The Danger. Part 18

"Sheoughttogohometoherhusbandtonight,"IsaidtoEagler,andalthoughhe nodded,Mirandavehementlyprotested.

"He'ssoangrywithme..."shewailed.

"Youcouldn'thelpit,"Isaid."Thekidnappershaveprobablybeenwaitingtheir chanceforaweekormore.Onceyourhusbandrealizes...

ButMirandashookherheadandsaidIdidn'tunderstand."Thatdinghy,"Eagler saidthoughtfully,"theonewhichburnt...hadyouseenitonthebeachonany otherday?"

Mirandaglancedathimvaguelyasifthequestionwereunimportant."Thelast fewdayshavebeensowindy...Wehaven'tsatonthebeachmuch.Notsincethe weekend,untiltoday.We'vemostlybeenbythepool,butDominicdoesn'tlike thatsomuchbecausethere'snosand."

"Thehotelhasapool?"Eaglerasked.

"Yes,butlastweekwewerealwaysonthebeach...everythingwa.s.sosimple,just Dominicandme."Shespokebetweensobs,herwholebodyshaking.

Eaglerglancedatmebriefly,"Mr.Douglas,here,"hesaidtoMiranda,"hesays you'llgethimbacksafe.Weallhavetoactcalmly,Mrs.Nerrity.Calmand patience,that'sthething.You'vehadaterribleshock,I'mnottryingto minimizeit,butwhatwehavetothinkofnowistheboy.Tothinkcalmlyfor theboy'ssake."

AlessialookedfromEaglertomeandbackagain."You'reboththesame,"she saidblankly."You'vebothseensomuchsuffering...somuchdistress.Youboth knowhowtomakeitsothatpeoplecanholdon...Itmakestheunbearable...

possible."

Eaglergaveheralookofmildsurprise,andinatotallyunconnectedthoughtI concludedthathisclotheshunglooselyabouthimbecausehe'drecentlylost weight.

"Alessiaherselfwaskidnapped,"Iexplainedtohim."Sheknowstoomuchabout it."IoutlinedbrieflywhathadhappenedinItaly,andmentionedthe coincidenceofthehorses.

HisattentionfocusedinathoroughlySherlockianmanner.

"Areyousayingthere'sapositivesignificance?"

Isaid,"BeforeAlessiaIworkedonanothercaseinItalyinwhichthefamily soldtheirsharesinaracecoursetoraisetheransom."

Hestared,"Youdo,then,seea...athread?"

"Ifearthere'sone,yes."

"Whyfear?"Alessiaasked.

"Hemeans,"Eaglersaid,"thatthethreekidnapshavebeenorganizedbythesame perpetrator.Someonenormallyoperatingwithintheracingworldandconsequently knowingwhichtargetstohit.AmIright?"

"Ontheb.u.t.ton,"Iagreed,talkingchieflytoAlessia."Thechoiceoftargetis oftenaprimecluetotheident.i.tyofthekidnappers.Imean...tomaketherisks worthwhile,mostkidnappersmakesureinadvancethatthefamilyorbusiness actuallycanpayaheftyransom.Ofcourseeveryfamilywillpaywhattheycan, b.u.t.therisksarejustashighforasmallransomasalarge,soitmakesmore sensetoaimforthelarge.Toknow,forinstance,thatyourfatherismuch richerthanthefathersofmostotherjockeys,womenornot."

Alessia'sgazeseemedgluedtomyface."Toknow...thatthemanwhoownsOrdinand hasason...?"Shestopped,thesentenceunfinished,thethoughttrottingon.

"Yes,"Isaid.

Sheswallowed."Itcostsjustasmuchtokeepabadhorseintrainingasagood one...Imean,Idoclearlyunderstandwhatyou'resaying."

Mirandaseemednottohavebeenlisteningb.u.t.thetearshadbeguntodryup, likeastormpa.s.sing.

"Idon'twanttogohometonight,"shesaidinasmallvoice."ButifIgo...

Alessia,w.i.l.l.youcomewithme?"

AlessialookedasifitwerethelastthingshecouldfaceandIansweredonher behalf,"No,Mrs.Nerrity,itwouldn'tbeagoodidea.Haveyouamother,ora sister...someoneyoulike?Someoneyourhusbandlikes."

Hermordantlooksaidasmuchaswordsaboutthecurrentstateofhermarriage, butafteramomentortwoshesaidfaintly,"Isuppose...mymother."

"That'sright,"Eaglersaidpaternally."Nowwouldyoutwoladiesjustwaita fewminuteswhileIwalkalittlewaywithMr.Douglas?"

