1 week earlier...
CHAPTER 1
U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters, New York City
Alexander Waverly's Office
Napoleon Solo sat across from Alexander Waverly took a deep breath and began.
"I appreciate your meeting with me privately, sir."
"I was intrigued when I got your call...so what's this all about...nothing illegal I" hope?" Waverly chuckled.
"No, absolutely not. I received a call from an old friend a few days ago. I promised not to share this with anyone, but I don't think that I can help her without the organizations assistance. She is an archeologist currently working for the Louvre Museum. She said one day last week while working in the catacombs she came across what appeared to be a secret room. She chiseled through a minute portion of the wall and believes she saw endless rows of gold bullion. She covered up her tracks and called me."
"First of all, what is her name?"
Napoleon hesitated.
"Solo, if I am going to trust you then you have to trust me."
"Of course...her name is Marie Ansile."
"And why is Miss Ansile hesitant to tell her story to the authorities?"
"Remember the secret cache of gold bullion found in Sweden?" Napoleon asked. Waverly thought for a second, nodded, and said,
"Yes...it never found its way to the countries in Europe in accordance with the mandate set forth by the allies that Germany pay reparations...Hmmmm...So Miss Ansile fears this cache might wind up the same...?"
Napoleon nodded and commented,
"Rumor has it the Sweden cache of gold was absconded by Nazis..."
"Hate those Nazis..." Waverly stated. "So, tell me, how well do you know Miss Ansile?"
"I trust her 100%."
"That's not what I asked..."
"I met her when I was in the army and was stationed in Paris after the liberation."
Waverly sat back in his chair.
"There's a story here...am I right?"
Napoleon grinned and nodded, then got comfortable himself.
"Yes...there's a story...it began in 1947..." Napoleon was still smiling as his mind's eye went back to a sunny spring morning in Paris...