"Whatboat?"
"Theboatonfire.Iwaswatchingit.Everyonewaswatchingit.Andthen...whenI lookedback...hewasn"tthere.Iwasn"tscared.Itwaslessthanaminute...I thoughthe"dbegoingovertolookattheboat...Iwaslookingforhim...andthen thelittlegirlgavemethenote...andIreadit..."
Theawfulnessofthatmomentsweptoverheragainlikeatidalwave.Thecupand saucerrattledandAlessiatookthemfromher.
"Ishoutedforhimeverywhere...Iranupanddown...Icouldn"tbelieveit...I couldn"t...I"dseenhimsuchashorttimeago...justaminute...andthenIcameup here...Idon"tknowhowIgotuphere...ItelephonedJohn...andI"veleftallour things...onthebeach."
"Whenishightide?"Isaid.
Shelookedatmevaguely."Thismorning...thetidehadjustgoneout...thesand wasallwet..."
"Andtheboat?Wherewastheboat?"
"Onthesand."
"Whatsortofboat?"Iasked.
Shelookedbewildered."Asailingdinghy.Whatdoesitmatter?Thereare millionsofsailingdinghiesroundhere."
Butmillionsofsailingdinghiesdidn"tgoonfireattheexactmomentthata smallchildwaskidnapped.Ahighlyuntrustworthycoincidenceoftiming.
"Bothofyoudrinksomemoretea,"Isaid."I"llG.o.downandfetchthethings fromthebeach.ThenI"llringMr.Nerrity-"
"No,"Mirandainterruptedcompulsively."Don"t.Don"t."
"Butwemust."
"He"ssoangry,"shesaidpiteously."He"s...livid.Hesaysit"smyfault...he"s soangry...youdon"tknowwhathe"slike...Idon"twanttotalktohim...Ican"t..."
"Well,"Isaid."I"lltelephonefromanotherplace.Notthisroom.I"llbeas quickasIcan...w.i.l.l.youbothbeallright?"
Alessianoddedalthoughshewasherselfshaking,andIwentdownstairsandfound apublictelephonetuckedintoaprivatecorneroftheentrancehall.
TonyVineansweredfromJohnNerrity"snumber.
"Areyoualone?"Iasked.
"No.Areyou?"
"Yes.What"sthescore?"
"Thepinchershavetoldhimhe"llgethis...o...b..cksafe...onconditions."
"Suchas?"
"Fivemillion."
"ForG.o.d"ssake,"Isaid,"hashegotfivemillion?"TheBreakwaterHotel,nice enough,wasn"tamillionaire"splayground.
"He"sgotahorse,"Tonysaidbaldly.
Ahorse.
Ordinand,winneroftheDerby.
"Ordinand?"Isaid.
"Noslouch,areyou?Yeah,Ordinand.Thepincherswanthimtosellitatonce."
"Howdidtheytellhim?"Iasked.
"Onthetelephone.Notap,ofcourse,atthatpoint.Hesaysitwasarough voicefullofslang.Aggressive.Alotofthreats."
ItoldTonyabouttheblock-letterednote."Sameleveloflanguage?"
"Yeah."Tony"soccasionalrestraintinthematterofeffthisandeffthatwas alwaysasourceofwonder,butinfactheseldomletripinfrontofclients.
"Mr.Nerrity"schief,nottosaysole,a.s.set,asIunderstandit,isthehorse.
Heis...er..."
"Spittingmad?"Isuggested.
"Yeah."
Ihalfsmiled."Mrs.Nerrityisfaintlyscaredofhim."
"Notintheleastsurprising."
ItoldTonyhowthekidnaphadbeenworkedandsaidIthoughtthepoliceought toinvestigatethedinghyveryfast.
"Haveyoutoldthelocalfuzzanythingyet?"
"No.Mirandawilltakeabitofpersuading.I"lldoitnext.Whathaveyoutold themfromyourend?"
"Nothingsofar.ItellMr.Nerritywecan"thelphimwithoutthepolice,but youknowwhat.i.t"slike..."
"Mm.I"llcallyouagain,shortly."
"Yeah."HeputhisreceiverdownandIambledoutofthehotelandrolledmy trouserlegsuptothekneesontheedgeoftheshingle,slidingdownthebanks ofpebblesingreatstridestowardsthesand.OncethereItookoffshoesand socksandstrolledalongcarryingthem,enjoyingtheeveningsun.
Therewereafewbreakwatersatintervalsalongthebeach,blackfingers stretchingstumpilyseawards,rotteninplacesandovergrownwithmolluscsand seaweed.Miranda"schair,towels,andparaphernaliawerealoneontheshingle, mostotherpeoplehavingpackedupfortheday;andnotfarawaytherewa.s.still aredplasticbucketandablueplasticspadeonthegroundbesidea half-trampledsandcastle.TheBritishseasidepublic,Ireflected,werestill remarkablyhonest.
