The Bombmaker by Stephen Leather Read Free Book Online Page A

use alcohol to take the edge off his panic, but he knew it'd be a big mistake. He had to keep a clear head, he had to remain totally focused on what he had to do.
    The telephone rang and Martin sat bolt upright. He grabbed for the receiver. 'Yes?'
    'Martin?' It was Andy, her voice little more than a whisper.
    'Hiya, love. Are you okay?'
    'Can't sleep. I'm just lying here. Martin . . .'
    Martin could hear the despair in her voice. 'I'm still here,
    love.'
    'Have they called you?'
    'No. Nothing. I've spoken to the bank, and I've sold our shares and stuff. The money's in the bank and there's no problem in raising more. All we need now is to know how much they want.'
    'Martin . . .'
    She was close to crying, and Martin wished with all his heart that she was in the bed with him arid that he could reach over and cuddle her.
    'Martin . . . I'm not sure if this is about money.'
    'What do you mean?'
    'They want me to go somewhere tomorrow.'
    'Where?'
    'A van. I have to go to a van in a carpark around the corner. I guess they're going to take me somewhere.' There was a long pause, and Martin thought they'd lost the connection until he heard her breathe. 'I'm not sure if we should even be talking,'
    she said. 'Maybe they're listening.'
    'If they're listening, love, they know that we haven't gone to the police. They know that we're doing everything they've asked. They know that there's no reason not to give Katie back to us. Okay?'
    'I suppose so,' she said, but he could tell from her tone that she wasn't convinced.
    'It's going to be all right, love,' said Martin. 'Do you know where they want to take you?'
    'They didn't say. It was a note, like before. They haven't called you?'
    'No.'
    'Martin, if it was money they wanted, they'd have called by now, wouldn't they?'
    'I don't know what they're playing at, love.'
    There was another long silence. 'It couldn't be to do with the business, could it?' she said eventually.
    'In what way?'
    'You haven't been doing business with anybody you shouldn't have? Have you?'
    'Jesus, Andy, what a thing to say.' Martin was stunned. It was as if she were trying to find some way of blaming him for what had happened. 'What would make you think that?'
    'Well, why else could this be happening? Why would anyone take Katie and then make me do this? Check into a hotel. Get into a van. It's as if they want you on your own.
    Isolated. That's why I thought maybe it wasn't about money.'
    There was another pause.
    'We don't have any choice, Andy. We have to do what they say. They've obviously got something planned.'
    'I know that. Look, are you sure it's not connected to the business, Martin? You haven't crossed somebody? Do you owe somebody money?'
    'The company's never been better,' said Martin. 'Our overdraft is well under control, orders are coming in, we've a few problems with suppliers, but we're well ahead of where we were this time last year.'
    'I know you've always kept problems from me,' said Andy.
    'The times the business was going through a rough patch, you never let on. I knew, but you never told me. I just thought. . .'
    'It's late at night and the demons are out, that's all. You're thinking too much. I'm the same. I've been lying here imagining all sorts of things, but that's all it is. Imagination. And if it was to do with the business, there'd have been some lead-up to it. They 4i STEPHEN LEATHER wouldn't just snatch Katie. There'd be threats, there'd be other pressures they'd apply. And Andy, love, the sort of people I do business with wouldn't dream of hurting a child. Or a wife.
    They're men and they behave like men.' There was no answer from his wife. 'Andy, did you hear what I said?'
    'Yes.' There was a tearful sniff. 'I'm sorry, Martin. I just feel . . . alone, you know.'
    'I know exactly what you mean, love. This bed has never felt so bloody big. What's your room like there?'
    'It's okay. I wish I was there with you.'
    'Mutual. Times a million.'
    'I just wish it was over.'
    'I know,' said