11

THE PHONE RANG for ages. I was on the point of giving up when the deep voice suddenly answered. He was guarded, probably because I’d withheld my number. ‘Hello …’

I didn’t fuck about. ‘You left a message. I’m calling about Tracy – Janet’s sister. My name is Nick. Are they safe?’ I kept my tone even and respectful, not wanting to spark him up.

His, too, was measured. ‘I’m trying so hard to keep them alive. Why have you taken so long? Who are you?’

‘I’m a friend of Tracy’s. A very old friend. Is her little boy safe?’

‘They’re all safe. But they won’t be safe for long. Only I can save them. But I need your help. Please, you must help me. Will you help me?’

The world is full of chancers who pick up their phones after a kidnap, claiming to be the only ones who can get the hostage back. They collect a deposit, and then they’re never heard from again. I needed to know that Nadif wasn’t one of them.

‘Nadif, I want to help you, but before we can do anything I need proof that they’re alive. Can you provide that? Can you prove to me they’re alive?’

‘Yes, of course. But the people who are holding them, they demand three million dollars. Do you have that? Can you bring them this money? If you bring this money, I can help you get them released. Do you have this money?’

My tone changed from positive and obliging to scared and concerned. ‘No. I mean, yes, maybe – maybe, maybe. I don’t know. I’m not rich – we’re not rich people. But we will get the money together. I will try everything. I will do everything possible to get that money. I will get the money somehow. But, please, you must prove to me first that they’re alive. Can I talk to them? Please?’

There was a pause.

‘Nick, do you really, really want them to come home?’

‘Yes, I do. I really do. I’ll do anything I can to get them back.’

‘That is very good, Nick, because only I can keep them from being killed in a very terrible way. Remember that, my friend. I will prove that they’re alive. You will come to me tomorrow. You will do that, yes?’

I took up the pencil once more as he gave me his address in Bristol.

‘Listen, I’m less than two hours away. Why don’t I come now? We can start the process. Please, Nadif, I don’t know what we’d do without you.’

He agreed, and I powered down the phone. I grabbed my keys and started down to the car park.

The one thing you’ve got to do with these people is be subservient. You must show them at all times that they hold all the cards. Right now it wasn’t that difficult.