An International Crime Thriller Series With Strong Male Protagonist
Mitchell Parker Crime Thrillers by Helen Goltz
Series Excerpt
“Gentlemen, it’s time to play,” Lawrence Hackett said as he turned his back on the bleak London day and swiveled his chair to face the directors around the board table. “For the few of you that were not with us five years ago when we last played, let me remind you of the rules of the game. Contestants must mastermind and carry out the perfect crime. A prize pool of five million pounds will be divided amongst the Mastermind entrants that succeed. So, the less who succeed, the better for the winners. Clear?”
The directors nodded in agreement.
“Rishi, another one?”
“Entry is by invitation and only six entries will be selected to play.”
“Bravo. Richard?”
Richard cleared his throat. “I’m too old for a pop quiz, Lawrence.”
Lawrence laughed. “Indulge me, Richard.”
“For security reasons, one person only will represent each group. No other members of the group are to have contact with us or be aware of Mastermind. They are briefed on the job, not the competition. Should the team rep withdraw, the entry is disqualified,” he rattled off.
Lawrence heard Daniel Reid shuffle in his seat. He turned to him. “Daniel, you haven’t played before …”
“But I know the rules. Mastermind directors will be accessible one month prior to the event in the capital city of the entrant. This will be the contestants’ only point of contact.”
“Go on,” Lawrence encouraged him.
“The Mastermind act cannot be a Mastermind that was performed in past events.”
“Correct, and finally, when you are allocated a Mastermind entrant, get full security checks on all team members, and confirm everyone’s timing is going to work. It must happen between November 1 and 30. If your group fails and keep their mouths shut, you can offer them legal help – otherwise pull out and disown them. Make sure the team reps know this. Anything else, Andrew?”
“Yes, if they succeed, they’ll be paid on December 1. They also get to keep the spoils of their crime. I’ll have Mastermind projects allocated to directors by tomorrow.”
“Good,” Lawrence concluded. “Let the fun begin! We’ve got some good ones this year.”
“What’s your all-time favorite, Lawrence?” Daniel Reid asked.
“Ah, there have been a few. I liked the Swiss Mastermind in the inaugural competition, before your time, Daniel. The entrants held up a bank, handcuffed and blindfolded the staff and customers, then transferred funds to untraceable accounts. After the transfer, they tied themselves up and joined the hostages. When the cops burst in, they were released with the hostages. It was beautiful. What was your favorite, Richard?”
“All bias aside, since I worked on it, I liked the New York print run in Mastermind-2.”
“That was the thanksgiving weekend wasn’t it?” Lawrence recalled.
“Exactly, a traditional busy time. The Mastermind entrants dispersed half a million worth of counterfeit notes across four U.S. borders that weekend. Simple, effective and by the time the notes were detected, the perpetrators were sunning themselves in the Cayman Islands.”
“What was your favorite, Mike?” Lawrence turned to Michael Germaine.
“It would have to be another one in the Mastermind-2 competition – the selling of the Parisian apartment.”
“Yes, the second round gave us some great ones,” Lawrence agreed.
“It was classic,” Michael continued. “The entrants sold that block of units while their landlord was out of the country. When he came back two months later, his units were being demolished and they were gone with a large wad of French francs and their Mastermind payout.”
Lawrence laughed. “Yeah, that was great. So, we had three Masterminds succeed in our inaugural Mastermind and two in Mastermind-2. Let’s see what this year brings us for Mastermind-3. Who do you think will take it out, Andrew? How about a bet?”
“OK, fifty pounds on Monaco,” Andrew Kenny started the betting.
Lawrence turned to Alan Peasely.
“Tokyo,” Alan answered.
“Ian?”
“Hmm, tough one. I’m going for Nevada.”
“And you, Lawrence?” Richard put him on the spot.
Lawrence answered without hesitating. “My money’s on Washington D.C.”
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