The Danger. Part 21

"Betterchanceinthiscountrythananywhereelse,ofcourse."

Inodded.Amongwell-meaningpeoples,liketheBritish,kidnapperswere disadvantaged.Theircrimewasreviled,nottolerated,andthepopulationnot afraidofinforming.Oncethevictimwa.s.safelyhome,thetrace-and-capture machineryhadprovedexcellent.

FindingthehideoutbeforethepayoffwaseasierinBritainthaninItaly,but stilldauntinglydifficult:andmostsuccessesalongthatlinehadcomefrom coincidence,fromnosyneighbors,andfromguessingwhohaddonethekidnap becauseofthecloseknowledgeinadvertentlyrevealedofthevictim'sprivate life.

"Nooneknewmydaughterwasgoingtobeatthatdanceexceptherboyfriend,"

onegrief-strickenfatherhadtoldus:andsureenoughherapparentlyshattered boyfriendhadorganizedtheextortion-thattimewithoutthegirl'sknowledge, whichwasn'talwaysso.Collusionwiththe"victim"hadtobeconsideredevery time,humangreedbeingwhat.i.twas.Thegirlinthatcasehadbeenfoundand freedwithoutaransombeingpaid,butshe'dhadaworsetimeincaptivitythan AlessiaandthelastI'dheardshewasbeingtreatedfordeepprolonged depression.

"IthinkI'lljustmoseyaroundabitwheretheboatsare,"Tonysaid."CanI borrowyourcar?Youca.n.u.seMiranda'sifyou'redesperate.DoyoumindifIgo homelaterforsomegear?I'llseeyouateffingbreakfast."

"Don'tcrunchit,"Isaid,givinghimthekeys.

"AsifIwould."

Ispenttheeveningeatingthehotel'sveryreasonabledinnerandpacking Miranda'sbelongings.Dominic'sclothes,quietandfolded,filledaneatsmall suitcase.Iputhiscuddlytoys,ateddyandaSnoopy,inbesidethem,andshut thelid:andthoughtofhim,sodefenseless,sofrightened,andknewthat.i.twas becauseofpeoplelikehimandAlessiathatwhatIwasdoingwasajobforlife.

InviewofJohnNerrity'schangeofheartIguessedhewouldn'tbetoopleased withthemorningnewspapers'moneycolumns,wherethefinancialeditorshaddone himproud.Theword"Nerrity"sprangoutinlargeblacklettersfromeverypaper I'dvisited,whichweremostlyofthesortthatIguessedthewriterofthe kidnapnotewouldread.

"NerrityHomeandDried."

"Nerrity'sNagtotheRescue."

"NerrityFloatsonStud,"theysaid:and"NerritySolventbyShortHead."To kidnappersnervouslyscanningthepressforsignsofpoliceactivity,thebad newscouldn'tbemissed.CreditorswerezeroinginontheOrdinandproceeds,and therewouldbepreciouslittleleftforothersharks.

EaglertelephonedmeinMiranda'sroomwhileIwa.s.stillreading."Thesepapers...

Isthisyourdoing?"heasked.

"Er,yes."

Hechuckled."IthoughtIdetectedthefinehand.Well,laddie,we'redoinga spotofrummagingaroundthecla.s.sifiedsinthelocalragsofaweektotwo weeksago,andwe'recheckingthroughallthepropertiestorent.We'llhavea partiallistforyouanytimetoday."Hepaused."NowI'mputtingalotoffaith inyourfriendTonyVine,andIwanttobesureit'snotmisplaced."

"He'sanex-S.A.S.,"Isaid."Asergeant."

"Ah."Hesoundedrelieved.

"Heprefersworkingatnight."

"Doeshenow."Eaglerwasalmostpurring."Ishouldhaveafairlycompletelist foryoubylatethisafternoon.w.i.l.l.youfetchit?"

Wearrangedtimeandplace,andrangoff;andwhenIwentdownstairs...o...b..eakfastTonywaswalkinginthroughthefrontdoor,yawning.

Overbacon,eggs,andkippersherecountedwhathe'dfound."Didyouknow there'sawholeinternalwatersystembehindthecoasthere?ItchenorCreekgoes allthewaytoChichester.b.u.t.there'salocksomewayup,andourfellows didn'tgothroughit."Hechewed."Ihiredarowingboat.Sneakedaroundabit.

