The Danger. Part 6

Pucinelliglancedacrossatthebuilding."Thekidnappersopenthewindows sometimesforashortwhilewhenweswitchoffthesearchlightsatdawn.The blindsarealwaysdrawn,eventhen.Therearenopeoplenowinanyoftheother apartments.Wemovedthemfortheirownsafety."

Downontheroadtherewaslittlemovement.Mostoftheofficialcarshadbeen withdrawn,leavingagooddealofemptys.p.a.ce.Fourcarabiniericrouchedwith gunsbehindthepairstillparked,theirbodiestense.Metalbarriersdownthe streetkeptafewonlookersatbay,andthetelevisionvanlookedclosed.Oneor twophotographerssatonthegroundinitsshade,drinkingbeerfromcans.On thebugthecolickycryinghadstopped,butnooneseemedtobesayingvery much.Itwa.s.siesta,afterall.

Withoutanywarningayoungwomanwalkedfromtheapartmentscarryingababyand s.h.i.+eldinghereyesagainstthebrillianceofthesunlight.Shewasvery disheveledandalsoheavilypregnant.

Pucinelliglancedasifstungathiswrist.w.a.tch,said,"They'reearly,"and jumpedoutofthevan.Iwatchedhimthroughthedarkgla.s.sashestrodewithout hesitationtowardsher,takingherarm.Herheadturnedtowards.h.i.+mandshe begantofall,Pucinellicatchingthebabyandsignalingfuriouslywithhishead tohismenbehindthecars.

Onescurriedforward,hauledthefaintingwomanunceremoniouslytoherfeetand hustledherintooneofthecars.Pucinelligavethebabyasicklook,carried itatarm'slengthinthewakeofitsmother,and,havingdeliveredit,wiped hishandsdisgustedlyonahandkerchief.

Thephotographersandthetelevisionvancametolifeasifelectrified,anda youngplumpmanwalkedthreestepsoutoftheapartmentsandslowlyraisedboth hands.

Pucinelli,nowshelteringbehindthesecondcar,stretchedanarmthroughthe window,removedabullhorn,andspokethroughit.

"Liefacedownontheroad.Legsapart.Armsoutstretched."

Theplumpyoungmanwaveredasecond,lookedasifhewouldretreat,andfinally didashewasbid.

Pucinellispokeagain."Staywhereyouare.Youwillnotbeshot."

Therewasalongbreath-holdinghush.Thenaboycameout;aboutsix,inshorts, s.h.i.+rt,andbrightblueandwhitetrainingshoes.Hismotherfranticallywavedto himthroughthecarwindow,andheranacrosstoher,lookingbackoverhis shoulderatthemanontheground.

Iswitchedupthevolumetofullonthebugintheapartment,b.u.t.therewas stillnotalking,simplyafewgruntsandunidentifiablemovements.Aftera whiletheseended,andshortlyafterwardsanothermanwalkedoutintothe street,ayoungishmanthistimewithhishandstiedbehindhisback.Helooked gauntandtottery,withstubbledchin,andhestoppeddeadatthesightofthe spreadeagledkidnapper.

"Cometothecars,"Pucinellisaidthroughthebullhorn."Youaresafe."

Themanseemedunabletomove.Pucinelli,againexposinghiswholebodytothe still-presentthreatofthegunsintheapartment,walkedcalmlyacrossthe road,tookhimbythearm,andledhimbehindthecarholdinghiswife.

ThepsychiatristswatchingbesidemeshooktheirheadsoverPucinelli,not approvingsuchstraightforwardcourage.Ipickedupapairofbinocularswhich werelyingonthebenchandfocusedthemontheoppositewindows,butnothing stirred.ThenIscannedtheonlookersatthebarriersdownthestreet,andtook inaclose-upofthephotographers,b.u.t.therewasnosignofthemanfromthe highwaycarpark.

Iputdownthegla.s.ses,andtimegraduallystretchedout,hotandsilent,making mewonder,makingeveryonewonderifbysomedesperatemischanceatthelast minutethesurrenderhadgonewrong.Therewasnosoundfromthebug.Therewas stillnessinthestreet.Forty-sixminuteshadpa.s.sedsincethemotherandbaby hademerged.

