Publishers Marketplace: Robert Pargac

This writer is looking for an agent.

SYNOPSIS: BLIND TRUST
RAFAEL OCHOA, the Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge educated, reigning king of the global narcotics trade, performs nothing less than Houdiniesqe acts in alluding capture by his laudable adversary, ASHTON FOX, the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. Ash regards Rafael with equal parts admiration and circumspection. He recognizes the world in not black and white. Rafael’s escape from his illustrious compound in the Pacific Palisades, California, during a raid three years ago is but one, of many instances leading Ash to the uncomfortable conclusion that he has a mole within his team. Ash’s final case with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which resulted in a surprising loss that should have been a slam dunk win, is just the latest. Despite Ash’s excellent performance, his supervisor, the sycophantical, profane RICHARD CHANDLER, whose position with the DOJ is based solely on his daddy’s money and influence, all but accuses Ash of being complicit with Rafael.
As Ash moves from the DOJ to private practice with Chamberlin Frost (CF), the premier New York law firm, the question of a mole remains buried within his mind. At CF, Ash meets ANTONIO DIAZ, one of Mexico’s richest magnates of industry and the best client of CF. Following the suspicious suicide of Diaz’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Ash is seconded in the Diaz Group as the new CLO. Ash is excited about his new opportunity to work in such a prestigious organization and position in the exotic country. It is a dream job. Enroute from New York to Mexico City, Ash meets JASMINE IZZEDINE, the lovely stepdaughter of Diaz. It is a nice surprise. Ash and Jasmine enjoy a lively conversation, during which they develop a mutual attraction for one another. Ash, further, learns of Jasmine’s poor opinion of Diaz, in addition to information about ominous parallels between the deaths of Garcia and Jasmine’s mother, in both instances it appears Diaz is implicated.
Once in Mexico, along with his long-term co-counsel, SOPHIE BARRET, Ash discovers a corrupt world where Diaz’s business dealings are not what they appear. Ash is intrigued. Uncovering evidence that Diaz acquires his wealth through the untimely deaths of his investors, Ash begins an investigation seeking to uncover what secrets lie beneath the surface…and what he can do about it. He still has the instincts of an AUSA. To further obscure Ash’s plans, AN UNLIKELY CONFEDERATE tells him not to trust Diaz and sends him on a cloak and dagger scavenger’s hunt through Mexico City, during which he discovers who is Diaz’s next target: the President of Mexico. Diaz’s plan: assassinate the President and steal his $10 billion dollars. Motivation: unadulterated avarice and lust for power.
Following this revelation, Ash takes the investigation to the limits. After he pushes too hard for answers to the wrong questions regarding Garcia and the President, a cat-and-mouse game ensues in which Diaz, through his enforcer, JOSE LUIS DE LA GARZA (DLG) pressures Ash to cease his investigative efforts. Ash, enthralled by the information he uncovers cannot stop and must see his investigation through to the end.
The investigation takes Ash to the Cayman Islands and Switzerland where he meets VOLKER RHEINHESSEN, the long-time, stately ambassador of Banca Privasa, Diaz’s investment bank. Diaz uses this vehicle to conduct all business activities related to his his clients’ assets. Ash, operating under the guise of advancing Diaz’s business interests, befriends Volker. Nearing retirement, Volker finds Diaz’s treatment and retirement package unsatisfactory. Volker likes Ashton and sees much of his younger self in him. Volker shares information with Ash that details the intricate workings of Diaz’s investment business, including how Diaz uses Blind Trusts to not only protect and secure his clients’ wealth, but to steal it upon their deaths. Volker discusses six specific clients who died suspicious deaths in single car accidents which were eerily similar to that of Jasmine’s mother. While working in Cayman and Switzerland, Ash makes subtle changes in the ownership structures of Diaz’s holdings that provide greater tax efficiencies and asset protection features, as well as operational efficacies Ash can use to his advantage in the case the need arises.
