Consider Yourself Dead

Five

The sound of the telephone bell brought Frost out of a heavy sleep. As he jerked upright, he looked at the wall clock. The time was 13.15. He grabbed up the telephone receiver.

‘Mike?’ Marvin’s voice. ‘Hustle into your uniform and come to the guardroom.’ There was a note of urgency in his voice. ‘Grandi’s arrived, and it’s action stations.’ He hung up.

Grandi? Here? The fink was supposed to be arriving tomorrow!

Frost, cursing, rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom. In under fifteen minutes, he was shaved, showered and dressed, and he walked fast from his cabin to the guardroom.

He found Marvin waiting for him outside the guardroom door. Marvin gave him a crooked grin.

‘Sorry about this, Mike,’ he said. ‘He crept up on us. Right now he is talking to Old Creepy. You stay here. I’m doing the patrol. Look busy.’ He eyed Frost over. ‘Watch it. He’ll want to see you,’ and he started off along the path leading to the lagoon.

Frost entered the guardroom and sat down. Through the open door, he saw the three Chinese gardeners were working with frantic haste. Usually, they plucked a weed, sneered at it, ruminated, then plucked another weed. Now, they were really sweating it out. Frost sensed an electrifying change in the atmosphere. Grandi had arrived!

As he sat before the TV monitors, he occasionally caught a glimpse of Marvin, patrolling the estate. Marvin looked tense.

There came a tap on the door and Suka came in with coffee and two beef sandwiches.

‘The boss is here,’ he said, as he set down the tray. Frost thought even the unflappable Suka looked tense. ‘You eat fast.’

But it wasn’t until four hours later that Frost received his summons, and by then, he found he was also tense. Suka came into the guardroom.

‘The boss wants you,’ he said. ‘Come with me, please.’

He led Frost to a room that led off the stairway to the upper floor. He stood aside and waved Frost forward.

The room was big with lounging chairs, a six-seater settee, a vast desk, a cocktail cabinet and occasional tables.

At the desk sat a squat, broad-shouldered man in his late fifties. He was wearing a T-shirt and bottle green slacks. His hairy, brown, muscular arms rested on the desk.

Marvin had described Grandi as a gold-plated thug. Looking at him as he approached the desk, Frost decided Marvin’s description hit the nail squarely on the head.

The fat, swarthy evil-looking face with its small restless eyes, the short blunt nose, the thin lips, the high forehead, the shock of iron-grey hair made a picture of ruthlessness, power and cruelty.

‘Sit down!’ Grandi snapped, and waved to a chair by his desk.

Frost sat down, sitting upright, his hands on his knees.

There was a pause while the two men regarded each other, then Grandi said, ‘I have studied your dossier. You have worked for the F.B.I. While working with them, did you have a kidnap problem?’

‘Yes, sir,’ Frost said. ‘I worked with others on the Lucas kidnapping.’

Grandi’s eyes narrowed as he thought.

‘Lucas? A girl? Yes... Lucas paid a million to get her back. The snatchers were caught... right?’

‘Correct, sir. Three of them were caught. The fourth got shot. I shot him.’

Grandi paused to study Frost. His restless eyes probed.

‘Marvin has had no experience of kidnapping,’ he said. ‘What do you think of Marvin?’

Frost saw his chance, but he warned himself to play this one slow.

‘Excuse me, sir, but I don’t understand the question.’

Grandi shifted in his chair. His little eyes snapped.

‘With your record, you can’t be a fool.’ His voice was a bark. ‘I’m asking you your opinion of Marvin whose job is to protect my daughter. Don’t prevaricate!’

Frost was sure Grandi had asked Marvin the same question about himself.

‘Marvin is a dedicated ex-policeman, sir. He has a top class record. If I were in your place, I would have picked Marvin.’

Grandi nodded.

‘He said the same about you, but he has never handled a kidnapping case, but you have. I believe in using men of experience. You have worked with the New York police and the F.B.I. It seems to me you have much more experience than Marvin has who has been just a State trooper. I am more interested in your opinions than Marvin’s.’ Again a pause while Frost looked directly at him. ‘Very well, Frost, what do you think of the present security measures to protect my daughter from kidnapping?’

‘Ninety-seven percent perfect,’ Frost said.

Grandi opened a box on the desk and took from it a cigar. He bit off the end, then lit it, puffing smoke at Frost.

