The Danger. Part 19

"Listenonce.Listengood.You'llfindatapeinaboxbyyourfrontgate.Do what.i.tsays."Therewasasharpclickfollowedbythedialingtone,andthen Tony,pressingb.u.t.tons,wa.s.speakingtopeoplewhowereevidentlytelephone engineers.

"Didyougettheoriginofthesecondcall?"heasked.Wereadtheansweronhis face."O.K.,"hesaidresignedly."Thanks."ToNerrityhesaid,"Theyneed fifteenseconds.Betterthantheolddays.Troubleis,thecrooksknowittoo."

Nerritywasonhiswaytothefrontdoorandcouldpresentlybeheardcrunching acrosshisgravel.

Alessiawaslookingveryfrailindeed.Iwentdownonmykneesbyherchairand putmyarmsprotectivelyaroundher.

"Youcouldwaitinanotherroom,"Isaid."Watchtelevision.Readabook."

"YouknowIcan't."

"I'msorryaboutallthis."

Shegavemearapidglance."YoutriedtogetmetogohometoPopsy.It'smy ownfaultI'mhere.I'mallright.Iwon'tbeanuisance,Ipromise."She swallowed."It'sallsoodd...toseeitfromtheotherside."

"You'reagreatgirl,"Isaid."Popsytoldmeso,andshe'sright."

Shelookedasmallshadelessfraughtandrestedherheadbrieflyonmy shoulder."You'remyfoundations,youknow,"shesaid."Withoutyouthewhole thingwouldcollapse."

"I'llbehere,"Isaid."ButseriouslyitwouldbebestifyouandMirandawent intothekitchenandfoundsomefood.Gethertoeat.Eatsomethingyourself.

Carbohydrate.Biscuits,cake...somethinglikethat."

"Fattening,"shesaidautomatically:thejockeytalking.

"Bestforyourbodiesjustnowthough.Carbohydratesareanaturaltranquilizer.

It'swhyunhappypeopleeatandeat."

"Youdoknowthemostextraordinarythings."

"Andalso,"Isaid,"Idon'twantMirandatohearwhat'sonthetape."

"Oh."Hereyeswideneda.s.sheremembered."Pucinelliswitchedoffthattape...so Icouldn'thear."

"Yes.Itwashorrid.Sowillthisbe.Thefirstdemandsarealwaysthemost frightening.Thethreatswillbedesignedtopulverize.TogoadNerrityinto payinganything,everything,veryquickly,tosavehislittleson.Sodearest Alessia,takeMirandaintothekitchenandeatcake."

ShesmiledashadeapprehensivelyandwalkedovertoMiranda,whowa.s.sobbing periodicallyinisolatedgulps,likehiccups,butwhoagreedlistlesslyto makingacupoftea.Thetwowentofftotheirhaven,andNerritycrunchedback withabrowncardboardbox.

Rightsworthimportantlytookchargeofopeningit,tellingeveryoneelseto standback.Tony'seyebrowsweresardonic.Rightsworthproducedapairofclear plasticglovesandmethodicallyputthemonbeforecarefullyslittingwitha penknifetheheavyadhesivetapefasteningthelid.

OpeningtheboxRightsworthfirstpeeredinside,thenputanarminandbrought outthecontents:oneca.s.settetape,inplasticcase,as.e.xpected.

Nerritylookedat.i.tasifitwouldbiteandwavedvaguelyatanornatestretch ofgiltandpaddedwallunit,someofwhosedoorsprovedtobescreeningabank ofexpensivestereo.Rightsworthfoundaslotfortheca.s.sette,whichhehandled carefullywiththeplasticgloves,andNerritypushedtherelevantb.u.t.tons.

Thevoicefilledtheroom,harsh,thunderous,uncompromising.

"Now,you,Nerrity,youlistengood."

Itookthreequickstridesandturneddownthevolume,onthegroundsthat threatsfortissimowouldsoundevenworsethanthreatsshould.Tonynodded appreciatively,butRightsworthwasirritated.Thevoicewenton,moremoderate indecibels,immoderateincontent.

