"Sheoughttogohometoherhusbandtonight,"IsaidtoEagler,andalthoughhe nodded,Mirandavehementlyprotested.
"He"ssoangrywithme..."shewailed.
"Youcouldn"thelpit,"Isaid."Thekidnappershaveprobablybeenwaitingtheir chanceforaweekormore.Onceyourhusbandrealizes...
ButMirandashookherheadandsaidIdidn"tunderstand."Thatdinghy,"Eagler saidthoughtfully,"theonewhichburnt...hadyouseenitonthebeachonany otherday?"
Mirandaglancedathimvaguelyasifthequestionwereunimportant."Thelast fewdayshavebeensowindy...Wehaven"tsatonthebeachmuch.Notsincethe weekend,untiltoday.We"vemostlybeenbythepool,butDominicdoesn"tlike thatsomuchbecausethere"snosand."
"Thehotelhasapool?"Eaglerasked.
"Yes,butlastweekwewerealwaysonthebeach...everythingwa.s.sosimple,just Dominicandme."Shespokebetweensobs,herwholebodyshaking.
Eaglerglancedatmebriefly,"Mr.Douglas,here,"hesaidtoMiranda,"hesays you"llgethimbacksafe.Weallhavetoactcalmly,Mrs.Nerrity.Calmand patience,that"sthething.You"vehadaterribleshock,I"mnottryingto minimizeit,butwhatwehavetothinkofnowistheboy.Tothinkcalmlyfor theboy"ssake."
AlessialookedfromEaglertomeandbackagain."You"reboththesame,"she saidblankly."You"vebothseensomuchsuffering...somuchdistress.Youboth knowhowtomakeitsothatpeoplecanholdon...Itmakestheunbearable...
possible."
Eaglergaveheralookofmildsurprise,andinatotallyunconnectedthoughtI concludedthathisclotheshunglooselyabouthimbecausehe"drecentlylost weight.
"Alessiaherselfwaskidnapped,"Iexplainedtohim."Sheknowstoomuchabout it."IoutlinedbrieflywhathadhappenedinItaly,andmentionedthe coincidenceofthehorses.
HisattentionfocusedinathoroughlySherlockianmanner.
"Areyousayingthere"sapositivesignificance?"
Isaid,"BeforeAlessiaIworkedonanothercaseinItalyinwhichthefamily soldtheirsharesinaracecoursetoraisetheransom."
Hestared,"Youdo,then,seea...athread?"
"Ifearthere"sone,yes."
"Whyfear?"Alessiaasked.
"Hemeans,"Eaglersaid,"thatthethreekidnapshavebeenorganizedbythesame perpetrator.Someonenormallyoperatingwithintheracingworldandconsequently knowingwhichtargetstohit.AmIright?"
"Ontheb.u.t.ton,"Iagreed,talkingchieflytoAlessia."Thechoiceoftargetis oftenaprimecluetotheident.i.tyofthekidnappers.Imean...tomaketherisks worthwhile,mostkidnappersmakesureinadvancethatthefamilyorbusiness actuallycanpayaheftyransom.Ofcourseeveryfamilywillpaywhattheycan, b.u.t.therisksarejustashighforasmallransomasalarge,soitmakesmore sensetoaimforthelarge.Toknow,forinstance,thatyourfatherismuch richerthanthefathersofmostotherjockeys,womenornot."
Alessia"sgazeseemedgluedtomyface."Toknow...thatthemanwhoownsOrdinand hasason...?"Shestopped,thesentenceunfinished,thethoughttrottingon.
"Yes,"Isaid.
Sheswallowed."Itcostsjustasmuchtokeepabadhorseintrainingasagood one...Imean,Idoclearlyunderstandwhatyou"resaying."
Mirandaseemednottohavebeenlisteningb.u.t.thetearshadbeguntodryup, likeastormpa.s.sing.
"Idon"twanttogohometonight,"shesaidinasmallvoice."ButifIgo...
Alessia,w.i.l.l.youcomewithme?"
AlessialookedasifitwerethelastthingshecouldfaceandIansweredonher behalf,"No,Mrs.Nerrity,itwouldn"tbeagoodidea.Haveyouamother,ora sister...someoneyoulike?Someoneyourhusbandlikes."
Hermordantlooksaidasmuchaswordsaboutthecurrentstateofhermarriage, butafteramomentortwoshesaidfaintly,"Isuppose...mymother."
"That"sright,"Eaglersaidpaternally."Nowwouldyoutwoladiesjustwaita fewminuteswhileIwalkalittlewaywithMr.Douglas?"
