1911021494

by MICHAEL HAMBLING

  The farm looked deserted. There were no windows open and no smoke coming from the chimneys. No one appeared at the doorway as the two detectives walked across the yard. No one answered their knocks, despite Marsh’s increasingly insistent hammering.

  ‘Do you think they’ve gone, ma’am?’

  ‘Looks like it. Let’s have a look around and see if anything’s been left unlocked.’

  There were several outhouses, but they contained little other than aged and rusting agricultural machinery. Beds of weeds, nettles and brambles covered what had probably once been the kitchen garden, and half-rotted gardening implements leaned against a ramshackle shed. A rusty tractor still sat in one of the larger outhouses, but its front wheels were missing and the cabin was dirty. The other sheds were in a similar state. It looked as if the farm machinery hadn’t been used in years.

  From inside a shed, they heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. They walked out and saw a pick-up truck parked near their car. Two men had climbed out, and were making their way towards Sophie’s car.

  ‘Good morning!’ she called.

  They turned, and the taller of the two walked towards them. He indicated for the other man to stay back. Sophie flipped open her warrant card.

  ‘Detective Chief Inspector Sophie Allen. This is Sergeant Barry Marsh.’

  The man nodded.

  ‘And?’ His facial expression gave nothing away.

  ‘You may have heard that a dead body was found in the area recently. We’re investigating the circumstances of the death.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘Have you seen or heard anything unusual during the past week?’

  ‘Someone called a couple of hours ago and asked that question,’ he said.

  ‘Is that right? They’re really on the ball, the local bobbies, aren’t they? Was it you they spoke to?’

  ‘No. But I heard about it. And my answer is the same. No, we haven’t seen anything unusual. But if we do, we’ll let you know.’

  ‘How many people live here on the farm?’ Sophie asked.

  ‘Three. But we don’t work it. And you shouldn’t have been nosing about, not without a warrant.’

  ‘We didn’t get an answer from the door, so we were just checking to see if anyone was in the sheds or stable, Mr . . ?’

  ‘Smith. And there isn’t anybody else, so there’s no need to check further.’

  Sophie looked across at the other man, who was leaning against the side of the truck. He was short but very heavily built, with powerful shoulders.

  ‘Who’s your assistant?’ she asked.

  ‘Mr Jones.’

  ‘Do you own the farm, Mr Smith?’

  ‘No. We’ve just rented it for a few months. We’re leaving soon. The owners are selling up,’ he said.

  ‘Who are the owners?’

  ‘No idea. We only deal with the letting agency.’

  ‘And they are?’ said Sophie.

  ‘Can’t remember,’ he said in a flat voice. ‘Why is it important to you?’

  ‘Well, you know the police, Mr Smith. Always nosey. Sifters of information, that’s what we are. You’re fairly close to the shore of Poole Harbour here, aren’t you? It can only be half a mile or so.’

  ‘Couldn’t say. Never go down there. Anyway, we’ve got work to get on with,’ said the man.

  ‘Well, fine, Mr Smith. I hope you’re happy in your work.’ She smiled at him, but her eyes were cold. Glancing at her watch, she turned to Marsh. ‘We’d better be on our way, Barry. Things to do. Information to sift.’ She turned back to Smith. ‘Thank you for your help. It’s been very illuminating.’

  They walked towards the car. Sophie called to the short, stocky man standing by the vehicles. ‘Good morning, Mr Jones!’

  There was no response, not even a flicker in his eyes.

  ‘What a pair,’ Marsh said as they drove away. ‘Enough to give anyone the creeps.’

  ‘They’re thugs, Barry. Whether they have anything to do with our dead body is another question. Smith and Jones, I ask you. My bet is that they’re here to do a final tidying up. Neither of them looked like the man Allbright and Holly saw. Assuming that chap made a quick getaway after the visit this morning, those two are what’s known as enforcers. They specialise in getting rid of evidence and loose ends by any means necessary, often using intimidation and violence. When we get back to the station, I want their van traced. And I think we’ll get this track watched. I’d like to know where they go when they leave. We’ll stop somewhere within sight and call in Jimmy or someone from the station to take over.’

