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‘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 clearing, 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.’

‘If it comes to a trial she will be called as a witness. Won’t it be seen as interference by an investigating officer?’

‘That’s a risk, Martin. But I think we’d get through it okay. Will you trust me on it?’

Martin nodded. ‘Of course, as long as it’s not for too long. Remember that we’re meant to be visiting your grandparents at the weekend.’

‘Yes, Sunday, but it’s not certain yet. I have an uneasy feeling about this case. If we do go, I’ll find someone else to look after Nadia. By the way, Hannah can get a direct train back to London from Gloucester after we’ve visited. I’ll give her the money to get a taxi back to her flat from Paddington.’

‘Good idea.’

Martin leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘I’d better be off. Look, Sophie, you’re going to have to speak to Archie Campbell again. He phoned late last night and said that he’s been calling you on your mobile every few hours and you haven’t been answering.’

‘I know. Other than you, he and Harry Turner have been the most influential men in my life. He was a father figure to me for the eight years I was with West Midlands. I phoned to tell him about it on Monday, but I just told him then hung up. I didn’t want to tell him at all, but that would have been a dereliction. I just can’t cope with it. Not from the investigation side. My brain just seizes up. I’m scared I’ll break down if I talk to him about it.’

‘Sophie, I know how he feels about you. I expect he’s hurting as much as you, just thinking about what you’re going through. At least let him know that you are alright.’

He called to Jade, who put her head round the door. ‘All done, Mum. There’s a bag on my bed.’

Martin smiled at his daughter and turned back to Sophie. ‘By the way, I thought you wanted to get to work by eight?’

‘Barry took over at six this morning. He texted me last night just before I went to bed. That’s why I slept in late. He’s a real gem. I hope his girlfriend realises that.’

‘Was that the loud woman at the party we went to before Christmas?’ Jade asked.

Sophie nodded.

‘Didn’t like her. A bit shallow. Attention-seeking. And he seemed a nice man. Kind of shy, you know?’ said Jade.

‘Don’t make judgements on the basis of one meeting, young lady,’ said her mother.

‘But first impressions are often right, aren’t they?’

‘That’s the problem, Jade. Often they are. But not always. So it’s always worth giving someone a second chance before making your mind up. They might not be their normal selves the first time around. Anyway, time for you to be going. Have a good day, both of you.’

She tidied up and stacked the plates in the dishwasher. She grabbed the bag that Jade had left on her bed and went out.

* * *

Marsh was sitting outside Nadia’s room.

‘She’s still asleep, apparently. A nurse has just been in to check on her and thinks she’ll be awake shortly.’

‘Fine, Barry. I’ll take over from here. Go and get some breakfast, and we’ll meet in the incident room at ten. By the way, did you manage to rescue anything from that fire?’ Sophie asked.

‘Only a few bits and pieces. Some charred paper and remains of burned clothes. We gave it to forensics. They might make something of it. But there are no fingerprints in the house or on that pick-up.’

‘What? None at all?’ Sophie couldn’t believe this.

‘No. Every door handle, switch and knob has been wiped clean. They did a slick job. It must have been that pair we saw in the afternoon. Forensics are staying on. They reckon those guys have got to have missed something, somewhere.’

‘Professionals, Barry. They’re not going to make it easy for us. But if that young lad was killed on the farm, then there will be traces. He must have lost a lot of blood.’

‘So you think it’s linked? I’ve told forensics there’s a chance of it being the same people.’

‘She said that they’d been forced to watch someone called Stefan being killed. I’m guessing that’s the body you found,’ said Sophie.

Marsh nodded. ‘Nearly forgot. HQ phoned the station and said that a Romanian speaker will be with us later this morning. Apparently Kevin McGreedie used her last year in a case at Bournemouth and she was really good. I’ll be off, ma’am. I’ll get someone else here by nine thirty.’

Sophie took the chair into the ward. She sat beside Nadia’s bed until the young woman opened her eyes. Sophie squeezed her hand and stroked her hair.

‘Hello, Nadia. You see, here I am. There has been someone with you all night, making sure you are safe. How do you feel?’

Nadia gave her a sleepy smile.

‘I feel I am from bad dream. Men will be look for me.’

‘Don’t worry about that. I think you need something to eat and drink. Shall I ring for the nurse?’

Nadia had her breakfast and was sipping coffee. Sophie decided it was time to ask about what had happened to her. Nadia struggled to find the right words.

‘I go on roof. They were looking. I was hide. I there for all day. I come down in dark and to fire for warm. I saw you.’

‘What happened before then, Nadia? How long were you there?’

Tears came to the girl’s eyes.

‘I not have words in English. Bad, bad men.’

‘You said yesterday that they killed Stefan. Was he a young man? Did you know him?’

‘He was with them. He saw me. We are . . . how you say?’

Sophie said, ‘Friends?’

Nadia shook her head.

