Mason straightened his face.
‘That bad?’
‘It wasn’t, until she found out I was coming here.’
‘Does she know about us… you know, what we did?’
Mason nodded.
‘Did you tell her?’
‘I had to. If we were going to sort things out, there could be no secrets. I had to be honest.’
‘Not everyone would agree with you, but I do. You are right, a marriage needs trust.’
‘Mine needs a miracle right now. Kathy told me that if I get involved again, our marriage is over.’
‘She’s probably just angry, and a little hurt to find out what we did. But you told me she was having an affair with a colleague. Did she admit it?’
‘Yes, she did.’
‘Then I’m sure she will realise that what she did was worse than a one off. I think she’ll cool off and see that.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on it. When Kathy makes her mind up there’s no changing it. But I’ll deal with that when I get home. In the meantime we have to get your sister back.’
‘Yes, and the sooner we do that the sooner you can get home to her.’
Mason stared ahead and said nothing.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I won’t be going straight home.’
‘Why?’
He took the photo of ten-year-old Jessica from his pocket and handed it to her. Natasha looked at it and then at him as if waiting for an explanation.
‘Remember when I told you on the phone that I’d heard of the Kestrati organisation earlier today?’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s why’—he pointed to Jessica’s photo—‘her parents wanted to hire me to find her. The Kestrati took her to get her husband to comply.’
‘With what?’
Mason went on to explain the conversation he’d had with Angela and Derek Chambers, and showed her the fifty-thousand he had been given for expenses and to buy information if necessary.
Natasha listened, then nodded. ‘That makes me feel better for not leaving the scum at the safe-houses alive. I had thought my twelve year old sister was an exception, taken to get back at me for escaping, but if this organisation is taking ten-year-olds as well, they are even sicker than I thought, and I’m glad I killed some of them.’
‘Amen to that, and you’re certainly doing your bit for population control.’
Natasha started the car and as she turned to reverse out of the parking space, she gasped. ‘What the hell?’
Mason spun around to see two police cars screech to a halt and several officers jump out with guns drawn.
Natasha slapped the steering wheel. ‘It looks like they have found the bodies.’
‘Don’t say anything until we know.’
They were ordered out of the car with their hands raised. Natasha pulled the maps from her pocket and pushed them under her seat, then opened her door.
Mason grabbed her arm. ‘Move slowly, if this is connected to the dead traffickers or officers, the police are going to be jumpy. Don’t give them any excuse to pull those triggers.’
Natasha nodded and stepped out. Mason did the same.
Their arrests were quick and efficient. At gun point, they were handcuffed, patted down, and placed into separate police cars. The arresting officer had spoken in English and when Mason heard the reason for their detention he breathed a sigh of relief: theft of the hire car.
After being booked in they were separated and placed in cells awaiting interview. Mason told them to check the flight information and they would see he had just arrived in the country. He wasn’t sure what was going on with regard to the hire car but he needed to get out of there if he was going to find Katerina and Jessica. Within the hour he was released after a passport check verified he had just arrived from England.
Mason waited in the police foyer and eventually an officer informed him that it was a technical theft because the car had been rented for just twenty-four hours. When they failed to return the vehicle, and failed to call to extend the contract, the company reported the vehicle stolen as per their policy. An officer told Mason that Natasha had been released without charge regarding the theft, but was required to provide a statement about the death of the man at the abandoned apartment block near Arad. They made no mention of the carnage at the safe-house in Hungary or the warehouse in Munich.
Mason took the opportunity to take a taxi back to the airport and to the office of the same hire car company where he paid for another three days of hire. When he returned to the police station with the relevant paperwork he was given the car keys by one of the arresting officers. He sat down to wait for Natasha and thought about how out of balance law enforcement was. They must have been arrested within a few hours of the vehicle being reported stolen, yet human traffickers seem to operate with virtual impunity.
But being an ex-cop he understood how the imbalance occured. As soon as a car is reported stolen its registration number is added to a data base and is flagged when the vehicle passes an automatic number plate recognition camera. The system then alerts the police who can close in and make arrests. It’s just a shame the traffickers don’t have numbers tattooed across their foreheads.
26
NATASHA
When Natasha had got out of the car to face several police officers with guns drawn, she had thought the consequences of her actions over the last two days had caught up with her.
Had they found the bodies she had left behind? Had they somehow linked them to her or the hire car? Maybe someone had heard the gunshots and recorded her registration number as she drove away. If so, she would be detained for days, weeks, months, or longer, and that would be disastrous for her search for Katerina.
At the police station she had to explain Alison’s absence which meant she had to explain the events that had resulted in Alison being injured and admitted to hospital. She was glad that in relation to this scene she could tell the truth. She had killed the man there in self defence after he had stabbed Alison. She waited for questions relating to the other bloody scenes, but they didn’t come.
