“Halva, thank you,” shouted the crowd to their helper as he drove off to attend to his own pitiful life.
Various means of transport eventually conveyed them to the outskirts of Zagreb where, dishevelled and exhausted, they took refuge in a disused railway carriage and sheltered as best they could from the cool of the evening. There they attempted to rest, always anxious, always alert and never totally relaxing.
The couple were approached by a man who offered to obtain documents and passports for them at a hefty price, promising them flights to freedom. In desperation, Nikol handed over a good part of his savings and waited. Days passed. Just as they feared they had lost their savings, the man appeared with paperwork that he assured them would pass scrutiny at any port or border. He took them and other refugees to a safe house where they waited several more days for his return. Amila rested well, with the anxiety sitting on the shoulders of her young husband. At length the man returned, escorted them to the airport and handed them flight tickets to Germany.
“Sorry, my friends, not enough money for your choice of America. It’s the best I can do in these hard times. Good luck to you. I wish I could do more, but these are dangerous times.”
With that, he vanished into the night. Such was the chaos at the airport that harassed officials herded passengers to waiting planes with only a cursory glance at documents.
“Hurry along, people, keep moving.”
Much to the relief of the couple, the plane taxied down the runway and took off, leaving them to adjust to new identities. Nikol studied the new forged passports and smiled.
“Goodbye Nikol and Amila; welcome Kristof and Zelda,” whispered the new Kristof to his smiling wife. For the first time in days, the newly named Kristof slept.
Chapter 15
The new Kristof awoke with a start when the plane touched down in Munich. With other refugees, they were taken to camps where they spent many weeks. Germany had agreed to take a limited number of Bosnians and had almost reached that limit. Kristof, fearful that they could be deported at any time, wanted to leave the camp as soon as possible. He had limited funds hidden in his possessions and with the help of another couple whom they had befriended, left the camp and managed to purchase an old, well-used car that they prayed would last long enough to take them to safety. The four of them headed out of Germany, aiming to reach England.
“That’s the plan, Amila— sorry, Zelda,” he corrected quickly. “If the vehicle lasts that long!”
Their companions, an older couple, Marc and Donata Stojanovic, dreamt of a new life in New York with relatives and were pleased to befriend Kristof and Zelda and share their travel plans. They shared the driving and nursed the old car along, grateful to cross Europe. Donata, a motherly woman, took Zelda under her wing, giving the fragile younger woman a sense of security she had long forgotten. Donata was a jovial, rotund woman, well used to hard work. Her weathered face was etched with pain as she spoke of their losses during the mayhem of war. As the four travellers shared experiences of living through war, they wept, laughed and planned their futures with hope in their hearts with each passing mile.
Marc, a hard-working farmer whose leathered skin was browned by years of working outdoors, showed such strain that he appeared much older than his seventy-two years. His energy, however, was intense. When they were forced to leave their home he attempted to take a goat with them on the bus. Donata laughed at the memory of it, as she shared the story.
“Marc was pushing the goat onto the bus, the driver was pushing it off, passengers clapped and cheered at every attempt they made. It was a rare light-hearted moment!” Her laughter turned to tears as she told how their only son, Stefan, was taken at gunpoint while working in the field with some of the other farm workers, never to be seen again. With heavy heart the couple decided to leave the war-torn country and head for America.
The wrecked old car finally broke down in France, not many miles from Calais. The men pushed it to a safe place, collected their possessions and the four refugees continued on foot until they came across a bus to Calais Port.
“At least we don’t have a goat to wrestle with,” chuckled the incorrigible Donata.
They waited patiently for several hours before embarking on the ferry taking them the twenty-one or so miles across La Manche to England. As they neared Dover, they watched the outline of the White Cliffs emerge into view and sighed with relief that another stage of their long trek was ending.
After disembarking they were led to a large arrival area where overworked staff briefly scrutinized their documents and directed them out of the area where they boarded a coach for central London. Before parting company, Marc gave their companions an address in New York, where they planned to make their home with relatives.
“If you make it to New York, dear friends, be sure to call us,” was the departing comment.
Zelda wept quietly as she waved her friends on their way.
“Such kind people! What would we have done without them?”
In London, Kristof and Zelda, as they now called each other, were exploited by rogue employers and found illegal work in a hotel where they slept in a cold attic room. Pay was minimal, work hours long and exhausting, but they were determined to save for flights to New York, to join thousands of Bosnians who headed there after escaping the genocide.
“We will never be able to afford flights to America at this rate,” sighed Kristof as he counted out their meagre savings. “How can we obtain visas with no savings to back us up and with illegal passports? It’s hopeless. We have to re-think our plans.”
“We could go by ship!” shrieked Zelda in a moment of clear thinking.
“That’s expensive too.”
“I mean as crew, we could work on a cruise liner! There seem to be plenty of them around, we just have to find one calling at New York and work out how to stay there.”
