1978 - Consider Yourself Dead (18 page)

Grandi looked up and glared at Frost.

‘We’ll go into who missed out and who didn’t later,’ he said. ‘My daughter has been kidnapped. What’s the next move?’

‘Two moves,’ Frost said, beginning to relax. He was thinking if only Silk could find and fix Suka, the big problem looked solved. At least, Grandi was accepting Suka as the inside man. ‘This is up to you. Number one would be to alert the police that Miss Grandi has been kidnapped. The kidnapper warned against this, but it could be done providing the police don’t move into action.’

Grandi made an impatient movement.

‘No police. What’s the second move?’

‘We wait for a ransom demand, sir. The kidnapper said he would telephone tomorrow at 08.00. Now, if we alerted the police they could tap our telephone and get a fix on where he is phoning from, but it will probably be from a call box, and it could be dangerous.’

Grandi nodded.

‘We wait for the ransom demand,’ he said. ‘No police.’

‘Yes, sir.’ A pause, then, Frost went on, ‘I’ve told the staff to take the day off, but they’ll be in tomorrow as usual. If there is anything I or Marvin can do for you, sir, you just have to say.’

‘I will stay at the Spanish Bay hotel,’ Grandi said. ‘Tomorrow at seven o’clock, I will be here. I want you to take the ransom call, and I want you to handle it, Frost.’

He got to his feet, then stared thoughtfully at Frost. ‘Do you think I’ll get her back?’

‘Yes, sir, so long as you go along with the kidnappers. From my experience, once the ransom is paid, they deliver.’

‘I am relying on your experience,’ Grandi said, then he walked out and leaving the villa, he crossed the lawn, got in the helicopter and was whisked away.

Frost grabbed the telephone and again dialled the Ace of Spades.

‘It’s going well this end,’ he said as Silk came on the line. ‘Grandi is staying at the Spanish Bay. Stake it out in case Suka arrives.’

‘I told you, didn’t I?’ Silk said. ‘We have this fink over a barrel. Don’t worry about the Jap. I’ll fix him.’

Frost replaced the telephone receiver. He felt in need of a drink. Grandi had been easy to handle. He drew in a deep breath. So long as Silk could find and fix Suka there would be no problem. He looked at his watch. The time was 16.15. He walked over to the big cocktail cabinet and poured himself a stiff whisky. He felt he deserved it. He drank the whisky at one swallow, then leaving the room, he went to the guardroom where Marvin was pacing up and down.

‘How did it go?’ Marvin asked.

‘No problem so far,’ Frost said. ‘Tomorrow is the day when the ransom demand arrives. He is surprisingly under control. I thought I was in for a hell of a time, but I guess he just wants his daughter back.’

Marvin relaxed.

‘Who would want a little bitch like that back?’

‘That’s his choice. Look, Jack, there’ll be no action now until tomorrow morning. I’m going to find myself a dolly bird. I feel in need of some relaxation. You can do what you like: either stay around here or go to see your son again.’

Marvin looked worried.

‘The kidnapper might telephone again.’

‘Aw, skip it, Jack! You be here at six o’clock tomorrow. Nothing’s going to happen. I’m going to get changed.’

Marvin suddenly grinned.

‘You’re the boss. I guess I’ll get changed too.’

‘You take the T.R. I’ll take the Lamborghini. I fancy driving that heap.’

Forty minutes later, Frost drove into an empty parking place outside the Ace of Spades. At this hour, the restaurant and bar were deserted. He found Silk and Goble playing gin in the room above the swimming pool. As soon as Frost entered, the two men threw down their cards and Silk said, ‘What are you doing here, Mike?’

‘There’s no action until you put in the ransom note,’ Frost said, sitting down at the table. ‘How’s Gina?’

‘She’s fine. Right now Ross is keeping her company.’

Silk smiled his evil smile. ‘They’re probably screwing.’

‘She’s an enthusiast. How about Suka?’

Silk shrugged.

‘I don’t know. He’s vanished. My guess is he was scared shitless and has taken off. I’ve got the Spanish Bay staked out and Marcia is around there. Forget Suka. We don’t have to bother about that fink.’

But Frost felt uneasy.

‘If he got to Grandi with that tape, I could be in a lot of trouble.’

‘How did Grandi react?’

‘He surprised me. I thought he was certain to blow his cork, but all he seems interested in is getting the girl back. He told me he wanted me to handle the deal.’

Silk nodded.

‘That’s fine. Then when I telephone tomorrow I’ll say someone is to come to the Three Square motel to get the ransom note . . . that’ll be you.’ He regarded Frost. ‘Grandi’s tricky. How about the cops?’

