Crash Course by Derek Fee (freenovel24 .TXT) 📗

small parts, lots of what actors term ‘rests’, a lot of poverty. Then quite suddenly he gets a part in a top detective show that sells all over the world and everything is happening for him. Movies, mini-series, even a romantic record. The trade press is beginning to talk about Jackson as the next James Bond. He is making large sums of money. As far as we can ascertain, he made ten million dollars last year alone. It also appears that Doug is not financially naive. He has made some very shrewd investments including a strong position in cryptocurrency. His only passion is powerboat racing.”

Kane glanced at his watch. He always hated briefings and what he hated even more was that de Vries obviously got off on this crap. The Dutchman was probably pulling down three times his salary by sitting behind a screen in a luxuriously appointed office. He glanced over at Bell and Watson and found them engrossed in de Vries’ exposition.

De Vries pressed the remote button and a new face appeared.

“Now here is an interesting character,” de Vries began. “Georges Lemay. Born Algiers 1977. Not exactly on the right side of the tracks. Lemay’s father ran a small shop in Algiers. There was involvement in nefarious business during the French withdrawal from Algeria but as soon as things got hot, he piled himself and his family into the boats along with everyone else and made for the mother country. They left virtually everything they owned behind and people say they can clearly see the chip on Lemay’s shoulder. He carries his pied-noir background around with him like a badge of honour. The world owes Lemay and he intends to collect. He began his working life as a mechanic in an exclusive garage in Lyon and was picked up by the Renault racing team. Apparently, he tried his hand at driving and almost made it to the big time. If the press cuttings are to be believed, Lemay has balls of steel. He gave the spectators exactly what they wanted, passes on the chicane at Monte Carlo. He took risks other men would eschew. His motor racing career ended a decade ago when he was involved in an accident after the start of the Australian Grand Prix. Some people were rash enough to suggest that Lemay’s car purposely touched the car of one of the contenders for the World Championship and put him out of the race. There were allegations of bribery but nothing was ever proved. After the incident, Lemay was not welcome on the grid and his team dropped him at the end of the season. He tried Formula Two but his reputation followed him there. The logical move for Lemay was the powerboat scene. Last season he drove for the ‘Gitanes’ team and although his progress was less than spectacular, he was retained for this season. His sponsors are more than a little anxious to get some publicity return from the money they have put into setting up the team. This is Lemay’s make or break season. Unlike the millionaires in the other boats, Georges Lemay is hired help. Total financial assets eight hundred thousand euros consisting mainly of a flat in the Sixteenth Arrondissement in Paris. We have reports that he is an alcoholic but so far we have no connection to drugs.” De Vries looked up from the file.

The remote clicked and another face appeared on the screen. Kane was beginning to wonder how much of de Vries’s briefing he would retain. He was not known as a good student.

“Graham Barrett,” De Vries continued. “Classic English background. Middle son of Norfolk landed family. Eton and then Economics at Oxford. Two years working for a merchant bank in the City. Barrett decided to go for something more exciting. Three years ago, he convinced a couple of his college friends to finance the setting up of a powerboat racing team. He is a tough competitor, flamboyant and has managed to get a lot of sponsorship. He wants very badly to win the European Championship. He is being sponsored by Sheikh Mustapha Safardi. The sheikh is an interesting individual. He acts as a middleman for western companies who want to do business in the Gulf. Safardi’s brother runs a minor Emirate so the sheikh has good contacts among the Gulf Arabs. According to some reports, Safardi would sell his mother if there was a profit in it. He is a minor player in the horse racing business but he does not have the resources of the Maktoums so he has moved on to powerboats.”

Barrett’s face was replaced by a that of another Southern European. “Enrico di Mena,” De Vries continued. “Known to his friends as Rico. He likes to be part of the powerboat circuit but is not considered a major player. The family made a fortune from a fashion empire. He uses the powerboat circuit to promote the company image. According to press reports, he could not drive his way out of a paper bag but also could not care less. Usually hobbles over the line in everyone else’s wake.”

Di Mena’s features were replaced by those of a Japanese. “Yukio Tedeka. Japanese banker resident in London. It is his first year on the circuit so he has no form. He is personally quite wealthy but the bank is fronting the powerboat operation.”

“And last but not least,” De Vries pressed the button. “Jose Castenas. Owns vineyards in Spain and land all over South America. He gave up polo to launch his powerboat team. A very ruthless operator if the business journals are to be believed. From all accounts, I would not want to be a peasant on one of his ranchos. And that, gentlemen, completes our rogue’s gallery. Your dossiers contain more complete information which you can read at your leisure.”

“Very interesting,” Kane said stifling a yawn. He was a hands-on man himself. Collecting background information on possible villains was all good and well but nothing