"That robbery attempt interests me," Scotty said. "Have you ever had such an incident before?"
"Never. The Moros let us alone. Besides, the proverbial church mice would seem rich compared with us. We have literally nothing worth robbing."
The flight was called and the Spindrifters shook hands with Father Murray. He waved as they boarded the plane and prepared to take off.
"Not very helpful," Professor Zircon remarked, "although I'm glad we had a chance to meet Father Murray."
Rick agreed, but added, "Doesn't it strike you as pretty strange coincidence that thieves should try to rob him for the first time, on the night Briotti and Shannon arrived?"
Scotty saw at once what Rick meant. "You think they might not have been thieves? That it might have been a kidnap attempt that failed?"
"It's a possibility," Rick pointed out.
Zircon leaned across the aisle. "Consider the implications of what you're saying, Rick. Cotabato is a long way from Davao. Why would a gang chase our friends across Mindanao?"
"Why were they kidnaped?" Rick retorted.
"Obviously, we don't know. If we accept your idea, do we assume it was the same gang that traveled from Cotabato to Davao? Or, were both groups local people?"