"Wenickedyourkid,Nerrity,andifyouwantyourheirbackinonepieceyoudo whatyou'retoldlikeagoodboy.Otherwisewe'lltakeourknifeout,Nerrity, andslashoffsomethingtopersuadeyou.Nothishair,Nerrity.Afingermaybe.

Orhislittleprivates.Thoseforsure.Understand,Nerrity?Nomessingabout.

Thisisforreal.

"Nowyougotahorse,Nerrity.Worthabit,wereckon.Sixmillion.Seven.Sell it,Nerrity.Likewesaid,wewantfivemillion.Otherwiseyourkidsuffers.

Nicelittlekid,too.Youdon'twanthimscreaming,doyou?He'llscreamwith whatwe'lldotohim.

"Yougetabloodstockagentbusy.We'llwaitaweek.Oneweek,sevendays.Seven daysfromnow,yougetthatmoneyreadyinusednotes,nothingbiggerthan twenty.We'lltellyouwheretoleaveit.Youdowhatwetellyou,orit'sthe castration.We'llsendyouatapeofwhat.i.tsoundslike.Slash.Rip.Scream.

"Andyoukeepawayfromthepolice.Ifwethinkyou'vecalledintheForce,your kid'sfortheplasticbag.Final.Youwon'tgethisbodyback.Nothing.Think about.i.t.

"Right,Nerrity.That'sthemessage."

Thevoicestoppedabruptlyandtherewasanumbminuteofsilencebeforeanyone moved.I'dheardascoreofransomdemands,butalways,everytime,foundthem shocking.Nerrity,likemanyaparentbeforehim,waspoleaxedtohisroots.

"Theycan't..."hesaid,hismouthdry,thewordsgagging.

"Theycan,"Tonysaidflatly."Butnotifwemanageitright."

"Whatdidtheysaytoyouthisafternoon?"Iasked."What'sdifferent?"

Nerrityswallowed."The...theknife.Thatpart.Before,hejustsaid'five millionforyourkid.'AndIsaidIhadn'tgotfivemillion...Hesaid'you'vegot ahorse,sosellit.'Thatwasall.Andnopolice,hesaidthattoo.Five million,nopolice,ortheboywoulddie.Hesaidhe'dbegettingintouch.I begantoshoutathim...hejustrangoff."

Rightsworthtooktheca.s.setteoutoftherecorderandput.i.tinitsbox,putting thatinitsturninthecardboardcarton,allwithexaggeratedcareinthe plasticgloves.Hewouldbetakingthetape,hesaid.Theywouldmaintainthe taponMr.Nerrity'stelephone,hesaid.Theywouldbeworkingonthecase,he said.

Nerrity,highlyalarmed,beggedhimtobecareful;andbeggingdidn'tcomeeasy, Ithought,tooneaccustomedtobully.Rightsworthsaidwithsuperioritythat everycarewouldbetaken,andIcouldseeTonythinking,asIwas,that Rightsworthwastreatingthethreatstoopompouslyandwasnot,inconsequence, abrilliantdetective.

Whenhehadgone,Nerrity,hisfirstfearssubsiding,pouredhimselfanother stiffginandtonic,againwithiceandlemon.Hepickedtheiceoutofabucket withapairoftongs.Tonywatchedwithincredulity.

"Drink?"hesaidtousasanafterthought.

Weshookourheads.

"I'mnotpayingthatransom,"hesaiddefensively."Foronething,Ican't.The horseisduetobesoldinanycase.It'sfouryearsold,andgoingtostud.I don'tneedtogetabloodstockagent,it'sbeinghandledalready.Someofthe shareshavealreadybeensold,butI'llhardlyseeapenny.LikeIsaid,I've gotbusinessdebts."Hetookadeepdrink."Youmayaswellknow,thathorseis thedifferencetomebetweenbeingsolventandbankrupt.Biggeststrokeofluck ever,thedayIbought.i.tasayearling."Heswelledslightly,givinghimselfa mentalpatontheback,andwecouldbothseeanechooftheexpansivenesswith whichhemusthavewavedmanyaginandtonicwhileherecountedhisgood fortune.

