They grab the wrong child Learn English through story level 4
chapter one
we want your voting stock doug
outside the window boats sailed up and
down the river harb
in the clear october air orange and gold
leaves screamed their color against the
cold blue sky
the room was full of cigarette smoke
it hung over the five men like the
breath of ghosts
the room was enormous but it was full
now
full of the dirty ashtrays used glasses
and empty bottles
left at the end of a long and difficult
discussion
the men themselves were as exhausted as
the smoky air
tired but determined the men sitting
opposite douglas king hammered out their
argument
king listened to them silently
we’re asking you to think about prophet
doug that’s all george benjamin said
is that a lot to ask
think of shoes yes rudy stone said don’t
forget shoes but think of profit
grainger’s shoe is a business dog a
business profit and loss the black and
the red
and our job benjamin said is to keep
granger in the black
now
take another look at these shoes
a thin man he moved fast and silently to
a glass table which was covered with
women’s shoes
he picked one up from the pile and gave
it to king
what woman wants to buy a shoe like this
he asked
don’t misunderstand us stone said
quickly he was a muscular blonde man who
looked much younger than his 45 years
it’s a good shoe a fine shoe
but we’re thinking of profit now
the red and the black benjamin repeated
he turned to an older man sitting beside
him am i right frank
100
frank blake said in a thick southern
accent
he blew cigarette smoke at the high
ceiling
the american housewife benjamin said
can’t afford this shoe
but even if she could afford it she
wouldn’t want it
mrs america our customer the stupidest
little woman in the world
we’ve got to excite her doug
you’re a married man doug what excites
mrs king
pete cameron king’s assistant was
standing at the bar at the back of the
room
he smiled at king
but king did not smile back
he stared at benjamin
clothes excite a woman stone said
dresses hats jackets bag shoes benjamin
said his voice rising
profit depends on excitement stone said
you can’t excite a woman with these
shoes there’s just no excitement at all
in these shoes
the room was silent for a moment
then douglas king said
what are we selling shoes are a good
time in bed
frank blake rose to his feet
doug is making a joke he said
but it’s my money i’m interested in
not jokes
i hold a lot of stock in this company
and i can see now why granger is almost
in the red
frank is right doug benjamin said this
is nothing to make jokes about
we have to do something fast to save
granger shoe
what do you want from me king asked
softly
now you’re asking the right questions
benjamin said
give us all another drink will you pete
cameron began mixing the drinks
a tall and handsome man of 35 he moved
quickly and watched the others as he
worked
all right doug benjamin said we’re the
top men in granger’s shoe
i’m sales chief your production and rudy
here is fashion and design we’re all on
the board of directors and we all know
what’s wrong with the company
what’s that king asked
the old man
what does he know about women’s tastes
what does he know about women stone said
but
he’s president of granger
year after year he’s president because
he has enough stock to keep it that way
and the company goes down and down
and my stock is worth less and less each
year frank blake said
king watched as benjamin went quickly to
the glass table and picked up a red shoe
look at this he said
this is what i mean by excitement
made up for my own design rudy stone
said proudly take a good look at it doug
women will love it benjamin said
what do women know about quality as long
as the shoe looks good
king turned the shoe over in his big
hands saying nothing
i know what he’s thinking stone said
he’s thinking the old man would never
let grainger make a shoe like that
but the old man won’t have anything to
say about it that’s why we’re here today
oh
is that why we’re here king said smiling
only cameron smiled back at him
the old man’s got 25 percent of the
voting stock benjamin said
the old man’s got 25 percent king said
quietly and you rudy and frank have 21
between you
not enough to fight the old man and win
what’s on your mind
control stone said
control benjamin repeated
we want your voting stock doug
you’ve got 13 percent
come in with us
and we’ll have 34
more than enough to get the old man out
how about it doug with a shoe like this
one we’ll take control of the cheap end
of the market and kill the competition
george is right blake said i don’t care
what kind of shoes we sell as long as we
make money
who will be the new president king asked
there was a short silence
we think george benjamin should be
president stone said
well now king said riley that’s a
surprise
with you as vice president of course
stone said quickly
at a much larger salary than you get now
douglas king rose slowly to his feet
he was tall
with the hard muscle and wide shoulders
of a diver
at 42 years old his hair was turning
gray
but this only added to the strong
character which showed in his face and
his blue eyes
you’ll sell a shoe like this george he
asked
you’ll use the granger name on a cheap
shoe
yes that’s right it’s a good idea isn’t
it
profits will be higher blake said
the old man may have faults king said
but he’s always made an honest shoe
you want to make garbage
now wait just a second doug no you wait
a second
i like granger shoe
i’ve worked for this company since i was
16 i know shoes
good shoes
quality
i won’t put the granger name on a piece
of garbage
with one quick movement of his strong
hands he tore the shoe to pieces
is this what you’re going to sell to
women
blake said angrily if we can’t make
profit with quality we’ve got to who
can’t make profit with quality king
asked
maybe the old man can’t and maybe you
can’t but
doug this is business business
i know it’s business
it’s my business the business i love
shoes are part of my life and if i make
garbage
my life will smell
i can’t continue to hold stock in a
company that’s going downhill blake said
then sell out what the hell do you want
from me
careful doug benjamin said suddenly we
could vote you out of your job
go ahead vote me out king said
if you find yourself out in the street
don’t worry i won’t be out in any street
king threw the pieces of red shoe on the
table and started to walk towards the
door
if you helped me to become president
benjamin said you would get a much
bigger salary you could
he stopped where are you going i’m
talking to you
this is my house king said i’ve had
enough of this meeting and your plans
and i’ve had enough of you
so i’m leaving why don’t you leave too
benjamin’s narrow face was red with
anger
you don’t want me to be president of
granger is that it he shouted
that’s it exactly king said
who the hell do you think should be
president
you just think about it king said and
went out of the room
there was a long silence
then benjamin walked over to pete
cameron who was standing at the bar
what’s he planning pete
i have no idea
don’t play the innocent pete benjamin
said we offered him a plan and he
refused us
he must be feeling strong to do that
what’s he feeling so strong about
why don’t you ask him
don’t get clever with me boy what’s your
salary 20 25 000 you can do better than
that pete
can i
what is it a deal with the old man
i want it smashed and the man who helps
me smash it could find himself taking
king’s job
do you know my home telephone number
pete
no
wesley hill’s 4798 will you remember it
i’ve been doug’s assistant for a long
time cameron said
then it’s time for a change
give me a call
you’re very persuasive pete said it’s a
good thing i’m an honest man
yes it’s a good thing benjamin said
riley
that’s westley hills 47981
stone put on his hat and said
if that bastard king thinks he can
he stopped as diane king came into the
room
the men stared at her
then stone raised his hand and said
politely
mrs king
he went out of the door followed by
benjamin and blake
immediately diane said to cameron
what did they do to doug
[Music]
chapter 2
why would anyone want to steal radio
parts
douglas king’s house lay just within the
87th precinct
it was on the edge of the precinct in
smoke rise the most expensive area of
the city
the river harb lay to the north of smoke
rise
to the south was silver mine road
the home of people who although they
were rich were not rich enough to live
in smoke rise
anyone walking south from silver mine
road came first of all to a noisy area
of brightly lit all-night restaurants
and stores
then to ainsley avenue where it was
still possible to imagine that it had
once been fashionable to live
then came culver avenue
and now it was clear that the walker was
arriving at the poorer parts of the city
after the short burst of color of the
puerto rican area around mason avenue
grover avenue looked gray
dirty
and very poor
the 87th precinct building was on grover
avenue
detective meyer meyer was at his desk on
the second floor
making notes as the man sitting opposite
him spoke
the man was called david peck
he owned a store on culver avenue which
sold radio parts he told meyer
i sell mainly the hams peck said
hams
yeah hams
not like hams you eat
by hams i mean people who build their
own radios as a hobby they use them to
talk to other hams you’d be surprised
how many hams we’ve got in this city
it’s a good business to be in
i guess so mr peck meyer said
so what’s your problem
well peck said
someone busted into my store
when was this
last week
why did you wait until now to report it
it didn’t take much i thought i’d just
forget it
what makes you report it now
the crook came back
when
last night
and this time he stole a lot of
equipment is that right
no no this time he took even less than
last time
meyer meyer breathed out slowly
he was a very patient man
growing up with parents who had given
him that name he had had to learn to be
patient
being the only jewish boy in the area he
had had to learn to fight with his
intelligence not with his hands
patiently now he asked
tell me mr peck
what did the thief steal the first time
you broke into your store
an oscillator peck said
what does an oscillator cost
i sell them for 52.39
and that’s all he took the first time
yes
and what did he steal last night
little things
more bits of equipment batteries the
whole lot isn’t worth more than twenty
five dollars
so why are you reporting it this time
because i’m afraid he’ll come back a
third time and clean out the store
it’s possible you know i know it is mr
peck meyer said
thank you for reporting this to us we’ll
keep a special watch on your store
a crime involving radio equipment worth
seventy five dollars does not appear to
be a very important crime
in the 87th precinct crimes like that
happen every day of the week why get
excited about this one
unless you are a very patient detective
called meyer meyer
who has a very good memory
meyer studied his notes and then walked
over to a desk on the other side of the
room
steve carella was sitting there typing
up a report
steve meyer said i just had a guy in
here who shh
corella said and continued typing until
he had finished the page
then he looked up okay meyer said
tell me
i had a guy in here who owns a radio
parts store on culver avenue it’s been
broken into twice
the first time the thief stole an
oscillator whatever that is
the second time he stole a few other
small radio parts
now i seem to remember
yeah corella said searching through the
piles of paper which covered his desk
where the hell’s that list
the list gave details of five break-ins
at radio parts stores
each time only a few pieces of equipment
had been stolen
think it’s the same thief corella asked
sure as hell looks that way to me meyer
said
anyway it’s not very serious
i suppose not
meyer paused and scratched his head
you don’t think he’s a russian spy
why would anyone want to steal radio
parts
never try to understand crooks corella
said you’ll go crazy if you’re trying to
do that
still meyer said all that equipment
seven break-ins
what does it mean steve
search me corella said and he began
typing again
[Music]
chapter three
jump down an attack take him by surprise
diane king was not what hollywood calls
a beautiful woman
she was however an attractive woman
