct told him to turn the case down.
"I’m sorry. I’m really busy these days, Mr. Walsing, but I can make a couple of recommendations."
Walsing sounded mad. "Mr. Meyer, three personal injury cases and two investigations into spousal infidelity do not qualify as busy. I could have called any number of private investigators. I don’t need your referrals. I need you."
Jake was uneasy. Walsing knew his exact workload. How did he get that information? Moreover, Jake didn’t like the hint of desperation in Walsing’s tone. Nervous clients were always the most demanding and controlling. “I really don’t think . . . ”
"I’ll quadruple your fees and cover all your expenses."
Jake was shocked. Eight hundred dollars an hour was unheard of. Not even senior partners in the biggest firms commanded that much. The too generous offer was suspicious. What did Walsing want for that? It almost didn’t matter. Jake needed the money, and the outrageous offer outweighed most of his qualms. “As far as payment goes . . .” Jake started but Walsing cut him off.
“Not a problem. I’ll have your fee deposited into your account every three days. If I’m not happy with your work, I’ll stop paying, and we’ll be done.”
He wouldn’t have to fight to get paid. What a novelty. Walsing knew how to push the right buttons. "Okay, when are you coming to the States? We can schedule an appointment right now."
"The matter is here in Switzerland. Can you leave tomorrow?"
Walsing must have figured Jake could just drop his other cases. He’d have to rearrange his calendar and hire colleagues to make court appearances for him. It would be a hassle, but what really tumbled Jake’s brain was the thought of returning to Zurich. The city hosted painful memories for him. Going back to the scene of the affair would be hard. He wanted more information. "Before I make the trek overseas, I'd like to have some idea of what’s going on."
Walsing paused again. "I am with the Claims Resolution Tribunal here in Switzerland. Are you aware of our work?"
"Yes. You pass out funds to Holocaust victims." Jake knew the outfit. A few years earlier a New York federal judge approved a settlement in a case filed by Jewish families who lost money in Swiss banks. The CRT adjudicated individual claims and distributed the money.
"That’s what we do, more or less,” Walsing replied. “Anyway, I need your help tying up some loose ends."
Walsing was going to overpay him for tying up loose ends? "Can you tell me anything else?"
"As I said, I'd prefer to brief you in person."
Jake hesitated.
"It is fairly urgent, Mr. Meyer."
How urgent can it be? Jake wondered. Perhaps shaking things up would be good for him, give his car’s transmission a rest.
"I haven't been to Zurich in some time."
"Yes, I know."
Jake bit his lower lip. “Okay, I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“See you then.” Walsing hung up.
Jake stared at the phone, wondering what he had gotten himself into. He flipped it shut, reversed the car, turned the wheel hard and shifted into drive without stopping, heading home to pack.