The Mozart Conspiracy Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’d have to use it,’ she said quietly. ‘It was terrible. I keep seeing it, over and over in my mind. He let go, screaming and rubbing his eyes. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun. I ran like crazy. They came after me. I’m a fast runner but they would have caught me if it hadn’t been for the cab that just happened to come by. I told the cabbie drive, just drive. I haven’t been back to the flat since.’ She looked at him with worry in her eyes. ‘So what do you think?’
    ‘I think that your friends outside aren’t going to help you with this.’
    ‘It was a kidnap attempt, wasn’t it?’
    ‘Sounds like it,’ he agreed. ‘People in your position are a target. You’re high profile, you’re wealthy. Unless, of course, someone is out to do you some harm. Do you have any particular enemies?’
    Leigh pursed her lips. ‘Not that I can think of. Why would I? I’m just a singer.’
    ‘A pretty well-known singer, though. Have you ever thought anyone was stalking you, ever received any strange phone calls, emails, letters?’
    She shrugged. ‘I get fans trying to contact me through Pam, my PA. People sometimes recognize me and want an autograph for a CD cover, things like that. But never anything you’d call strange or threatening.’
    ‘When you got away from your attackers and took the cab, did you come straight here?’
    ‘I’m not that stupid. I thought they might get the number of the cab and trace me.’
    He nodded. ‘So nobody knows you’re here apart from the hotel staff?’
    ‘Just the police.’
    ‘They’re never much use in these cases.’
    ‘Well, they took a statement from me and said they’d look into it.’
    ‘I don’t suppose you got the number of the car?’
    ‘Ben, it happened so fast…’
    ‘That’s all right. It was probably either a false plate or a stolen car anyway.’ He paused, measuring his words for what he wanted to say next. ‘Leigh, I have to ask…it’s been a long time since…’
    ‘Since you ditched me and vanished?’
    He ignored that. ‘I meant, we haven’t been in touch for a long time. Did you ever marry?’
    ‘Strange question, Ben. I’m not sure I—’
    ‘It might be important.’
    She hesitated before replying. ‘It was a long time after you,’ she said.
    ‘Who is he?’
    ‘He’s a composer, writes film scores. His name’s Chris. Chris Anderson.’
    ‘You’re still together?’
    ‘It only lasted about two years,’ she said. ‘It just didn’t work out. We still meet occasionally, as friends.’ She frowned. ‘What are you getting at?’
    ‘Kidnapping is just a business like any other, Leigh. It’s not personal. It’s all about money, and if there’s no family or spouse to pay for your safe return, there’s no motive. It’s the ultimate emotional blackmail. It only works if there’s a third party who’s scared enough of losing someone they love.’ He took a swig of Scotch, draining the glass almost to the bottom. ‘There’s only one exception to that rule, and that’s if the victim has K&R insurance.’
    ‘K&R?’
    ‘Kidnap and ransom.’
    ‘I didn’t even know you could take out insurance against that.’
    ‘So I take it you haven’t got any?’
    She shook her head.
    ‘That means we can largely rule out a financial motive,’ he said. ‘Unless it was an amateur job. Snatch the person first and worry about the details later. But these guys sound more professional than that. And I don’t think it was a case of mistaken identity either. They knew where you were living. Someone had done their homework.’ He paused to take another long drink of whisky. He laid the empty glass down with a clunk on the table. ‘What are you planning to do now?’ he asked.
    ‘I want to get out of London, for a start. I can’t stand it here any more, trapped like an animal in this hotel. I’ve got to be in Venice in mid-January for The Magic Flute. But first I’m heading for west Oxfordshire, in the country. Dave and