in fact diane king was an extremely
attractive woman
she stood there in her luxurious house a
woman of 32
wearing narrow black trousers and a
white shirt
she had a towel around her shoulders and
a silver streak in her black hair
again she asked pete cameron
what did they do to doug
nothing cameron said
what did you do to your hair
oh it was liz’s idea diane said
what was all the shouting
about is liz still here cameron asked
with interest in his voice
yes she’s still here
i hate these meetings why did doug rush
upstairs past me he didn’t even see me
he saw me
a voice said and liz baloo came into the
room
diane king was not beautiful
liz baloo was
she had blonde hair blue eyes and a full
mouth
even dressed simply in a skirt and
sweater
she looked like a million dollars
on her left hand she wore an enormous
diamond ring
no man runs past me without saying hello
she said
so hello liz cameron said what have you
done to diane
you mean her hair isn’t it wonderful
i don’t like it i think she’s pretty
enough without it
i’ll wait and see if doug likes it diane
said where is doug what’s he doing up
there
he’s only making a phone call liz said
is he in trouble pete that look on his
face don’t you know that look liz said
my harold wears it all the time it means
he’s about to murder someone
murder diane said
pete what happened
nothing they offered dug a deal and he
turned them down
my herald would have kicked them out of
the house liz said
that’s just what doug did
then prepare yourself for a murder diane
liz said
i’m always prepared diane said with a
troubled look in her green eyes
but they seem to happen so often these
days
well diane cameron said that’s business
dog eat dog
anyway liz said murder can be fun
lie back and enjoy it
she smiled at cameron and he smiled back
at her
the two had been secret lovers for years
surprisingly perhaps this had never
stopped liz from loving her highly
successful husband harold with all her
heart
or pete cameron from spending most of
his time thinking about work
diane poured herself a drink
is doug planning something she asked
cameron
yes i think so
i thought he might might what
doug king asked as he came into the room
did you make your phone call tycoon liz
asked
i couldn’t get through
he kissed diane then looked at her and
said
honey you’ve got egg in your hair
sometimes i wonder why we bother liz
said annoyed
don’t you like it doug diane asked king
spoke carefully
it’s okay i guess
okay
liz said you’ll have to do better than
okay doug
she looked at her watch
i must go i promised my tycoon i’d be
back at four
you’re late already cameron said
have a drink before you go
one for the road
i really shouldn’t liz said
you’ll have to persuade me
i’ll persuade you all right
i know what you like
their eyes met
fortunately at that moment the telephone
rang and diane picked up the receiver
hello she said
then she handed it to doug
it’s your call from boston
looked up from the drinks he was mixing
boston he said
is that you hanley doug asked how’s it
all going
yeah it’s going fine doug we’re getting
there said the voice in boston
listen we’ve got to act fast get the
deal all tied up today
today he wants to keep five percent of
the stock doug i’m doing my best but i
don’t think
i need that five percent as much as i
need the rest hanley doug said
i don’t care how you do it but get that
deal for me today
well i’ll try doug but don’t just try
hadley succeed
i’ll be waiting for your call he put the
phone down and turned to cameron
pete you’re going to boston
i am cameron said handing liz her drink
lucky boy she said i just love the shops
in boston
you’re going to boston with a big fat
check king said
you’re going to help make me the biggest
deal of my life
what’s it all about doug
i’ll tell you later king said not yet
telephone the airport and see when the
next flight leaves
use the phone upstairs i want to keep
this one free for hanley to phone back
cameron smiled at liz as he left the
room
king clapped his hands together sharply
oh boy he said are those guys going to
get a big surprise trying to involve me
in their rotten little plan
can you believe it diane
excuse me mr king a voice said
the man who had come into the room was
only 35
but he looked older
he was charles reynolds the king’s
chauffeur
looking at him you felt that there was
something weak about the man
and also something terribly sad
it was not a surprise to learn that his
wife had died
leaving him to bring up his young son
alone
what is it reynolds king asked a little
impatiently
he was fond of reynolds but not of the
man’s weakness
i only wanted to know sir
is my son
is jeff here sir
that’s a question for mrs king king said
he’s upstairs playing with bobby diane
said
oh fine i i hope i’m not bothering you
but it’s getting a bit cold
if they go outside i think you’ll need a
coat
don’t worry reynolds diane said i’ve
already given jeff one of bobby’s
sweaters
oh thank you ma’am i i never seem to be
able to decide
you’ll probably be driving mr cameron to
the airport later king interrupted yes
sir when will we be leaving sir
with a loud scream bobby king wearing a
blue sweater rushed down the stairs and
burst into the room
closely followed by jeff reynolds who
was wearing a red sweater
both were eight years old both blonde
and at first sight they could have been
mistaken for brothers
taking no notice of the adults they ran
towards the door
hey
king shout out to his son stop there
what is it dad
where are you going
outside to play let us go we’re in a
hurry
why what are you playing we’re playing
cowboys and indians mr king jeff said we
take turns the indian has to hide in the
woods and then the cowboy has to find
him
don’t go too far from the house bobby
diane said
i won’t mom
who is the indian now king asked
i am shouted jeff
quiet son reynold said and take good
care of that nice sweater mrs king lent
you
oh sure jeff said he won’t catch me dad
don’t worry
oh whaty king interrupted you’d better
catch him bobby if you’re a true son of
mine
what’s your plan boy
a plan dad
just chase him and catch him that’s all
never chase the other man son king said
i can see you need help
oh doug just let them go and play before
it gets dark diane said
i will king said smiling but first the
boy needs some professional advice
he whispered to bobby
climb a tree and watch him when you know
what he’s going to do
jump down an attack taken by surprise
we’re not allowed to climb trees in this
game bobby said
do anything you like son as long as you
play to win
doug what are you saying to the boy
diane said
only the facts of life liz answered
why don’t i get any help dad jeff asked
his father
well reynolds said hesitantly you could
hide behind a rock and keep still
then he won’t be able to find you
if you don’t move there’s no game king
said what’s the point of playing
just go and play the way you want to
boys diane said coldly go on now have
fun
with a shout the two boys rushed out of
the house
a madhouse just like my own home liz
said
i’ll have the car ready when mr cameron
needs it sir reynolds said
when are you gone diane said
you shouldn’t have told bobby that doug
what do you want him to grow up to be a
wild animal
yes king said just like his mother with
sharp teeth and doug i’m serious
so is he said liz he’s trying to make
love to you diane
i’m sorry you think this is a joke diane
said i don’t think it’s so funny all
this jumping on people and taking them
by surprise
it’s just what you do in business
it’s what you’re doing with this boston
thing
you’re getting so hard doug so merciless
to other people
king laughed me merciless am i hard and
merciless liz
of course not you’re a darling
just because i get things done diane you
call me hard
honey there are people who sit and
people who do
and if i hadn’t been a doer all these
years you wouldn’t be in this house and
driving that car and wearing that he’s
right diane liz said
waving the hand with the diamond on it
of course i am i just need to make my
wife understand
i’m sure you know just how to do that
liz said have fun
when she had left there was silence for
a moment then king said softly
diane
what
i’m sitting in a tree looking down at
you
and i’m warning you i’m getting ready to
jump down and attack you
he took her suddenly in his arms
let me go she said if you think you can
then he kissed her
you’re beautiful diane did you know that
especially with that new silver streak
in your hair
you should be ashamed of yourself
i know
he kissed her again
after a while she pulled herself free
pete’s still here doug she said shyly
i’ll send him to the airport early give
me a minute
i just have to ring a hanley then i’ll
get rid of pete
and we’ll be alone
he went to the phone and picked up the
receiver
somebody else was on the line
and he recognized the voice as cameron’s
yes george cameron was saying
that’s what i’m trying to tell you well
i thought you’d like to know
king pushed a button on the phone
putting him through to another line
funny he said
what’s the matter diane asked
pete’s on the other line
i got the idea he was talking to
king stopped and then said into the
phone
get me oscar hanley at the hotel
stanhope in boston okay call me back how
about a drink diane before
the door burst open and bobby rushed in
i forgot my gun mom he shouted i’ve got
to get it
jeff’s already hiding in the woods i’ve
got to find a tree to climb dad
still ready to jump down and attack doug
diane said
the man was hidden
waiting to attack
he was dying for a cigarette but he
could not have one
he watched the chauffeur cleaning the
cadillac
he looked at his watch
he looked at the sky
it would be dark soon
good
he wondered if eddie was still with the
car
he wondered if everything was okay at
the house
he wondered if their plan would work
then he began to worry
and he needed a cigarette more than ever
easy now
he told himself just take it easy
then he saw the boy coming towards him
through the woods
hello sonny
he said
it was getting dark in the city
that special october dock that smells of
wood smoke and autumn leaves
it starts to get cold in october
people hurry home wanting their dinner
wanting the companionship of their loved
ones
it will be dark soon
it will be good to get home before it
grows dark
[Music]
chapter 4
we’ve got your son
in the king’s living room the telephone
rang
douglas king picked up the receiver and
said hanley
a voice on the other end said who
oh excuse me king said i was expecting
another call who is this please
all right mac the voice said i’m gonna
make this short and
there’s nobody called mack here king
said you must have the wrong number
he put the receiver down
cameron was standing there watching him
not hanley cameron said
no a wrong number
talking about wrong numbers pete
yeah
were you talking to george benjamin a
little while ago
yes i was
why
to tell him i won’t be at the sales
meeting tomorrow
you didn’t tell him you were going to
boston did you
no should i have told him
hell no
the phone rang again
that will be hanley king said walking
over to the phone
i’d better call bobby and diane said
it’s getting dark wait a minute honey
let me take this call first king said
hello hanley did you get what i wanted
i got it
hanley said in a tired voice exactly
what you wanted
including the five percent of the stock
he wanted to keep
how soon can you get a check to me
i’ll send pete cameron with the check on
the nine o’clock plane can you meet him
at the airport
okay doug
oh and hatley
yes doug
good work boy
king put down the receiver
now we move he said excitedly pete phone
the airline and get a seat on the nine
o’clock plane he pushed a button on the
phone picked up the receiver again and
said reynolds come over here as fast as
you can
is everything fixed cameron said can you
tell me about it now
now it’s all fixed i’d even tell bench
oh no no i guess i wouldn’t tell him
he laughed and then walked quickly to
the bar and poured himself a drink
i’d better get bobby diane said look how
dark it’s getting
wait a minute diane don’t you want to
hear this bobby’s safe enough he’s just
outside his own house
well all right but i really
you heard benjamin say i had 13 of the
voting stock didn’t you pete
right
wrong
he paused i’ve been buying stock for the
last six years i’ve got 28 percent of it
