The Danger. Part 17

"Whatboat?"

"Theboatonfire.Iwaswatchingit.Everyonewaswatchingit.Andthen...whenI lookedback...hewasn'tthere.Iwasn'tscared.Itwaslessthanaminute...I thoughthe'dbegoingovertolookattheboat...Iwaslookingforhim...andthen thelittlegirlgavemethenote...andIreadit..."

Theawfulnessofthatmomentsweptoverheragainlikeatidalwave.Thecupand saucerrattledandAlessiatookthemfromher.

"Ishoutedforhimeverywhere...Iranupanddown...Icouldn'tbelieveit...I couldn't...I'dseenhimsuchashorttimeago...justaminute...andthenIcameup here...Idon'tknowhowIgotuphere...ItelephonedJohn...andI'veleftallour things...onthebeach."

"Whenishightide?"Isaid.

Shelookedatmevaguely."Thismorning...thetidehadjustgoneout...thesand wasallwet..."

"Andtheboat?Wherewastheboat?"

"Onthesand."

"Whatsortofboat?"Iasked.

Shelookedbewildered."Asailingdinghy.Whatdoesitmatter?Thereare millionsofsailingdinghiesroundhere."

Butmillionsofsailingdinghiesdidn'tgoonfireattheexactmomentthata smallchildwaskidnapped.Ahighlyuntrustworthycoincidenceoftiming.

"Bothofyoudrinksomemoretea,"Isaid."I'llG.o.downandfetchthethings fromthebeach.ThenI'llringMr.Nerrity-"

"No,"Mirandainterruptedcompulsively."Don't.Don't."

"Butwemust."

"He'ssoangry,"shesaidpiteously."He's...livid.Hesaysit'smyfault...he's soangry...youdon'tknowwhathe'slike...Idon'twanttotalktohim...Ican't..."

"Well,"Isaid."I'lltelephonefromanotherplace.Notthisroom.I'llbeas quickasIcan...w.i.l.l.youbothbeallright?"

Alessianoddedalthoughshewasherselfshaking,andIwentdownstairsandfound apublictelephonetuckedintoaprivatecorneroftheentrancehall.

TonyVineansweredfromJohnNerrity'snumber.

"Areyoualone?"Iasked.

"No.Areyou?"

"Yes.What'sthescore?"

"Thepinchershavetoldhimhe'llgethis...o...b..cksafe...onconditions."

"Suchas?"

"Fivemillion."

"ForG.o.d'ssake,"Isaid,"hashegotfivemillion?"TheBreakwaterHotel,nice enough,wasn'tamillionaire'splayground.

"He'sgotahorse,"Tonysaidbaldly.

Ahorse.

Ordinand,winneroftheDerby.

"Ordinand?"Isaid.

"Noslouch,areyou?Yeah,Ordinand.Thepincherswanthimtosellitatonce."

"Howdidtheytellhim?"Iasked.

"Onthetelephone.Notap,ofcourse,atthatpoint.Hesaysitwasarough voicefullofslang.Aggressive.Alotofthreats."

ItoldTonyabouttheblock-letterednote."Sameleveloflanguage?"

"Yeah."Tony'soccasionalrestraintinthematterofeffthisandeffthatwas alwaysasourceofwonder,butinfactheseldomletripinfrontofclients.

"Mr.Nerrity'schief,nottosaysole,a.s.set,asIunderstandit,isthehorse.

Heis...er..."

"Spittingmad?"Isuggested.

"Yeah."

Ihalfsmiled."Mrs.Nerrityisfaintlyscaredofhim."

"Notintheleastsurprising."

ItoldTonyhowthekidnaphadbeenworkedandsaidIthoughtthepoliceought toinvestigatethedinghyveryfast.

"Haveyoutoldthelocalfuzzanythingyet?"

"No.Mirandawilltakeabitofpersuading.I'lldoitnext.Whathaveyoutold themfromyourend?"

"Nothingsofar.ItellMr.Nerritywecan'thelphimwithoutthepolice,but youknowwhat.i.t'slike..."

"Mm.I'llcallyouagain,shortly."

"Yeah."HeputhisreceiverdownandIambledoutofthehotelandrolledmy trouserlegsuptothekneesontheedgeoftheshingle,slidingdownthebanks ofpebblesingreatstridestowardsthesand.OncethereItookoffshoesand socksandstrolledalongcarryingthem,enjoyingtheeveningsun.

Therewereafewbreakwatersatintervalsalongthebeach,blackfingers stretchingstumpilyseawards,rotteninplacesandovergrownwithmolluscsand seaweed.Miranda'schair,towels,andparaphernaliawerealoneontheshingle, mostotherpeoplehavingpackedupfortheday;andnotfarawaytherewa.s.still aredplasticbucketandablueplasticspadeonthegroundbesidea half-trampledsandcastle.TheBritishseasidepublic,Ireflected,werestill remarkablyhonest.

