There’s an envelope being held for me at the hotel. I ask the receptionist to prepare my bill and I head towards the lift. That’s when I notice Ruiz sitting in the Morse Bar, reading a paper and nursing a pint glass of water.
“Where were you last night?” I ask.
“I caught up with Tom Fryer and some of his old rugby mates.”
“How big is the hangover?”
He points to the water. “I’ve had two bacon rolls, three cups of coffee and a liter of Diet Coke and I haven’t peed once.”
“Congratulations.”
Ruiz has already checked out of his room. He follows me upstairs and sits in the corner as I pack. I’m shoving dirty clothes into a holdall and collecting my toiletries. He notices the envelope and holds it up to the light.
“You should open it,” he says. “It’s from Victoria Naparstek.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m psychic.”
“You saw her deliver it.”
“That too.”
Opening the envelope, I slip the card free and read the short message: I’d like to see you again. Give me a call some time… if you want to.
She’s given me her mobile phone number. I put the card in my pocket and crumple the envelope into a ball. Continuing to pack, I tell Ruiz about the arrests and interrogations, as well as Dr. Leece’s revelations about the tritium in Natasha’s urine.
“So you figure she might have been kept somewhere near this research center.”
“It’s feasible.”
“And one of the guys who assaulted her is probably the kidnapper?”
“Most likely.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“I’m not.”
“You don’t think they match the psychological profile. Maybe you got it wrong.”
“Maybe.”
I look at my watch. It’s just gone three o’clock. Four of the men will have posted bail by now. They’ll be home for Christmas. Drury won’t have surveillance teams working over the holidays. If one of these men is the kidnapper, he’ll have time to dispose of Piper and destroy the evidence.
Ruiz fills a glass of water from the bathroom and sips it thoughtfully, contemplating the same possibility.
“Capable Jones got back to me,” he says. “You still interested in Phillip Martinez?”
“It can wait.”
Downstairs, I hand my credit card to the receptionist, who hopes I had a pleasant stay. The printer warms up and produces my itemized bill. I glance at the total and hope the chief constable is a man of his word.
Ruiz spreads his arms. “So I guess this is it, amigo.”
We hug. It’s like being squeezed by a bear.
Over Ruiz’s shoulder I see Dale Hadley stumble from the revolving door as though spat out by a dispensing machine. Dressed in baggy trousers and a shapeless shirt, he looks disorientated and hollowed out.
His eyes meet mine. “We have to talk.”
“I’m about to leave.”
Grabbing my arm, he pulls me away, looking for somewhere quiet. Checking doors. He finds an empty lounge.
“I know,” he says, squeezing his hands into fists.
“Pardon?”
“I know what she’s been doing.”
“Piper?”
“No! Sarah. I know she’s been sleeping with Victor McBain. She confessed. She said you knew. How?”
“I guessed.”
He can’t look at my face, cannot speak. He’s not a big man, but he looks diminished. Wounded. It’s like walking past a cage at a zoo and seeing a decrepit lion or tiger that has been imprisoned for too long.
“My father warned me about Sarah. He said that when you marry a beautiful woman, you have to live with the possibility that other men will try to take her away. Do not covet thy neighbor’s wife. Don’t fuck her.”
He’s taken a seat on a Chesterfield sofa.
“I gave her everything. I bought her the big house, a nice car. Jewelry. Dresses. I’ve never been unfaithful. Never even thought about it.”
“You should go home, Mr. Hadley.”
He doesn’t seem to be listening. “Things used to be all right before Piper went missing, but after that everything changed. Losing Piper crippled Sarah emotionally. She changed. We hardly touch each other. It’s been months…”
I don’t need to know this. I don’t want to know this.
“I gave her time. Space. I supported her.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Really? Do you think so?”
“Yes.”
“Why did she sleep with Vic McBain? He’s uneducated, uncouth, foul-mouthed…”
Because he’s not you, I want to say, but I don’t. When Sarah Hadley looks at Vic McBain, she doesn’t have to soak up anyone else’s pain. She can deal with her own grief, without having to share someone else’s. She can look into someone else’s eyes and feel something other than pain and loss.
I don’t say any of these things because his mobile is ringing. He doesn’t recognize the number. He’s about to cut off the call, but changes his mind.
“Hello?”
