Crash Course by Derek Fee (pdf to ebook reader .txt) 📕

because God cursed me with large doses of the sin of pride. I beg you to reconsider using this idiot as our driver. We both have a very considerable stake in the success of this boat on the championship circuit. I won’t hide the fact, Tom, that if the boat isn’t successful, I’ll be wiped out. My company will cease to exist. We’ve got a first-class boat and we need a top-class driver to handle it. A lot of the best drivers are already engaged for the season and if we want to sign the right man, we’ll have to move pretty sprightly.”

“I know what you’re saying, David.” Bell was beginning to hate himself for what he was doing but he was too far along the road to waiver now. “I don’t want to mess up your chances with the boat any more than you do. But I told you from day one that I had the say on who would drive. That’s the only condition I’ve ever put on you and I’m as good as my word. Give the lad a chance. He’s as hard as bloody nails and twice as prickly. You show him how to go about his business and he might surprise you.”

Despite his discomfort, David had to smile at the Yorkshireman. “We’ve been involved for more than six months and in that time, you’ve never given one inch on who the driver would be. What in heaven’s name hold does your nephew have over you? It has to be something major if you’re willing to put up one million pounds of your money to give him a speed thrill.”

“He’s a good boy who needs a push in the right direction,” Bell said.

“Everything will come out in the wash. I’d give anything to know what goes on in that mind of yours, Tom. As convinced as you are that Kane can learn to handle a boat as complex as ours in six weeks, I’m equally convinced that he can’t.”

“What’s with the numbers being painted on the bottom of the boat?” Kane said raising his head from underneath the vessel.

“That’s so that they can tell who you are when you flip over,” David said. “Maybe your uncle neglected to tell you but powerboat racing is the most dangerous sport on earth. You’ll be driving a machine which is more powerful than a Formula One racing car in an environment which can tax even the strongest frame. You’ll be putting your life at risk for hours while you’ll concentrate harder than you’ve ever concentrated in your life. And then when it’s all over you’ll be pissing blood for days from the battering your body will take. Still interested?”

“Sounds like more fun than a barrel of monkeys,” Kane said staring at Bell. He was getting the feeling that people hadn’t exactly been truthful with him.

David stood in front of Mark and stared into his eyes. “Tom tells me that you were an officer in the Paratroopers and you served in Afghanistan. It’s a wonder that the experience wasn’t sufficient to have made a man of you. I think it’s time I showed you exactly what we’re talking about.” He turned and walked briskly back towards the main office. “Follow me, please,” he called back to Bell and Kane.

“That’s the kind of bastard that got right up my nose in the force,” Kane said quietly as he fell into step with Bell. “Thinks he’s God’s bloody gift to the planet. Superior son-of-a-bitch. And as for you. Maybe you should have given me the full picture before I accepted. What happens if he’s right about my ability to take this on?”

“Davenport says you’re the man for this job and I believe him,” Bell said. “If anyone can do this it’s you. As far as David is concerned, I’ve learned many lessons in life and one of them is never to judge a book by its cover. I know I told you to be a bit of a bastard but better not to take it too far. If you get my drift.” He slapped Kane on the shoulder with the palm of his hand. “Any road, I have a sneaking feeling that you and David will end up getting on like a house on fire. If any man can turn you into a championship racer, it’s David. I can’t deny that I’m not one hundred per cent happy with what I’m doing here but you action man types understand better than me that sometimes people must be sacrificed if you’re to get where you want. David may be bluff and carry himself with an air but I like him. And I’d love to help him save his business. But the reason that we’re here is to find my daughter’s murderers. I won’t be deflected from that objective.”

“That’s abundantly clear,” Kane answered. He wondered how it felt to be so driven. If Tom Bell wasn’t careful, the avenging angel would eat his soul away. Watson and him, David and Amanda, the Europol people, they were all simply tools in Bell’s plan to avenge his daughter’s murder. They were expendable. Penhalion Marine which had existed and given employment for over two hundred years could be ground into the dust. The only thing that mattered was that the murderer should be brought to justice. He wondered whether he should be part of this amateur plan. Their chances of success were minimal. Bell would throw money at finding his daughter’s killer and would end up with nothing but a peptic ulcer to add to his broken heart. But in the meantime, he would get to drive the boat. For him, there was an upside. And he was being paid to do something he would gladly have done for nothing. Maybe this gig wouldn’t be about villains after all. Maybe this would be about fun.

“Let’s be having you inside then.” David held open the door of one of the office buildings. “Down the passage on the left