  ‘What do you think they’re up to, ma’am?’

  ‘No idea, Barry. But I’m sure it’s nothing we’d approve of.’

  Once they were back on the more even surface of the lane, Sophie looked for a pull-in that gave a view of the farm track. There was a driveway almost opposite which led to another farm, so she turned into it. Marsh walked up to the farmhouse to ask for information about the occupants of Brookway Farm, while Sophie called for Melsom to take over the watch. Marsh was back quickly.

  ‘He says he never sees them. No one knows anything about them. They don’t work the farm, so there’s little contact. He won’t say anything to them about my questions, by the way. I know him from the local football club. He’s a good bloke.’

  ‘According to the database, the pick-up belongs to a hire company. I want the details checked out first thing tomorrow.’

  Melsom arrived to take over the watch, and they drove back to Swanage. They spent the rest of the afternoon crosschecking the reports from the house and farm visits, but to no avail. Sophie was pondering her next move. Melsom’s call came in the late afternoon, as dusk was falling. Marsh hurried across to Sophie.

  ‘Jimmy says they’ve gone, ma’am.’

  ‘What? How could they? Is there another track? The map didn’t show one.’

  ‘They didn’t leave in the pick-up. Jimmy walked down as it began to get dark, and it’s still there in the yard. But there are no signs of life in the house or in any of the sheds. He had a good look.’

  ‘What, in the house as well?’

  ‘It’s been left unlocked.’

  ‘This is getting weird. Let’s get back over there.’

  The pick-up was still where it had been left. All of the farm buildings were empty and the farmhouse door was unlocked. Darkness had fallen and the farmyard was inky black.

  ‘I called, but there was no answer. I’ve had a quick look around and there’s no one here, ma’am, not as far as I can tell.’

  ‘How could they have got away do you think? On foot, or by boat?’ asked Sophie.

  ‘I’d plump for the boat,’ Marsh answered. ‘I think we should check round the back to see if there’s a track that side. I thought there might be when we were here earlier. Do you have a torch in the car, ma’am?’

  The three detectives walked round to the rear of the yard, and found a rough track. It passed through a gloomy copse of trees and turned a corner. Spread out before them lay the huge expanse of Poole Harbour. The dark waters lapped close to the bank.

  ‘High tide,’ said Melsom.

  They could see a wooden jetty thrusting out into the water.

  ‘A vehicle’s been down this track and it looks well used,’ said Marsh.

  Sophie cast her torch beam around the area.

  ‘I think we’ve lost them.’ She walked a short distance along the shoreline. ‘There’s a smell of smoke in the air. Part wood smoke, but not entirely. Can you smell it, Barry?’

  ‘Now you mention it, yes. It’s a bit faint though.’

  Sophie continued to walk along the shoreline, shining the torch beam into the trees. Melsom walked in the opposite direction, but neither spotted anything. Marsh had walked a short way back along the track.

  ‘I think it’s inland a bit. The smell gets stronger in the copse, up at the northern end.’

  They picked their way through the trees and came out in a small clear
ing, partly lit by the moon. A small fire had been made in a pit where the charred remains of some rubbish gave off the occasional spark.

  ‘Jimmy, could you find a pole of some sort and see if you can rescue some of those remains before they smoulder away completely? I saw some back in the sheds.’ Sophie turned to Marsh. ‘I think we’ll get a small forensics team in, Barry. Could you contact HQ? I want the pick-up fingerprinted as well as the inside of the house. And these charred bits and pieces need to be looked at. There’s something odd about this place.’

  As she turned, she caught sight of a pale figure watching them from the edge of the trees, half hidden behind a bush. Looking away, she spoke softly to her sergeant.

  ‘Don’t look. We’re being watched from over on the left. I think it’s a young woman. Stay where you are. I’m going to move around to that side.’

  Sophie slowly manoeuvred her way around the glowing embers and backed towards the spot where she’d seen the figure. She turned suddenly and found herself facing a pale, shivering teenage girl. She was naked apart from a towel wrapped around her torso.

  Sophie held out her hand.

  ‘Don’t be frightened. I’m a police officer. I can help you.’

