Free Quick by Steve Worland

limp.’
     
    ‘I limp on the inside.’
     
    Dieter smiles again. In fact Billy does have a limp but he does all he can to hide it. To his surprise, the Australian realises he really wants to impress the old man. Yes he knows he’s here to work a case but still, it’s an odd feeling. Six years ago Billy would have given his eyeteeth to have a conversation with this man, one of the most powerful in international motorsport.
     
    Behind the old man, Billy can see the Frenchman is chastened. Poor old Claude, he really embarrassed himself. Oh well. If he wasn’t such an annoying twat who’d tried to arrest him and if he didn’t drive like a grandma Billy might feel sorry for him.
     
    Dieter nods at Claude. ‘So he’s your agent?’
     
    ‘Yes, we’re working the case together.’
     
    Dieter turns to a metal and glass table and nods at a pair of inch-high documents sit, each with a pen lying on top. ‘Before we go any further you will need to sign those.’
     
    Billy regards them. ‘What are they?’
     
    ‘It indemnifies Iron Rhino from, well, everything.’
     
    ‘That’s a lot of document.’
     
    ‘There’s a lot of risk in F1.’ He grins but there’s no humour behind it. ‘When it comes to my race team I can be a ruthless son of a bitch. Some would say I’m a snake in the grass. I just want us to be clear about that.’
     
    Billy nods. ‘At least you’re honest.’ Marcellus told the Australian about the deal between Interpol and Iron Rhino. They will assist the investigation by letting Billy and Claude operate as undercover agents within the team. The two agents will have full access to the F1 circus without anyone, except Dieter, knowing their true identities. The upside for Iron Rhino is that if or when the case is resolved they will own all the rights to exploit the ‘property’ through Iron Rhino Media. That means anything for film, television or the internet through scripted or reality formats. On top of that, all news interviews with the principles of the investigation will pass through Iron Rhino Media. Essentially the unofficial ‘sponsoring’ of a police investigation, albeit an investigation with all the perquisites of a story that will be compelling to a mass audience—jewellery thieves in the high-speed world of motor racing—is the next step in marketing, and it won’t cost Iron Rhino a cent.
     
    Both men sign the documents, then Dieter turns to Billy. ‘So Marcellus has been over everything with you?’
     
    Billy nods. ‘Yep, I’m up to speed.’
     
    ‘Okay then, good. Well that’s it. Please wear the team uniform whenever possible. Use however many sets you need.’ Dieter gestures to a table at the far end of the room stacked with gold-and-red Iron Rhino crew uniforms, everything from shirts, pants, jackets and caps to soft-soled shoes. ‘This will be your room so use it as you will. Here are the keys.’ He passes one to each of them. ‘Obviously nobody knows the real reason you are here except me. You will be left alone to pursue your investigation, but if you need anything just call.’ He passes both of them a simple business card with a mobile phone number on it.
     
    ‘Thank you.’
     
    ‘ Merci .’
     
    ‘All right.’ Dieter heads for the door. ‘Good luck. Remember, call if you need anything.’ Then he is gone.
     
    ~ * ~
     
    It is silent as Billy and Claude change into the Iron Rhino team uniform.
     
    Billy laces up his shoes then finds a small safe on the far wall and locks his Glock inside it. He doesn’t want to walk in the paddock area with a pistol in a shoulder holster. He would need to wear a heavy jacket to hide the weapon and with the temperature hovering above forty degrees Celsius he’s not keen on that idea. He makes a mental note to get hold of an ankle holster as soon as possible.
     
    The Australian turns to the Frenchman. ‘So, how are we going to run this? Should we have some kind of—daily debrief?’
     
    Claude doesn’t