Ash returns from his latest trip to Cayman and takes a taxi from the street at the airport, a rookie mistake he should not have made. Ash finds himself the target of a kidnapping attempt orchestrated by DLG. Keeping his eye open for an opportunity, he acts and escapes by stabbing the taxi driver in the neck with his fountain pen. After escaping, Ash recognizes his dire position, and turns to his only potential ally with the appropriate character, vision, and resources necessary to help Ash combat Diaz and save the President: his old adversary, Rafael Ochoa.
Ash approaches Rafael’s compound in Morelia Mexico and soon finds himself inside talking with Rafa. Ash explains the circumstances. Rafa is obliged to help Ash because Ash had the opportunity to use false evidence against Rafa at trial, but he did not. Rafael tells Ash he had a mole in the DOJ for the past five years. He did not know who she was, only that it was a female who went by the code name ORCHID. Ash and Rafael agree to work together to save Mexico from this tragedy that would destroy the country. Following their meeting, Ash leaves Morelia and encounters Richard Chandler in the airport. He informs Ash that he caught him at Rafael’s home. He extorts Ash to provide information against Rafa. Ash recognizes this is a good opportunity to provide counterintelligence he has about Diaz to Chandler under the pretext it is about Rafael. Through this deception, Chandler will mobilize forces to take down Rafael, but actually works to take down Diaz.
Ash is back in Mexico and preparing the final gambits of his game. He still needs to steal information from Diaz’s office to save the President, as well as Diaz’s money to erode his power base. Ash contacts PAUL BROCKTON, a former DOJ colleague who is now with the U.S. Intelligence Services in Mexico City. In an uncertain time, Paul is someone Ash can trust. As an ally, Paul has all the best goodies from the CIA. He provides Ash operational support. Of note, he provides Ash critical supplies, e.g., P26 Pistol, Nitrous Oxide, Helicopter transport.
The investigation leads Ash and Rafa to the conclusion that the assassination attempt will take place in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, Thursday afternoon. Rafael’s team games-out all the possibilities for the assassination and conclude DLG’s team will descend upon Coatzacoalcos and execute a cold plan to kill four Presidential Guard officers, steal their uniforms, and infiltrate their ranks. At the time of the assassination attempt, Rafael’s men surround the President, take out DLG’s team, and usher the President to the safety of an awaiting bullet-proof Escalade, which takes them to the protection of an awaiting Cessna Citation X+.
Following the attempted assassination, Ash proceeds to the office Friday morning as if all is normal. His mission: steal Diaz’s money. This is the only way to destroy his power base. At the office, Ash overhears Chandler enter. He is meeting with Diaz. This cannot be good. Ash takes advantage of Chandler’s entrance to create a distraction. He starts a fire on the seventh floor under Diaz’s office and laces it with ammonia and chlorine. The smell is toxic and instantly causes one’s respiration to fail. Ash then informs Diaz and Chandler his office is full of smoke, as is Diaz’s. All run towards the exit to evacuate. Once downstairs, Ash talks with Sophie and asks her to help him by keeping Diaz and Chandler occupied. Sophie agrees. Ash returns to the office. Once there, he uses Diaz’s computer and treasury management system to transfer $20.3 billion dollars from Diaz’s accounts to accounts under Ash’s controls.
During this time, Chandler is talking with Diaz about the failed assassination attempt and that Ash provided him information about it Thursday. Diaz is incensed by Chandler not providing the information earlier. Subsequently, Sophie tells Diaz she is Orchid, his long-term, anonymous mole in the DOJ. She informs him she has vital information. Diaz reluctantly agrees to pay an exorbitant fee. While pissed about the amount, it was money well spent: Ash is behind everything and, he is currently breaking into his office to steal all his money.
Diaz goes ballistic. He rushes upstairs. Ash is just finalizing the last transaction when he hears the sound of his name being used with numerous profanities. He locks Diaz’s office door and completes the final transaction. Once complete, he lets Diaz burst through the door and subdues him by hitting him in the head with a Louis XIV table clock. Ash then races for the street where he begins his escape plan.