‘That leaves three percent unsafe... according to you.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Grandi leaned forward. His swarthy face ugly with scarcely controlled rage.

‘Don’t feed me this sort of shit!’ he snarled. ‘Is my daughter safe or isn’t she?’

‘As I see it, sir, there is a weak link in the security chain: the weak link is a possible inside man or woman,’ Frost said quietly.

‘I’ve thought of that. I talked to Chief of Police Terrell. He tells me all the staff working here have been screened, including yourself. Terrell is satisfied. He tells me there can be no inside man or woman.’

His expression wooden, Frost said, ‘Then your daughter is one hundred percent safe.’

Grandi shoved back his chair and walked across to the picture window. Looking at his squat figure, Frost saw this man was almost a midget. He couldn’t have been more than five foot tall, but the power and the muscular build made him impressive.

Grandi swung around and pointed his cigar at Frost.

‘You don’t think so? You think there could be an inside man?’

‘I said your daughter is ninety-seven percent safe. I don’t give a damn what Terrell thinks. There is a three percent risk: small, but a risk.’

Grandi came back to his chair and sat down.

‘So what’s the three percent risk? Spell it out.’

‘If some smart operator kidnapped your daughter, he would demand at least fifteen million dollars ransom,’ Frost said. ‘Maybe to you, sir, fifteen million dollars aren’t something you would risk your life or your freedom for, you are you, but there are millions of people who would risk their lives and their freedom for such money. So I am telling you, sir, that every man has his price. I am still saying that the weak link in the security chain, protecting your daughter, is a possible inside man.’

Grandi leaned forward, glared at Frost.

‘What’s your price, Frost? Would you be the inside man for fifteen million dollars?’

I’m going to be the inside man for five million dollars, Frost thought. His police training was such that his expression remained wooden.

‘I see your point, sir,’ he said and got to his feet. ‘You should ask yourself: if I was aiming to kidnap your daughter, why should I be talking like this? I’m telling you there is a remote possibility that there could be an inside man. It’s part of my job to give you my opinion. It’s up to you to take it or leave it. You’ve just asked me if I would act as an inside man for fifteen million. That’s a fair question. I would not act as an inside man for thirty million dollars and I’ll tell you for why.’ He put both his hands on the desk and leaned forward to stare at Grandi. ‘I don’t sell out a client. If I’m hired to do a job, I do it. I’m cop trained, as Marvin is cop trained. Neither of us sell out a client. If you can’t believe that, then I find myself another job. The ball is in your court,’ and turning, he walked to the door.

‘Frost!’ The bark in Grandi’s voice would have stopped a train. ‘Come back here! Sit down!’

Frost then knew he had got over one big hurdle, but he also knew there were more hurdles ahead.

He walked back to the chair and sat down.

‘This is the first constructive conversation I’ve had since I’ve come here,’ Grandi said. ‘I’ve talked to the Chief of Police, to Amando, to Marvin. They have all assured me my daughter is safe, now you tell me there is a three percent risk. I want my daughter to be a hundred percent safe. So, tell me about this three percent risk...’

‘The security here is top class,’ said Frost. ‘No one can get on this island without alerting Marvin and myself, and police headquarters. This has been well taken care of, and I can’t fault it.’ He paused, then went on, ‘But if there was an inside man, the guardroom could be vulnerable. In this room are the controls. There are four men who have access to this room: Mr. Amando, Suka, Marvin and myself. Mr. Amando has the habit of checking to see if the night guard is asleep. He enters without warning. Suka brings in meals. To reduce the risk, sir, I suggest that Amando and Suka are no longer allowed into the guardroom. I said there was a three percent risk. If Mr. Amando and Suka are not allowed into the guardroom, the risk is cut to one percent... a minute risk, but still a risk. If a kidnap attempt is made, the police and you will know that there are only two suspects: Marvin and myself. This narrows down the field. Both Marvin and I have been hired by you to protect your daughter. I can speak for him as I speak for myself: we don’t sell out a client.’

Grandi nodded.

‘I go along with your suggestions. I’ll tell Amando and Suka to keep out of the guardroom. From now on, you and Marvin are responsible for my daughter’s safety. Remember that!’

‘Yes, sir.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘There is one more thing. I know I am speaking out of turn, but I think someone should say it. How long are you going to keep a young, healthy woman caged up in this villa? She is virtually a prisoner here. She...’

Grandi cut him short with a savage wave of his hand.