Pucinellispokethroughthebullhornwithfirmnessbutnotaggression."Bring outthechild.Youwillnotbehurt."

Nothinghappened.

Pucinellirepeatedhisinstructions.

Nothing.

Ithoughtofguns,ofdesperation,ofsuicide,murder,andspite.

Pucinelli'svoicerangout."Youronlyhopeofeverbeingreleasedfromprison istocomeoutnowasarranged."

Noresult.

Pucinelli'shandputthebullhornthroughthecar'swindowandreappeared holdingapistol.Hepushedthepistolthroughhisbeltinthesmallofhis back,andwithoutmoreadowalkedstraightacrossthestreetandinthroughthe dooroftheapartments.

ThepsychiatristsgaspedandmadeagitatedmotionswiththeirhandsandI wonderedifIwouldeverhavehadthenerve,inthosecirc.u.mstances,todowhat Pucinelliwasdoing.

Therewerenoshots:nonethatwecouldhear.Nosoundsatall,justmore long-drawn-outquiet.

Thecarabinieribehindthecarsbegantogrowdangerouslyrestiveforlackof theirleaderandtolookateachotherforguidance,wavingtheirguns conspicuously.Theengineerinthevanwas.m.u.tteringominouslyunderhisbreath, andtherewa.s.stillsilencefromthebug.Ifnothinghappenedsoon,Ithought, therecouldbeanotherexcited,destructive,half-c.o.c.kedraid.

Then,suddenlytherewasafigureinthedoorway:astrongburlymancarryinga littlegirllikeafeatherononearm.

BehindhimcamePucinelli,gunnowhereinsight.Hepointedtothefirst kidnapper,stillspreadeagled,andthebigmanwithasortoffurious resignationwalkedovertohimandputthesmallchildontheground.Thenhe loweredhisbulkintothesameoutstretchedatt.i.tude,andthelittlegirl,only atoddler,stoodlookingathimforamomentandthenlaydownandcopiedhim, asifitwereagame.

Thecarabinieriburstlikeuncorkedfuriesfrombehindthecarsandbristling withgunsandhandcuffsdescendedonthep.r.o.nefigureswithnosignsof loving-kindness.Pucinelliwatchedwhilethekidnappersweremarchedtothe emptycarandthechildreturnedtoherparents,thencamecasuallybacktothe opendooroftheambulanceasifhe'dbeenoutforastroll.

Hethankedthenegotiatorandthepsychiatristsfromthere,andjerkedhishead tometocomeoutandfollowhim.Idid:acrosstheroad,inthroughthedoorof theapartmentsandupthestonestaircasebeyond.

"Thebigman,"Pucinellisaid,"wasupthere,"hepointed,"rightatthetop, sixthfloor,wherethestairsleadtotheroof.Ittookmesometimetofind him.Butwehadbarricadedthatdoor,ofcourse.Hecouldn'tgetout."

"Washeviolent?"Iasked.

Pucinellilaughed."Hewa.s.sittingonthestairswiththelittlegirlonhis knee,tellingherastory."

"What?"

"WhenIwentupthestairswithmypistolreadyhesaidtoput.i.taway,theshow wasover,heknewit.ItoldhimtoG.o.downintothestreet.Hesaidhewanted tostaywherehewasforawhile.Hesaidhehadachildofhisownofthatage andhe'dneverbeabletoholdheronhiskneeagain."

Sobstuff,Ithought."Whatdidyoudo?"Iasked.

"ToldhimtoG.o.downatonce."

The"atonce,"however,hadtakenquitealongtime.PucinellilikeallItalians likedchildren,andevencarabinieri,Isupposed,couldbesentimental.

"Thatpoordeprivedfather,"Isaid,"abductedsomeoneelse'sdaughterandshot someoneelse'sson."

"Yourhead,"Pucinellisaid,"islikeice."

