Although his heart was thumping, Frost played it cool.
He pulled up a chair and sat down, facing Grandi.
‘I told you, sir, that the only way your daughter could be kidnapped was for an inside man to organise the kidnapping. The inside man is the Jap... Suka. The evidence all points to him.’ Frost went on to explain that Amando’s and Marvin’s drinks were doped, how he, himself, was a prisoner in his cabin because of the dogs, and how Marvin had found Suka gone and one of the boats missing.
‘Okay,’ Grandi said abruptly. ‘I accept that. Then what happened?’
‘My guess is Suka was well paid. He neutralised the fence and the kidnappers came in, grabbed Miss Grandi and took her away in their own boat. At 07.45, I left my cabin, found Marvin drugged, called Suka who found Amando drugged. I then checked the grounds and found the harbour gate open. I immediately suspected Suka, and I told Amando and Marvin my suspicions. Suka had a bug in here.’ Frost paused to produce the box containing the two bugs. He put the box on the desk. ‘He overheard my talk with Amando and Marvin, panicked and bolted. It wasn’t until after talking with Amando and Marvin that I electrified the fence again and warned the guard at the entrance to let no one out. If there is a fault, sir, I should have immediately electrified the fence, but I missed out on the guardroom being bugged.’
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!’