‘You do your job, Frost!’ he barked. ‘When my daughter has learned to behave herself, she will be given more freedom. That’s all!’

‘Yes, sir.’

Frost found Marvin in the guardroom. Closing the door, he gave Marvin a detailed account of his interview with Grandi. Marvin listened, staring thoughtfully at Frost while he talked.

‘So now,’ Frost concluded, ‘we have Amando off our backs. I had to bring Suka into it. I guess he can leave the food trays outside for one of us to collect.’

‘You think there could be a risk... that some smart creep could get at the girl?’ Marvin asked.

‘No way,’ Frost said. ‘I was just getting Amando off our backs.’

Marvin rubbed his chin while he thought, then he grinned.

‘Yeah. You did well, Mike. I’ve always said that creep spoilt the scene. Hats off to you for fixing him!’

‘Let’s hope he stays fixed.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘This is my day off. Do you want me to hang around? I itch for a swim.’

‘You get off, but don’t be late back.’

‘See you. Any idea how long the big shot is staying?’

Marvin grinned.

‘I don’t ask those kind of questions.’

Back in his cabin, Frost changed into slacks and a sweatshirt. He decided he would give Marcia a call. Maybe they could have another session together.

As he moved out of the cabin, he saw the Rolls driving down the drive with Amando at the wheel and Grandi at his side. Looking to his left, he saw Marvin leave the guardroom and start off towards the lagoon.

He paused, seeing in the distance, the three Chinese I gardeners, now relaxed, lifting weeds and ruminating. Then from a clump of flowering shrubs, Gina appeared. Wearing stretched blue pants and a bra, she waved to him, then darted across the lawn towards him. Frost stepped back into the cabin as she joined him and he closed and locked the door.

They faced each other.

‘Mike! I’ve got to talk to you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘You are the only one who can help me! You must help me!’

‘I’ll help you,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘Don’t be so goddamn glib!’ she said, her voice shrill. ‘Wait until you hear!’

Frost eyed her. Her face was drawn, she was shivering, little beads of sweat covered her forehead.

‘Take it easy,’ he said, his voice soothing. ‘Sit down. Tell me.’

She dropped into a chair.

‘You are the only one who can help me, Mike.’ She beat her clenched fists on her knees. ‘You’ve got to help me! You can have all the money in the world if you will help me.’

Frost pulled up a chair and sat by her.

‘Tell me,’ he said.

She stared at him, then took hold of his hand, her nails digging into his flesh.

‘No one would believe this! My father is kinky! My father!’ She jumped up and walked around the room, beating her fists together. ‘Imagine! My father!’

Frost watched her, frowning. Was she high? he wondered. You can have all the money in the world if you will help me. Did she mean this? Was she being hysterical?

‘Gina!’ He put a snap in his voice. ‘Quiet down. Tell me.’

She stood for a long moment, her eyes closed, then she came back and sat down beside him.

‘My father is in love with me,’ she said.

Frost stared at her.

‘What’s the problem? Fathers are supposed to love their daughters, aren’t they?’

‘Love!’ Gina screamed at him. ‘Are you so goddamn stupid you want me to spell it out? He doesn’t love me the way fathers love their daughters! He’s kinky. He’s sick! He wants to screw me!’

Shocked, Frost gaped at her.

‘That I can’t believe,’ he said.

‘I’m telling you!’ Again her voice was shrill. ‘My mother killed herself! He didn’t give a damn about her! It was me! You have only to watch him when he is with me! Don’t you think I have enough experience of men to know? That’s why he keeps away from me. He doesn’t trust himself anymore!’

Frost drew in a deep breath.

‘For God’s sake...’

‘I had such a happy time in Rome. I knew the way he was, so I was so very careful. It never crossed his sick mind that I needed sex. Then those stupid creeps tried to kidnap me, and then all the publicity. Then my sick father realised what was going on.’ Her face contorted as she fought back her tears. ‘So he put me in this goddamn prison, and he’ll keep me here so no man can enjoy me and he’ll keep me here until he is dead!’

Frost continued to gape at her. He could think of nothing to say.

‘Mike! You must believe me! You are the only one who can help me!’ She slid off the chair, and on to her knees, catching hold of Frost’s wrists. ‘I can’t go on living like this! Listen, Mike, if he died, I would be free, and I would inherit all his money... billions of dollars!’ Her nails dug into his wrists. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying, Mike? You are the only one who can set me free!’ She released his wrists, and falling forward between his knees, she rested her face against his chest. ‘Mike! I am begging you to kill him.’

