The Headhunter [Paperback]

'An exciting new read with everthing you need to keep you turning the pages.' (Irish World 20030724)

'Kilduff knows his territory well, writes authoritatively about it and spins a compelling tale . . .riveting stuff' (Irish Times on THE DEALER. )

'An attractively written first novel, whose strength lies in the creation of the bank's atmosphere, and the detailed analysis of financial jiggery-pokery' (Evening Standard on SQUARE MILE )

'A slick, punchy thriller by a banking insider, full of financial know-how' (Daily Mail on SQUARE MILE )

'This is Kilduff at his most exhilarating yet.' (The Good Book Guide on The Headhunter )

'A world class page-turner' (Irish Independent on The Frontrunner )

"The Headhunter more than holds the attention." (Dublin Herald )

'Right from chapter one the tension level is set on high, and Kilduff sustains that throughout with the combination of a racing plot and intriguing characters, set against the intoxicatingly glamorous background of international trading. An intelligent, compelling thriller from a writer with great potential' (Daily Record ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'An attractively written first novel, whose strength lies in the creation of the bank's atmosphere and the detailed analysis of financial jiggery-pokery' - Evening Standard on Square Mile; 'A slick, punchy thriller by a banking insider, full of financial know-how' - Daily Mail on Square Mile; 'A world class page-tumer' - Irish Independent on The Frontrunner; 'Kilduff knows his territory well, writes authoritatively about it and spins a compelling tale... riveting stuff - Irish Times on The Dealer

'This is Kilduff at his most exhilarating yet.' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'A world class page-turner' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'A slick, punchy thriller by a banking insider, full of financial know-how' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'Kilduff knows his territory well, writes authoritatively about it and spins a compelling tale . . .riveting stuff' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

In Dusseldorf a German banker is stabbed to death. A month later an IT consultant is also fatally knifed in Dublin. The police have nothing to go on in either cases, no weapon, clues or motive and certainly no suspect. In the City of London, the players carve out a lucrative career. Harry Allsop is a top recruitment consultant who sources heads for global Investment banks. Diane Rubin relocates from New York and begins her own personal search for satisfaction. Bruce Villiers is a star foreign exchange trader who fights to hide the secrets of his stellar success and Adam Lewis and Samantha Perry are two young trainee traders who ask too many questions in their new jobs. Soon they fear that a serial killer is at large in Europe and working in the City may ultimately be murder for those who know too much.

Paul Kilduff spent six years in the City working for a US securities house and an international banking group. He returned to live and work in Dublin in 1995.

Parque del Retiro, Madrid, 6.45 pm

"He follows the target along the wide avenue. A few lost souls stroll in the opposite direction towards the bustling streets outside. The public park closes in fifteen minutes. His timing is perfect.

Notes from a post-mortem examination of a thirty nine-year-old white male. The body was recovered from the lake approximately twelve hours after death. There are multiple stab wounds to the upper torso.

The four-hundred-acre Retiro is at its best in springtime as Madrilenos come to enjoy the free concerts, carriage rides, rose gardens, blooming tulips, horse chestnuts, puppet shows, fortune tellers, red squirrels, open-air cafes, and other impromptu entertainments. White stone figures of the kings and queens of Spain peep out from the park’s lofty trees and thick bushes. This former royal preserve with its palaces and elegant formal gardens is an oasis for the three million inhabitants of this cosmopolitan metropolis.

On the right side of the chest, immediately inferior to the nipple is a deep laceration. This wound is oval in shape and measures 30 x 12 mm, and both ends are pointed. There is a small notch at the mid-point of both edges of the wound. Immediately below this and 5 mm distant from it is a blue/grey bruise with green margins which measures 30 x 20 mm.

Today the park is chill and barren, its branches stripped bare, almost devoid of human life. Its hidden secret paths are shaded and deserted. Darkness pervades. The target draws nearer to El Estanque, a broad lagoon where locals hire paddleboats and canoes in season. Nearby a giant statue of Alfonso XII on horseback stands proudly. No king ever did less to deserve such a grandiose memorial.

Another stab wound entered the right chest cavity, completely penetrating the bone of the sixth rib, perforated the lung and the main pulmonary artery, and terminated in soft tissue to the right of that artery. The wound was accompanied by about 350 millilitres of blood in the chest cavity and about 100 millilitres of blood in the pericardial sac cavity.

The target stands at the edge of the lake. He takes out a paper bag and starts throwing lumps of crusty bread into the stagnant water. There are no ducks. It seems odd. Suddenly masses of fish surge in the putrid water and devour the sodden morsels. They are primarily carp, huge orange aggressors, but also black bass, goldfish and sweet water turtles. There are fifty or more thrashing about in the water, churning it white with surf. The carp are ravenous and bloated to the gills, their teeth sharp and white.

Another stab wound track is 10 cm deep and passes in the interspace between the fourth and fifth ribs to penetrate the right ventricle of the heart. There is a 10 x 2 mm wound to the anterior wall of the left ventricle near its apex and a corresponding 8 x 2 mm wound to the posterior wall. The left chest cavity contains 1,500 millilitres of fresh blood and clot.

The two men are alone. He steps towards the target with one specific purpose.

The penetrating wounds of the chest caused comminuted fractures of ribs, with bone fragments driven into the lung substance. The trauma to the visceral and parietal pleura disrupted normal negative intrapleural pressure resulting in pneumothorax. The penetrating wounds caused both direct and indirect injury to structures encountered by the weapon.

The target crumples to the ground without protest, instantly expiring in visible gasps of breath.

The wounds were produced by a weapon with a double-edged blade at least 30 mm wide at a point 10 cm from the tip. The resultant wounds to the heart are inevitably fatal as a consequence of haemorrhage and are expected to produce immediate incapacitation.

He firmly pushes the body with his right foot. The target rolls into the murky water and sinks.

The injuries from these stab wounds are such that death was likely to have been relatively rapid; that is, within several minutes of the infliction of the injuries. The infliction of such wounds required significant force since the weapon was thrust into the chest to a depth of 10 cm and because it involved the penetration of bone.

The fish are confused. They surge about in the water, biting in vain at loose splaying limbs and layers of wet clothing. Their gills sift and strain the red liquid that spurts and spreads into the water.

The mode of death is likely to have involved a combination of breathing impairment from the collapse of the right lung and the inhalation of blood into the right lung, blood loss from both the internal and external haemorrhage and interference with the pumping action of the heart.

He strides to the exit gate on Plaza de la Independencia. An aged park warden padlocks the heavy iron gates to the city behind him. The rain begins.

In my opinion death was the result of a haemorrhage due to multiple homicidal stabs wound to the chest."