Wherever here was, it was no better than the last place. If anything, it was worse.
Nita cried out and pulled back towards the door.
She hadn’t even noticed the man locking it as they entered.
She opened her mouth to scream but gasped as he suddenly pulled her close and clamped a hand over her mouth.
‘Shhh, it’s time to play,’ he whispered in her ear.
Nita whimpered, the shaking stopping momentarily as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She struggled against his hold, but she was weak from lack of food. There was no chance of her escaping his grasp.
He manoeuvred her towards a metal framed cage that lay in the corner and she felt the hot tears start to fall down her cheeks. What is going on? What does he want?
She tried to stop him pushing her through the cage door, but he roughly rammed her through the door. Nita cried out in pain as her arm caught on the side, but he ignored her and slammed the door shut with her inside.
Shaking the cage door, she screamed, her tears running freely down her face. He had turned away, but hearing her shaking the cage, he faced her once more. He was angry, and Nita was afraid. She backed away from the cage door and stopped when her back hit the rear frame.
She watched as he lowered a flap on the cage and pushed a couple of sandwiches and bottles of water inside. They would satiate her, but they wouldn’t even touch the hunger she knew wasn’t for food. Deciding to change her tactics, she approached the door more calmly.
‘Pakiusap po,’ said Nita, trying to show the man a shaky smile. It meant please. Please anything. Please let me out, please give me a needle, please don’t hurt me, just please.
But he didn’t understand.
Ryhope, Sunderland – 4 November
He hadn’t understood the mutterings from her mouth, but he knew the meaning. She was begging. Pleading with him in her own language not to hurt her. For a moment, he felt compassion. He knew how she felt, she was trapped. She couldn’t get out. She was scared. But his compassion faded. The only way for her to deal with the pain life would throw at her was to learn now.
And he was the one to teach her. He had to be.
He picked up the large, wrapped piece of polythene from the corner of the room, adjusting to accommodate the weight of the dead girl now in his arms. He grunted as her arm slipped free of the polythene wrapping, and hearing a loud gasp from the cage, he knew the latest girl had seen.
Oh well, by the time I’m through she’ll be able to cope with anything. She’ll get through life and never have to worry about anything. Not like me.
He lugged the heavy wrap out to his car and shoved her into the boot.
It was too early yet. If he left now, he would be seen. And he didn’t have time today to travel to the place he normally placed his girls.
He could go later – no one would see. But he didn’t think he would be able to. He had a new girl to look after now.
Suddenly he realised he knew just the place for this girl. Humming to himself, he turned and went back into the house. It was time for supper.
Chapter Nine
Outskirts of Hetton-le-Hole – 5 November
E lvie heard a noise outside the car and stilled, holding her breath in case someone opened the car door. She was bitterly cold, the thin blanket doing little to warm her up, and she was shivering so hard she thought her teeth were coming loose. It hurt to breathe, so she inhaled in short bursts in an effort to ease the pain in her chest.
It felt like she’d been hiding in the footwell of the car for days. She’d fallen asleep at one point, her body doing what it could to help her escape the confines of the cold car, but her dreams had been filled with monsters.
The night had turned to early morning, and still she hadn’t moved, not daring to even lift her head.
Danny had told her to hide. She presumed he would come looking for her when it was clear to run.
But so far, he hadn’t.
She wondered whether he was all right and had almost gone to get out of the car on at least four separate occasions, but she was too afraid. She knew what would happen if they found her now.
They would kill her. There was no doubt in her mind.
But she knew she couldn’t stay in the car much longer. As well as the gripping pain she felt, her whole body was going into cramp. She ached in places she didn’t even know she had, and her fingers had turned blue from the cold. Her tongue was swollen in her mouth, reminding her it had been hours since she’d last had a drink, but despite this her aching stomach told her she was desperate for the toilet.
Pushing the blanket off her head, she pulled herself round slightly so she could peer over the bottom lip to the window. Agony ripped through her side and she gasped loudly, then bit her bottom lip trying to silence herself.
Someone might hear.
