"Popsyissogenerous,"shesaid."I"vestayedwithhersooften,"Shepaused.
"Shedoesn"texactlysay"Snapoutofit"or"Pullyourselftogether,"butIcan seeherthinkingit.AndIexpectifIweresomeonelookingatme,I"dthinkit too.Imean,shemustbethinkingthathereIam,freeandundamaged,andI shouldbegratefulandgettingonwithlife,andthatfarfrommopingIshould befullofjoyandbounce."
Wewanderedslowlyalongandpeeredintotheshadowyinteriorofaboxwherethe inmatedozed,itsweightononehip,itsearsoccasionallytwitching.
"AfterVietnam,"Isaid,"whentheprisonerscamehome,therewereverymany divorces.Itwasn"tjustthesortofthingthathappenedafterthewarin Europe,whenthewivesgrewapartfromthehusbandsjustbyliving,whilefor thementimestoodstill.AfterVietnamitwasdifferent.Thoseprisonershad suffereddreadfully,andtheycamehometofamilieswhoexpectedthemtobe joyfulattheirrelease."
Alessialeanedherarmsonthehalf-door,andwatchedtheunmovinghorse.
"Thewivestriedtomakeallowances,butalotofthemenwereimpotent,and wouldburstintotearsinpublic,andmanyofthemtookoffenseeasily...and showedpermanentsymptomsofmentalbreakdown.Hamburgersandc.o.kecouldn"tcure them,norgoingtotheofficeninetofive."Ifiddledwiththeboltonthe door."Mostofthemrecoveredintimeandleadnormallives,buteventhosewill admittheyhadbaddreamsforyearsandwillneverforgetcleardetailsoftheir imprisonment."
Afterawhileshesaid,"Iwasn"taprisonerofwar."
"Oh,yes,justthesame.Capturedbyanenemythroughnofaultofyourown.Not knowingwhen-orwhether-youwouldbefree.Humiliated...deprivedoffreewill...
dependentonyourenemyforfood.Allthesame,butmadeworsebyisolation...by beingtheonlyone."
Sheputthecurlyheaddownmomentarilyonthefoldedarms."Alltheyevergave me,whenIasked,weresometissues,andIbegged...Ibegged...forthose."She swallowed."One"sbodydoesn"tstopcountingthedays,justbecauseone"sina tent."
Iputmyarmsilentlyroundhershoulders.Therewerethingsnomaleprisoner everhadtoface.Shecriedquietly,withgulpsandsmallcompulsivesniffs,and afterawhilesimplysaid"Thankyou,"andIsaid"Anytime,"andwemovedon downthelineofboxesknowingtherewasalongwaystilltogo.
Chapterseven.
MANNINGTHEOFFICEswitchboarddayandnightwasessentialbecausekidnappers keptantisocialhours;anditwasalwaysapartneronduty,notanemployee,for reasonsbothofreliabilityandofsecrecy.Theex-spiesfeared"moles"under everysecretarialdeskandranasecuritycheckonthejanitor.
ThatparticularSundaynightwasquiet,withtwocallsonly:onefromapartner inEcuadorsayinghe"ddiscoveredthelocalpolicewereduetoshareinthe ransomhewasnegotiatingandaskingforthefirm"sreactions,andthesecond fromTwinkletoes,whowantedacopyofthesetofprecautionswe"ddrawnupfor LucaOil.
Imadeanoteofit,saying,"SurelyLucaOilhaveone?"
"Thekidnappersstoleit,"Twinkletoessaidtersely."Orbribedasecretaryto stealit.Anyway,it"smissing,andthemanagerwasabductedattheweakest pointofhisdailyschedule,whichIreckonwasnocoincidence."
"I"llsenditbycourierstraightaway."
"Andseewho"sfreetojoinmeouthere.Thiswillbealongone.Itwasvery carefullyplanned.SendmeDerek,ifyoucan.Andoh...consideryourselflucky I"mnottheretoblastyouforBologna."
"Ido,"Isaid,smiling.
"I"llbeback,"hesaiddarkly."Goodnight."
