Heart of the Night by Barbara Delinsky Read Free Book Online Page A

and he’ll keep Anthony at heel. If we get any information, we may hook into the pattern-crime computer program, but we’ll be a code word, that’s all. Sam and Hank will send their findings to the crime lab—which will know this case only by a number—then they’ll sit here by the phones with us. They won’t have contact with anyone on the outside, unless we ask them to.”
    â€œBut these new people, Ginny and Chris—”
    â€œAre right now cruising around talking with car dealers asking about recent purchases or rentals of vans. What we have to do,” she explained in a soft but urgent voice, “is to think like the kidnappers. We have to psych them out. We have to reconstruct what they’ve already done and, from there, plot what they’re going to do.”
    Realizing that she had Will’s full attention, she continued. “A crime like kidnapping isn’t committed on the spur of the moment. It’s carefully planned. The kidnappers have probably been in this area for a while. They knew about you, knew that you had the means to deliver three million dollars. They probably staked the house out for a while before they chose their time of day and entry point.
    â€œGiven the distance from this house to the next and to the woods behind you, chances are slim your neighbors would be of help. So we’ll focus on the commission of the crime. The kidnappers needed some form of transportation, preferably something without windows. A van would be perfect. They could have stolen one, but that would have been risky. We’ll check it out anyway, but at the same time Ginny and Chris will concentrate on finding a dealership in Providence that sold a van within the past few days to anyone at all suspicious. I also have two people in the office making calls—” She held up a hand against the objection Will was about to make. “They don’t know what case they’re working on, simply that they’re supposed to canvas the area beyond Providence about the recent rental or purchase of a van. They’re collecting names, that’s all, and they’re parading as members of the consumer protection division. No one will ever suspect what we want the information for.”
    Will was temporarily mollified, if begrudgingly so, but Savannah was satisfied with that.
    â€œWhen Ginny and Chris feel they’ve exhausted the dealerships,” she went on, “they’ll move on to local motels. The kidnappers have Megan stashed somewhere. If I were a kidnapper, I’d want a place near an airport for a quick getaway.” She paused to look at him beseechfully. “Do you see what we’re trying to do?”
    Will nodded unhappily. “I just wish there were a safer way of doing it. The note says no police. I don’t think I’ll be able to live with myself if we find Megan dead.”
    â€œWe won’t find her dead,” Savannah said with a force that was more personal than professional. Determinedly, she lowered her voice again. “Let’s make sure we don’t.” She picked up her pen. “I’ll need the names of your plant managers.”
    Will stared at her for a minute, then, in a tight voice, he gave her the names. On further questioning and only after significant prodding on her part, he also provided her with a list of workmen and service personnel who had been at the house in the last month. He gave her the names of the valets at the club, Megan’s hairdresser, and the cab company Megan regularly used. When, slightly appalled, he asked whether Savannah was planning to contact all those people, she shook her head.
    â€œSince you don’t feel that anyone you’ve seen recently has behaved at all strangely, we won’t do anything at this point but keep their names on a list. If it turns out that the valet at the club bought a van yesterday, Ginny and Chris will pay him a discreet