"Cometomorrow.You"llbeinterested.I"llarrangepa.s.sesforyou."
Ithankedhim,notsurewhetherIcouldmanageit.Henoddedgenially.Asmall thingliketheabductionofBritain"stopracingexecutivewasnot,itseemed, goingtodenttheonwardsteamrolleringoftheweek"sseriouspleasures.
IaskedhimifIcouldmakeacalltoLibertyMarketbeforeIwenttothepolice inWashington,andhewavedmegenerouslytothetelephone.
"Sure.Gorightahead.It"saprivateline.I"lldoeverythingpossibletohelp, youknowthat,don"tyou?Ididn"tknowMorganhimselfrealwell,andIguessit couldn"tbethoughtthisracetrack"sfaulthewaskidnapped,butanythingwecan do...we"llgiveitourbestshot."
IthankedhimandgotthroughtoLondon,andGerryClaytonanswered.
"Don"tyouevergohome?"Isaid.
"Someonehastomindthestore,"hesaidplaintively;butweallknewhelived aloneandwaslonelyawayfromtheoffice.
"AnynewsfromtheJockeyClub?"Iasked.
"Yeah,andhow.WantmetoplayyouthetapetheygotbyExpressMail?"
"Fireaway."
"Hangon."Therewasapauseandafewclicks,andthenanAmericanvoice, punchyandhard.
"IfyouBritsintheJockeyClubwantFreemantleback,listengood.It"sgoing tocostyoutenmillionEnglishpoundssterling.Don"tcollectthemoneyin notes.You"regoingtopayincertifiedbankerschecks.Youwon"tgetFreemantle backuntilthechecksarecleared.You"vegotoneweektocollectthebread.In oneweekyou"llgetmoreinstructions.Ifyoufoolaround,Freemantlewilllose hisfingers.You"llgetoneeveryday,ExpressMail,startingtwoweeksfrom now.
"Notricks.YouintheJockeyClub,you"vegotmoney.EitheryoubuyFreemantle back,orwekillhim.That"sapromise.We"lltakehimout.Andifyoudon"t comeupwiththebread,youwon"tevengethiscorpse.Ifwekillhim,we"ll killhimrealslow.Makehimcurse.Makehimscream.Youhearus?Hegetsno tidysingleshot.Hedieshard.Ifwekillhim,you"llgethisscreamsontape.
Ifyoudon"twantthat,you"regoingtohavetopay.
"Freemantlewantstotalktoyou.Youlisten."
Therewasapauseontheline,thenFreemantle"sownvoice,soundingstrongand toughandincrediblyculturedaftertheother.
"Ifyoudonotpaytheransom,Iwillbekilled.Iamtoldthisisso,andI believeit."
Click.
"Didyougetallthat?"GerryClayton"svoicesaidimmediately.
"Yeah."
"Whatdoyouthink?"
"Ithinkit"sourmanagain,"Isaid."Forsure."
"Right.Samefeel."
"Howlongw.i.l.l.youbeontheswitchboard?"Iasked.
"Untilmidnight.SevenP.M.,yourtime."
"I"llprobablyringagain."
"O.K.Happyhunting."
IthankedRickenbackeranddroveofftoWashington,andafterafewfalsetrails foundCaptainofDetectivesKentWagnerinhisprecinct.
Thecaptainwasawalkingcrimedeterrent,bigofbody,hardofeye,amanwho spokesoftlyandremindedoneofcobras.Hewasperhapsfiftywithflat-brushed darkhair,hischintuckedbacklikeafightingman;andIhadapowerful impressionoffacingawary,decisiveintelligence.Heshookmyhand perfunctorily,lookingmeoverfromheadtofoot,summingupmysoul.
"KidnappersnevergetawaywithitintheUnitedStates,"hesaid."Thistime willbenoexception."
Iagreedwithhiminprinciple.TheAmericanrecordagainstkidnapperswas secondtonone.
"Whatcanyoutellme?"heaskedflatly,fromhislooknothopingmuch.
"Quitealot,Ithink,"Isaidmildly.
Heeyedmeforamoment,thenopenedthedoorofhisgla.s.s-walledofficeand calledacrossanexpanseofdesks,"AskLieutenantStavoskitostepinhere,if youplease."
Oneofthemanyblue-uniformedmenrosetohisfeetandwentontheerrand,and throughthewindowsIwatchedthebusy,orderlyscene,manypeoplemoving, telephonesringing,voicestalking,typewritersclacking,computerscreens flicking,cupsofcoffeeonthemarch.LieutenantStavoski,whenhecame,wasa pudgymaninthelatethirtieswithalargedroopingmoustacheandnovisible doubtsabouthimself.Hegavemeadisillusionedstare;probablyoutofhabit.
