The Complete Ruby Redfort Collection. Lauren Child

was not much chance of finding her alive.

      ‘What is it?’ said Clancy.

      ‘This is Valerie Capaldi – we call her Nine Lives. The last time she crossed my path we got into a fight – I left with a torn up leg and she left with a nasty gash to her left eye. I haven’t seen her for a couple of years,’ added Hitch, staring at the screen, ‘but if Nine Lives is involved then Ruby is in a lot more trouble than I had thought.’

      Sabina heard the front door open and the heavy footsteps as Hitch climbed the stairs to the living room.

      ‘So where’s Ruby?’ she called, adjusting her dress.

      ‘Don’t worry about Ruby, I’ll make sure she is there on time.’

      Brant breezed into the room smiling. ‘That daughter of mine around? I hope she’s not going to be late – she has a terrible problem with punctuality.’

      ‘She’ll make it, I promise you that – everything is going to be all right,’ said Hitch. ‘You can count on it.’

      Sabina looked at him. ‘Darling Hitch, no need to be so dramatic,’ she laughed. ‘You’re almost worrying me – she’s not going to wear one of her awful T-shirts is she? I’m not saying I wouldn’t mind because you know I would – but nothing can ruin tonight for me – nothing.’

       Chapter 36.

      A colony of vultures

      RUBY SAT UNCOMFORTABLY IN A LARGE SHABBY CHAIR. A chair that might well have belonged to Dracula himself, with its dragon feet and blood red fabric. Her wrists and ankles were bound and her mouth gagged, a blindfold across her eyes. She could hear sounds, mutterings, heavy objects being dragged across a stone floor. She could sense that something – several somethings were in the room even if she couldn’t see them. She felt as if she were surrounded by vultures… a colony of vultures! That was the collective term for them – fine time to remember that.

      Then, suddenly, light.

      Someone removed the silk scarf and Ruby found herself once again staring into the pretty eyes of Baby Face Marshall. He really did have a very sweet face. It was hard to believe what Agent Blacker had said about this clean-cut guy with his tidy features and straight teeth.

      ‘Got something to say cutie?’

      Baby Face ripped the tape from her mouth. Her eyes began to water.

      ‘Oh now don’t cry – tell me what I need to know and you can run along back to Mommy and Daddy.’

      ‘Look, first of all I don’t cry – least not because some schmuck with a face like a baby is giving me grief, and second of all, as I was saying to those cronies of yours before they stuck packaging tape over my mouth, I don’t know anything.’

      Baby Face didn’t like the line about his having a face like a baby, Ruby could tell – his voice got a whole lot harsher.

      ‘What were you doing at Crisp n Clean drycleaners?’ He leaned very close when he said this – his breath warm against her face.

      ‘I was picking up a dress for tonight, for the museum shindig, you know the one, everyone’s talking about it, the old Buddha thing? You see I forgot to collect my outfit and my mother will be mad as a bear if I don’t wear it this evening. You know how mad bears can get don’t ya?’

      ‘Yeah, I hear bears are capable of knocking a person’s head off.’

      Ruby regretted bringing up the subject of bears – she didn’t want to be giving him any ideas. The one thing Ruby Redfort knew about bears was RULE 79: WHAT TO DO IF YOU MEET A BEAR – WISH YOU HADN’T!

      Baby Face picked up Ruby’s backpack and pulled out the blue jacket. ‘This your outfit?’ He was looking in the pockets.

      ‘No! I don’t believe it! What the… I guess I must have picked up my mom’s dry-cleaning instead of my own, how could I be so dumb?’

      ‘Yes, that is a question I am asking myself,’ said Baby Face in a sinister tone.

      ‘Look mister, just what is it you want from me? You can have the jacket if it is such a big deal – my mom will kill me, but I would rather deal with her than have you all unhappy.’

      ‘Oh I’m not unhappy Ms Redfort, but I know someone who might be.’

      He turned towards the door.

      ‘Hey come on, look at me buster, I’m just a school kid you know.’

      ‘Tell it to my boss,’ hissed Baby Face as he closed the door behind him.

      Hitch pulled up outside the museum entrance and Mr and Mrs Redfort stepped out of the car. LB had insisted that he be assigned the job of securing the safety of Brant and Sabina Redfort. When he had argued with her she had countered, saying, you’re too close to this thing Hitch, let someone else search for the kid – you’re feeling guilty and guilt never did anyone any good. You’re more use to us here. You’ve got to keep perspective.

      Chinese lanterns were strung along above the steps and music drifted out across the square. The cherry trees had scattered blossom across the path and all in all it was a very beautiful scene. A gentle breeze, a mild night – a perfect evening for a party. Fairytale perfect.

      Hitch, however, noted nothing of this. All he registered were security guards, cameras and agents. He switched on his watch transmitter and spoke into its speaker. ‘Any sign of the kid?’

      ‘I’m afraid not Hitch, we’ve been looking all over Twinford and a way beyond too, but it’s like she just disappeared into the night.’

      Hitch sighed heavily, and took the incoming call from Agent Blacker. ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news?’ asked Blacker.

      Hitch groaned.

      ‘Well, the bad news is Mr Klaus Gustav has yet to emerge from his hotel room so we haven’t had a chance to brief him on our security – Dr Gonzales is beginning to wonder if he is ever going to show.’

      ‘And the good news?’ asked Hitch.

      ‘I’ll call you when I’ve got some.’

      Ruby listened.

      She heard the determined clack of expensive leather soled shoes making their way along the stone corridor. The footsteps were far away but steadily getting nearer. Even the sound of them – so regular they reminded Ruby of a ticking clock – seemed to be announcing something awful. By the time they came to a stop outside the huge wooden door Ruby’s heart was beating so hard her whole body could feel it.

      As the door creaked slowly open, Ruby felt perspiration trickle down her face, though it was deathly cold inside the tower. The figure that stood there cast a long and eerie shadow, a shadow almost independent of the man it belonged to. It was impossible to see more than that, but then Ruby, with just the one contact lens, stood very little chance of seeing anything very clearly.

      However, she understood something without looking, without seeing – her sixth sense was telling her that this man was not a good man.

      This is the sort of man, thought Ruby, who might indeed dangle one over a bubbling volcano… just because… why not?

       Chapter 37.

      Time waits for no man

      SHOULD HAVE WORN THE YELLOW, thought Sabina, I’m a knockout in yellow.

      Sabina Redfort hadn’t quite recovered from the disappointment of discovering she wasn’t the only one to have thought of wearing a jade-coloured dress; most of the women at the party were attired in varying shades of green. Still, her iced canapés were a triumph and the green martinis were