"Popsyissogenerous,"shesaid."I'vestayedwithhersooften,"Shepaused.

"Shedoesn'texactlysay'Snapoutofit'or'Pullyourselftogether,'butIcan seeherthinkingit.AndIexpectifIweresomeonelookingatme,I'dthinkit too.Imean,shemustbethinkingthathereIam,freeandundamaged,andI shouldbegratefulandgettingonwithlife,andthatfarfrommopingIshould befullofjoyandbounce."

Wewanderedslowlyalongandpeeredintotheshadowyinteriorofaboxwherethe inmatedozed,itsweightononehip,itsearsoccasionallytwitching.

"AfterVietnam,"Isaid,"whentheprisonerscamehome,therewereverymany divorces.Itwasn'tjustthesortofthingthathappenedafterthewarin Europe,whenthewivesgrewapartfromthehusbandsjustbyliving,whilefor thementimestoodstill.AfterVietnamitwasdifferent.Thoseprisonershad suffereddreadfully,andtheycamehometofamilieswhoexpectedthemtobe joyfulattheirrelease."

Alessialeanedherarmsonthehalf-door,andwatchedtheunmovinghorse.

"Thewivestriedtomakeallowances,butalotofthemenwereimpotent,and wouldburstintotearsinpublic,andmanyofthemtookoffenseeasily...and showedpermanentsymptomsofmentalbreakdown.Hamburgersandc.o.kecouldn'tcure them,norgoingtotheofficeninetofive."Ifiddledwiththeboltonthe door."Mostofthemrecoveredintimeandleadnormallives,buteventhosewill admittheyhadbaddreamsforyearsandwillneverforgetcleardetailsoftheir imprisonment."

Afterawhileshesaid,"Iwasn'taprisonerofwar."

"Oh,yes,justthesame.Capturedbyanenemythroughnofaultofyourown.Not knowingwhen-orwhether-youwouldbefree.Humiliated...deprivedoffreewill...

dependentonyourenemyforfood.Allthesame,butmadeworsebyisolation...by beingtheonlyone."

Sheputthecurlyheaddownmomentarilyonthefoldedarms."Alltheyevergave me,whenIasked,weresometissues,andIbegged...Ibegged...forthose."She swallowed."One'sbodydoesn'tstopcountingthedays,justbecauseone'sina tent."

Iputmyarmsilentlyroundhershoulders.Therewerethingsnomaleprisoner everhadtoface.Shecriedquietly,withgulpsandsmallcompulsivesniffs,and afterawhilesimplysaid"Thankyou,"andIsaid"Anytime,"andwemovedon downthelineofboxesknowingtherewasalongwaystilltogo.

Chapterseven.

MANNINGTHEOFFICEswitchboarddayandnightwasessentialbecausekidnappers keptantisocialhours;anditwasalwaysapartneronduty,notanemployee,for reasonsbothofreliabilityandofsecrecy.Theex-spiesfeared"moles"under everysecretarialdeskandranasecuritycheckonthejanitor.

ThatparticularSundaynightwasquiet,withtwocallsonly:onefromapartner inEcuadorsayinghe'ddiscoveredthelocalpolicewereduetoshareinthe ransomhewasnegotiatingandaskingforthefirm'sreactions,andthesecond fromTwinkletoes,whowantedacopyofthesetofprecautionswe'ddrawnupfor LucaOil.

Imadeanoteofit,saying,"SurelyLucaOilhaveone?"

"Thekidnappersstoleit,"Twinkletoessaidtersely."Orbribedasecretaryto stealit.Anyway,it'smissing,andthemanagerwasabductedattheweakest pointofhisdailyschedule,whichIreckonwasnocoincidence."

"I'llsenditbycourierstraightaway."

"Andseewho'sfreetojoinmeouthere.Thiswillbealongone.Itwasvery carefullyplanned.SendmeDerek,ifyoucan.Andoh...consideryourselflucky I'mnottheretoblastyouforBologna."

"Ido,"Isaid,smiling.

"I'llbeback,"hesaiddarkly."Goodnight."