Theburntremainsofthedinghywerethefocalpointforthefewpeoplestillon thesand,thereturningtidealreadyswirlinganinchdeeparoundthehull.I walkedoverthereasifdrawnlikeeveryoneelse,andtooktheclosestpossible look,paddling,likeothers,toseeinsidethesh.e.l.l.
Theboathadbeenfibergla.s.sandhadmeltedasitburned.Therewereno discernibleregistrationnumbersonwhatwasleftoftheexterior,andalthough themast,whichwasaluminum,hadsurvivedtheblazeandstillpointed heavenwardlikeanexclamationmark,thesailwhichwouldhaveborne identificationlayinashesrounditsfoot.Somethinginthescorchedmessmight tellatale-b.u.t.thetidewasinexorable.
"Shouldn"twetrytohaulituptotheshingle?"Isuggestedtoamanpaddling likemyself.
Heshrugged."Notourbusiness."
"Hasanyonetoldthepolice?"Isaid.
Heshruggedagain."Searchme."
Ipaddledroundtotheothersideoftheremainsandtriedanothermore responsible-lookingcitizenbuthetooshookhisheadandmutteredaboutbeing latealready,anditwastwofourteen-sizedboys,overhearing,whosaidthey wouldgivemeahand,ifIliked.
Theywerestrongandcheerful.Theylifted,strained,staggeredwillingly.The keelslidupthesandleavingadeepsingletrackandbetweenuswemanhandled ituptheshingletowheretheboyssaidthetidewouldn"treachittowhiskit away.
"Thanks,"Isaid.
Theybeamed.Weallstoodhandsonhipsadmiringtheresultofourlaborsand thentheytoosaidtheyhadtobeoffhometosupper.Theylopedaway,vaulting abreakwater,andIcollectedthebucketandspadeandallMiranda"sbelongings andcarriedthemuptoherroom.
NeithershenorAlessiawasingoodshape,andAlessia,ifanything,seemedthe morerelievedatmyreturn.Igaveherarea.s.suringhug,andtoMirandaIsaid, "We"regoingtohavetogetthepolice."
"No."Shewasterrified."No...no..."
"Mm."Inodded."Believeme,it"sbest.Thepeoplewho"vetakenDominicdon"t wanttokillhim,theywanttosellhimbacktoyousafeandsound.Holdonto that.Thepolicewillbeveryhelpfulandwecanarrangethingssothatthe kidnapperswon"tknowwe"vetoldthem.I"lldothat.Thepolicewillwantto knowwhatDominicwaswearing...onthebeach...andifyouhaveaphotograph,that wouldbegreat."
Shewaveredhelplessly."Johnsaid...keepquiet,I"ddoneenoughdamage..."
Ipickedupthetelephonecasuallyandgotthroughagaintoherhusband"s number.Tonyagainanswered.
"Andrew,"Isaid.
"Oh."Hisvoicelost.i.tstension;he"dbeenexpectingthekidnappers.
"Mrs.Nerritywillagreetoinformingthepoliceonherhusband"ssayso."
"Goahead,then.Heunderstandswecan"tactforhimwithout.He...er...doesn"t wantustoleavehim.He"sjustthisminutedecided,whenheheardthephone ring."
"Good.Hangon..."IturnedtoMiranda."Yourhusbandsayswecantellthepolice.
Doyouwanttotalktohim?"
Sheshookherheadviolently."O.K.,"IsaidtoTony."Let"sgetstartedand I"llcallyoulater."
"Whatwasthekidwearing?"heasked.
IrepeatedthequestiontoMirandaandbetweennewsobsshesaidredbathing trunks.Tinytowelingtrunks.Noshoes,noshirt...ithadbeenhot.
Tonygruntedandrangoff,andasunhurriedlyasIcouldIaskedMirandatoput someclothesonandcomeoutdrivingwithmeinmycar.Questioning,hesitant, andfearful,sheneverthelessdidwhatwasneeded,andpresently,havingwalked outofthehotelinscarfandsungla.s.sesbetweenAlessiaandmyself,satwith Alessiaintherea.r.s.eatsasIdroveallthreeofusinthedirectionof Chichester.
Checksonourtailandanunnecessarydetourshowednoonefollowing,andwith onepausetoaskdirectionsIstoppedthecarnearthemainpolicestationbut outofsightofit,roundacorner.InsidethestationIaskedforthesenior officersonduty,andpresentlyexplainedtoachiefinspectorandaC.I.D.man howthingsstood.
Ishowedthemmyownidentificationandcredentials,andoneofthem, fortunately,knewsomethingofLibertyMarket"swork.Theylookedatthe kidnappers"threateningnotewiththeblanknessofshock,andrapidlypaid attentiontotheaccountofthedeathofthedinghy.
"We"llbeontothatstraightaway,"saidthechiefinspector,stretchingahand tothetelephone."Noone"sreportedityet,asfarasIknow."
