"Betterchanceinthiscountrythananywhereelse,ofcourse."
Inodded.Amongwell-meaningpeoples,liketheBritish,kidnapperswere disadvantaged.Theircrimewasreviled,nottolerated,andthepopulationnot afraidofinforming.Oncethevictimwa.s.safelyhome,thetrace-and-capture machineryhadprovedexcellent.
FindingthehideoutbeforethepayoffwaseasierinBritainthaninItaly,but stilldauntinglydifficult:andmostsuccessesalongthatlinehadcomefrom coincidence,fromnosyneighbors,andfromguessingwhohaddonethekidnap becauseofthecloseknowledgeinadvertentlyrevealedofthevictim"sprivate life.
"Nooneknewmydaughterwasgoingtobeatthatdanceexceptherboyfriend,"
onegrief-strickenfatherhadtoldus:andsureenoughherapparentlyshattered boyfriendhadorganizedtheextortion-thattimewithoutthegirl"sknowledge, whichwasn"talwaysso.Collusionwiththe"victim"hadtobeconsideredevery time,humangreedbeingwhat.i.twas.Thegirlinthatcasehadbeenfoundand freedwithoutaransombeingpaid,butshe"dhadaworsetimeincaptivitythan AlessiaandthelastI"dheardshewasbeingtreatedfordeepprolonged depression.
"IthinkI"lljustmoseyaroundabitwheretheboatsare,"Tonysaid."CanI borrowyourcar?Youca.n.u.seMiranda"sifyou"redesperate.DoyoumindifIgo homelaterforsomegear?I"llseeyouateffingbreakfast."
"Don"tcrunchit,"Isaid,givinghimthekeys.
"AsifIwould."
Ispenttheeveningeatingthehotel"sveryreasonabledinnerandpacking Miranda"sbelongings.Dominic"sclothes,quietandfolded,filledaneatsmall suitcase.Iputhiscuddlytoys,ateddyandaSnoopy,inbesidethem,andshut thelid:andthoughtofhim,sodefenseless,sofrightened,andknewthat.i.twas becauseofpeoplelikehimandAlessiathatwhatIwasdoingwasajobforlife.
InviewofJohnNerrity"schangeofheartIguessedhewouldn"tbetoopleased withthemorningnewspapers"moneycolumns,wherethefinancialeditorshaddone himproud.Theword"Nerrity"sprangoutinlargeblacklettersfromeverypaper I"dvisited,whichweremostlyofthesortthatIguessedthewriterofthe kidnapnotewouldread.
"NerrityHomeandDried."
"Nerrity"sNagtotheRescue."
"NerrityFloatsonStud,"theysaid:and"NerritySolventbyShortHead."To kidnappersnervouslyscanningthepressforsignsofpoliceactivity,thebad newscouldn"tbemissed.CreditorswerezeroinginontheOrdinandproceeds,and therewouldbepreciouslittleleftforothersharks.
EaglertelephonedmeinMiranda"sroomwhileIwa.s.stillreading."Thesepapers...
Isthisyourdoing?"heasked.
"Er,yes."
Hechuckled."IthoughtIdetectedthefinehand.Well,laddie,we"redoinga spotofrummagingaroundthecla.s.sifiedsinthelocalragsofaweektotwo weeksago,andwe"recheckingthroughallthepropertiestorent.We"llhavea partiallistforyouanytimetoday."Hepaused."NowI"mputtingalotoffaith inyourfriendTonyVine,andIwanttobesureit"snotmisplaced."
"He"sanex-S.A.S.,"Isaid."Asergeant."
"Ah."Hesoundedrelieved.
"Heprefersworkingatnight."
"Doeshenow."Eaglerwasalmostpurring."Ishouldhaveafairlycompletelist foryoubylatethisafternoon.w.i.l.l.youfetchit?"
Wearrangedtimeandplace,andrangoff;andwhenIwentdownstairs...o...b..eakfastTonywaswalkinginthroughthefrontdoor,yawning.
Overbacon,eggs,andkippersherecountedwhathe"dfound."Didyouknow there"sawholeinternalwatersystembehindthecoasthere?ItchenorCreekgoes allthewaytoChichester.b.u.t.there"salocksomewayup,andourfellows didn"tgothroughit."Hechewed."Ihiredarowingboat.Sneakedaroundabit.
