The Danger. Part 29

"That'sright."

"Oh."Sheinspectedme."AreyouthepersonwhosawMr.Freemantlelastweek?"

"Yes."

"Whatareyougoingtodoabout.i.t?"

"DoyoumindifIsitdown?"Iasked,indicatingthechairnearesttome,beside herlargepolisheddesk.

"Byallmeans,"shesaidfaintly,hervoicecivilizeduppercla.s.s,hermanneran echoofcountryhousehostess."I'mafraidyoufindus...disarranged."

"Couldyoutellmewhatmessagesyouhaveactuallyreceived?"Isaid.

Shelookedbroodinglyathertelephoneasifitwereitselfguiltyofthecrime.

"Iamtakingallincomingcallstotheseniorsteward'sprivatenumberonthis telephoneduringhisabsence.Ianswered...TherewasanAmericanvoice,very loud,tellingmetolistencarefully...Ifeltdisembodied,youknow.Itwasquite unreal."

"Thewords,"Isaidwithoutimpatience."Doyourememberthewords?"

"OfcourseIdo.Hesaidtheseniorstewardhadbeenkidnapped.Hesaidhewould befreedonpaymentoftenmillionEnglishpoundssterling.Hesaidtheransom wouldhavetobepaidbytheJockeyClub."Shestaredatmewiththeshocked glazestillinhereyes."It'simpossible,youknow.TheJockeyClubdoesn't haveanymoney.TheJockeyClubareadministrators.Thereareno...a.s.sets."

Ilookedatherinsilence.

"Doyouunderstand?"shesaid."TheJockeyClubarejustpeople.Members.Ofa club."

"Richmembers?"Iasked.

Hermouth,halfopen,stoppedmoving.

"I'mafraid,"Isaidneutrally,"thatkidnappersusuallycouldn'tcareless wherethemoneycomesfromorwhoithurts.We'llgetthedemanddowntofar belowtenmillionpounds,but.i.tmaystillmeanthatcontributionswillbe soughtfromracingpeople."Ipaused."Youdidn'tmentionanythreats.Were thereanythreats?"

Shenoddedslowly."Iftheransomwasn'tpaid,Mr.Freemantlewouldbekilled."

"Straightandsimple?"

"Hesaid...therewouldbeanothermessagelater."

"Whichyouhaven'tyetreceived?"

Sheglancedataround-facedclockonawallwherethehandspointedto four-fifty.

"Thecallcamethroughjustaftertwo,"shesaid."ItoldColonelTansing.He thought.i.tmighthavebeenahoax,sowetelephonedtoWas.h.i.+ngton.Mr.

Freemantlewasn'tinhishotel.Wegotthroughtothepublicrelationspeople wh.o.a.relookingafterhistripandtheysaidhehadn'tturnedupyesterday eveningatareceptionandtheydidn'tknowwherehe'dgone.ColonelTansing explainedabouttheransomdemandandtheysaidtheywouldtellEric Rickenbacker...that'sthepresidentoftheracecourse...andMr.Rickenbackerwould getthepoliceontoitstraightaway."

"Wasthereanymentionofnotgoingtothepolice,onyourransom-demandcall?"

Sheshookherheadslowly."No."

Shehadafirm,tidy-lookingfacewithbrownwavyhairgrayingatthesides:the sortoffacethatlaunchedathousandponyclubsandchurchbazaars,worthy, well-intentioned,sociallysecure.Onlysomethingofthepresentenormitycould haveproducedhercurrentrudderlessness,andeventhat,Ijudged,would probablytransformtobriskcompetenceverysoon.

"HasanyonetoldtheBritishpolice?"Iasked.

"ColonelTansingthought.i.tbesttocontactyourchairmanfirst,"shesaid.

"ColonelTansing,yousee,is..."Shepausedasifseekingforacceptablewords.

"ColonelTansingisthedeputylicensingofficer,whosejobismainlythe registrationofracehorseowners.Nooneofanyseniorityisherethis afternoon,thoughtheywerethismorning.Nooneherenowreallyhasthepower tomaketop-leveldecisions.We'retryingtofindthestewards...they'reall out."Shestoppedratherblankly."Nooneexpectsthissortofthing,youknow."