Peeking out of the window, the compound appeared to be in complete silence. There was no one milling around, no sign of anything except the lonely rabbit that hopped across the grass to her right. Turning, she glanced out of the other side and realised there really was no one around.
Where is Danny? Why hasn’t he come?
She knew he wouldn’t betray her, if he was going to he would’ve told the woman where she was hiding, but Elvie wondered where he was. He hadn’t owed her anything, but he had helped her now on two occasions, and she trusted him.
Deciding she really couldn’t stay in the car any longer, Elvie reached for the door handle. The sound of the latch opening was as loud as a gunshot to her mind, and she paused, stricken with terror that someone might have heard.
But there were no shouts, no one came running.
She pushed the door open and climbed out of the car, her left arm holding her sore ribs as she leant into the sharpness. It seemed to help a little, and the searing pain eased to an ache that spread around her side.
Outside of the car was just as cold, and she felt her teeth start to chatter as she glanced around. Grabbing the blanket off the back seat, she wrapped it round herself. She had no idea which way to go, but instinctively drew back from the house and its large hedge and made her way down the garden to the fence at the rear.
The garden backed onto fields and trees, and it was all she could see, but she knew she’d have a better chance of getting away that way than through the house.
She wished she had something warmer on. Noni had told her that the UK was nothing like the Philippines for weather, but she hadn’t really believed anywhere could be quite so bitterly cold.
Climbing the fence, she glanced up at the stars, but they were different from how she’d been taught. Instead, hoping it was the right choice; she picked the brightest star and headed in that direction. She didn’t know it was north – one direction was as good as the next, but at least she could maintain a straight line if she went that way.
Dive Team HQ, South Shields – 5 November
‘Morning, campers. Hope your single rest day didn’t tire you out too much and that you’re all raring to go.’ Sharpie sat at the front of the briefing room and glanced around with a grin. Beside him sat Andy Chapman, the sergeant of Bravo Team. The two teams rarely worked together, and Marlo wondered what it was for.
Glancing at her own team, she noticed Doc looking a little green around the gills. He’d obviously had a good day off and was suffering now. Grinning, she turned her attention back to Sharpie.
‘…be a long set. The next five days will be filled with our favourite people.’ His smile was sarcastic. ‘Providing we don’t get called out we have six, yes six different groups coming through our doors for a chat and wander around this inspiring facility. Of these six groups, four are kids aged between eleven and sixteen, our absolute favourite age group. One is a writer wanting an inside look into the dive team, and the final group is the management team who are coming to see where they can shaft us financially. It’ll be fun-filled people, trust me, and no doubt by the end of just today we’ll all be longing for rest days. B
ut crack on we shall. We will all be pitching in with the tours, no excuses. Doc, you’re handling the group today from Thornhill Comprehensive. The writer is due in at 2 p.m. and she’ll be with me.’
Marlo saw Doc drop his head to the desktop and groan loudly before mumbling, ‘Aw come on Sharpie, the little shits will eat me alive. I’m under the weather today, can’t Mac do it?’
She tried to hide her smirk as Mac thumped Doc on the arm, but she knew Sharpie had seen it: he was on top form today.
‘Marlo will give you a hand, Doc. There’s no way they’ll eat you alive with her there. Hell, she might just need you to stop her eating them alive. Or at least from grabbing their phones and launching them into the bay, huh, Marlo? Connor, you and Mac are on equipment checks. The 4x4 needs taking over to fleet management at HQ for its MOT at 10 a.m. My astute team may have noticed Bravo Team sitting quietly in the wings. They’re here on a training day, they’ll be using the Delta RIB. Play nice, boys and girl.’
He stood, effectively ending the briefing, but turned back just as everyone started getting to their feet. ‘The kids will be here in an hour; you might wanna get a cuppa first.’ His grin stretched wide and Marlo sighed. Bravo Team filtered out, taking the piss as they headed for the stairs, and Connor and Mac practically ran from the room, obviously raring to get stuck into the equipment checks. The whole team would prefer to chew off their own arms off than entertain a bunch of school kids, but the tours were good for PR and Sharpie rarely refused visitors.
