Ransom vs money

Please   Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:12 pm GMT
"So they'll hold him for ransom, and not just money," another agent said.
Huh?
Leasnam   Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:26 pm GMT
"ransom" can also mean exception from punishment, so they might be holding him to guarantee immunity/acquittal rather than for monetary gain
Leasnam   Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:18 pm GMT
<<exception from punishment>>

I meant to say "exemption"
Another Guest   Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:00 am GMT
"Ransom" can mean anything requested in exchange for something or someone being returned. Ransom can be money, or, as Leasnam says, protection from prosecution. It can be information, a service, food, or anything at all. If you read the story carefully, you can probably figure out what it means.