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"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."
"Whenis.h.i.+ghtide?"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 trouserlegsuptothekneesontheedgeofthes.h.i.+ngle,slidingdownthebanks ofpebblesingreatstridestowardsthesand.OncethereItookoffshoesand socksandstrolledalongcarryingthem,enjoyingtheeveningsun.
Therewereafewbreakwatersatintervalsalongthebeach,blackfingers stretchingstumpilyseawards,rotteninplacesandovergrownwithmolluscsand seaweed.Miranda'schair,towels,andparaphernaliawerealoneonthes.h.i.+ngle, 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'twetrytohaulituptothes.h.i.+ngle?"Isuggestedtoamanpaddling likemyself.
Heshrugged."Notourbusiness."
"Hasanyonetoldthepolice?"Isaid.
Heshruggedagain."Searchme."
Ipaddledroundtotheothersideoftheremainsandtriedanothermore responsible-lookingcitizenbuthetooshookhisheadandmutteredaboutbeing latealready,anditwastwofourteen-sizedboys,overhearing,whosaidthey wouldgivemeahand,ifIliked.
Theywerestrongandcheerful.Theylifted,strained,staggeredwillingly.The keelslidupthesandleavingadeepsingletrackandbetweenuswemanhandled itupthes.h.i.+ngletowheretheboyssaidthetidewouldn'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,nos.h.i.+rt...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's.h.i.+ghly distressed."
Theynodded.Telephoned.Guardedlyexplained.Thesuper,ittranspiredtotheir relief,wouldspeedbacktohisofficewithintenminutes.
DetectiveSuperintendentEaglercouldhavebeenborntobeaplain-clothescop.
EventhoughIwas.e.xpectinghimIgavethethinharmless-lookingcreaturewho cameintotheroomnomorethanafirstcursoryglance.Hehadwispybalding hairandascrawnyneckrisingfromanill-fittings.h.i.+rt.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.