Frost sat for a long moment, motionless: his mind active.

He thought, Jesus! She’s out of her mind! I don’t believe a word she is saying! What the hell have I walked into?

‘Mike!’ Her fingers moved inside his shirt. ‘You can have all the money in the world! Kill him for me! Free me! There’s so much money, Mike. I don’t care for money. All I want is freedom.’

To Frost, her fingers moving over his sweating chest, felt like spider’s legs. Firmly and gently, he pushed her away, shoved back his chair and stood up, looking down at her as she knelt before him.

‘Gina!’ He put a snap in his voice. ‘Pull yourself together! You can’t mean you are asking me to kill your own father!’

She sat back on her heels, and he felt a chill run down his spine as he looked into her eyes. He was now sure she was reefer high.

‘He is old, and utterly sick,’ she said. ‘I am young with my life before me. Kill him for me. Kill him and have whatever you want: all the money in the world.’

Frost moved away, turning his back on her. He had been planning to kidnap her for five million dollars! He needed time to think about this sudden change of scene. Just suppose Grandi died? Would this half-crazy girl really inherit her father’s enormous fortune? Suppose she did? Frost felt his heartbeat quicken. His mind switched to Silk. He was a professional killer. He could wipe Grandi out without complications, but he wouldn’t stay still once he knew he (Frost) could get all the money in the world from this girl.

This was something to think about.

Still, looking out of the window, his back to her, he said, ‘How long will your father stay here?’

‘A week.’

Well, in a week, he would have lots of time to think this thing out. He turned.

‘I don’t promise anything, baby,’ he said, ‘but you can hope.’

‘When?’ She got unsteadily to her feet.

‘Soon. Let me think about it. I go on day duty on Sunday. Can you come here next Thursday night?’

She shook her head.

‘Wednesday. My father and Amando are having a business conference with other men at nine. I can come then.’

‘Then Wednesday?’

‘Please, please free me, Mike,’ then turning, she left the cabin.

Frost felt cold sweat run down his face. He stood at the window and watched her dart into the shrubs.

After two hours on the beach, and after a swim, Frost got in the T.R.7 and drove to the Ace of Spades. He arrived at 17.20, the graveyard time when the staff took time off, the parking lot was empty and activity was down to zero.

As he walked into the deserted restaurant, Ross Umney, sitting at a table, checking the lunch receipts, stood up.

‘Hi, Mike!’ His wide, charming smile was in evidence. ‘Didn’t expect to see you so early.’

‘I’ve things to talk about,’ Frost said curtly. ‘Where’s Silk?’

‘Playing gin with Mitch. Let’s go.’

Umney led Frost to the room above the swimming pool.

Silk and Goble were at the table by the big window. There was a side table by Goble’s side containing cream buns and a big pot of tea. As Umney and Frost entered, Silk said, ‘Gin,’ and Goble threw down his cards, cursing.

Silk looked up, stared at Frost, and raised his eyebrows.

‘Let’s talk,’ Frost said, and took a lounging chair away from the table.

‘About what?’ Silk gathered up the cards, looked at Goble, said, ‘You owe me fifty bucks.’

‘As if you would forget,’ Goble said and stuffed a cream bun into his mouth.

‘Let’s talk,’ Frost said impatiently. ‘Cut the crap. We’re in business, aren’t we?’

Silk got to his feet, wandered over to an armchair near Frost and sat down.

‘So?’

Goble reached for another cream bun, hesitated, then got up, and sat in a chair by Silk. Umney took the remaining chair.

‘So, okay,’ Frost said. ‘I’ve got the problems fixed, so we snatch the girl.’

Silk smiled.

‘That’s good news.’ He looked at Goble, then at Umney. ‘I told you Mike was smart.’

‘That’s what you told us,’ Goble said, his hard little eyes on Frost. ‘So let’s hear how smart he is.’

Silk turned to Frost.

‘Go ahead. We want to know how you will dope Amando, Marvin and the girl. We want to know how you fix the dogs and neutralise the fence. Go ahead.’

Frost lit a cigarette as he stared at Silk.

‘You talk first. I’m telling you I have these problems fixed, but I’m not telling you until you tell me just how you guarantee me five million dollars. I don’t go further until I know.’

Goble said, ‘A real sonofabitch. I warned you, Lu.’

