Murray McDonald - Assassin

He replaced the receiver. How he had remained calm during the call escaped him. He was far from calm, probably as far as anyone could be. He threw the phone against the slightly curving wall and watched with satisfaction as it exploded into thousands of useless components.

“Beaumont, get in here!” he screamed into the intercom.

By the word ‘get’, Beaumont had already entered the room.

“They failed! The deal’s gone through! Can you believe it? A group of damn kids!”

“Shall I deal with them?” offered Beaumont.

“No. Let me think a minute… this is merely a set back, that’s all. We just need to tweak Phase 2 slightly…yes… that’s it, that’s all we need to do. Do you know something Beaumont, I think they’ve actually done us a favour. This could be even more fun than I imagined.” He was calming down and beginning to think more rationally.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Are all our people in place?”

“Yes, we have one or two loose ends to tie up but they won’t take long.”

“What are they?”

“Best you don’t know, leave them to me,” suggested Beaumont, he preferred to deal with the detail himself.

“OK but don’t leave anything to chance. If anyone gets in the way, kill them.”

“Of course.”

“Good. Commence Phase 2 immediately.”

“Yes Sir, Mr President.”

McDonald, Murray

Assassin (The Billionaire Series)

Two months later

“In breaking news, another assassination has shocked the world of politics. The Italian Premier, Mr Carlo Valentini, has been gunned down in broad daylight…”

A mobile phone rang. Charles Heathcliffe Beaumont IV answered the call before the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s done.”

“Yes, I can see that, it’s already on CNN. Why didn’t you call sooner?”

“It’s only been 5 minutes. I had to get away from the scene, the reporters must have been bloody quick.”

“OK, I just like to know what’s happening,” replied Beaumont. “Have you received the brief for your next target?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now get moving, the timescale is very tight. Phone me when you land.”

Beaumont looked down at the plan again. It had taken 15 years, billions of dollars and hundreds of killings to reach this point and now, in less than a year, the plan would be finally complete. He had only been involved in the last three years, inheriting his position on the death of his father, Charles Heathcliffe Beaumont III. He thought his father had been a weak and pathetic man. If only he had known then what he knew now. His father had, in fact, been a brilliant man, a genius, not the bumbling old fool that everyone thought he had been.

Unfortunately, Beaumont IV had never known the genius behind the facade. It was only after his father’s funeral that he discovered the truth. In his will, his father had left him a video, clearly marked private ‘for your eyes only’. When he first played the video he thought there had been some mistake. A look-a-like must have stood in for his father. Gone was the awkward-looking old man, replaced by a straight-backed, upright and forceful man exuding power and authority. His father quickly explained that he had always found people to be more open and honest around the old eccentric Charles Heathcliffe Beaumont III. He had made millions from loose tongues in his old gentleman’s clubs. On seeing him enter the room, many would say “don’t worry it’s only Beaumont” and would continue discussing their business. He of course picked up on every word, jumped on the deals and made a fortune.

In the video, he explained to his son the intricate and complex structure of their finances. He thought his father was worth a few hundred million but now discovered that he was worth billions and he, the only son and heir, had inherited the lot. In death, his father became the father he had always dreamt of. His friends had always referred to him as ‘the bumbling old fool’, something he had never been able to deny. His father apologised for not having told him the truth and that he had had to accept that his son thought little of him but was comfortable in the knowledge that he knew his son would appreciate him in death. The young Charles nodded vigorously at this point. He was very proud of his father.

However, at the end of the video, Beaumont III dropped a bombshell which not only changed his son’s life but his whole outlook on the world and resulted in his working for the person who was to become the President of the United States of America.

Beaumont looked again at the plan and discarded Phase 1 or, as Beaumont called it, the President’s Folly. He had argued against Phase 1 and its relevance when the President had first suggested it. It was not until the terrorists had taken the schools hostage that he realised the President had ordered the operation behind his back. He, of course, was called in to help when the whole thing blew up in their faces and had only just managed to cover the President’s tracks. The call to Donald Kennedy had been his idea. Phase 1 was now out of the way and they could concentrate on the real plan, Phase 2. The President had just given him the latest tweaks. Would the man never learn? Business should never be mixed with pleasure.

Four months later

“We interrupt this programme to bring you a breaking news story. The President of Russia has been assassinated. Mr Gasparin was found dead in his bed this morning after what appears to have been a failed coup d’etat by one of his Generals. The rogue General was shot on sight as he embarked on a second frenzied attack on the Russian Prime Minister, Mr Kruschev, the would-be successor to the President. A Russian Federation spokesperson has spoken of the heroic efforts of the Minister for State Security who single-handedly foiled the plot and rushed to Mr Kruschev’s aid, shooting the rogue General in the process. The Prime Minister is in a serious but stable condition. This brings the total to nine major political assassinations in the last six months…”

The television exploded as the solid crystal paperweight hit the screen. Doors flew open and the room filled with heavily armed men. Four of them made for the figure behind the desk, throwing him unceremoniously to the floor. Another two tackled the man in front of the desk, one placing a gun to his forehead while the other secured his hands. Confusion reigned as more men filled the room. Finally, the doors to the office were closed and secured.

“Mr President, are you OK Sir?” asked the Secret Service Agent in charge.

“No, I’m not! Get these damn idiots off me!”

“Sir, we have reason to believe that an attempt has been made on your life. An explosion was heard in your office.”

“Yes, caused by me. It was my TV. Now get off me and get out!” screamed the President. “Beaumont, where the hell are you?”

“I’m here Sir,” came a muffled response from the floor. His face was being pushed into the presidential emblem on the rug.

Ten minutes later and with order restored, the President and Beaumont were left alone in the Oval office.

“What’s the latest on the Russian Prime Minister and have we heard from the imbecile yet?” barked the President.

“Yes, he just called when I was outside. He assures me everything is fine, there’s no way the Prime Minister will survive. They’re just trying to calm people down by saying he’s stable. Our man’s already been approached by half the cabinet to take control when they announce the Prime Minister’s death. The plan worked perfectly, our man will be in power within 24 hours. Congratulations Mr President.”