People Trafficker (28 page)

Karen broke away and walked over to them. Every Commando was watching this clearly attractive and very sexy looking girl approach, but still none recognised her.

“Hi, don’t mind the MPs, they’re my protection, but is it alright if I join you?” she asked.

“Sure, get the girl a chair, Frankie, but you don’t need protection from us, we know how to treat a lady,” one replied. “So what’s your name, and what do you want to drink?”

“I’m Karen, but you’re not getting me a drink, I’m getting all of you one, after all I promised I would. So who’s coming to the bar with me?”

“Your name’s Karen...” one said, slowly realising just who this girl might be. “You really mean, Lieutenant Harris, don’t you?”

She smiled. “Some people call me by that name, but I’m just Karen tonight.”

They glanced at each other not sure what to say. Karen suddenly felt nervous and embarrassed. Should she have come, did they really want her here?

“So, now you know I’m a Lieutenant, can I stay with you, or do you want me to go?”

“Of course you can stay, Karen. You’ve just floored us, that’s all,” the Captain replied.

“In what way?”

“You’re so different, haven’t you seen your picture on the notice board, taken when you came off the helicopter? I dispute anyone to say the girl sat with us now is the same girl.”

“Yes, well that seems to happen a lot, with men that is, when I dress up. I don’t know why, I think I look the same. Anyway, do you all believe now there really was a girl, under that mud and baseball cap, and I’m not going to get any more ribbing?”

“Oh you can believe it, Karen, we can all see you’re no tomboy,” the Captain answered.

Karen grinned. “I can agree with that, I’d hate to be a tomboy, it’s far more fun just being feminine and fun-loving. Besides, I’ve got a lot to thank you all for. I was bloody freezing and just longed to be somewhere else, in fact anywhere, so long as it was sunny, had miles of sandy beaches and really cool bars for drinks. And talking of drinks, who was it among you all who said I wouldn’t get enough for my body to buy you all a drink?”

One of the lads grinned. “It was me, Karen, I take it all back, you’d get just enough to buy a round,” he ribbed.

Their eyes meet. “Just about, would I? That’s a pity; I’d hoped to have some change. But we needn’t go down that route now; I’ve managed to get a fifty pounds advance out of General Ross, so we’ll never know what I’d be worth,” she replied, knowing full well how much she really was worth to a man.

They all burst into laughter.

“Come on Karen, it’s about time we all had a refill, I’ll take you to the bar, but we buy the drinks not you,” one of the other lads said, offering his hand to her. “To tell you the truth no one thought you’d come.”

She took his hand and stood looking around at them all watching her, with a hurt look on her face. “But I promised I’d come and I try never to break my promises,” she said, then she grinned mischievously. “Besides, a girl doesn’t often get a date with six Commandos, so I’m really lucky. So if someone’s got a camera I’d love a photo of you all, with me in of course, it will make my mates at home dead jealous?”

When she left to go to the bar the MPs came up to them.

“Sorry lads, we need to do a quick search. It seems like the Lieutenant is staying with you for the night. She’s on a close protection order.”

None objected, they knew what the order entailed.

“She’s a really nice girl, isn’t she?” one asked the MP searching him.

“She is soldier. Besides, the Lieutenant walked out of the Officers Club, where the Generals are tonight, to be with you all. Officers don’t do that sort of thing normally, they stay to be seen and impress. That’s how much she valued her promise.”

“Well you can be sure we’ll give her a good time and look after her for you,” another replied.

The MPs nodded and after asking the Captain to send the soldier over to them who was collecting the drinks, so they could search him too, they moved off and stood a short distance away but remained watching Karen all the time.

For the rest of the night Karen made them all feel special, besides having a genuine desire on her part to be with them for the night. She had had enough of older men, these lads were her age, her type, and she was soon dancing with each one on the dance floor, before finally getting her way and buying a round of drinks. Three of them, when alone with her dancing, had even asked her for a date, but she’d declined, saying that for the moment she was very tied up, but in a week or so she might take them up. None had asked why there was a close protection order; they knew she couldn’t tell them anyway. But all of them were confused as to why someone had gone to such extreme lengths to try and kidnap her off the moor.