"Wewon'tbeoutofsight,"Isaid.

Allthesametheybothlookedasinsecureaseverasweopenedthefrontdoors andclimbedout.Ilookedbackaswewalkedawayandwaggledarea.s.suringhand attheirtwoanxiousheadsshowingtogetherfromtherea.r.s.eat.

"Veryupsetting,"Eaglerobservedaswestrolledaway."Butshe'llgetherkid back,withabitofluck,notlikesomeI'vedealtwith.Littlekidss.n.a.t.c.hedat randombypsychosandmurdered...s.e.xual,often.Thosemothers...Heartbreaking.

Rotten.Andquiteoftenweknowthepsychos.Knowthey'llprobablydosomething violentoneday.Killsomeone.Wecanoftenarrestthemwithinadayofthebody beingfound.Butwecan'tpreventthem.Wecan'tkeepthemlockedupforever, justincase.Nightmare,thosepeople.We'vegotoneroundherenow.Timebomb waitingtogooff.Andsomepoorkid,somewhere,willbecyclingalong,or walking,atjustthewrongtime,justthewrongplace.Somewoman'skid.

Somethingtriggersthepsycho.Youneverknowwhat.i.tis.Somethingsmall.Tips themover.After,theydon'tknowwhythey'vedoneit,likeasnot."

"Mm,"Isaid."Worsethankidnappers.Withthemthere'salwayshope."

Duringhisdissertationhe'dgivenmeseveralsidewaysglances:reinforcinghis impressions,Ithought.AndItoohadbeendoingthesame,gettingtoknowwhat toexpectofhim,goodorbad.OccasionallysomeonefromLibertyMarketcame acrossapolicemanwhothoughtofusasanunnecessarynuisanceencroachingon theirjealouslyguardedpreserves,butonthewholetheyacceptedusalongthe linesofifyouwanttounderstandawreck,consultadiver.

"Whatcanyoutellmethatyouwouldn'twantthosetwogirlstohear?"heasked.

Igavehimasmallsmile;gotreservedjudgmentback.

"ThemanwhokidnappedAlessia,"Isaid."Recruitedlocaltalent.Herecruited one,whoropedinanotherfive.Thecarabinierihavearrestedthosesix,b.u.t.the leadervanished.HecalledhimselfGiuseppe,whichwilldofornow.Weproduced adrawingofhimandfloodedtheprovincewithit,withnoresults.I'llletyou haveacopyofit,ifyoulike."Ipaused."Iknowit'salongshot.Thishorse thingmaybetrulyandsimplyacoincidence."

Eaglerputhisheadononeside."Fileitunderfiftyfifty,then."

"Right.Andthere'stoday'snote..."

"NothingItalianaboutthat,eh?"Eaglerlookedgenial."Butlocaltalent?Just therightstyleforlocaltalent,wouldn'tyousay?"

"Yes,Iwould."

"JustrightforanItalianleaningoverthelocaltalent'sshouldersayingin brokenEnglish'tellhertotelephoneherhusband,tellhernottoinformthe police.'"Hesmiledfleetingly."b.u.t.that'sallconjecture,astheysay."

Weturnedasofoneaccordandbegantostrollbacktothecar.

"Theladyjockey'sabitjumpystill,"hesaid.

"Itdoesthattothem.Somearejumpywithstrangersforever."

"Poorthing,"hesaid,asifhehadn'tthoughtoffreedomhavingproblems; victimsnaturallybeingvastlylessinterestingthanvillainstothestrongarm ofthelaw.

IexplainedaboutTonyVinebeingatthatmomentwithJohnNerrity,andsaid thatNerrity'slocalforcewouldalsobynowknowaboutDominic.Eaglernoted theaddressandsaidhewould"liaise."

"IexpectTonyVinewillbeinchargefromourpointofview,"Isaid."He's verybright,ifyouhaveanydealingswithhim."

"Allright."

WearrangedthatIwouldsendthephotostatsofGiuseppeandareporton Alessia'skidnappingdowntohimonthefirstmorningtrain;andatthatpoint wewerebackatthecar.

"Rightthen,Mr.Douglas."Heshookmyhandlimplyasifsealingabargain,as differentfromPucinelliasatortoisefromahare:onewily,onesharp;one wrinkledinhiscarapace,oneleanlytautinhisuniform;onealwaysontheedge ofhisnerves,oneavuncularlyrelaxed.

IthoughtthatIwouldratherbehuntedbyPucinelli,anyday.

Chaptereleven.