Reckonit'saneffingneedleinahaystackwe'reafter.There'sdozens,hundreds oflikelyhouses.Holidayflats.Chalets.Younameit.Andontopofthatthe watergoescleartosomewherecalledHaylingIsland,withthousandsmorelittle bungalows,andthereareuncountableplaceswhereacarcouldhavemettheboat andtakenthenipperanywhere."

IgloomilyatesometoastandtoldhimaboutEagler'simpendinglist.

"O.K.then,"Tonysaid."I'llswimthismorning,sleepthisafternoon,work tonight,O.K.?"

Inoddedandpa.s.sedhimoneofthenewspapers.Tonyreadthefinancialnewsover therimofhiscupoftea."Youhittheeffingbull's-eye.Noonecouldmiss it,"hesaid.

Nerrityhimselfcertainlyhadn'tmissedit.GerryClaytontelephonedtosaythat Nerritywasfuriousandinsistingwedropthecase.Hewantednothingmoretodo withLibertyMarket.

"Headmittedhe'dagreedtoyourgettingthestoryintothepapers,"Gerrysaid.

"Buthedidn'tthinkitwouldhappensoquickly,andhehadintendedtocancel it."

"Toobad."

"Yes.SoofficiallyyouandTonycanbreakoffandcomehome."

"No,"Isaid."We'reworkingforMrs.Nerritynow.Shespecificallyaskedforus tocontinue."

Gerry'svoicehadasmileinit."Ithoughtyoumight,but.i.tmakesitalla d.a.m.nsightmoretricky.Bothofyou...takecare."

"Yeah,"Isaid."Foldsomenicepaper.Tryaboat."

"Boat?"

"Aboattothrustasmallboyintosothatyoucanputatarpaulinorsomesuch overhim,aboattochugnoisilyawayoverthebreakingwavessothatnoonecan hearhimcryingout."

"Isthathowitwasdone?"Gerryaskedsoberly.

"Wethinkso,yes."

"Poorlittleblighter,"Gerrysaid.

TonyandIintrueholiday-makingfashionspentthemorninginoroutofwater, althoughthedaywasnotsowarmnorthebeachsofruitfullycrowded.The policewoman,nowinawhitebikini,cametosplashwithusintheshallowsbut saidshehadn'tbeenabletofindanyonewhohadseenDominiccarriedoff.

"Everysinglepersonseemstohavebeenlookingatthedinghy,"shesaid disgustedly."Andallweknowaboutthatisthat.i.twa.s.strandedonthesand whenthetidewentout,andithadalargepieceofpapertapedtotheseat saying'Don'ttouchtheboat,we'llbebackforitsoon.'"

"Didn'tsomeonesaythey'dseenwholeft.i.t?"Iasked.

"Well,yes,b.u.t.thatwasaboyplayingupontheshingle,andallhecouldsay wasthattheyweretwomeninshortsandbrightorangerainproofsailing jackets,whohadpulledthedinghyupthesandabitandbeenbusyrounditfor awhileandthenhadwalkedoffnorthwestalongthebeach.Theboywentdownto thedinghysoonafterwardsandreadthenote,andafterthathewentofftoget anicecream.Hewasn'thereintheafternoonwhenitwentupinflames,muchto hisdisgust.Whenhecamebackitwasburntandblack."

Thepolicewomanwa.s.shiveringintherisingbreezeandturningapaleshadeof blue."Timeforasweaterandthicksocks,"shesaidcheerfully."AndImightas wellchatuptheancientladieslivingintheHavenRestHomealongthere."She pointed."They'venothingtodobutlookoutofthewindows."

TonyandIpickedupourbelongingsandmovedtoth.e.s.h.elterofthehotel,and intheafternoonwhilethecloudsthickenedoverheadhesleptundisturbedin Miranda'sbed.

AtfiveIdrovetoChichestertocollectthelistofrentalsfromEagler:he cametomeetmehimself,lookinginsignificantandslow,andclimbedintothe pa.s.sengerseatatmyside.

"Thesetopelevenarethemostpromising,"hesaid,pointing."Theyare collectedfromalltheagencieswecouldthinkof.Theyareallholidayhomeson ornearthewaterandtheywereallrentedatthelastminute.Theweatherwas sobadinJulyandatthebeginningofAugustthatthereweremoreproperties tha.n.u.sualavailable,andthenwhenitturnedwarmertherewasarush."