Frost moved swiftly out of his chair, caught hold of Goble’s shirtfront, heaved him to his feet, then giving him a violent shove, sent him staggering across the room.

‘Call me that again, you fat slob,’ Frost snarled in his cop voice, ‘and I’ll knock your teeth through the back of your larded neck!’

A gun jumped into Goble’s hand.

‘Mitch!’ Silk’s voice was quiet and deadly.

Goble glared at Frost, then put away the gun.

Silk went on, ‘You spoke out of turn, Mitch.’

Goble hesitated, then nodded. He walked slowly back to his chair and sat down.

‘I apologise, Mike,’ he said.

Frost smiled at him.

‘Fine. No problem,’ and he sat down. Then he looked at Silk. ‘Are we in business or do I walk out and forget the whole thing? I’m asking how you can guarantee — I repeat guarantee — that I get my rake off and it remains safe.’

‘If I tell you that,’ Silk said quietly, ‘are you in with us?’

‘I’m in with you if you convince me.’

‘Don’t rush it. I’ll convince you, but once I’ve told you, there is no way out. You come in with us or I’ll kill you.’

Unless I kill you first, Frost thought, his face expressionless. He said, ‘You don’t have to spell it out. You convince me my money is guaranteed, and I’m in.’

Silk nodded

‘Once we get the girl, this is the sweetest snatch you can imagine. There will be no blow back. Hear me? No possible blow back.’

Frost flicked ash off his cigarette.

‘Come on! You are going to murder Marvin. The cops here are smart. There is a chance of a blow back. Don’t kid yourself that as soon as Grandi gets his daughter back, he won’t turn on the heat.’

‘Marvin doesn’t get killed, and Grandi won’t turn on the heat,’ Silk said.

Frost stiffened, staring at Silk.

‘That’s why this snatch is so sweet,’ Silk said. ‘When I told you Marvin would disappear for good, I wanted to test your nerve. I wanted to be sure you would go along with a killing. There will be no killing, but I do know now that you would go along if there was a killing. That told me I had picked the right man. You can relax, Marvin will just be drugged.’

Frost slowly shook his head.

‘Then the heat comes back to me. You said the heat would be on Marvin.’

‘I said that, but it was a test. I wanted your reaction.’ Silk leaned forward, his one eye glittering. ‘There will be no heat... no heat at all. No cops... no nothing. The money will be paid, and the girl handed back. This I guarantee.’

Frost looked at Goble, then Umney, then back to Silk.

‘Keep talking,’ he said.

‘I told you Ross can get information out of an oyster, and he can. When that flat-footed attempt was made to snatch the girl in Rome, I thought I would have a try. Mitch said no way after casing the security, but I kept thinking. So I sent Ross to Rome. He came up with information, but Mitch said no way because the girl was too well guarded. So I thought around and Marcia came up with you... the inside man. You tell me you have solved the problems of getting at the girl. I tell you, with your information, plus Ross’s information, we have the sweetest snatch in the world.’

‘What’s Ross’s information?’ Frost asked.

Silk smiled his evil smile.

‘So I tell you, but remember, once you know, you are in, and you stay in... right?’

‘You are repeating yourself,’ Frost said impatiently. ‘What’s the information?’

Silk studied him for a long moment.

‘It can’t be repeated too often. I want you to understand that once you know this information, you are with us, and there is no way out for you except a slug in your head... right?’

The two men studied each other. Silk’s one eye looked lethal. Frost became aware he was sweating slightly.

Five million!

In a quiet, steady voice, he said, ‘What information?’

Silk continued to stare at him.

‘Sure you want to know?’ he asked in his deadly voice.

‘Cut the crap, Silk!’ Frost snapped. ‘Go haunt someone else’s house. You don’t haunt mine!’

Silk smiled, then turned to Umney.

‘Yes, go ahead, Ross. He’s with us... tell him.’

‘I got at Grandi’s accountant: a guy named Guiseppe Vessi,’ Umney said. ‘He has a kink for young boys, and he has a wife with money. There was no problem to twist his arm. All the rich Italians are doing a tax evasion gimmick. For years, Grandi has been syphoning off some of his big profits into a numbered account in Switzerland. Vessi has been in charge of the operation. Right now, so Vessi tells me, the money hidden in Switzerland is around thirty million dollars. So I leaned on Vessi, and we came up with a deal. He gets ten million, and we get twenty million, and there is nothing Grandi can do about it. We have photocopies of all the Swiss transactions. If Grandi even considers turning on the heat when his daughter is snatched, with these photocopies given to the Italian tax creeps, he could go away in jail for fifteen years, and Grandi knows this. So, there is no problem, once we get the girl. We four — Lu, Mitch, you and I sign a document which will make us shareholders of five million each, and Grandi transfers the numbered account to us. We are all protected. There’s no problem, and Vessi gets the balance.’