“That is a clever idea, dragi, but we must check it carefully.”
Kristof spent most of his precious free time at the port watching, learning, noting America-bound liners, and planning.
It was several months before they obtained posts on a liner sailing to New York. They were excited, but apprehensive as a new adventure began for them. Kristof worked in the kitchen while Zelda, with her nursing experience, helped in the medical area. The hours were long and they saw little of each other as accommodation for male and female crew was strictly separate.
Their plan to jump ship was set in motion as crew were allowed twenty-four-hour shore leave.
“We have no visas, we are sure to be caught and deported,” sighed the anxious Zelda.
Just then, an elderly passenger tripped on the gangway. Zelda, still in uniform, rushed forward to assist the distressed lady. Kristof helped his wife escort the patient to the first aid area where they remained until an ambulance arrived to transport her to hospital. In the chaos they found themselves outside the arrival area and free to move into the heart of the city.
The couple were awestruck at the splendour of New York and constantly strained their necks to see the tops of the gigantic buildings. They spent some time walking around the city, amazed at its size and grandeur. They located their friends Marc and Donata, whose relatives insisted that the young couple stay with them until they settled in the city of their dreams.
The four friends were overjoyed at being reunited. They sat together with their benevolent hosts well into the night, reminiscing on their travels through Europe, catching up with events since their parting in London and planning for the future.
Kristof walked the streets in search of work, taking any kind of illegal employment he could find. A woman walking ahead of him was unaware she had dropped her purse. Kristof ran after her to return it. She was so grateful for his honesty that she insisted he join her for coffee, during which his new friend introduced herself.
“I’m Rita, Rita Hampton. I’m a nurse and this is my day off. I’m so grateful to you for returning my purse. I wasn’t aware tha
t I had dropped it. Thank you so much.”
As they sat in the warmth of the café, Rita listened awestruck to his story of escape from Sarajevo and search for work.
“And now, here we are in New York, desperate for employment and accommodation. We cannot impose on our new friends for much longer. They have been kind to us, but we have to find our own way now that Zelda has fully recovered and is able to seek work.”
“You sound like a hard-working, honest couple. Hey, let me make a call. Perhaps I can help you! Wait here, one moment please.”
She returned, smiled broadly at the tense Kristof and said, “Take this address. Be there tomorrow, you and your wife, at two o’clock. Please be punctual. That will make a good impression.”
She assured him accommodation and work could possibly be made available.
“Good luck.”
And so, a new chapter began in the lives of Zelda and Kristof.
Chapter 16
“Why do we have to take such a crazy road trip in this atrocious weather? It is not safe for us or the child… so risky.”
“I know honey, but you know that we have no choice but to take the agreed route and follow it precisely. I really wish it was different, really, I do… but…”
He became quiet, unable to voice his opinion, aware that their young detainee was awake and listening. They tried to limit the travelling to around 200 miles per day. Far too long for the girl to endure, he thought to himself as he drove along through Pennsylvania towards Ohio, where they made Cleveland the next stop. They arrived at Lake Erie as darkness descended, at a secluded area mapped out for them. There they rested up.
Some days later, their Midwest journey continued. They drove through Indiana towards Illinois on the by-pass system; “avoid Chicago at all costs,” they had been instructed. Strong winds, falling temperatures and scattered snow showers developed into a full-blown storm, which forced them to hole up and seek shelter.
***
The squad working the case of the missing child were constantly harassed by their boss Harvey, who in turn was under pressure from the mayor and the superintendent to ‘clear up this mess. It’s not a good image for the city if we can’t find this missing kid.’ Extra officers were assigned to the case in an attempt to bring it to a head before the upcoming elections.
“It’s got to be a revenge crime, not your normal kidnap or we would have had a demand by now.” Harvey continued. “Who would want revenge on Brenda Mears or her empire? We seem to have discounted most of her staff and former employees, so who the hell is holding Lucy?”
Secretly he feared the girl may no longer be alive.
His greatly expanded team of officers gathered around while Detective Carr studied the whiteboard.
“George North? What would he have against Brenda? He seems to have a good job, conditions are excellent, his paycheque is healthy, and his personal life with Nora Kelly appears to be heading in the right direction. His sisters couldn’t help in any way with his whereabouts. They have been out of touch now for several years. The flights he took on his time off were all to airports in New York, some to JFK, and some to Newark or La Guardia and once to MacArthur. Why different airports? So where did he go from there? The answer has to be in New York, that’s for sure. He must have been picked up at these different airports—”
Harvey interrupted. “Get a team to each of these places and check CCTV cameras for those dates, that is, if they still have them. This enquiry is way over budget. My job is on the line if we don’t come up with answers. Where is that kid? Also, as a matter of urgency we have to look more closely at employees of Mears. The guy, Barclay Ellis-Jones, where is he, where did he go after leaving Mears?”