…
“Who is this?”
…
“I’m sorry, I can’t hear… can you say that again?”
…
“Piper? Oh my God! Piper!”
…
“We’ve been so worried. We’ve looked everywhere. We didn’t stop looking. I can’t believe it, sweetheart. Where are you?”
…
“Wait. I’m going to put you on speakerphone.”
“Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“You have to come and get me.”
“I will. Tell me where you are?”
“I don’t know. But he’s after me.”
“Who?”
“The man who owns this phone. I don’t know his name, but he’s looking for me. I called the police, but they wanted me to give them a street or a house number and I told them I don’t know where I am. He has Tash, Daddy. He caught her when she tried to run away. You have to help us.”
“You’re breaking up, Piper. Try to stand still.”
Can you hear me now?”
“Yes.”
“Are you crying, Daddy?”
“I’m just really happy.”
“So am I. It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too.”
“I didn’t run away, Daddy. We talked about doing it, but we didn’t get a chance. A man took us. Can you tell Mum? I don’t want her thinking that I don’t love her. And tell Phoebe and Ben and my little sister. What’s her name?”
“Jessica.”
“That’s pretty.”
“What did you tell the police?”
“Just what I told you. Tash escaped but he caught her again. I couldn’t find her and I’m scared he’s going to do something to her if I don’t go back.”
“Don’t worry about Tash. Tell me where you are.”
“I don’t know.”
“We’re going to find you, baby. They’ll trace the call.”
“He’s still looking for me. I have to hide.”
“Can you wait a second, sweetheart?”
“Don’t go away.”
“I won’t.”
I can hear him having a conversation. Someone is talking about calling the police.
“Are you there?”
“I’m here, Daddy.”
“The police are trying to find you. Stay on the line. Don’t move, Piper.”
“What if he comes? I’m scared.”
“I know you are. I’m with a man called Joe. He’s going to talk to you.”
“Hello, Piper.”
“Hi.”
He has a nice voice, soft but strong, not wheedling like George.
“Where are you right now?” he asks. “Describe it for me.”
“I’m in a forest, standing on a ridge. I couldn’t get any signal so I climbed higher. I don’t have much battery left.”
“Where did you get the phone?”
“I took it from George.”
“Is that the man who’s been holding you?”
“Yeah.”
“His name is George?”
“I don’t know. Tash called him George. She said he looked like George Clooney, but he doesn’t really, not unless George Clooney has put on weight and got ugly. Has he got ugly?”
“My wife doesn’t think so.”
“That’s good.”
“What can you see, Piper?”
“Trees.”
“Anything else-a landmark, a river, or a road or a railway line?”
“No.”
“You said you escaped.”
“Yes.”
“Where did you escape from?”
“It was some sort of factory but it’s empty and everything is broken and overgrown. Are you there, Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“Please come and get me.”
“I will.”
“It’s getting dark and I can’t stop shivering.”
A bird lifts from the trees behind me. Jerking my head around, I search the shadows.
“Piper?”
“I thought I heard something.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“I can’t talk very loud in case he hears me.”
Joe speaks. “When did you last see George?”
“I don’t know what time it was. He said he was going to get Emily.”
“What?”
“He had a photograph of Emily in his wallet. He said he was going to get me a friend. I told him I didn’t want a friend. You have to stop him. You have to warn her.”
“We will. What does George look like?”
“He’s old and ugly.”
“What color is his hair?”
“Brown.”
“How old is he?”
“I don’t know-thirty or forty.”
“Is he tall?”
“Taller than Daddy, but he has small hands. I’m wearing his coat. It hangs down to my ankles. Are you still there, Daddy?”
“I’m here. The police are tracking the signal. I want you to stay put.”
“It’s getting dark.”
“I know.”
“What about Emily?”
Joe answers. “We’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“It’s starting to rain.”
“Can you find somewhere out of the rain?”
“I don’t know. I just want to curl up and go to sleep.”
“No,” says Joe. “You mustn’t fall asleep. You should keep moving.”
“Daddy told me to stay still.”
“You mustn’t fall asleep. Try to stay warm.”
“ OK. I can’t feel my fingers. I’m just going to swap hands…”
…
“Hello?”
…
“Daddy?”
…
“Joe.”
…
“Are you there?”