Theburntremainsofthedinghywerethefocalpointforthefewpeoplestillon thesand,thereturningtidealreadyswirlinganinchdeeparoundthehull.I walkedoverthereasifdrawnlikeeveryoneelse,andtooktheclosestpossible look,paddling,likeothers,toseeinsidethesh.e.l.l.

Theboathadbeenfibergla.s.sandhadmeltedasitburned.Therewereno discernibleregistrationnumbersonwhatwasleftoftheexterior,andalthough themast,whichwasaluminum,hadsurvivedtheblazeandstillpointed heavenwardlikeanexclamationmark,thesailwhichwouldhaveborne identificationlayinashesrounditsfoot.Somethinginthescorchedmessmight tellatale-b.u.t.thetidewasinexorable.

"Shouldn'twetrytohaulituptotheshingle?"Isuggestedtoamanpaddling likemyself.

Heshrugged."Notourbusiness."

"Hasanyonetoldthepolice?"Isaid.

Heshruggedagain."Searchme."

Ipaddledroundtotheothersideoftheremainsandtriedanothermore responsible-lookingcitizenbuthetooshookhisheadandmutteredaboutbeing latealready,anditwastwofourteen-sizedboys,overhearing,whosaidthey wouldgivemeahand,ifIliked.

Theywerestrongandcheerful.Theylifted,strained,staggeredwillingly.The keelslidupthesandleavingadeepsingletrackandbetweenuswemanhandled ituptheshingletowheretheboyssaidthetidewouldn'treachittowhiskit away.

"Thanks,"Isaid.

Theybeamed.Weallstoodhandsonhipsadmiringtheresultofourlaborsand thentheytoosaidtheyhadtobeoffhometosupper.Theylopedaway,vaulting abreakwater,andIcollectedthebucketandspadeandallMiranda'sbelongings andcarriedthemuptoherroom.

NeithershenorAlessiawasingoodshape,andAlessia,ifanything,seemedthe morerelievedatmyreturn.Igaveherarea.s.suringhug,andtoMirandaIsaid, "We'regoingtohavetogetthepolice."

"No."Shewasterrified."No...no..."

"Mm."Inodded."Believeme,it'sbest.Thepeoplewho'vetakenDominicdon't wanttokillhim,theywanttosellhimbacktoyousafeandsound.Holdonto that.Thepolicewillbeveryhelpfulandwecanarrangethingssothatthe kidnapperswon'tknowwe'vetoldthem.I'lldothat.Thepolicewillwantto knowwhatDominicwaswearing...onthebeach...andifyouhaveaphotograph,that wouldbegreat."

Shewaveredhelplessly."Johnsaid...keepquiet,I'ddoneenoughdamage..."

Ipickedupthetelephonecasuallyandgotthroughagaintoherhusband's number.Tonyagainanswered.

"Andrew,"Isaid.

"Oh."Hisvoicelost.i.tstension;he'dbeenexpectingthekidnappers.

"Mrs.Nerritywillagreetoinformingthepoliceonherhusband'ssayso."

"Goahead,then.Heunderstandswecan'tactforhimwithout.He...er...doesn't wantustoleavehim.He'sjustthisminutedecided,whenheheardthephone ring."

"Good.Hangon..."IturnedtoMiranda."Yourhusbandsayswecantellthepolice.

Doyouwanttotalktohim?"

Sheshookherheadviolently."O.K.,"IsaidtoTony."Let'sgetstartedand I'llcallyoulater."

"Whatwasthekidwearing?"heasked.

IrepeatedthequestiontoMirandaandbetweennewsobsshesaidredbathing trunks.Tinytowelingtrunks.Noshoes,noshirt...ithadbeenhot.

Tonygruntedandrangoff,andasunhurriedlyasIcouldIaskedMirandatoput someclothesonandcomeoutdrivingwithmeinmycar.Questioning,hesitant, andfearful,sheneverthelessdidwhatwasneeded,andpresently,havingwalked outofthehotelinscarfandsungla.s.sesbetweenAlessiaandmyself,satwith Alessiaintherea.r.s.eatsasIdroveallthreeofusinthedirectionof Chichester.

Checksonourtailandanunnecessarydetourshowednoonefollowing,andwith onepausetoaskdirectionsIstoppedthecarnearthemainpolicestationbut outofsightofit,roundacorner.InsidethestationIaskedforthesenior officersonduty,andpresentlyexplainedtoachiefinspectorandaC.I.D.man howthingsstood.

Ishowedthemmyownidentificationandcredentials,andoneofthem, fortunately,knewsomethingofLibertyMarket'swork.Theylookedatthe kidnappers'threateningnotewiththeblanknessofshock,andrapidlypaid attentiontotheaccountofthedeathofthedinghy.

"We'llbeontothatstraightaway,"saidthechiefinspector,stretchingahand tothetelephone."Noone'sreportedityet,asfarasIknow."

