The Fire by Robert White Read Free Book Online

covered, from Iraq to Bolivia; whatever your business or threat, RDL would bring you home safe and well.
    Rick sat back in his chair. "I'm thinking we can offer the CP training courses on top of this package. No one can work in the business without the civilian qualification these days. The average cost for that is three thousand. We train the guys and then take our cut whenever they work. It's a win-win situation."
    Rick nodded in my direction.
    "I suggest Des completes the instructor's course a.s.a.p. There is a ten-day course starting in two days' time in Helsinki. It's a joke, but then again, we can't work in civvy street without the certification.
    "Of course, the best jobs with the most money can be taken by us personally. What do you think?"
    There was an uncomfortable silence. I broke it. "I dunno, mate. I think I'm past babysitting jobs. I know lots of guys who went into this kind of work and ended up taking some rich arsehole's kids to McDonalds every day."
    Rick wasn't easily deterred, he never had been. "I know that. What I'm saying is we can pick and choose our jobs. The rest we farm out and take the commission."
    Lauren scrolled through the site.
    "You kept this quiet, Rick."
    "I know," he said, "but look, none of us are getting any younger. We can't live for the next twenty-five years on what we have now. We can run this business from anywhere in the world. Think about it. We have been very lucky these last few months. Any of us could be lying in the ground. This is a safe bet; equal shares; a legitimate business venture."
    Lauren closed the computer.
    "I want to ask you both something. It's been bugging me since we got here."
    Rick looked defensive and folded his arms. "Go on; no secrets, Lauren."
    She rested her palms on the table. "Was Belfast the last wet job for us? The Firm are off our backs, no issues, we are clean?"
    She looked at us both in turn and we nodded. In truth, who ever knew how the Secret Service worked?
    Lauren smiled. It was good to see. "In that case, I think this is a great idea, except for one thing."
    We waited.
    "I want to go to Helsinki. I want to take the training instructor's role."
    Rick gave me a questioning look.
    "Okay by me," I said.
    Rick stood. "This is great. It's just what we need. Would anyone have any objections to setting up shop back in Manchester? I mean we still have some good gear there in my lock-up, a couple of vehicles, some weapons; some surveillance kit."
    We both shook our heads.
    I hadn't seen Rick look so excited in many years.
    "Okay, so if Lauren is off first thing tomorrow, we need to get a shift on and book our flights, Des. I'll get on it; but first let's open this."
    Rick pulled a bottle of Crystal champagne from his mini bar. The cork flew out of the neck with a satisfying 'pop.'
    Rick poured three glasses and we toasted our new venture.

Lauren North's Story:
     
    I travelled to Munich the next morning on the 0230hrs Etihad flight out of Abu Dhabi, then caught the Finnair connection to Helsinki which dropped me in on time, but jaded.
    I was met at the airport by Dr Victor Allen PhD who was running the Instructor's Close Protection and Surveillance Course.
    He was a slightly built man, some would have said graceful, and spoke perfect English with an American accent.
    On the way to my hotel he gave me the documentation I would need to start the course the next morning. I signed all the usual insurance waivers and handed over the eight thousand dollar fee.
    As the car pulled up outside The Hotel Haven, just off Helsinki harbour and close to the Esplanadi Centre, I was more than a little apprehensive.
    I needn't have been. Over the next ten days I was expertly tutored in everything from risk assessment, route planning, vehicle drills and counter surveillance, to unarmed combat and search techniques.
    The good doctor told me I had excelled.
     
    By the time my flight landed in Manchester twelve days later, Rick's idea for the location of our enterprise was