‘But will Grandi transfer this account to us?’ Frost asked, a little bewildered by what he had heard.

‘He either does and gets his daughter back, or he doesn’t, and goes to jail for fifteen years. Can you imagine a man as rich as Grandi going to jail?’ Umney asked, grinning.

‘I told you, Mike, this is a sweet snatch,’ Silk said. ‘No cops: no trouble, but we have to get the girl. Now you tell us how.’

‘I’d like to look at this document you’re talking about, transferring the account to us,’ Frost said.

‘You don’t take chances, do you?’ Silk smiled evilly. ‘Show him, Ross.’

Umney got up, crossed to a bureau, opened a drawer and returned with a sheet of paper which he gave Frost.

Frost studied what was written on the paper. At the bottom of the paper was space for Grandi’s signature. He read again, then nodded.

‘Yeah, I guess this buttons it up,’ he said, and handed the paper back to Umney. ‘Right. I’m satisfied. Now I’ll take one problem at a time. Next Saturday night is D-day. If you don’t want it that fast, we’ll have to wait another month. Here’s why: Marcia tells me she has a regular date with Amando every first Saturday of the month which is next Saturday. He arrives here around nine, takes a drink, performs and leaves. According to her this is a routine thing. You give her one of your pills and Amando is fixed. I forgot to ask you: do these pills dissolve fast and have they a taste?’

‘Fast, and no taste,’ Silk said.

‘Okay, Amando takes the drink, and is knocked out by three in the morning. How do you like it so far?’

Silk nodded.

‘No problem,’ he said.

‘Marvin and I always have dinner together,’ Frost went on. ‘We always have a couple of cans of beer so there is no problem slipping him a pill. I go on night duty on Sunday, so on this Saturday night, I tell him I’m tired and am going to bed. So he settles down to watch the monitors and around two in the morning, he is knocked out. So I’ve taken care of Amando and Marvin,’ Frost paused, looking at Silk. ‘You still with me?’

‘You’ve fixed Amando and Marvin,’ Silk said. ‘Now, how about the dogs? How about the fence? How about doping the girl?’

‘The girl won’t need to be doped. She will fix the dogs and the fence,’ Frost said.

Goble broke in angrily, ‘Look, Lu, this guy is either conning us or else he’s crazy in the head!’

Frost looked at him.

‘I’m not taking any more from you, Fatso,’ he said evenly. ‘Flap with your mouth once more and I’ll flatten you!’

‘Shut up, Mitch!’ Silk snarled. ‘Keep out of this!’ He turned to Frost. ‘I’m listening... keep talking.’

‘Grandi arrived at the villa this morning. He talked with me,’ Frost then went on to give a detailed account of his interview with Grandi. ‘So, I have got Amando and Suka off my back,’ he concluded, ‘and this is important. It means the guardroom is free of unexpected visitors. Now, here is the big news. Grandi and Amando took off this afternoon, and the girl came to my cabin. She is a real nut case. Can you guess what she begged me to do?’ He paused, looking at the three men, then lowering his voice, he went on, ‘She begged me to kill her father so she could be free.’

There was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by the sound of the air conditioner. Silk crossed and re-crossed his legs. Umney ran his fingers through his thick hair. Goble made a soft grunting noise.

‘Probably, you three don’t realise what it means to a girl of Gina’s temperament to be shut up behind a lethal fence,’ Frost said into the silence. ‘This girl has hot pants. Her only out is for her father to die. She knows that. She knows as long as he lives, she will remain behind bars.’ Frost paused to light another cigarette while the three men, sitting forward, stared at him, listening. ‘Now I’ll tell you something else. Grandi is kinky. I’m telling you what she told me, and she was pretty convincing. He has a thing for her — and I mean a thing — or should I spell it out? She knows. She’s screwed around, and she knows men. When the Rome newspapers highlighted her way of life, Grandi put her behind bars. If he couldn’t have her, no one else would. Are you getting the photo?’

‘Keep talking,’ Silk said. ‘I’m with you so far.’

