Innocent Girls

by Terence Mitford

  Katerina’s mouth was dry. She fidgeted nervously as she guessed this wasn’t a normal transaction because she had been targeted. Someone had instructed Hugo to take her. They had given him her name and almost certainly the address of her grandmother. She was taken to order and that was more frightening than if she’d just been a random abduction.

  The photographer was only gone for a few minutes before he returned and looked at Hugo.

  Hugo stared back. ‘Well?’

  ‘They didn’t give me a price, just a message for you.’

  ‘What message?’

  ‘They want you to deliver her yourself.’

  Hugo shook his head. ‘That’s not how it works now. For the last year I just take them across the border and hand them over.’

  ‘That’s your normal routine, but they don’t want anything to go wrong with this one. You’re to take her through one of the southern routes. They said they’ll make it worth your while. You’ll get at least double your normal rate.’

  Hugo slowly shook his head. ‘I know the southern routes well. It’s a three day journey. In fact I know all the routes, I worked them a few years back. I stopped because even though many of the borders are open, the more you cross the riskier it is.’

  Anton shoved back his chair and stood up. ‘I’ll take her.’ He looked at Katerina and smirked.

  She shuddered. She had no doubt about what would happen if she had to spend the next three days and nights with Anton. She watched for Hugo’s reaction. He glanced at Anton, then Katerina, then looked at the butler. ‘Okay, he’s your man, I’ll take my money now.’

  The butler shrugged. ‘I don’t have your money, the Albanians always pay you once you cross the Hungarian border. You’ll need to deliver her tomorrow.’ He sighed. ‘But if you insist, I’ll instruct them to pay you there as normal and Anton can take her the rest of the way.’

  Hugo nodded. ‘I insist.’

  Katerina didn’t think it was possible to feel any worse. This agreement meant she only had one more night of protection left, then Hugo would drive her over the border, collect his payment, and leave her with Anton.

  The butler turned to Anton. ‘I need to tell you the brief for this job. This girl is a special order. Stefan has requested her and has already got several clients interested and willing to pay top dollar on one condition. She must be pure and untouched. Do you understand?’

  Anton shifted his attention from the butler to Katerina. ‘Yes, I do.’ He sat back down, lit up another cigarette, and continued to stare at her.

  ‘Good, now lock her away.’

  Katerina jumped. ‘What do you mean, lock me away?’

  The butler ignored her question. Anton put down his cigarette, walked over, and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her out of the room but this time pushed her into a walk-in cupboard and slammed the door, plunging her into complete darkness. She reached out trying to locate the handle. A moment later there was a click outside the door and a dim light illuminated her cell. She spun around and looked at the confined space. It was no more than two metres long by one metre wide and empty apart from a thin mattress and a blanket on the floor.

  She turned back to the door and discovered why she couldn’t find the handle. There wasn’t one.

  She stepped back onto the mattress and slumped down. In a way, it safer in her confinement. At least she was alone. But it left her with nothing to do but think, and all she could think about was being alone with Anton during the journey to England. Would he stick to his agreement not to molest her? Could he be trusted?

  She lay back and stared up at the naked light bulb above her head and tried to guess the time. By now Natasha would be home and must be wondering where she was. She had let her big sister down. If only she had stayed at home and not gone to the lake they would all be together now. Would she ever see her family again?

  10

  NATASHA

  Natasha and Alison sat silently staring through the windows of the car. The purr of the engine ticking over was a reminder they had a choice. They could put the car in gear and leave the area and within a few minutes they could be in a better part of town.

  Alison placed her hand on Natasha’s forearm. ‘I’m starting to think maybe we should have listened to that cop.’

  ‘I have to check that van, do you have a little torch in your bag?’

  ‘Are you sure about this?’

  ‘My sister was taken in a van like that one, yes I’m sure.’

  Alison stared at her for a moment, then got out and went to the boot of the car. The zip of a suitcase opened and closed and when Alison returned to the driving seat she handed Natasha a long, black, aluminium-bodied flashlight. ‘Will this do?’

  Natasha weighed it in her right hand and tapped it against her left palm. ‘Wow, now that’s what I call a torch.’

  ‘It was my ex-husband’s, he was in the military.’

  Natasha glanced at Alison. ‘Ex-husband?’

  ‘Yes, my unfaithful ex-husband.’

  ‘Oh, I see, I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘Don’t be, my life is far less stressful since the divorce.’

  Natasha nodded. ‘In that case, I’m glad to hear it. But do you always travel with a club size flashlight in your suitcase?’

  ‘Of course not… I usually carry it in my handbag.’

  Natasha laughed, then opened her car door. ‘I won’t be a minute.’

  ‘Be careful, Natasha.’

  Natasha hesitated a moment, then got out and headed for the van.

  Two men stood on a corner just thirty metres away and two more loitered in a nearby doorway. She could sense their eyes on her as she crossed the road. She glanced at them briefly before turning her attention back to the van.

