We'll Meet Again (18 page)

“No. I must go there myself … I must go alone.”

“It would be quite wrong.”

“How can you know?”

“Instinctively. One should never deal with these people. These are not even ordinary kidnappers. They are spies.”

“Oh, what have I got into, Violetta? Why do these things happen to me?”

She paused and said musingly: “I think people who do not live according to the conventions would be more likely to find themselves in awkward situations. Perhaps that is why we have these rules of conduct. But never mind. What we have to do is find the best way out of this.”

I was comforted by the word “we.” We were sharing this, as we had always done.

“The first thing we should do,” she went on, “is tell Gordon.”

“Oh, no …”

“He will know best how we should act. Don’t forget, he will know something of what is going on around us here. It’s a fairly isolated coast and the enemy are just across the Channel. Remember the flashing lights? They were never fully explained. There is more going on than we know about and Gordon could have special knowledge. If we tell him exactly what has happened, he will certainly get in touch with Captain Brent.”

“Violetta, I have to have that box by Friday.”

“I know. That is why we should tell Gordon right away.”

“In the morning then …”

“No, no. At once.”

“He’s in his room. He’s probably asleep.”

“Do you think any one of us in this house is asleep tonight?”

“You will tell him then. What then? They’ll know I’ve told.”

“They won’t. He’ll go to see Captain Brent. They’ll have some plan. They will know what they are up against and how to deal with it. It’s their work. You can’t give secrets to the enemy in any circumstances. Believe me, this is the only way.”

“So you are going to tell Gordon.”

“That’s the first step and we won’t lose a moment.”

“And Tristan?”

“He’ll be more safe this way.”

“Oh, Violetta, I can’t…”

“Trust me, Dorabella. I know I’m right. There is only one way to handle this.”

As she had thought, Gordon was up, sitting fully dressed in a chair near the telephone.

When we knocked, he said: “Come in,” in a startled voice. “Violetta! Dorabella!” he cried as we entered.

“Something has happened,” said Violetta. “There has been a note from these people.”

“A note? Where?”

Violetta explained.

“My God!” he murmured under his breath.

He wanted to know everything. Where was the note? I had had to give it up, we told him. How was it delivered? It was on the hall table where the letters were put.

“So, someone must have been here … in the house …”

“Gordon,” said Violetta, “we thought you would know how we should act.”

“And you actually saw this man. He gave you a sketch. It is so wild … so incredible …”

“It’s something serious, isn’t it?” said Violetta. “It’s more than an ordinary kidnapping for money.”

“I must have Tristan back,” I cried. “I don’t care …”

Violetta took my hand and pressed it while Gordon stood up and said: “Captain Brent must see this sketch immediately. He will know! what it is all about and how we should act.”

“He’s away,” I said.

“I shall reach him. Listen. I am going … immediately.”

I looked at the clock on the mantelshelf. It was half past ten.

He went on: “There may be little time to lose.”

“How will you find him?” asked Violetta.

“I shall find a way and I must do it right away.”

He went to the wardrobe and put on an overcoat and shoes. He opened a drawer and took out a briefcase; he put the sketch into his wallet and said: “Go back to your rooms. Tell no one of this. When I return, behave as though I have just been out on some early morning estate matter. I shall probably know then what should be done. Now, go to your rooms.”

Violetta came back with me to mine and shortly afterwards we heard the sound of his car starting up and driving off.

We lay in the bed together. She held my hand as she used to when we were children. I was vaguely comforted because she knew.

It was about ten o’clock next morning when Gordon returned.

He came to us at once.

I cried: “Have you seen Captain Brent?”

He nodded. “It is better at this stage,” he said, “if you do not know too much. You must do exactly what you are told. This morning, you will drive to Riverside Cottage, park the car at the back where it cannot be seen from the road, and you will let yourself in through the back door. You will stay there for about an hour. Then you will come out, go to your car and drive back to Tregarland. This afternoon, you will do the same again and perhaps stay a little longer. I shall leave this evening and perhaps be back in a few hours.”