  The girl’s eyes were wide with fear, and she was shaking uncontrollably. Sophie took off her long overcoat and held it open for the girl to walk into. The girl stepped forward hesitantly. Sophie smiled at her.

  ‘You’re safe now. Come and get warm.’

  The girl stepped into the thick coat and Sophie hugged her close. Marsh walked over to them.

  ‘Let’s get her into the car, Barry. She’s absolutely frozen. God knows what she’s doing out here, but I think she’s suffering from exposure. And she seems terrified. I’ll drive her across to the hospital. You stay here with Jimmy and see what you can rescue from that fire.’

  * * *

  The young woman said her name was Nadia. Sophie turned the heater up to full, and by the time she slowed down at the edge of the town, the car was considerably warmer. The girl was still shaking. As they came down the hill towards the seafront the street lights allowed Sophie to get a clearer view of her face. Her hair was a dirty blonde colour and stuck to her skull, bedraggled and grimy. Her pale face was streaked with tears, and she was still uttering an occasional whimper.

  ‘We’re nearly there, Nadia. We’ll get you examined, then into a warm bath.’

  Sophie had phoned through to the local cottage hospital and the police doctor, Mark Benson. She drove directly to the hospital entrance, and was met by a nurse with a wheelchair.

  ‘Is Doctor Benson here?’ Sophie asked the nurse.

  ‘He arrived just a minute ago with Doctor Jenson. They’re just washing their hands in the examination area. We’re wondering why you didn’t call an ambulance.’

  ‘I found her literally ten minutes ago. I got here quicker than an ambulance. I don’t want anyone touching her, other than Doctor Benson — for forensic reasons. Now let’s get her inside.’

  They entered the small A & E area. Mark Benson appeared out of a cubicle and waved to her. He wheeled Nadia into the examination room.

  ‘Maybe you could wait here, please?’ said the nurse.

  Sophie turned to face her. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Don’t you know who I am? She remains under police protection until I decide otherwise.’

  ‘It’s okay, nurse,’ Benson said. ‘Chief Inspector Sophie knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s welcome to be present.’ A woman doctor was waiting in the cubicle.

  ‘This is Laura Jenson, one of my partners. She’ll do the examination. I’ll leave the room if you want me to,’ he said.

  ‘I hope that won’t be necessary,’ said Sophie.

  They helped the girl from the wheelchair. Sophie removed the coat and the nurse exchanged the grubby towel for a hospital robe. Sophie held Nadia’s hand and stroked her cheek while the doctor examined her. Nadia didn’t have any serious injuries to her limbs and torso, just some minor cuts and bruises on her hands, shoulders and knees.

  Doctor Jenson spoke softly to the girl. ‘Nadia, I must look at your private parts. You must be brave and do as I ask.’ Sophie stroked the girl’s hair as Laura gently examined her labial area and took a vaginal swab. She also took a blood sample.

  ‘You’ve been very brave,’ said the doctor. ‘I think you can have a warm bath now. Would you like some tea or coffee?’

  The girl nodded. She was still obviously uneasy, but much calmer now. Sophie held Nadia’s hand as she was helped into the bath. She went out of the room while the nurse soaped her.

  Laura told Sophie what she had found. ‘She has labial and vaginal damage consistent with rape, but she will recover physically. The back of her mouth and throat show bruising and surface tearing. I don’t think any of it’s been done today but I’d guess it was very recent. She also has rectal tearing and will need some treatment for it. Someone’s been brutal to her. She’s only a slip of a girl. What do you think? About seventeen?’

  ‘That’s roughly what I was thinking. Seventeen or eighteen. She’s from Romania. I got that out of her on the way over, but not much else. She’s in shock, and was absolutely freezing when we found her. Can you give her something to get her to sleep?’

  ‘Of course. I don’t know what else she’s been through, but I’d guess she’s had so many shocks that her brain can’t cope with it all,’ said the doctor.

  ‘I’ll stay with her until she drops off. I’ll have to arrange for an officer to be here for security overnight, but I’ll let the hospital staff know. Can you lock all those swabs up for the night? I’ll get them collected by the forensic service tomorrow morning. And can you push the blood test through as a priority?’ Sophie asked.