doug that’s wonderful diane said
so why am i going to boston cameron
asked
there’s a guy there who owns some voting
stock i want to buy
hanley’s been working on it for the last
two weeks and now he’s finally ready to
sell it to me
he sat down at a desk and began to write
a check
how much stock is it cameron asked
19 percent
what
add it up
19 and 28 makes 47
enough to make me president of granger
i’ll run the company my way and i’ll
make the shoes i want to make
he tore the check from the book and gave
it to cameron
take a look at this he said
cameron took it and gave a low whistle
750 thousand dollars he said
doug
where did you get diane started to ask
everything we own is tied up in this
deal diane this house everything
the house
doug
i can’t lose diane nothing can stop me
now
who are you buying the stock from
cameron asked
a guy who bought it a few years ago he
who who is he
they stopped talking as reynolds came
into the room ready to drive cameron to
the airport
i must get bobby in diane said she went
to the door and started to call bobby
bobby
the telephone rang
king picked it up hello he said
listen to me king a voice said don’t put
the phone down this time this is no joke
what king said what did you say
we’ve got your son
king my son
what are you talking about
bobby
diane called will you please come in now
your son the voice said we’ve kidnapped
your son
you’ve taken my son
if this is some kind of joke
diane turned from the door
doug
she screamed
what did you say
what’s happened to bobby
king waved a hand at her wanting her to
be silent as the voice went on
now listen and listen hard i’ll only say
this once the kid is safe
he’ll stay safe if you do what i say
get five hundred thousand dollars get it
by tomorrow morning we’ll call you then
and tell you what you have to do
don’t go to the police king do you
understand
yes i understand
desperately he searched for an idea some
way of trapping the caller
okay then the voice said five hundred
thousand dollars in
king put the receiver down cutting off
the call
pete he shouted get on the kitchen phone
call the police
bobby’s been kidnapped and we’ve had a
500 000 ransom demand
no
diane screamed no
then call the phone company tell them i
hung up on the bastard
why did you do that diane shouted she
ran to the door and screamed into the
darkness bobby
bobby
i hung up so that he’ll call back king
said then the phone company may be able
to find out who made the call
he took diana in his arms
we’ll get him back darling he said
please diane try not to worry i’ll give
anything they want a million dollars if
they ask for it
cameron rushed in from the kitchen
the police are on their way he said
the phone companies say you must call
them on another line as soon as he rings
again
okay king said reynolds will you he
stopped suddenly as the front door burst
open
were you calling me mom
bobby king said as he came into the
house
diane ran to him fell to her knees and
threw her arms around him
hey mom he said surprise what’s the
matter
king stared at his son
how on earth
i don’t want to play with jeff anymore
bobby said i climbed a tree like daddy
told me but i couldn’t find jeff
anywhere he won’t play with me
i don’t even know where he is
there was a moment of shock silence the
name was on everyone’s lips
but it was the boy’s father who spoke
jeff
reynolds whispered
jeff
[Music]
chapter five
we’ve got the wrong kid
there were two kinds of cases that steve
carella did not like
he did not like cases which involved
very rich people or cases which involve
children
now sitting in douglas king’s enormous
luxurious living room talking about a
kidnapped child
corella felt bad
he didn’t want to be here
but he had no choice
he sat in king’s room feeling troubled
and asking questions while meyer meyer
stood with his back to them looking out
at the river harb
uh let me get this clear mr king corella
said the boy who was kidnapped is not
your son is that right
that’s right king said
but when the kidnapper asked you for the
ransom money he thought he had your son
yes
has he called you again
no
then he may still believe he has your
son corella said
i don’t know what he believes king said
angrily why do i have to answer all
these questions
i am not the boy’s father and i no but
you spoke to the kidnapper
that’s true mr coretta
corella
i’m sorry
corella was it a man the person who
called
it was a man king said
did he say
i have your son
or we have your son
i don’t remember
and i don’t see why it’s important
somebody has jeff reynolds and all these
stupid questions
exactly mr king carella said
somebody has the boy and we want to know
who that somebody is we want to know who
has the boy so that we can get him back
safely
that’s important to us
i’m sure it’s important to you too
of course it is king said sharply why
don’t you call in your chief somebody
experienced in this kind of case
a boy’s life is in danger local cops
can’t handle this
lieutenant burns is on his way now mr
king gorilla said
he’s boss of the whole 87th precinct
first
we need to know a little more about
excuse me steve meyer said i’d better go
and get a description of the boy i ought
to talk to his father
yeah gorilla said where is mr reynolds
mr king
in his apartment over the garage he’s
taking this badly
do you want me to speak to him meyer
gorilla asked
no no i’ll do it meyer said giving king
a quick look as he turned to leave the
room
i think you have your hands full here
now mr king corella started again
did you notice anything unusual about
the man’s voice an accent or i’m sorry
mr coretta king said i refuse to play
this little game any longer
my name is corella and what game do you
mean
there’s nonsense about how the man spoke
what difference could it possibly make
how will any of this get jeff back to
his father
carella did not look up from the book he
was writing in
he kept telling himself that it would
really not be a good idea for him to hit
mr douglas king in the mouth quietly
politely he asked
what do you do for a living mr king
i run a shoe factory
is this another of your important
questions
yes it is
i don’t know anything about shoes mr
king
they’re just things i put on my feet
i wouldn’t dream of going into your
factory and telling your workers how to
make shoes
i understand what you’re saying king
said dryly
you understand part of what i’m saying
mr king the part that is warning you
warning me warning you to let me get on
with my job
the other part of what i’m telling you
is this
in case you have any doubts about this
let me tell you that i am a good
detective a hell of a good detective
i know my job and if i’m asking you
questions it’s because i have a good
reason to ask you those questions now
do we understand each other mr king
i think we understand each other mr
coretta
my name is carella carla said flatly
did the man have an accent
reynolds sat on his bed making no
attempt to hide the floods of tears that
were running down his face
meyer watched him
and wished he could put his arm around
the man’s shoulders
tell him everything would be all right
he could not do that
he did not know whether the boy was
alive or dead
all he could do is ask his questions
how old is jeff mr reynolds
eight
how tall is he
i i don’t know i i never
i i don’t know maybe a little tall he’s
he’s a handsome boy tall for his age
how much does he weigh
i don’t know
meyer breathed in deeply
is he
fat thin medium
not too fat and not too thin just
normal
is he dark or fair
he has blonde hair
very fair skin is that what you mean
yes thank you
what color are his eyes
will you get him back
reynolds asked suddenly
meyer stopped writing
we’re going to try he said
we’re going to try every way we know mr
reynolds
the description of jeff reynolds was
phoned to the 87th precinct building
and then sent out to the police forces
of 14 states
the message which followed it
immediately was about a gray ford car
it had been stolen
the gray ford bumped along the rough
road which led to the lonely farmhouse
sands spit was not the kind of place
where many visitors chose to spend their
summers
in winter it was freezing and completely
deserted
the ford stopped at the farmhouse and a
young man in his late 20s stepped out
and ran to the door
he knocked three times then waited
eddie a woman’s voice asked
it’s me kathy open the door
the door opened
where’s psy the girl asked
in the car
he’ll be here in a moment
ain’t you got a kiss for me kathy
oh eddie eddie she said and threw
herself into his arms
a woman of 24 with the pretty but hard
face of one whose life has never been
easy
kathy folsom kissed her husband warmly
with a love which came straight from her
heart
are you all right she asked him
did everything go all right i’ve been
worrying so much about this job i just
kept thinking it’s the last one please
don’t let anything go wrong
everything went fine give me a cigarette
honey
she watched him as he lit the cigarette
a tall good-looking man in a white
open-necked shirt
i was listening to the radio she said i
thought they’d say something about the
job i mean a bank
she paused
it went all right didn’t it
there was no trouble
no trouble only kathy you see we didn’t
she kissed him again
you’re back
she whispered that’s all that matters
in here kid a voice said
and jeff reynolds half fell into the
room
the man who had pushed him through the
door sigh
laughed as he said
home sweet home kid it ain’t much but
it’s ours
where’s my gun jeff said as cathy stared
at him not understanding what was
happening
the boy wants his guns i said smiling
kathy kept staring at jeff
who
who the hell she began
psy laughed already look at the surprise
on her face what a girl let me talk to
her psy eddie said
where’s the gun jeff said come on i have
to get home soon
he turned to kathy have you got the gun
what gun who is this kid
where’s your manners miss kathy so i
smiled this boy is our guest and
immediately she turned to her husband
eddie who i don’t think you’ve even got
a gun jeff said
sigh opened the door to one of the
bedrooms
come on kid the gun room is this way he
said
kathy waited until the door closed
behind them
then she said
tell me about it eddie
it’s what it looks like
he could not raise his eyes to look at
her
we’ve kidnapped the boy
have you gone completely crazy she asked
take it easy kathy try and take it easy
she lit a cigarette with fingers that
shook
all right i’m listening
tell me everything
we’ve kidnapped a boy we’re asking for a
ransom of 500 grand
you said it was a bank job kathy said
i was lying we never went near a bank
don’t you know how serious this is eddie
you’re crazy you could go to the
electric chair for this calm down don’t
get excited
who is the kid kathy asked
bobby king
and who’s bobby king
his father is a big guy in granger’s
shoe
you know the company kathy they make
those expensive shoes
yes i know it
she was silent for a moment before she
said softly
why didn’t you tell me what you were
planning
i didn’t think you’d agree to it
of course i won’t agree to it she
shouted get that boy out of here
take him back where you got him his
parents must be going mad with worrying
about him how could you do a thing like
this
shut up and he shouted then he said more
gently cathy we’ll get 500 grand from
this job
we’ll go to mexico just like you said
you wanted to
i don’t want the money
i won’t touch it and i won’t go to
mexico
you said this would be the last job a
bank you said just a bank not taking
somebody’s child not a dirty rotten
kidnapping
we didn’t hurt the kid and he said he’s
fine
is he kathy said what’s psy doing to him
he’s all right so i promised to show him
a real gun that’s how he got him to come
with us
try to understand honey
i don’t want to understand this she said
what the hell gave you the idea
i just got it sy and me worked on the
plan together this is safer than a bank
job we just borrow a kid and get 500
grand when we give him back
borrow a kid eddie
who said that you or psy
i told you we both had this idea
you’re lying eddie
it was psy’s idea wasn’t it
no
well
it was wasn’t it
well it was but it’s a good idea honey
we’ll go to mexico i’ll make something
good of my life there kathy you’ll see
i’ll really be something me eddie folsom
won’t that be great honey
oh eddie eddie
she said looking at him sadly
don’t you even realize what you’ve
