Crash Course by Derek Fee (freenovel24 .TXT) 📗

and for a song at that. You’re not only talking about assets here. Penhalion is a name synonymous with quality in the boat market.”

“You sound like you’re interested,” Mark said, looking into Bell’s eyes.

Bell returned the stare. “Not a chance in hell, lad. Not my business. Know bugger all about it. But I won’t let the company go bankrupt until I’m finished with it.”

Mark wasn’t totally convinced by Bell’s brusque Yorkshire exterior. “If you ever let go of this revenge thing, I think you’ll find a pretty decent person lurking inside your body. You’re allowing the hunt for these criminals to turn you into a sociopath.”

“Tom!” The booming voice belonged to a tall well-built man exiting the main building and striding in the direction of the Rolls. He covered the distance between the building and the car with a grace that belied his bulk. “Great to see you again, old boy.” He enfolded Bell in a bear hug.

“David, it’s champion to see you too. How are things going?”

“Swimmingly.” David released Bell and stood back. He looked from the Yorkshireman to Mark and then back to Bell again.

“This is the man I told you about, my nephew Mark Kane. Mark, this is David Penhalion owner of Penhalion Marine.”

The two men stood sizing each other up. David was somewhere in his late fifties. His face was heavily tanned where not covered by a short grey beard, and a series of opulent grey curls spouted from under a black soft-peaked sailor’s hat. His lips were full and his nose was classical and straight. Kane was willing to bet that the sight of him as a younger man in dress uniform had set more than a few female hearts aflutter. Even now David would raise an eyelid or two. He guessed his height at six three and his weight at maybe two-fifty pounds with the weight evenly distributed. Despite his size, David’s face was kind and the blue eyes which stared in Kane’s direction were clear and intelligent.

“Good to meet you, David,” Mark said, sticking out his hand out.

“Only my friends call me David.” The voice was resonant and appeared to develop somewhere deep in his broad chest. He took the hand that Mark offered and gave it a firm handshake which was returned. “Until you reach that exalted status you can call me Commander.”

“In a pig’s arse,” Mark said.

David’s face reddened. “Why you impudent young pup,” he said raising himself up to his full height.

“Don’t be such a pompous oaf, David,” a female voice said from behind them. Both men had been so engrossed in their stand-off that they had failed to notice the second person advancing from the brick building. A striking middle-aged blonde lady joined them.

“Get off your high horse, David,” she said. “You’re no longer the captain of a ship of the line. There’s a distinct smell of testosterone in the air, don’t you find, Tom?”

“Thank God you’ve arrived, Amanda,” Bell said, immediately planting a kiss on the new arrival’s cheek. “I was about to send for the Marines. They’re staring each other down like a pair of pit bull terriers. Mark, meet Amanda, the woman who’s been keeping David in check for the past thirty years or so.”

Amanda examined the young man standing beside Bell. “This is the famous nephew you’ve been telling us about. I don’t see a family resemblance.”

“My sister’s boy,” Bell said. “He favours his father.”

Amanda looked Kane up and down. “I wouldn’t bet my life savings on David in a contest with young Mark. He has what Mr Shakespeare would call a lean and hungry look. I agree with the Bard that such men are dangerous. Are you dangerous, Mark?”

“Only when provoked.” Kane offered her his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

She smiled as she took his hand. “You’re welcome to Cornwall and our little boatyard. You can call me Amanda. I’m afraid David has forgotten his Cornish good manners. You’ve had a long drive down from London. I’m sure you’re gasping for a cup of tea.’”

“That would be great.” Kane cast a sly grin in David’s direction. He had slipped easily into his bastard role. It would be easy to yank the old man’s chain. He wasn’t quite so sure about his ability to wind-up his wife. Amanda was the kind of woman who would turn heads when she entered a room. He guessed her age at forty-five but knew that he was probably wrong on the low side. Although she was tanned, her skin was still perfectly smooth. Amanda would remain a good-looking woman well into old age. Her blonde hair was cut short and her face had an impish look. She was about five foot six and her body hadn’t headed as far south as many of her contemporaries. Mark could only guess what effect she’d had on men twenty years earlier but behind the beauty, there was a strength and resilience which showed in her clear blue eyes. She looked like the kind of Englishwoman who had helped create an empire where the sun never set. He could imagine the impact the couple would have had as they entered the Admiral’s Ball – envying glances all round from both men and women.

“There’s nothing like getting off on the right foot,” David said. “I once had an executive officer that I took a distinct dislike to at first sight. We had to put the poor bugger ashore in Gibraltar. Couldn’t take the pace.”

“Please ignore David.” Amanda linked Mark’s arm. “His bark is much worse than his bite. All the men in his command loved him.” She cast a glance over her shoulder at her husband whose face was still red with anger. “Soft as putty they used to say.”

“Rubbish.” David ignored his wife’s admonishing look and stared directly at Kane. “I always believed in shooting from the hip, Mr Kane. I’m damned grateful to Tom for the much-needed cash injection to get our powerboat venture off the ground but it stands to reason