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  "Charlie 'round?" the hit man drawled as he spat a mouth of chew on the ground.

  "Naw, he ain't here," came the reply.

  "Reckon I could catch him over at Pete's Bar4?" our friend inquired as he bent to wipe the dust from his cowboy boots.

  "Maybe later. He's out at the packing house right now," the young man informed him. "I 'spect him to come back by here 'bout five or six o'clock."

  "Thank you much, "our friend said, tipping his hat politely.” Just tell him Clyde stopped by and I'll be seeing him later."

  Back in his pickup truck, "Clyde" drove to the packinghouse he had surveyed earlier. He knew it was a cover for transporting the drugs cross-country. The decision now was whether to hit the mark here, or wait until later when he was known to be visiting Pete's Bar.

  Luckily there was a vacant parking spot to the left of the mark's car. He turned the radio on and country music filled the air. Leaning his head back against the seat, he pulled hi hat down to cover his eyes as though he were napping. He was still in that position when the unsuspecting mark bent to unlock his car forty-five minutes later.

  The muffled sound of three shots to mark's head went unnoticed by the workers in the packinghouse. The body was not discovered until several hours later when the shift ended. By then, our friend was safely miles away. A difficult hit had been successfully completed!

  If you expect your surveillance to entail tedious hours of watching and waiting, there are some things you can do to make yourself more comfortable during that time. If it's cold out, dress warmly and carry a blanket to cover yourself so you won't have to run the car to keep the heater going. Pack a thermos of coffee or cold drinks and some food so you won't have to leave your position when you get hungry.

  Bring a portable radio of cassette player so you won't drain your car battery. Don't bring any reading material. You can't watch and read, although a book or newspaper may be used as a prop. To fill the time, you make check out books on cassette from the library and listen while you watch.

  Fill your tank before you start out. You never know when the mark may be on the move, and many a tail has been lost because the tank ran out before the mark did.

  If you can afford them and are able to get inside to plant them, quarter sized bugging devices are not available that will pick up conversation up to two miles away on an unused radio frequency. The bugs can be planted in the house, inside a frequently worn jacket, inside the car, and so on, giving you the leverage of knowing what is going on from a perfectly legitimate spot within a two-mile radius.

  Binoculars, infra-red photography, Star-light scopes and bugging devices all have their time and place. Unfortunately, nothing will ever replace the basic sit and watch technique.

  At night, perhaps circumstances will allow you to approach a little closer to take a peek, or even go inside for a preliminary investigation. But don't ever take risks gathering information that may not be necessary. Use common sense!

  Remember these important rules: If, for any reason, witnesses can place you at the jobsite, scratch that job for a later time or eliminate it altogether.

  If you are working out of town and get a traffic ticket, call the job off.

  If you are doing surveillance and the cops come to check out your reason for loitering in the area, call the job off.

  If you run into a neighbor or repairman while you are snooping around the mark's house, call the job off. Don't let any little detail link you to the victim.

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  Hit Man: A Technical Manual For Independent Contractors 6.

  Opportunity Knocks!

  YOU'VE READ ALL THE suggested reading material; you've honed your mind, body and reflexes into a precision piece of professional machinery. You've assembled the necessary tools and learned to use them efficiently. Your knowledge of dealing death has increased to the point where you have a choice of methods. Finally, you are confident and competent enough to accept employment. Where do you start?

  Placing advertisements in military and gun magazines may get results, but not the type you are after. The only response one fellow I know got was a personal visit from the FBI -- which certainly is not conducive to the preferred low profile. Even though he used a post office box, Big brother was able to track him down with little effort. I do not recommend that you use this method of solicitation, or that you respond to these ads.

  Your best bet as a beginner is to of through a personal acquaintance that you trust and who is capable of paying for your services. This person will be aware of your interest in weapons, your combat training and your unconventional attitude. If he has a problem that needs solving, approach him gently to see how serious he is about getting it taken care of. You may start out as a bodyguard, courier, or messenger. DO whatever it takes to build your credibility. Based on his opinion of your trustworthiness and abilities he may recommend to you someone who can take advantage of the services you offer, even though he may not have an immediate need. You will find that most of your jobs will come as a direct result of personal recommendations from previously satisfied customers.

  Use the reference materials suggested in Chapter 1. Your local newspaper will offer a host of potential employment opportunities. Even a local gossip source. How many times have you heard about someone who has been burned and is eager of revenge?

  In most cases, it would be very unwise and unhealthy to use the direct approach on your first contract, especially if the prospective employer is someone you don't know on a personal basis. Neither are telephone contacts or written communications advisable.

  Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you directly about any illegal activity, unless, of course, that person has alre3ady established a bond of trust. And remember that moving too fast can scare away a potential employer with ready cash in his pocket.