done bang jeff shouted as he ran into
the room carrying a gun
sy was just behind him
the kid likes guns he laughed play with
the gun kid get to know it
psy is that gun loaded kathy asked
frightened
would i give a loaded gun to a little
child psy asked innocently what do you
think i am a bad guy
he turned to eddie and said
time to turn on the magic box professor
eddie looked at kathy but she would not
meet his eyes
sure sai he said and pulled a cloth off
a heap of radio equipment which stood on
a table in the corner of the room
watch the professor kid psy said as
eddie turned the huge radio on
pushing buttons and watching needles
move from side to side
you sure found yourself a smart guy
kathy
why don’t you leave my husband alone
cathy said
why did you get him into this rotten
thing
he came willingly sigh said i ain’t
forcing him
a high sound came from the radio
the magic box speaks kid
hey that’s great jeff said where did you
get it
i built it eddie answered
that must be really hard to do
not so hard eddie said trying not to
sound too pleased clever husband you got
yourself kathy psy said
that’s why the little woman loves you so
much eddie and you learnt it all in
reform school didn’t you
stop it sai
kathy said
want to build radios like eddie here and
have all the girls running after you so
i asked jeff
i sure do
okay
this is what you have to do
when you’re 15 years old rob a store
then they’ll send you to reform school
that’s where eddie got his education
me kid i had to get my education in the
rope factory he left is it coming
professor
suddenly voices came from the radio
accident at morrison and north 98. car
303
they were listening to the police
talking on their radios
are you going to take me home now jeff
asked
i’m busy kid so i said car 207 car 207
go to smoke rise
house of douglas king
hey
jeff said excited he said douglas king
do you really expect this plan to
succeed psy kathy said sure i do
and all because of the professor here in
his radio
i love eddie and his radios
i love this job it’s going to do great
things for all of us
tell already tell her all about it
psy she’s not interested eddie said
i’m interested in anything eddie does
kathy said softly
sure you are
the little womans i said
okay here’s what we did
we called king and told him we wanted
500 grand
jeff said
did you say you called shut up kid
we told him to get the money ready by
tomorrow morning then in the morning we
call again
are you talking about jeff started i
said shut up kid before you get hurt
so i shouted angrily
jeff stared at him surprised
and then frowned
the radio broke the silence in the room
all cars all cars here’s the story on
the smoke rise kidnapping the missing
boy is eight years old fair hair wearing
a red sweater the boy’s name is jeffrey
reynolds
what eddie said
that man said my name
jeff said surprised
son of charles reynolds chauffeur to
douglas king
what’s he talking about psy eddie said
his face was white with terror they’re
lions i said it’s some kind of trick
how can it be we’ve got the wrong kid
he ain’t the wrong kid
if he is
kathy said calmly
you’ve done all this for nothing
we’re all in trouble for nothing
this kid is bobby king psy said sure he
is
me
jeff said puzzled
i’m not bobby shut your mouth kid
let him talk cathy said
what’s your name sonny
jeff
he’s lying so i shouted i am not jeff
shouted back at him i don’t like you
i’m going home
he started to walk to the door
psy caught him roughly by the arm and
pulled him back
he stood very close to the boy
and there was no laughter in his voice
as he said
what’s your name your real name
[Music]
chapter six
this little boy is in big trouble
a cold wind blew off the river harb
along the road which led to douglas
king’s house
it froze the fingers of parker hawes and
kronig the three detectives who were
working there
working in the cold in the dark
any detective
any man would rather be at home on a
night like this
at home with a good book
a good woman or a good bottle of whiskey
to be honest about it a bad book a bad
bottle of whiskey even a bad woman would
be better than this cold
but the job had to be done
the marks made by a car a match thrown
in the road a cigarette end
anything could be important in a case
like this
anything could lead to the missing boy
at last they found it
small marks in the frozen mud by the
side of the road
the marks made by the tires of a car
a car that has been turned around in a
hurry
reynolds was watching cassidy the man
from the telephone company as he worked
cassidy was putting an extra telephone
into douglas king’s house for the police
to use
he was putting in a wiretap too
so that it would be possible for the
police to trace the kidnapper’s call
if he called again
i thought we’d hear something by now
reynolds said
don’t worry mister cassidy told him
when they find out they got your kid by
mistake they’ll just leave him in the
street somewhere
the kid’s all right believe me
if they leave him in the street he’ll
get lost reynolds said
he won’t know where to go he turned to
corella who had just been talking on the
phone
did they have any news detective corella
i was talking to auto squad corella said
i’ve asked them to check all stolen cars
in case the kidnappers had stolen the
car they used
he’s worried about the kid cassidy said
i keep telling him it’ll be all right
any minute now the kid could walk in the
door not a hair on his head harmed
do you think so
reynolds asked corella
well
corella started and then the doorbell
rang
it was parker
happy to be in at last from the freezing
cold
we found a tire mark he told corella
kronig’s making a cast of it now
not that it will help anyone it’s all a
waste of time if you ask me the kids
probably did already
carella quickly touched him on the arm
and looked across the room at reynolds
but it seemed that the chauffeur had not
heard parker’s remark
they ought to take all kidnappers out
and shoot them cassidy said the electric
chair is too good for guys that can
steal a man’s kid from him
well i guess i finished here i’ll just
test my phones and go
have you heard anything yet detective
carella king said as he came into the
living room with a coffee cup in his
hand
diane and cameron were directly behind
him
not yet mr king corella said
well what’s the problem are your men
really looking for the boy
do they have a description of him
yes sir they do
do they know he may be somewhere out on
the street
some member of the public may find him
is anybody taking phone calls from the
public
it’s all taken care of sir
all this king said extra phones wiretaps
it all seems a waste of time to me
there’s even a policeman outside my
son’s bedroom door
that’s right corella said
we’re taking no risks we have no idea
what the kidnappers will do next you see
i don’t think they have any choice king
said
they’ll have to let the boy go free
he caught sight of reynolds still
standing miserably on the other side of
the room
go to the kitchen and get something to
eat reynolds
i’m not very hungry mr king
go on man you’ve got to eat
jeffrey will be back before you know it
when reynolds had gone diane said
mr corella
the
know by now that they’ve got the wrong
boy don’t they
they should know mrs king it’s been on
all the radio and tv stations and in all
the newspapers
you don’t think they’ll harm him do you
of course they won’t king said sharply
as far as they’re concerned it’s just a
business deal that’s gone wrong
they may harm him mrs king corella said
calmly
you know that sometimes a thief will
beat up a man for not having any money
to give him
that would be senseless king said i’m
sure they’ll let him go as soon as they
know he’s not my son
these people are not stupid
you don’t have to be smart to be a
kidnapper corella said
you just have to be hard-hearted
we hadn’t thought of that cameron said
they may hurt him before they let him go
it’s a possibility
yes corolla said there’s another
possibility too
my name is jeffrey reynolds the boy said
sorry took him roughly by the arm you’re
lying
i’m not lying hey let go that sweater
will you it doesn’t belong to me
you lying little bastard psy shouted and
pushed jeff hard throwing the boy across
the room
kathy screamed and took a step towards
the boy
what’s your father’s name so i shouted
charles
where do you live
at mr king’s place
don’t call him mr king sorry shout out
you know he’s your father
no jeff said desperately he’s bobby’s
father
shut up psy shouted take off that
sweater
he pulled it over jeff’s head roughly
a slow smile spread over his face
if you’re called jeff
why is the name in your sweater robert
king
that’s bobby’s sweater jeff said mrs
king lent it to me
tell the truth i am telling the truth
psy stood there calmly a small neatly
dressed man who badly needed a shave
then suddenly violently he hit the boy
across the face
eddie stop him kathy shouted as jeff
rushed into her arms crying i am jeff
reynolds i am i am
stop it psy eddie said the kid’s
frightened
let me see the sweater
he looked at the name in it it says
robert king kathy
he says he borrowed it is that so hard
to accept
yeah psy said with 500 grand to lose it
is hard to accept
let’s take the boy home kathy said
softly sure psy said and go straight to
prison he knows us
he could lead the police to us
he turned to eddie
we want that money don’t we
i don’t want it kathy screamed i don’t
need it
well i do
and he said softly i want that money
i wasn’t born and smoke rise with a rich
father
when the hell did anyone ever give me
anything
this is my one chance to have something
i want a place of my own in mexico
a place for you and me kathy
there were tears in his eyes as he spoke
but he’s the wrong boy kathy said
no eddie said no he ain’t
eddie you know he is
when you think about it as i said softly
what difference does it make
maybe we got the wrong kid maybe this is
the chauffeur’s boy
we can still ask king for the money
he won’t pay psy
yet he said
he’ll pay all right psy said because if
he won’t
then this little boy is in big trouble
he paused and smiled at jeff
and i don’t think mr king would want
blood on his hands
[Music]
chapter 7
i want to talk to you about the ransom
lieutenant peter burns was on his way to
smoke rise
a child had been kidnapped
burns had a son of his own and he knew
the pains and pleasures of fatherhood
to him kidnapping a child was the worst
crime in the world
death was the correct punishment for a
kidnapper
seeing a light on the dark road by
king’s house
burns told his driver to stop
he got out of the car
cronig haws how are you boys he said
what have you got there
we’ve got a tire mark cronic said it’s a
good one i’m making a cast of it
fine fine burns said looking around
can you bring that light here a minute
haus
what is it lieutenant
let’s take a look at this rock here
in king’s living room the telephone rang
wait corella shouted as king moved to
answer it
corella picked up the wiretap equipment
mr cameron he said get on the new phone
if this is the kidnapper tell the phone
company to start tracing the call
immediately
okay mr king you can answer it now
king picked up the phone
hello
king
this is mr king
cameron said it to his phone
we’ve got him on the phone now start
tracing the call
alright king the voice said listen
we don’t care whose kid this is
we heard the radio message and we don’t
care
he’s still alive and well and we want
that money
get it tomorrow morning or the kid will
be dead by the end of the day
you want king started but the voice had
gone
hell i was afraid this would happen
corella said
he picked up his coat and hurried out of
the room
diane looked puzzled
is jeff all right she asked her husband
he’s fine
are you sure
of course i’m sure diane
i’ll go and tell reynolds she said
diane
yes
they want me to pay the ransom
they know they’ve got jeff
but they still want me to pay they want
me to
we’ll do whatever they say
thank god jeff’s all right diane said
as she left the room king stared after
her frowning
we’re dealing with professionals cameron
said he knew we would try to trace the
call
that’s why he made it so short
yes
king said
he seemed to be thinking hard
why are they still asking you to pay
hell if you pay them it’s the end of
your boston deal
yes
yes it is
the doorbell rang
it was meyer
i just saw corella he said
