No Escape (Sinister Minds Quick Reads Book 2)

by D. A. Longman

  She didn’t have to wait long for a response.

  I’m all packed. I’m going to try and get a few hours sleep. Please try and do the same.

  Gemma didn’t think she could sleep. She put her head on the pillow and then she thought. If Marcus was flying out to Lanzarote tomorrow, who would be looking after Mavis, her cat? She was annoyed at herself for not thinking about this sooner. In the grand scheme of things, with having an abducted teenager in her apartment bedroom and her best friend missing, many people would think being concerned about a cat would be trivial. But not Gemma, Mavis was her baby. She loved that cat more than she loved most people, she was appalled she hadn’t thought of her sooner. She had to message Marcus.

  If you are coming to Lanzarote, what about Mavis?

  She waited, hoping that he was still awake, watching for the three dots to show he was typing his reply.

  Don’t worry. All sorted. Next door are going to come in and feed her.

  Gemma felt relief as she watched the three dots again. Marcus was typing.

  I’ve left food and given them a key. Don’t panic. Sleep! Love you!

  Gemma typed her reply.

  Love you too, night xx

  She put the phone on the table, and closed her eyes. She had drifted to sleep, getting the rest that she needed. She was forced from her slumber when she was awoken by Nadia screaming.

  29

  It was surprising Jen that she wasn’t tiring. It was a strange thought to cross her mind, after what had been such an eventful night, but she was actually enjoying the swim. Being in the water always brought a sense of ease to her, a sense of clarity.

  As the lighthouse became closer and closer, Jen could see more of the island. There didn’t seem to be any hotels near the shore. No sign of the usual bars and restaurants that you would normally see on a seafront.

  She began to reach dry land. She tried to put her feet down and she could touch the jagged rocks of the ocean floor. She knew she would need to be careful in her bare feet. She lifted them and swam a little further in, until she was forced to stop. She clambered over the rocks on her hands and knees until she came to a sandy area.

  She stood up. A little dizzy and disoriented after her swim.

  She took a few tentative steps and the dizziness eased. She began walking up the sandy beach. She could see shrubbery and hills through the moonlight. Her eyes were now fully accustomed to the dark. She could see no signs of life, no sign that this island was inhabited. Where had she ended up?

  A wave of panic swept over her. Would her swim be futile? Had she just washed up on the equivalent of a desert island?

  She took a few more steps. Whilst the magnitude of her situation was upon her, she also felt a wave of tiredness sweep over her. But she couldn’t stop now, she had to keep walking.

  Would there be anyone in the lighthouse? If she could make her way up there, there may be a way to get in touch. She thought about how ridiculous it would be. A scared, wet woman in her underwear, unable to speak a word of Spanish. She had to try.

  ...

  Jen reached the lighthouse. It was locked, and it was clear this was not a structure that was lived in. Opposite, across a cemented area was another small structure, more a concrete shed. It was also locked.

  She knew she would have to get some rest. A wall around waist height surrounded the lighthouse area. The floor was hard and solid, but she knew lying next to the wall would provide her with some shelter against the wind. The night was still warm and she was already feeling her skin drying.

  She would wait until morning and then assess her situation. Now was not a time to panic. Now she would try and sleep.

  30

  Gemma rushed to her feet to follow the screams. She opened the door to the bedroom of the apartment. The teenager was asleep, but was agitated in the bed. She thrashed around, mid nightmare.

  Gemma felt a rush of relief, quickly followed by an overwhelming sense of sadness.

  Seeing a pregnant teenager, haunted by her dreams, she imagined how her life had been in the previous six months. How she had become pregnant. How many grubby perverts had forced themselves upon her.

  Was this something that she could ever recover from?

  Gemma knew that the human spirit was strong, and had a desire to overcome adversity. She had seen this through Jen, and to a lesser extent in herself with the cards that life had dealt her.

  She thought of the unborn child, and what would happen to the baby. She thought of her own crushing sadness at being unable to have her own child. Before this holiday she had been discussing with Marcus whether they should consider adoption. With so many unwanted children in the world, they had so much that they could give.

  Gemma wondered if Nadia would want to keep her baby. Would the child serve as comfort after what she had gone through? Or a constant reminder of her abuse.

  Nadia’s writhing calmed down, and her sleep became more peaceful. Gemma closed the door and returned to the sofa.

  Her thoughts returned to Jen and she broke down in tears, unable to hold back her need to bawl any longer.

  31

  “How the fuck has she gone missing?”

  Biscuit was angry as he spoke to Mateo. How did the boss allow this to happen? Why did Mateo not lock Nadia up as soon as they returned to the yacht?

  He felt the anger swell from within him. Biscuit viewed Nadia as being his. He’d had her more than most. He was sure that the baby she was carrying was his. Well, there was a likelihood it could be his child. He was the only man that had shagged her more than once or twice. Nearly daily, in fact. Every day when they were both either in Morocco or both in Lanzarote, he had screwed her.

  What had initially started as a ‘fuck you’ to his former prison inmate had now become more than that. He wouldn’t go as far as to say that he had feelings for her. But he had become obsessive about her, he craved her, he desired her, he’d even go as far as to say he needed her.

