Confrontation at the bank

After Sophie and Langdon successfully retrieved the rosewood box from the Depository Bank of Zurich, bank president André Vernet drove them away from the city in an armored truck, promising safety. But when the truck stopped in a wooded area off the road, Vernet's demeanor shifted. He stepped into view holding a pistol, his expression strained, and announced, "I'm sorry about this. I really have no choice." The trust he had extended moments earlier evaporated as he trained the weapon on the two fugitives and demanded the box.

The Standoff and the Gunshot

Sophie clutched the box to her chest, protesting that her grandfather had entrusted it to her. Vernet countered that his duty was to protect Saunière's assets, not to let them become evidence in a police investigation. When Sophie refused to hand it over, Vernet fired a single shot into the wall above Langdon's head, the roar of the gun reverberating through the cargo hold. "Mr. Langdon," he said, now taking dead aim, "pick up the box." Langdon lifted the rosewood box and moved toward the open rear doors, with Vernet backing away to keep his distance. At Vernet's command, Langdon knelt and set the box on the edge of the cargo hold, then stood and stepped backward.

The Struggle and Escape

Vernet, needing both hands to lift the heavy box, laid his gun on the bumper, grabbed the box, and set it on the ground. He immediately retrieved the weapon and began to close the heavy metal door. But the door would not fully shut—a spent pistol shell Langdon had discreetly brushed onto the sill blocked the bolt. When Vernet shoved against the door, it exploded outward, striking him in the face and shattering his nose. He fell backward, dropping the gun. Langdon hit the ground nearby, and as Vernet struggled to see through blurred vision, Sophie shouted. The armored truck roared away, its front bumper clipping a tree and tearing half off before it lurched onto the paved road, trailing sparks. When Vernet looked up, the wooden box was gone.