he’s gone outside to talk to lieutenant
burns
the kidnappers called again king said
they want me to pay the ransom
what do you mean
do they know they got the wrong kid
yes
and they still want you to pay
meyer shook his head
first time i ever heard this one he said
crazy but whoever said kidnappers have
to be normal human beings
what are our chances of getting the boy
back detective meyer king asked do you
think they are good
i don’t know meyer said he could be dead
already
in your opinion
king said slowly
will paying the ransom help the boy at
all
if he’s alive it will certainly help him
meyer said
if he’s dead nothing can help him
but we could use the dollar bills to
catch the kidnappers
i see
doug the boy still alive cameron said
your money will keep him alive remember
that
diane came into the room from the
kitchen
i think reynolds is in shock she said
he’s just sitting at the table staring
at nothing
she turned a king
doug have you called the bank yet
no not yet
isn’t it time
mommy
they all turned and saw bobby king in
his night clothes standing on the stairs
what is it darling diane said
why is there a policeman outside my room
bobby asked
just to make sure everything is all
right diane said
because of what happened to jeff
yes bobby
daddy
bobby said
are you getting jeff back
what
king said
i’m sorry son i didn’t hear
your daddy’s taking care of everything
diane said
come on let’s get you back into bed
i want daddy
bobby said
doug will you put bobby to bed
sure king said although he was clearly
thinking about something else
come on bobby
poor bobby diane said to cameron
he doesn’t really understand what has
happened
he only knows that his friend is gone
and i think he feels guilty
i feel like that myself
you have no reason to feel guilty
cameron said doug will pay the ransom
and
yes but i do feel guilty diane said
i almost feel that my own son is missing
she paused
detective meyer she said could you come
and talk to reynolds
you could explain to him what the police
are doing to get jeff back
all this is such a terrible shock for
him
sure meyer said
when he was alone in the living room
cameron lit a cigarette
stood listening for a moment
and then quickly went to the telephone
and dialed a number
may i speak to mr benjamin please he
said this is peter cameron
yes i’ll wait but please hurry
at last a voice said
this is george benjamin
pete cameron i have to make this fast do
i still get doug’s job
i offered it to you didn’t i do you want
it in writing
yes i do
the boston thing i told you about it’s a
stock deal
doug’s planning to buy 19 percent of the
voting stock he already owns 28
he’s smarter than you thought he was
george
there was a long silence
then we can’t vote him out what the hell
can we do
the only way to do it is to get the old
man on your side cameron said tell the
old man that doug is trying to do a deal
behind his back
how will that help if he buys that stock
he’ll have 47 percent of it
we can’t get rid of him hell he can get
rid of us
if he buys the stock have you heard the
news on the radio
this kidnapping nonsense benjamin said
what difference can that make the kid
isn’t king’s son
no but they’ve asked him for the ransom
if he pays he can’t afford to buy that
extra 19 of the stock
if he pays the boston deal’s off
will he pay benjamin asked
sure he will
meanwhile i’m trying to find out who
he’s dealing with in boston
good work pete benjamin said
thanks george
take my advice go talk to the old man
i’ll do that and i won’t forget this
i know you won’t
i have to go now george
cameron smiled to himself as he put down
the receiver and lit another cigarette
he was still smiling when the doorbell
rang and he went to answer it
a small man dressed completely in black
was standing there
mr king
the small man said
no i’m mr king’s assistant
i would like to see mr king please you
may tell him that adrian score is here
to see him
on personal business
cameron took score into the living room
and went upstairs to tell king about his
arrival
i don’t know anyone called score king
said
he says it’s personal business
i’ll come down bobby’s gone to sleep
king came into the room where score was
waiting
what do you want he asked
to do business mr king
isn’t it a bit late in the evening for
that
it’s never too late to do business
what kind of business are you talking
about mr score
kidnapping mr king
the room went silent
do you want your son back score asked
my son hasn’t been kidnapped
score laughed
well we can tell the newspapers it’s not
your son but we know the truth don’t we
let me ask you again
do you want the boy back
of course i do
now i know where he is mr king and for a
small fee i can help you to get him back
who has the boy mr score
as one businessman to another mr king i
must ask for a cash payment before
before what score a voice said before
you disappear leaving another unhappy
family behind you
meyer meyer had come quietly into the
room and had heard everything score had
said
mr score and i have met before meyer
went on
now get out of here before i arrest you
for giving false information score
i must protest strongly score said i am
an honest businessman providing a
service out meyer shouted now
i can get your boy back score shouted
but he went all the same
who is he king astmeyer
a rotten crook meyer said and there are
plenty of other sick characters like him
mr king who will try to make money out
of this kidnapping
i don’t know how he got past our manager
gate there’s only one thing i do know mr
king
what’s that
i’m glad i’m not back at the office
answering the telephones right now
lieutenant burns walked into king’s
living room and said
hello steve how’s it going
all right sir corella said mr king this
is lieutenant burns
how do you do sir burns said and he
shook hands with king
how does it look lieutenant king asked
not too bad not too good
i understand they’re asking you to pay
the ransom mr king
that’s bad
but we may have found something good
outside
what’s that
we’re getting a clear cast of a tire
mark and we’ve just found some paint
from the same car on a rock
this car was turned around in a hurry
outside your house
detective corella asked auto squad to
get me a list of stolen cars
i’ve just received the list
and now with a little luck we’ll soon
know which car we’re looking for
how will that help you find the boy king
asked
it would give us something to look for
i know it doesn’t sound like much but we
haven’t got much to help us and anything
is better than nothing
once the money has been delivered we can
note down some of the numbers on the
dollar bills that will help us to trace
them later
and when we get the boy back
perhaps he’ll be able to describe the
kidnappers
unless he’s dead
king said flatly
if he’s dead there wouldn’t be any sense
in continuing wood there mr king
not at all
king said
i want to talk to you about the ransom
mr king burns went on you haven’t called
your bank yet have you
no i haven’t
good i’d like to speak to them when you
do and
i’m afraid i won’t be able to help you
lieutenant king said
burns stared at him puzzled
i don’t understand he said
i won’t be talking to my bank
i’m not going to pay the ransom
you’re
the room went silent
of course it’s your decision mr king
burns said nobody can force you to pay
it
what are you saying mr king corella said
frowning you have to pay the ransom
that boy hasn’t got a chance unless
shut it steve burns said
i don’t have to do anything king said
slowly
i’ll tell you again
i’ll tell the kidnappers and i’ll tell
anyone else who wants to listen
i am not paying the ransom
do you understand
i am not
paying the ransom
[Music]
chapter eight
i’m taking you out of here
jeff reynolds turned over in his sleep
and the blanket which covered him fell
free of his shoulder
kathy folsom went to the bed and covered
him again
eddie folsom lit a cigarette
in the bathroom psy was singing at the
top of his voice
was listening to police calls on the
radio he had built
sigh he called side did you hear that
sy dressed only in his trousers came out
of the bathroom where he was shaving
what’s the matter he asked
the police are blocking all the roads
they’re stopping every car how can we
use the car tomorrow
what are you getting so excited for sigh
said i’ll be driving right
in an ordinary old car right we’ve
changed the number plates nobody will
know it’s a stolen car
if the cop stopped me i’ll tell them i’m
on my way to work
what about after we get the money eddie
said how are we going to leave they’ll
still be watching
we won’t have the kid with us psy said
there’s nothing to worry about
let me finish shaving will you
when he had closed the bathroom door
kathy said eddie
what will happen to the boy after psy
gets the money
we’ll leave him here
we’ll call king to tell him where the
boy is
that sounds so dangerous eddie oh eddie
let’s get out of here now before it’s
too late
stop worrying honey eddie said you’ve
got to believe what psy says kathy he’s
been a good friend to me
a good friend kathy said
i think he wants to kill the boy eddie
oh come on kathy psy doesn’t want to
kill anyone
all he wants is his share of the money
what about you
she asked
what do you want eddie
the same thing the money
and what are you willing to do to get
that money
what the hell are you talking about
eddie said angrily
he looked around for another cigarette
found an empty packet and called a sigh
got any cigarettes psy
in the car sorry shouted from the
bathroom let a guy shave in peace can’t
you
eddie started to walk toward the door
tell me eddie
kathy asked again
what will you do to get that money
is kidnapping okay
then why not murder
will you stop at murder eddie
this is crazy kathy
psy is planning to kill that boy she
said
and i have to know what you think
can’t you just leave me alone
no eddie
i have to know
all right all right eddie said look
cathy i want to have something
be something you know
i want to go to mexico i want to have
money a lot of money
i never had anything kathy i
i don’t want to be poor to be dirt
anymore okay
okay but
honey don’t ask me any more questions
don’t ask me why i’m doing this it’s the
only thing i can do
it isn’t eddie she said
we could leave now we could leave the
boy somewhere and go to mexico just the
two of us
i i don’t know he said
i need a cigarette kathy eddie tell me
leave me alone he shouted i’m getting
out of here
where are you going
to the car for those cigarettes and and
then i’m going for a walk
i’ll go with you
i don’t want you with me leave me alone
the door closed leaving her alone with
the sleeping child
in the bathroom psy began singing again
kathy looked at the bathroom door then
at the boy she had decided what she must
do
quickly she touched jeff on the shoulder
and whispered jeff
wake up jeff
he sat up immediately
what is it he said what what
quiet
she whispered listen to me and do what i
tell you to do
i’m taking you away from here
you’re taking me home jeff said
excitedly keep your voice
down they could hear sighs singing and
the sound of running water i can’t take
you home but i can take you out of here
i’ll have to leave you somewhere someone
will find you you’ll get home but you
have to help me
we have to move fast do you understand
yes jeff whispered are
are they going to kill me
i don’t know we won’t give them the
chance
is eddie your husband
yes
he’s not so smart jeff said
but i don’t think he would hurt me
kathy was silent
you’re pretty jeff said
thank you now come on
put that sweater on it’s very cold
outside
she pulled the sweater over his head
when we get to the road we start running
she said do you understand
yes i’m a good runner
she put on her coat and led him silently
towards the door
slowly she turned the handle
wait jeff said i want my gun
he broke away from her and rushed back
into the room
the gun was on a table
as he picked it up it sent a heavy
ashtray crashing to the ground
the two of them froze unable to move
the bathroom door opened
well well sighs said as he came out
where do you think you’re going
where’s eddie
he went to the car for cigarettes kathy
said
so you thought you’d run off with the
boy did you as i said
he went to the door and locked it
nice trick honey now take off your coat
kathy hesitated
get it off before i tear it off you
sai shouted
she threw the coat onto the bed