‘As you assured me the ransom is guaranteed, I’ve based my thinking on this assurance. From what she told me, Gina will do anything, including having her father murdered, to get free. She and I have a date on Wednesday when Grandi will be out of the way. I intend to ask her how she would like to be kidnapped. In her neurotic state, I bet she will jump at the idea. I will explain I have three good friends who are willing to help her get her freedom, but we need her cooperation. She has direct access from the villa to the guardroom. All she has to do, I will tell her, is to enter the guardroom at 03.00 Sunday morning where she will find Marvin drugged. I will tell her the buttons to press and get the dogs out of the way to neutralise the fence. Then all she has to do is walk down to the harbour where you three will be waiting in a boat, and you will take her to a place of safety. I’m sure I can talk her into this, and you three don’t even have to enter the grounds of the estate.’ Frost looked inquiringly at Silk. ‘Like it so far?’

‘I like it so far. Keep talking.’

‘Where will you keep her?’

‘Here... where else? She can have Marcia’s room.’

‘That’s fine. So we have the girl without trouble. The following morning I go to the guardroom to relieve Marvin, find him drugged, call Suka, find Amando drugged, and Gina missing. I find in the guardroom a sealed envelope on which is written: this is the ransom note to be handed to Grandi. No cops or else... So I take charge. I call Grandi. Suka will know where he will be. By the time Grandi arrives, Marvin and Amando will be back on their feet, but I will be very much in charge. Grandi reads the ransom note and sees he is stuck. He pays up or goes to jail. You give him a day to sweat it out, then you telephone, and with luck, he agrees to meet one of you. I’ll be right on the scene to check he doesn’t try anything smart. He knows I’ve handled a kidnap before when I was with the Feds so he will consult me. So he takes me along with him to complete the deal. You get the signed document and hand over the girl, then you fade from the scene. That leaves Gina, Grandi and me. She will tell her father to go screw himself. I will tell him he can’t legally hold her, so Gina goes off. I couldn’t care less where she goes, but the deal will be that she goes. I go back to the villa with Grandi. Once he realises he has lost his daughter, he will close up the villa and pay Marvin and me off. So I take a fast plane to Switzerland, collect my share of the loot and live happily ever after.’ Frost smiled at Silk. ‘What do you think?’

Silk nodded.

‘It’s smart, Mike.’ He looked at the other two. ‘What do you say?’

‘I like it,’ Umney said. ‘Yeah, it’s smart.’

Goble got to his feet and helped himself to the last cream bun on the tray.

‘I see problems,’ he said, biting into the bun. ‘Let’s talk the whole thing out, huh?’

So the four men sat around the table and talked it out. An hour later, Frost shoved back his chair and stood up.

‘I’ve got to get back,’ he said. ‘You’re all satisfied, providing I can talk sense into Gina?’

‘That’s it,’ Silk said. ‘You convince us she’ll play, then the deal’s on.’

‘I’ll be here Thursday evening at 18.00,’ Frost said. ‘I’ll want a copy of this document, signed by you three. I want a copy of the ransom note for Grandi.’

‘Okay,’ Silk said. ‘Looks like we’re in business, Mike.’

Nodding to the three of them, Frost left the room.

There was a long silence, then Mitch got up and opened the door and looked up and down the empty corridor. He closed the door and leaned against it.

‘I trust that creep the way I would trust a rattlesnake.’

‘Don’t worry about him,’ Silk said with his evil smile. ‘Rattlesnakes are expendable, aren’t they?’

Wednesday evening: 21.00 hrs.

Frost moved around his cabin restlessly. Every now and then, he slammed his clenched fists together. He had seen Grandi and Amando drive away in the Rolls soon after 20.00. He had picked at a good dinner, then telling Marvin he was bushed, he left him before the monitors and had gone to his cabin. Marvin had warned him he would release the dogs at exactly 21.00.

As the hands of his watch moved to 21.03, he snapped off the light and moved to the window.

God! he thought, how the past five days had dragged! Being on night guard, he had seen nothing of Grandi. He had spent the days on the beach. He hadn’t been near the Ace of Spades. Now, at last, Wednesday had arrived, but he still wasn’t sure if Gina would come to him. What a fiasco it would be if she didn’t! Then he saw her dart out of the shrubs and come racing towards his cabin. He had the door open as she arrived. She threw herself into his arms, her body straining against his, and he had to push her away to shut and lock the door, then he caught hold of her.