  If you've heard or read of someone capable of paying for your services and with a definite need you can fill, but you don't personally know that person, there are a few ways to make yourself available inconspicuously. If possible, have a mutual acquaintance introduce you to him or her. The mutual acquaintance should be someone who has already established a bond of trust with the prospective employer so that his acceptance of you will be as good as a personal recommendation. If no mutual acquaintance is available, study the potential employer's habits and find a way to make yourself known to him. If he often visits the same bar, for instance, you can make it a point to become a familiar face in the crowd. Whenever possible, make it a point to introduce yourself, gain his confidence (don't be pushy) and tactfully bring the subject of conversation around to his problems and needs. Using common sense and food intuition, you will know when the time is right to offer your discreet services, and he will recognize your professionalism.

  The most important thing to keep in mind is the financial capability of the prospective employer.

  Your very first question in considering any employment opportunity is: Can this man pay for my professional services?

  If you are in this line of work because of the power you feel when you make a kill or because you have a reckless, daring nature and get a thrill from flirting with death, keep these personal reasons to yourself. As far as the employer is concerned, you are only in it for the money.

  When the subject is finally broached and the conversation gets down to the nitty gritty, listen to the man as he talks. Check him out to see if you really want to become involved in his personal affairs.

  Is he full of hot air -- just a big talker -- or is her serious about eliminating his problem?

  Does he have the personal courage to carry out, or have you carry out, the solution he is after?

  Will he be overburdened by guilt and remorse afterwards?

  Is he cautious in his conversation? Is he appraising you just as hard as you are appraising him?

  How tough is he? Will he break under pressure and point a finger at you?

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  Hit Man: A Technical Manual For Independent Contractors Doe
s he brag or tell stories "Out of school"? If he tells you about other hits he's fronted or starts to name names, he talks too much. Forget him.

  Does he come right down and ask you to make a hit for him before he has determined your qualifications? If so, he may be asking people all over town. You don't need that type of conversation following a prospective mark around.

  During that initial conversation, you both should be mentally asking these questions of each other.

  But no actual conversation about a contract or the identity of the mark should be discussed unless unusual circumstances make it proper.

  Let a short period of time go by, if possible, before your second meeting. Use this time to analyze your potential employer and decide whether you are willing to risk offering your services.

  Follow your gut feelings. If the man acts earnest and sincere, if he meets all the questions you have posed in your mind while you talked, if he seems on the up and up and yet you still have a gut feeling that something is just no right, follow your intuition and back off.

  The employer should have a healthy respect for your ability and be aware of the consequences should he decide to cross you. At the same time, a man with that kind of money to spend can pay someone to waste you! If he's too condescending, your intuition should tell you to pass.

  At the second meeting, gently maneuver the conversation to the real purpose of your visit. You may want to initially operate under the guise of knowing someone else who may be willing to fulfill his needs. If he tactfully asks if your services are available, you can just as tactfully request information about what he wants done. He should be willing and able to provide you with all the information you need to do a clean and efficient job, and a price should be agreed on.

  Prices vary according to risk involved, social or political prominence of the victim, difficulty of the assignment, and other factors. A federal judge recently brought a price of $250,000, for example. A county sheriff might bring $75,000 to $100,000.

  In some cases, your employer may expect to receive hefty benefits from double indemnity life insurance clauses. If so, you should be notified in advance that this is an "insurance job."

  Is the intended victim close enough to the employer that his being the beneficiary will arouse any suspicion? Is the policy an old one, or one he recently purchased and wants to collect on? Is the amount to be collected way out of proportion to the victim's lifestyle and means?

  Consider these questions before you accept the job and get your money up front! Otherwise, you may be standing in the bread lines while you wait for the money to come through. Or your employer may have long since become a prime suspect in someone's investigation.

  Depending on the benefits of the insurance policy, it is not uncommon to collect one-fourth to one-half of the expected monies for your services.

  The risk is all on your shoulders until the job is complete. Your contract amount should be at least enough to hire the services of a good attorney if anything should go wrong. It is not recommended that you take any contract that pays less than $30,000, and that is working mighty cheap. To work for any amount less would be amateurish, there are guys all over town who will kill a man for $50 to $5000. And the people who hire these thugs usually get exactly what they pay for.

  There are two good reasons for setting a $30,000 minimum for your services. First, the risks involved are high. You could become injured or lose your life while attempting to carry out your assignment. But worse yet, you might make some mistakes that will cost your freedom or bring capital punishment as the penalty. A fee of $5,000 or even $10,000 will be of little consolation as you wait helplessly behind bars.