"Er..."Isaid."Sendsomeonedressedasaseaman.Gumboots.Seaman'ssweater.

Don'tletthembehavelikepolicemen,itwouldbeverydangerousforthechild."

Thechiefinspectordrewbackfromthetelephone,frowning.Kidnappingin Englandwa.s.socomparativelyrarethatveryfewlocalforceshadanyexperience ofit.IrepeatedthatthedeaththreattoDominicwasrealandshouldbea primeconsiderationinallprocedure.

"Kidnappersarefullofadrenalineandeasilyfrightened,"Isaid."It'swhen theythinkthey'reindangerofbeingcaughtthattheykill...andbury...the victim.Dominicreallyisindeadlydanger,butwe'llgethimbacksafeifwe're careful."

AfterasilencetheC.I.D.officer,whowasroughlymyownage,saidtheywould havetocallinhissuper.

"Howlongwillthattake?"Iasked."Mrs.Nerrityisoutsideinmycarwitha womanfriend,andIdon'tthinkshecanstandverymuchwaiting.She'shighly distressed."

Theynodded.Telephoned.Guardedlyexplained.Thesuper,ittranspiredtotheir relief,wouldspeedbacktohisofficewithintenminutes.

DetectiveSuperintendentEaglercouldhavebeenborntobeaplain-clothescop.

EventhoughIwas.e.xpectinghimIgavethethinharmless-lookingcreaturewho cameintotheroomnomorethanafirstcursoryglance.Hehadwispybalding hairandascrawnyneckrisingfromanill-fittingshirt.Hissuitlookedold andsaggyandhismannerseemedfaintlyapologetic.Itwasonlywhentheother twomenstraightenedathisarrivalthatwithsurpriseIrealizedwhohewas.

Heshookmyhand,notveryfirmly,perchedathinrumpononecornerofthe largeofficialdesk,andaskedmetoidentifymyself.Igavehimoneofthe firm'sbusinesscardswithmynameon.Withneitherhastenorcommenthedialed theofficenumberandspoke,Isupposed,toGerryClayton.Hemadenoremark aboutwhateveranswersGerrygavehim,butmerelysaid"Thanks"andputdownthe receiver.

"I'vestudiedothercases,"hesaiddirectlytomeandwithoutmorepreamble.

"LesleyWhittle...andothersthatwentwrong.Iwantnosuchdisastersonmy patch.I'lllistentoyouradvice,andifitseemsgoodtome,I'llactonit.

Can'tsaymorethanthat."

Inoddedandagainsuggestedseamen-lookalikestocollectthedinghy,towhich heinstantlyagreed,tellinghisjuniortodollhimselfupandtakeapartner, withoutdelay.

"Next?"heasked.

Isaid,"WouldyoutalktoMrs.Nerrityinmycar,notinhere?Idon'tthink sheshouldbeseeninapolicestation.Idon'tthinkeventhatIshouldwalk youdirectlytoher.Icouldmeetyousomewhere.Onemaybetakingprecautions quiteunnecessarily,butsomekidnappersareverythoroughandsuspicious,and one'sneverquitesure."

Heagreedandleftbeforeme,warninghistwocolleaguestosaynothingwhatever yettoanyoneelse.

"Especiallynotbeforeapressblack-outhasbeenarranged,"Iadded."Youcould killthechild.Seriously;Imeanit."

Theygaveearnesta.s.surances,andIwalkedbacktothecartofindbothgirls toonearcollapse."We'regoingtopicksomeoneup,"Isaid."He'sapoliceman, buthedoesn'tlooklikeit.He'llhelptogetDominicbacksafelyandtoarrest thekidnappers."Isighedinwardlyatmypositivevoice,butifIcouldn'tgive Mirandaevenashredofconfidence,Icouldgivehernothing.Westoppedfor Eagleratacrossroadsnearthecathedral,andheslidwithoutcommentintothe frontpa.s.sengerseat.

AgainIdroveawhileonthelookoutforcompany,butasfarasIcouldseeno kidnappershadriskedit.AfterafewmilesIstoppedinaparkingplaceonthe sideofaruralroad,andEaglergotMirandaagaintodescribeherdreadfulday.

"Whattimewasit?"hesaid.

"I'mnotsure...Afterlunch.We'deatenourlunch."

"Wherewasyourhusband,whenyoutelephonedhim?"

"Inhisoffice.He'salwaystherebytwo."

Mirandawas.e.xhaustedaswellastearful.Eagler,whowashavingtoaskhis questionsovertheclumsybarrierofthefrontseats,madeasketchystabat pattingherhandinafatherlyway.Sheinterpretedtheintentionbehindthe gestureandwepttheharder,chokingoverthedetailsofredswimmingtrunks,no shoes,blueeyes,fairhair,noscars,suntannedskin...they'dbeenatthe seasidefornearlytwoweeks...theyweregoinghomeonSat.u.r.day.