As his team departed to their various tasks, Harvey called Officer Carr aside. “Carole, I’ve a sensitive issue to be tackled… you’re the best person for this.”
Detective Carr listened attentively to instructions, drew a sharp intake of breath and replied, “Ok, but wish me luck with this one.”
Detective Carr met Brenda Mears in the privacy of her Lincoln Park home.
“Brenda, I have to ask you, I have been instructed by my boss to ask you a personal question, which I have to say must be investigated to ensure we cover all possibilities in finding Lucy. It’s a sensitive question, but it has to be asked.” With an intake of breath, Carr asked, “Who is Lucy’s father? We have to locate him if for nothing else to eliminate him from enquiries.”
Brenda sat bolt upright as if having been slapped.
“Sorry, Detective Carr, you have had a wasted journey. I swore never to reveal that to anyone, not until I have the opportunity to tell my daughter.”
She stood up to show Carr to the door, but the detective remained seated.
“This information is crucial to enquiries. Lucy’s father could be involved in her disappearance. At least let us eliminate him.”
“Detective, Lucy’s father does not know of her existence, and never will. Now, please leave that line of enquiry alone.”
Carole Carr pleaded with Brenda for the information, but to no avail. Reluctantly, she returned to base to report to an irate Harvey of Brenda’s unwillingness to co-operate.
“I thought that sending a female might have helped her open up about it. We have to get that information somehow. Try again. Perhaps her staff will know. Molly seems to have been there since Brenda was a baby, and Nora was her constant companion and perhaps her confidante. Also, check out birth records, although I doubt the father’s name will be there.”
Some days later both Carr and Harvey returned to Lincoln Park to speak to both Molly and Nora Kelly, the only people who could help reveal what they needed to know. Harvey sat in Molly’s kitchen and explained the reason for her being questioned. She was visibly upset at the thought of divulging what was to her a trusted secret. Carr, meanwhile, found Nora busy in the laundry room. Both women were understandably shaken at the line of questioning.
“I can’t betray Brenda. I made a solemn promise to her never to divulge that information, so I cannot tell you what you want to know.”
“Molly, I fully understand your reticence and admire your loyalty, but surely Lucy’s safety supersedes loyalty?”
Molly, red in the face, shook her head to confirm her decision. Nora, too, did not waver under pressure from Carr.
“I will never, ever be disloyal to Brenda over this, never.”
In desperation, both women were brought together. Harvey again explained that they only wanted to eliminate the man.
“I will not tell you, detectives. I cannot break a promise made all those years ago,” sobbed Molly.
“Nor will I,” wept Nora. “Brenda is my employer, but she’s also my friend.”
“Ladies, you leave me no option then but to take you in and charge you with obstruction of justice.”
Molly gasped and almost fell to the floor but for a hand grabbing her arm to prevent a fall.
“Stop right there, detectives!” hollered Brenda who had heard sobbing and came to investigate. She witnessed Harvey’s threat to the two women and arrived in time to prevent Molly from falling. She was furious.
“These women are not at fault and you know that. You are playing on their weakness and loyalty to me. They are only following my demands. I will not put them through this. Detectives, I will, under duress, give you the information you require. Then, I demand you leave my home. Now, come to my study.”
She turned to her staff and hugged them both.
“Thank you for putting yourselves on the line for me. I’ll give these people what they want. Nora, make your mom a strong cup of tea. You know she says it’s the answer to everything.”
Molly smiled at her employer’s attempt to calm her.
Brenda led the detectives to her study and grudgingly gave them the information they so desperately wanted.
Chapter 17
Encouraging Dale Greer to drink up to drown his sorrows, a fellow drinker, with a comforting arm aro
und his shoulders, said, “Sounds like you’ve had a tough time, buddy. Let me buy you another drink and you can tell me how a nice guy like you got such a bad deal.”
“It’s Cindy, you see, my wife… our lives have been ruined… and the kids… I can’t even put a roof over their heads… they had to go live with her folks… ain’t seen them in months. I ain’t got two dimes to rub together, man. It’s hopeless.”
“Someone needs to cut you some slack, man. Maybe I could help you and your wife, Cindy. What a sweet name! That was my dear late sister’s name. She died last year, I miss her so much, but, hey, maybe we could help your Cindy.”
Dale’s new friend explained he was part of a finance group and was sure he could lend Dale some cash. “Max $2,000 with an easy repayment scheme. You pay back what you can each week, minimum of five dollars. Think you could manage that, Dale?”
Assured that this would solve his immediate problems, Dale, through a fuzz of alcohol, wept into his drink and thanked his new friend, over and over until the guy said, “I have to make a call, buddy, stay around.”
He returned sometime later with good news that Dale’s loan had been approved and if he hung around for an hour or so, a courier would come with the dollars.
“Sorry I can’t stay, Dale, I have a business meeting to get to. Les will be here as soon as he can. You enjoy your drink.”
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