She knew from the police activity at the second safe-house in Hungary that the two Hungarian officers had been found, but apparently they hadn’t connected them to her or the death at the safe-house in Arad, that’s if they knew about that one. Then she relaxed. Why should they? They were in different countries, and if they knew about the death in Arad, maybe they were not too efficient at exchanging information between foreign police forces. It was unlikely the authorities in Munich were aware of the two dead traffickers in the warehouse. Because the Kestrati would not draw unnecessary attention to their operation by calling in the police. They would have cleaned up the scene themselves.
She told them how she had received information back in Bucharest that her sister was being trafficked through Europe and that she had been given the apartment’s address and told it was a safe-house. One of the officers left to liaise with the Romanian police and must have been informed of their own suspicions regarding a trafficking gang operating from the abandoned apartments. Because when he returned, his tone was more sympathetic and he terminated the interview shortly afterwards.
She did not offer up the maps or tell them about her encounters with more gang members, and she prayed they would not search the hire car, because if they did, she would be going nowhere. Not only did the maps pinpoint the safe-house where the dead officers were found, but the two pistols under the seat would directly link her to the scene.
After a short time in a holding cell she was taken back to the interview room and asked for a full statement relating to the man she had stabbed in apartment 205. She tried hard to remain sorrowful and act as if it had been the first traumatic incident she had been involved in, when in reality, she was becoming a hardened executioner of men who trade in girls.
When she left the secure area of the police station and walked into the front waiting room she was glad to see Mason waiting for her. After
a brief hug they quickly made their way to the hire car. No point in hanging around any longer than necessary.
As Natasha drove them away from the police station Mason told her the hire car was booked for another three days so they didn’t need to worry about a repeat police ambush, at least not in relation to the car.
Natasha reached under her seat and recovered the maps, then handed them to Mason. ‘I got to Brussels a little early, so I’ve already located the last safe-house which I suspect is where they hold the auctions. It’s on the outskirts of the city, and from the look of the building with a high wall around it, I’m guessing it’s an old psychiatric hospital.’
Mason studied the map. ‘Let’s go and find out.’
For the first time since her sister was taken Natasha felt confident she would find her. The comments she had made the previous day to the Bucharest detective about finding Katerina and the scum who took her were made more out of anger than belief. She had been lucky so far in her encounters with the traffickers but had suspected that, sooner or later, her luck would run out, and after viewing the hospital type building set behind a high wall, she knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to rescue her sister alone. But with Mason Cooper by her side she was now ready for whatever lay ahead.
27
MASON
As they approached the isolated building on the outskirts of Brussels, Mason asked Natasha to pull over. He scanned the wall and sighed. ‘Hell, it must be fifteen feet high.’
Large black wooden gates were closed restricting the view inside the perimeter. The building was austere, built from dark grey bricks and flat uniform windows with two floors visible above the wall, meaning it was at least three storeys high and may even have a basement. There were two gable ends visible which meant the building was probably two long oblongs with one or more cross sections joining them together. Whatever it was, it was substantial.
Mason shuffled in his seat and glanced around. The approach road cut through a forest on each side. They were about a quarter of a mile from the main road and although he couldn’t see anyone around, they needed somewhere to hide the car so they could explore the perimeter on foot.
He pointed over Natasha’s shoulder. ‘Reverse up and pull onto that track between the trees.’
Natasha did as he said, drove about fifty meters down the track and stopped. Then gasped.
Mason glanced across at her. She was staring into her rear view mirror, eyes wide, mouth open. He spun around and looked through the rear window. A blue van had followed them down the track from the access road and had stopped twenty meters behind them.
Natasha grabbed his arm. ‘Oh my god, they are behind us.’
‘Relax, we don’t know who they are.’
‘It’s them, I know it is. They transport the girls in blue vans just like that one.’
‘Okay, let me do the talking.’ He opened his door.
‘Wait.’ Natasha reached under her seat, pulled out a pistol, and handed it to him.
He lifted his shirt and tucked it into his waistband, then got out to face the two men who were approaching on foot from the van. ‘Hello, I think we’re lost,’ Mason said.
Natasha remained in the driver’s seat.
Both men were dressed similar in hip length, black leather jackets and black trousers. As Mason spoke, the scowl on the nearest man’s face lifted. ‘Oh, you are English?’
Mason nodded.
The man walked to the car, bent down, and as he studied Natasha, a look of realisation crossed his face as if he was expecting them. He stood up and spoke to Mason. ‘Are you here for the collection?’
Natasha got out and walked around the car to stand next to Mason.
Mason hesitated before replying. He would have to think fast and respond appropriately. The men must think they had come to collect a girl.
He nodded. ‘Yes, how did you know?’
‘You are off the main road, it’s the early hours of the morning, and we were told to expect an English man and woman from the medical facility, but you are early. We were not expecting you until at least eight this morning.’