Itookonemorecall,atnineinthemorning,thistimefromtheheadofa syndicateatLloydswhichinsuredpeopleandfirmsagainstkidnap.Muchofour businesscamedirectfromhim,ashewasaccustomedtomakeitaconditionof insurancethathisclientsshouldcallonourhelpbeforeagreeingtopaya ransom.Hereckonedwecouldbringthepricedown,whichmadehisownliability less;andweinreturnrecommendedhimtothefirmsaskingouradviceon defenses.

"TwoEnglishgirlshavebeens.n.a.t.c.hedinSardinia,"hesaid."Thehusbandofone oftheminsuredheragainstkidnapforhertwo-weeks'holidayashewasn'tgoing tobewithher,andhe'sbeenontous.Itseemstohavebeenafairlyunplanned affair-thegirlsjusthappenedtobeinthewrongplace,andwereambushed.

Anyway,thehusbandisdistraughtandwantstopaywhatthey'reasking,straight away,socanyousendsomeoneimmediately?"

"Yes,"Isaid."Er...whatwastheinsurance?"

"Itookathousandpoundsagainsttwohundredthousand.Fortwoweeks."He sighed."Winsome,losesome."

ItookdownnamesanddetailsandcheckedonflightstoSardinia,whereinmany regionsbanditstook,ransomed,andreleasedmoreorlessastheypleased.

"Veryhushhush,"th.e.l.loydsmanhadsaid."Don'tlet.i.tgettothepapers.The husbandhaspressingreasons.Ifallgoeswellshe'llbehomeinaweek,won't she,andnoonethewiser?"

"Withabitofluck,"Iagreed.

Banditshadnowheretokeeplong-termprisonersandhadbeenknowntomarch theirvictimsmilesovermountainsidesdaily,simplyabandoningthemoncethey'd beenpaid.Alessia,Ithought,wouldhavepreferredthattohertent.

ThepartnersbeganarrivingfortheMondayconferenceanditwaseasytofind onewithitchyfeetreadytogoinstantlytoSardinia,andeasyalsotopersuade DerektojoinTwinkletoesatLucaOil.Theco-ordinatorwrotetheminonthenew week'schartandIgavetherequestfromthepartnerinEcuadortothechairman.

Afteraboutanhourofcoffee,gossip,andreadingreportsthemeetingbegan, thebulkofitasusualbeingareviewofworkinprogress.

"ThisbusinessinEcuador,"thechairmansaid."Thevictim'sanAmerican national,isn'the?"

Afewheadsnodded.

Thechairmanpursedhislips."Ithinkwe'llhavetoadvisethatcorporationto uselocalmenandnotsendanymorefromtheStates.They'vehadthreemen capturedinthelasttenyears,allAmericans...you'dthinkthey'dlearn."

"It'sanAmerican-ownedcorporation,"someonemurmured.

"They'vetriedpayingthepolicethemselves,"anothersaid."Iwasoutthere myselflasttime.Thepolicetookthemoneysayingtheywouldguardallthe managerswiththeirlives,butIreckontheyalsotookacutoftheransomthen, too.Anddon'tforget,thecorporationpaidaransomofsomethingliketen milliondollars...plentytospreadaround."

Therewasasmallgloomysilence.

"Right,"thechairmansaid."Futureadvice,noAmericans.Presentadvice?"He lookedaround."Opinions,anyone?"

"Thekidnappersknowthecorporationwillpayintheend,"TonyVinesaid."The corporationcan'taffordnotto."

Allcorporationshadtoransomtheircapturedemployeesiftheywantedanyone evertoworkoverseasfortheminfuture.Allcorporationsalsohadirate shareholders,whosedividendsdiminishedasransomsrose.Corporationstendedto keepabductionsoutofthenews,andtowritetheransomsdownasa"trading loss"intheannualaccounts.

"We'vegotthedemanddowntotenmillionagain,"TonyVinesaid."The kidnapperswon'ttakeless,they'dbelosingfaceagainstlasttime,even if-especiallyif-they'readifferentgang."

Thechairmannodded."We'lladvisethecorporationtosettle?"

Everyoneagreed,andthemeetingmovedon.

Thechairman,aroundsixty,hadoncebeenasoldierhimself,andlikeTonyfelt comfortablewithothermenwhoseliveshadbeenstructured,disciplined,and official.Hehadfoundedthefirmbecausehe'dseentheneedforit;theaction inhiscaseofapracticalman,notavisionary.Ithadbeenafriendofhis, nowdead,whohadsuggestedpartnershipsratherthanahierarchy,advisingthe sweepingawayofallformerranksinfavorofonenewone:equal.

