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.Garland stares at the whiteboard, the map of the New Mexico desert, the list of clues and the lack of answers.It's a mess that isn't taking them anywhere useful, and what could quite likely be a bogus ransom demand, pressuring them into diverting much needed police attention away from where it's really needed, isn't helping at all.He knows, above all else, that they'll need some kind of miracle if they want to have any chance of putting this one to bed, and bringing Madeleine back home.Chapter 16River is almost certain that the car pulling into the parking lot is the police.They've come for him silently he reckons, sirens turned off, just in case he's got a gun in his hand, and he's ready for a showdown.Cowards.What confuses him firstly, however, is the lack of support they bring with them.Surely they would have sent more than just one car, if there was any chance, no matter how slim, of River fighting back? He also doesn't expect them to try and enter the motel room with a key, believing during the brief moment the key is in the lock, that perhaps they've sent the motel room owner in first, as some kind of human shield.'You've got me', River shouts.'I aint moving, so just get on with it.'When he sees her standing there in the doorway, the light behind her making her look more like an angel than he's ever seen, his heart skips a beat.'Maddy', he says, more than surprised.'What the hell are you doing back here?''I brought breakfast', Maddy says, holding up the bag of sugary treats, with a huge smile on her face, acting as though the situation she has found herself in - former captor turned hostage, now handcuffed to mattressless bed, while former hostage turned breakfast gatherer stands there in tight jeans, faded top and blonde waist length wig - is perfectly normal.River can't help but laugh.'Yes you did', he says.Maddy closes the door and comes into the room.'What happened to the mattress?' she says.'I thought you'd gone', River says, rattling his cuffed hand against the bed frame for emphasis.'I kind of panicked a bit.''I can see', Maddy says, sitting down on the bed frame.'Are you hungry?'Maddy tears open the bag to reveal the selection of goodies inside.She's also brought coffee, one of which she gives to River.River takes it and then just looks at her, shaking his head.It's been a hell of a strange morning already.'I thought you'd given me up', River says.'I thought you were the police coming to get me.Why the hell did you come back, Maddy?''I don't like eating alone', she jokes, indicating the huge selection of cakes they have in front of them.'Besides which, I didn't ever go.''And the handcuffs? What's wrong with a note?' River says, jangling it again until his wrist hurts.'I did that for a couple of reasons', she says.'One, I had to make sure you wouldn't run away without me, and two, I thought it was only fair.I mean, you've spent a day in control, deciding what to do, and now it's my turn.''Your turn?' River says.'Exactly', Maddy says, licking sugary icing off her lips.'And what is it exactly that you want to do?' River says.'You're not eating', Maddy quips.'These are really good.''I'm a little tied up at the moment', River says, waving at her sarcastically with his secured hand.'I'll undo it when we've talked', Maddy says.'I've been thinking.''Oh Jesus Maddy', River says.'You know, I've eaten porridge for breakfast for the last ten years, and these things are amazing.I can't believe I've been missing out for so long.''You've been thinking about cakes?''Oh my god, and coffee', she says, taking a slurp of her cappuccino, on the top of which she's sprinkled cinnamon and chocolate.'Maddy, where did you buy all of this stuff?''I took the car into town, and found an amazing French patisserie', Maddy says, the sugar making her excited.'Did anyone see you?' River says.'It was busy this morning, yeah', Maddy says.'That's not what I meant', River says.'Your face is all over the news at the moment.You know someone has put a ransom demand in for you?''No-one saw me', Maddy says.'The woman in the cake shop thought I was her friends teacher, but she didn't figure out who I really was.I had the wig on and I was careful.I didn't draw any unnecessary attention to myself if that's what you mean.''Apart from buying ten cakes', River says.'I've never had cakes before', Maddy says.'You'd have bought ten as well if you'd never had them before.''We should eat this and leave', River says.'Just in case.''Ok', Maddy says.'Can you untie me now, I'm kind of hungry?' River says.'There are things I want to do today', Maddy says.'What kind of things?' River says, looking at her suspiciously.'I had fun yesterday', Maddy says.'I took you hostage.I put your life in danger.I made you change your clothes and do things that you didn't want to do.How is that fun?''The kidnapping wasn't necessarily the part I was referring to', Maddy says, delicately licking the seeped out jelly from around the outside of a donut.'But even that, I have to admit, was a little exciting on reflection.And as for the rest, you woke me up from myself.I've been fussy uptight Madeleine for too long.I want to be fun exciting, who gives a fuck Maddy.I'm sick of following rules, trying to be perfect and never having any fun.I've been one way for so long I got to a point where I thought I'd never be able to change, but now I know I can, and I want to, and I have you to thank for that.Whatever I was doing before wasn't working.It isolated me from everyone else and only succeeded in making me miserable.Even my own parents thought I was a dick, and they were probably right.I don't want to be miserable anymore.Life's too short to be miserable.Life's too short not to eat cakes and dance [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]