Kidnapping With a Purpose: A Novel

By Ed Rowsey

Sometimes the good guys have to get their hands dirty. Especially when dealing with really bad guys-like dictators, crooked billionaires, and murderous villains. Follow Carlo Como and his family-brothers Gino, Rico, Franco, and Benito, along with sister Mia-as they hatch a bold, outlandish plan to kidnap some of the world's most evil and im

• Language: English
• Publisher: CopWorld Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781946754196

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

PALM BEACH

It was a typical Friday in the IRS building when I called downstairs to Richard Shackford to ask if he wanted to get out of the office and harass a rich guy in Palm Beach.

Richard was unique. If you didn’t know him, you would think he was a stupid redneck who wore white socks and talked without brain activity in a farmer’s drawl. He also just happened to be the smartest guy in the building. In addition to being a very close friend, he was a gentleman who freely gave out compliments. I needed him for a sensitive tax case assigned to me within the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, or CID, out of the West Palm Beach Office. They figured better an old dog like me, than a rookie who could have the powerful people bringing heat on the agency for any little mistake.

Sure, Carlo. I’d do anything to get out from behind this desk. Besides, all your criminal cases are more interesting than just accessing the revenue section.

That sunny afternoon, we got in the five-year-old CID car and headed east over the Palm Beach Middle Bridge, to find the rich and famous. We didn’t have the look of Palm Beachers, but we had the clout to knock on any door. As we drove, I made sure Richard knew how much I appreciated his help.

Thanks for coming and being my security blanket. The narcotics cases are much more fun, not to mention exciting, but I really hate these tax cases in South Florida. I don’t know the Code well enough, despite the few tax cases I’ve worked. I just look at intent and motive, then recommend the monies that are black and white. I’ll happily let a guy like you clean everything up afterwards for the total amount civilly.

Anything for you good buddy. I’m certain we’ll have a few laughs.

Damn straight. So, here’s the deal, Richard. CID is looking at an influential attorney who was Bill Clinton’s roommate at Georgetown. The two of them are still close to this day. Although he’s an attorney, we think he has more money than he should and want to find out about his real estate deals and any other resources.

Gotcha, Carlo. What’s the address?

358 El Brillo Way. It’s the home of Jeffrey Epstein, a friend and business associate of the taxpayer.

After arriving, we knocked on the side door of the home, which led to the kitchen. We identified ourselves to a lady in a black and white uniform who answered the door. Surprisingly, without her checking with anyone, we were led through the kitchen and into the living room. After a short wait, Mr. Epstein appeared, calmly and courteously introducing himself. Richard took over the introductions, voicing extensive compliments about the home and the furniture, which rendered Epstein oddly tongue-tied. Epstein quickly regained his composure and, after he started a conference call with three of his attorneys, we got down to business. The attorneys were told of the investigation of Epstein’s associate and permission was granted to proceed.

During the one-hour plus interview about the real estate transaction, I could see the pool at a distance, a couple of beautiful young women in it. After leaving, I mentioned to Richard, I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s not right. I’ve seen decadence before, but this goes way beyond what I’ve seen. The real estate answers were acceptable, but the man and his surroundings were eerie. I mean, I’m not big on billionaires, and that probably clouded my vision, but I sure didn’t like this guy. Should probably add his name to the list of offensive billionaires who should be relieved of their money, somehow. Be made to give more to good causes that can make a huge difference.

Richard agreed that despite the great house, he’d had similar feelings. Epstein didn’t fit the bill as a giver. He was a taker. This was a real sin in my mind. We’d deal with him later.

CHAPTER TWO

BLACK HAND

Iwas raised by a close-knit Italian family, all with the same love of American values and generosity that had been learned from my great-grandfather. He immigrated from Italy in the late 1800s as a young boy. At each week’s Sunday dinner, attended by 29 close relatives, a favorite story was told: THE BLACK HAND.

The Black Hand, the original name for the group that became known as Ujedinjenje Ili Smrt, or Unification or Death, was a secret Serbian society that used terrorist methods to promote the unification of ethnic Serbs outside of Serbia who were under Habsburg or Ottoman rule. Typical Black Hand tactics included sending letters to members of a victim’s family threatening bodily harm, kidnapping, arson, or murder, unless a specified amount of money was delivered to a specific place.

My great-grandfather, a successful businessman in the early 1900s, accumulated real estate in New York City on a large scale. When he sold a whole city block to Macy’s in 1901 for $1 million, he gave $100 thousand to each of his five children and kept $500 thousand. Quite a lot of money in any generation. Nicky, a cousin, was kidnapped by the Black Hand. They demanded five-hundred thousand for the boy, the same amount my great-grandfather had recently kept for himself. The story goes that his response to them was, Keep him, I have plenty of kids.

Luckily, it turned out ok. Apparently, Nicky was such a pain in the ass, he was coughed up unharmed three months later. The family never forgot the story, but in some way, I thought the Black Hand was secretly admired as an effective method of exchanging wealth.

Between Epstein and the Black Hand, my mind started spinning.

CHAPTER THREE

FAMILY

As we drove back to the office, trying to ignore the oddness of Epstein, I had an idea. Hey Richard, this is probably my last case with you. My plan is to retire from CID next month and start investigating narcotic money laundering with the Palm Beach Police. They want seized forfeitures, and since that’s my specialty, they begged me to sign on. .

Richard let out a low whistle. Palm Beach sure has the money, particularly since some of the nouveauriche dopers have been buying homes. You’ll be successful in no time, even get a second retirement. Wish I could come, but I don’t have your 20 years already in CID.

Since I probably won’t see much of you after that, do you want to come to our family dinner on Sunday? It’s something you’ll never forget.

Sounds like a plan, Carlo. Thanks.

