“I have a chopper available, and a hospital bed for her the minute we get her back,” Mike said.

“That’s good thinking.”

“I’ve had some research done on Casselli’s past, by our staff psychologist,” Mike said. “God knows, he’s ruthless, but our man doesn’t think he’ll hurt or kill Hedy.”

“I guess that’s good news.”

“The key seems to be, he’s pragmatic and seems unlikely to act so much from spite as from need, and he doesn’t need to harm her.”

“Makes sense.”

Jim Lugano turned up with some satellite photographs. “Here’s Casselli’s house on the Amalfi Coast,” he said, laying an enlargement on the dining table.

“No outside elevator necessary,” Stone said, pointing at the road to the house. “It’s drivable.”

“No signs of life there, and it’s the only house there owned by Casselli. He could be anywhere, but I would think he’d feel safer in Naples than anywhere else. It’s his home base, and he probably is more likely to have made inroads into the police there.”

“Is there any building in Naples that might jibe with the description of Hedy’s elevator ride?”

Jim got out his phone. “I’ll find out.” He punched in a number. “It’s Lugano. I want a survey of the coast in Naples, to identify a tall building under construction with a temporary elevator, perhaps a condo, hotel, or office building. We have a kidnapping victim who has furnished us with such a description, and it is imperative that we locate her soonest. Got it? Get back to me today.” He hung up. “We’re on it.”

“I’d like to know where Casselli is,” Stone said. “He might visit her.”

“We haven’t had eyes on Casselli since he left Lipp, in Paris.”

“Can you please locate him? It seems to me that would be useful information.”

“You’re right.” Jim got on his phone again and started issuing orders.

“I understand Casselli disposed of two of his closest people, for fear that they might be in touch with the police.”

“Correct.”

“I’d like to know who replaced them in his hierarchy,” Stone said, “and if they’re under surveillance. If Casselli isn’t seeing Hedy himself, then somebody is taking care of her, and I think we should try and find out who that is.”

“I don’t think we have enough information right now to figure that out,” Jim said. “If we could get a cell phone location, it would help.”

“If we got a cell phone location, we would have most of what we need,” Stone replied. “What are your capabilities when dealing with Casselli?” he asked. “What is authorized?”

“You mean, can we kill him?”

“Now that you mention it.”

“That’s a little steep at this stage of the game,” Jim said.

“If we could kill him, he wouldn’t be a problem anymore.”