‘I suggested he should tell the cops, but he killed that idea. No cops.’

‘Going our way,’ Silk said.

‘Yeah.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘I’ll have a word with Gina. She’s in Marcia’s room?’

‘That’s it,’ Goble said, picking up his cards. ‘Knock twice before you enter.’ He grinned. ‘Ross has been with her for the past three hours, but they still could be active.’

Frost made his way along the corridor to Marcia’s room, paused outside the door, listened, heard nothing, then rapped. He waited, rapped again, waited, then frowning, a sudden uneasiness creeping over him, he eased open the door and stepped into the room.

Umney, naked, lay sprawled across the big bed, blood seeping from a wound in his head.

Frost looked around the room, then, moving fast, looked into the bathroom. Except for himself and Umney who was moving out of unconsciousness, the room was empty.

No Gina.

* * *

Frost, Silk and Goble crowded around Umney as he sat on the edge of the bed, holding his head.

‘We were doing a saddle job,’ Umney said thickly, ‘then from out of nowhere she produced a gun and gun butted me. I hadn’t a chance.’

A gun!

So it had been Gina who had taken the .38 from the armoury rack, and not Suka, Frost thought.

‘She’s gone, you goddamn creep!’ Silk snarled.

Umney moaned.

‘Hear me!’ Silk banged his fist on Umney’s shoulder. ‘When was this?’

‘We got going as soon as I arrived . . . around two o’clock.’

‘Three hours! She could be anywhere!’ Silk swung around to Goble. ‘Check the cars!’

Goble left the room at a run.

Frost stood back and he watched Silk who began to move around the room. He paused and stared at Frost.

‘You told me she wanted to be snatched!’ he said. ‘You didn’t say . . .’

‘Aw, shut up!’ Frost barked. ‘How did she get out of here without being seen?’

‘There’s an exit at the end of the corridor that leads to the car park. That’s the way she went.’

Frost went to the big range of closets. He opened doors, slammed them shut, then turned to Silk.

‘She’s taken her suitcase.’

Goble rushed in.

‘My car’s missing!’

Umney got unsteadily to his feet and went into the bathroom.

‘Where would she go?’ Silk demanded, glaring at Frost.

‘How the hell do I know, but I do know she wouldn’t go back to Orchid Villa. She’s taken off to do her thing.’

Silk turned to Goble.

‘Send the word out, Mitch. Get all our contacts working on this.’

When Goble had gone, Silk went on to Frost, ‘You’re sure she won’t go back to the Grandi’s place?’

‘Sure. That’s why she wanted to be kidnapped.’

‘Then the operation is still on,’ Silk said. ‘Grandi won’t know she’s scrammed. So long as she keeps away from him, he’ll think we have her.’

Frost thought about it, then nodded.

‘Yeah. Then we go ahead on schedule?’

Umney came out of the bathroom and began to dress.

He kept moaning to himself, but neither Silk nor Frost paid any attention to him.

‘What’s the chance of finding her?’ Frost asked.

‘I have contacts. Mitch will have alerted them. If she’s still around, we’ll find her.’

‘Now, wait a moment. Do we want to find her? Isn’t it better to let her lose herself?’

Silk thought, then grinned.

‘Yeah, but we should know if she’s around here If she’s taken off to Miami or someplace we have no problem.’

‘If we don’t deliver her back to Grandi, he’ll turn on the heat,’ Frost said uneasily.

‘How can he, unless he wants to go to jail for fifteen years? We’ll play it as we wrote it. It’ll stand up.’

Umney said, ‘She’s crazy in the head and she’s got a gun.’

‘Who the hell cares?’ Silk snarled. ‘So long as she keeps out of sight.’

But Frost’s police trained mind saw trouble ahead.

‘She’s unpredictable. Umney’s right. There’s something about her . . . she knows the three of us. If Grandi catches up with her, she could talk.’

‘So Grandi doesn’t catch up with her,’ Silk said. ‘We go ahead. It’ll work out.’

‘Let’s get this thing on the rails,’ Frost said. ‘Why wait until tomorrow? Give me the ransom demand now. The longer we wait, the chances of Gina being picked up either by your people or Grandi makes for trouble.’ He thought for a moment, then went on. ‘I’ll tell Grandi I wanted a change of scene while waiting for the ransom note to be delivered tomorrow morning. I took a car and drove down to the beach. After a swim, I found the ransom demand in the car. What do you think?’

Goble came in.

‘The word’s gone out. If the car’s around here, it’ll be found.’

‘Mike wants to hurry this up,’ Silk said. ‘He’s got something.’ Looking at Frost, he went on, ‘Tell him.’

Frost repeated what he had said to Silk. After thought, Goble nodded.

