The Danger. Part 30

"Cometomorrow.You'llbeinterested.I'llarrangepa.s.sesforyou."

Ithankedhim,notsurewhetherIcouldmanageit.Henoddedgenially.Asmall thingliketheabductionofBritain'stopracingexecutivewasnot,itseemed, goingtodenttheonwardsteamrolleringoftheweek'sseriouspleasures.

IaskedhimifIcouldmakeacalltoLibertyMarketbeforeIwenttothepolice inWas.h.i.+ngton,andhewavedmegenerouslytothetelephone.

"Sure.Gorightahead.It'saprivateline.I'lldoeverythingpossibletohelp, youknowthat,don'tyou?Ididn'tknowMorganhimselfrealwell,andIguessit couldn'tbethoughtthisracetrack'sfaulthewaskidnapped,butanythingwecan do...we'llgiveitourbestshot."

IthankedhimandgotthroughtoLondon,andGerryClaytonanswered.

"Don'tyouevergohome?"Isaid.

"Someonehastomindthestore,"hesaidplaintively;butweallknewhelived aloneandwaslonelyawayfromtheoffice.

"AnynewsfromtheJockeyClub?"Iasked.

"Yeah,andhow.WantmetoplayyouthetapetheygotbyExpressMail?"

"Fireaway."

"Hangon."Therewasapauseandafewclicks,andthenanAmericanvoice, punchyandhard.

"IfyouBritsintheJockeyClubwantFreemantleback,listengood.It'sgoing tocostyoutenmillionEnglishpoundssterling.Don'tcollectthemoneyin notes.You'regoingtopayincertifiedbankerschecks.Youwon'tgetFreemantle backuntilthechecksarecleared.You'vegotoneweektocollectthebread.In oneweekyou'llgetmoreinstructions.Ifyoufoolaround,Freemantlewilllose hisfingers.You'llgetoneeveryday,ExpressMail,startingtwoweeksfrom now.

"Notricks.YouintheJockeyClub,you'vegotmoney.EitheryoubuyFreemantle back,orwekillhim.That'sapromise.We'lltakehimout.Andifyoudon't comeupwiththebread,youwon'tevengethiscorpse.Ifwekillhim,we'll killhimrealslow.Makehimcurse.Makehimscream.Youhearus?Hegetsno tidysingleshot.Hedieshard.Ifwekillhim,you'llgethisscreamsontape.

Ifyoudon'twantthat,you'regoingtohavetopay.

"Freemantlewantstotalktoyou.Youlisten."

Therewasapauseontheline,thenFreemantle'sownvoice,soundingstrongand toughandincrediblyculturedaftertheother.

"Ifyoudonotpaytheransom,Iwillbekilled.Iamtoldthisisso,andI believeit."

Click.

"Didyougetallthat?"GerryClayton'svoicesaidimmediately.

"Yeah."

"Whatdoyouthink?"

"Ithinkit'sourmanagain,"Isaid."Forsure."

"Right.Samefeel."

"Howlongw.i.l.l.youbeontheswitchboard?"Iasked.

"Untilmidnight.SevenP.M.,yourtime."

"I'llprobablyringagain."

"O.K.Happyhunting."

IthankedRickenbackeranddroveofftoWas.h.i.+ngton,andafterafewfalsetrails foundCaptainofDetectivesKentWagnerinhisprecinct.

Thecaptainwasawalkingcrimedeterrent,bigofbody,hardofeye,amanwho spokesoftlyandremindedoneofcobras.Hewasperhapsfiftywithflat-brushed darkhair,hischintuckedbacklikeafightingman;andIhadapowerful impressionoffacingawary,decisiveintelligence.Heshookmyhand perfunctorily,lookingmeoverfromheadtofoot,summingupmysoul.

"KidnappersnevergetawaywithitintheUnitedStates,"hesaid."Thistime willbenoexception."

Iagreedwithhiminprinciple.TheAmericanrecordagainstkidnapperswas secondtonone.

"Whatcanyoutellme?"heaskedflatly,fromhislooknothopingmuch.

"Quitealot,Ithink,"Isaidmildly.

Heeyedmeforamoment,thenopenedthedoorofhisgla.s.s-walledofficeand calledacrossanexpanseofdesks,"AskLieutenantStavoskitostepinhere,if youplease."

Oneofthemanyblue-uniformedmenrosetohisfeetandwentontheerrand,and throughthewindowsIwatchedthebusy,orderlyscene,manypeoplemoving, telephonesringing,voicestalking,typewritersclacking,computerscreens flicking,cupsofcoffeeonthemarch.LieutenantStavoski,whenhecame,wasa pudgymaninthelatethirtieswithalargedroopingmoustacheandnovisible doubtsabouthimself.Hegavemeadisillusionedstare;probablyoutofhabit.