"Er..."Isaid."Sendsomeonedressedasaseaman.Gumboots.Seaman"ssweater.
Don"tletthembehavelikepolicemen,itwouldbeverydangerousforthechild."
Thechiefinspectordrewbackfromthetelephone,frowning.Kidnappingin Englandwa.s.socomparativelyrarethatveryfewlocalforceshadanyexperience ofit.IrepeatedthatthedeaththreattoDominicwasrealandshouldbea primeconsiderationinallprocedure.
"Kidnappersarefullofadrenalineandeasilyfrightened,"Isaid."It"swhen theythinkthey"reindangerofbeingcaughtthattheykill...andbury...the victim.Dominicreallyisindeadlydanger,butwe"llgethimbacksafeifwe"re careful."
AfterasilencetheC.I.D.officer,whowasroughlymyownage,saidtheywould havetocallinhissuper.
"Howlongwillthattake?"Iasked."Mrs.Nerrityisoutsideinmycarwitha womanfriend,andIdon"tthinkshecanstandverymuchwaiting.She"shighly distressed."
Theynodded.Telephoned.Guardedlyexplained.Thesuper,ittranspiredtotheir relief,wouldspeedbacktohisofficewithintenminutes.
DetectiveSuperintendentEaglercouldhavebeenborntobeaplain-clothescop.
EventhoughIwas.e.xpectinghimIgavethethinharmless-lookingcreaturewho cameintotheroomnomorethanafirstcursoryglance.Hehadwispybalding hairandascrawnyneckrisingfromanill-fittingshirt.Hissuitlookedold andsaggyandhismannerseemedfaintlyapologetic.Itwasonlywhentheother twomenstraightenedathisarrivalthatwithsurpriseIrealizedwhohewas.
Heshookmyhand,notveryfirmly,perchedathinrumpononecornerofthe largeofficialdesk,andaskedmetoidentifymyself.Igavehimoneofthe firm"sbusinesscardswithmynameon.Withneitherhastenorcommenthedialed theofficenumberandspoke,Isupposed,toGerryClayton.Hemadenoremark aboutwhateveranswersGerrygavehim,butmerelysaid"Thanks"andputdownthe receiver.
"I"vestudiedothercases,"hesaiddirectlytomeandwithoutmorepreamble.
"LesleyWhittle...andothersthatwentwrong.Iwantnosuchdisastersonmy patch.I"lllistentoyouradvice,andifitseemsgoodtome,I"llactonit.
Can"tsaymorethanthat."
Inoddedandagainsuggestedseamen-lookalikestocollectthedinghy,towhich heinstantlyagreed,tellinghisjuniortodollhimselfupandtakeapartner, withoutdelay.
"Next?"heasked.
Isaid,"WouldyoutalktoMrs.Nerrityinmycar,notinhere?Idon"tthink sheshouldbeseeninapolicestation.Idon"tthinkeventhatIshouldwalk youdirectlytoher.Icouldmeetyousomewhere.Onemaybetakingprecautions quiteunnecessarily,butsomekidnappersareverythoroughandsuspicious,and one"sneverquitesure."
Heagreedandleftbeforeme,warninghistwocolleaguestosaynothingwhatever yettoanyoneelse.
"Especiallynotbeforeapressblack-outhasbeenarranged,"Iadded."Youcould killthechild.Seriously;Imeanit."
Theygaveearnesta.s.surances,andIwalkedbacktothecartofindbothgirls toonearcollapse."We"regoingtopicksomeoneup,"Isaid."He"sapoliceman, buthedoesn"tlooklikeit.He"llhelptogetDominicbacksafelyandtoarrest thekidnappers."Isighedinwardlyatmypositivevoice,butifIcouldn"tgive Mirandaevenashredofconfidence,Icouldgivehernothing.Westoppedfor Eagleratacrossroadsnearthecathedral,andheslidwithoutcommentintothe frontpa.s.sengerseat.
AgainIdroveawhileonthelookoutforcompany,butasfarasIcouldseeno kidnappershadriskedit.AfterafewmilesIstoppedinaparkingplaceonthe sideofaruralroad,andEaglergotMirandaagaintodescribeherdreadfulday.
"Whattimewasit?"hesaid.
"I"mnotsure...Afterlunch.We"deatenourlunch."
"Wherewasyourhusband,whenyoutelephonedhim?"
"Inhisoffice.He"salwaystherebytwo."
Mirandawas.e.xhaustedaswellastearful.Eagler,whowashavingtoaskhis questionsovertheclumsybarrierofthefrontseats,madeasketchystabat pattingherhandinafatherlyway.Sheinterpretedtheintentionbehindthe gestureandwepttheharder,chokingoverthedetailsofredswimmingtrunks,no shoes,blueeyes,fairhair,noscars,suntannedskin...they"dbeenatthe seasidefornearlytwoweeks...theyweregoinghomeonSat.u.r.day.