  She drew breath as her gaze fell upon the side panel and the square with the arrow. It was identical to the logo on the side of the van by the lake. She walked to the driver’s door and shone the flashlight into the cab. It was empty. She walked to the front of the vehicle and placed a hand on the grill. It was cold. She went to the back of the vehicle and tried the doors. They were locked.

  There were footsteps behind. She turned to see the two men from the doorway walking towards her.

  One of the them pointed to the van. ‘What are you looking for?’

  ‘Is this your van?’

  ‘I asked you what you were looking for?’

  ‘And I asked you if it was your van?’

  The men stopped in front of Natasha, looked at each other and grinned, then the taller of the two said, ‘She’s a pretty one.’

  Natasha looked from one to the other. ‘I’m sorry, but I haven’t got time for this, I need to know who drives this van.’

  ‘Why is it so important to you?’

  ‘I will discuss that with the driver.’

  The taller man winked at his friend. ‘I’m sure he’d be happy to see you,’

  Natasha studied them. Neither matched the man she’d seen near the lake, he was much bigger, but they clearly knew the driver and probably his line of business. ‘Do you work for him?’

  The taller of the two shrugged his shoulders. ‘Maybe.’

  ‘So you must know where I can find him?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘Can you take me to him?’

  He looked at his friend and grinned. ‘Oh yes, we can take you to him.’

  She was taking a risk just talking to these men. If they took her to the driver of the van it would not be because they were being helpful. No doubt, as far as they were concerned, they would be delivering another victim and probably receiving payment in the process. But that’s why she was there, and she had no other leads to go on, so it was a risk she would have to take. And an overwhelming determination to find Katerina far out weighed any concerns for her own safety.

  She stepped forward. ‘Okay, let’s go.’

  The taller of the two men stared at her, eyes wide, mouth ajar. Maybe he couldn’t believe his luck. Deliver her to t
heir organisation that trades in girls and walk away with a few hundred euros. Easy money.

  The two men stepped apart and motioned for her to walk in the middle. Natasha complied and as they walked towards the nearest doorway she glanced over to Alison, held up two fingers, and mimed, ‘Two-minutes.’

  Alison opened her car door, stood up, and beckoned Natasha to her. ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘It’s okay Alison. Lock your doors and wait there, I won’t be long.’

  Natasha turned and walked through the open doorway into the building’s stairwell.

  The tall man pointed up the stairs. ‘Top floor.’

  Without hesitating, Natasha went ahead, her heart pounding, adrenaline flowing, but her mind made up. It was her fault that her beautiful twelve-year-old sister was in the hands of ruthless traffickers, men without compassion or mercy, motivated only by greed. It was her reckless decision to travel to London to meet people she didn’t know that kick-started this chain of events. She was responsible, so she would have to fix it. No matter what the cost.

  When the three of them reached the fifth floor the two men were breathing hard. But the four flights of stairs had little effect upon Natasha. She was in fight or flight mode. And right now fight was the most likely outcome.

  They led her down the hallway and into an apartment that was nothing like her grandmother’s apartment. By the door there was a small bathroom next to a small bedroom, and then a sitting room with an integrated kitchen comprising of a filthy encrusted stove, a small worktop above a couple of cupboards, and a sink overflowing with used fast food packaging, empty cans, and half eaten food. The floor was littered with rubbish, the walls were dirty, and the two dark blue sofas were threadbare.

  Stretched out on one of the sofas was a man, mid thirties, unshaven, unwashed, as were his grey trousers and white vest, and the soles of his bare feet were black.

  Natasha stood in the middle of the room with her escort on each side. The taller of the two did the talking. ‘Look what we brought you, boss. She was looking for the driver of the van.’

  She raised an eyebrow and almost laughed out loud at hearing this man being called boss. She doubted he would be in charge of anyone other than a few undesirables in this neighbourhood, including the two stood next to her.

  The boss swung his legs around, planted his dirty feet on the floor, and sat up. ‘Nice of you to drop in, what can I do for you.’

  ‘Is that your blue van outside?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  Natasha tutted to herself. Doesn’t anyone around here answer questions with a simple yes or no? She studied the boss and then glanced at the men standing beside her. None matched the build of the man she’d seen by the lake.

  ‘Who else uses it?’

  The boss shrugged. ‘Just me.’

  ‘Do you ever lend it out?’

  ‘Why all the questions?’

  ‘I need to know. It’s important. It’s a matter of life and death.’

  The boss studied her in silence, then nodded. ‘Someone close to you?’

  ‘My sister, she’s only twelve.’

  He nodded again. ‘I see.’

  ‘Do you know anything about it?’

  He looked up at her through squinted eyes. ‘If I did, why should I tell you? What’s in it for me?’

  ‘You’d be helping me. You’d be doing a good thing.’

  He stared at her for a moment, then roared with laughter. ‘I’d be helping you?’ He stopped laughing and looked her up and down.

  She followed his gaze and looked down at her chest. Her close-fitting black cotton top was unbuttoned showing just a hint of cleavage. Although there was little on show she brought her hands up to fasten another button.

  He waved a finger at her. ‘No, no, leave it alone.’

  Natasha froze, then lowered her hands. She didn’t want to anger him just yet. She needed information, so if letting him stare at her kept him onside, it would be worth it.

