Joseph King was the alleged target in the murder-for-hire plot. (Handout)

EDMONTON - The Seattle eye surgeon accused in a shocking murder-for-hire plot had been trying to cash in his shares in an Edmonton Lasik clinic, even as he allegedly planned to kill the co-owner and collect on a life insurance policy.

Dr. Joseph King, the alleged target of the plot, told Sun Media yesterday that "negotiations were ongoing," for King to buy out Dr. Michael Mockovak and take sole ownership of the downtown Edmonton Clearly Lasik clinic.

King has conducted all the eye surgeries at the Edmonton clinic since it opened in 1999, he said. Mockovak had never set foot there.

Mockovak was charged Monday in Washington state for allegedly hiring Russian Mafia members to drown King during a family vacation in Australia.

The alleged mastermind is being held on $3-million bail. He's charged with two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder for the plot against King and former business associate Brad Klock.

Klock, former company president and ex-pro hockey player, was suing the pair for wrongful dismissal.

Mockovak advertised the Edmonton clinic earlier this month to set a value on his share in the operation, said King.

An ad posted on industry consultant Brad Ruden's website, obtained by Sun Media, sets an asking price of $1 million for the business.

The ad was posted around the start of November, said Ruden. The ad listed the business's income at $448,000 in the first year for a potential new, hands-off owner. Ruden said the ad was removed in light of "recent events".

Those numbers pale in comparison to the value of a life insurance policy King said Mockovak held on him.

Court documents show it was worth $5 million.

"I don't know what his personal financial situation is," said King of Mockovak. The pair co-founded eight clinics in North America.

The pair's relationship had hardly changed recently, despite the sale -- nothing that led King to believe anything was afoot, he said.

"I was absolutely shocked to have this news provided to me. I could never imagine anyone even conceiving of something like this. It's beyond my comprehension how someone could (allegedly) consider hiring someone to kill someone else," said King.

King returned to Edmonton on Friday and resumed surgeries.

"The community has been so supportive. We've gotten so many comments of support from patients," King said.

"They know the news really has nothing to do with us who are providing the care. We're going to move on, and continue providing (care).

"We really appreciate their support."

King, who was back in Washington yesterday, said he believes he will be called as a witness in Mockovak's case.

RICHARD.LIEBRECHT@SUNMEDIA.CA