JOHNNERRITYwasaheavilybuiltmanofmediumheightwithgrayinghaircutneat andshort;clippedmoustachetomatch.OngooddaysIcouldimaginehim generatingafairamountofcharm,butonthateveningIsawonlyaman accustomedtopowerwhohadmarriedagirllessthanhalfhisageandlooked likeregrettingit.

Theylivedinalargedetachedhouseontheedgeof.a.golfcoursenearSutton, Surrey,southofLondon,onlyaboutthreemilesdistantfromwheretheir four-leggedwonderhadmadeafortuneonEpsomDowns.

Theexteriorofthehouse,intheduskofourarrival,hadrevealeditselfas thirties-developedTudor,butonarestrainedandsuccessfulscale.Inside,the carpetswall-to-walllookeduntrodden,thebrocadechairsun-sat-on,thesilk cushionsunwrinkled,thepaperandpaintunscuffed.Unfadedvelvetcurtainshung instiffregularfoldsfrombeneathelaboratepelmets,anduponseveralgla.s.s andchromiumcoffeetableslaylargeglossybooks,unthumbed.Therewereno photographsandnoflowers,andthepictureshadbeenchosentooccupywall s.p.a.ce,notthemind;thewholethingmorelikeashopwindowthanthehomeofa littleboy.

JohnNerritywasholdingaginandtonicwithiceclinkingandlemonslice floating,astatementinitselfofhisresistancetocrisis.Icouldn'timagine PaoloCenciorganizingiceandlemonsixhoursafterthefirstransomdemand:it hadbeenalmostbeyondhimtopourwithoutspilling.

WithNerritywereTonyVinewearinghismostenigmaticexpressionandanother man,sourofmouthandbitterofeye,whospokewithTony'saccentandlooked vaguely,inhisflannelsandcasualsweater,asifhe'dbeenoutforastroll withhisdog.

"DetectiveSuperintendentRightsworth,"Tonysaid,introducinghimdeadpan.

"WaitingtotalktoMrs.Nerrity."

Rightsworthgavemebarelyanod,andthatmoreofrepressionthanof acknowledgement.Oneofthose,Ithought.Acivilian-hater.Onewhothoughtof thepoliceas"us"andthepublicas"them,"the"them"beingnaturally inferior.Italwayssurprisedmethatpolicemenofthatkindgotpromoted,but Rightsworthwasproofenoughthattheydid.

AlessiaandMirandahadcomeintothesittingroomclosetogetherandastep behindme,asifusingmeasariotshield:anditwasclearfromJohnNerrity's facethatthefirstsightofhiswifepromptedfewloving,comforting,or supportivefeelings.

Hegavehernokiss.Nogreeting.Hemerelysaid,asifinacontinuing conversation,"DoyourealizethatOrdinandisn'tminetosell?Doyourealize we'reinhocktothelimit?No,youdon't.Youcan'tdoanything.Noteven somethingsimplelikelookingafterakid."

Mirandacrumpledbehindmeandkneltonthefloor.AlessiaandIbenttohelp herup,andIsaidtoMiranda'sear,"Peoplewh.o.a.refrightenedareoftenangry andsaythingsthathurt.He'sasfrightenedasyouare.Hangontothat."

"Whatareyoumumblingabout?"Nerritydemanded."Miranda,forChrist'ssakeget up,youlookawreck."Hestaredwithdisfavorattheravagedfaceanduntidy hairofhisson'smother,andwithonlythefaintestflickerofoverdue compa.s.sionsaidimpatiently,"Getup,getup,theysayitwasn'tyourfault."

Shewouldalwaysthinkithadbeen,though;andsowouldhe.Fewpeople understoodhowpersistent,patient,ingenious,andfastcommittedkidnappers couldbe.Whomevertheyplannedtotake,theytook.

RightsworthsaidhewantedtoaskMrs.Nerritysomequestionsandguidedheroff toadistantsofa,followedbyherbullishhusbandwithhistinklinggla.s.s.

Alessiasatinanarmchairasifherlegsweregivingway,andTonyandI retreatedtoawindowseattoexchangequietnotes.

"He..."TonyjerkedhisheadtowardsNerrity,"hasbeenstridingupanddownhere wearingholesintheeffingcarpetandcallinghiswifeaneffingcow.Allsorts ofnames.Didn'tknowsomeofthemmyself."Hegrinnedwolfishly."Takesthem likethat,sometimes,ofcourse."

"Pourtheangeronsomeonethatwon'tkickback?"

"Poorlittleb.i.t.c.h."

"Anymoredemands?"Iasked.