Itookonemorecall,atnineinthemorning,thistimefromtheheadofa syndicateatLloydswhichinsuredpeopleandfirmsagainstkidnap.Muchofour businesscamedirectfromhim,ashewasaccustomedtomakeitaconditionof insurancethathisclientsshouldcallonourhelpbeforeagreeingtopaya ransom.Hereckonedwecouldbringthepricedown,whichmadehisownliability less;andweinreturnrecommendedhimtothefirmsaskingouradviceon defenses.
"TwoEnglishgirlshavebeens.n.a.t.c.hedinSardinia,"hesaid."Thehusbandofone oftheminsuredheragainstkidnapforhertwo-weeks"holidayashewasn"tgoing tobewithher,andhe"sbeenontous.Itseemstohavebeenafairlyunplanned affair-thegirlsjusthappenedtobeinthewrongplace,andwereambushed.
Anyway,thehusbandisdistraughtandwantstopaywhatthey"reasking,straight away,socanyousendsomeoneimmediately?"
"Yes,"Isaid."Er...whatwastheinsurance?"
"Itookathousandpoundsagainsttwohundredthousand.Fortwoweeks."He sighed."Winsome,losesome."
ItookdownnamesanddetailsandcheckedonflightstoSardinia,whereinmany regionsbanditstook,ransomed,andreleasedmoreorlessastheypleased.
"Veryhushhush,"th.e.l.loydsmanhadsaid."Don"tlet.i.tgettothepapers.The husbandhaspressingreasons.Ifallgoeswellshe"llbehomeinaweek,won"t she,andnoonethewiser?"
"Withabitofluck,"Iagreed.
Banditshadnowheretokeeplong-termprisonersandhadbeenknowntomarch theirvictimsmilesovermountainsidesdaily,simplyabandoningthemoncethey"d beenpaid.Alessia,Ithought,wouldhavepreferredthattohertent.
ThepartnersbeganarrivingfortheMondayconferenceanditwaseasytofind onewithitchyfeetreadytogoinstantlytoSardinia,andeasyalsotopersuade DerektojoinTwinkletoesatLucaOil.Theco-ordinatorwrotetheminonthenew week"schartandIgavetherequestfromthepartnerinEcuadortothechairman.
Afteraboutanhourofcoffee,gossip,andreadingreportsthemeetingbegan, thebulkofitasusualbeingareviewofworkinprogress.
"ThisbusinessinEcuador,"thechairmansaid."Thevictim"sanAmerican national,isn"the?"
Afewheadsnodded.
Thechairmanpursedhislips."Ithinkwe"llhavetoadvisethatcorporationto uselocalmenandnotsendanymorefromtheStates.They"vehadthreemen capturedinthelasttenyears,allAmericans...you"dthinkthey"dlearn."
"It"sanAmerican-ownedcorporation,"someonemurmured.
"They"vetriedpayingthepolicethemselves,"anothersaid."Iwasoutthere myselflasttime.Thepolicetookthemoneysayingtheywouldguardallthe managerswiththeirlives,butIreckontheyalsotookacutoftheransomthen, too.Anddon"tforget,thecorporationpaidaransomofsomethingliketen milliondollars...plentytospreadaround."
Therewasasmallgloomysilence.
"Right,"thechairmansaid."Futureadvice,noAmericans.Presentadvice?"He lookedaround."Opinions,anyone?"
"Thekidnappersknowthecorporationwillpayintheend,"TonyVinesaid."The corporationcan"taffordnotto."
Allcorporationshadtoransomtheircapturedemployeesiftheywantedanyone evertoworkoverseasfortheminfuture.Allcorporationsalsohadirate shareholders,whosedividendsdiminishedasransomsrose.Corporationstendedto keepabductionsoutofthenews,andtowritetheransomsdownasa"trading loss"intheannualaccounts.
"We"vegotthedemanddowntotenmillionagain,"TonyVinesaid."The kidnapperswon"ttakeless,they"dbelosingfaceagainstlasttime,even if-especiallyif-they"readifferentgang."
Thechairmannodded."We"lladvisethecorporationtosettle?"
Everyoneagreed,andthemeetingmovedon.
Thechairman,aroundsixty,hadoncebeenasoldierhimself,andlikeTonyfelt comfortablewithothermenwhoseliveshadbeenstructured,disciplined,and official.Hehadfoundedthefirmbecausehe"dseentheneedforit;theaction inhiscaseofapracticalman,notavisionary.Ithadbeenafriendofhis, nowdead,whohadsuggestedpartnershipsratherthanahierarchy,advisingthe sweepingawayofallformerranksinfavorofonenewone:equal.
