"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,sowetelephonedtoWashington.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 Washingtonthefollowingmorning,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"vetoldthepolicebothhereandinWashingtonoftheransomdemandreceived 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 thanWashingtonis,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.BothhereinLaurelandinWashington.ThepeopleinWashingtonare 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.