  ‘Already done. We should have the results back late tomorrow.’

  ‘Thanks — both of you. I know I can always rely on you, and I’m grateful.’

  ‘It’s a pleasure, Sophie,’ said Mark. ‘Laura’s in a hurry so I’ll give the girl a sedative in a few minutes, when she’s been found a bed. Then I’ll be off. One of us will call back to see her first thing tomorrow.’

  Sophie went back into the bathroom. The young woman already looked better. Sophie helped her out of the bath and the nurse gently rubbed her dry. The nurse led her over to the wheelchair and took her to a small room set apart from the main ward. Sophie phoned the police station and arranged for a PC to spend the night outside Nadia’s room. She sat by the bed, while Nadia nibbled at a cheese sandwich and drank some coffee.

  ‘Nadia, can you tell me what happened?’

  ‘We come to England. They told us jobs in hotels. We pay them money. When we come they did bad things to us. Bad, bad things. Are evil. They kill Stefan. Make us watch.’ She started sobbing uncontrollably.

  ‘How old are you, Nadia?’

  ‘Eighteen. I speak a small English.’

  ‘Don’t say any more. I just want you to rest. You are safe now. I will look after you. Trust me. You are safe. The doctor will give you an injection to help you sleep, but I will be here.’

  Mark Benson gave the young woman a sedative and Sophie stayed with her, holding onto her hand until well after she fell into a deep sleep. Sophie dozed off herself and woke when the nurse came into the room with PC Jen Allbright.

  ‘I thought you went off duty?’ Sophie whispered.

  ‘I did, ma’am, but I volunteered for this. I’ll be fine, though I might be a bit late in tomorrow morning.’

  ‘I don’t want to see you until mid-afternoon at the earliest. And I’ll try to have someone else here at six in the morning to sit for a couple of hours until I get back in.’

  Sophie tiptoed out of the room.

  Chapter 4: Pink and Blue Clothes

  Thursday, Week 1

  ‘Jade, I’m really sorry I couldn’t eat more of your chicken casserole last night. But it was delicious.’ Sophie had been exhausted when she arrived home the previous night. She was still tired this morning.

>   ‘It’s okay, Mum. Dad’s already eyed up the leftovers to take in for his lunch today. It won’t get wasted.’

  ‘If the hospital has to discharge the girl and we can’t find anywhere to take her, then I might bring her back here for a couple of nights. Is that alright?’

  ‘I don’t mind, Mum. I’ll look after her.’

  ‘She doesn’t have any clothes, Jade. Before you go, do you think you could put out a couple of things that I could take in for her? She’s about your build, but a bit shorter. Just informal things like jeans, and maybe a jumper.’

  ‘Okay, Mum. I’ll leave some stuff out on my bed before I head off.’

  ‘Jade, in case I do have to bring Nadia back, there’s something you need to know. We suspect that she’s been the victim of multiple rapes. And she’s also witnessed a murder. Don’t expect her to be like just any girl of her age. She’ll be in shock for a long time to come. She couldn’t stop crying last night for all the time I was with her. It was heart-breaking.’

  Jade stopped for a moment, facing the door. Then she left the room.

  Martin watched her go. ‘I know we’ve already discussed this, Sophie. But I still can’t help thinking that it’s a lot for Jade to cope with. Trying to befriend someone who’s been gang-raped and forced to watch a murder won’t be an easy task. I just wonder if it’s a suitable thing to ask Jade to do.’

  ‘But what else can I do, Martin? I hope that it doesn’t come to it, but I suspect it will. If I go through official channels she’ll probably end up in a local hostel somewhere. She’ll be safely supervised, I know, but she’ll feel alone and vulnerable. She has to stay somewhere close because there’s a lot she can tell us. But at the moment she’s like a sheet of thin glass that could shatter at any moment. The look she gave me as I helped her out of the bath just melted me. I kept thinking, what if it were Hannah or Jade? What would we want someone in my position to do? And that has to be to give her some warmth and affection. I don’t want to lose her trust.’