The Toff and the Kidnapped Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

other, deeper cause for fear?’
    â€œNo,” she answered. “I’ve been trying to imagine anyone who might want to harm me, or Ralph, or Caroline. I can’t think of anyone. Except—”
    Rollison did not prompt her. “There was a girl who—who threatened him.”
    â€œBecause he’d let her down?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œShe telephoned the house two or three times, and I had to talk to Ralph about it.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    â€œHe—laughed.”
    â€œHow long ago was this?”
    â€œAbout six months,” Eve said, and added almost wearily: “I thought what a bad start it was to the New Year. Caroline was in Switzerland with a party of school friends. She’s crazy about skiing.”
    â€œWho was the woman?”
    â€œI only know that her name was Leah.”
    â€œLeah,” echoed Rollison, and told himself that if it ever became necessary to search for this woman, the name was unusual enough for people to remember its owner more easily than a more commonplace name. “Did she threaten you or Caroline?”
    â€œOh, no.”
    Rollison asked: “Is there anyone else?”
    â€œNo,” Eve said firmly. “No, I’ve never heard that anyone else made trouble at all. Mr Rollison—”
    â€œEve,” Rollison interrupted, “we’re going to work very closely together for the next few days, we’ll probably see a lot of each other, and we might just as well make it Eve and Richard – or, if you prefer it, Rolly.”
    After a pause, she said: “Thank you. I’d like that.”
    â€œWhat were you going to say?”
    â€œSupposing Caroline wasn’t taken away by my husband, how—how can you set about trying to find her?”
    â€œWe would have to go to the police at once.”
    â€œAt Hapley?”
    â€œOnly to start with,” Rollison said. “And even if it was your husband who took her, if we’re to stop him from getting away with her, we will have to consult the police.”
    â€œWon’t it be too late?” asked Eve bitterly.
    â€œYou mean, they could have left the country by now?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid Caroline have her passport with her?”
    â€œShe had it at school,” Eve answered. “I shouldn’t think she would have had it with her when she went out tonight. She loved to look at the different continental stamps on it.” There was a catch in her voice again. “I think I ought to make one thing clear.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’ll be guided by you. Do whatever you think best.”
    â€œThat’s the way I like to work!” Rollison said, and glanced at her, smiling. “Headache?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIn the dashboard pocket in front of you you’ll find some aspirins, and fitted inside the door pocket a vacuum jug with water in it. If you’ll take three aspirins and close your eyes, you’ll get some rest.”
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    Soon they were on the open road, and the car was moving almost without a sound at eighty miles an hour. Now and again a car approached them, headlights dipping, but for the most part the road was empty. They turned into a main road, had a few miles of driving with heavy trucks going both ways, then turned off.
    â€œYou certainly know the way,” Eve remarked.
    â€œI’ve lived in London for a long time,” Rollison told her.
    When he glanced at her again, she was leaning back with her eyes closed. It was good to think that she could relax even a little; better to know that he had managed to affect her like that. He had a strange feeling, almost of contentment. There was no apparent reason for it, but there it was; a kind of warmth, stealing over him. He had felt like this once or twice before, many years ago and he had forgotten it except in the moments of nostalgic remembering. The almost