Inodded."Mirandaherselfdecidedtocomehereonlyafewdaysinadvance.The hotelhadhadcancellationsbecauseoftheweather,andcouldtakeher."

"Iwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedifshehadn'tcome,"Eaglersaid thoughtfully.

"They'dhavegrabbedhimathome."

"You'dhavethoughtthey'dhavefounditeasiertowaituntilhewasback there."

"Kidnappersdon'ttrytomakethingseasyforthemselves,"Isaidmildly."They plantothelastinch.Theyspendmoney.They'reobsessional.There'snever anythingcasualaboutakidnap.Kidnapperswouldseeagoodchanceofsuccess whilethechildwasinchargeofhismotheralonedownhere,andIbetonce they'ddonetheplanningtheywaiteddayafterdayfortherightminute.Ifit hadn'tpresenteditselftheywouldhavefollowedMirandahomeandthoughtupa newplan.Orperhapshaverevertedtoaformerplanwhichhadn'tsofarborne fruit.Younevercantell.Butifthey'dwantedhim,theywouldhavegothimin theend."

"Howwouldtheyhaveknownshewascominghere?"Eaglerasked.

"Kidnapperswatch,"Isaid."They'reobsessionalaboutthat,too.What conclusionwouldyoucometoifyousawMirandaloadsuitcasesandabeachchair intohercar,strapDominicintohisseat,anddriveawaywaving?"

"Hm."

"You'dfollow,"Isaid.

"Iexpectso."

"Mirandainherniceredcar,drivingatamoderatespeed,asmothersdowith theirchildrenintheback."

"True,"hesaid.Hestirred."Anyway,thenextbunchofhousesonthelistare allatleastonestreetawayfromthewater,andthelastlotarefurther inland,butstillinthecoastlinevillages.Beyondthat..."hestopped,looking doubtful."ThiswholesectionofSuss.e.xisonebigholidayarea."

"We'lltrythese,"Isaid.

"I'vesomegoodmen,"Eaglersuggested."Theycouldhelp."

Ishookmyhead."Theymightjustpossiblyinquireofoneofthekidnappers themselvesifthey'dheardachildcrying.That'shappenedbefore.Thekidnapper saidno,andthechildturnedupdeadonsomewastegroundaweeklater.It happenedinItaly.Thepolicecaughtthekidnappersintheend,andthe kidnapperssaidthey'dpanickedwhentheyfoundthepoliceweresocloseto theirhideout."

Eaglerstrokedthumbandforefingerdownhisnose."Allright,"hesaid."We'll doityourway."Heglancedatmesideways."b.u.t.tobehonest,Idon'tthink you'llsucceed."

Tony,backatthehotel,wasn'tparticularlyhopefuleither.Helooked judiciouslyatthefirstelevenaddressesandsaidhewouldfirstlocatethemby landandthenapproachbyrowingboat,andthoseelevenalonewouldtakehimall night.Hesaidhewouldtakemycar,whichstillhadhisgearstowedinit,and he'dbebackinthemorning.

"Sleeptomorrow,tryagaintomorrownight,"hesaid."ThatbringsustoSunday.

Hopethoseeffingkidnappersmeant.i.taboutgivingNerrityaweektocollectthe dough.Theymightbetwitchyafterthenewspapers.Mightadvancethetimeofthe drop.Hopeeffingnot."

Heatelittlefordinneranddroveawaywhenitwasgettingdark.Itelephoned AlessiafornewsofMiranda,butexceptforherhavingcomeoutofthehouseto callAlessia,nothingmuchhadhappened.Mirandacontinueddistraught.The kidnappershadnotbeenintouchagain.JohnNerritystillappearedtohave faithintheambushplanandhadsaidhethoughtMiranda'snear-collapse excessive.

"IwonderhowhewouldhavereactedifithadbeenOrdinandwho'dbeen kidnapped,"Isaid.

Alessianearlylaughed."Don'ttalkofit.Andit'sbeendone."

"Withoutsuccess,"Iagreed."Enoughtoputthehorsenappersoffforlife."

"Wouldyourfirmworktofreeahorse?"sheaskedcuriously.

"Sure.Extortionis.e.xtortion,howevermanylegsthevictimhas.Ransomscanbe negotiatedforanything."

"Paintings?"

"Anythinganyonecaresabout."

"Like'I'llgiveyouyourballbackifyoupaymeapenny'?"

"Exactlylikethat."

"Whereareyou?"shesaid."Notathome...Itriedthere."