“If I cannot find the box …”

“Don’t worry. You are going to take a box to them on Friday. It will be a box I shall give you. But you must do exactly as you are told. That is the best chance of getting Tristan back unharmed.”

“Oh, Gordon,” said Violetta, “how glad I am we told you. Thank you … thank you …”

“My dear Violetta, we are not there yet and, of course, I want to do everything possible.”

“I know,” she said.

How did I live through that day? The minutes seemed like hours. I was so thankful that Violetta knew and I could talk to her frankly. I followed the instructions. I went to the house twice. I even looked for the box. I don’t know what I should have done if I had found it. Probably I would have ignored Gordon’s instructions and taken it to the cottage on Friday. I was half mad with fear for Tristan. What was he doing now, I wondered? What did he think of being away from home, away from me, from Violetta and Nanny Crabtree?

After I returned from Riverside Cottage, I stayed with Violetta.

I said: “I am not sure of Gordon. If Tristan died, he’d have Tregarland’s.”

“Oh, Dorabella, he would never harm a child.”

“There would be much to gain and he loves Tregarland’s. Perhaps we shouldn’t have told him.”

“We did right to tell him. This is a highly dangerous matter. The box is of great importance. Oh no, this is the only way.”

“And if this means they kill Tristan?”

“This is the best way to bring him back safely. I am sure of that.”

I was not. I wished I could stop pictures coming into my mind. It was no use. We had to wait for the time to pass.

I felt an immense relief when Gordon returned.

He came to us at once.

He said: “I have a box, and I will tell you what has to be done. Tomorrow morning, you will go to Riverside Cottage. You will take a shopping bag with you. In it will be the box. You will let yourself into the cottage by the back way as before and stay there for an hour or so. You will come out carrying the shopping bag as though it is rather heavy. In case you are being watched, you will give the impression that you are carrying something precious. Then, at the appropriate time, you will drive to the cottage on the moor as you did on that other occasion. You will go in and tell them that you have the box. You will show it to them. I feel sure that Tristan will be there. He will be handed over to you in exchange for the box.”

“How do you know that they will give him to me?”

“There is no reason why they should not. They do not want him. They only wanted to use him as a means of getting you to work for them. Providing there is no hitch, they will hand over the child.”

“No hitch? What hitch?”

“None … if you obey orders.”

I was trembling with the desire to get on with it. I could not wait for the hours to pass.

Gordon had taken a box out of its wrappings. It looked exactly like the one in the sketch. I seized it. At least I should have something to offer them.

“Where did you get it?” I asked.

“You will hear more about it when this affair is over.”

“It won’t be long now, Dorabella,” said my sister. She put an arm round me. “All you have to do is obey instructions and all will come right.”

“Have you seen Captain Brent?” I asked Gordon.

“As I said, don’t think about anything but what you have to do. I assure you this is the best way to save Tristan. You could never have found the box in the cottage because it was no longer there. Now please, Dorabella, listen to your sister.”

He gave Violetta a grateful and admiring look. I thought: he is right. She is so sensible. She would never have gone to the kidnappers in the first place.

I did exactly as they said. I went to the cottage with my shopping bag on my arm. I stayed there for a while and, when I came out, I carried it very carefully. I put it beside me in the car and drove off.

The important moment was creeping nearer. How time lagged! Three o’clock. Would it never be half past? Had the clock stopped?

I was ready to leave at four. I knew that Violetta was watching me from a window. I placed the bag containing the box on the seat beside me and drove into the road.

To my dismay, Simone was there.

“Just going out then?” she asked.

“Yes,” I stammered.

“I wondered if you would give me a lift into Poldown?”

What could I say? I was going in that direction anyway. I wanted to tell her that I was going on an important engagement, but restrained myself in time.

I reached over and opened the door. She got in and almost sat on the shopping bag. Flustered, I grasped it.

“Let’s put it at the back,” said Simone.

“No … no … I’ll take it.” I settled it at my feet.