Thechairmanwas.e.xceptionallygood-looking,adistinctlymarketableplus,and hadanairofquietconfidencetogowithit.Hecouldmaintainthatmannerin thefaceoftotaldisaster,sothatonealwaysfelthewouldatanymoment deviseabrilliantvictory-s.n.a.t.c.hingsolution,evenifhedidn"t.Ithadtaken meawhile,whenIwasnewthere,toseethat.i.twasGerryClaytonwhohadthat sortofmind.
Thechairmancamefinallytomyreport,photocopiesofwhichmostpeoplehad alreadyread,andaskedifanypartnerswouldliketoaskquestions.Wegained alwaysfromwhatothershadlearnedduringacase,andIusuallyfoundquestion timeveryfruitful-thoughbetterwhennotdoingtheanswering.
"Thiscarabinieriofficer...er...Pucinelli,whatsortofapersonalrelationship couldyouhavewithhim?Whatisyourestimateofhiscapabilities?"Itwasa notoriouslypompouspartnerasking:Tonywouldhavesaid,"Howdidyougeton withthesod?What"shelike?"
"Pucinelli"sagoodpoliceman,"Isaid."Intelligent,bagsofcourage.Hewas helpful.Morehelpful,Ifound,thanmost,thoughneversteppingoutofthe officialline.Hehasn"tyet..."Ipaused."Hehasn"ttheclouttogetanyhigher, Idon"tthink.He"ssecond-in-commandinhisregion,andI"dsaythat"sasfar ashe"llgo.Butasfarashischancesofcatchingthekidnappersareconcerned, he"llbecompetentandthorough."
"Whatwasthelatest,whenyouleft?"someoneasked."Ihaven"tyethadtimeto finishyourlasttwopages."
"PucinellisaidthatwhenheshowedthedrawingsofthemanI"dseentothetwo kidnappersfromthesiege,theywerebothstruckdumb.Heshowedthemtothem separately,ofcourse,butineachcasehesaidyoucouldclearlyseetheshock.
Neitherofthemwouldsayanythingatallandtheybothseemedscared.Pucinelli saidhewasgoingtocirculatecopiesofthedrawingsandseeifhecould identifytheman.Hewasveryhopeful,whenIleft."
"Soonerthebetter,"Tonysaid."Thatmillionquidwillbelaunderedwithina week."
"Theywereaprettycoollot,"Isaid,notarguing."Theymightholditfora while."
"Andtheymighthavewhiskeditoveraborderandchangeditintofrancsor schillingsbeforetheyreleasedthegirl."
Inodded."Theycouldhavesetupsomethinglikethatforthefirstransom,and beenready."
GerryClayton"sfingersasusualwerebusywithanysheetofpaperwithinreach, thistimethelastpageofmyreport."YousayAlessiaCencicametoEngland withyou.Anychanceshe"llrememberanymore?"heasked.
"Youcannotruleitout,butPucinelliandIbothwentthroughitwithher prettythoroughlyinItaly.Sheknowssolittle.Therewerenochurchbells,no trains,nocloseairplanes,nodogs...shecouldn"ttellwhethershewasincity orcountry.Shethoughtthefaintsmellshewasconsciousofduringthelastfew daysmighthavebeensomeonebakingbread.Apartfromthat...nothing."
Apause.
"Didyoushowthedrawingstothegirl?"someoneasked."Hadsheeverseenthe man,beforethekidnap?"
Iturnedtohim."Itookaphotostattothevilla,butshehadn"teverseenhim thatshecouldremember.Therewasabsolutelynoreaction.Iaskedifhecould havebeenoneofthefourwhoabductedher,butshesaidshecouldn"ttell.None ofherfamilyoranyoneinthehouseholdknewhim.Iaskedthemall."
"Hisvoice...whenhespoketoyououtsidetherestaurant...wasitthevoiceonthe tapes?"
"Idon"tknow,"Iadmitted."I"mnotgoodenoughat.i.talian.Itwasn"ttotally different,that"sallIcouldsay."