‘Family?’

She nodded.

‘Brother? Is he your brother, Nadia?’

‘No.’

‘Cousin?’

‘Yes. Cousin.’

Sophie decided to wait until the interpreter arrived before she tried for any more information. She showed Nadia the clothes that Jade had left for her.

‘These are for you, Nadia. My daughter has given them to you.’

Sophie had expected there to be one set of clothes, but Jade had included underwear, a pair of faded blue jeans, a pair of pink trousers, two T-shirts, two jumpers, one pink and the other blue, and socks. She’d even thought to include a jacket, a hairbrush, a pair of gloves and a pair of trainer shoes. Sophie was surprised at the thought that had gone into the selection.

‘Is very kind,’ Nadia said. ‘What is name?’

‘Jade. Don’t change into the clothes yet, Nadia. The doctor is coming back to examine you. You must wait. How are you feeling now?’

‘I am sleepy. But I safe now.’ She looked intently at Sophie and squeezed her hand. ‘Thank you. With my heart.’

Mark Benson arrived a few minutes later to examine Nadia. Sophie sat and watched.

‘Now you,’ he said.

‘What?’

‘You looked a bit peaky yesterday evening. I’ll just give you a quick onceover.’ He winked at Sophie and mouthed, ‘Good for her to see.’

She sat on the end of the bed while he took her blood pressure and listened to her chest through his stethoscope.

‘Fully fit,’ he solemnly announced.

‘I should bloody well hope so, you cheeky devil. You look as though you’ve wanted to do that for ages.’

‘All part of the Benson service.’

He and Sophie went outside for a moment so he could speak to her. ‘Now, Nadia is physically already on the road to recovery. Some good food, exercise and time to relax are all she needs. I’ll prescribe her some more sedatives to help her sleep. I imagine that will be a problem. Psychologically? She will need some counselling once things settle. Today, though, we’ve got to decide what we do with her. There was an overnight fishing boat accident and the hospital really needs her bed.’

‘I can put her up myself, Mark, but only for a couple of nights. It would be convenient while we’re questioning her. But we’ll have to find somewhere for her to go after that.’

‘Do you think the Romanian embassy might have some suggestions?’

‘Possibly, but I’m worried about her safety. I think she’ll be in extreme danger, though I don’t know any of the facts yet. We’ve got an interpreter coming in this afternoon. I have to let the embassy know that we have her, so that they can inform her family back in Romania. But if any information leaks out, the gang that did this to her could find out where she is. And I’m not having that happen.’

‘Sounds fair to me, if you’re happy to do it. I’ll come back in after lunch to do another check, and I’ll discharge her then if all is okay. Suit you?’

‘Fine. And thanks.’

* * *

When Sophie arrived at Swanage police station a little later, Marsh told her that the forensic team was still at Brookway Farm.

‘We’ll have to leave them to get on with it, ma’am. They’ll let us know the instant they find anything. David Nash is in charge again.’

‘Fine. It’s just that with so little to go on, I feel as if I’m in limbo. Until we interview Nadia this afternoon we can’t really make any progress.’ She paused. ‘Let’s work through the probable order of events yesterday, okay? Take me through it, Barry. We’ll see if anything occurs to us.’

He began. ‘Jack Holly and Jen Allbright called at the farm at about ten thirty in a marked squad car. The man who answered the door raised their suspicions, but not in any direct way.’

‘Okay, stop. That probably means he wasn’t either of the two men that you and I saw in the afternoon. Their attitude would have made anyone suspicious. How did they describe him?’

‘Late thirties. Gap in his front teeth. Medium height. So you’re right. The one who talked to us didn’t have a gap in his teeth, and the other one was short and bulky. So there are at least three,’ he said.

‘And Holly didn’t comment on his accent, so it’s unlikely that he was foreign. Let’s move on.’

Marsh continued. ‘They decide to leave. They decide to move the girls out? I’m guessing here. You probably know more than me from your talk with the girl.’

‘She did say “we”, as if she was part of a group. I got the impression that it was a group of women or girls, but I might be wrong. Somehow she escaped, and I’m guessing it was during the move. But why didn’t she have any clothes on?’

‘Maybe they were stripped. It would reduce the chances of escape. It’s a well-known method of intimidation, isn’t it?’ said Marsh.

‘She says that she hid on the roof. Do we have any photos of the place?’

‘I asked Jimmy to take some while he was over there first thing this morning. I’ll get him to print them out.’

While Marsh was gone, Sophie went in search of Jack Holly. She asked him to start examining photofit images on the national police database to see if he could pick out the man at the farm. When she returned Marsh was back with Melsom and the prints.

‘Can either of you remember where the bathroom was?’ she said.

‘Top floor, back wall, halfway up the stairs,’ replied Melsom.

‘So is that its window, do you think?’ She pointed at one of the images. ‘It’s like a little dormer, sticking out from the building.’