People Trafficker (13 page)

Donald told the meeting what had been talked about then fell silent while others in the room finished making their notes.

Sir Peter looked up. “Their information tallies with ours, even as far as the man called Saeed, is concerned. We also agree the girls were destined to private buyers as none have appeared in any brothel. As for Saeed, we like them believe this is not his real name and he’s based in the Lebanon but we have no information beyond that. However, you mentioned they said Karen Marshall would know? Why is that?”

“They’re convinced about it, Peter. You see apparently it’s in her story that was sold to the papers. How she’d lived in Saeed’s house for a week. Then been taken to another local house and even a church, before returning later with the SAS So she’ll certainly know him and I suspect the area around his house. But I was quite shocked to hear that a contract was out on her, set up by this Saeed, and the involvement of this other man Sirec.”

“I agree that is disturbing. She must really have opened a hornet’s nest with this Saeed. I never read the full story, I suppose I should have done really, but until now I hadn’t appreciated the content would have such significance. I think I’ll go and see Karen Marshall, and attempt to get a better picture of this Saeed from her experiences. In the meantime Donald, you need to go home and give your wife comfort. Let me handle this for a while and I’ll let you know just what is going to happen.”

“I’ll do that Peter; as you can imagine my wife is devastated? But I don’t want a backburner job here. We will have to move fast, whatever is decided, time is not on Angela’s side.”

“We all understand the urgency, however, I’ve a feeling any sort of rescue attempt will hinge very much around Karen. By what you’ve managed to find out from the cartel, she is the only person who could actually identify Saeed, the location and the house,” Sir Peter answered.

When Donald had left a General Ross from army headquarters asked who he actually was.

“It’s not who he is now, General, but what he was,” Sir Peter answered. “Donald for eighteen years was in MI5, the same as me. He was marked for taking over when he had a stroke leaving him very ill for nearly a year. He requested and was granted early retirement from the force, and for the last three years has been advisor to the government on security, among other things. It was he who had the contacts into the cartels that now run most of the organised crime in the UK. That is why I value his input and professional approach to help find his daughter.”

Sir Peter looked at his diary. “I suggest, after I talk to this Karen Marshall, we reconvene in two days time, say around two just after lunch?”

With this agreed they all went their separate ways.

She shrugged. “That’s simple, I saw him shot. In fact more than shot, he had a fair few bullets put into his fat carcass.”

“That maybe so, Karen, but Saeed’s not dead, he’s very much alive and probably put out a little, over your escape?”

She lifted her cup from the coffee table and took a long sip, at the same time watching him carefully. “Yes when I saw him last, he was a bit peeved even then that I’d escaped my owner. But it’s not good, if he still lives. I’m beginning to suspect the reason why you’re here; you believe Saeed had a hand in the abduction of the five girls?”

“You’re correct in that thinking. But we don’t suspect, we know he did, Karen, except we have a problem.”

“And I suppose your problem includes me in some way?”

“Very much so; you see Saeed took those girls to order. They have not appeared in any brothel; we’re checking them regularly so that could only mean one thing. They were bound for private buyers.”

She frowned. “I’d agree with you there, after all a private purchase, like I was to be, is at least four times more money than what he’d get from a brothel and there’s a great many out there who would buy from Saeed. But why should I be interested, after all I got out?”

“You did, but you’re also the only one, we know, who has actually met Saeed, who knows where he lives and who else he employs there.”

“I suppose I must be one of the few who escaped that would know him. But I can assure you a great many children he’s trafficked will know his name and would like me have met him. Of course his friend Assam, the Captain of the Towkey, also knows him besides his sidekick Garrett. Mind you I don’t think they would be much help, if you found them that is. But whatever information about Saeed I can give, I’m very happy to do so.”

“Thank you, Karen, it is appreciated believe me, but would that help expand to you returning to the Lebanon in order to identify him for us?”

Karen stared at him, her body had gone cold at the very thought. She stood and walked to the window putting her hands on the glass. He watched her carefully, knowing what must be going through her mind.

She turned. “Have you any idea what it’s like out there?”

“Possibly, Karen, but I’d be very interested in your experience.”

She said nothing for a short time then turned to look at him. “I was treated like shit, chased across the bloody country because some man had bought me for something to shag. I had to stand and watch people being killed because of me besides kill myself, to survive. Even my so-called rescuers eventually abandoned me to save their own necks. I’d hide in ditches afraid of every noise, without food and drinking dirty water. All the time I was hiding, I was trying to build up enough courage to be able to put a gun to my head, rather than be taken alive. I’m only just eighteen for god’s sake. All I wanted was a boyfriend, someone to love me who I could love back. Now I’m home, I still look round corners, still jump when I hear only a click. I fear closing my eyes to sleep, just in case this is a dream and I’m still in the hands of that scum out there. If you want the truth it was me who killed Saeed, or thought I had, he raped me, and then four of his friends followed. Outwardly I suppose I look the same, judging by the number of times I get photographed, but I’m a wreck inside. My life is shattered and you want me to go back. How can you even ask me to do such a thing, knowing what I’ve had to endure?”

She looked down at the floor, tears trickling down her face. “I feel for those girls. I know what they’re going through. The loneliness and despair when you’re alone, not knowing what will happen next. Then there are the constant threats of violence towards you if you step out of line. Do you not think I’d help them if I could? I would, believe me, but if it means I have to return to that hellhole, I can’t. My confidence is shattered; I’m still on pills from the doctor to get me through the day, after what that James subjected me to. I have nightmares about the people who died; I wake up shaking in fear. What good would I be to you?”

She turned away and looked out of the window once more.

Sir Peter stood and walked over to her, stranding at her side, he was also looking out through the window.

“One of the girls is dying, Karen,” he said softly, still looking outside. “Suffering from a rare blood disease and desperately needs medical attention. You met her at the airport, helped her pick up the items knocked out of her bag by a reporter. She’s got only three weeks left then she will die in agony. They also took a little girl, who’d just gone with her daddy for the ride. Put a bullet into her daddy’s head then took her. She’s just fourteen, a child. Do you know what they do with girls and boys that age? The child rings buy them. They’re subjected to perverted sexual actions every day of their short lives. I say short because many don’t last a year. When you were taken everyone thought you were dead, but when they found you were still alive, people came for you. The world is a hard place, life a hard taskmaster. Often we have to do things we don’t want to do. Do you really think I’d let you go into the same sort of danger without protection?”

Karen was thinking back to the airport and the girl she met on the way to the domestic departure lounge. “I remember that girl; she was pleasant and really attractive. I also remember Saeed saying he’d more than one offer for me. I wouldn’t put it past him to have brought those girls in, to sell to the ones that were outbid for me. If you’d seen her she was a similar height, just as slim and probably my age. But trying to play on my conscience won’t make me change my mind, Peter, whatever you say. No matter how much they are down on their luck, it won’t work. I know what protection is. I was supposed to have it. But when your protectors begin to die one by one around you, soon there’s no protection and you’re alone.”

“Then at the very least will you come to London with me and go through everything you can remember that will help the ones who are going in?”

She nodded. “I’ll do that for you, if you think it will help the girls?”

He turned and faced her. “Thank you, Karen; I really can now understand just what you are going through. However, your input will be very valuable and I appreciate you agreeing to help us. Here’s my card, the mobile is direct if you just want to talk or anything else for that matter. Now I must be going. I’ve a number of meetings in this area. I’ll come for you at nine in the morning, if that’s alright and we’ll travel down together?”

More relaxed, now he didn’t want her to go to the Lebanon, she smiled. “I’ll be ready; I’ll see you out shall I?”