  His arousal was increasing the more pregnant she became. As her bump became visible and had started to grow, he couldn’t help but get an erection every time he looked at her. It could have been his seed that had done that. That made him feel powerful, ensured his control.

  Now they had fucking lost her!

  He had to try and find her. God knows what the stupid slut would have done.

  ...

  “Have you seen my daughter?” Biscuit made his way around the bars and restaurants in the marina.

  Of course, he couldn’t say, “Have you seen the child I’ve been raping for the past six months?”

  Masquerading as a doting father who had lost their child was the obvious approach he needed to take.

  It had taken a while for him to scroll through his phone to find a photo that he could show other people. Most of her photos she was naked, where he had posed her, forcing her legs apart, so he could see all of her. Something that he could masturbate to when they were apart.

  He found one, one that could almost pass as a father daughter shot. She was wearing a short skirt and a cropped top and he had his arm around her. He hoped the fear in her eyes would be perceived as teenage anger at having a selfie with ‘Dad’.

  “Have you seen my daughter?” Biscuit held the phone in his hand in front of another couple. “She’s gone missing. We had an argument. She’s pregnant see, and I hate her boyfriend.”

  His lying was sounding convincing.

  The woman, who looked in her sixties, had kind and compassionate eyes.

  “Yes, I saw her earlier.” she replied. “She went running towards the town with a woman.”

  “That way?” Biscuit asked, pointing towards a pathway that headed up to the main road.

  “Yes, that’s it.” The woman shrugged. “Teenagers, I remember when my two were teenagers. Think they know it all at that age. You’ll find her, don’t worry.”

  Biscuit thanked the lady and headed in the direction after Nadia.

  Who was she with? Running
with a woman? Had the woman taken her to the police station for help?

  Biscuit knew a few bent officers in the ‘Policia Local’. A few officers who knew what happened in the Hotel Sirena and kept it quiet in return for a few hundred Euros each week. But if they had gone to the police station, he couldn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t meet a sympathetic ear.

  He reached the main road. A few more restaurants and bars had seating areas outside.

  “Have you seen my daughter? I’m so worried, she’s pregnant,” he said to a couple that were sat outside.

  A group of young men were in a neighbouring bar, and one shouted over.

  “I spotted her. Dirty bitch being pregnant so young!” he laughed, his friends joining in, rowdy and drunk.

  Biscuit walked over towards them.

  “Where did she go?” he asked, ignoring their behaviour.

  “She went up the hill, over there.” another lad replied.

  That was in a different direction to the police station.

  “Thank you,” Biscuit replied, he fought the urge to punch the original man right there and then, but felt relief that Nadia had not gone to the police.

  ...

  He headed up the hill towards the supermarket. There were fewer bars and restaurants here. However, there were many apartment complexes. Maybe one of the reception staff would be able to confirm that Nadia was here.

  He paused outside the supermarket. Should he go in and ask? A man was coming out of the supermarket, armed with a pack of lager cans.

  “Have you seen my daughter?” he asked him.

  “Sorry, mate,” the man answered.

  Biscuit stepped inside. He walked up to the woman on the till.

  “Has this girl come in here tonight?” he asked, showing the woman the photo on his phone.

  The woman shrugged.

  Did she understand? Biscuit spoke slower.

  “Her. In here today?”

  The woman shook her head, “No.”

  Biscuit headed outside frustrated, he knew that Nadia couldn’t be far away.

  He walked into the reception area of the Apartementos Royale.

  “Have you seen this girl?” he asked the man behind the counter.

  “With child, no?” the man replied, as he made a movement of his arms to mimic a pregnant stomach.

  “That’s her!” Biscuit replied. “Is she here?”

  “She came earlier. I not know if she still here.” He said in his broken English.

  “Where did she go?” Biscuit asked.

  The man pointed to the exit that led past reception into towards the pool and apartments.

  “Do you know what apartment she is in?” he asked.

  “No, sorry.” The receptionist replied.

  32

  “Nadia! Nadia!” Biscuit yelled as he walked around the apartment complex.

  “Come out here now, do you hear me?”

  He had been shouting for a good few minutes.

  A muscular man came out of one of the apartments.

  “Will you keep the fucking noise down, mate? My kids are trying to sleep in here!” he said, angrily.

  “I’m trying to find my daughter,” Biscuit replied.

  “How old is she?” the man asked.

  “She’s sixteen and she’s pregnant.” Biscuit replied.

  Another man came out of a neighbouring apartment.

  “What the hell is going on out here?” he asked. He held a bottle of beer in his hand. A woman came from behind him.

  “What’s all this commotion?” she asked. “Some people are trying to have a relaxing holiday.”

  The first muscular man replied, “This bloke’s teenager has wandered off, and he’s shouting his mouth off about it.”

  “Fuck’s sake man,” the second man said. “She’s probably just made some friends, give the girl a break.”

  “She’s pregnant.” Biscuit said again, looking to the woman, hoping that a feminine touch would gain him some sympathy.

