Clients like Rafeeq Ramsey is the reason Marwan Accad launched his executive security business. Ramsey is willing to pay whatever it takes to rescue his kidnapped wife. Just as Marwan shows his client evidence that could crack the case wide open. Ramsey is gunned down by sniper fire.
The Witness
by Josh McDowell
Tyndale
2010
Marwan narrowly escapes with his life, leaving a trail of dead assassins from Monte Carlo to Morocco. As the main suspect in Ramsey's murder, Marwan is on the run from every police force in Europe and North Africa. No matter where he turns, more assassins are on his heals - thrusting those he loves into danger. He is troubled by the fact that no one is suppose to know he is working for Ramsey or what he has uncovered. Time is running out as he races to find his pursuers and their motives. He soon discovers the conspiracy runs deeper than he suspected. With no one to turn to or whom he can trust, he disappears into the crowds of Cairo to plan his next move. Here he meets the beautiful Dalia Nour and is confronted with a truth that will change his life.
His daughter is dead, his wife is missing and Rafeeg Ramsey clearly fears for his life. Ramsey has hired Marwan Accad to find his kidnapped wife. A ransom note from the kidnappers asks for an additional twenty-five million euros or they will kill his wife Claudette and come after him. He has already given them eleven million euros. He needs some good news. This is a lot of money, but Ramsey can well afford it. He has just sold his company - Blue Nile Holdings - for 563 million euros. The kidnappers, no doubt, knew this and are planning on taking full advantage of Ramsey's desperation. Accad has discovered some news that he believes will shed light on the kidnapping. He has learned that Claudette is in Sao Paulo, Brazil. but doesn't appear to be a prisoner. In fact, surveillance cameras inside a Sao Paulo bank shows her withdrawing funds from the money Ramsey had wired as ransom. He tells Ramsey he believes his wife has planned her own kidnapping and here is the proof. Just as he hands the envelope to Ramsey. the plate-glass window suddenly explodes around them. Two shots fill the room and the old man falls to the floor - his life's blood seeping into the plush carpet. Ramsey is dead and Accad fears he is next.
Ramsey's body guards rush into the room, but they too are gunned down. He can't stay here - they know he is in the room - but how is he going to escape. He grabs a picture of Ramsey's wife and heads for the hallway. There are two new guards are coming off the elevator and one tells him to go down the stairs. As he bursts into the lobby looking for his driver, he sees the old man running towards him telling him to wait, he will get the car. Accad sees police cars and emergency vehicles converge on the area - the media won't be far behind. He spots his driver crossing the street, getting into the Ranch Rover, and starting the engine. Marwan moves from the door, he must get out of here as quickly as possible, before he is spotted. As he is crossing the plaza, suddenly the SUV erupts in a tremendous explosion, the force of which sends him crashing to the ground. In this horrifying moment, Marwan realizes that he, too, is being hunted. Marwan gets up, wipes the blood from his face and starts running, He needs to return to the hotel, get his things, and leave town quickly. He reaches the hotel without incident, but stepping out of the elevator he realizes something is wrong - the hallway lights are too dim. At the end of the hallway, a figure moves in the shadows - there is the distinctive sound of a hammer being pulled back - Marwan knows he has been found. Shots rang out - he is fighting for his life - bodies litter the hallway as he manages to kill the assassins, but has been shot in the shoulder. He hears sirens - the police are coming. Should he run or stay? If the taxi is still waiting out front it would be sign he should run. If not, he will take his chances with the police. Racing through the lobby he sees the taxi. Making a dash for it and getting in the back seat he tell the driver to take him to the airport. Nothing happens - the driver is dead - shot in the temple. What sign is this - he has a car but no driver. He will take the car and run. Italy had been a mistake - France is better. He has money and passports in Marseilles. He can be there in a couple of hours and catch a plane for Casablanca. He will call his brother Ramy for help - he will get him out of the country.
Inspector Jean-Claude Goddard eases his Renault into a parking space outside Ramsey's building - grabs his sidearm and badge - stepping out into the November chill. He had been a detective in Monaco for almost twenty-five years and chief of detectives for the last five, but he has never seen a crime like this one. His assistant, Colette DuVall meets him in the living where investigator are gathering evidence. Goddard learns Ramsey's wife has been kidnapped and he daughter murdered on the same day of the kidnapping. Only one witness to the shooting - Marwan Accad. The hunt is on.
Goddard cannot stand Inspector Marcel Lemieux. The thought of talking with him, let alone working with him, turns Goddard's stomach. There is no way out of it, however, as Lemieux is heading the investigation into the kidnapping of Claudette Ramsey and the murder of Brigitte Ramsey. He has to be told. Lemieux is something of a living legend throughout the police forces of Europe. He has solved some of the continent's biggest crimes. Goddard cannot stand him or did he trust him.. He had worked with the Inspector on two previous cases - the experience of which had left a bad taste in his mouth. Both cases were never solved. Goddard has a lead and requests permission to fly to Moscow to follow the lead. - he is denied. Lemieux walks in the office, claims jurisdiction of the case and demands copies of the files.
One must read this intriguing book to learn how Accad solves the mystery of Ramsey's death and why. How is Inspector Lemieux involved in all of this? Who is Dalia Nour and how does she help Accad? Does Accad prove his innocence and is justice served? Was Claudette Ramsey kidnapped or did she engineer the whole plot to get her husband's money? Did she have Brigitte killed?
Highly recommended. McDowell is an excellent writer of suspense fiction. I really enjoyed the book - it is a delightful mystery. The books keeps you turning pages and trying to guess what will happen next, A keeper for your personal library.
