Page 33 of King’s Ransom

She assessed me for a long moment, gazing down her nose at me like she was peering at an insect.

Then she spoke.

‘I am in your debt, Sam Speedman. This I do not forget.’

The comment caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting gratitude from her.

‘I appreciate that, ma’am.’

Then she rounded on Director Longmuir and Special Agent Hooper and her voice turned to ice.

‘My husband and my daughter are still missing. Find them!’

‘Uh, yes. Yes, ma’am . . .’ Longmuir said.

Retrieving my backpack from the floor, I turned to my team.

‘Heidi, Bill, now that that’s over, can you guys go upstairs to Mr King’s bedroom and take a look at the items that were left on his bed: the drone, the phone, the watch and the chess piece. Special Agent Hooper, you got any forensics people here? Maybe you could get them to check those items for extra prints or more DNA?’

Hooper arched back. ‘Listen, you—’

His boss Longmuir cut in. ‘No, he’s right. Send forensics to the bedroom.’

The Tech Detect said, ‘I’ll go, too. See if I can start up King’s phone. Might be something on it that can help.’

‘Good idea,’ I said.

‘Call you shortly,’ Heidi said as she, Bill and the Tech Detect hurried off.

Then my cell phone buzzed.

The screen said, unknown caller.

I clicked answer.

It was him.

‘Dr Speedman. Well done. You excelled yourself in that test, both in deduction and bravery. I might have to watch out for you. Put me on speaker.’

I did. ‘It’s him.’

Everyone leaned in to listen.

‘Hello all. Welcome to my game. I’m already having a wonderful time and if you want to find the W.O.R.M., you’ll keep playing—’

Quinn McCade cut in. ‘Before we do anything more, I want proof of life. Prove to us that Mr King is alive.’

A pause.

‘Your name, sir?’

‘Quinn McCade, Sinclair & Loewe Insurance, the company that’ll have to pay any more ransoms you demand.’

‘Oh, of course, the insurers. Yes, yes. I bet you wooed Mr King with honey and sweet-talk to get his premiums, but now that you face the prospect of actually paying out some genuine king’s ransoms, suddenly it’s all business.’

‘Is he alive?’ McCade demanded.

Another short pause.