‘Bleurgh,’ muttered Doc, lifting his head from the desk. ‘I think I may actually die. I am never drinking again.’
‘Aye, ’til next time. Come on, old man, let’s get some caffeine down your neck.’
Marlo walked to the door, knowing Doc would follow her to the kitchen.
Sunderland City Police HQ – 5 November
The pile of files on Ali’s desk was finally dwindling to a more manageable level. He had a steaming cup of coffee at his side, and a hot bacon butty had just been placed on the keyboard in front of him.
Any morning that began with rocket fuel and food from heaven was bound to be a good one.
He unfolded the foil, inhaling deeply as his mouth started to water at the smell. There really was nothing quite like it. Grinning like an idiot, he closed his teeth over the bread and bit down, sighing as he tasted the tang of brown sauce under the meaty strips.
‘Crap,’ he muttered, his mouth full as the phone rang on the desk beside him. Glaring at it, he chewed and grabbed the receiver. ‘McKay.’ Listening, he finished the bite and sat back in his chair.
‘Guv, it’s Inspector Monaghan from the control room. The call handler’s still taking the details, but it looks like we have a murder coming in. It’ll be log … 331 when you have a second. As I say, it’s still being updated. The caller’s said the victim is a foreign woman. She’s in the river not far from the big pond at the Washington Water Fowl Park. I’ve got a colleague on with Sergeant Sharp from the dive team. He’s assessing the log. Can I put you down as attending?’
‘Yeah, no problem. Where’s the RV point?’
‘I’ve tagged the car park near the visitor centre. Looking on the mapping at the location, there’s only access to the river either on foot or via a 4x4 vehicle. I’ve got marked units travelling with blues and twos. First on scene will set the cordons.’
‘Thanks, oh, and make sure Sharpie has my mobile number.’
Replacing the receiver, Ali brought up the log on the system. It was pointless leaving until he knew what was happening. He remembered a case when he had not long been qualified as a detective, and a call had come in from a hysterical woman screaming that she’d found a head in a bag. He had raced down to the scene, only to find it was the head off a mannequin. Now he waited.
God only knew when he’d be back in the office, so he picked up his sandwich and took another bite. But it felt like cardboard on his tongue. Silently, he wrapped it back up and dumped it in the bin beside him.
Dive Team HQ, South Shields – 5 November
‘OK guys, the body’s in the river to the rear of a pond in the waterfowl park at Washington. Just like the one at Durham the other day, it’s caught in the debris from the flood in a small weir. Bravo Team has been called off their training to assist down near Tees Barrage in Darlington with a search so this one’s all ours. I want us geared up and on the road asap. Mac, you’re lead diver. Marlo, you’re on standby. Connor, Doc, you’re on the tanks. Let’s go,’ said Sharpie.
Once at the park, they exited the van and Sharpie was pulled aside by Mac. After nodding his head, he motioned Marlo over to listen.
‘Can I swap with Marlo? My chest feels tight today. Don’t know if I’m coming down with something.’
Sharpie glanced at Marlo who nodded her agreement. They both watched as Mac hung his head slightly and went to help Connor with the equipment.
‘He OK?’ asked Marlo.
‘Not sure. He looks pale. Could just be the hangover, like. Him and Doc hit the bottle last night. I’ll keep an eye on him. Go suit up.’
Sharpie made his way over to Ali who was also just walking up the footpath back to the car park.
‘What’ve we got, boss?’
‘Can’t see clearly from the bank. Looks like a female, naked.’
‘Second water recovery in a few days. Gotta love this weather, definitely makes people act nuttier.’
‘Aye, you’re not wrong. You guys ready to go in?’
Sharpie looked back at the 4x4 which was just starting to manoeuvre with the RIB towards the water. ‘Yup. Hope the weather holds out ’til we’re done. Those black clouds don’t look too friendly.’
‘You’re not wrong. The temperature’s dropping too. Winter’s definitely on its way.’
‘God, I hope not! It’s only just November. I’ll let you crack on.’
