Double Doublecross Read Online Free PDF Page B

just going out for a few minutes. Hold the fort until I get back. I won’t be too long.”
    â€œLook, Rick, there’s nothing going on here. Why don’t you head home and leave the lock-up to me? It’s nearly four thirty now, and I’m only staying for another hour or so anyway.”
    Taking Stan up on his offer, Rick drove directly to the local Porsche dealer that he knew was open on Sundays. Ashe arrived, a salesman was on him as soon as he got out of the car with a
how are you today, sir
look on his face.
    â€œHow are we today, sir?” he said.
    â€œFine, thanks. I would like to see Hank Sanders if he’s here,” he said, not giving the salesman the chance to utter a word, moving quickly into the showroom out of the rain.
    Rick always used Hank for his car purchases, partly because he knew him personally and partly because he was the manager and a no pressure salesman. The salesman strode off to find him and moments later Hank appeared in the showroom. He had a short, very fat body with a round head perched on a layer of multiple chins. He beamed at Rick as he crossed the floor.
    â€œLooking for another car or is this a social visit?” he asked with a smile on his ruddy complexioned face.
    â€œWell, this is not a social visit and I don’t want a new car. I need to sell the Porsche that I bought from you a couple of years back. Then I’ll think about getting another car,” he lied.
    â€œWhat condition is it in, Rick?”
    â€œYou know what kind of condition it’s in, Hank. It’s like new with twenty-five thousand miles on the clock. As I said, you know the car. What can I get for it?”
    â€œI don’t know, Rick. This is a bad time of the year for dealers like us. I could probably let you have thirty thousand for it but that’s the tops if it’s still in good condition. Bring it around tomorrow morning and I’ll take a look.”
    â€œI think it’s worth more than that, Hank. After all, I’ve given you my business and I’ll probably take another one off your hands when I’m ready. And don’t forget—I recommend you guys to my clients.”
    â€œLike I said, Rick, come round in the morning and I’ll see if we can do a deal.”
    â€œOkay, Hank. I’ll drop it by in the morning about nine. See you then.”
    Rick jumped in his car and took the back roads to his house. The trees were lifeless and looked dead without their leaves, but the rolling hills were now getting their winter rain and turning into green carpets as opposed to their golden summer hue.
    Opening his front door, he turned up the thermostat and selected a TV dinner from his refrigerator. Putting it in the microwave, he went to the family room and switched on the TV. The Oakland Raiders were just starting their evening game and he intended to sit on the couch, eat his dinner and let the thought of selling the Porsche slip from his mind.
    â€˜Maybe things will improve,’ he thought, settling down on the couch with his readymade dinner and a cup of coffee. He was blissfully oblivious and unaware of the rollercoaster ride that was in store for him in the next few weeks.

CHAPTER
4
    R ick opened his eyes and glanced at his alarm clock. ‘Seven o’clock on a Monday morning. The music should switch on now,’ he mused.
    He reached over and turned off the alarm before it went off. He went into the kitchen and turned on the coffee percolator he had prepared the previous evening. The shower was warm enough for him to begin his morning ritual of ablutions. He brushed his teeth, showered, washed his hair and finally dressed for the day’s business. This was the day when he and the Porsche would part company.
    He went to his desk, pulled open the lower file drawer and retrieved the relevant documents ready for the sale. Rick had taken out an equity loan to buy the car, but he hadn’t told Stan Turner about that little