"Aneveningoff,"Isaid."I'lltellyouwhenIseeyou."

"DocomeonSunday."

"Yes,I'lltry."

Wespentmoretimethannecessarysayinggoodbye.IthoughtthatIcouldeasily havetalkedtoherallevening,andwishedvaguelythatshefeltsecureenough totravelanddrivealone.

Tonycamebacksoonafterdawn,wakingmefromashallowsleep.

"Therearetwopossiblesoutofthoseelevenplaces,"hesaid,strippingofffor ashower."Nineofthemareoccupiedbybona-fideeffingholiday-makers.Iwent intofourtomakeabsolutelysure,b.u.t.theretheywere,tuckedupniceand unsuspecting,dads,mums,grannies,andkids,allregularlaw-abidingcitizens."

Tony'sskill,asheimmodestlysaid,wouldmakeanyprofessionalnightburglar looklikeaherdofelephants."Acreeperasgoodasme,"I'dheardhimsay, "cantouchapersoninbedandgetthemtoturnovertostopthemsnoring.I couldtakethepolishofftheirnails,letalonethewalletsfromunderthe pillows.GoodthingI'meffinghonest."

Iwaitedwhilehesteppedintotheshowerandsluicedlavishlyabout."There's twoofthoseplaces,"hesaid,reappearingeventuallyandtowelinghis sandy-brownhair,"thatgavemebadvibes.Oneofthem'sgotsomesortof electronicgadgetguardingthedoor:itsentmydetectiongearintoatizzy.I'd guessit'soneofthosedo-it-yourselfalarmsyoucanbuyanywheretostophotel creepersfittingyouupwhileyou'resleepingoffthemickeythebarmanslipped you."Hedriedhisneck."SoIleftacoupleofbugsonthatone,andwe'llgo backsoonandlistenin."

HewrappedthetowelroundhisbodylikeasarongandsatonMiranda'sbed."The otherone'sgotnoelectronicgadgetsthatIcouldsee,but.i.t'sthreestories high.Boatshedonthegroundfloor.Empty.Just.w.a.terandeffingfish.Above that,roomsoverlookingthecreek.Abovethat,morerooms.There'sasortof scrubbypavedgardenontwosides.Notmuchcover.Ididn'tfancygoingin.

AnywayIstucktwobugsonit,oneoneachofthetwoupperfloors.Sowe'll listentothemaswell."

"Cars?"Isaid.

"Can'ttell."Heshookhishead."Neitherplacehasagarage.Therewerecars alongthestreets."Hestoodupandbegantodress."Comeonthen,"hesaid.

"Getoutoftheeffingpit,andlet'sgofishing."

Hemeant.i.tliterally,itseemed.Byeight-thirtywewereoutonItchenorCreek inthechillymorninginhisrentedrowingboat,throwinglineswithmaggotson hooksovertheside.

"Areyousurethisistherightbait?"Isaid.

"Whocares?Ba.s.sswallowbarehookssometimes,sillyb.u.g.g.e.rs."

Hepaddledtheboatalonglikeabornwatermanwithoneoarinaloopofrope overthestem.Nocreakingrowlocks,heexplained.Ultra-silenttravel:highon theS.A.S.curriculum.

"Thetidewaslowatfivethismorning,"hesaid."Youcan'tgetaboatash.o.r.e atlowtideinalotofplaces,soiftheylandedthekidfromthatmotorboat.i.t wasprobablysomewherewherethere'swaterathalftide.Bothourpossibles qualify,just."

Ourrowingboatdriftedalongonslowlyfloodingwater.Thefishdisdainedthe maggotsandtherewasasaltysmellofseaweed.

"We'rejustcomingtotheplacewiththeelectronicbulldog,"Tonysaid."Hold thisaerialsoitlookslikeafishingrod."Heuntelescopedaboutsixfeetof thinsilveryrodandhandeditover,andIfoundtherewasalinetiedtothe endofitwithasmallweight."Chucktheweightinthewater,"hesaid,bending downtofiddlewiththeradioreceiverinwhatlookedlikeafishing-gearbox.

"Keepyoureyesonthebrinyandpinbackthelugs."

Ididallofthosethingsbutnothingmuchhappened.Tonygruntedanddidsome finetuning,butintheendhesaid,"Thelazyso-and-so'saren'tawake.The bugsareworking.We'llcomebackwhenwe'vecheckedtheotherhouse."