Reckonit"saneffingneedleinahaystackwe"reafter.There"sdozens,hundreds oflikelyhouses.Holidayflats.Chalets.Younameit.Andontopofthatthe watergoescleartosomewherecalledHaylingIsland,withthousandsmorelittle bungalows,andthereareuncountableplaceswhereacarcouldhavemettheboat andtakenthenipperanywhere."
IgloomilyatesometoastandtoldhimaboutEagler"simpendinglist.
"O.K.then,"Tonysaid."I"llswimthismorning,sleepthisafternoon,work tonight,O.K.?"
Inoddedandpa.s.sedhimoneofthenewspapers.Tonyreadthefinancialnewsover therimofhiscupoftea."Youhittheeffingbull"s-eye.Noonecouldmiss it,"hesaid.
Nerrityhimselfcertainlyhadn"tmissedit.GerryClaytontelephonedtosaythat Nerritywasfuriousandinsistingwedropthecase.Hewantednothingmoretodo withLibertyMarket.
"Headmittedhe"dagreedtoyourgettingthestoryintothepapers,"Gerrysaid.
"Buthedidn"tthinkitwouldhappensoquickly,andhehadintendedtocancel it."
"Toobad."
"Yes.SoofficiallyyouandTonycanbreakoffandcomehome."
"No,"Isaid."We"reworkingforMrs.Nerritynow.Shespecificallyaskedforus tocontinue."
Gerry"svoicehadasmileinit."Ithoughtyoumight,but.i.tmakesitalla d.a.m.nsightmoretricky.Bothofyou...takecare."
"Yeah,"Isaid."Foldsomenicepaper.Tryaboat."
"Boat?"
"Aboattothrustasmallboyintosothatyoucanputatarpaulinorsomesuch overhim,aboattochugnoisilyawayoverthebreakingwavessothatnoonecan hearhimcryingout."
"Isthathowitwasdone?"Gerryaskedsoberly.
"Wethinkso,yes."
"Poorlittleblighter,"Gerrysaid.
TonyandIintrueholiday-makingfashionspentthemorninginoroutofwater, althoughthedaywasnotsowarmnorthebeachsofruitfullycrowded.The policewoman,nowinawhitebikini,cametosplashwithusintheshallowsbut saidshehadn"tbeenabletofindanyonewhohadseenDominiccarriedoff.
"Everysinglepersonseemstohavebeenlookingatthedinghy,"shesaid disgustedly."Andallweknowaboutthatisthat.i.twa.s.strandedonthesand whenthetidewentout,andithadalargepieceofpapertapedtotheseat saying"Don"ttouchtheboat,we"llbebackforitsoon.""
"Didn"tsomeonesaythey"dseenwholeft.i.t?"Iasked.
"Well,yes,b.u.t.thatwasaboyplayingupontheshingle,andallhecouldsay wasthattheyweretwomeninshortsandbrightorangerainproofsailing jackets,whohadpulledthedinghyupthesandabitandbeenbusyrounditfor awhileandthenhadwalkedoffnorthwestalongthebeach.Theboywentdownto thedinghysoonafterwardsandreadthenote,andafterthathewentofftoget anicecream.Hewasn"thereintheafternoonwhenitwentupinflames,muchto hisdisgust.Whenhecamebackitwasburntandblack."
Thepolicewomanwa.s.shiveringintherisingbreezeandturningapaleshadeof blue."Timeforasweaterandthicksocks,"shesaidcheerfully."AndImightas wellchatuptheancientladieslivingintheHavenRestHomealongthere."She pointed."They"venothingtodobutlookoutofthewindows."
TonyandIpickedupourbelongingsandmovedtoth.e.s.h.elterofthehotel,and intheafternoonwhilethecloudsthickenedoverheadhesleptundisturbedin Miranda"sbed.
AtfiveIdrovetoChichestertocollectthelistofrentalsfromEagler:he cametomeetmehimself,lookinginsignificantandslow,andclimbedintothe pa.s.sengerseatatmyside.
"Thesetopelevenarethemostpromising,"hesaid,pointing."Theyare collectedfromalltheagencieswecouldthinkof.Theyareallholidayhomeson ornearthewaterandtheywereallrentedatthelastminute.Theweatherwas sobadinJulyandatthebeginningofAugustthatthereweremoreproperties tha.n.u.sualavailable,andthenwhenitturnedwarmertherewasarush."
Inodded."Mirandaherselfdecidedtocomehereonlyafewdaysinadvance.The hotelhadhadcancellationsbecauseoftheweather,andcouldtakeher."
"Iwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedifshehadn"tcome,"Eaglersaid thoughtfully.
"They"dhavegrabbedhimathome."
"You"dhavethoughtthey"dhavefounditeasiertowaituntilhewasback there."
"Kidnappersdon"ttrytomakethingseasyforthemselves,"Isaidmildly."They plantothelastinch.Theyspendmoney.They"reobsessional.There"snever anythingcasualaboutakidnap.Kidnapperswouldseeagoodchanceofsuccess whilethechildwasinchargeofhismotheralonedownhere,andIbetonce they"ddonetheplanningtheywaiteddayafterdayfortherightminute.Ifit hadn"tpresenteditselftheywouldhavefollowedMirandahomeandthoughtupa newplan.Orperhapshaverevertedtoaformerplanwhichhadn"tsofarborne fruit.Younevercantell.Butifthey"dwantedhim,theywouldhavegothimin theend."
"Howwouldtheyhaveknownshewascominghere?"Eaglerasked.
"Kidnapperswatch,"Isaid."They"reobsessionalaboutthat,too.What conclusionwouldyoucometoifyousawMirandaloadsuitcasesandabeachchair intohercar,strapDominicintohisseat,anddriveawaywaving?"
"Hm."
"You"dfollow,"Isaid.
"Iexpectso."
"Mirandainherniceredcar,drivingatamoderatespeed,asmothersdowith theirchildrenintheback."
"True,"hesaid.Hestirred."Anyway,thenextbunchofhousesonthelistare allatleastonestreetawayfromthewater,andthelastlotarefurther inland,butstillinthecoastlinevillages.Beyondthat..."hestopped,looking doubtful."ThiswholesectionofSuss.e.xisonebigholidayarea."
"We"lltrythese,"Isaid.
"I"vesomegoodmen,"Eaglersuggested."Theycouldhelp."
Ishookmyhead."Theymightjustpossiblyinquireofoneofthekidnappers themselvesifthey"dheardachildcrying.That"shappenedbefore.Thekidnapper saidno,andthechildturnedupdeadonsomewastegroundaweeklater.It happenedinItaly.Thepolicecaughtthekidnappersintheend,andthe kidnapperssaidthey"dpanickedwhentheyfoundthepoliceweresocloseto theirhideout."
Eaglerstrokedthumbandforefingerdownhisnose."Allright,"hesaid."We"ll doityourway."Heglancedatmesideways."b.u.t.tobehonest,Idon"tthink you"llsucceed."
Tony,backatthehotel,wasn"tparticularlyhopefuleither.Helooked judiciouslyatthefirstelevenaddressesandsaidhewouldfirstlocatethemby landandthenapproachbyrowingboat,andthoseelevenalonewouldtakehimall night.Hesaidhewouldtakemycar,whichstillhadhisgearstowedinit,and he"dbebackinthemorning.
"Sleeptomorrow,tryagaintomorrownight,"hesaid."ThatbringsustoSunday.
Hopethoseeffingkidnappersmeant.i.taboutgivingNerrityaweektocollectthe dough.Theymightbetwitchyafterthenewspapers.Mightadvancethetimeofthe drop.Hopeeffingnot."
Heatelittlefordinneranddroveawaywhenitwasgettingdark.Itelephoned AlessiafornewsofMiranda,butexceptforherhavingcomeoutofthehouseto callAlessia,nothingmuchhadhappened.Mirandacontinueddistraught.The kidnappershadnotbeenintouchagain.JohnNerritystillappearedtohave faithintheambushplanandhadsaidhethoughtMiranda"snear-collapse excessive.
"IwonderhowhewouldhavereactedifithadbeenOrdinandwho"dbeen kidnapped,"Isaid.
Alessianearlylaughed."Don"ttalkofit.Andit"sbeendone."
"Withoutsuccess,"Iagreed."Enoughtoputthehorsenappersoffforlife."
"Wouldyourfirmworktofreeahorse?"sheaskedcuriously.
"Sure.Extortionis.e.xtortion,howevermanylegsthevictimhas.Ransomscanbe negotiatedforanything."
"Paintings?"
"Anythinganyonecaresabout."
"Like"I"llgiveyouyourballbackifyoupaymeapenny"?"
"Exactlylikethat."
"Whereareyou?"shesaid."Notathome...Itriedthere."
