Free RACE AMAZON: False Dawn (James Pace novels Book 1) by Andy Lucas Page B

Whatever it was, the place almost possessed its own tangible scent.
    They paused only long enough to shop, which took barely half an hour. 
    Two suitcases replaced the ones Pace had lost in the fire; both sturdy and waterproof. He filled them with new clothes, much to the expressed delight of the young assistant who lived off his, usually paltry, commission-based wage. Several pairs of jeans and slacks went in first, followed by some hastily chosen shirts, socks and underwear.  Two jackets and a spare pair of walking boots, almost identical to the ones he was wearing, ended a spree totalling a little shy of two thousand pounds.  The smile on the young assistant’s face said it all, beaming as he mentally planned some wild party nights out on next week’s much inflated wage packet. 
    The next shop added toothbrushes and paste, half a dozen bars of soap, deodorants, a hairbrush, wet razor and spare blades, shaving foam and a couple of bottles of aftershave gel, which smelled all right and contained a moisturiser.  This would be useful, given the heat and humidity to come.  Above all, he raided the chemist for insect repellent.  He understood some Amazonian insects had a ferocious appetite and so armed himself with a selection of bug sprays, creams and topical lotions.
    They passed through check-in without a hitch after briefly stopping to change some of his remaining sterling into a mixture of US dollars, US dollar travellers cheques and Brazilian reals.  
    Hammond was exactly where he should have been, propping up the main bar in the departure lounge. He seemed pleased to see them and quickly told them that everything had been sorted.  As proof, he handed Pace a large manila envelope.  
    Inside were a duplicate passport and visa.  
    He ordered them all a drink while Pace studied the documents. Everything looked legitimate and he began to relax.  All the paperwork needed to get him out of Britain and into the adventure for which he had been paid so much money, was at hand. Up until that point he had been quietly doubtful that anyone had the influence to produce such important international documentation overnight.  But the proof was there, in his hands.
    ‘Ready for the trip of a lifetime?’ 
    Hammond interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see both of them, sitting at adjacent bar stools, watching him intently. Sarah handed him a bottle of beer, which he gratefully half finished in a single swallow. Although it was barely eleven in the morning, Pace felt in need of it. The taste; crisp and clean, revitalised body and soul and any remaining doubts quickly evaporated.
    ‘Of course he is.’ Sarah looked straight at Pace, the twinkle in her eyes daring him to contradict her.
    ‘That reminds me.’ Hammond spoke before Pace could. ‘I’ve put the security boys onto last night’s events. Our company law firm has also been instructed to act on your behalf, in your absence.’ Hammond appeared as confident as Sarah. ‘Don’t worry, they’re the best legal people in London. They’ll handle everything.’
    ‘That’s good to know,’ said Pace.
    ‘That leaves all of us,’ Hammond pointed to them all in a quick, swirling movement of his index finger, ‘free to concentrate on the race.’
    ‘I’m glad both of you are so bloody cheerful about all this,’ protested Pace good-naturedly.  He ordered a fresh beer from the bartender with a motion of one hand. 
    ‘Everything will be okay,’ promised Sarah.
    ‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Pace said.  ‘I’m actually looking forward to running over a few things with you both again during the flight.’
    Hammond stretched an arm down and patted his briefcase, perched on the floor by his stool. 
    ‘All the final arrangements are in here and there’s plenty of flight time to run over anything you’re not sure about, several times if needs be. Speaking of the flight,’ he added, ‘we’ve only got about thirty minutes or so before boarding.  If