Thechairmanwas.e.xceptionallygood-looking,adistinctlymarketableplus,and hadanairofquietconfidencetogowithit.Hecouldmaintainthatmannerin thefaceoftotaldisaster,sothatonealwaysfelthewouldatanymoment deviseabrilliantvictory-s.n.a.t.c.hingsolution,evenifhedidn't.Ithadtaken meawhile,whenIwasnewthere,toseethat.i.twasGerryClaytonwhohadthat sortofmind.

Thechairmancamefinallytomyreport,photocopiesofwhichmostpeoplehad alreadyread,andaskedifanypartnerswouldliketoaskquestions.Wegained alwaysfromwhatothershadlearnedduringacase,andIusuallyfoundquestion timeveryfruitful-thoughbetterwhennotdoingtheanswering.

"Thiscarabinieriofficer...er...Pucinelli,whatsortofapersonalrelationship couldyouhavewithhim?Whatisyourestimateofhiscapabilities?"Itwasa notoriouslypompouspartnerasking:Tonywouldhavesaid,"Howdidyougeton withthesod?What'shelike?"

"Pucinelli'sagoodpoliceman,"Isaid."Intelligent,bagsofcourage.Hewas helpful.Morehelpful,Ifound,thanmost,thoughneversteppingoutofthe officialline.Hehasn'tyet..."Ipaused."Hehasn'ttheclouttogetanyhigher, Idon'tthink.He'ssecond-in-commandinhisregion,andI'dsaythat'sasfar ashe'llgo.Butasfarashischancesofcatchingthekidnappersareconcerned, he'llbecompetentandthorough."

"Whatwasthelatest,whenyouleft?"someoneasked."Ihaven'tyethadtimeto finishyourlasttwopages."

"PucinellisaidthatwhenheshowedthedrawingsofthemanI'dseentothetwo kidnappersfromthesiege,theywerebothstruckdumb.Heshowedthemtothem separately,ofcourse,butineachcasehesaidyoucouldclearlyseetheshock.

Neitherofthemwouldsayanythingatallandtheybothseemedscared.Pucinelli saidhewasgoingtocirculatecopiesofthedrawingsandseeifhecould identifytheman.Hewasveryhopeful,whenIleft."

"Soonerthebetter,"Tonysaid."Thatmillionquidwillbelaunderedwithina week."

"Theywereaprettycoollot,"Isaid,notarguing."Theymightholditfora while."

"Andtheymighthavewhiskeditoveraborderandchangeditintofrancsor schillingsbeforetheyreleasedthegirl."

Inodded."Theycouldhavesetupsomethinglikethatforthefirstransom,and beenready."

GerryClayton'sfingersasusualwerebusywithanysheetofpaperwithinreach, thistimethelastpageofmyreport."YousayAlessiaCencicametoEngland withyou.Anychanceshe'llrememberanymore?"heasked.

"Youcannotruleitout,butPucinelliandIbothwentthroughitwithher prettythoroughlyinItaly.Sheknowssolittle.Therewerenochurchbells,no trains,nocloseairplanes,nodogs...shecouldn'ttellwhethershewasincity orcountry.Shethoughtthefaintsmellshewasconsciousofduringthelastfew daysmighthavebeensomeonebakingbread.Apartfromthat...nothing."

Apause.

"Didyoushowthedrawingstothegirl?"someoneasked."Hadsheeverseenthe man,beforethekidnap?"

Iturnedtohim."Itookaphotostattothevilla,butshehadn'teverseenhim thatshecouldremember.Therewasabsolutelynoreaction.Iaskedifhecould havebeenoneofthefourwhoabductedher,butshesaidshecouldn'ttell.None ofherfamilyoranyoneinthehouseholdknewhim.Iaskedthemall."

"Hisvoice...whenhespoketoyououtsidetherestaurant...wasitthevoiceonthe tapes?"

"Idon'tknow,"Iadmitted."I'mnotgoodenoughat.i.talian.Itwasn'ttotally different,that'sallIcouldsay."