"No,"Iagreed."Well,thefirstthingtodoistotellthepolicehereandget themtoputataponalltheJockeyClub'stelephones,andafterthattogeton withliving,andwait."

"Wait?"

Inodded."Whiletheransomnegotiationsgoon.Idon'twanttoalarmyou,but itmaybesometimebeforeMr.Freemantlecomeshome...andwhatabouthisfamily?

Hiswife?Ha.s.shebeentold?"

Shesaidglumly,"He'sawidower."

"Children?"

"Hehasadaughter,"shesaiddubiously,"butIdon'tthinktheygetonwell.I believeshelivesabroad...Mr.Freemantlenevermentionsher."

"And,excuseme,"Isaid."IsMr.Freemantlehimself...er...rich?"

Shelookedasifthequestionwereinultra-poortastebutfinallyanswered,"I havenoidea.Butanyonewhobecomesseniorstewardmustbeconsideredtohave personalfundsofsomesort."

"Tenmillion?"Iasked.

"Certainlynot,"shesaidpositively."Bymanystandardsheismoderateinhis expenditure."Hervoiceapprovedofthis."Hedislikeswaste."

Moderatespendinghabitsandadislikeofwasteturnedupoftenenoughinthe mostmultiofmillionaires,butIlet.i.tgo.Ithankedherinsteadandwentin searchofColonelTansing,whoprovedtobeamaleversionofMrs.Berkeley, courteous,charming,andshockedtonearimmobility.

InhisofficeItelephonedtothepoliceandgotthingsmovingthereandthen askedhimwhowasthetopauthorityattheJockeyClubinMr.Freemantle's absence.

"SirOwenHiggs,"hesaid."Hewasherethismorning.We'vebeentryingtoreach him..."Helookedslightlyapprehensive."I'msurehewillagreewehadtocall youin."

"Yes,"1saidrea.s.suringly."Canyouarrangetorecordallcallsonallyour telephones?Separatelyfromandinadditiontothepolice?"

"Shallbedone,"hesaid.

"Wehaveatwenty-four-hourserviceatLibertyMarket,ifyouwantus."

Heclaspedmyhand."TheJockeyClubisoneofthemosteffectiveorganizations inBritain,"hesaidapologetically."Thisbusinesshasjustcaughtusonthe hop.Tomorroweverythingwillswingintoaction."

Inoddedanddeparted,andwentbacktotheLibertyMarketofficesreflecting thatneitherthecolonelnorMrs.Berkeleyhadspeculatedaboutthevictim's presentpersonalsufferings.

Stunneddisbelief,yes.Tearfulsympatheticdevotion,no.

SirOwenHiggshavingformallyengagedLibertyMarketservicesIsetoffto Was.h.i.+ngtonthefollowingmorning,andbyearlyafternoon,theirtime,was drivingarentedcartowardsLaurelracecoursetotalktoEricRickenbacker,its president.

Theracecourselayanhour'sdriveawayfromthecapitalcityalongroadsablaze withbrillianttrees,golden,red,orange,tan,nature'slastgreatflourishof trumpetsbeforewinter.ThefirstfewdaysofNovember:warm,sunny,and windlessunderahighbluesky.Thesortofdaytoliftthespiritsandsingto.

Ifeltliberated,asalwaysinAmerica,afeelingwhichIthoughthadsomething todowiththecountry'sownvastness,asifthewide-apartnessofeverything floodedintothemindandputs.p.a.cesbetweeneverydayproblems.

Mr.Rickenbackerhadleftinstructionsaboutmeattheraceclubentrance:Iwas tobeconveyedimmediatelytohispresence.Notsoimmediately,ittranspired, astoexemptmefrombeingstampedonthebackofthehandwithanultraviolet dye,normallyinvisibletotheeyeb.u.t.transformedtoaglowingpurplecircular patternunderspeciallamps.Mypa.s.sintotheclub,itwas.e.xplained:without.i.t Iwouldbestoppedatcertaindoorways.Aticketonecouldn'tloseor surrept.i.tiouslypa.s.stoafriend,Ithought.Itwouldwashoff,theysaid.

