Dr. Max Wieldruk and Jose Randy

Mail 56: Things have gone awfully astray in Rottumerplaat...

Subject: Tragic death in Rottumerplaat

Dear Dr George Koffi,

I am deeply shocked by the accusation you sent to my friend the banker, Mr Cas te Kort, saying that it was a deliberate act to discredit your request. On the contrary, he did the utmost he could to be able to comply with your request to pay through Western Union.

Please read on and let me explain. I don't know anything about Western Union control numbers being 9 or 10 digits. But I do know that Mr Verwonnen, Mr Cas te Kort's employee at the Verdronken Bank van Saaftinge, travelled all the way to Denmark last Monday. In order not to delay matters he phoned from Denmark and told the control number to Mr Cas te Kort, before returning.

Yesterday in the afternoon there was a dreadful snowstorm in our region. Mr Verwonnen did not return at night. Today his car was found stuck in a snowdrift, Mr Verwonnen being frozen to death. He was a father and leaves a young widow (expecting her second baby next month) and a two-year old son. That is the price we paid here in Saaftinge to get these 300 euros over to you. All our community is deeply grieved by his death. And that is why I am deeply shocked by your accusation.

At the moment my friend Cas te Kort is remanded in custody by the police for interrogation. The Western Union payment slip was found on Mr Onno Verwonnen's dead body, and the police will no doubt want to know why Mr. Verwonnen had been sent to Denmark in the first place, and why this payment could not have been made in a manner more usual between international banks.

Onno Verwonnen would still be with us today, if only you had given Mr. Te Kort your international bank number, or if you would have accepted a cheque. This refusal by you, and by your employees, has been the real cause of Mr. Verwonnen's death.

Yours,

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Dr. Max Wieldruk

1012 AA Saaftinge, Rottumerplaat