King's Ransom strory

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 I want to talk to you about the ransom 

Lieutenant Peter Byrnes was on his way to Smoke Rise. A child had been kidnapped. Byrnes had a son of his own, and he knew the pains and pleasures of fatherhood. To him, kidnapping a child was the worst crime in the world. Death was the correct punishment for a kidnapper. Seeing a light on the dark road by King's house, Byrnes told his driver to stop. He got out of the car. Kronig, Hawes, how are you boys? he said. What have you got there? We've got a tyre mark, Kronig said. It's a good one. I'm making a cast of it. Fine, fine, Byrnes said, looking around. Can you bring that light here a minute, Hawes? What is it, Lieutenant? Let's take a look at this rock here. In King's living room the telephone rang. Wait! Carella shouted, as King moved to answer it. Carella picked up the wiretap equipment. Mr Cameron, he said, get on the new phone. If this is the kidnapper, tell the phone company to start tracing the call immediately. Okay, Mr King, you can answer it now. King picked up the phone. Hello? King? This is Mr King. Cameron said into his phone. We've got him on the phone now. start tracing the call. All right, King, the voice said, listen. We don't care. He's still alive and well, and we want that money. Get it tomorrow morning, or the kid will be dead by the end of the day. You want ...? King started, but the voice had gone. Hell, I was afraid this would happen, Carella said. He picked up his coat and hurried out of the room. Diane looked puzzled. Is Jeff all right؟ she asked her husband. He's fine. Are you sure? Of course I'm sure, Diane! I'll go and tell Reynolds, she said. Diane! Yes? They want me to pay the ransom. They know they've got Jeff, but they still want me to pay. They want me to ... We'll do whatever they say. Thank God Jeff's all right, Diane said. As she left the room, King started after her, frowning. We're dealing with professionals, Cameron said. He knew we would try to trace the call. That's why he made it so short. Yes, King said. He seemed to be thinking hard. Why are they still asking you to pay? Hell, if you pay them, it's the end of your Boston deal. Yes. Yes, it is. The doorbell rang. It was Meyer. I just saw Carella, he said. He's going outside to take to Lieutenant Byrnes. The Kidnappers called again, King said. They want me to pay the ransom. What do you mean ? Do they know they got the wrong kid? Yes. And they still want you to pay? Meyer shook his head. First time I ever heard this one, he said. Crazy! But who ever said kidnappers have to be normal human beings? What are our chances of getting the boy back, Detective Meyer? King asked. Do you think they are good? I don't know, Meyer said. He could be dead already. In your opinion, King said slowly, will playing the ransom help the boy at all? if he's alive, it will certainly help him, Meyer said. If he's dead, nothing can be help him, but we could use the dollar bills to catch the kidnappers. I see. Doug, the boy's still alive! Cameron said. Your money will keep him alive, remember that! Diane came into the room from the kitchen. I think Reynolds is in shock, she said. He's just sitting at the table, starting at nothing. She turned to King. Doug, have you called the bank yet? No, not yet. Isn't it time --? Mommy? They all turned, and saw Bobby King, in his night clothes, standing on the stairs. What is it, darling? Diane said. why is there a policeman outside my room? Bobby asked. Just to make sure everything is all right, Diane said. Because of what happened to Jeff?