Natasha gripped Mason’s arm and he knew why. He felt the same sense of horror at the mention of the medical facility and remembered what Natasha had told him about the black auction. If these men thought they were from a medical facility they might think they were there to retrieve human organs.
It took all of his will power not to pull out his gun and shoot them dead right there and then.
The man motioned towards the blue van. ‘Take a seat in our vehicle while I let our security know you are here.’
They got into the van through the side door and sat in the seats behind the front row. But this was too easy. Considering the criminal outfit they were dealing with Mason expected more caution on the part of these men.
He waited for the guy to make a call. But instead, the men stood by the open side door of the van and the one doing the talking pulled out a revolver and pointed it at them. ‘Before I call ahead, you need to pass security.’
Mason’s heart skipped a beat. Adrenalin started to flow. ‘What do you need to know?’
‘What exactly is the purpose of your visit?’
Mason paused while he put himself in the mindset of a corrupt medical official who was intending to carry out or facilitate a highly illegal procedure. What would such an individual say under these circumstances? They would no doubt be cautious about disclosing their plans. ‘How do I know I can trust you?’
‘You don’t, but I’m the one with a gun pointed at your head, so your priority right now should be to answer my questions.’
‘How do I know you are not undercover police waiting for us to arrive?’
The man thought for a moment, then he glanced at Natasha before looking back at Mason. ‘Okay, we can prove we are not undercover police. Your assistant is very pretty, I’ll let my friend here strip her and fuck her in front of you. That should convince you we are not police.’
His friend stepped closer and grinned at Natasha. Then he pulled out a pistol and pointed it at her. ‘Get out.’
The first man maintained his aim at Mason and repeated his friend’s demand. ‘You heard him, get out. Both of you.’ He looked at Mason. ‘And if you try anything, she dies first.’
Mason hesitated, weighing up his options, neither of which seemed particularly good. Make a move on the men risking both their lives, or comply with their order.
For the time being he chose the latter and stepped out of the van. Natasha followed. While the first man pointed his gun at Mason’s chest, the second pulled Natasha towards the front of the vehicle, then stepped back and ordered her to undress.
Natasha glared at him. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Have you thought about what your boss will say when he finds out?’
‘If you are not who you claim to be he will pat me on the back.’
‘And if we are who we say we are?’
‘Then you will tell us exactly why you are here. So you have just five-seconds to decide. Either tell us, or strip, your choice.’
Natasha glanced at Mason. He had to do something, but what? Using force would be tricky. The men were too far apart. He had no choice but to answer their question and make a calculated guess what the answer should be. But before he could respond, the second man stepped up to Natasha and placed the barrel of his gun against her forehead.
‘Time’s up sexy, take off your clothes or I’ll blow a hole in that pretty little head of yours.’
Mason drew a breath. The first man’s revolver was only a foot in front of him. He could grab it and ram it down this guy’s throat before he knew what had hit him, and he would enjoy every second of it. But could he blow the second man away before he shot Natasha? And even if he could, it would not get them into the facility.
So he dismissed the violent option and instead thought about what his reaction would be if he was
who they thought he was. ‘Okay, I believe you. As far as I’m aware undercover cops don’t threaten to rape women. So I’ll tell you why we are here.’
The men relaxed their shoulders but continued to point their weapons at them.
Mason shrugged. ‘We are here to collect organs.’
The first man nodded. ‘Who from?’
‘Girls.’
The man nodded again. ‘The organs, where are they going?’
Mason slowly shook his head. ‘I can’t tell you. My clients are strictly confidential. You should know that.’ Mason wasn’t sure if the guy would accept this answer, but he had to gamble. This guy’s response would dictate whether the stand-off would end in bloodshed or not.
The guy nodded. ‘Just one more question. Why drive down this track? Why didn’t you drive up to the gates?’
‘That’s two questions.’
The man glared at him.
‘Relax, as you said yourself, we are early. I thought we’d wait down here for a while.’ Mason deliberately let them see his gaze wonder over to Natasha.
The man glanced at Natasha, then nodded and winked at Mason as he tucked his pistol back into the holster inside his jacket. ‘Okay, you have passed level one security, go back to your car and follow us in.’
‘What’s level two?’
‘Body search. Don’t worry, as long as you are not packing, you’ll be fine.’
The second man spoke through gritted teeth, ‘I was looking forward to seeing her naked. Why don’t I strip her anyway?’
The first man shrugged. ‘Go ahead, but she was right.’
‘What about?’
‘Now we know they are who we were expecting, what do you think Gustav will do if you jeopardise the operation? Do you know how much those girls’ organs are worth to Gustav?’
The second man shook his head.
‘More than us, so keep it in your pants if you value it.’
The second man thought for a moment, then shrugged and got into the passenger seat of the van.
Innocent Girls Page 16
