‘Of course.’
He drank half the whisky. It didn’t do much to cheer him up.
‘These fellows have pretty big ideas. Five hundred thousand is an enormous sum of money.’
He seemed to expect me to say something so I said, ‘That’s why they snatched him. The risk is enormous too.’
‘I suppose it is. Do you think they’ll keep their side of the bargain?’
‘I don’t know. As I explained to Mrs. Dedrick, if he hasn’t seen them…’
‘Yes; she told me. You’re probably right I’ve been reading about some of the famous kidnapping cases of the past years. It would seem the higher the ransom the less likely is the chance of the victim surviving.’
I was suddenly aware that he wasn’t mild or absentminded any more, and that he was staring at me with an intent, rather odd expression in his eyes.
‘It depends on the kidnappers,’ I said, meeting his eyes.
‘I have a feeling we shan’t see him again.’ He got slowly to his feet, frowned round the room as if he had lost something. ‘Of course, I haven’t said anything to her about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t already killed him.’ The white eyebrows lifted. ‘What do you think?’