Чужак в чужой стране

           Cavendishwouldeitherbecertainofthatserialnumber–orhisreportwouldnevermentionit."

           Harshawscowledandwenton,"Jill,you’reforcingmetorubmyownnoseinit–andIdon’tlikeit,Idon’tlikeitatall!GrantedthatBencouldhavesentthatmessage,itismostunlikelythathecouldhavetamperedwiththedailyrecordofthatcab?andstilllessbelievablethathehadanyreasonto.No,let’sfaceit.Benwentsomewhereinthatcab–andsomebodywhocouldgetattherecordsofapubliccarrierwenttoalotoftroubletoconcealwherehewent?andsentaphonymessagetokeepanyonefromrealizingthathehaddisappeared."

           "‘Disappeared!’Kidnapped,youmean!"

           "Softly,Jill.‘Kidnapped’isadirtyword."

           "It’stheonlywordforit!Jubal,howcanyousitthereanddonothingwhenyououghttobeshoutingitfromthe-"

           "Stopit,Jill!There’sanotherword.Insteadofkidnapped,hemightbedead."

           Gillianslumped."Yes,"sheagreeddully."That’swhatI’mreallyafraidof."

           "SoamI.Butwe’llassumeheisnot,untilwehaveseenhisbones.Butit’soneortheother–soweassumethatheiskidnapped.Jill,what’sthegreatestdangeraboutkidnapping?No,don’tbotheryourprettyhead;I’lltellyou.Thegreatestdangertothevictimisahue-and-cry–becauseifakidnapperisfrightened,hewillalmostalwayskillhisvictim.Hadyouthoughtofthat?"

           Gillianlookedwoefulanddidnotanswer.