ThecaptainexplainedwhoIwas.Stavoskilookedunimpressed.Thecaptain invitedmetogive.Iobliginglyopenedmybriefcaseandbroughtoutafew a.s.sortedarticles,whichIlaidonhisdesk.
"Wethinkthisisdefinitelythethird,andprobablythefourth,ofaseriesof kidnappingsinstigatedbyoneparticularperson,"Isaid."TheJockeyClubin EnglandhastodayreceivedatapefromthekidnappersofMorganFreemantle, whichI"vearrangedforyoutohearnowonthetelephone,ifyoulike.I"vealso broughtwithmetheransom-demandtapesfromtwooftheotherkidnaps."I pointedtothemastheylayonthedesk."Youmightbeinterestedtohearthe similarities."Ipausedslightly."OneofthetapesisinItalian."
"Italian?"
"ThekidnapperhimselfisItalian."
Neitherofthemparticularlylikedit.
"HespeaksEnglish,"Isaid,"butinEnglandherecruitedanEnglishnationalto utterhisthreats,andontoday"stapethevoiceisAmerican."
Wagnerpursedhislips."Let"sheartoday"stapethen."Hegavemethereceiver fromhistelephoneandpressedafewpreliminaryb.u.t.tons."Thiscallwillbe recorded,"hesaid."Alsoallourconversationsfromnowon."
InoddedandgotthroughtoGerryClayton,whogavethekidnapperarepeat performance.Theaggressivevoiceraspedoutloudlythroughtheamplifierin CaptainWagner"soffice,boththepolicemenlisteningwithconcentrateddisgust.
IthankedGerryanddisconnected,andwithoutawordWagnerheldoutahandto me,hiseyesonthetapesI"dbrought.IgavehimtheNerrityone,whichhe fittedintoaplayerandsetgoing.ThesourthreatstoDominic,thecuttingoff offingers,thescreams,thenonreturnofthebody,allthunderedintothe officelikeanecho.ThefacesofWagnerandStavoskibothgrewstillandthen judiciousandfinallyconvinced.
"Thesameguy,"Wagnersaid,switchingoff."Differentvoice,samebrain."
"Yes,"Isaid.
"GetPatrolmanRosselliniinhere,"hetoldthelieutenantanditwa.s.stavoski, thistime,whoputhisheadoutofthedoorandyelledforthehelp.Patrolman Rossellini,large-nosed,young,black-haired,veryAmerican,broughthisItalian grand-parentagetobearonthethirdofthetapesandtranslatedfluentlyasit wentalong.WhenitcametothelastoftheseriesofthreatstoAlessia"sbody hisvoicefalteredandstopped,andheglanceduneasilyaround,asiffor escape.
"Whatisit?"Wagnerdemanded.
"Theguysays,"Rossellinisaid,squaringhisshoulderstotherequirement, "well,tobehonest,Captain,I"drathernotsay."
"Theguyroughlysaid,"Imurmured,comingtotherescue,"thatb.i.t.c.heswere accustomedtodogsandthatallwomenwereb.i.t.c.hes."
Wagnerstared."Youmean...?"
"Imean,"Isaid,"thatthatthreatwasissuedtoreduceherfathertopulp.
Thereseemstohavebeennointentionwhatsoeverofcarryingitout.The kidnappersneverthreatenedanythinglikeittothegirlherself,noranything indeedaboutdailybeatings.Theylefthercompletelyalone."
PatrolmanRosselliniwentawaylookinggrateful,andItoldWagnerandStavoski mostofwhathadhappenedinItalyandEnglandandinwhatwaysthesimilarities ofthetwokidnappingsmightbeofusetothemnow.Theylistenedsilently, facesimpa.s.sive,reservingcommentsandjudgmenttotheend.
"Let"sgetthisstraight,"Wagnersaideventually,stirring."One;this Giuseppe-PeterislikelytohaverentedahouseinWashington,reasonablynear theRitzCarlton,withinthelasteightweeks.That,asIunderstandit,iswhen MorganFreemantleacceptedEricRickenbacker"sinvitation."
Inodded."ThatwasthedategivenusbytheJockeyClub."
"Two;therearelikelytobeatleastfiveorsixkidnappersinvolved,allof themAmericanexceptGiuseppe-Peter.Three;Giuseppe-Peterhasaninsideedgeon racecourseinformationandthereforemustbeknowntopeopleinthatworld.And four,"withatouchofgrimhumor,"atthismomentMorganFreemantlemaybe gettinghisearsblastedoffbyVerdi."