sigh walked up to her slowly
reaching into his pocket
suddenly she could see a knife in his
hand
listen to me little lady he said holding
the knife up to her face
try that again and you’re gonna need a
good doctor to put your face together
again understand
and this little bastard will be dead
meat
i’m not afraid of you psy she said
no
you’d better start being nice to me
honey he said
maybe i’ll forget what you tried to do
if you’re real sweet to me
still holding the knife to her throat he
put his free hand on her shoulder
she tried to pull away from him
hey open the door eddie called from
outside
psy put the knife away and kathy
unlocked the door
eddie came into the room
oh it’s a great night he said cold but
clear you can see the stars
that means the weather will be good
tomorrow psy said even the weather is on
our side
he looked at kathy nothing can stop us
now he said
we’re all gonna be rich
he turned to eddie
your wife ain’t too excited by this job
eddie he said
tell her about it
tell her what a beautiful plan we’ve got
do we have to talk about it and he said
let’s just do it
i want her to know how great it is you
see kathy
we’re gonna call king in the morning and
tell him what to do
and the cops won’t be able to stop us or
find us
how does that sound kathy
very smart
she said in a flat voice
yeah
so i said
very smart
nobody will know where we are or what
we’re gonna do
and all because of eddie and his magic
box
he pointed to the radio equipment
why do you think we took the trouble to
rob all those different radio stores to
give eddie something to play with
i thought that you needed it to listen
to police calls kathy said puzzled oh
nose i said there’s more to it than that
this isn’t just a radio receiver look at
those oscillators that transmitter
we’ve got a big surprise for king and
the cops too
once king starts to do what we want
nobody will know what’s happening except
him
and us
once he leaves the house with the money
if he leaves the house
kathy said if he pays the ransom
i’ll tell you a secret sweetheart so i
said he’d better leave the house and
he’d better pay the ransom
he looked at jeff as he put his hand
into his pocket and took out the knife
the boy’s eyes were wide with terror
he’d better pay the ransom
so i said softly
[Music]
chapter 9
if you don’t pay them they’ll kill him
lieutenant sam grossman was the
scientist who ran the police laboratory
it was his job to take the cast of the
tire mark which cronic had made and the
tiny bit of gray paint
and to find out what kind of car they
came from
grossman’s job was not always pleasant
pieces of bodies hair blood and bone
were things he saw every day
however he enjoyed his work
because he knew that he was helping to
send thieves and murderers to prison
sometimes his job was extremely
difficult but today it was easy
in a very short time
he was able to phone meyer meyer and
tell him that the car he was looking for
was a five-year-old gray ford
meyer took the call from grossman in
douglas king’s living room
while the two policemen talked
king sat silently staring into the fire
he did not look up when meyer told him
that he was going to talk to burns
he still did not look up when diane came
into the room and stood between him and
the fire
all right
she said so quietly that he could only
just hear her
pete told me what you’ve decided
you can’t be serious
i am serious diane
i don’t believe you
i’m not paying
start believing it diane i’m not paying
you have to pay diane said
i don’t have to do anything they’re just
crooks why should i play their game
game
it isn’t a game
there’s a little boy involved if you
don’t pay them they’ll kill him
he may be dead already
they told you he was alive diane said
you know they did
they may kill him even if i do pay
and if you don’t pay they will certainly
kill him
king got up from his chair
would you like a drink diane he asked
no i would not
she said
doug how can you play with a child’s
life like this
why should i care about this kid at all
king said what is reynolds doing to help
his son nothing
why should i pay for his son
but he’s just a child
i don’t care he’s nothing to me
do you know diane i don’t even like the
kid why should i be responsible for him
they meant to take bobby diane said that
makes you responsible for him
not at all it just makes him unlucky
king said
in any case i haven’t got the money
they’re asking for
you have got it doug she said don’t lie
to me
i need all the money i’ve got for this
deal i can’t give that away don’t you
understand
yes i understand completely she said
your business deal means more to you
than a child’s life
the business is my life king said it’s
everything i’ve worked for it’s a part
of me diane don’t you realize that
to hell with the business she shouted i
don’t care about granger’s shoe
i don’t care whether you own it or not
listen to me king said angrily let me
tell you what will happen if i pay that
ransom
benjamin and his friends will get
together with the old man and throw me
into the street
i’ll have no job diane i’ll be finished
you could start again
where how could i
we’d lose everything this house the cars
the way we live it would all go why
should i do anything why can’t someone
else pay
you were asked diane said
why me because i’ve got money
i didn’t get it by sitting around
watching the world go by
i’ve worked hard for everything i’ve got
why can’t reynolds pay the ransom for
his own son because he’s never worked as
hard as i have that’s why he sat around
doing nothing and now he wants me to
help him
well i don’t want to help him i don’t
want to help anybody except myself
you don’t mean that diane said you can’t
meme that
what’s happened to you doug what’s
happened to the man i love
i don’t know what you mean
maybe it’s my own fault diane said
all those years i just stood and watched
as you got harder and crueler and did
worse and worse things to people
how could i shut up and listen to me she
shouted you’ve destroyed so many men on
your way to the top doug and i just
watched you want to destroy benjamin too
and the old man and throw them into the
street you don’t care about anyone
that isn’t true diane and you know it
king said haven’t i always given you
what you wanted haven’t i been a good
husband to you and a good father to
bobby
the business has always meant more to
you than we have she said
you’ve given us money a home food
but you’ve never given us anything of
yourself
only the business matters to you
and now you’re ready to murder a little
boy to get what you want
murder no diane it is murder she said
you can call it by other names but it is
murder
and this time i won’t stand by and watch
you do it
what do you mean what are you talking
about
if you don’t pay the ransom i’m leaving
you
leaving
i’m taking bobby and i’m getting out of
this house
come on diane you don’t know what you’re
saying you i know exactly what i’m
saying doug
pay the kidnappers
because i don’t want to be anywhere near
you if you don’t
i won’t live with somebody who’s rotten
and dirty who
honey honey he said reaching out his
hand to her can’t you
get away from me
she screamed don’t touch me doug
this time i’ve had enough
i can’t pay he said you can’t ask me to
i’m not asking she said i’m telling
have the money ready when the kidnappers
call tomorrow morning
i can’t give it to them he said
diane i can’t pay
you can’t ask me to
but she had already walked out of the
room
[Music]
chapter 10
you’re out and i’m
in after a long cold night the sun was
rising washing the house in golden light
in the bedroom diane silently packed
clothes into a bag
while liz baloo drank coffee and watched
her
why are you doing this diane liz asked
by asking doug to pay the ransom you’re
asking him to destroy his life and yours
too it doesn’t make sense
doesn’t it
diane said
what would you do if one of your
children was kidnapped liz
i’d cut off my arm if it would save him
liz said
and what if my boy
bobby was taken and they asked you for
the money
liz drank some coffee
even at this time in the morning she
looked beautiful
darling she said i love you like a
sister but i’m not sure that i would pay
all that money to save somebody else’s
son
i’m surprised diane said
why because i’m a mother
i’m only mother to three children not
the whole world liz said
they were silent for a while
and then diane said
it was good of you to offer me a place
to stay
of course you can stay at my house for
as long as you like diane liz said
but if doug asks me what i think about
all this i’ll tell him that i think
you’re mad
he already thinks i’m mad diane said
he knocked at my bedroom door three
times in the night
the last time i think he was crying
but i wouldn’t let him come in
he has to understand that i’m serious
he has to understand that i’m leaving
him unless he pays the ransom
somebody knocked at the door
who is it
diane asked
me pete
could you go to the door liz
diane asked
good morning mr cameron liz said as she
opened the door did you sleep well
liz cameron said surprised to see her i
didn’t know you got up so early in the
morning
i always wake up early and ready for
action liz said
what brings you to a lady’s bedroom
a problem
i’ve got doug’s check in my pocket diane
what should i do take it to boston or
tear it up
you’ll have to ask doug diane said
i ought to tear it up cameron said he’s
going to pay that ransom i’m sure of it
why are you sure diane said
i don’t understand
look cameron said
let’s say i go to boston and the deal
goes ahead
imagine the story in the newspapers
douglas king they’ll say the man who now
controls granger’s shoe the man who
refused to save a little boy’s life
hell
they’ll tear him to pieces
nobody will ever buy a pair of granger
shoes again
i hadn’t thought of that diane said
but doug will think of it
that’s why he’ll pay
there was a cough
and they all turned towards the door
douglas king stood there
his eyes were red and tired but he had a
determined look on his face
good morning doug cameron said did you
sleep well
no i didn’t sleep well
diane why is liz here
i called her last night doug
i’m taking bobby to liz’s house
i see
he turned to cameron
when are you leaving pete
what well i i don’t know
what do you mean which plane are you on
i didn’t ring the airport i thought
it’s not your job to think
i gave you a check to take to boston
didn’t i
yes but i didn’t know whether you still
wanted me to nothing’s changed
go downstairs and call the airport get a
seat on the next flight to boston
as cameron left the room diane said
i guess i’d better finish packing liz
king stared at her for a moment and then
went downstairs
cameron was already talking on the
telephone
the 12 o’clock flight he said fine the
name is peter cameron all right thank
you
he put the receiver down
okay
he said to king we just put a bullet in
jeffrey reynolds head
stop it pete
it’s true i think this is murder cameron
said
dog listen to me
please doug let the deal go and save the
kid he’s an innocent child and
when did you start loving innocent
children so much
everyone loves kids doug cameron said
especially pete cameron huh
don’t you know that the boston deal will
help you as well as me
is jeffrey reynolds really more
important to you than your own success i
find that very interesting pete
a child’s life is important more
important than this deal right
no but
more important or less important which
well i
if i pay the ransom the deal is off
is that what you want pete
do you want this deal to fail
king looked at cameron coldly
i don’t believe you care if jeff
reynolds lives or dies
what’s really going on here
have you got plans of your own
doug don’t be silly
why did you call benjamin yesterday
and don’t tell me that lie about a sales
meeting what are you planning with him
nothing
cameron gave a week laugh i’m not
planning anything with anybody
did you tell him about this boston deal
boston no of course i didn’t
king stared at him for a moment
then he picked up the telephone
what are you doing doug cameron asked
king did not answer
get me mr benjamin he said unto the
receiver then
hello george this is doug
how are you george
i’m fine isn’t it a little early in the
morning for
george i’ve been thinking king went on
that deal you offered me yesterday i
turned it down
maybe that was a mistake
i think i’d like to accept your offer
