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

when two men blocked the doorway. The second man, Pedro, was thinner and smaller than Jaime but there was a look in his narrow copper-coloured face which Kane recognised as being infinitely more menacing than the bland look of his friend. Pedro’s black eyes were as dead as any that Kane had seen. He wore a white silk shirt and blue jeans. The obligatory gold chains covered his scrawny hairless chest. His face was less Asian than his companion’s and bore a greater measure of the blood of the conquistadores. He didn’t particularly like the look of either man.

“Meet Jaime and Pedro.” Safardi smiled. “Although you may think that my employees are Spanish, they are not. They hail from Colombia and were recommended to me by a good friend in Medellín who is now unfortunately deceased. You have heard of Pablo Escobar no doubt.”

“You’ve got me there,” Kane lied.

“I forgot that you have spent the last ten years in a sort of hibernation. Escobar was the drug king of Medellín. At one time he had a turnover several times the GNP of the country in which he lived. Jaime and Pedro were the best of the best. They had been in the employ of the cartel since the age of six. People with such a developed pedigree are difficult to find. But once located they must be nurtured.”

Kane looked at the two men in the doorway and for the first time, he felt a pang of doubt that things would go to plan. He could well believe Safardi’s assertion that they were the best among the best. He had no intention of tangling with them.

“You can go,” Safardi said to the two Colombians. “Now you must forgive me. I have business to attend to but we will talk at dinner. Hassan.”

The tall Arab in the dishdasha reappeared.

“Show Mr Kane to his room,” Safardi said. “You are free to use the pool and wander the grounds as you please but do not try to go beyond the perimeter. The guards have orders to stop anyone trying to enter or leave the estate.”

“I think I’ll crash out. What time is dinner?”

“We’ll meet here at seven. Happy dreams.”

Chapter Forty

“I don’t believe this is happening,” Morweena said looking around Kane’s empty room. “He disappears after every race without a single word to anyone. I wonder, does he have a secret life, maybe even a wife and family.” She looked accusingly at Tom and Doc who seemed to be standing a little too close to each other.

“Honestly, lass,” Tom blustered. “This time we haven’t a clue where he’s got to. You know the way it is. He was all hyped up for the race and now there’s a let-down. He’s probably wandered off somewhere to sleep off last night’s hangover. And, as his uncle, I assure you there is no wife and family.”

“Why do I get the feeling that I’m being lied to. I’m a big girl so if there’s something that I should know, I’d prefer to hear it now and not later. There’s been something beneath the surface ever since Mark and Doc joined the team. Nothing obvious, mind you, but something not quite right. Will someone let me in on your little secret?”

“Morweena, Morweena, Morweena, we’re being honest. We don’t know where Mark is. The lad is a little unstable.”

She nodded.

“Well there it is then,” Tom said in his most fatherly tone. “Excitement of the race. Too much drink. It was probably too much for the lad.”

“Morweena, darling, so this is where you’ve got to.” Amanda strode through the open door.

“Mother. What the hell are you doing here?”

“That stupid man I happen to be married to insisted that I come here and monitor you. I’m fed up telling him that now that you’re of age there’s no point in involving himself in your affairs.”

“Oh, Mother…” Morweena collapsed into her mother’s arms.

“Out you two,” Amanda said over her shoulder.

Tom and Doc beat a swift retreat.

“I hope he’s worth it,” Amanda said stroking her daughter’s hair. Morweena was a strange mixture of sensitivity and strength. She had inherited much from both of her parents.

“He is,” Morweena whimpered. “I know he is. But he exasperates the hell out of me.”

“Learn to live with it, darling. They’re all a bit like that. What exactly is the current problem which your esteemed team manager couldn’t solve?”

“Mark has disappeared.” Morweena had pulled herself together. “Not for the first time I might add. He did a runner right after the race at Sorrento and now he’s done one again. The last time Tom went with him but this time he’s gone solo.”

“And?” Amanda sat in the room’s easy chair.

“There’s something I’m not being told. I can sense it.”

“Come now, darling. You can’t honestly expect to know everything about a man after only knowing him for a few weeks.”

“I already know quite a lot.” Morweena filled her mother in on her conversations with Kane.

“Interesting. But don’t you think that you’re over-reacting. I heard about Graham’s accident and I’m ashamed to say it but I wasn’t sorry. He treated you shamefully but I don’t think that Mark is cut from the same cloth.”.

“It’s too bloody weird this disappearing act. Having a wife or girlfriend fits the pattern perfectly. A week away with the Penhalions, then back to base for a bit of a kiss and a cuddle. Damn it, I hate the bastard.”

“Jumping to conclusions a bit, aren’t we? There’s probably a perfectly logical explanation Have a bit of faith for God’s sake.” Amanda stood and hugged her daughter. “In a few days, you’ll think back on this and think what a silly fool you were for upsetting yourself like this.”

“I’m not upset. I’m bloody angry and I’m going to keep an eye on Tom and Doc. If they’re up to something then I want to know about it.”

“That’s my girl.” Amanda led her towards the open door. “I’ll pump David and maybe together we can get to the bottom