"Youbroughtcopiesofthedrawingsandthetapesbackwithyou?"thechairman asked.

"Yes.Ifanyonewouldlike...?"

Afewheadsnodded.

"Anythingyoudidn'tputinthereport?"thechairmanasked."Insignificant details?"

"Well...Ididn'tincludethelistsofthemusic.Alessiawrotewhatsheknew,and Pucinellisaidhewouldtrytofindoutiftheyweretapesonecouldbuyin shops,readyrecorded.Verylongshot,eveniftheywere."

"Doyouhavethelists?"

"No,afraidnot.IcouldaskAlessiatowritethemagain,ifyoulike."

Oneoftheex-policemensaidyouneverknew.Theotherex-policemennodded.

"Allright,"Isaid."I'llaskher."

"Howisshe?"Gerryasked.

"Justaboutcoping."

Therewereagoodmanynodsofunderstanding.We'dallseenthedevastation,the hurricane'spathacrossthespirit.Allofus,someoftenerthanothers,had listenedtotheexperiencesoftherecentlyreturned:thedebriefing,asthe firmcalledit,initsmilitaryway.

Thechairmanlookedaroundformorequestionsbutnonewereready."All finished?Well,Andrew,wecan'texactlysackyouforcomingupwithpicturesof anactivekidnapper,butdrivingacartothedropisnotonthecards.Whether ornot.i.tturnsoutwellthistime,don'tdoitagain.Right?"

"Right,"Isaidneutrally;andthat,tomysurprise,wasthefullextentofthe ticking-off.

Acoupleofdayslaterthepartnermanningtheswitchboardcalledtomedownthe corridor,whereIwaswanderingwithacupofcoffeeinsearchofanythingnew.

"Andrew?CallforyoufromBologna.I'llput.i.tthroughtoyourroom."

Idumpedthecoffeeandpickedupthereceiver,andavoicesaid,"Andrew?This isEnricoPucinelli."

Weexchangedh.e.l.los,andhebegantalkingexcitedly,thewordsrunningtogether inmyear.

"Enrico,"Ishouted."Stop.Speakslowly.Ican'tunderstandyou."

"Hah."Hesighedaudiblyandbegantospeakclearlyanddistinctly,astoa child."Theyoungoneofthekidnappershasbeentalking.Heisafraidofbeing senttoprisonforlife,soheistryingtomakebargains.Hehastolduswhere SignorinaCenciwastakenafterthekidnap."

"Terrific,"Isaidwarmly."Welldone."

Pucinellicoughedmodestly,butIguessedithadbeenatriumphof interrogation.

"Wehavebeentothehouse.ItisinasuburbofBologna,middle-cla.s.s,very quiet.Wehavefounditwasrentedbyafatherwiththreegrownsons."He clickedhistonguedisgustedly."Alloftheneighborssawmengoinginandout, butsofarnoonewouldknowthemagain."

Ismiledtomyself.Puttingthefingeronakidnapperwasapttobeunhealthy anywhere.

"Thehousehasfurniturebelongingtotheowner,butwehavelookedcarefully, andinoneroomontheupperfloorallthemarkswherethefurnitureha.s.stood onthecarpetforalongtimeareinslightlydifferentplaces."Hestoppedand saidanxiously,"Doyouunderstand,Andrew?"

"Yes,"Isaid."Allthefurniturehadbeenmoved."

"Correct."Hewasrelieved."Thebed,aheavychest,awardrobe,abookcase.All moved.Theroomisbig,morethanbigenoughforthetent,andthereisnothing toseefromthewindowexceptagardenandtrees.Noonecouldseeintotheroom fromtheoutside."

"Andhaveyoufoundanythinguseful...anyclues...intherestofthehouse?"

"Wearelooking.Wewenttothehouseforthefirsttimeyesterday.Ithought youwouldliketoknow."

"You'requiteright.Greatnews."

"SignorinaCenci,"hesaid."Ha.s.shethoughtofanythingelse?"

"Notyet."

"Givehermyrespects."

"Yes,"Isaid."Iwillindeed."

"Iwilltelephoneagain,"hesaid."Iwillreversethechargesagain,shallI, likeyousaid?Asthisisprivate,betweenyouandme,andIamtelephoningfrom myownhouse?"