george
you’re too late doug benjamin said
you see i know all about your deal in
boston
and i know that your deal is off because
of this kidnapping
you’ve lost your deal mr king and now
you’re going to lose your job
too see king said softly
well george i guess i know when i’m
beaten but i hope you won’t punish pete
for my mistake he knew nothing about my
plans he’s a good worker george and
benjamin gave a loud laugh don’t worry
about pete we’ll take care of him
pete will be okay with us doug
now i really must go i’m meeting someone
for a game of golf
king put the phone down slowly
you
bastard he said to cameron
you told him about boston you told him
everything
yes
everything
you bastard
yes cameron said i told him everything
and now you’re out mr king out
you’re out and i’m in
tomorrow you’re out on the street
not if the boston deal goes through
you can’t do it you haven’t got the guts
to kill that kid
haven’t i king said
but you have pete is that right
then we’re both bastards aren’t we both
the same
suddenly he put his hands on cameron’s
shoulders and threw him across the room
get out of my house he shouted
with pleasure cameron said
he took the check out of his pocket and
tore it into pieces
get out king screamed get out get out
get out
even after cameron had left the house he
was still shouting get out get out
[Music]
chapter 11
the boy needs a hot drink
the boy was cold
kathy had given him her coat but he
still felt cold
he wanted a hot drink hot chocolate he
said but there was no milk in the
farmhouse and no chocolate
kathy sat with her arms around the
trembling child wondering how eddie
folsom the man she loved could possibly
be a part of a crime like this
she knew that he was a thief
to kathy robbing a bank was not really a
crime at all
but kidnapping a child
how could eddie a man who had so much
good in him do a terrible thing like
that
and what exactly were they planning to
do eddie and psy
kathy had seen maps and knew that they
were going to use the radio equipment
they were going to telephone king and
give him some instructions
she could not understand what all this
meant
eddie she said
the boy needs a hot drink
he’s cold
would you go out and get him something
eddie
never try to understand women sigh said
the roads are full of cops and you want
to send eddie out for a hot drink that
really takes the prize kathy
one of you has to go out to make the
phone call kathy said
you’ll have to make the call from a
store won’t it look more normal if you
buy some things too
she’s right psy said
good idea kathy
he said to eddie
when you make the call get the kid what
he needs
am i going to make the call eddie said
why not
no reason okay i’ll go
do you know what to do
so i asked
make sure he’s got the money first
tell him to leave the house at 10
o’clock sharp
tell him to go straight to his car it
must be the cadillac
be certain to tell him that eddie we
don’t want him to use the wrong car
tell him it has to be the caddy
all right eddie said
tell him to start driving away from
smoke rise
say you’ll be met by someone with
further instructions
make sure you say he’ll be met
who’s going to meet him kathy asked
you
nobody psy said and he laughed
tell him he’ll be watched all the time
and if the police are following him
we’ll kill the boy
okay eddie said
what do you want me to buy kathy
a packet of hot chocolate and some milk
get some cookies too
he kissed her and said
i’ll be back soon
be careful eddie
good luck kid so i said
here’s the phone number
he gave eddie a piece of paper
eddie went out and got into the car
psy listened as he drove off down the
road
then he locked the door
alone at last he said to kathy
and he laughed
every policeman sees some horrible
sights
and steve carella too had some bad
memories
as soon as he saw charles reynolds come
into the room
he knew that he would never be able to
forget what was about to happen
he wanted to close his eyes
but he could not
reynolds looked lifeless a defeated man
he stood there patiently and waited for
douglas king his employer to notice him
at last king looked up
what is it what do you want reynolds
he said
reynolds took a step towards king
i want to ask you to pay the ransom for
my son mr king
he said don’t ask me
king said and he turned away
i have to ask you mr king
reynolds said don’t you see that
i’ve never begged in my life but i’m
begging you now
please mr king
i’m talking to you as one father to
another please save my son
i can’t help you
i can’t help jeff
i don’t believe that mr king you can
save him who else can i ask
you’re asking me to destroy my own life
king said do you understand that i can’t
do it
what do you want me to do reynolds said
i’ll do anything i’ll work for the rest
of my life for nothing
don’t talk nonsense how can
do you want me to get down on my knees
mr king
shall i get down on my knees and beg you
to save jeff
he fell to his knees
corella had to look away
king was trembling
get up man he said
i’m on my hands and knees reynolds said
begging you mr king begging you please
please save my son
corella saw king’s eyes close for a
moment
then he said
please get up reynolds could you please
leave me alone could you do that please
reynolds got quietly to his feet he
turned and walked slowly out of the room
douglas king stared after him
do you feel rotten mr king corella asked
because that’s what you are a rotten
bastard
look here corella i don’t want to listen
to that oh go to hell mr king corella
said angrily what’s the matter with you
steve burns said coming into the room
stop that now
yes sir
i’ve just been on the telephone burns
said checking our list of stolen cars
and sure enough there it was
a five-year-old gray ford
they’ll have changed the number plates
though
he stopped as liz baloo came down the
stairs she was carrying a bag and
holding bobby king by the hand
good morning she said any news yet
i’m afraid not man burns said
daddy bobby said is jeff back yet
no sonny isn’t
i thought you were getting him back
bobby said
there was a long uncomfortable silence
corella hoped that he would never see
the look that was on bobby king’s face
on the face of his own son
come on bobby liz said
she said to king
he’s coming over to my house doug
where’s diane did you talk to her
yes but it’s no good
give her time doug just be patient
why aren’t you getting jeff back dad
bobby asked
but liz pulled him towards the door and
then they were gone
i think i should explain king said i
know that my refusal looks
the telephone rang
king stopped speaking and corella rushed
to the wiretap equipment
answer it mr king he said keep him
talking for as long as you can
burns picked up the other phone
what what shall i tell him king said
tell him you’ve got the money burns said
it’s our only chance
answer it answer it corella shouted
hello
king said
the voice that replied was not the same
one he had heard before
have you got the money mr king
keep him talking burns whispered
well yes i i mean i have most of it what
do you mean most of it we told you
the rest of it will be here soon
five hundred thousand dollars is a lot
of money you know and i didn’t have much
time to get it
they’re bringing the rest from the bank
it should arrive in half an hour
all right fine now listen
i’m only going to say this once
you will leave the house at 10 o’clock
sharp
carry the money in a plain box
go to the garage and get into the black
cadillac it must be the black cadillac
do you understand
yes i understand king said
hurry hurry
burns whispered into the other phone
you will drive away from the house and
away from smoke rise
you will be watched don’t take anyone in
the car with you and don’t allow the
police to follow you if you are followed
we will kill the boy do you understand
that
yes
you will continue driving until someone
meets you with instructions
that is all you have to know goodbye
mister wait
keep him talking burns said they’ve
traced the call to sans spit
what do you want mr king
when do we get the boy back
how do we know he’s still alive he’s
still alive
can i talk to him
no
goodbye mr king
wait you
he’s gone corella said
his voice sounded different this time
i don’t think it was the same guy that
called before
good work mr king
thank you
king said dully
eddie folsom had finished his telephone
call
now he had some shopping to do
give me a packet of hot chocolate and a
bottle of milk he said
and a box of those cookies there
[Music]
chapter 12
that 500 grand has got to be ours
kathy was worried
she walked up and down the room looking
out of the window and lighting one
cigarette after another
where is eddie she said
shouldn’t he be back by now
he’ll be back psy said
remember you told him to get chocolate
for the kid as well as make the call
when he gets back kathy said
what are you going to do
nothing not until just before 10 o’clock
and what will you do then
don’t worry about it
everything will be fine and we’ll all be
rich as hell you know why because psy
bernard is planning this
not some small time punk like you’re
eddie
he’s not a small time punk
no psy said
so
he’s a real big shot how did you meet
such a big shot
we just met
kathy said that’s all
but you knew he was a crook
yes she said but it didn’t matter to me
he’s a good man
he only does this because it’s the only
thing he knows
i know he’s a good man really
why did you marry him
i love him kathy said
when are you going to let me go jeff
asked
he was lying on the bed with kathy’s
coat over him
shut up kid psy said
he turned to kathy
why worry about eddie this other fish in
the sea
bigger smarter fish than eddie
he’s my husband i love him
love
that’s just for teenagers there’s no
such thing
you’re mistaken you just don’t know
kathy said
one thing i do know you’re ready is just
a cheap crook and he’ll never change
it’s too late now for that
it’s not too late once this is over once
this is over there’ll be another job and
another
he paused and looked at her listen let’s
have a drink
no thanks
what’s the matter don’t you drink
i don’t want any
where’s eddie
so i picked up a bottle and drank from
it
you know what your trouble is he asked
her
you worry too much
you don’t know how to live
come on have a drink
oh leave me alone she said i don’t want
a drink
okay so i said stand here and worry if
that’s what you want to do
i can think of better ways to kill in
time
he walked closer to her
his eyes on her sweater
and he ought to buy you some new clothes
a girl like you needs nice things not
this old sweater
thanks kathy said riley
know what i think so i went on you’re
wasting your time with a punk like eddie
a pretty little thing like you need
someone who knows a bit about the world
someone who shut up psy she said
aren’t you hoping the cops will catch
eddie
you never wanted to do this job did you
all you do is worry about whether the
kid’s okay
whether we’re gonna hurt him shut up
shut up
sorry look to jeff
you’re the lucky one kid he said
the lady really cares about you
and she cares about eddie
but not old side that’s for sure
he raised the bottle
i’m drinking to you kid he said
how about that you little bastard
jeff said nothing he was trembling from
cold and fear
answer me psy said
ain’t you got no manners boy come on
talk
the cops are out there looking for me
all over the roads because of you
i want to know what you think about that
i
i don’t know
jeff said
you don’t know a smart little bastard
like you must have some ideas
do you want me to go to the electric
chair is that what you want
stop it psy kathy said leave the boy
alone
come on kid yes or no
do you want me to get the electric chair
yes
i mean
what you little bastard
sigh you’re frightening the boy to death
suddenly jeff rushed to kathy and threw
his arms around her
he buried his head in her sweater
get your hands off her side shouted
kathy pulled the boy closer
that’s enough sy
what the hell are you saying
no woman tells me what i can do
he pulled jeff roughly from her throwing
the boy across the room
there he said how about that
kathy hit him as hard as she could
across the face
slowly psy took out his knife
okay baby he said you’re finally ready
to play sight don’t don’t what baby
don’t worry i won’t cut you
carefully he ran the knife up her body
tearing the sweater to pieces
kathy moved her hands to try to cover
herself