"Aneveningoff,"Isaid."I"lltellyouwhenIseeyou."
"DocomeonSunday."
"Yes,I"lltry."
Wespentmoretimethannecessarysayinggoodbye.IthoughtthatIcouldeasily havetalkedtoherallevening,andwishedvaguelythatshefeltsecureenough totravelanddrivealone.
Tonycamebacksoonafterdawn,wakingmefromashallowsleep.
"Therearetwopossiblesoutofthoseelevenplaces,"hesaid,strippingofffor ashower."Nineofthemareoccupiedbybona-fideeffingholiday-makers.Iwent intofourtomakeabsolutelysure,b.u.t.theretheywere,tuckedupniceand unsuspecting,dads,mums,grannies,andkids,allregularlaw-abidingcitizens."
Tony"sskill,asheimmodestlysaid,wouldmakeanyprofessionalnightburglar looklikeaherdofelephants."Acreeperasgoodasme,"I"dheardhimsay, "cantouchapersoninbedandgetthemtoturnovertostopthemsnoring.I couldtakethepolishofftheirnails,letalonethewalletsfromunderthe pillows.GoodthingI"meffinghonest."
Iwaitedwhilehesteppedintotheshowerandsluicedlavishlyabout."There"s twoofthoseplaces,"hesaid,reappearingeventuallyandtowelinghis sandy-brownhair,"thatgavemebadvibes.Oneofthem"sgotsomesortof electronicgadgetguardingthedoor:itsentmydetectiongearintoatizzy.I"d guessit"soneofthosedo-it-yourselfalarmsyoucanbuyanywheretostophotel creepersfittingyouupwhileyou"resleepingoffthemickeythebarmanslipped you."Hedriedhisneck."SoIleftacoupleofbugsonthatone,andwe"llgo backsoonandlistenin."
HewrappedthetowelroundhisbodylikeasarongandsatonMiranda"sbed."The otherone"sgotnoelectronicgadgetsthatIcouldsee,but.i.t"sthreestories high.Boatshedonthegroundfloor.Empty.Just.w.a.terandeffingfish.Above that,roomsoverlookingthecreek.Abovethat,morerooms.There"sasortof scrubbypavedgardenontwosides.Notmuchcover.Ididn"tfancygoingin.
AnywayIstucktwobugsonit,oneoneachofthetwoupperfloors.Sowe"ll listentothemaswell."
"Cars?"Isaid.
"Can"ttell."Heshookhishead."Neitherplacehasagarage.Therewerecars alongthestreets."Hestoodupandbegantodress."Comeonthen,"hesaid.
"Getoutoftheeffingpit,andlet"sgofishing."
Hemeant.i.tliterally,itseemed.Byeight-thirtywewereoutonItchenorCreek inthechillymorninginhisrentedrowingboat,throwinglineswithmaggotson hooksovertheside.
"Areyousurethisistherightbait?"Isaid.
"Whocares?Ba.s.sswallowbarehookssometimes,sillyb.u.g.g.e.rs."
Hepaddledtheboatalonglikeabornwatermanwithoneoarinaloopofrope overthestem.Nocreakingrowlocks,heexplained.Ultra-silenttravel:highon theS.A.S.curriculum.
"Thetidewaslowatfivethismorning,"hesaid."Youcan"tgetaboatash.o.r.e atlowtideinalotofplaces,soiftheylandedthekidfromthatmotorboat.i.t wasprobablysomewherewherethere"swaterathalftide.Bothourpossibles qualify,just."
Ourrowingboatdriftedalongonslowlyfloodingwater.Thefishdisdainedthe maggotsandtherewasasaltysmellofseaweed.
"We"rejustcomingtotheplacewiththeelectronicbulldog,"Tonysaid."Hold thisaerialsoitlookslikeafishingrod."Heuntelescopedaboutsixfeetof thinsilveryrodandhandeditover,andIfoundtherewasalinetiedtothe endofitwithasmallweight."Chucktheweightinthewater,"hesaid,bending downtofiddlewiththeradioreceiverinwhatlookedlikeafishing-gearbox.
"Keepyoureyesonthebrinyandpinbackthelugs."
Ididallofthosethingsbutnothingmuchhappened.Tonygruntedanddidsome finetuning,butintheendhesaid,"Thelazyso-and-so"saren"tawake.The bugsareworking.We"llcomebackwhenwe"vecheckedtheotherhouse."