Consent to Kill

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Consent to Kill is the 7th published novel by Vince Flynn, and the 6th in a series that features CIA counterterrorism agent Mitch Rapp.

[edit] Plot Overview

In Memorial Day, CIA counter-terror operative and assassin Mitch Rapp uncovered an Al-Qaeda plot to use a nuclear weapon, obtained from abandoned Russian nuclear storage bunkers, to destroy Washington, D.C. To help foil this plot, Rapp was forced to torture the only man who knew the details of the plan, Waheed Abdullah. He then he faked Waheed's death to prevent the Saudis from obtaining him and learning he had been tortured, while at the same time saving a useful source for the future. To keep Waheed from being discovered, Rapp threw him into an Afghan prison.

Now, however, this plan has backfired. Waheed's father Saeed Ahmed Abdullah, a billionaire Saudi businessman and a jihadist himself, has learned that Rapp has "killed" his son. He places a 20 million dollar bounty on Rapp's head, a bounty which is accepted by a former East German Stasi officer, one Erich Abel. Abel finds out about Saeed through Prince Muhammed bin Rashid who convinced Saeed to kill Rapp. Abel, through his contacts, encounters a team of assassins that are among the best at what they do. Even Rapp, who has a reputation for being quite unkillable, as the many dead people who have tried can testify, does not see it coming. Abel recruits two assassins, a husband and wife team, Louis Gould and Claudia Morrel, whom is pregnant. For 7 million dollars, they both agree to killing Rapp. However Claudia specifically tells Louis not to kill Rapp's wife, as she is also pregnant. He agrees, and leaves for America.

Rapp, in Washington, is ticked off by the new Director of National Intelligence, Mark Ross, who got on his nerves for the authorization of surveillance of his best friend, Scott Coleman. Coleman, as a former Navy Seal, had worked with Rapp before, but Rapp had got angry at Ross for sending the IRS at Coleman's doorstep. Ross has ambitions of becoming President, has no knowledge of National Security, and has no respect for Rapp because of his reckless antics, even wanting to fire him despite his contributions. This is not the first time Rapp has had an enemy in the White House. The previous, Chief of Staff Valerie Jones hated Rapp to the core, but was forced to step down after Memorial Day, by his boss, Irene Kennedy. Mitch decides to visit him, to make him sweat. But Mitch loses his famous temper when he finds a satellite photo of Scott, and also finds out that that was the topic that they were talking about at that moment. He physically holds the National Security adviser by the collar, to the shock of his guards. Mitch warns him not to interfere with the War on Terrorism. But his words are lost, and Ross decides that somehow he has to fire him, but since Mitch has the Presidents full support, he realizes he has to do it carefully.

Later Mitch is injured, and encounters the assassins, Gould and Claudia, both dressed as bikers, examining Mitch's house. Mitch doesn't suspect a thing, and continues limping back towards his house. The next day, Rapp goes under the knife in surgery, to operate on his left knee. He and his wife Anna come home and as they settle down in their house Louie detonates a bomb that kills Anna and severely wounds Rapp. Rapp is brought to a CIA safehouse. Rashid who is visiting America finds out through Ross that Rapp is not dead. Realizing this he orders his assistant Saudi intelligence agent Nawaf Tayyib to kill Rapp and Abel. Tayib hires hispanic gang leader Anibal Castillo to kill Rapp at the safehouse. He then goes hunting for Abel with two of his own men. Castillo and 13 of his men attack the safehouse. Rapp kills all 13 of them with his Glock 17. He wounds Castillo and brings him to be questioned. Through different leads Rapp discovers Saeed was the one who put a bounty on his head. He goes to Afganistan and gets Waheed out of prison with Waheed being under the impression that it is a hostage exchange. Rapp has Waheed wear a vest full of explosives. As Waheed imbraces his father in the street Rapp pulls out a detonator and blows Saeed and Waheed and 12 of Saeeds bodyguards to pieces. The CIA in the meantime has found out about Erich Abel's role in hiring the assassins and sends Rapp to his apartment. There Rapp finds Tayyib torturing Abels secretary for information on Abels whereabouts. Rapp kills Tayyibs men and him and Coleman capture Tayyib. A guilty Claudia is revealed to be the one who gave the CIA information on Abel. The secretary reveals to Rapp and Coleman that Abel is really in Austria. Rapp flys there and captures Abel at his mountain retreat there. He tortures Abel for information. Abel reveals that Rashid was the mastermind behind the plot. He also gives information on the assassins. After hearing this Rapp who has become much more violent after Abel killed his wife burns Abel alive inside of the house. He then travels to Spain where Rashid is staying. There they bribe Rashids guards to let them in. Rapp completely covered Tayyib in explosives and drop him off in front of the mosque Rashid is staying. Once Rashid personal guards had him in custody Rapp detonates Tayyibs body killing him and all the guards. A short gunfight breaks out between Colemans men and Rashids guards. Rapp finds Rashid and severely beats him before he puts a thermal grenade in his mouth and pulls the pin. The grenade explodes Rashids head. In the epilogue Rapp trails Louie and Claudia nine months later to Spain. Claudia has had a baby and Louie has retired. Rapp aims the gun at Louie Goulds head but cannot bring himself to kill a father and leaves them unharmed. He then throws the gun into the ocean and continues walking down the boardwalk outside.