Heledthewayintotheapartmentthathadbeenbesiegedforfourandahalf days,andtheheatandstinkofitwereindescribable.Squalortookonanew meaning.Apartfromthestenchofsweatandthedecomposingremainsofmeals therewereunmentionableheapsofclothandragsandnewspaperintwoofthe threesmallrooms:thebaby,incontinentatbothends,haddonemorethancry.

"Howdidtheystandit?"Iwondered."Whydidn'ttheywashanything?"

"Themotherwantedto.Iheardherasking.Theywouldn'tlether."

Wesearchedourwaythroughthemess,findingtheransomsuitcasealmost immediatelyunderabed.AsfarasIcouldtell,thecontentswereuntouched: goodnewsforCenci.Pucinelligavethepacketsofnotesasourlookandpoked aroundfortheradio.

Theownersoftheapartmenthadonethemselves,standingopenlyontopofa televisionset,butPucinellishookhisheadoverit,sayingitwastoo elementary.Hestartedamethodicalsearch,comingacrossiteventuallyinsidea boxofBuitoniinakitchencupboard.

"Hereweare,"hesaid,brus.h.i.+ngoffpastash.e.l.ls."Completewithearplugfor privatelistening."Asmallishbutelaboratewalkie-talkie,aerialretracted.

"Don'tdisturbthefrequency,"Isaid.

"Iwasn'tbornyesterday.Norwasthemangivingtheinstructions,Ishouldn't think."

"Hemightnothavethoughtofeverything."

"Maybenot.Allcriminalsarefoolssometimes,otherwisewe'dnevercatchthem."

Hewoundthecordwithitsearpiececarefullyaroundtheradioandput.i.tbythe door.

"Whatrangedoyouthinkthathas?"Iasked.

"Notmorethanafewmiles.I'llfindout.b.u.t.toofar,Iwouldthink,tohelp us."

Thereremainedthepistols,andthesewereeasy:Pucinellifoundthemona windowsillwhenheletuponeoftheblindstogiveusmorelight.

Webothlookeddownfromthewindow.Theambulanceandthebarrierswerestill there,thoughthedramahadgone.Ithoughtthattheearlierhostofofficial carsandofhighlyarmedmencrouchingbehindthemmusthavebeenafearsome sight.Whatwiththatthreateverpresentandtheheat,thebaby,the searchlights,andthestench,theirnervesmusthavebeennearexplodingpoint thewholetime.

"Hecouldhaveshotyouanytime,"Isaid,"whenyouwalkedoutacrossthe street."

"Ireckonedhewouldn't."Hespokeunemotionally."ButwhenIwascreepingup thestairs..."hesmiledfractionally"...Ididbegintowonder."

Hegavemeacoolandcomradelynodanddeparted,sayinghewouldarrange transitfortheransomandsendhismentocollectandlabelthepistolsand radio.

"You'llstayhere?"heasked.

Ipinchedmynose."Onthestairsoutside."

Hesmiledandwentaway,andinduecoursepeoplearrived.Iaccompaniedthe ransomtothebankofPucinelli'schoosing,followedittothevaultsand acceptedbankandcarabinierireceipts.Then,onmywaybacktocollectthe Cencirunabout,ImadearoutinecollectcalltomyfirminLondon.Reportsfrom advisors-in-the-fieldwereexpectedregularly,withwisdomfromthecollective officemindflowinghelpfullyback.

"Thegirl'shome,"Isaid."Thesiegeisover,thefirstransom'ssafe,andhow aremysnapsdoingofthesecond?"

"Listswithyoutomorrowmorning."

"Right."

TheywantedtoknowhowsoonI'dbeback.

"Twoorthreedays,"Isaid."Dependsonthegirl."

Chapterfive.

ALLESSIAWOKEintheevening,feelingsick.Cencirushedupstairstoembrace her,camedowndamp-eyed,saidshewa.s.stillsleepyandcouldn'tbelieveshewas home.

Ididn'tseeher.IlariasleptallnightonanextrabedinAlessia'sroomat herauntLuisa'ssuggestion,anddidseemgenuinelypleasedathersister's return.Inthemorningshecamedownwithcomposuretobreakfastandsaidthat Alessiafeltillandwouldn'tgetoutofthebath.