Ash arrives back at his hotel where he has documents stored in the safe. He wants to use the helipad as the extraction location. Paul informs him, however, they must an alternative location 15 kilometers to the west. It will be tough because DLG’s people will be on to them immediately. Over the 15 kilometers, Ash and company evade Diaz’s team in a barrage of bullets. Once on the chopper, Ash receives a call from Jasmine. Filled with terror, she advises him she was kidnapped. DLG takes the phone and says they will exchange the money for the girl on Monday. Ash knows they will kill them afterwards. Ash and the team arrive in Valle de Bravo and make their way to the safe house. Meeting with Rafael’s team, they plan to rescue Jasmine. In the morning, Ash calls DLG and sets up a proof of life meeting. Diaz sends Jasmine to Valle for the meeting. Once there, they meet. Jasmine is well. DLG and Ash agree to arrangements for Monday
That evening, Ash insists they liberate Jasmine. He informs the group he is sending evidence to the U.S. Attorney General (AG) and Mexico’s President. The plan is to use this as a subterfuge to draw resources away from Diaz’s compound. This makes it easier for Rafa’s team to rescue Jasmine. Sophie, not knowing she has been identified as Orchid by Ash, calls Diaz. She tells him Ash will be in Valle at night to send evidence to the AG and President.
Ash and Paul make their way to town and send the documents. When Ash finishes, DLG finds him in the FedEx store and chases him into an ally. Paul is there. DLG thinks its Ash. He is blinded by a light behind Paul. Once DLG realizes it is not Ash, he turns and finds Ash with his P26 pointed at his heart. Ash shoots DLG. Ash and Paul leave the ally and return to the compound. While Ash and Paul are creating the artifice, Rafael and his team attack Diaz’s compound and rescue Jasmine.
After Diaz loses Jasmine, he knows his options are limited. No money. No friends. No power. The President calls him and is not happy about the assassination attempt and loss of his money. Diaz knows he must escape by seeking safe-haven in Brazil. He makes it to Brazil and Mexico’s diplomatic corps is awaiting him. They board Diaz’s private plane and force him to return to Mexico. Once in Mexico, the Presidential Guard takes him to a shit-hole prison. Diaz cannot cope and commits suicide.
Following the assassination attempt, the AG orders Chandler back to New York. The AG disassembles Chandler’s weak hypothesis about Diaz, Rafael, and Ash. He explains how Ash sent evidence explaining everything, as well as implicating Sophie Barret in Diaz’s machinations. Chandler is fired.
Jasmine and Ash are reunited. They travel to Villa D’Este in Lake Como, Italy. They enjoy a romantic night together and delicious meals. They have breakfast in the morning in an ideal location. Jasmine excuses herself. She does not return. Ash searches for her and returns to the room. He finds a note explaining that she loves him. Her need, however, for revenge can only be fulfilled through the money. Jasmine travels to the UBS branch in Milan. She meets with a banker and initiates the transfer to her personal account. Ultimately, the banker informs her the account only has $2 million dollars, not $10 billion.
Volker is in a beautiful. white-sand beach in Brazil. He is taking his morning run. In the distance he sees two figures. It is Ash and Rafael. Ash asks why he moved the money. There were too many coincidences regarding Jasmine. While monitoring the new account, Volker felt something was wrong; he saw Jasmine’s balance inquiry. Volker moved the money to protect it. Ash tells him where to send the funds. He gives Volker a partial amount. Volker moves back to the Caymans and works with Ash.
Ash receives the Order of the Aztec Eagle from Mexico’s President for services to the Republic of Mexico. Ash intends to repair the bank and run it properly. When he identifies bad actors such a sex-traffickers, he will assemble a team and go after them. Rafael will provide security and intelligence. Paul will be his new CLO. Volker will provide historical knowledge of the bank. This is the prequel to, “POWER OF ATTORNEY.”
Rafael and Ash remain friends. Rafael returns to managing the international operations of his business interests.
Ash discusses this information with ELENA, his secretary in Mexico City. As they are chatting, a call comes through for Ash. Elena’s eyes grow large. She looks at Ash and says, “It’s Jasmine!”
END