I was trembling. It was nothing to be alarmed at. She would leave as soon as we reached the town and I could turn into the road heading for Bodmin.

I was thankful that she did not ask where I was going. She said I must be feeling dreadful and she wished there was something she could do.

“I think we must hear something soon,” I said.

“The police are clever,” she added.

We did not speak much. There was nothing we could talk about with so much on our minds, and she knew if we spoke of that it would be painful.

I was glad when she left.

I drove on. That had delayed me only a minute or so, and I was in good time. I found the cottage with no problem.

Grasping the bag, I went inside. Then I heard a voice which made my heart leap with joy and fear.

“I want my mummy.”

“Tristan!”

I called out his name and the door opened. The masked man whom I had seen before was standing there.

“Well, Mrs. Tregarland,” he said. “What have you brought for me?”

“What you asked for.”

“Show me.”

I took the box from the bag and handed it to him. I thought I should faint with fear. It could not be the real one. They would never have let him have that. Would he know?

“Where is my child?” I said.

“You shall have him. We keep our promises. There is one other thing.”

“No! No!” I cried. “Give him to me.”

“It is easy. You must say you found him wandering on the road.”

“I will say anything if you give him to me.”

He turned. I think the figure who was beside him was a woman. Then Tristan rushed into my arms.

He was half-crying, half-laughing. I said: “Tristan … my darling … come with me. We’re going home.”

I took his hand and ran out of the cottage. I pushed him into the car, started the engine, and we were off.

I wanted to sing paeans of praise, I wanted to thank God, all His angels, Violetta, and Gordon.

My baby was safe with me.

He nestled close to me, holding my skirt in a tight grip. I took a quick look at him. He was smiling and, in a tone of deep satisfaction, he announced: “Got Mummy.”

At that moment there was pandemonium and noise broke out from every side. I heard the sound of shots. I stepped on the accelerator.

Gordon had said: “When Tristan is handed to you, do not lose a moment. Get into the car, and drive as quickly as you can back to Tregarland.”

So that is what I did.

I wonder if I have ever been so happy in my life as I was when I ran into the house gripping Tristan’s hand.

“He’s home!” I shouted. “Listen, everybody. Tristan’s here.”

They all rushed into the hall. I shall never forget Nanny Crabtree’s face. Tears were running down her cheeks. She was the first to reach him.

“My angel!” she cried. “Come home to Nanny!”

Then I saw Violetta smile at Gordon … a smile of deep gratitude and admiration. Then she was hugging me and everyone was talking at once.

They would soon be asking how he was found, and I was not sure what I was expected to say.

Then the questions came.

“It’s wonderful, wonderful. Where did you find him, Mrs. Tregarland?”

Violetta said: “We are all so exhausted. We’ll hear about it later. I am going to take Mrs. Tregarland to the nursery with Nanny.” She whispered to them: “Better not to talk of it before the child.”

Trust Violetta to know what to do!

Nanny was holding Tristan’s hand and would not let it go.

“Come on,” Violetta continued. “We’ll all go up now. Tristan is worn out.”

They dispersed, disappointed, but there was not one of them who was not overcome with delight because Tristan was home.

Tristan was examined by Nanny. He did not seem to have suffered from his ordeal.

It was difficult to get from him what had actually happened.

Did he leave his bed and go off?

He looked a little vague and nodded.

Why did he do that?

“To see the dinosaurs,” he said.

“In the picture book?”

“No … real ones.”

“Where?”

“In the garden.”

“Who told you?”

“The lady.”

“What lady?”

“Her,” he said.

“Who?” I asked.

He looked vague.

“Was it a lady you hadn’t seen before?” I went on. He still looked puzzled.

“And did you see the dinosaurs?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Who was there?”

“Her.”

“Was she nice?”

He nodded.

I could see there was nothing to be learned from him. This woman had slipped into the house while Nanny was in a deep sleep; she had taken him down to see the dinosaurs and then, presumably, carried him off.