"Wewon"tbeoutofsight,"Isaid.
Allthesametheybothlookedasinsecureaseverasweopenedthefrontdoors andclimbedout.Ilookedbackaswewalkedawayandwaggledarea.s.suringhand attheirtwoanxiousheadsshowingtogetherfromtherea.r.s.eat.
"Veryupsetting,"Eaglerobservedaswestrolledaway."Butshe"llgetherkid back,withabitofluck,notlikesomeI"vedealtwith.Littlekidss.n.a.t.c.hedat randombypsychosandmurdered...s.e.xual,often.Thosemothers...Heartbreaking.
Rotten.Andquiteoftenweknowthepsychos.Knowthey"llprobablydosomething violentoneday.Killsomeone.Wecanoftenarrestthemwithinadayofthebody beingfound.Butwecan"tpreventthem.Wecan"tkeepthemlockedupforever, justincase.Nightmare,thosepeople.We"vegotoneroundherenow.Timebomb waitingtogooff.Andsomepoorkid,somewhere,willbecyclingalong,or walking,atjustthewrongtime,justthewrongplace.Somewoman"skid.
Somethingtriggersthepsycho.Youneverknowwhat.i.tis.Somethingsmall.Tips themover.After,theydon"tknowwhythey"vedoneit,likeasnot."
"Mm,"Isaid."Worsethankidnappers.Withthemthere"salwayshope."
Duringhisdissertationhe"dgivenmeseveralsidewaysglances:reinforcinghis impressions,Ithought.AndItoohadbeendoingthesame,gettingtoknowwhat toexpectofhim,goodorbad.OccasionallysomeonefromLibertyMarketcame acrossapolicemanwhothoughtofusasanunnecessarynuisanceencroachingon theirjealouslyguardedpreserves,butonthewholetheyacceptedusalongthe linesofifyouwanttounderstandawreck,consultadiver.
"Whatcanyoutellmethatyouwouldn"twantthosetwogirlstohear?"heasked.
Igavehimasmallsmile;gotreservedjudgmentback.
"ThemanwhokidnappedAlessia,"Isaid."Recruitedlocaltalent.Herecruited one,whoropedinanotherfive.Thecarabinierihavearrestedthosesix,b.u.t.the leadervanished.HecalledhimselfGiuseppe,whichwilldofornow.Weproduced adrawingofhimandfloodedtheprovincewithit,withnoresults.I"llletyou haveacopyofit,ifyoulike."Ipaused."Iknowit"salongshot.Thishorse thingmaybetrulyandsimplyacoincidence."
Eaglerputhisheadononeside."Fileitunderfiftyfifty,then."
"Right.Andthere"stoday"snote..."
"NothingItalianaboutthat,eh?"Eaglerlookedgenial."Butlocaltalent?Just therightstyleforlocaltalent,wouldn"tyousay?"
"Yes,Iwould."
"JustrightforanItalianleaningoverthelocaltalent"sshouldersayingin brokenEnglish"tellhertotelephoneherhusband,tellhernottoinformthe police.""Hesmiledfleetingly."b.u.t.that"sallconjecture,astheysay."
Weturnedasofoneaccordandbegantostrollbacktothecar.
"Theladyjockey"sabitjumpystill,"hesaid.
"Itdoesthattothem.Somearejumpywithstrangersforever."
"Poorthing,"hesaid,asifhehadn"tthoughtoffreedomhavingproblems; victimsnaturallybeingvastlylessinterestingthanvillainstothestrongarm ofthelaw.
IexplainedaboutTonyVinebeingatthatmomentwithJohnNerrity,andsaid thatNerrity"slocalforcewouldalsobynowknowaboutDominic.Eaglernoted theaddressandsaidhewould"liaise."
"IexpectTonyVinewillbeinchargefromourpointofview,"Isaid."He"s verybright,ifyouhaveanydealingswithhim."
"Allright."
WearrangedthatIwouldsendthephotostatsofGiuseppeandareporton Alessia"skidnappingdowntohimonthefirstmorningtrain;andatthatpoint wewerebackatthecar.
"Rightthen,Mr.Douglas."Heshookmyhandlimplyasifsealingabargain,as differentfromPucinelliasatortoisefromahare:onewily,onesharp;one wrinkledinhiscarapace,oneleanlytautinhisuniform;onealwaysontheedge ofhisnerves,oneavuncularlyrelaxed.
IthoughtthatIwouldratherbehuntedbyPucinelli,anyday.
Chaptereleven.