  She laughed, “Kid knows how to have a good time then by the sound of it. Give her a break, hey.”

  Biscuit walked away.

  “Nadia! Nadia!”

  The first man strode forward, he overtook Biscuit and stepped into his path.

  “Look, mate, we’re all just trying to enjoy our holiday here. I said my kids are in bed. So either you shut up and fuck off now, or I’ll shut you up. Do you understand?”

  The second man also stepped forward. “Don’t blame the kid escaping you, you’re a fucking twat, mate. Go home, do what the man says, hey?”

  The first man took a step further into Biscuit’s personal space.

  “So, are you going on your own or do I need to help you?”

  Biscuit stepped back, defeated.

  “Alright, alright. I’m going, OK?” he said, avoiding making eye contact with the man.

  “Well, go on then,” the second man added.

  Together they walked with him, until he had left the complex.

  “Fucking psycho.” the second man said to the first.

  Biscuit turned back and looked to see them standing at the entrance to the reception.

  He pulled out his phone and called Mateo.

  “Can’t find her. Nobody has seen her.”

  Biscuit would find another young girl to be his. She wasn’t worth enough to him to get a beating.

  33

  The following morning

  DS Lisa Whitney guided Roberta Jenkins through Bristol airport. She was relieved that the press hadn’t yet discovered that Nadia had been found. The last thing the family needed right now was a media frenzy.

  Lisa knew that the time would come when she would need to do a press conference, but she was hoping that could wait until Nadia had time to re-adjust, or at least be back in the country.

  Roberta looked exhausted, but had a sense of joy at being re-united with her daughter. As Lisa walked with her, she thought about how much the woman had seemed to age since she first met her. Her face had become drawn, her eyes sunk further into her head, and the stress had made her lose a significant amount of weight. Lisa hoped that the woman would be able to return to her previous self in time. Although she also knew that it would be a very long journey.

  Whilst Roberta would be joyful now, the reality and the enormity of Nadia’s life would soon be part of the mother that Roberta would need to become. The significant trauma that her daughter had faced would be likely to put an incredible strain on the family. In due course, Lisa would provide details on family counselling services, but now was not that time. For now, Lisa needed to keep Roberta positive, upbeat, and let her stay in blissful ignorance as to how broken her child was likely to be. Lisa knew that deep down Roberta would know this, the pregnancy for starters was more than a mountain that would need to be faced, coupled with the distress of months of abuse. Lisa hoped that in time, Nadia would begin to put her harrowing past behind her. Yet she also knew that many trafficking victims could never recover from their ordeals, resulting in substance abuse, or even worse, suicide.

  The women had made their way through to the departure lounge, and had chosen a quieter corner to sit and wait for their flight. They had been sat for a few minutes when they were joined by DI Liam Matthews and Beth, a specialist family liaison officer, who had been brought in to support Nadia and Roberta.

  Beth introduced herself.

  “Hi,” she said casually to Roberta, holding out her hand. “I’m Beth, and I am here to support you through this.”

  Roberta shook her hand and nodded.

  Beth sat down next to her. “Let’s have a little chat now on what you should expect. I know the most important thing is for us to get you reunited with Nadia as soon as we can. Rest assured that is my top priority too.”

  Lisa looked and could see Marcus and Troy sat over the other side of the lounge. She knew that the joy that Roberta currently felt was the complete opposite of the emotions that Troy would be dealing with right now.
>
  “Excuse me, one moment,” Lisa said, knowing that she was leaving Roberta in safe hands.

  It hadn’t surprised Lisa that Martin hadn’t come with Roberta. It made sense for him to stay home with Toby and provide a sense of normality, and also allow him to explain about his big sister.

  As Lisa walked over, Marcus made eye contact with her. It was almost a warning look to prepare Lisa for Troy. The look on Marcus’s face told Lisa that they hadn’t heard anything from Jen yet.

  “We will do everything we can to find her,” Lisa said as she reached the men.

  Troy avoided eye contact, he looked broken. She could see tear stains on his cheek. He nodded without truly acknowledging her.

  Lisa took a few steps away, and Marcus placed a hand on Troy’s shoulder.

  “I’ll be back in a minute, mate,” he said, gently. He walked to Lisa, and they stepped further away until Troy was out of earshot.

  Lisa spoke quietly, “How is he holding up?”

  “Not great,” Marcus replied. “I drove him over this morning, I don’t think he was in any state to drive. He’s a mess.”

  “How’s Gemma?” Lisa asked. “Have you spoken to her this morning?”

  “I sent her a message to say that we were in the airport. I didn’t want to wake her by ringing. She’s messaged me back to say that Nadia was still asleep and she hasn’t heard anything from Jen.”

  He paused as if thinking about what to say next.

  “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with them both. I don’t know that I’m strong enough.”

  “I’m here for you, Marcus.” Lisa reassured. “Beth is here for Roberta and Nadia. Liam will help with the search for Jen. He’s already been in touch with the local police. I’ll help you.”

  She smiled before adding, “Jen’s a fighter. Hopefully she’ll be OK.”