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?’