‘Yeah. Why not? The longer we wait, the bigger the risk.’

Twenty minutes later, Frost was driving to the Spanish Bay hotel with the ransom demand. The time was now 18.15. He pulled up outside the hotel. Seeing the Lamborghini, the top-hatted negro hurried down the steps and opened the door of the car.

‘Park it,’ Frost said, and entering the hotel lobby, he crossed to the reception desk. ‘Mr. Grandi,’ he said to the suave clerk who regarded him with slightly raised eyebrows.

‘Your name, sir?’

‘Mike Frost.’

The reception clerk went into an inner office. There was a delay, then he came out and nodded to Frost.

‘Suite 67, Mr. Frost. Take the elevator to the eighth floor and turn left as you leave. Suite 67 will be facing you.’

As Frost rode up in the elevator, he wondered how Grandi would react to the ransom demand. He was distinctly uneasy, but he reminded himself that, with luck, in a month’s time, he would be worth five million dollars. The elevator doors swished open and he moved into a heavily carpeted, broad corridor. A door with silver numerals ‘67’ faced him. Crossing the corridor, he rapped on the door and waited.

There was a moment’s delay, then the door jerked open and Grandi regarded him.

‘What do you want?’ Grandi barked. ‘Something happened?’

‘Yes, sir. I think I have the ransom note.’

Grandi’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back, motioning Frost in, then he walked across the large living room and sat down behind a paper-strewn desk. He waved Frost to a chair.

‘Tell me.’

‘As nothing was to happen until tomorrow morning, sir,’ Frost said, ‘I went down to the beach. I spent an hour down there. On returning to the car, I found this envelope, addressed to you, on the driving seat.’

He leaned forward and dropped the envelope Silk had given him on the desk.

Grandi stared at it, then at Frost.

‘Go down to the bar and wait,’ Grandi said. ‘I will call you when I want you.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Frost got to his feet and walked to the door. As he was leaving the suite, Grandi picked up the envelope. He was slitting open the envelope with a paper knife as Frost closed the door.

In the bar, Frost ordered a whisky on the rocks and sat at an isolated table. There were only a few people in the bar, and no one did more than give him a cursory glance.

He waited, and while he waited, he thought of Gina, wondering where she was. He was sure she would keep herself hidden. So what did it matter where she was?

Grandi would sign the document transferring thirty million dollars to Silk’s Swiss account, then the four of them would take off together, and Grandi could whistle for Gina.

He was still thinking of what he would do once he got his hands on all that money when the barman came over to him.

‘Mr. Grandi is asking for you, sir.’

Frost got to his feet, squared his shoulders and walked to the elevator. This was it! he told himself. It was unlikely Grandi would tell him about the ransom demand, but he would indicate that he was paying, and that was all Frost wanted to know.

He rapped on the door of suite 67 and heard Grandi call, ‘Come on in.’

He found Grandi at his desk, a big cigar between his fat fingers, his face a hard expressionless mask.

‘We have some talking to do, Frost,’ Grandi said. ‘Sit down.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Uneasy, Frost sat in the chair opposite Grandi’s desk.

Grandi opened a drawer in his desk and took from it a tape cassette. He held it up so Frost could see it.

‘Do you know what this is, Frost?’

Frost felt his heart give a lurch. So Suka had somehow got to Grandi. Keeping his face expressionless, reminding himself that there was nothing Grandi could do unless he opted to go to jail for tax fraud, he said, ‘Yes, sir. I know what it is.’

‘Suka met me at the Miami airport,’ Grandi said and smiled. He looked like a vicious hungry wolf. ‘How much did they pay you, Frost, to be the inside man?’

‘Don’t let’s waste time, Grandi,’ Frost said in his cop voice. ‘Sign that transfer and give it to me. That’s all you have to do unless you don’t want your daughter back and you fancy a fifteen year stretch in an Italian jail.’

Grandi picked up the document which was lying on his desk and studied it.

‘Not even a good try,’ he said. ‘I don’t imagine you worked out this kidnapping yourself. I am not interested in your associates. I intend to deal with you. With the ransom demand, as you know, are specimens of transfers to a Swiss bank. These are illegal transfers as the currency regulations in Italy forbid money leaving the country, but what your associates haven’t appreciated is the fact that transfer of money from Italy is illegal only to the vast majority.’ Grandi regarded Frost. ‘I am not the vast majority. To have obtained these photocopies, your associates must have corrupted my chief accountant, Guiseppe Vessi, who handled the transfers. You may have wondered why you have been kept waiting for an hour before I talk with you. Let me tell you: I was arranging that Vessi ceases to exist. No one ever betrays me and remains alive!’