Goldengirl

‘You’re getting there,’ said Melody. ‘On the flight from Eugene, she was all the time asking for water. If I’d been the stewardess, I’d have chucked the jugful over her. By the time we landed, it was obvious Goldengirl was pretty unwell. She was sweating plenty, and said she felt real weak. Soon as we got to Jefferson College, we put her to bed. Next morning, Bill Serafin checked her, and then told Pete Klugman there could be no training for at least a week. You can imagine Pete’s response. I’ve never seen him so mad. He was laying into Serafin like it was his fault Goldengirl was sick. He said he had three weeks to get her in shape for the Olympics and now it was cut to two, just like that. Serafin had an answer. He said he had ten days to get her ready for the U.S. team medical. If she didn’t pass that, the whole project was ditched.’

‘I don’t see why,’ said Dryden. ‘If she was sick, there would still be time to get over it. It’s not as if she has the plague.’

‘Nobody knows what she has,’ said Melody. ‘Except possibly Bill Serafin. One thing he was adamant about: she wasn’t going to that medical before she was fit again. You know what I think? He’s afraid she strained her heart. They pushed her too hard in the training sessions. He’s terrified it will show on one of those cardiograms.’

‘I am still trying to get the picture of what happened,’ said Dryden. ‘He arranged for her to move into the sanitarium. Was that because her condition deteriorated?’

Melody shook her head. ‘The break in training definitely helped her. After a week at Jefferson College, she was feeling stronger. She’d lost a little weight, but otherwise she was eating well and getting back to normal. Last Monday he gave her another physical and we all thought she would resume training and go to New York Wednesday for the team medical. Instead, he said she needed further tests, and he was moving her into Caradock Lodge. There was a meeting with Sammy Lee and Pete Klugman. I don’t know what was said, but afterward Doc Serafin called me in and told me he was putting out this story that Goldengirl had disappeared. He said it was a way of buying time. When her health was restored, she would reappear and report for a special check by the team doctors.’

‘Crazy,’ said Dryden, shaking his head.

‘You think so? Actually, it’s smart. It gets Goldengirl’s name in the news, and that can’t be bad.’

‘Telling the cops isn’t smart. What happens if they find her? What sort of publicity is that, playing the cops for suckers?’

‘Aw, come on,’ said Melody. ‘Think about it. She’s just one missing nineteen-year-old. She’s been in the news, so they give out press releases, but what can they do in a case like this? They have to take Doc Serafin’s statement on trust, or why would he report her missing? They file her as a missing person and wait to hear something. If it’s a kidnaping, they can expect a ransom note to arrive. It won’t, of course.’

‘They must be making some kind of inquiry.’

‘Naturally, but that’s routine. When they’ve finished checking the leads Doc Serafin gave them, all they can do is sit and wait. One missing girl — even an Olympic hope — isn’t a case for the FBI.’

‘All right,’ said Dryden. ‘It buys a little time. Now tell me how Serafin proposes to explain her reappearance.’

‘He’s got it all worked out, lover boy. He’ll put it out that she was kidnaped and the ransom has been paid by a group of his business friends, who remain anonymous. The kidnapers contacted him direct and threatened to kill Goldengirl if the police got to hear about the deal before it was finalised. It’s neat, because this way she has a good reason for signing commercial contracts after the Games: she wants to repay the people who put up the ransom. Then, if anything should ever break about the consortium, there’s a heartwarming cover story. Like it?’

‘I think I need to get a few things straight with Serafin,’ said Dryden, unimpressed. ‘I’ve teed up $2,000,000 worth of endorsement contracts already. If Goldine isn’t training at all, I’m in deep trouble, whatever stories he cooks up. I need to know just what is going on in Cleveland.’ He upended his glass. ‘Right, Miss Fryer. You’ve joined the agency staff. Here’s your first assignment. Make two flight reservations for Cleveland, for tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Two?’ said Melody. ‘You want me to come?’

‘I want to look inside this sanitarium before I tackle Serafin. It could be helpful to have you with me.’

‘Okay, boss,’ said Melody. ‘But count me out of the face-to-face. I’ve made my exit once. That’s enough. You did say tomorrow afternoon?’

Dryden nodded. ‘I have a busy morning coming up, which is why I’m going back to my hotel now to get some rest.’ He noticed Melody’s eyebrows tilt in surprise. ‘You can leave a message with the desk clerk. Oh, and have a taxi pick us up from our hotels in good time, would you?’