JOHNNERRITYwasaheavilybuiltmanofmediumheightwithgrayinghaircutneat andshort;clippedmoustachetomatch.OngooddaysIcouldimaginehim generatingafairamountofcharm,butonthateveningIsawonlyaman accustomedtopowerwhohadmarriedagirllessthanhalfhisageandlooked likeregrettingit.
Theylivedinalargedetachedhouseontheedgeof.a.golfcoursenearSutton, Surrey,southofLondon,onlyaboutthreemilesdistantfromwheretheir four-leggedwonderhadmadeafortuneonEpsomDowns.
Theexteriorofthehouse,intheduskofourarrival,hadrevealeditselfas thirties-developedTudor,butonarestrainedandsuccessfulscale.Inside,the carpetswall-to-walllookeduntrodden,thebrocadechairsun-sat-on,thesilk cushionsunwrinkled,thepaperandpaintunscuffed.Unfadedvelvetcurtainshung instiffregularfoldsfrombeneathelaboratepelmets,anduponseveralgla.s.s andchromiumcoffeetableslaylargeglossybooks,unthumbed.Therewereno photographsandnoflowers,andthepictureshadbeenchosentooccupywall s.p.a.ce,notthemind;thewholethingmorelikeashopwindowthanthehomeofa littleboy.
JohnNerritywasholdingaginandtonicwithiceclinkingandlemonslice floating,astatementinitselfofhisresistancetocrisis.Icouldn"timagine PaoloCenciorganizingiceandlemonsixhoursafterthefirstransomdemand:it hadbeenalmostbeyondhimtopourwithoutspilling.
WithNerritywereTonyVinewearinghismostenigmaticexpressionandanother man,sourofmouthandbitterofeye,whospokewithTony"saccentandlooked vaguely,inhisflannelsandcasualsweater,asifhe"dbeenoutforastroll withhisdog.
"DetectiveSuperintendentRightsworth,"Tonysaid,introducinghimdeadpan.
"WaitingtotalktoMrs.Nerrity."
Rightsworthgavemebarelyanod,andthatmoreofrepressionthanof acknowledgement.Oneofthose,Ithought.Acivilian-hater.Onewhothoughtof thepoliceas"us"andthepublicas"them,"the"them"beingnaturally inferior.Italwayssurprisedmethatpolicemenofthatkindgotpromoted,but Rightsworthwasproofenoughthattheydid.
AlessiaandMirandahadcomeintothesittingroomclosetogetherandastep behindme,asifusingmeasariotshield:anditwasclearfromJohnNerrity"s facethatthefirstsightofhiswifepromptedfewloving,comforting,or supportivefeelings.
Hegavehernokiss.Nogreeting.Hemerelysaid,asifinacontinuing conversation,"DoyourealizethatOrdinandisn"tminetosell?Doyourealize we"reinhocktothelimit?No,youdon"t.Youcan"tdoanything.Noteven somethingsimplelikelookingafterakid."
Mirandacrumpledbehindmeandkneltonthefloor.AlessiaandIbenttohelp herup,andIsaidtoMiranda"sear,"Peoplewh.o.a.refrightenedareoftenangry andsaythingsthathurt.He"sasfrightenedasyouare.Hangontothat."
"Whatareyoumumblingabout?"Nerritydemanded."Miranda,forChrist"ssakeget up,youlookawreck."Hestaredwithdisfavorattheravagedfaceanduntidy hairofhisson"smother,andwithonlythefaintestflickerofoverdue compa.s.sionsaidimpatiently,"Getup,getup,theysayitwasn"tyourfault."
Shewouldalwaysthinkithadbeen,though;andsowouldhe.Fewpeople understoodhowpersistent,patient,ingenious,andfastcommittedkidnappers couldbe.Whomevertheyplannedtotake,theytook.
RightsworthsaidhewantedtoaskMrs.Nerritysomequestionsandguidedheroff toadistantsofa,followedbyherbullishhusbandwithhistinklinggla.s.s.
Alessiasatinanarmchairasifherlegsweregivingway,andTonyandI retreatedtoawindowseattoexchangequietnotes.
"He..."TonyjerkedhisheadtowardsNerrity,"hasbeenstridingupanddownhere wearingholesintheeffingcarpetandcallinghiswifeaneffingcow.Allsorts ofnames.Didn"tknowsomeofthemmyself."Hegrinnedwolfishly."Takesthem likethat,sometimes,ofcourse."
"Pourtheangeronsomeonethatwon"tkickback?"
"Poorlittleb.i.t.c.h."
"Anymoredemands?"Iasked.