Mr.Rickenbackerwasinthepresident'sdomain,aretreatatthetopofthe grandstand,reachedbyelevator,hand-checks,atrudgethroughthemembers'

lounges,morechecks,aninconspicuousdoorwayandanarrowstair.Atthetopof thestair,aguardiansittingatatable.Igavemyname.

Theguardiancheckeditagainstalist,foundit,tickedit,andletmethrough.

Iwentroundonemorecornerandfinishedthejourney.Thepresident'sprivate diningroom,builtonthreelevels,lookedoutacrossthecoursethroughacres ofgla.s.s,withtablesforaboutahundredpeople;but.i.twasalmostempty.

Theonlypeopleintheplaceweresittingroundoneofthefurthesttableson thelowestlevel.Iwalkedoveranddown,andtheylookedupinquiringlyatmy approach.Sixmen,fourwomen,dressedfortidyracing.

"Mr.Rickenbacker?"Isaidgenerally.

"Yes?"

Hewasabigmanwiththickwhitehair,quiteclearlytalleventhoughsitting down.Hiseyeshadthereflectingbrillianceofcontactlensesandhisskinwas paleandsmooth,immenselywell-shaven.

"I'mAndrewDouglas,"Isaidbriefly.

"Ah."Hestoodupandclaspedmyhand,toppingmebyagoodsixinches."These arefriendsofmine."Heindicatedthemwithasmallgesturebutmadenoneof theusualdetailedintroductions,andtothemhesaid,"Excuseme,everyone,I havesomebusinesswithMr.Douglas."Hewavedtometofollowhimandledthe wayupdeep-carpetedstepstoayetmoreprivateaerie,asmallroombeyond, above,behindhismorepublicdiningroom.

"ThisisaG.o.ddammess,"hesaidforcefully,pointingmetoanarmchair."One minuteMorganwastellingmeaboutJohnNerrity'stroubles,andthenext..."He movedhisarmsfrustratedly."We'veheardnothingourselvesfromanykidnappers.

We'vetoldthepolicebothhereandinWas.h.i.+ngtonoftheransomdemandreceived inLondon,andthey'vebeenlookingintoMorgan'sdisappearance.Howmuchdoyou knowaboutthat?"

"Nothing,"Isaid."Pleasetellme."

"Doyouwantadrink?"hesaid."Scotch?Champagne?"

"No,thankyou."

"Wehaveapublicrelationsfirmthathandlesalotofthingshereforus.This isasocialweek,youfollowme?Wehavealotofoverseasvisitors.Thereare receptions,pressconferences,sponsors'parties.Wehaveguestsofhonor-Morgan wasoneofthose-forwhomwearrangetransportfromthehoteltotheracecourse, andtothevariousreceptions,youfollow?"

Inodded.

"Thepublicrelationsfirmhiresthecarsfromalimousineservice.Thecars comewithdrivers,ofcourse.Thepublicrelationsfirmtellsthelimousine servicewhotopickupfromwhere,andwheretotakethem,andthelimousine serviceinstructsitsdrivers,youfollowme?"

"Yes,"Isaid.

"Morganwa.s.stayingattheRitzCarlton,youfollow?Weputhiminthere,it'sa niceplace.Theracecourseispickinguphistab.Morganwa.s.supposedtojoinus atareceptioninBaltimoretheeveningbeforelast.Thereceptionwasforthe press...manyoversea.s.sportswriterscomeoverforourbigrace,andIguesswedo everythingwecantomakethemfeelwelcome."

"Mm,"Isaid,understanding."Worldcoverageofasportseventisgoodforthe gate."

Hepausedafractionbeforenodding.MaybeIshouldn'thaveput.i.tsobaldly; b.u.t.thepublic-relations-promotionsbandwagongeneratedbusinessandbusiness generatedjobs,andtheartificialroundaboutboughtrealgroceriesdownthe line.

"Morgandidn'tarriveatthereception,"Rickenbackersaid."Hewas.e.xpected...He hada.s.suredmehewouldbethere.Iknowheintendedtosayhewasgladtobe representingBritishracing,andtotellthepressofsomeoftheplansthe EnglishJockeyClubismakingforthecomingyear."

"Hewasgoingtospeak?"Isaid."Imean,makeaspeech?"