Sunday came and Richard arrived. I was anxious for him to get the multi-course meal with loud arguments and hugs, old stories and spirited debates, everyone talking over each other. It’s an insane scene but filled with caring and love. I pulled Richard aside before I introduced him. I wanted to fill him in before meeting my crazy family.

We had all moved into my grandparent’s house after our father left our mother. We never heard from him again and didn’t look for him. Grandmother helped mom raise us, and grandfather only had to give a look to get our attention. Mia, the only grand-daughter, is spoiled. She wasn’t allowed to go to work; Grandma told her, Work is for the boys, you stay home. It was difficult for her with the ninety degree radiators in south Florida in the winter. Mia said, "I couldn’t breathe, but Grandma was comfortable.

At nineteen, my sister was finally able to go out and make some money at a local art store. We are a military family, with my grandfather instilling in us the pride and responsibility of U.S. service and citizenship. Five of us had enlisted in the Army and Franco joined the Navy as a boatsman. My oldest brother, Conte, had been an infantry officer in Afghanistan before we lost him.

Grandad, this is my good friend Richard, who I work with. I already told him you are the rock of America that started this clan. Grandma, I want you to meet my good buddy.

The rest of the introductions went quickly. Richard met Gino, an anesthesiologist, who had served as a medic in the Army. Ricco, the vice-president of the local bank had served in the Army Finance Corp. I also introduced Franco, a boat captain for a rich guy, Benito, a computer whiz with his own business, had served his time in the Army Signal Corp and our only sister, Mia, lived nearby with her own art studio.

During dinner, Richard got the rundown on charities. It’s a passion, among the family, that we all contribute. When my brother Vito died shortly after he was born, my mom and grandparents began giving to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Others we love to support are the Gary Sinise foundation, Doctors without Borders, and the African Wildlife Foundation. After dinner, as he was leaving, Richard made sure to tell me, Carlo, I’ve had my head and belly filled to the max. You guys are for real.

I couldn’t help but laugh, I told you it would be something you wouldn’t forget.

CHAPTER FOUR

PLAN

After Richard left, I asked my brothers and sisters to stick around for a little bit. There was something I wanted to talk to them about.

Our grandparents would not approve of what I’m about to say, but I want you to listen and consider. I have been giving a lot of thought to pulling off something grand, something where the means justifies the end. We all love to be generous but have limited means. What do you think of kidnapping four billionaires from Palm Beach and forcing each to wire a billion to an offshore account of ours? Then we can forward the funds to various charities. What do you think?

Benito was on my side. Ricco thought I was crazy, Gino said he had too much to lose and Mia was concerned about hurting people. Franco finally made his voice heard over everyone else’s. I want to do it. All of us are smart and would never divulge the plan to anyone outside of the family. I’m guessing, but each of us has a specialty that would probably lend itself to the plan.

I emphasized you’re right on point, it is because of your unique work backgrounds and military experiences that I came up with this idea. There are specific duties to be assigned if we decide to make it a go and be successful. It’s months of prep beforehand. Give it some thought and we can get together after next Sunday’s dinner. Remember, We all have to agree or it’s a no go. Besides, even if we got caught the public image of making nasty rich guys give to charity has a nice ring to it."

CHAPTER FIVE

VICTIMS

Ihad to research the four kidnapping victims to provide a convincing motive to my siblings to sign on. My planning had to be ready by next Sunday’s meal. It was not a difficult task. Four of our potential victims immediately stood out.

News flash: Jeffrey Epstein sentenced as a sexual predator. Richard and I were right on. We became angrier and more disgusted when further details were leaked. Epstein chose to use his wealth for atrocious sexual acts that ruined young girls’ lives rather than uplifting society with donations to good causes.

He only received a slap on the wrist. The U.S. government and the local District Attorney made a sweet-heart side deal behind the victims’ backs, called the girls prostitutes and the sheriff let the bastard come and go freely in the daylight hours during his prison stay. We had to get to him soon before he got arrested again. This type of pervert never stops.

Knowing Epstein’s downstairs layout would make the kidnapping easier. He was number one on the list and we had to be sure he wasn’t traveling the night of the operation.

Epstein’s home in New York was one of the largest private homes in Manhattan, worth $55.9 million.

Epstein’s ranch in Arizona, had a market value at $17.2 million. The 7,559-acre property featured a 33,000-square-foot mansion with an open-air courtyard, a fountain and lush gardens. His Florida mansion stood on the opposite side of the neighborhood from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. That home was worth $12.3 million.

Epstein’s Paris apartment was his least valuable piece of real estate at $8.6 million. The Irish Times reported the walls of the apartment were covered in photos of naked young women.

Epstein owned two private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands. One’s worth was estimated at more than $20 million.

Epstein’s first island is where some of his sex crimes are said to have taken place.

Epstein had $15 million in investments that paid a return on a fixed schedule. About $100 million of Epstein’s money was tied up in an unspecified number of businesses.

The value of Epstein’s various vehicles totaled more than $18 million. He owned a private jet, and more than 20 cars, plus a handful of motorcycles and jet skis.

Epstein had another $200 million invested with an unspecified number of funds. He had a lot of fine art, antiques, collectibles and other valuables. The value of these items remains to be determined.

He might have been short the one billion, but I promised myself he would pay for his outrageous behavior. We’d let the other three victims make up the difference.

A week of surveillance on him and the others just before the kidnappings would lock in their locations.

Another clown would whet the appetite for my brothers and sister. Ken Grimes might not be the wealthiest person in the world, but that hadn’t stopped him from outspending his fellow billionaires on splashy real estate deals. His latest buy was reportedly in contract, a seven-acre oceanfront Hamptons estate which could be worth up to $100 million. In recent years, he had reportedly spent more than $750 million on real estate in