At twelve Karen walked back to her room on her own, except of course for the MPs. She’d decided not to accept any offer to walk her back to her barracks, and even declined the Captain. However she did give them all a simple kiss goodnight before she left the club besides thanking them for such a good time. She’d been invited to visit their camp in Canada, which she’d accepted, telling them she’d only ever been abroad to Spain, of course leaving out her time in the Lebanon and Cyprus.

The next day Karen went for breakfast at seven, sitting in a corner with her back to the wall as the MPs requested. Other soldiers were kept away from her by the MPs, so she had no one to talk to. Karen didn’t mind, after all she was leaving and it would seem a bit unfriendly not to mention the fact. Returning to her room after breakfast, she packed her clothes, leaving the bag on her bed, as instructed. Now dressed in her uniform she left her room, meeting the MPs outside her door.

“Has the transport arrived to take me to church?”

“Yes, Lieutenant, it’s waiting outside. Before we leave I should tell you that I submitted my plan on how we will keep you safe in and around the church. This has also been agreed with General Ross. When we arrive at the church you will remain in the vehicle until we say you can go in. At the end of the service the congregation will be asked to remain in their seats until you leave. The priest has been informed and he understands. We will not take any risks, Lieutenant. The Military Police have explicit instructions about you. We take our job very seriously, even if you think it is ‘over the top’ as you commented yesterday. That is not our brief, we don’t decide if what’s been asked from us is far too much, or too little. Therefore, we will do our job and we will protect you.”

“I understand,” she replied quietly. In some ways it was getting embarrassing, and she wished she’d not asked to go but used the small church on the camp. However, she was Catholic and wanted to go to a Catholic service, although she did understand their concern, after all the attempts to abduct her were very real, and the future of six girls hung on her staying alive and free.

The church was already full, because of the special day. Music was drifting out of the open door, before the start of the service, while everyone finally settled. Extra Military Police were positioned at the church entrance as her vehicle drew up. Karen sat quietly while the two who’d travelled with her climbed out and talked to the ones already there. Then one opened her door.

“You may go inside, Lieutenant. Your place is in the front pew to the centre. You will have an MP at your side, he will be armed, that is essential, but it won’t be obvious. Military personnel attending the service have been placed around where you are to sit. They have been checked as genuine soldiers and have also been searched. Please don’t leave your seat. At the end of the service no one will leave until I come down and collect you.”

Karen walked into the church. It was large and very old, the early morning sun streaming through the stained glass windows, bathing the inside in colours. The music was still playing; already the priest was stood in front of the altar waiting for her to take her seat.

Standing there for a moment, Karen was very frightened of taking one more step inside God’s house. This was the first time she’d had the nerve to enter a church since coming home. She had wanted to but believed he’d turned his back on her. She’d killed, not always for protection, sometimes for revenge. But whatever she’d done, Karen didn’t want to ask his forgiveness, she knew her soul was forever damned and he’d never forgive her for breaking his commandments. So why had she come? In lots of ways she wasn’t sure, except the church had been part of her life ever since she was a child. It was because of this background she truly believed that he would take compassion on her, when she asked him to give her the strength to return to a country that held so many bad memories. And now with such memories so often played out in her nightmares, without his help Karen was doubtful she’d be able to hold herself together long enough to help bring the girls out safely, even if by going, he might never allow her to return home.

She began to walk slowly down the central aisle; people were looking at her, wondering why they were waiting for this officer to take her seat. But she never noticed them, every step was an effort until at last she sat down, knelt forward and prayed.

By the end of the service, Karen felt better inside. It was as if an inner strength had been resurrected and for the first time she felt confident in her abilities. After the final prayer and blessing she didn’t really hear the priest asking everyone to remain in their seats. Karen just sat there, lost in her own world, brought back to reality when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Karen looked up, an MP was waiting. She stood up and made her way to the aisle, turned and faced the altar, bowed her head, made the sign of the cross then left the church, climbing into the waiting vehicle, which took her directly back to the camp.