sai laughed get your hands out of the
way
i’d ain’t like elder hurt you
now
let’s see
the boy seemed to come from nowhere he
landed on psy’s back like a wild cat
hitting kicking pulling sighs hair
surprised sy turned
tore the boy off him and threw him to
the floor
kathy was at the door trying to unlock
it
so i caught her by the arm and pulled
her to him
maybe you’d better take it easy baby he
said
maybe you’ll like it better that
there was a knock at the door
eddie
kathy whispered
si let go of her immediately
put your coat on he said hurry
quickly she obeyed him
one word of this to eddie sai said
and the kid is dead
psy sat down next to the boy
open the door he said to kathy
welcome home sigh said as eddie came
into the house
did you get the milk
yeah
seeing the look on kathy’s face eddie
asked
what’s the matter here
nothing cathy said
kathy and i just had a little difference
of opinions i said
i got a bit excited i guess
i’m sorry eddie
what was it about
why are you wearing your coat eddie
asked his wife
it got a bit cold in here
are you okay were there any police about
i didn’t see a single cop eddie said
listen this is no time for fighting
among ourselves
i said i was sorry psy said get the
magic box working eddie i want to know
what the cops are doing i’ll make you
some hot chocolate kathy said to jeff
the radio suddenly came to life
carr used in the jeff reynolds
kidnapping gray ford five years old
number possibly rn 6210
they know the car eddie shouted we
changed the number plate but they still
know it how can we use it now
waits i said calm down eddie i’ll be
driving the car not you listen you said
you didn’t see any cops when you went to
the store okay
we’re going to use this radio to find
out exactly where they are
he looked at his watch
we’ve got half an hour
let’s hope that the cops send a lot of
messages in that time
we can’t lose that money now
that 500 grand has got to be ours
[Music]
chapter 13
lock him up
at 10 o’clock in the morning the front
door of douglas king’s house opened and
king came out
he was carrying a plane box filled with
old newspapers
he went to his garage got into the black
cadillac and drove out onto the road
he seemed to be alone
no police car was behind him
he seemed to be following the
kidnapper’s instructions exactly
nobody who was watching him could know
that detective steve carella was hidden
in the back of the car
lying on the floor
do you see anything
carella asked king
is anyone waving to you from another car
is there a helicopter overhead
no
nothing how the hell are they going to
contact you corella said
at 10 o’clock in the morning
eddie folsom turned on his radio
equipment
psy had left earlier after he had heard
enough to know where the police were
blocking the roads
eddie looked at his radio equipment and
his maps
then he looked at his watch
it was 10-3
he would give king another seven minutes
at 10 10
it would start
can you see anything yet corella asked
no
what time is it
10-5
why did you come mr king corella asked a
detective could have taken your place
i know
king paused for a moment and then asked
are you married mr corella
yes
do you love your wife
yes
i love mine she left me this morning
after all these years
she left me
do you know why
i think so
because i won’t pay the ransom for jeff
reynolds
you think i’m rotten i know
but i can’t do it i can’t lose granger’s
shoe now
it’s all i want
if it’s all you want you shouldn’t care
that your wife has left you
i guess not i shouldn’t care about diane
or bobby or anybody should i
no
then why am i here
what am i doing
i don’t understand it myself mr corella
i only know i can’t pay the ransom for
that boy
it would destroy my life
i’d be poor again
diane was always rich mr corella she
doesn’t know what it means to be poor
i know
i was a poor kid and i worked hard i
fought to get what i wanted
now i’ll fight these kidnappers by being
here by doing something
but i’ll never pay their ransom
if that means i’m rotten then i’m rotten
but i won’t be poor again
i want my house and my servants and my
big car with a telephone
at that moment the telephone in the car
began to ring
what’s that corella said from the back
seat the telephone said king the
telephone’s ringing
my god that’s how corella said go on
answer it
king lifted the receiver
hello
he
said listen mr king
yeti’s voice said listen carefully i’m
going to give you your instructions
don’t put the phone down
nobody can trace this call
i’m using radio not a telephone don’t
try to contact anyone just do what i
tell you to
no tricks please do you understand
i understand
corella climbed over into the front seat
and took the phone from king
he knew the voice the kidnapper could
hear over the car phone would not be
clear
he hoped that his voice would not sound
different from kings
it was a risk worth taking
where are you eddie asked coming up to
north 39th where it crosses culver
corella said
it seemed that eddie had not noticed the
different voice
calmly he said
turn left on north 40th
go south until you reach grover avenue
then turn left again
when you reach hall avenue let me know
have you got that
yes
gorilla put his hand over the mouthpiece
and said to king
he’s telling us where to go little by
little so that we can’t let the cops
know what we’re doing
these people are smart mr king i wish i
knew how to stop them i just wish i knew
sai bernard sat in his car and waited he
was smoking his tenth cigarette in half
an hour
anxiously he looked at his watch
then at the road again
he felt strangely worried that the plan
would go wrong
but how could it
his car was parked in the woods
completely hidden from the road by trees
the place was just past a bend in the
road
eddie would tell king to throw the box
of money out of the car window
and then to drive quickly on
still following eddie’s instructions
if the police were following they would
have to stay a safe distance behind king
so they would not see when the drop was
made
by the time they drove around the bend
king would already have driven away
they would continue to follow
not even knowing that the drop had
happened
because king had no way of telling them
eddie would continue talking to king
leading him and the police further and
further away
until psy had picked up the money and
driven back to the farmhouse
when psy stepped through the door eddie
would stop transmitting
the plan was beautiful
why did he feel so worried
you’re going to cross a bridge eddie
said his eyes on the map
you have to pay
get the money ready don’t say anything
and don’t try any tricks
if you do
we’ll kill the boy
kathy listened as her husband said it
we’ll kill the boy
kill the boy
my husband said those words she thought
how could he say that
you’re coming off the bridge right yeah
he said
now turn left onto the highway and keep
driving
let me know when you pass
exit 16.
kathy looked closely at the map
the farmhouse was clearly marked on it
and king’s house
the red line must be the route eddie was
leading king along
what was the meaning of that blue star
then
of course the place where psy was hiding
waiting for king to drop his money
then eddie would keep king driving
to get him away from the place and to
confuse any followers
so that was where psy was
tantamount rode just around the bend in
route 127.
eddie
she said
not now
he shouted his hand over the microphone
eddie let’s stop this now please please
no he said
psy looked at his watch
come on eddie he thought hurry let king
get here with the money
let me get back to the farmhouse safely
please
please eddie kathy said if you love me
i’m asking you to i have to do this
kathy i have to eddie said angrily
all right we just passed exit 16.
corella said
fine turn off at exit 17 and start to
drive north eddie said
let me know when you get to
the boy is in a farmhouse on fair lane
road half a mile from stanbury kathy
suddenly shouted into the open
microphone
what the hell and he turned to stop her
but he was too late the words were
pouring out of her mouth
sai bernard is waiting in a car kathy
stop it are you crazy on tatam out road
just around the bend in route 127.
did you hear that corella shouted i
heard it king said
get there as fast as you can
corella had cut the connection and was
already making another call
this is a police officer get me
headquarters immediately
sai bernard was smoking his 15th
cigarette as the black cadillac came
round the bend in the road
this is it he thought this is it
the car slowed down
he expected to see a box full of money
drop out of the window to the ground
instead of that the door opened and a
man with a gun in his hand jumped out
psy started the engine and drove the car
at him but the man fired
hitting one of the tires and breaking
two windows
side drove passed him onto the road then
left the car and began running into the
woods
the man was reloading his gun
another man a big man
jumped out of the cadillac and began
running after psy
psy fired at him twice missing him both
times
stop the man shouted we know where your
friends are
go to hell psy shouted
he fired several more times and then the
gun was empty and he threw it away and
took out his knife
as the big man came through the trees
psy held out the knife and said softly
stop there
like hell
douglas king said and he threw himself
on sigh with all the force in his body
the knife tore upwards through king’s
coat
running a thin line of blood across his
skin
but his hands
strong hands which had once cut leather
were around size throat
and he held him more and more tightly
he did not let go until the knife fell
from psy’s hand to the ground
and corella came to help him
and then
it was all over
the two policemen found the boy sitting
on a bed in the farmhouse with a blanket
around his shoulders
jeff
one of the man said
yes
are you okay
yes
where did they go the other man asked
who
the people who were keeping you here
jeff hesitated for a long time
then he said
there wasn’t anybody
only psy
i’ve been all alone here since i left
he must be in shock one policeman said
to the other
jeff refused to change his story
more surprisingly
sy bernard’s story was exactly the same
as jeff’s he had worked alone he said
he knew nobody called kathy he did not
know what the police were talking about
we know you’re lying bernard carella
told him and i don’t understand why
why are you trying to save kathy
she’s the one who told us where to find
you
you’re not helping yourself
and you’re not helping your friends
either
we’ll get them
all you’re giving them is a little more
time
maybe time is all they need
psy said
suddenly there was a sadness in his
voice
maybe a little time is all anybody ever
needs
lock him up burns said
[Music]
chapter 14
the case is closed now but
back at the 87th precinct building one
cold day at the end of november
steve carello was typing up his final
report on the jeffrey reynolds
kidnapping
he pulled the paper out of the
typewriter turned to meyer meyer and
said happily
finished
is it though
meyer said
cyber nard is in prison
but what about the mysterious kathy and
the man who shouted her name
where are they now
out of the country i guess corella said
i wish them luck
what the hell for they’re kidnappers
jeff reynolds refused to talk about them
corella said
i guess that means they were kind to him
bernard won’t talk either
he paused
kathy
it’s a nice name
she’s a sweet girl meyer said she only
kidnaps children
who should we say some nice things about
next douglas king
he had some bad moments corella said
he asked for them
you know what he was most pleased about
when it was all over
the fact that his deal in boston went
through and he’s going to be president
of granger’s shoe
why do the bastards of this world always
come out on top
he didn’t have to run after bernard the
way he did
just because a man is brave enough to
face a knife it doesn’t mean he can face
himself meyer said
give him time
he says he can’t change
i think he has to change
his wife went back to him remember
she must think change is possible for
him
she isn’t the kind of woman to pick a
loser
one day
he’ll have to pay it you know
he’ll have to pay what
his own ransom corella said the case is
closed now but somehow i feel that it’s
still open
for a lot of people meyer
this case is still open
outside in the cold the city waited
[Music]
you