area near a large lake. Big homes near a big body of water were surrounded by plenty of undeveloped land, woods mostly.
It was easy for native San Franciscans, much like native New Yorkers, to slip into a kind of provincial view of the rest of the country. And while the great Midwest was merely flyover for many, as Lang knew from having lived there, there were millions, many of them rich and powerful, who called it home. The Vanderveers cast a pretty big shadow in the larger Grand Rapids area, but they wouldnât be slouches in the Bay Area, either.
Big shot or not, Mr. Vanderveerâs position on the ladder of success and his unwillingness to do what Lang said, didnât prevent the PI from calling his client to find out why, according to Brinkmanâs second call of the day, the senior Vanderveer had gone to the financial district with bags of money and returned without them.
âI donât know why you are spending so much time following me,â Vanderveer said. âYou were engaged to find my son.â
âThatâs what Iâm trying to do. But you are acting like Iâm on their side.â
âThe blackmailers left a note that they no longer want to be paid in cash. They want bearer bonds.â
âAnd you thought this wasnât important enough to tell me?â
âI was going to. But weâre waiting further instructions. I thought I might as well wait until then. What difference does it make how I pay them? All theyâre doing now is making me dance.â
âBig difference. Itâs kind of hard to carry a couple of bags of money on a plane, right? How the hell did you get so wealthy? From now on, tell me everything, right away,â Lang said, not suppressing his disapproval. âWhat else?â
âWait. Just wait for further instructions. They said it was getting close. Why are they playing this game?â
âMaybe to frustrate you.â
âThey are succeeding.â
âSeems so. I need to see the note.â
âAll right. But I doubt if it will help.â
 * * *Â
âAnnouncing the presence of Inspectors Rose and Stern,â Thanh said, standing in the door to Langâs office, wearing what appeared to be some version of a toreador outfit. Lang was behind his desk. Lang stood as the two inspectors came in, smiling at the preposterous formality.
Lang gestured to the slightly ripped green Naugahyde sofa.
âHonored, Iâm sure,â Rose said, sitting and sinking into the pillows.
âMe too,â Stern said, a smile on his face.
The smile made Lang nervous. What had happened? Had Stern gone to a therapist? Maybe he was on happy pills. Or was this merely a tactic now that he knew Lang wouldnât think twice about killing him? Maybe the smile was pure sarcasm.
âSo now we all know that Vanderveer is here, right?â Stern asked, taking a moment to glance at everyone.
âLook around,â Lang said, letting one arm sweep the office.
âIn the city, Mr. Lang,â Stern said, surprisingly patient.
Lang nodded.
âWhere exactly is he?â
âNot yet,â Lang said.
âHas he been contacted by the kidnappers?â Rose asked.
âYes,â Lang said. âHeâs been asked to provide a vast amount of cash in exchange for the boy. And in the interim, the kidnappers have asked Vanderveer to exchange the unwieldy bulk of cash into bearer bonds.â
âHmmm,â Stern said. âInexperienced, not thought through.â
âMaybe,â Lang said. âVanderveerâs character suggests that he is used to having his way and having it quickly. The kidnappers may be playing with him. As he put it, âmaking him dance.ââ
âGood point,â Stern said. He seemed like a different person. He even seemed a little more cleaned up. His tie still hung loose around his chubby neck, but his suit was pressed. âYouâre not going to tell us
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