A number of coded emails were sent by Kamal to his other contacts in Bali.
The following day at Bali’s Den Pasar Airport, one of the bags was singled out for special attention before it was presented for collection.
Beach towels and other personal effects in the body board bag of a girl arriving in Bali for a holiday, were replaced with just over eight pounds of marijuana before the bags were retrieved.
Twenty six year old Australian beauty therapy student Schapelle Corby was arrested at Den Pasar airport and charged with drug trafficking.
At the trial, the defense team was unable to obtain CCTV footage of the Bail airport terminal. The security cameras were mysteriously not working that morning.
There was no finger printing of the plastic bags that the drugs were contained in.
The case was not weighed to determine if the case was heavier than when it was originally checked in.
The drugs were destroyed before they could be chemically examined to determine where the crop was actually grown.
It was originally thought that Corby may have been sentenced to the death penalty for her crime. However, she was finally sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking. This was later commuted to twenty years imprisonment in a hellish Balinese prison.
The Bali bombing was replaced with a new front page. The terrorists were largely forgotten. A beautiful young blonde westerner convicted and sentenced to jail for twenty years on flimsy evidence was a dream come true for western journalists. Conspiracy theories ran rife in the main stream press. They just did not know where to look to follow this lead.
Even to this day there is constant press coverage of the Corby case.
In October 2008, nearly six years after the bombing, Amrozi Nurhasyim and two other accomplices were tied to trees and executed by firing squad on the island prison of Nusakambangan. Despite horrific torture, Amrozi never revealed the existence of the nameless man, or the source of the explosives used in the blast.
Chapter 33
The conference of electronics manufacturers is one of the largest events each year in Las Vegas.
Kamal almost felt at home each year as he was driven up the long driveway past the fountains.
Kamal attended every year and loved to let his hair down whilst away from Riyadh. He had many friends in the industry who he shared time with at these events.
As usual, his personal plane carried him there in comfort, but it was dwarfed at the airport by much larger private aircraft belonging to rich gamblers in search of excitement.
Of course he also enjoyed the flight itself courtesy of one of the female staff that he always kept on board.
After September 11, it had become increasingly difficult for Kamal to arrange his nefarious activities in the U.S.
He needed some local help.
The art dealer who authenticated the Da Vinci years earlier was still involved with the Italian mafia. The dealer was able to put Kamal in contact with a man in Sicily who had powerful contacts in the U.S.
Kamal met one of these contacts at the bar in the hotel.
"I have some problems that I can’t seem to solve from Riyadh" said Kamal "can you help?"
"Anything can be done for a price" said the swarthy looking man in a white suit "what did you have in mind?"
Kamal pushed over a piece of paper. On the laser printed note were the names and addresses of five people who were causing him grief.
"My electronics business would become much more profitable if these people retired from competition companies. I would be able to share some of the profits."
"Two hundred thousand each, one million for the lot" whispered the man.
"Come with me" said Kamal and the Italian followed to the elevators.
Kamal opened the door and they went inside.
There was a medium sized black case on the bed and Kamal went over and opened it.
"There is one and a half million dollars in this case. Feel free to count it" gestured Kamal.
"That won’t be necessary I don’t think you would want to stiff me, it is not healthy."
"Please do it quickly."
In the months that followed, Kamal’s opposition companies all needed new chief executives. Some were killed in accidents, others retired gracefully. In the period of upheaval until they found new leaders, the company stock prices plummeted while Kamal’s businesses went from strength to strength.
Shortly after the man had left the room there was a quiet rap on the door. Wendy, the redhead from Atlantic City walked in.
Chapter 34
Kamal had concluded his business in Las Vegas. On the spur of the moment, he decided to take a trip back to Boston. Wendy accompanied him. She loved the idea of the private jet.
Kamal had not been back to Boston since his school days at M.I.T., but he had decided a couple of days detour was a worthwhile investment in time.
Rather than the Brotherhood building, this time he stayed at the luxury Four Seasons hotel. It was springtime in Boston, and this was Kamal’s favorite time of the year.
He quickly left his hotel behind and went for a stroll through Beacon Hill with Wendy. Next they hopped on red bus and followed the Freedom trail. Finally they finished at North End market for a feed of lobster.
It had been a long time since Kamal had been back to Boston, and he came to realize how much he liked it here.
"I have some business to attend to. Grab a cab back to the hotel and get a spa treatment, I will be back tonight" suggested Kamal.
"Of course honey, see you soon."
He grabbed a taxi to the Muslim Brotherhood building in Cambridge.
The building looked to be in even better condition since the last time he had seen it fifteen years earlier. The paintwork had been redone and the lighting renovated. The shop selling Halal produce was still there.
Kamal entered the empty shop and instantly recognized Amir busy behind the counter.
"Hello Amir."
Amir reached for his glasses and put them on. Of course he recognized his guest instantly. "Kamal! It is so good to see you! You have not changed a bit!"
Amir ran around the counter and hugged Kamal.
"You also look well Amir" said Kamal in an unconvincing way.
"Unfortunately the years are taking their toll. But I still enjoy my job here. I even have a man from the Mosque who comes over to give the students religious instruction."
"Excellent" said Kamal trying to sound surprised.
"What beings you to Boston?" asked Amir.
"I was at a conference in Nevada and thought I would spend a few days here as well."
"Excellent, I will prepare a room for you."
"Thank you Amir, but that will not be necessary as I have a hotel room already."
"Then you must stay for dinner and eat with the students" said Amir excitedly. I will begin preparing the evening meal shortly.
"Of course, but only if you will let me help prepare it."
They spent the rest of the afternoon cutting, slicing and putting together a wonderful meal. All the meat had of course been slaughtered in the prescribed Islamic way. No gelatin products and no alcohol were used in the cooking.
When the dinner was served to the eight students currently in residence, Amir introduced Kamal.
"Brothers, we have a special guest to dine with us tonight. This is Kamal Pashwari. He is now a successful international businessman, and he was the first student to join our Brotherhood" said Amir indicating Kamal.