"Whynot?"Cencisaid,bewildered.

"Shesaysshe'sfilthy.She'swashedherhairtwice.Shesaysshesmells."

"Butshedoesn't,"heprotested.

"No.I'vetoldherthat.Itmakesnodifference."

"Takehersomebrandyandabottleofscent,"Isaid.

CencilookedatmeblanklybutIlariasaid,"Well,whynot?"andwentoffonthe errand.Shehadtalkedmoreeasilythatmorningthanatanybreakfastbefore, almostasifhersister'sreleasehadbeenalsoherown.

Pucinelliarrivedmid-morningwithanote-takingaide,andAlessiacame downstairstomeethim.StandingtherebesidehiminthehallIwatchedthe tentativefigureonthestairsandcouldclearlyreadherstrongdesireto retreat.Shestoppedfourstepsfromthebottomandlookedbehindher,but Ilaria,whohadgoneuptofetchher,wasnowheretobeseen.

Cenciwentforwardandputhisarmroundhershoulders,explainingbrieflywhoI was,andsayingPucinelliwantedtoknoweverythingthathadhappenedtoher, hopingforcluestoleadhimtoarrests.

Shenoddedslightly,lookingpale.

I'dseenvictimsreturnwithhecticjollity,withhysteria,withapathy;all withshock.Alessia'sstatelookedfairlyparforthecirc.u.mstances:amixture ofshyness,strangeness,weakness,relief,andfear.

Herhairwa.s.stilldamp.SheworeaTs.h.i.+rt,jeans,andnolipstick.Shelooked adefenselesssixteen,recentlyill;thegirlI'dseenundressed.Whatshedid notlookwastheglossydarlingoftheEuropeanracetracks.

Cenciledhertothelibrary,andwescatteredaroundonchairs.

"Tellus,"Pucinellisaid."Pleasetelluswhathappened,fromthebeginning."

"I...itseemssolongago."Shespokemostlytoherfather,lookingseldomat Pucinelliandnotatallatme;andsheusedItalianthroughout,thougha.s.she spokeslowlywithmanypauses,Icouldfollowherwithease.Indeeditoccurred tomefleetinglythatI'dsoakedinagooddealmoreofthelanguagethanI'd arrivedwith,andmorethanI'dnoticeduntilthen.

"I'dbeenracinghereonourlocaltrack...butyouknowthat."

Herfathernodded.

"Iwonthesixo'clockrace,andtherewasan.o.bjection..."

Morenods,bothfromCenciandPucinelli.Thenote-takingaide,eyesdowntothe task,kepthisshorthandbusilyflowing.

"Idrovehome.IwasthinkingofEngland.OfridingBrunelleschiintheDerby..."

Shebrokeoff."Didhewin?"

Herfatherlookedblank.Atthetime,shortlyafterherdisappearance,he'dhave beenunlikelytonoticeaninvasionofMartiansinthebackyard.

"No,"Isaid."Fourth."

Shesaid,"Oh,"vaguely,andIdidn'tbothertoexplainthatIknewwherethe horsehadfinishedsimplybecauseitwa.s.shewhohadbeengoingtorideit.

Ordinarycuriosity,nothingmore.

"Iwashere...insightofthehouse.Notfarfromthegate.Isloweddown,to turnin..."

Thecla.s.sicspotforkidnaps;rightoutsidethevictim'shouse.Shehadared sportscar,besides,andhadbeendrivingitthatdaywiththetopdown,a.s.she alwaysdidinfineweather.Somepeople,I'dthoughtwhenI'dheardit,made abductiontoosimpleforwords.

"Therewasacarcomingtowardsme...Iwaitedforittopa.s.s,sothatIcould turn...but.i.tdidn'tpa.s.s,itstoppedsuddenlybetweenmeandthegate...blocking theway."Shepausedandlookedanxiouslyatherfather."Icouldn'thelpit, Papa.Ireallycouldn't."