Chapter 42
By now, Kamal had been head of his terrorist Brotherhood for over ten years but due to his vast fortune, he had been able to mask his involvement completely.
That all changed the day his son died.
He looked at the website for the U.S. news services. He was furious when there was no mention of the nuclear weapon. He felt his son had died in vain.
Kamal summoned his cousin Ali, who was his second in command.
"Ali, I have to go away on some personal business. I may be away for an extended period and I want you to look after the business whilst I am away."
"Of course, Sir, you have but to ask. What can I do to help with this business?"
"This is something personal. There is nothing anyone can do to help. I will have some papers for your signature later in the day. Please come back at 2pm."
"Your wish is my command."
When Ali returned at 2pm Kamal was at his desk.
"Come, sit down Ali, we have much to do."
"What is it that you desire me to do Sir?"
"Ali, I have some papers here for us both to sign. I am giving you full control of my complete business interests. You will head all corporations and investments, including the overseas electronics factories."
Ali was stunned. He was not an ambitious man and had no real desire to be a mogul, he was a simple man.
"Sir, I am not worthy to do this. There must be someone else" suggested Ali.
"Ali, I have groomed you for this position. It is because you did not crave this role that you are the ideal candidate. You have a master’s degree from Columbia. I know you will do a wonderful job."
"I will of course try sir. Can I report progress, or call on you for advice if needed?"
"I am afraid that will not be possible. I will be travelling overseas and do not wish to be disturbed."
Kamal held out a pen to Ali, and began to push forward papers for him to sign one at a time. There was no time for Ali to read these legal documents. He just signed each one where Kamal had indicated with a yellow stick on note. One of these documents indicated that Ali would act as executor of Kamal’s will in the event of his death, and divide his assets according to the list that Kamal had attached.
"When will you be back to take charge Sir?" asked Ali when all the documents were completed.
"I am afraid I have no idea. Who knows? Perhaps I will even decide to retire permanently." Kamal made this sound like a joke, but he was deadly serious.
When Ali had left, it was time to make some more financial arrangements.
Kamal fired up an internet connection on his desktop PC. He clicked on an entry in his Favorites folder for a small private bank in Lucerne Switzerland. His family had been using this super secure bank for nearly a hundred years. Swiss Bankers take their business very seriously. Kamal’s accounts with this bank, and indeed a number of other banks, allowed one hundred percent anonymity for Kamal’s black operations.
When his transfer had been completed, he did the same for another account in Cayman Islands.
Then other accounts in Monaco, Bermuda and Luxembourg all followed suit.
It took Kamal more than two hours of transfers to ensure that worldwide terrorism was funded forever.
Next he called a contact in the U.S.
"I have a task for you. I want you to send a note to a journalist. Pick a famous one. Tell them that there was a nuclear weapon on board the light aircraft shot down with the missile."
Next he wrote a note and had it hand delivered to a contact in town. He was the first link in the chain and the note took a week to finally arrive, hand delivered to his mentor.
Dearest Friend,
I have done my utmost to help further our cause over the last ten years.
Unfortunately my son Muhommad has been murdered by a U.S. missile and now is the time for me to begin a more direct role in our Jihad.
I will personally be conducting an attack on the U.S. It is best if you know nothing more about this. I have been planning this for nearly three years, and now I am going to personally take the lead role in this. Regretfully, we will not meet again in this life.
I have transferred all my black funds to Brotherhood groups. We will be well funded for the future.
Please choose another to head our cause.
I am certain that U.S. intelligence will eventually realize that I am targeting them.
Can I please ask that you organize some diversions to help make my task easier? You will know what is best.
I have obtained a spare special weapon of the type we discussed. It will be found in a false floor under the desk in my office. Collect it at your leisure.
Thank you for your friendship and showing me the right way forward.
You are an inspiration.
Kamal
Chapter 43
"Good morning Sir, a beautiful day for travel" chirped Alain Mattieu. Alain was Kamal’s personal pilot and he was walking around the luxury business jet doing his pre-flight checks when Kamal arrived.
Kamal had recruited Alain on the personal recommendation of The Sheik. An ex-French Foreign Legionnaire, Alain had worked as a mercenary in Africa. In addition to being a superb pilot, he could be relied on to be discrete as well as tough if the need arose.
This was not to be the first trip to Russia in his luxury Cessna Citation jet.
Pashwari had been doing business in Russia for years and even spoke basic Russian, but this was the first time he had ever been to Minsk.
"Yes Alain it is. I am looking forward to our journey. Is the freight loaded?"
"Yes, there were seven small wooden crates delivered this morning. They are already strapped down in the cargo hold in the rear."
"Excellent. How long will our flight to Minsk take?" asked Kamal as he climbed the stairs.
"Depending on winds and Russian air traffic control, I think around five hours" said the lovely co-pilot Felicity Marsh. She was dressed in the standard pilots outfit with a peak cap covering her long red hair.
It had taken an international search to locate a co-pilot with all the qualities Kamal required. Felicity was a flight instructor in Dublin Ireland when she had been contacted by Alain and recruited. Money was no object, and she was very well compensated.
As soon as Kamal was onboard, Alain also climbed the steps then pushed the button which automatically folded and stowed the stairs, and latched and secured the door.
"Make yourself comfortable Sir. I will get us underway as soon as I can."
As soon as Alain was in the cockpit and the door was latched, Kamal wasted no time in changing out of his traditional white robes. He stripped naked, then went into the bathroom and took a shower and shaved off his beard. Then he dressed into jeans, a t-shirt and jogging shoes.
Kamal was thirsty, so he went to the refrigerator and grabbed some ice cubes which he threw into a small glass.
On the wall was a small sized painting of the Last Supper. No-one ever suspected that it was a real Da Vinci. Kamal pressed a hidden latch and a false panel behind the painting opened revealing a large supply of top shelf liquor. He grabbed two baby bottles of Chivas and splashed them over the ice before strapping himself into his seat for takeoff.
A few minutes later, the engines spooled up and they taxied to the holding area. Shortly afterwards they were cleared for takeoff and sped down the runway.
Kamal was able to do some email before they leveled off at their cruising altitude of thirty four thousand feet.