  He continued to study her as he rubbed his chin. ‘I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll help you if you help me.’

  Natasha asked the question she already knew the answer to. ‘How can I help you?’

  He shuffled himself up on the sofa and placed his hands together on his lap, interlocking his fingers. His sickly grin spoke volumes. ‘Why don’t you brighten up my day and show me something?’

  She shook her head. ‘Please, just tell me what you know.’

  ‘Patience, girl, all in good time. Nothing is free in this world and certainly not here.’

  ‘I have some money in the car. You can have it all if you just tell me where my sister is.’

  He reached over to a tin on a small table next to the sofa, opened the lid, and pulled out a fistful of cash. ‘I have all the money I need right now. What else have you got?’

  Natasha patted the pockets of her jeans. ‘I don’t have anything else.’

  ‘Oh yes you do. It looks to me like you have a very nice body. You could start by showing me your breasts.’

  She shook her head again. ‘Maybe you don’t know anything.’

  ‘I have all the information you need.’

  ‘Prove it.’

  ‘If I do, do we have a deal?’

  ‘You’ll have to prove it before I answer that.’

  There was a long silence before he spoke. ‘Is your name Natasha?’

  Her heart missed a beat. ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘So your sister must be Katerina?’

  Natasha just stared at him.

  ‘Lost for words?’

  ‘Please, what do you know about my sister?’

  ‘I’ve told you, first you have to show me something.’

  Natasha’s mind raced. This was not the man she saw by the lake but he’s connected in some way, so maybe he did have the information she needed.

  He grinned at her and the men either side sniggered. She studied him, trying to plan a way forward. There was no easy solution to this, but her choice was simple. Give him what he wants or leave, though it was clear that if she chose the latter she may have to fight her way out.

  Since her sister’s abduction, she had a burning anger inside and a hatred for men like these, but she wasn’t stupid. The odds were not in her favour. She needed his information and she needed a plan, and right now she had neither. But even if she cooperated there was no guarantee he would keep his word. If she displayed herself for him he may simply refuse to tell her what he knew.

  ‘If I do what you ask how do I know you will keep your word?’

  ‘You don’t, but what choice have you got? If you ever want to find your sister you are going to have to take a risk.’

  She glanced at the guys each side of her. ‘Tell them to leave.’

  The taller of the two turned towards her. ‘We brought you here, we deserve something for our trouble.’

  She had to think fast. What the hell am I doing? Can I really show this disgusting man my body? Will he keep his word if I do? But what if I don’t? He’s not about to tell me anything for free, and if I leave, I’ll be letting Katerina down. I may never see her again. What choice do I have?

  He settled back on the sofa, his face covered in self-assured arrogance, confident that he had her just where he wanted her and that she couldn’t leave without his information.

  He shrugged. ‘Maybe I could help you decide.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Look around you, this is my domain, what I say goes. What is there to stop me taking what I want and throwing you out of that window when I’m done with you?’

  Natasha tightened her grip on the flashlight and brought it up in front of her stomach. ‘What is there to stop me cracking your skull open with this?’

  It was an instinctive response to his arrogance. She hadn’t stopped to think about any possible consequences.

  The boss studied her for a moment, then nodded. ‘You’ve got guts, girl, I will give you that. You come in here on your own and threaten m
e with just that flashlight as backup.’

  The tall guy shuffled from one foot to the other. ‘Shall I strip her for you boss?’

  The boss’s eyes glinted with excitement. ‘Give her a minute to make up her mind.’ He looked back at Natasha. ‘It’s up to you, girl. We can keep this friendly and we’ll both get what we want, or I can hand you over to my boys. What’s it to be?’

  Natasha weighed up her chances. She had a weapon and enough hate and rage inside to make a fight of it. But she didn’t like her odds. Had it just been about her, the decision would be easy. She would smash the torch into their faces with every bit of strength she possessed. She would bite, scratch, and gouge to the end. But it wasn’t just about her, it was about Katerina. If there was any chance of getting the information she needed and leaving there in one piece, she had to try.

  ‘Okay, you win.’

  The conceited smirk on the boss’s face gave way to a full-blown grin. ‘Put down the flashlight and take off your shirt.’

  She took a step forward and placed the torch on the table, then stepped back and slowly pulled her top up over her breasts.

  The boss motioned to her. ‘All the way.’

  She sighed and pulled the shirt up over her head, held out her arm, and dropped it on the table next to the torch, fully aware that he was almost certainly intending to do more than just look at her. But it was a risk she had to take.

  He pointed to her bra. ‘Take it off.’

  She had a sick feeling of déjà vu. This reminded her of the house in London when Stefan had forced her to strip before he and three of his men used her for their entertainment. Nothing could ever be worse than what she suffered that day. So if all this guy wants is to drool over her body, she could handle that.

  11

  NATASHA

  Natasha reached behind and unclipped her bra then dropped it on top of her shirt. She held eye contact with the man on the sofa as she lowered her arms to her sides.

  His eyes widened as he leered at her breasts, then he pointed to her jeans.