"Zilch.Allpianissimo.ThatrayofsunshineRightsworthbroughtasuitcasefull ofbugginggearwithhimfromthetelephoneblokesbuthedidn'tknowhowtouse halfofit,Iaskyou.Ifixedthetaponthephonemyself.Can'tbeartosee effingamateursmuckingabout."

"Igatherhedoesn'tlikeus,"Isaid.

"Rightsworth?Despisesthegroundwewalkon."

"IsittrueJohnNerritycan'traiseanythingonthehorse?"

I'daskedveryquietly,b.u.t.tonylookedroundtomakesureneithertheNerritys norRightsworthcouldheartheanswer."Hewasblurtingitallout,whenIgot here.Seemshiseffingbusinessisd.i.c.kyandhe'spledgedbitsofthathorseto bailhimout.Borrowedonit,youmightsay.Allthisbl.u.s.ter,Ireckonit's becausehehasn'tahopeofraisingthewherewithaltogethisnipperback,he's inabluefunkandsendinghiseffingunderpantstothelaundry."

"Whatdidhesayaboutourfee?"

"Yeah."Tonylookedatmesideways."Tookhiminthegut.Hesayshecan't affordus.Thenhebegsmenottogo.He'snotgettingontooeffingwellwith Rightsworth,whowould?Sothereheis,knackeredeverywhichwayandtakingit outontheladywife."HeglancedoveratMiranda,whowasagainintears.

"Seemsshewashissecretary.That'sherphoto,hereonthistable.Shewasa knockout,rightenough."

Ilookedattheglamorousstudio-litportrait:adivinelyprettyfacewithfine bones,wideeyesandthehintofasmile.Alikenesstakenjustbeforemarriage, Iguessed,atthepointofhermaximumattraction:beforeliferolledonand trampledovertheheadydreams.

"Didyoutellhimwe'dhelphimfornothing?"Iasked.

"No,Ieffingdidn't.Idon'tlikehim,tobehonest."

Wesometimesdid,asafirm,workfornopay:itdependedoncirc.u.mstances.All thepartnersagreedthatafamilyinneedshouldgethelpregardless,andnone ofusbegrudgedit.Weneverchargedenoughanywaytomakeourselvesrich,being inexistenceonthewholetodefeatextortion,nottopracticeit.Aflatfee, plus.e.xpenses:nopercentages.Ourclientsknewforsurethatthesizeofthe ransominnowayaffectedourownreward.

Thetelephonerangsuddenly,makingeveryoneintheroomjump.BothTonyand RightsworthgesturedtoNerritytoansweritandhewalkedtowardsitasifit werehot.Inoticedthathepulledhisstomachinasthemusclestightenedand sawhisbreathbecomeshallow.IftheroomhadbeensilentIguessedwewould actuallyhaveheardhisheartthump.Bythetimehestretchedoutanunsteady handtopickupthereceiverTonyhadtherecorderrunningandtheamplifierset sothateveryoneintheroomcouldhearthecaller'swords.

"h.e.l.lo,"Nerritysaidhoa.r.s.ely.

"Isthatyou,John?"Itwasawoman'svoice,highandanxious."Areyou expectingme?"

"Oh."Mirandajumpedtoherfeetinconfusion."It'sMother.Iaskedher..."Her voicetailedoffasherhusbandheldoutthereceiverwiththemurderousglare ofatoosuddenlyreleasedtension,andshemanagedtotakeitfromhimwithout touchinghimskintoskin.

"Mother?"shesaid,waveringly."Yes,pleasedocome.Ithoughtyouwere coming..."

"Mydeargirl,yousoundedsofl.u.s.teredwhenyoutelephonedearlier.Sayingyou wouldn'ttellmewhatwaswrong!Iwasworried.Idon'tliketointerfere betweenyouandJohn,youknowthat."

"Mother,justcome."

"No,I..."

JohnNerritys.n.a.t.c.hedthetelephoneoutofhiswife'sgraspandpractically shouted,"Rosemary,justcome.Mirandaneedsyou.Don'targue.Gethereasfast asyoucan.Right?"Hecrashedthereceiverdowninannoyance,andIwondered whetherornotthemasterfullybossytonewouldindeedfetchtheparent.The telephonerangagainalmostimmediatelyandNerritys.n.a.t.c.heditupinfury, saying"Rosemary,Itoldyou..."

"JohnNerrity,isit?"avoicesaid.Male,loud,aggressive,threatening.Not Rosemary.Myownspinetingled.Tonyhoveredovertherecordingequipment, checkingthequiveringneedles.

"Yes,"Nerritysaidbreathlessly,hislungsdeflating.