HepickedupthephotocopylikenessofGiuseppe-Peter.
"We"llpaperthecitywiththis,"hesaid."IftheNerritykidrecognizedhim, anyonecan."Hegavemealookinwhich,iftherewasn"tpositivefriendship, onecouldatleastreadasheathingofpoisonfangs, "Onlyamatteroftime,"hesaid.
"But...er..."Isaiddiffidently."Youwon"tofcourseforgetthatifheseesyou gettingclose,he"llkillMorganFreemantle.I"dneverdoubthemeansthatpart.
Killhimandburyhim.He"dbuiltatombforlittleDominicthatmightnothave beenfoundforyears."
Wagnerlookedatmewithspeculation."DoesthismanGiuseppe-Peterfrighten you?"
"Asaprofessionaladversary,yes."
Bothmenweresilent.
"Hekeepshisnerve,"Isaid."Hethinks.Heplans.He"sbold.Idon"tbelievea manlikethatwouldturntothisparticularcrimeifhewerenotpreparedto kill.Mostkidnapperswillkill.I"dreckonGiuseppe-Peterwouldexpecttokill andgetawaywithit,ifkillingwerenecessary.Idon"tthinkhewoulddoit inchbyinch,asthetapethreatened.Butafastkilltocuthislosses,to escape,yes,I"dbetonit."
KentWagnerlookedathishands."Hasitoccurredtoyou,Andrew,thatthis Giuseppe-Petermaynotlikeyoupersonallyonelittlebit?"
Iwa.s.surprisedbyhisuseofmyfirstnameb.u.t.tookitthankfullyasasignof aworkingrelationshipabouttobegin;andIansweredsimilarly,"Kent,Idon"t thinkheknowsIexist."
Henodded,asmilehovering,theconnectionmade,thecommonground acknowledged.
Chapterseventeen.
SILENCEfromthekidnappers,indignationfromtheabout-to-be-dunnedmembersof theJockeyClubandfurorfromtheworld"ssportingpress:hoursofhorrified talkvibratingtheairwaves,butonthegroundovernightatotalabsenceof action.Iwenttothepressbreakfastinconsequencewithaquietconscienceand alightheart,hopingtoseeAlessia.
TheraceclubloungeswerepackedwhenIarrived,thedecibelcounthigh.Gla.s.ses oforangejuicesproutedfrommanyafist,long-lensedcamera.s.swingingfrom manyashoulder.Thesportswriterswereontheirfeet,moving,mingling,agog forexclusives,earsstretchingtohearconversationsbehindthem.Themajority, knowingeachother,clappedshouldersinpa.s.sing.Trainersheldsmallcircular conferences,thepressheadsbendingtocatchvitalwords.Ownersstoodaround lookingeithersmugorbemusedaccordingtohowoftenthey"dattendedthissort ofshindig;andhereandthere,likegazellesamongtheherd,likeavariation ofthespecies,stoodshortlight-bonedcreatures,headsthrownback,being deferredtolikestars.
"Orangejuice?"someonesaid,handingmeagla.s.s.
"Thanks."
Icouldn"tseeRickenbacker,noranyoneIknew.
NoAlessia.ThegazellesIsawwereallmale.
Iwanderedabout,knowingthatwithouthermypresencetherewaspointless;but ithadseemedunlikelythatshewouldmisstakingherplaceamongherpeers.
Iknewshe"dacceptedLaurel"sinvitation,andhernamewasplainlythereatthe breakfast,onalistpinnedtoanoticeboardonaneasel,astheriderof Brunelleschi.Ireadthroughthelist,sippingorangejuice.Fourteenrunners; threefromBritain,onefromFrance,onefromItaly,twofromCanada,twofrom Argentina,alltheresthomegrown.Alessiaseemedtobetheonlyfemalejockey.
Presumablyatsomesortofsignalthewholecrowdbeganmovingintoalargeside room,inwhichmanyoblongtableswereformallylaidwithflowers,tablecloths, plates,andcutlery.Ihadvaguelya.s.sumedtheroomtobemadereadyforlunch, butI"dbeenwrong.Breakfastmeantapparentlynotorangejuiceonthewing,but baconandeggs,waitresses,andhotbreads.
Ihungback,thinkingIwouldn"tstay,andheardabreathlessvoicebymyleft earsayingincredulously,"Andrew?"Iturned.Shewasthereafterall,thethin facestrongnowandvivid,thetiltoftheheadconfident.Thedarkcurlsshone withhealth,theeyesbelowthemgleaming.