  Second, because the risks are so high and employment opportunities are limited, the money you earn should be sufficient to carry you over until your next job comes along. Unless you live in a very large city like New York or Chicago, you will want to limit the number of jobs you do in your own hometown.

  Most hit men like to limit contracts to one or two a year, for obvious reasons.

  It is a good idea to have your employer promise to cover any legal expenses as part of your agreement. This can be done through a discreet arrangement with his attorney, should those legal services become necessary. This acts as a sort of insurance for both of you.

  You should receive expense money up front on all jobs. This money is separate and not included in the contract amount.

  Expenses generally run between $500 and $5000, depending on the type of job and the job location. The money will cover travel, lodging, food, accessories such as disguises and equipment (since all of these things are disposable), and will enable you to replace any throwaway weapon you use on that 49

  Hit Man: A Technical Manual For Independent Contractors particular job. Any amount leftover belongs to you. But don't cut any corners trying to make an extra buck.

  Give the man the most professional job his money can buy.

  Generally, the method used to make the hit is at the contractors’ discretion. If the employer requests that a certain method be used, making the job more difficult and dangerous by your being obligated to follow his explicit instructions, you are entitled to ask for a higher fee. "Accidental" death and

  "suicides" are included in these special requests, as are disposing of a body, arson, and so on.

  In most cases, it is common to receive half o the contract amount and all expense money up front, and half upon satisfactory completion. Of course, these monies are to be paid in cash.

  At the third meeting, the employer should provide you with an envelope containing the assembled information requested, expense monies and the contract amount according to your agreement. Your acceptance of this material and monies from your employer represents your acceptance of his offer for employment and his acceptance of your ability to do the required job in an efficient and timely manner.

  The employer, in most cases, should not know exactly when the actual hit would take place. He may, however, give you a deadline based on his personal needs. Otherwise, you should inform him that the deed will be performed "within thirty days" (or whatever time frame you have established based on the information provided.)

  In addition to his not knowing exactly when the hit will take place, he should not know how it will take place unless the method to be used is a specific part of your agreement. Afterwards, he is not entitled to any details of how the actual job went down. It is better for both of you if the only information available to your employer is the same information made available to the general public.

  If the employer is a close friend of business associate, your relationship should continue in the usual fashion without interruption. It is best for both of you to continue with your usual life patterns.

  If you normally visit one another's homes, continue to do so. If you meet for lunch or play golf on occasion, continue to do so. If you usually frequent the same bar and share a few drinks, don't start treating one another as strangers now.

  Keep things the same as they were before you made your death-dealing partnership. Don't arouse suspicion or start gossip.

  If the employer is someone you hardly know and this is purely a business venture, work out some code of contact when the job is complete so the employer will know you are ready for payoff on the remainder of your contract money. The code can be as simple as a telephone call:

  "Hello. Is Margaret Smith there?"

  "I'm sorry, you have the wrong number."

  Once you have completed your part of the agreement, the majority of the risk and responsibility is transferred to the employer -- and he has as much to lose as you do. Just remember, a satisfied customer may be your best source for future employment opportunities.

  7.

  Getting the Job Done Right

  AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BOOK you read an account of an actual hit going down.

  As you probably noted, most of the detail concerning the events covered concerned the efforts to conceal the true identity, avoid pub
lic attention, and make sure no incriminating evidence was left behind.

  The kill is the easiest part of the job. People kill one another every day. It takes no great effort to pull a trigger or plunge a knife. It is being able to do so in a manner that will not link yourself or your employer to the crime that makes you a professional.

  Public assassinations are sometimes necessary but are messy and draw immediate attention. Quiet, one-on-one confrontations are much to be preferred, especially when your skills and expertise give you a distinct advantage in the situation.

  Why did our hit man choose to fly and rent a car when other methods of t4ransportation were available? Why go to all the trouble to use elaborate disguises and keep changing false identifications?

  Why register at the motel for only two days and pay cash in advance>? Why let an incompetent desk clerk get away with overcharging him for food and improperly preparing his order?

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  Hit Man: A Technical Manual For Independent Contractors And why, after the job was completed and he knew he had plenty of time to make his escape, did he go to so much trouble to dispose of a perfectly good weapon, disguise and a pair of shoes that he could possibly have used again>

  Of course, no two jobs will be handled the same, but the following pages will explain why the hit man in this case chose to act as he did... and why the crime remains unsolved.

  PART ONE: GETTING THERE

  Your expense money, down payment on the contract and complete information about the mark is in your possession. Photographs were provided, and enough information is available for you to make a tentative plan for the assault.

  THE INFORMATION

  Study the information sheet. Memorize floor plans, descriptions and details. Then, if you feel confident that you won't need to refer to the data again, destroy it in a manner that will prohibit restoration.