"Youbroughtcopiesofthedrawingsandthetapesbackwithyou?"thechairman asked.
"Yes.Ifanyonewouldlike...?"
Afewheadsnodded.
"Anythingyoudidn"tputinthereport?"thechairmanasked."Insignificant details?"
"Well...Ididn"tincludethelistsofthemusic.Alessiawrotewhatsheknew,and Pucinellisaidhewouldtrytofindoutiftheyweretapesonecouldbuyin shops,readyrecorded.Verylongshot,eveniftheywere."
"Doyouhavethelists?"
"No,afraidnot.IcouldaskAlessiatowritethemagain,ifyoulike."
Oneoftheex-policemensaidyouneverknew.Theotherex-policemennodded.
"Allright,"Isaid."I"llaskher."
"Howisshe?"Gerryasked.
"Justaboutcoping."
Therewereagoodmanynodsofunderstanding.We"dallseenthedevastation,the hurricane"spathacrossthespirit.Allofus,someoftenerthanothers,had listenedtotheexperiencesoftherecentlyreturned:thedebriefing,asthe firmcalledit,initsmilitaryway.
Thechairmanlookedaroundformorequestionsbutnonewereready."All finished?Well,Andrew,wecan"texactlysackyouforcomingupwithpicturesof anactivekidnapper,butdrivingacartothedropisnotonthecards.Whether ornot.i.tturnsoutwellthistime,don"tdoitagain.Right?"
"Right,"Isaidneutrally;andthat,tomysurprise,wasthefullextentofthe ticking-off.
Acoupleofdayslaterthepartnermanningtheswitchboardcalledtomedownthe corridor,whereIwaswanderingwithacupofcoffeeinsearchofanythingnew.
"Andrew?CallforyoufromBologna.I"llput.i.tthroughtoyourroom."
Idumpedthecoffeeandpickedupthereceiver,andavoicesaid,"Andrew?This isEnricoPucinelli."
Weexchangedh.e.l.los,andhebegantalkingexcitedly,thewordsrunningtogether inmyear.
"Enrico,"Ishouted."Stop.Speakslowly.Ican"tunderstandyou."
"Hah."Hesighedaudiblyandbegantospeakclearlyanddistinctly,astoa child."Theyoungoneofthekidnappershasbeentalking.Heisafraidofbeing senttoprisonforlife,soheistryingtomakebargains.Hehastolduswhere SignorinaCenciwastakenafterthekidnap."
"Terrific,"Isaidwarmly."Welldone."
Pucinellicoughedmodestly,butIguessedithadbeenatriumphof interrogation.
"Wehavebeentothehouse.ItisinasuburbofBologna,middle-cla.s.s,very quiet.Wehavefounditwasrentedbyafatherwiththreegrownsons."He clickedhistonguedisgustedly."Alloftheneighborssawmengoinginandout, butsofarnoonewouldknowthemagain."
Ismiledtomyself.Puttingthefingeronakidnapperwasapttobeunhealthy anywhere.
"Thehousehasfurniturebelongingtotheowner,butwehavelookedcarefully, andinoneroomontheupperfloorallthemarkswherethefurnitureha.s.stood onthecarpetforalongtimeareinslightlydifferentplaces."Hestoppedand saidanxiously,"Doyouunderstand,Andrew?"
"Yes,"Isaid."Allthefurniturehadbeenmoved."
"Correct."Hewasrelieved."Thebed,aheavychest,awardrobe,abookcase.All moved.Theroomisbig,morethanbigenoughforthetent,andthereisnothing toseefromthewindowexceptagardenandtrees.Noonecouldseeintotheroom fromtheoutside."
"Andhaveyoufoundanythinguseful...anyclues...intherestofthehouse?"
"Wearelooking.Wewenttothehouseforthefirsttimeyesterday.Ithought youwouldliketoknow."
"You"requiteright.Greatnews."
"SignorinaCenci,"hesaid."Ha.s.shethoughtofanythingelse?"
"Notyet."
"Givehermyrespects."
"Yes,"Isaid."Iwillindeed."
"Iwilltelephoneagain,"hesaid."Iwillreversethechargesagain,shallI, likeyousaid?Asthisisprivate,betweenyouandme,andIamtelephoningfrom myownhouse?"