"Yes,didn'tImakethatclear?Wealwayshavethreeorfourspeakersatthe pressparty,butveryshortandinformal,youfollow,justafewwordsof appreciation,thatsortofthing.WeweresurprisedwhenMorgandidn'tshow,but notdisturbed.Iwasmyselfsurprisedhehadn'tsentamessage,butIdon'tknow himwell.Wemetjustthreedaysago.Iwouldn'tknowifhewouldbecareful aboutcourtesies,youfollow?"

"Yes,"Isaid."Ifollow."

Hesmoothedamuscularhandoverthewhitehair."Ourpublicrelationsfirmtold thelimousineservicetopickMorganupfromtheRitzCarltonandtakehimto theHarborRoominBaltimore."Hepaused."Baltimoreisnearertothisracetrack thanWas.h.i.+ngtonis,youfollowme,soamajorityofthepressstayin Baltimore."Hepausedagain,givingmetimeforunderstanding."TheRitzCarlton reportachauffeurcomingtothefrontdesk,sayinghehadbeena.s.signedto collectMorgan.ThefrontdeskcalledMorgan,whocamedown,lefthiskey,and wentoutwiththechauffeur.Andthat'sall.That'sallanyoneknows."

"Couldthefrontdeskdescribethechauffeur?"Iasked.

"Alltheycouldpositivelyrememberwasthatheworeachauffeur'suniformanda cap.Hedidn'tsaymuch.Theythinkhemayhavespokenwithsomesortof non-Americanaccent,b.u.t.thisisapolyglotcityandnoonetookmuchnotice."

"Mm,"Isaid."Whathappenedtotherealchauffeur?"

"Thereal...?Oh,no,nothing.TheRitzCarltonreportasecondchauffeur appeared.TheytoldhimMorganhadalreadybeencollected.Thechauffeurwas surprised,butnottoomuch.Withanoperationofthissizegoingonthereare alwaysmixups.Hereportedbacktohisservice,whodirectedhimtoanother a.s.signment.ThelimousineservicethoughtMorganmusthavetakenaridewitha friendandnottoldthem.Theywerephilosophical.Theywouldchargethe racetrackfortheirtrouble.Theywouldn'tlose."

"Sonoonewasalarmed,"Isaid.

"Ofcoursenot.ThepublicrelationsfirmcalledtheRitzCarltoninthe morning-thatwasyesterday-andthefrontdesksaidMorgan'skeywasthere,he mustalreadyhavegoneout.Noonewasalarmeduntilwehadthecallfromyour ColonelTansingaskingaboutahoax."Hepaused."Iwasathomeeating breakfast."

"Ratherashock,"Isaid."Haveallthesepressmenwokenupyettothestory undertheirnoses?"

Withthefirstfaultglimmerofhumorhesaidthatthingswereatthe unconfirmedrumorstage,thewholehivebuzzing.

"It'llputyourraceontheworldmaplikenothingelsewill,"Isaid.

"I'mafraidso."Helookedundecidedabouttheworthofthatsortofpublicity, ormoreprobablyabouttheimproprietyofdancingupanddownwithcommercial glee.

"Youtoldthepolice,"Isaid.

"Sure.BothhereinLaurelandinWas.h.i.+ngton.ThepeopleinWas.h.i.+ngtonare handlingit."

Inoddedandaskedwhichpolice,specifically:therewereaboutfiveseparate forcesinthecapital.

"TheMetropolitanPolice,"hesaid."Sure,theF.B.I,andtheMissingPersons Bureauhavetakenaninterest,b.u.t.they'vesorteditoutthat.i.t'sthe MetropolitanPolice'sbaby.ThemaninchargeisaCaptainKentWagner.Itold himyouwerecoming.HesaidIcouldsendyoualong,ifyouwanted."

"Yes,please."

Hetookawalletfromaninnerpocketandremovedasmallwhitecard."Hereyou are,"hesaid,handingitover."Andalso..."hesortedoutanothercard,"thisis myhomenumber.IfI'velefttheracetrack,youcancallmethere."

"Right."

"Tomorrowmorningwehavethepressbreakfast,"hesaid."That'swhenallthe overseasownersandtrainersandjockeysmeetdownstairshereintheclub."He paused."WehaveapressbreakfastbeforemostbigracesinAmerica...haveyou beentoonebefore?"

"No,"Isaid.