‘I don’t know. It depends if he’s seen them. If he hasn’t, then there’s no point in not sending him back.’ ‘But if he has see them?’
‘It depends on them. Kidnappers are about as ruthless as blackmailers, Mrs Dedrick. Kidnapping carries the death penalty. They won’t take chances.’
‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do or pay to get him back. It’s all my fault this has happened. If it wasn’t for my money, he wouldn’t have been worth kidnapping. He’s got to come back!’
There was nothing I could think of to say to that. My own feeling was she had seen the last of him: anyway, alive. With all that money at stake they were pretty certain to get rid of him. Most kidnappers prefer to kill rather than return. It is a lot safer for them. Too many kidnapped people in the past have given clues to the police that have led to the kidnappers being caught.
‘Have you consulted the police about this development?’ I asked.
‘No; and I’m not going to! This man tonight said every move I make is being watched, and if I communicate with the police, Lee would be murdered. Besides, the police are useless. They haven’t done a thing.’
‘We have time to set a trap. The money could be marked in a way no one would spot it. At least, it would give the police a chance to catch them after your husband’s safe.’
‘No!’ she said emphatically. ‘I gave them my word not to try any tricks. If I did that, and they found out, and Lee suffered, I’d never forgive myself. I don’t care a damn about the money. It’s Lee I want.’
‘Who ‘phoned you? Did you get an idea from his voice what kind of man he was? I mean was he educated? Did he have an accent? Was there anything about his voice that you would recognize if you ever met him?’
‘I think he was talking through a handkerchief. His voice was very muffled. He didn’t have an accent, but that’s all I can tell you.’