River Wear, Washington Wild Fowl Park – 5 November
‘Mac, steady off and hold. We’re close enough,’ said Marlo, leaning over the RIB and looking at the female.
She was almost fully immersed; her head face up into the water with her dark hair spread around her like a large feather. She was petite, very young, and the bumps of her ribs were visible just below the water’s rim. Her torso was caught under a thick branch, and it was the tree that held her in place. The girl’s face was bruised, her nose bent at an awkward angle. Her glassy eyes stared up at Marlo.
The girl’s left leg floated on the surface of the water, being buffeted by the flowing river. It was completely bare, the same as the rest of her body. A dirty bandage was wrapped around the ankle, but Marlo could see the bruising at the top.
It didn’t look good.
‘Doubt we can free her from the branches without you going in the water. You ready?’ asked Sharpie from beside her.
Marlo nodded and moved position so she could enter the water. Because the body was on the surface, she didn’t need the air hoses or her breathing gear. Sharpie followed suit, and they both lowered themselves into the brisk cold of the river. They pulled themselves to the body using the tree and pulled her free from its grasp. Working together, they manoeuvred her into the body bag. Marlo pulled her glove off with her teeth so she could get a grip on the zipper and fastened it quickly.
They then swam, dragging the body bag between them, towards the waiting RIB.
Suddenly, it pitched and veered sharply; the hull swinging round and narrowly missing hitting Marlo on the head.
‘What the hell, Mac?’ she yelled. Both she and Sharpie paused in their movement towards the RIB, waiting for one of the team to tell them what the hell had happened.
Connor’s face appeared over the side, ‘It’s Mac, Sharpie, he’s collapsed. Doc’s checking him now.’
‘Can you hold the body?’ Sharpie asked Marlo. She nodded and watched as he swam to the side. Connor pulled him over the edge, and he vanished from view.
Seconds later, Connor jumped into the water beside Marlo. She hear
d Doc shout to the shore from the RIB, ‘Call an ambulance!’
Connor sounded shaky as he spoke, ‘Doc doesn’t know what’s wrong. His pulse is thready, and he’s not breathing right. Sharpie says can we tow the body to the bank.’
It seemed like hours before they made the riverbank, but in reality, it was only a few minutes. The RIB had already arrived, and as eager hands from Ali and Charlie, one of the detectives, pulled the bag up onto the grass, Marlo dragged herself from the water. Ignoring the shooting pains in her fingers from the cold, she looked at Ali. ‘One sec.’
She jogged over to where Sharpie and Doc were leaning over Mac’s inert form.
‘He’s OK,’ said Sharpie, ‘He’s breathing and his hearts still going. Ambulance is en route. We’ll stay with him. Go deal with Ali.’
Marlo nodded, emotion clogging her throat. They were a close-knit team, and when a strong ox like Mac went down, it was harrowing. Pushing it back, though, she turned back to Ali.
‘Sorry, Ali. I had to—’
‘Say no more, I understand.’
Ali’s hand on her arm made her pause momentarily, and she glanced at him. Breaking contact, she knelt beside the body, fiddling with the zip in an attempt to open it. My fingers are bloody freezing. Stupid Kevlar gloves. They should invent thermal gloves for when you’re in the water. Grumbling to herself, she put her fingers to her mouth and blew hard, before rubbing them together vigorously.
‘I’ll get the zip,’ said Ali, kneeling down and opening the top of the bag so the girl’s face was on view. ‘Put your fingers under your armpits, it’s warmer there.’
Marlo glanced at him in surprise. She knew that, but it wasn’t the normal kind of thing a cop would say. Most of them would wait until she’d warmed her hands up to see what was inside the bag. Shrugging slightly, she did as ordered.
‘She’s a kid, Ali,’ said Marlo. ‘No more than about sixteen I’d say. From her bone structure, I’d say she’s Asian. East of here, but not as far as China. Completely naked, bruising to her face and ankle. Looks like burn marks around her mouth too. There’s nothing in the river that would cause those kind of burns. They look chemical.’
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