"Isn'tyourbusiness,"Isaid,"alimitedcompany?Ifyou'llexcusemyasking."

"No,itisn't."

"Whatisyourbusiness?"Tonyaskedhimcasually.

"Importer.Wholesale.Oneortwowrongdecisions..."Heshrugged."Baddebts.

Firmsgoingbankrupt,owingmemoney.Onmyscaleofoperationsitdoesn'ttake muchofarecessiontodoad.a.m.nedlotofdamage.Ordinandwillclear everything.Setmetorights.Fundmeforfuturetrading.Ordinandisab.l.o.o.d.y miracle."Hemadeafuriouschoppinggesturewithhisfreehand."I'md.a.m.nedif I'mgoingtothrowawaymyentirelifeforthoseb.l.o.o.d.ykidnappers."

He'dsaidit,Ithought.He'dsaidaloudwhathadbeenfesteringinhismind eversinceMiranda'sphonecall.Hedidn'tlovehissonenoughforthe sacrifice.

"HowmuchisOrdinandworth?"Tonysaidunemotionally.

"Theygot.i.tright.Sixmillion,withluck.Fortysharesatahundredandfifty thousandeach."Hedrank,theiceclinking.

"Andhowmuchdoyouneedtostraightenyourbusiness?"

"That'sab.l.o.o.d.ypersonalquestion."

Tonysaidpatiently,"Ifwe'regoingtonegotiateforyou,wehavetoknowjust whatisorisn'tpossible."

Nerrityfrownedathislemonslice,b.u.t.thensaid,"Fourandahalf, thereabouts,willkeepmesolvent.Fivewouldclearalldebts.Sixwillseeme soundlybasedforthefuture."

Tonyglancedabouthimattheoverplushroom."Whataboutthishouse?"

Nerritylookedathimasifhewereafinancialbaby."Everybrickmortgaged,"

hesaidshortly.

"Anyothera.s.sets?"

"IfIhadanyotherb.l.o.o.d.ya.s.setsI'dhavecashedthembynow."

TonyandIexchangedglances,thenTonysaid,"Ireckonwemightgetyourkid backforlessthanhalfamillion.We'llaimlower,ofcourse.Firstoffer,a hundredthousand.Thentakeitfromthere."

"b.u.t.theywon't...theysaid..."Nerritystopped,floundering.

"Thebestthing,"Isaid,"wouldbetogetyourselfontotheCitypagesofthe newspapers.Gointoprinttellingtheworldthere'snothinglikeaDerbywinner forkeepingthebailiffsout."

"But..."

"Yes,"Iinterrupted."Maybenotinthenormalwaygoodforbusiness.Butyour creditorswillbesurethey'llbepaid,andthekidnapperswillbesurethey won't.Nexttimetheygetintouch,they'lldemandless.Oncetheyacknowledge tothemselvesthattheproceedswillberelativelysmallcomparedwiththeir firstdemand,that'swhatthey'llsettlefor.Betterthannothing,sortof thing."

"b.u.t.they'llharmDominic..."

Ishookmyhead."It'sprettydoubtful,notifthey'resurethey'llmakea profitintheend.Dominic'stheironlyguaranteeofthatprofit.Dominic,alive andwhole.Theywon'tdestroyordamagetheira.s.setinanywayifthey're convincedyou'llpaywhatyoucan.Sowhenyoutalktothepress,makesurethey understand-andprint-thatthere'llbeamarginover,whenOrdinandissold.Say thatthehorsewillwipeoutallyourdebtsandthensome."

"But..."hesaidagain.

"IfyouhaveanydifficultyapproachingtheCityeditors,wecandothatfor you,"Isaid.

HelookedfromTonytomewiththeuncertaintyofacommandernolongerin charge.

"Wouldyou?"hesaid.

Wenodded."Straightaway."

"Andrewwilldoit,"Tonysaid."HeknowstheCity.CuthisteethinLloyds,our ladhere."NeitherhenorIexplainedhowlowlymyjobtherehadbeen."Very smooth,ourAndrew,inhiscitysuit,"Tonysaid.

