you operate within the law.’
‘So far, Frank. So far. But times are changing.’ He leant forward and lowered his voice. ‘I want someone removing, Frank. You know – permanently.’
‘I guessed you might. Anyone we know?’
‘A politician. A famous politician. How do you think we should go about it?’
Bell pursed his lips and whistled softly with concentration. This was the kind of big-league contract he’d always wanted. He’d spent many a sleepless hour planning such a thing. ‘First of all,’ he said, ‘I’d create a smokescreen.’
‘A smokescreen? Why?’
‘Remember Kennedy?’
‘Sure, I remember JFK.’
‘Oswald was unlucky. Or betrayed. With all this shit that’s been created about a conspiracy, he could have got clean away with it. Another few hours and he would have done. The FBI would have been chasing Cubans, the KGB, the mafia, the …’ Bell waved his arm in the air, thinking of likely suspects ‘… the Teamsters, everybody and his dog, while the lone gunman sat at home watching it on TV, sipping a Budweiser.’
Norris was impressed. ‘That’s an interesting theory, Frank. What about doing the actual deed?’
‘Ah, that’s the hard bit. Somehow, you’ve got to know where he’s going to be at a certain time. That means surveillance, which can be dangerous. And expensive,’ he added as an afterthought.
‘Not necessarily so, Frank,’ Norris told him. ‘Mightn’t it be possible to control his movements, call the shots, get him where you wanted him?’
‘How could you do that?’
‘I’ve a few ideas. So far you haven’t asked what’s in it for you. I like that in a man, Frank, but I want it to be worth your while.’
‘So, what’s in it for us?’
‘I’m glad you asked. First of all, Shawn gets to show the SAS that anything they can do, he can do better. Something really spectacular. For you, Frank, how about a million pounds cash – payment on delivery?’
Bell inhaled audibly. ‘Jesus. I’d say you had a deal, Mr Norris.’
‘Good. Good. We all need a pension plan, y’know. You and me also. This could be ours. With a million pounds, minus a few expenses, you could set yourself up nicely. Either live fairly modestly for the rest of your life, or go for the big one. I can’t really see you settling down, Frank. What’s the profit margin in your line of importing? About five thousand per cent? With your enterprise you could soon make that million into fifty million.’
Bell sat back in his bentwood chair, head nodding slowly. Fifty million sounded better. Much better. This was what he’d been waiting for. ‘So when do we start?’ he asked.
Norris had read his man correctly: make the numbers obscene enough and you could hook anyone. He said: ‘Welcome aboard, Frank. We won’t shake on it, here in the pub. Look too conspicuous. The two thousand in the envelope was for immediate running expenses. As you can imagine, raising money like that isn’t easy – Ihave accountants and auditors to deal with. If you need any more I can advise you on a simple way of stealing a certain highly marketable commodity. I’m insured, so it’ll be no skin off my ass.’
Bell had been struggling to suppress his elation, but was suddenly looking grave. ‘There’s just one point, Mr Norris,’ he said. ‘Your wife, Mrs Norris. Shawn was a bit rough with her. She’s all right, but can we be sure, when we bring her back, that—’
Norris raised a hand, silencing him. ‘Sorry, Frank,’ he interrupted. ‘Did I forget to mention that? Part of the deal is that Mrs Norris doesn’t come back. Let’s call it a gesture of seriousness of intent. Oh, and I’d prefer it if there wasn’t a body. I won’t be in a hurry to marry again, and I hate funerals. Give me a ring when it’s all over, then we’ll do some serious planning.’
He stood up and walked out, back to his chauffeur-driven limousine, and Shenandoah Inc., and his big, quiet house in Lymm.
I’d
‘So far, Frank. So far. But times are changing.’ He leant forward and lowered his voice. ‘I want someone removing, Frank. You know – permanently.’
‘I guessed you might. Anyone we know?’
‘A politician. A famous politician. How do you think we should go about it?’
Bell pursed his lips and whistled softly with concentration. This was the kind of big-league contract he’d always wanted. He’d spent many a sleepless hour planning such a thing. ‘First of all,’ he said, ‘I’d create a smokescreen.’
‘A smokescreen? Why?’
‘Remember Kennedy?’
‘Sure, I remember JFK.’
‘Oswald was unlucky. Or betrayed. With all this shit that’s been created about a conspiracy, he could have got clean away with it. Another few hours and he would have done. The FBI would have been chasing Cubans, the KGB, the mafia, the …’ Bell waved his arm in the air, thinking of likely suspects ‘… the Teamsters, everybody and his dog, while the lone gunman sat at home watching it on TV, sipping a Budweiser.’
Norris was impressed. ‘That’s an interesting theory, Frank. What about doing the actual deed?’
‘Ah, that’s the hard bit. Somehow, you’ve got to know where he’s going to be at a certain time. That means surveillance, which can be dangerous. And expensive,’ he added as an afterthought.
‘Not necessarily so, Frank,’ Norris told him. ‘Mightn’t it be possible to control his movements, call the shots, get him where you wanted him?’
‘How could you do that?’
‘I’ve a few ideas. So far you haven’t asked what’s in it for you. I like that in a man, Frank, but I want it to be worth your while.’
‘So, what’s in it for us?’
‘I’m glad you asked. First of all, Shawn gets to show the SAS that anything they can do, he can do better. Something really spectacular. For you, Frank, how about a million pounds cash – payment on delivery?’
Bell inhaled audibly. ‘Jesus. I’d say you had a deal, Mr Norris.’
‘Good. Good. We all need a pension plan, y’know. You and me also. This could be ours. With a million pounds, minus a few expenses, you could set yourself up nicely. Either live fairly modestly for the rest of your life, or go for the big one. I can’t really see you settling down, Frank. What’s the profit margin in your line of importing? About five thousand per cent? With your enterprise you could soon make that million into fifty million.’
Bell sat back in his bentwood chair, head nodding slowly. Fifty million sounded better. Much better. This was what he’d been waiting for. ‘So when do we start?’ he asked.
Norris had read his man correctly: make the numbers obscene enough and you could hook anyone. He said: ‘Welcome aboard, Frank. We won’t shake on it, here in the pub. Look too conspicuous. The two thousand in the envelope was for immediate running expenses. As you can imagine, raising money like that isn’t easy – Ihave accountants and auditors to deal with. If you need any more I can advise you on a simple way of stealing a certain highly marketable commodity. I’m insured, so it’ll be no skin off my ass.’
Bell had been struggling to suppress his elation, but was suddenly looking grave. ‘There’s just one point, Mr Norris,’ he said. ‘Your wife, Mrs Norris. Shawn was a bit rough with her. She’s all right, but can we be sure, when we bring her back, that—’
Norris raised a hand, silencing him. ‘Sorry, Frank,’ he interrupted. ‘Did I forget to mention that? Part of the deal is that Mrs Norris doesn’t come back. Let’s call it a gesture of seriousness of intent. Oh, and I’d prefer it if there wasn’t a body. I won’t be in a hurry to marry again, and I hate funerals. Give me a ring when it’s all over, then we’ll do some serious planning.’
He stood up and walked out, back to his chauffeur-driven limousine, and Shenandoah Inc., and his big, quiet house in Lymm.
I’d
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