‘Where did you get those toys from?’
‘From Donahure’s toy shop.’ Ryder looked at the two rifles. ‘Always wanted one of those. Thought you might want one too.’
‘Rifles you have.’
‘Not those. I’ve never seen one. I’ve seen a diagram.’
‘What are they?’
‘You’ll be surprised. Unobtainable in this country. We think we make the best rifles in the world. The British think they do and the Belgians think the same of their own Nato rifles. Well, we don’t think, we say. But they all know that this is the best Light, deadly accurate, can be stripped down in seconds and hidden in the pockets of your top-coat. Splendid weapon for terrorists — as the British soldiers in Northern Ireland have found out to their cost.’
‘The IRA have those?’
‘Yes. It’s called the kalashnikov. If a person’s hunting you at night with one of those fitted with infra-red telescopic sights you might as well shoot yourself. Or so they say.’
‘Russian?’
‘Yes.’
‘Catholics and Communists make strange bedfellows.’
‘The people who use those in Northern Ireland are Protestants. An extremist splinter-group officially disowned by the IRA. Not that the Communists care very much with whom they associate as long as they can stir up trouble.’
Jeff took one of the rifles, examined it, looked at the unconscious Donahure and then at Ryder.
Ryder said: ‘Don’t ask me. All I know about our friend’s early background is that he’s a first-generation American.’
‘From Northern Ireland?’
‘From Northern Ireland. Fits in neatly. Probably fits in too neatly.’
‘Donahure — a Communist?’
‘We mustn’t look for a Red under every bush. No law against it — well, not since McCarthy departed the scene. I don’t think so, anyway. He’s too stupid and too selfish to be interested in any ideology. That’s not to say, of course, that he wouldn’t accept their money. Count those notes and then check the rest of the desk. I’ll go over the rest of the room.’
Ryder looked while Jeff counted. After some minutes Jeff looked up, his face alight. ‘Boy, this is interesting. Eight packets of notes, each containing one-thousand, two-hundred-and-fifty dollars. Ten thousand.’
‘So I was wrong. He’s now got an eighth unofficial bank account. Very interesting, I agree. But nothing to get excited about.’
‘No? There are several new notes in each packet. I’ve only made a quick check but as far as I can see they’re in series.
‘Ah, this
Nothing more came to light and they left five minutes later after freeing a now-stirring Donahure of his handcuffs, Scotch Tape and blindfold.
Major Dunne was still in his office, handling two phones at the same time. When he’d hung up Ryder said: ‘Not yet abed?’
‘No. And I don’t expect to be — not this night, anyway. I’ll have plenty of company in my misery. Statewide alert, twenty-four-hour basis, for every agent who could walk. Description of Morro has been telexed, or is being telexed, throughout the country. I’ve arranged for this list of the organized weirdos, but I won’t have that until tomorrow. Your Peggy has been taken care of.’
Jeff said to Ryder:
‘Forgot to tell you. The kidnappers have made a statement to AP and Reuters. No threats, just detailing what materials they’ve stolen and the names of the people they kidnapped. It will be released at eleven tonight.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Half an hour. I didn’t want your sister to have the shock of hearing of the kidnapping of her mother over the TV or radio. Major Dunne has kindly taken care of that.’
Jeff looked from one man to another then said: ‘It’s just a thought. But has it occurred to you that Peggy might be in danger?’
‘It is a thought and it has occurred.’ Dunne could be very precise and clipped in his speech. ‘It has also been taken care of.’ He peered at the rifles in Ryder’s hand. ‘Late hour to go shopping.’
‘We borrowed them from your friend Donahure.’
‘Ah! How is he?’
‘Unconscious. Not that there’s much difference between that and his walking state. He knocked his head against the butt of an automatic’
Dunne brightened. ‘Disgraceful. You had reason for taking those? Something special?’
‘I’m pretty sure. These are Kalashnikovs. Russian. Can you check with Washington, import controls, to see if any licences have been issued to bring those in? I very much doubt it. The Russians just love to unload their arms on anyone with the cash to pay, but it’s a fair guess they wouldn’t part with the most advanced rifle in the business, which this is.’
‘Illegal possession? That would make him an ex-chief of police.’
‘Unimportant. He’ll be that soon anyway.’
‘Communist?’
‘Unlikely. Of course, he’s capable of being an empty convert to anything if the money’s good enough.’
‘I’d like to have those, if I may.’
‘Sorry. Finders keepers. Want to admit in court that you abetted burglarious entry? Don’t be upset. Jeff’s got a little present for you.’ Jeff placed the wad of banknotes on the table. ‘Ten thousand dollars exactly. All yours. How many consecutively listed brand new two-dollar notes are there, Jeff?’
‘Forty.’
‘Manna,’ Dunne said reverently. ‘I’ll have the names of the bank, teller and drawer by noon tomorrow. Pity you weren’t able to find out the name of the drawer.’
‘Told you. Donahure was asleep. I’ll go back and ask him later on.’
‘Like that? May be pushing your luck, Sergeant.’
‘No. I’ve had the great misfortune to know Chief Donahure longer than you have. Man’s a bully. I know it’s commonplace to say that all bullies are cowards, which is not at all true: but in his case it is. Take his face. A disaster, but the only one he has and he probably cherishes it. He saw what happened to his stake-out’s face tonight.’
‘Mm.’ Dunne’s momentarily beatific expression had been replaced by a frown, and it wasn’t because of anything that Ryder had said. He tapped the bundle of notes. ‘This. How am I to account for this, to explain it away? I mean, where did it come from?’
‘Yes.’ It was Jeff’s turn to frown. ‘I didn’t think of it either.’
‘Easy. Donahure gave it to you.’
‘He what?’
‘Despite the fact that he has about half a million in ill-gotten gains salted away under seven or eight forged names, we all know that he’s basically a decent, upright, honourable man, deeply committed to the welfare of his fellow man, to upholding the rule of justice and ruthlessly crushing bribery and corruption wherever it raises its ugly head. He was approached by the syndicate responsible for the San Ruffino break-in and given this money in return for a blow-by-blow account of the steps being taken by the State and Federal authorities in investigating this case. You and he worked out a plan to feed false and misleading information to the crooks. Naturally, he handed you this tainted money for safe keeping. You have to admire the man’s unshakeable integrity.’
‘Ingenious, but you’ve overlooked the obvious. All Donahure has to do is to deny it.’
‘With his fingerprints all over those notes — especially those new ones? He’s either got to go with the story or admit that he had the notes cached away in the house which would leave him the awkward task of explaining