When they arrived she was dropped off at the Officers Club, where coffee and sandwiches were already prepared for visitors waiting to take part in the Remembrance Parade. A short time later a jeep arrived and took her to the parade ground. She was not part of the march past, but she stood with other invited guests behind General Ross, who was taking the salute.

She watched as a number of soldiers came up and laid a wreath below the flag pole. Karen had asked if she could lay one for the soldiers who never came back from the Lebanon, and this had been agreed. When she came forward tears were in her eyes as she laid her wreath down before standing back and saluting, unable to really believe they would never return. At the start of the two minutes’ silence, only then did she realise just how important it was for these soldiers. Every one of them knowing whatever happens when they are posted, they would always be remembered.

It was the end of the parade and the troops had just been dismissed, when a large twin propeller helicopter suddenly appeared over the top of the buildings, making everyone stop what they were doing and watch, as it settled down at the far side of the square, its blades now just rotating slowly.

Karen also saw the helicopter and went cold inside. She knew it had come for her. This was it, the moment she’d been dreading, had finally arrived.

General Ross turned to Karen offering his hand. “At these times it is very hard to say the right words, Karen; just look after yourself, God be with you and bring those girls back for us.”

“I’ll do my best, General.”

Then she turned to the Colonel. “I’ve enjoyed being here a great deal, Colonel. I’ve learnt a lot about myself as well as how to be part of a team. Would you thank everyone for me please?”

“I’ll do that, Lieutenant,” he began, shaking her hand as well, “but you have also taught us a lot. You really are a girl in a million.”

Karen gave a weak smile then stood there, unable to move for a moment, she had become very frightened and afraid of what she was about to embark on. She desperately wanted to stay here, be looked after and no longer be alone.

“The helicopter, it’s waiting, Karen,” the Colonel said quietly.

“Oh…yes…I’m sorry. Thank you, Colonel, goodbye.” She turned and began to walk away slowly.

“Lieutenant Harris?” the Colonel called.

She stopped but didn’t turn round; tears were forming in her eyes, which she didn’t want either man to see.

“Take care, Lieutenant, and we never say goodbye, remember no soldier is ever forgotten.”

She said nothing, just nodded and set off across the square.

The Colonel turned to General Ross. “That girl’s terrified; I could see it in her eyes. Are you absolutely certain there’s no alternative?”

“Do you think I don’t know that? But I can assure you there’s no alternative, Colonel, none whatsoever.”

Although the troops had been dismissed, very few had moved off the parade ground, many interested in why the helicopter had not shut down, perhaps realising that it was about to set off again. The rescue on the moor of Karen, and also the very obvious and visual close protection of her since, had been a talking point throughout the camp. So when they saw her walking across to the waiting helicopter, still with the MPs following behind, they all now realised Karen was leaving. Where she was going no one knew, except with her own transport, the General on the base to see her off, plus the protection of MPs, they knew the Lieutenant’s mission must be very important. They all considered she was now one of them, so even with no orders; each troop came to attention and saluted her as she passed.

However, as she was just about to mount the steps of the helicopter, the Captain of the Canadian Commandos, who had been with her the night before, came over. He’d sent one of his men running back to their temporary barracks when he’d realised she was leaving.

Saluting her; he handed Karen an envelope. “Because we ourselves are leaving a little later, we printed your photos out this morning, Lieutenant. You said you’d like photos of last night, and I didn’t want you to go without them. We’ve also signed our names on the back. Would you sign this photo for us?”

She smiled and took his pen, but signed her real name before handing it back. He looked at it, recognised her name, then back at her, just about to comment. But she gave a weak smile and shook her head very slightly. He said nothing.

“Will you tell the others I had a great time; you never know we might meet again one day?” she asked.