ThecaptainexplainedwhoIwas.Stavoskilookedunimpressed.Thecaptain invitedmetogive.Iobliginglyopenedmybriefcaseandbroughtoutafew a.s.sortedarticles,whichIlaidonhisdesk.

"Wethinkthisisdefinitelythethird,andprobablythefourth,ofaseriesof kidnappingsinstigatedbyoneparticularperson,"Isaid."TheJockeyClubin EnglandhastodayreceivedatapefromthekidnappersofMorganFreemantle, whichI'vearrangedforyoutohearnowonthetelephone,ifyoulike.I'vealso broughtwithmetheransom-demandtapesfromtwooftheotherkidnaps."I pointedtothemastheylayonthedesk."Youmightbeinterestedtohearthe similarities."Ipausedslightly."OneofthetapesisinItalian."

"Italian?"

"ThekidnapperhimselfisItalian."

Neitherofthemparticularlylikedit.

"HespeaksEnglish,"Isaid,"butinEnglandherecruitedanEnglishnationalto utterhisthreats,andontoday'stapethevoiceisAmerican."

Wagnerpursedhislips."Let'sheartoday'stapethen."Hegavemethereceiver fromhistelephoneandpressedafewpreliminaryb.u.t.tons."Thiscallwillbe recorded,"hesaid."Alsoallourconversationsfromnowon."

InoddedandgotthroughtoGerryClayton,whogavethekidnapperarepeat performance.Theaggressivevoiceraspedoutloudlythroughtheamplifierin CaptainWagner'soffice,boththepolicemenlisteningwithconcentrateddisgust.

IthankedGerryanddisconnected,andwithoutawordWagnerheldoutahandto me,hiseyesonthetapesI'dbrought.IgavehimtheNerrityone,whichhe fittedintoaplayerandsetgoing.ThesourthreatstoDominic,thecuttingoff offingers,thescreams,thenonreturnofthebody,allthunderedintothe officelikeanecho.ThefacesofWagnerandStavoskibothgrewstillandthen judiciousandfinallyconvinced.

"Thesameguy,"Wagnersaid,switchingoff."Differentvoice,samebrain."

"Yes,"Isaid.

"GetPatrolmanRosselliniinhere,"hetoldthelieutenantanditwa.s.stavoski, thistime,whoputhisheadoutofthedoorandyelledforthehelp.Patrolman Rossellini,large-nosed,young,black-haired,veryAmerican,broughthisItalian grand-parentagetobearonthethirdofthetapesandtranslatedfluentlyasit wentalong.WhenitcametothelastoftheseriesofthreatstoAlessia'sbody hisvoicefalteredandstopped,andheglanceduneasilyaround,asiffor escape.

"Whatisit?"Wagnerdemanded.

"Theguysays,"Rossellinisaid,squaringhisshoulderstotherequirement, "well,tobehonest,Captain,I'drathernotsay."

"Theguyroughlysaid,"Imurmured,comingtotherescue,"thatb.i.t.c.heswere accustomedtodogsandthatallwomenwereb.i.t.c.hes."

Wagnerstared."Youmean...?"

"Imean,"Isaid,"thatthatthreatwasissuedtoreduceherfathertopulp.

Thereseemstohavebeennointentionwhatsoeverofcarryingitout.The kidnappersneverthreatenedanythinglikeittothegirlherself,noranything indeedaboutdailybeatings.Theylefthercompletelyalone."

PatrolmanRosselliniwentawaylookinggrateful,andItoldWagnerandStavoski mostofwhathadhappenedinItalyandEnglandandinwhatwaysthesimilarities ofthetwokidnappingsmightbeofusetothemnow.Theylistenedsilently, facesimpa.s.sive,reservingcommentsandjudgmenttotheend.

"Let'sgetthisstraight,"Wagnersaideventually,stirring."One;this Giuseppe-PeterislikelytohaverentedahouseinWas.h.i.+ngton,reasonablynear theRitzCarlton,withinthelasteightweeks.That,asIunderstandit,iswhen MorganFreemantleacceptedEricRickenbacker'sinvitation."

Inodded."ThatwasthedategivenusbytheJockeyClub."

"Two;therearelikelytobeatleastfiveorsixkidnappersinvolved,allof themAmericanexceptGiuseppe-Peter.Three;Giuseppe-Peterhasaninsideedgeon racecourseinformationandthereforemustbeknowntopeopleinthatworld.And four,"withatouchofgrimhumor,"atthismomentMorganFreemantlemaybe gettinghisearsblastedoffbyVerdi."