‘Oh, Mike... I’ve been waiting and waiting!’ she exclaimed. ‘Every hour of these awful days has tormented me!’

He swung her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom. He paused to switch on the bedside light, then lowered her on to the bed. He had previously drawn the curtains, and he knew Marvin, from the guardroom, couldn’t see the light in the bedroom.

‘I’ve been waiting too,’ he said, leaning over her. ‘How long have we got?’

‘Three hours... not more.’

She was already wriggling out of her stretch pants, and he pulled them free as she unstrapped her bra.

Their coupling was ferocious: two uninhibited animals, and when she finally reached the top of the crest, she gave a strangled, suppressed scream.

They lay in each other’s arms while their breathing quietened. Frost held her gently, but he was now aware of the passing minutes.

‘Gina, honey,’ he said, still holding her, ‘I think I have found a way out for you.’

He felt her stiffen against him. She pushed away from him and sat up.

‘You mean you will kill him?’

Looking at her, seeing how her eyes glittered, Frost felt chilled. She must be crazy in the head! he thought. Play this very, very softly.

‘No... I have a better idea. You see, honey, if I killed him, the cops would come into it, and where would I be then?’

‘You’re smart!’ She caught hold of his arm. ‘You’ll find a way to make it look like an accident.’ Her grip tightened. ‘Think! If he was dead, you would have all the money in the world!’

‘How do you know for sure he’ll leave his money to you?’ Frost asked.

‘Who else is there but me?’ She smiled as her fingers began to caress his arm. ‘I’ll be richer than Christina Onassis! Billions of dollars! You can have as much as you want. Kill him, Mike, and I promise you the earth!’

Frost looked away. He didn’t want her to see his revulsion.

‘No, I’ve a better idea: no complications: no risk, no cops, and you get your freedom.’

She regarded him, her head a little on one side. He thought how corrupt and vicious she looked.

‘What idea? What idea is better than killing this kinky old creep?’

This is it, he thought. If she doesn’t fall for it, then what the hell am I to do?

Looking directly at her, he said slowly and distinctly, ‘How would you like to be kidnapped?’

Her eyes widened, then she laughed gleefully.

‘Kidnapped! I’d love it! I’ve always wanted to be kidnapped! When those jerks in Rome tried to kidnap me, I was so excited, I wet myself. Will you kidnap me, Mike? I’d love to be put in a cupboard like Patty Hearst. I would love to be treated rough. I would love to be raped!’

Listening to her, looking at her, Frost felt sick. He rolled off the bed and stood away from her. As he pulled on his jeans, she dropped flat on her back, her nipples hard, her legs widespread.

‘Don’t do that,’ she said. ‘I love to see you naked.’

Ignoring her, Frost went over to the dressing table where he had put a bottle of Scotch and glasses. He poured himself a stiff shot, then looked at her.

‘A drink?’

She grimaced.

‘No... come here. Tell me about this kidnapping.’

He emptied the glass at a swallow, then lit a cigarette, and came over to the bed. He sat at the end of it, away from her.

‘This is a smart idea,’ he said, ‘but first I want to get the record straight. You told me you don’t give a damn about money. Are you still telling me that?’

She regarded him, then nodded.

‘There is only one thing I care about,’ she said. ‘I want to be free and do my thing. I don’t give a shit about money. I just want to take off and do my thing.’

‘If you really mean that, I have the answer.’

‘I mean it. Tell me.’

‘I can fix it for you to be kidnapped. I have friends who will co-operate.’

‘Who?’

‘You don’t need to know, honey, but I assure you, you don’t have to worry about them.’

Her eyes probed.

‘What do they get out of it?’

‘The ransom.’

‘And what do you get out of it?’

‘Some of the ransom.’

‘So, fill me in.’

He wasn’t sure if he had hooked her, but he now knew he had to give her the plan. For the next half hour, he talked persuasively. He explained what she would have to do. He explained about the tax evasion money.

‘He can’t do a thing without going to jail, honey. You get your freedom, I get the ransom. Between us, we have him over a barrel,’ he concluded. He paused, aware he was sweating. ‘How does it look to you?’

Her hands stroked her breasts, and she smiled at him.

‘Marvellous... wonderful.’

He regarded her uneasily.

‘Sure?’

‘Of course, I’m sure. So Saturday... I’ll be free!’ She slid down the bed and pulled him to her. ‘No more talk, Mike... let’s have some action!’