"Zilch.Allpianissimo.ThatrayofsunshineRightsworthbroughtasuitcasefull ofbugginggearwithhimfromthetelephoneblokesbuthedidn"tknowhowtouse halfofit,Iaskyou.Ifixedthetaponthephonemyself.Can"tbeartosee effingamateursmuckingabout."
"Igatherhedoesn"tlikeus,"Isaid.
"Rightsworth?Despisesthegroundwewalkon."
"IsittrueJohnNerritycan"traiseanythingonthehorse?"
I"daskedveryquietly,b.u.t.tonylookedroundtomakesureneithertheNerritys norRightsworthcouldheartheanswer."Hewasblurtingitallout,whenIgot here.Seemshiseffingbusinessisd.i.c.kyandhe"spledgedbitsofthathorseto bailhimout.Borrowedonit,youmightsay.Allthisbl.u.s.ter,Ireckonit"s becausehehasn"tahopeofraisingthewherewithaltogethisnipperback,he"s inabluefunkandsendinghiseffingunderpantstothelaundry."
"Whatdidhesayaboutourfee?"
"Yeah."Tonylookedatmesideways."Tookhiminthegut.Hesayshecan"t affordus.Thenhebegsmenottogo.He"snotgettingontooeffingwellwith Rightsworth,whowould?Sothereheis,knackeredeverywhichwayandtakingit outontheladywife."HeglancedoveratMiranda,whowasagainintears.
"Seemsshewashissecretary.That"sherphoto,hereonthistable.Shewasa knockout,rightenough."
Ilookedattheglamorousstudio-litportrait:adivinelyprettyfacewithfine bones,wideeyesandthehintofasmile.Alikenesstakenjustbeforemarriage, Iguessed,atthepointofhermaximumattraction:beforeliferolledonand trampledovertheheadydreams.
"Didyoutellhimwe"dhelphimfornothing?"Iasked.
"No,Ieffingdidn"t.Idon"tlikehim,tobehonest."
Wesometimesdid,asafirm,workfornopay:itdependedoncirc.u.mstances.All thepartnersagreedthatafamilyinneedshouldgethelpregardless,andnone ofusbegrudgedit.Weneverchargedenoughanywaytomakeourselvesrich,being inexistenceonthewholetodefeatextortion,nottopracticeit.Aflatfee, plus.e.xpenses:nopercentages.Ourclientsknewforsurethatthesizeofthe ransominnowayaffectedourownreward.
Thetelephonerangsuddenly,makingeveryoneintheroomjump.BothTonyand RightsworthgesturedtoNerritytoansweritandhewalkedtowardsitasifit werehot.Inoticedthathepulledhisstomachinasthemusclestightenedand sawhisbreathbecomeshallow.IftheroomhadbeensilentIguessedwewould actuallyhaveheardhisheartthump.Bythetimehestretchedoutanunsteady handtopickupthereceiverTonyhadtherecorderrunningandtheamplifierset sothateveryoneintheroomcouldhearthecaller"swords.
"h.e.l.lo,"Nerritysaidhoa.r.s.ely.
"Isthatyou,John?"Itwasawoman"svoice,highandanxious."Areyou expectingme?"
"Oh."Mirandajumpedtoherfeetinconfusion."It"sMother.Iaskedher..."Her voicetailedoffasherhusbandheldoutthereceiverwiththemurderousglare ofatoosuddenlyreleasedtension,andshemanagedtotakeitfromhimwithout touchinghimskintoskin.
"Mother?"shesaid,waveringly."Yes,pleasedocome.Ithoughtyouwere coming..."
"Mydeargirl,yousoundedsofl.u.s.teredwhenyoutelephonedearlier.Sayingyou wouldn"ttellmewhatwaswrong!Iwasworried.Idon"tliketointerfere betweenyouandJohn,youknowthat."
"Mother,justcome."
"No,I..."
JohnNerritys.n.a.t.c.hedthetelephoneoutofhiswife"sgraspandpractically shouted,"Rosemary,justcome.Mirandaneedsyou.Don"targue.Gethereasfast asyoucan.Right?"Hecrashedthereceiverdowninannoyance,andIwondered whetherornotthemasterfullybossytonewouldindeedfetchtheparent.The telephonerangagainalmostimmediatelyandNerritys.n.a.t.c.heditupinfury, saying"Rosemary,Itoldyou..."
"JohnNerrity,isit?"avoicesaid.Male,loud,aggressive,threatening.Not Rosemary.Myownspinetingled.Tonyhoveredovertherecordingequipment, checkingthequiveringneedles.
"Yes,"Nerritysaidbreathlessly,hislungsdeflating.