Ihadn"tbeensurewhatIfeltforher,notuntilthatmoment.Ihadn"tseenher forsixweeksandbeforethatI"dbeenaccustomedtothinkingofheraspartof myjob;arewardingpleasure,avictimImuchliked,b.u.t.transient,likeallthe others.Thesightofherthatmorningcameasalmostaphysicalshock,an intoxicantracinginthebloodstream.Iputoutmyarmsandhuggedher,andfelt herclingtomemomentarilywithsavagery.
"Well..."Ilookedintoherbrowneyes."Wantalover?"
Shegaspedabitandlaughed,anddidn"tanswer."We"reatatableoverthere,"
shesaid,pointingdeepintotheroom."Weweresittingtherewaiting.I couldn"tbelieveitwhenIsawyoucomein.There"sroomforyouatourtable.A spareplace.Dojoinus."
Inoddedandsheledtheway:anditwasn"tIlariawhohadcomewithherfrom Italy,butPaoloCencihimself.Hestoodupatmyapproachandgavemenota handshakebutanimmoderateItalianembrace,headtohead,hisfacefullof welcome.
PerhapsIwouldn"thaverecognizedhim,thisa.s.sured,solid,pearl-gray-suited businessman,ifI"dmethimunexpectedlyinanAmericanstreet.Hewasagainthe manIhadn"tknown,thecompetentmanagerintheportrait.Theshakywreckageof fivemonthsearlierhadretreated,becomeamemory,anillnessobliteratedby recovery.Iwasgladforhimandfeltastrangerwithhim,andwouldnotinany wayhavereferredtotheanxietieswehadshared.
Hehimselfhadnosuchreservations."ThisisthemanwhobroughtAlessiaback safely,"hesaidcheerfullyinItaliantothethreeotherpeopleatthetable, andAlessia,glancingbrieflyatmyface,said,"Papa,hedoesn"tlikeusto talkabout.i.t."
"Mydarlinggirl,wedon"toften,dowe?"Hesmiledatmewithintense friendship."MeetBrunoandBeatriceGoldoni,"hesaidinEnglish."Theyarethe ownersofBrunelleschi."
Ishookhandswithawithdrawn-lookingmanofaboutsixtyandastrained-looking womanafewyearsyounger,bothofwhomnoddedpleasantlyenoughbutdidn"t speak.
"AndSilvioLucchese,Brunelleschi"strainer,"PaoloCencisaid,introducingthe lastofthethree.
Weshookhandsquickly,politely.Hewasdarkandthinandremindedmeof Pucinelli;ama.n.u.sedtopowerbutfindinghimselfatadisadvantage,ashe spokeverylittleEnglishveryawkwardly,witha.n.a.lmostunintelligibleaccent.
PaoloCenciwavedmetotheoneemptychair,betweenAlessiaandBeatrice Goldoni,andwhenallintheroomwereseatedahushfellonthenoisygeneral chatterandRickenbacker,followedbyafewfriends,madeaheraldedentrance, walkinginamodestprocessiondownthewholeroom,headingforatoptable facingeveryoneelse.
"WelcometoLaurelracecourse,"hesaidgenially,reachinghiscenterchair,his whitehaircrowninghisheightlikeacloud."Gladtoseesomanyoverseas friendsherethismorning.AsIexpectmostofyouhavenowheard,oneofour goodfriendsismissing.IspeakofcourseofMorganFreemantle,seniorsteward oftheBritishJockeyClub,whowasdistressfullyabductedheretwodaysago.
Everythingpossibleisbeingdonetosecurehisearlyreleaseandofcourse we"llkeepyouallinformedaswegoalong.Meanwhile,haveagoodbreakfast, andwe"llalltalklater."
Aflurryofwaitresseseruptedallovertheplace,andIsupposeIate,butI wasconsciousonlyofmystirredfeelingsforAlessia,andofhernearness,and ofthequestionshehadn"tanswered.Shebehavedtome,andIdaresayItoher, withcivilcalm.Inanycase,sinceeveryoneatthetablewastalkingin Italian,myownutteranceswerefew,careful,andlimitedincontent.
ItseemedthattheGoldoniswereenjoyingtheirtrip,thoughonewouldn"thave guesseditfromtheirexpressions.
"Weareworriedabouttheracetomorrow,"Beatricesaid."Wealwaysworry,we can"thelpit."Shebrokeoff."DoyouunderstandwhatI"msaying?"
"IunderstandmuchmorethanIspeak."