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

Then all bets would be off. He walked to the window and watched the early morning sun wash the expensive pueblos with light. One hundred and fifty kilos of pure cocaine; his men would cut and re-cut the coke producing one thousand kilos or more of product to be marketed on the streets of Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam and London. His buyers were already screaming for their supply. It would not be wise to disappoint them.

Kane stopped at the first layby he sighted on the road between Vigo and Ourense and slept. The telephone in the car rang at eight o’clock and he woke immediately.

“Kane?” Safardi’s perfect English accent came over the phone.

“Surprised?” Kane said.

“Actually, I am. My men tell me that Jaime didn’t return to Rianxo with you.”

“The sharks had him for breakfast. I think it was a fitting end.”

“And my cocaine?”

“In the boot of the BMW.”

“You really are quite resourceful.”

Kane ignored the compliment. “You have Morweena and Doc?”

“Only Morweena, how did you know?”

“She’s missing from Cannes. It was a fair assumption that you had somehow taken her.”

“She’s safe for the moment but her continued safety is dependent on you. I want my cocaine.”

“I’ll accept a trade for Morweena.”

“Exactly what I had in mind. Come back to Marbella and we’ll make the trade.”

“Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly. I don’t think so.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Pedro has taken a liking to Morweena. I don’t think you should spend too long thinking. If you double-cross me, I guarantee I will have your woman’s skin flayed.”

“I’ll let you know about the exchange.” Kane broke the line.

He turned the ignition on and continued south. His left hand ached from the gash which the gaff had made in his thumb. He did some scenario planning as he drove. The objective had changed from exposing the drug runners to saving Morweena. A prudent man would call Davenport and let him deal with the problem. But Davenport didn’t know Morweena or love her. He had no skin in the game. An assault on Safardi’s heavily fortified villa might lead to her death and he wasn’t having that. It was stupid to think that Safardi would trade Morweena for the cocaine and allow them to walk away. He would have to come up with a plan that gave them at least a chance of getting out alive. Davenport would have to be there somewhere but his appearance would have to be choreographed. He switched on the satnav and put his route in. If he pushed it, he would arrive in the south of Spain in nine hours. He made straight for the motorway system and the Portuguese city of Porto.

Chapter Fifty-One

Morweena was still trying to digest the story. Mark was an undercover police officer working for the Metropolitan Police. Tom Bell wasn’t his uncle and their whole involvement with Penhalion Marine was a sham. They’d used Morweena and her dad to flush out those responsible for drug-running and killing Tom’s daughter. She felt for Tom but she was hurt by the way they had used her and her family. She supposed that now they had discovered that Barrett and Safardi were responsible that would be the end of Tom’s interest in supporting their powerboat venture. That would spell the end of Penhalion Marine. That saddened her but she was devastated by the way that he had wheedled his way into her affections. She’d told him that she loved him and he had betrayed her. Her involvement with Mark had led to her being incarcerated in a villa that was awash with armed guards. Escape was out of the question.

Morweena turned when she heard the key turn in the door.

“Ah, Morweena.” Safardi smiled. “I do hope you can join us for lunch.”

“I’d prefer not to. How long do you intend to keep me here? Mark will be here this evening with your drugs. You can let us go then.”

“Yes, that was my intention. However, there has been a change of plan,”

“A change of plan?” Morweena said apprehensively. Her heart began to beat quicker.

“Just so.”

She felt her legs go weak but forced herself to remain standing. If Mark failed to deliver the drugs, she would be worthless to Safardi. She knew she was dead and the only things she regretted leaving behind were her parents and that ass, Mark Kane.

“What change of plan?” she interjected into the pregnant pause left by Safardi.

“It appears that your lover has managed, how I do not yet know, to dispense with Jaime and to overpower the other two men I sent with them. He has taken my drugs and is currently making his way towards us so that I may take possession of what is rightfully mine. In exchange for you, of course.”

Morweena permitted a wide smile to spread across her full lips. Good old Mark Kane, she thought. He might yet prove a lifesaver for her although Safardi was not to be underestimated.

Safardi brushed an imaginary piece of dust from his perfectly white garment. “I think it is important that you and I stay close to each other this evening lest we receive an unannounced visit from Kane. Pedro is already preparing for such a visit. While the whereabouts of his friend is still unknown, my tame Colombian is in a state of great nervousness and I suggest that you stay well clear of him. Therefore, much as I abhor eating in the company of females, I think on this occasion it would be mutually beneficial if we lunched together. Also, there is somebody that I want you to meet. After you, please.”

Morweena walked slowly to the door of her room savouring the Arab’s discomfort. Mark had overcome his men and had succeeded in taking his precious cocaine. Now the boot was on the other foot. She followed Safardi through the villa to one of the verandas where a table had been set for lunch. Barrett was seated at the table and was