at Crisp n Clean drycleaners?’ He leaned very close when he said this – his breath warm against her face.
‘I was picking up a dress for tonight, for the museum shindig, you know the one, everyone’s talking about it, the old Buddha thing? You see I forgot to collect my outfit and my mother will be mad as a bear if I don’t wear it this evening. You know how mad bears can get don’t ya?’
‘Yeah, I hear bears are capable of knocking a person’s head off.’
Ruby regretted bringing up the subject of bears – she didn’t want to be giving him any ideas. The one thing Ruby Redfort knew about bears was RULE 79: WHAT TO DO IF YOU MEET A BEAR – WISH YOU HADN’T!
Baby Face picked up Ruby’s backpack and pulled out the blue jacket. ‘This your outfit?’ He was looking in the pockets.
‘No! I don’t believe it! What the… I guess I must have picked up my mom’s dry-cleaning instead of my own, how could I be so dumb?’
‘Yes, that is a question I am asking myself,’ said Baby Face in a sinister tone.
‘Look mister, just what is it you want from me? You can have the jacket if it is such a big deal – my mom will kill me, but I would rather deal with her than have you all unhappy.’
‘Oh I’m not unhappy Ms Redfort, but I know someone who might be.’
He turned towards the door.
‘Hey come on, look at me buster, I’m just a school kid you know.’
‘Tell it to my boss,’ hissed Baby Face as he closed the door behind him.
Hitch pulled up outside the museum entrance and Mr and Mrs Redfort stepped out of the car. LB had insisted that he be assigned the job of securing the safety of Brant and Sabina Redfort. When he had argued with her she had countered, saying, you’re too close to this thing Hitch, let someone else search for the kid – you’re feeling guilty and guilt never did anyone any good. You’re more use to us here. You’ve got to keep perspective.
Chinese lanterns were strung along above the steps and music drifted out across the square. The cherry trees had scattered blossom across the path and all in all it was a very beautiful scene. A gentle breeze, a mild night – a perfect evening for a party. Fairytale perfect.
Hitch, however, noted nothing of this. All he registered were security guards, cameras and agents. He switched on his watch transmitter and spoke into its speaker. ‘Any sign of the kid?’
‘I’m afraid not Hitch, we’ve been looking all over Twinford and a way beyond too, but it’s like she just disappeared into the night.’
Hitch sighed heavily, and took the incoming call from Agent Blacker. ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news?’ asked Blacker.
Hitch groaned.
‘Well, the bad news is Mr Klaus Gustav has yet to emerge from his hotel room so we haven’t had a chance to brief him on our security – Dr Gonzales is beginning to wonder if he is ever going to show.’
‘And the good news?’ asked Hitch.
‘I’ll call you when I’ve got some.’
Ruby listened.
She heard the determined clack of expensive leather soled shoes making their way along the stone corridor. The footsteps were far away but steadily getting nearer. Even the sound of them – so regular they reminded Ruby of a ticking clock – seemed to be announcing something awful. By the time they came to a stop outside the huge wooden door Ruby’s heart was beating so hard her whole body could feel it.
As the door creaked slowly open, Ruby felt perspiration trickle down her face, though it was deathly cold inside the tower. The figure that stood there cast a long and eerie shadow, a shadow almost independent of the man it belonged to. It was impossible to see more than that, but then Ruby, with just the one contact lens, stood very little chance of seeing anything very clearly.
However, she understood something without looking, without seeing – her sixth sense was telling her that this man was not a good man.
This is the sort of man, thought Ruby, who might indeed dangle one over a bubbling volcano… just because… why not?
Time waits for no man
SHOULD HAVE WORN THE YELLOW, thought Sabina, I’m a knockout in yellow.
Sabina Redfort hadn’t quite recovered from the disappointment of discovering she wasn’t the only one to have thought of wearing a jade-coloured dress; most of the women at the party were attired in varying shades of green. Still, her iced canapés were a triumph and the green martinis were a masterstroke. All in all the party was a glittering success.
She was roused from her self-appreciation by the voice of Freddie Humbert.
‘And where is that clever daughter of yours, Sabina?’
‘She might be clever, Freddie, but it seems she still hasn’t learned to tell the time. If there is one thing Brant and I tried to teach her, it’s punctuality, but it’s a losing battle with Ruby.’
‘Ah, she’s a great kid though,’ sighed Brant, ‘easily diverted but a great kid.’
‘Diverted!’ frowned Sabina. ‘The clock will strike midnight before she appears and it will all be over.’
‘It’s true,’ said Freddie Humbert, ‘kids nowadays have got no ability to listen to simple instructions.’
‘Here you go, Dad,’ said Quent, returning with a tray of drinks. ‘Two martinis, one with extra olives, one with no olives, one mineral water, ice and a twist of lime and a jade juice, no fruit.’
‘I blame that old devil, the TV,’ asserted Marjorie Humbert. ‘Quent’s usually glued to it.’
‘Having a proper conversation is impossible,’ said Freddie.
‘Maybe Hitch knows where Ruby might have gotten to,’ said Sabina distractedly.
Hitch, meanwhile, was scanning the room. Just where are you Nine Lives, and who in all the underworld are you working for? Who would be insane enough to believe that they could outwit Spectrum, dodge a whole security team and steal what was considered “more precious than gold”?
The shadowy man walked towards the chair. He seemed to be studying her.
‘So, you are Ms Redfort… Ms Ruby Redfort.’ The man pondered her name as if placing it in some invisible title sequence. ‘I am sorry for your discomfort – did Mr Marshall bind you too tightly? He can be very thoughtless.’
He had a disconcertingly kind voice – soothing, calm, at times barely audible.
‘It’s a shame about the temperature. It does seem to stay icy cold in this tower, yet such a mild evening.’
Ruby