Nerritylookedmeupanddown.Ihadn'treplacedmytie,althoughI'dlong unrolledmytrousers."He'syoung,"hesaiddisparagingly.

Tonysilentlylaughed."Asoldasthepyramids,"hesaid."We'llgetyournipper back,don'tyoufret."

Nerritysaiduncomfortably,"It'snotthatIdon'tliketheboy.OfcourseI do."Hepaused."Idon'tseemuchofhim.Fiveminutesinthemorning.He'sin bedwhenIgethome.Weekends...Iwork,gototheraces,gooutwithbusiness friends.Don'thavemuchtimeforlollingabout."

Notmuchinclination,either,Idiagnosed.

"Mirandadotesonhim,"Nerritysaid,asifthatwerenovirtue."You'dhave thoughtshecouldkeephereyesonhimforfiveminutes,wouldn'tyou?Idon't seehowshecouldhavebeensob.l.o.o.d.ystupid."

Itriedexplainingaboutthedeterminationofkidnappers,but.i.tseemedtohave noeffect.

"Itwasherideatohavethekidinthefirstplace,"Nerritygrumbled."Itold heritwouldspoilherfigure.Shewentonandonaboutbeinglonely.Sheknew whatmylifewaslikebeforeshemarriedme,didn'tshe?"

Fromtheotherside,Ithought.Fromtheofficeside,wherehislifewasmost intense,whereherswasbusyandfulfilled.

"Anyway,wehadthekid."Hemadeanothersharplyfrustratedgesture."Andnow...

this."

Miranda'smotherarrivedconvenientlyatthatpoint,andshortlyafterwardsI putAlessiainmycarandtalkedtoTonyquietlyinthegarden.

"Thursday,tomorrow,"Isaid."Wittering'saseasideplace.Goodchancethesame peoplewillbeonthebeachtomorrowastoday,wouldn'tyouthink?"

"ThesuperinChichester,wouldhebuythat?"Tonyasked.

"Yes,I'msure."

"Iwouldn'tmindadaymyselfofsittingontheeffingpebbles."

"Thetide'sgoingoutinthemornings,"Isaid."Howaboutifyoutakethestuff downtoEagleronthetrain,andI'lljoinyouforapaddlewhenI'vebuzzedup theCity?"

Henodded."SeeyouattheBreakwaterHotel,then?"

"Yeah.TellthematReceptionthatwe'retakingoverMiranda'sroom.She's bookedinuntilSat.u.r.day.Tellthemtheboy'sill,she'shadtotakehimhome, we'reherbrothers,we'vecomedowntocollectherclothesandhercar...andpay herbill."

"Idon'tknowthatsittingaroundintheBreakwatertoolongwilldomuchgood."

Igrinnedinthedarkness."Makeachangefromtheswitchboard,though."

"You'reaneffingrogue,Ialwaysknewit."

Hevanishedintotheshadowswithoutnoise,departingonfoottohisdistantly parkedcar,andIclimbedinbesideAlessiaandpointedournosetowards Lambourn.

Iaskedifshewerehungryandwouldliketostopsomewhereforalatedinner, butsheshookherhead."MirandaandIatecornflakesandtoastuntiloureyes crossed.Andyouwereright,sheseemedabitcalmerbythetimeweleft.But oh...whenIthinkofthatlittleboy...soalone,withouthismother...Ican'tbear it."

IspentthenextmorninginFleetStreetswearingvariousbusiness-pageeditors tosecrecyandenlistingtheiraid,andthendrovebacktoWestWittering, reflectingthatI'dspentatleasttwelveofthepastthirtyhourswithmyfeet onthepedals.

ArrivingattheBreakwaterinjeansandsportsshirt,IfoundTonyhadchecked inandleftamessagethathewasoutonthebeach.Iwentdownthereandcame acrosshimsittingonagaudytowel,wearingswimmingtrunksanddisplayinga lotofimpressivekeep-fitmuscle.Idroppeddownbesidehimonatowelofmy ownandwatchedthelifeofthebeachebbandflow.