Bloodlines

“Your parents invited them to go with them. Many people at the party have said they were told this, including Kathleen’s parents.”

For a moment, there was only the arrhythmic hiss and boil of the coffeepot.

“No,” Warren said again. “They didn’t take Todd. Not Todd.”

Norton said nothing.

Warren’s face crumpled, and he made a horrible, wounded sound, one O’Co

The coffee percolator stopped, its red indicator light on, and O’Co

Warren stood up, hastily excused himself, then moved back to the bathroom. They heard him retching, the flush of the toilet, then the sound of water ru

“Sorry,” he said shakily.

He reached for his coffee and drank a little, then pushed it away.

“Are you sure the boat is lost? I mean, couldn’t there be a chance they’re all right?”

“Yes, of course,” Norton said. “We haven’t given up hope by any means. The Coast Guard is watching for it. The Sea Dreamer could just be blown off course. We’ve tried raising her on the radio, but so far, no luck. But then, it could just be that there’s some problem with the radio on board.”

Warren nodded, then fell silent. He looked at O’Co

“Jack Corrigan asked me to stop by Todd and Katy’s place tonight.”

“Oh.” He still seemed confused. “Will he be coming here, too?”

“No. Jack’s not feeling well, I’m afraid.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said. “Tell him I said hello.” O’Co

“I’m afraid, Warren, that I’m here-”

“Oh, you just said-because of Kathleen! Jack and Kathleen are friends. Kathleen…” Tears welled up in his eyes again. “And the baby? What’s going to become of that little boy?”

“Mr. Ducane,” Norton said, drawing his attention. “Mr. O’Co

Warren looked at him wide-eyed, anxious.

“Your nephew Max-Todd’s son?”

“The baby! Oh my God! They weren’t crazy enough to take an infant on that-”

“No, sir.”

“I’ll take care of him. I will, somehow. My God, I just can’t believe that Todd-”

“Mr. Ducane, I’m sorry. There’s no easy way to tell you this, but tonight we’ve learned that the baby has probably been kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped?” he asked. Blank-faced again. Disbelieving.

“The child’s nursemaid was murdered.”

Warren seemed to sway, and for a moment O’Co

Norton went over it with him at least a half a dozen times. Finally, Warren got past the stage of simply repeating whatever was said to him. Norton kept pouring coffee for him.

“Tell me about your brother,” Norton said.

Warren seemed on the verge of tears again. Norton waited while he struggled to regain his composure.

“He’s a good man,” Warren said in a hoarse voice. “A great brother.” Deep breath. “The best. I-I can’t think why he would have gone with my parents. It’s crazy. They’re crazy.”

“Your parents?”

He nodded. “But not Todd. Todd’s smart. God! I hope it’s all some mistake.”

But he didn’t look as if he believed it could be, O’Co

“Your brother mention any problems lately?”

Warren seemed surprised at the question. “No, not really.”

“I mean,” Norton said, “most young couples have problems…”

“Oh.”

O’Co

He sighed heavily. “I think they have a few. Adjusting to life with a new baby in the house, things like that. But nothing they couldn’t work out, I’m sure.”

“What about outside of his home life?”

“Todd didn’t mention anything to me. My God, he’s…he’s…he’s on a missing boat, and his child has been taken…how could any of that be his fault?”

“I’m not saying it is. Not at all. I just wondered who might want to put pressure on him.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Mr. Ducane, I suspect there will be a call or a letter or something of that nature sent to your brother’s home, asking for ransom. And I can only believe that this is going to come from someone who doesn’t realize that your brother himself is missing.”

“I see. Yes. All right. But who could it be?”

“Any enemies?”

“None that I know of.”

“Did he mention any strangers coming around, or persons who might have taken an unusual interest in the child?”

Warren shook his head.

“Any work done on the house recently?”

“No… at least…well, I don’t really know. Lillian-Kathleen’s mother would have arranged for anything like that.” He suddenly sat up straighter. “Lillian! Have you told her…?”

“Yes.”

“Poor Lillian. Kathleen’s her only child. My God. My God. What has happened?”

Norton continued to question him, about Todd, Todd’s friends, Katy, Katy’s friends. How the household staff had been hired. In the end, O’Co

When O’Co

“Not to mention all the mud on the floorboards,” he added.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now you owe me about five thousand favors to one, but who’s counting?”

“What about finding Warren Ducane?”

“Four thousand nine-hundred and ninety-nine. But we’ll be keeping an eye on him from now on, so don’t expect future credit.”

“You suspect him of the kidnapping?”

“No, not really. I don’t think he faked that reaction. He was genuinely shocked. But…I don’t know. Something’s off with that guy. I’ve got to try to get in touch with the family lawyer, though, because unless his folks have cut him out completely, it seems to me that instead of being split two or three ways, the Ducanes’ fortune will now go to one man.” He was quiet for a moment, then added, “You sure he was at Auburn’s all weekend?”

“I’ll ask again-and try to get more details. But Auburn said he had been there since Friday, and he backs up Warren’s story about not having a car up there. Auburn’s never been one to lie.”

“Well, we’ll see. What are your impressions of young Warren?”

“He loves his big brother, is perhaps even fond of Katy, and doesn’t give a damn about his parents. Little Max was hardly a person to him, and the nursemaid, Rose Ha

“Hmm. You ask me, the parents didn’t seem to give a damn about him, either. And young men usually don’t get attached to their nephews until the nephews can talk or throw a ball. I’ll bet most maids are invisible to everyone but their employers.”

“Oh no. They’re often invisible to the employers, too. My mother used to work as a maid before the war came along.”

“Don’t think we feel the same way about Rose Ha