HepickedupthephotocopylikenessofGiuseppe-Peter.

"We'llpaperthecitywiththis,"hesaid."IftheNerritykidrecognizedhim, anyonecan."Hegavemealookinwhich,iftherewasn'tpositivefriends.h.i.+p, onecouldatleastreadasheathingofpoisonfangs, "Onlyamatteroftime,"hesaid.

"But...er..."Isaiddiffidently."Youwon'tofcourseforgetthatifheseesyou gettingclose,he'llkillMorganFreemantle.I'dneverdoubthemeansthatpart.

Killhimandburyhim.He'dbuiltatombforlittleDominicthatmightnothave beenfoundforyears."

Wagnerlookedatmewithspeculation."DoesthismanGiuseppe-Peterfrighten you?"

"Asaprofessionaladversary,yes."

Bothmenweresilent.

"Hekeeps.h.i.+snerve,"Isaid."Hethinks.Heplans.He'sbold.Idon'tbelievea manlikethatwouldturntothisparticularcrimeifhewerenotpreparedto kill.Mostkidnapperswillkill.I'dreckonGiuseppe-Peterwouldexpecttokill andgetawaywithit,ifkillingwerenecessary.Idon'tthinkhewoulddoit inchbyinch,asthetapethreatened.Butafastkilltocuthislosses,to escape,yes,I'dbetonit."

KentWagnerlookedathishands."Hasitoccurredtoyou,Andrew,thatthis Giuseppe-Petermaynotlikeyoupersonallyonelittlebit?"

Iwa.s.surprisedbyhisuseofmyfirstnameb.u.t.tookitthankfullyasasignof aworkingrelations.h.i.+pabouttobegin;andIansweredsimilarly,"Kent,Idon't thinkheknowsIexist."

Henodded,asmilehovering,theconnectionmade,thecommonground acknowledged.

Chapterseventeen.

SILENCEfromthekidnappers,indignationfromtheabout-to-be-dunnedmembersof theJockeyClubandfurorfromtheworld'ssportingpress:hoursofhorrified talkvibratingtheairwaves,butonthegroundovernightatotalabsenceof action.Iwenttothepressbreakfastinconsequencewithaquietconscienceand alightheart,hopingtoseeAlessia.

TheraceclubloungeswerepackedwhenIarrived,thedecibelcounthigh.Gla.s.ses oforangejuicesproutedfrommanyafist,long-lensedcamera.s.swingingfrom manyashoulder.Thesportswriterswereontheirfeet,moving,mingling,agog forexclusives,earsstretchingtohearconversationsbehindthem.Themajority, knowingeachother,clappedshouldersinpa.s.sing.Trainersheldsmallcircular conferences,thepressheadsbendingtocatchvitalwords.Ownersstoodaround lookingeithersmugorbemusedaccordingtohowoftenthey'dattendedthissort ofs.h.i.+ndig;andhereandthere,likegazellesamongtheherd,likeavariation ofthespecies,stoodshortlight-bonedcreatures,headsthrownback,being deferredtolikestars.

"Orangejuice?"someonesaid,handingmeagla.s.s.

"Thanks."

Icouldn'tseeRickenbacker,noranyoneIknew.

NoAlessia.ThegazellesIsawwereallmale.

Iwanderedabout,knowingthatwithouthermypresencetherewaspointless;but ithadseemedunlikelythatshewouldmisstakingherplaceamongherpeers.

Iknewshe'dacceptedLaurel'sinvitation,andhernamewasplainlythereatthe breakfast,onalistpinnedtoanoticeboardonaneasel,astheriderof Brunelleschi.Ireadthroughthelist,sippingorangejuice.Fourteenrunners; threefromBritain,onefromFrance,onefromItaly,twofromCanada,twofrom Argentina,alltheresthomegrown.Alessiaseemedtobetheonlyfemalejockey.

Presumablyatsomesortofsignalthewholecrowdbeganmovingintoalargeside room,inwhichmanyoblongtableswereformallylaidwithflowers,tablecloths, plates,andcutlery.Ihadvaguelya.s.sumedtheroomtobemadereadyforlunch, butI'dbeenwrong.Breakfastmeantapparentlynotorangejuiceonthewing,but baconandeggs,waitresses,andhotbreads.

Ihungback,thinkingIwouldn'tstay,andheardabreathlessvoicebymyleft earsayingincredulously,"Andrew?"Iturned.Shewasthereafterall,thethin facestrongnowandvivid,thetiltoftheheadconfident.Thedarkcurlsshone withhealth,theeyesbelowthemgleaming.

