No way am I going to be fobbed off so easily. “How did you find out?” I repeat more forcefully.
“I have a contact inside the father’s place of work.”
I suppose I should be relieved Andries is on top of things, but it isn’t relief I’m feeling. “If you’re so knowledgeable, what can you tell me about a red Nissan staking out the safe house?”
Andries remains silent.
A heavy feeling settles in my chest. “Start talking.”
“We have someone keeping an eye on the house,” he finally admits.
“This operation’s off unless you tell me exactly what you’re playing at.”
“Calm down, man. The surveillance is insurance. There’s a lot at stake here. We want to be sure our interests are covered.”
I can well believe that PAMS, the animal advocacy group Andries represents, would want their interests covered. The Prevention of Animals for Medical Science has promised us nearly half a million in funding. It’s a lot of money, money we desperately need, but if I’m brutally honest with myself, Amy’s kidnapping is a decision I’m beginning to regret.
“I’m told you’re no longer at the safe house,” Andries says.
“We left because we thought we were compromised.”
“Where are you now?”
Instinct stops me from divulging my new location. I want to protect Ross and Merele, but I also want Andries to deal only with me and no other person associated with AFD.
“You don’t need to have that information,” I tell him.
There’s a fleeting, static silence. “How is the package?”
“We’re looking after it.”
“I hope so,” Andries says. “The father’s worried.”
“I’ll get in touch with him. Do you know if he’s contacted the police?”
“He hasn’t. It appears your bluff was effective.”
“Good.”
“The deadline you’ve given the father expires soon,” Andries reminds me.
“Yeah, the date’s in my diary,” I say sarcastically, and hang up.
42
HEATHER
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Friday evening, July 16
[EXTRACT FROM HEATHER’S LOG NOTES]
The first day of the toxicity study of an experimental cancer chemopreventive agent. The eighteen beagles will be given the test material via a capsule in their food. The other six control dogs will receive only a gelatine capsule.
I help Glen prepare the doses.
While many of the older dogs are wary when a cage door is opened, these puppies don’t cringe at human handling. Turbo, in particular, is so excited to see me, pressing himself against my gloved hand, begging to be held and cuddled.
