The Danger.

Chapter 29

"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.

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