Ihadn'tbeensurewhatIfeltforher,notuntilthatmoment.Ihadn'tseenher forsixweeksandbeforethatI'dbeenaccustomedtothinkingofheraspartof myjob;arewardingpleasure,avictimImuchliked,b.u.t.transient,likeallthe others.Thesightofherthatmorningcameasalmostaphysicalshock,an intoxicantracinginthebloodstream.Iputoutmyarmsandhuggedher,andfelt herclingtomemomentarilywithsavagery.

"Well..."Ilookedintoherbrowneyes."Wantalover?"

Shegaspedabitandlaughed,anddidn'tanswer."We'reatatableoverthere,"

shesaid,pointingdeepintotheroom."Weweresittingtherewaiting.I couldn'tbelieveitwhenIsawyoucomein.There'sroomforyouatourtable.A spareplace.Dojoinus."

Inoddedandsheledtheway:anditwasn'tIlariawhohadcomewithherfrom Italy,butPaoloCencihimself.Hestoodupatmyapproachandgavemenota handshakebutanimmoderateItalianembrace,headtohead,hisfacefullof welcome.

PerhapsIwouldn'thaverecognizedhim,thisa.s.sured,solid,pearl-gray-suited businessman,ifI'dmethimunexpectedlyinanAmericanstreet.Hewasagainthe manIhadn'tknown,thecompetentmanagerintheportrait.Theshakywreckageof fivemonthsearlierhadretreated,becomeamemory,anillnessobliteratedby recovery.Iwasgladforhimandfeltastrangerwithhim,andwouldnotinany wayhavereferredtotheanxietieswehadshared.

Hehimselfhadnosuchreservations."ThisisthemanwhobroughtAlessiaback safely,"hesaidcheerfullyinItaliantothethreeotherpeopleatthetable, andAlessia,glancingbrieflyatmyface,said,"Papa,hedoesn'tlikeusto talkabout.i.t."

"Mydarlinggirl,wedon'toften,dowe?"Hesmiledatmewithintense friends.h.i.+p."MeetBrunoandBeatriceGoldoni,"hesaidinEnglish."Theyarethe ownersofBrunelleschi."

Ishookhandswithawithdrawn-lookingmanofaboutsixtyandastrained-looking womanafewyearsyounger,bothofwhomnoddedpleasantlyenoughbutdidn't speak.

"AndSilvioLucchese,Brunelleschi'strainer,"PaoloCencisaid,introducingthe lastofthethree.

Weshookhandsquickly,politely.Hewasdarkandthinandremindedmeof Pucinelli;ama.n.u.sedtopowerbutfindinghimselfatadisadvantage,ashe spokeverylittleEnglishveryawkwardly,witha.n.a.lmostunintelligibleaccent.

PaoloCenciwavedmetotheoneemptychair,betweenAlessiaandBeatrice Goldoni,andwhenallintheroomwereseatedahushfellonthenoisygeneral chatterandRickenbacker,followedbyafewfriends,madeaheraldedentrance, walkinginamodestprocessiondownthewholeroom,headingforatoptable facingeveryoneelse.

"WelcometoLaurelracecourse,"hesaidgenially,reachinghiscenterchair,his whitehaircrowninghisheightlikeacloud."Gladtoseesomanyoverseas friendsherethismorning.AsIexpectmostofyouhavenowheard,oneofour goodfriendsismissing.IspeakofcourseofMorganFreemantle,seniorsteward oftheBritishJockeyClub,whowasdistressfullyabductedheretwodaysago.

Everythingpossibleisbeingdonetosecurehisearlyreleaseandofcourse we'llkeepyouallinformedaswegoalong.Meanwhile,haveagoodbreakfast, andwe'llalltalklater."

Aflurryofwaitresseseruptedallovertheplace,andIsupposeIate,butI wasconsciousonlyofmystirredfeelingsforAlessia,andofhernearness,and ofthequestionshehadn'tanswered.Shebehavedtome,andIdaresayItoher, withcivilcalm.Inanycase,sinceeveryoneatthetablewastalkingin Italian,myownutteranceswerefew,careful,andlimitedincontent.

ItseemedthattheGoldoniswereenjoyingtheirtrip,thoughonewouldn'thave guesseditfromtheirexpressions.

"Weareworriedabouttheracetomorrow,"Beatricesaid."Wealwaysworry,we can'thelpit."Shebrokeoff."DoyouunderstandwhatI'msaying?"

"IunderstandmuchmorethanIspeak."