Free Depth of Despair by Bill Kitson Page B

place for young offenders but only for a short time. If I have my way you’ll not even have to face that.’
    When the interview ended the detectives were traumatized by the revelations. They left Milla tucking in with relish to the meal Nash had sent out for. He was marvelling at the resilience of youth when Clara asked, ‘Do you think she’ll be deported?’
    ‘I’ll make sure she gets every help to avoid that. A lot depends on us. We have to catch the bastards responsible. I mean the ones who brought her here and subjected her to such cruelty. If we can do that and Milla testifies, it’ll be very favourable for her. Particularly if we stress how she’d be in danger should she be returned to her own country. Which she would be if the traffickers were at large.’
    ‘What do we do next?’
    ‘It’s time to get MCU involved. We’ve five victims from the tarn and God knows how many more elsewhere. Tomorrow I intend to make a couple of phone calls that might help push our enquiries along.’

    *
    That evening as Nash ate his meal he remembered Milla as he’d left her. Her enjoyment of the food was the most optimistic part of a long and depressing day.
    The only other positive note had been provided by DI Saunders. He reported that the diving team had completed their search and he was confident there were no further bodies in the lake. ‘Thank God for small mercies,’ Nash had replied.
    It was only later that he was to regret that easy optimism.
    Pearce returned late in the afternoon with confirmation of the pathologist’s findings. ‘Three more females, all young and each of them had been in the water a considerable number of years,’ he summed up.
    Recalling this, Nash thought of the Russian teddy bear. It seemed none of the five victims was linked to the toy, so what had happened to its owner?
     
    Vatovec was in a foul mood. The burning of two of his most lucrative brothels and the arrest of his informer, together with the bungled assassination were major reverses. The possibility that the Snow Woman would pay even greater attention to his operation was cause for concern. He was not in the most receptive frame of mind to hear more bad news.
    When his deputy came into his office it was obvious he wasn’t about to tell Janko he’d won the lottery. ‘What now?’ Vatovec snapped.
    ‘I’ve had word from England. Three of our operatives in the north have been murdered. Their girl must have killed them. There was no sign of her. The fourth man returned, found the corpses and nearly shit himself.’
    The deputy paused. ‘He stripped the house of all documents and his clothing, did a runner before the police arrived.’
    ‘Good thinking. How were they killed?’
    ‘She poisoned them, sliced their pricks and balls off and stuffed them in their mouths.’
    Janko was hardened to almost all forms of atrocity. Even he paled at this description. ‘Hell! Which girl was it?’
    ‘One of the Moldavians we took a couple of years ago. We sold her to the Serbs.’
    ‘I take it there’s nothing to link her to us?’
    ‘Only if she or the survivor talks. He’s a gibbering wreck by all accounts.’
    ‘We can’t afford him gibbering to the police. I’ll have him eliminated and the girl as well. I only hope the police haven’t picked her up already.’

chapter five
    Next day, Nash discussed matters with the chief constable. He needed sanction for the proposed course of action. The chief constable expressed her approval. Soon after, he met with Mironova and Pearce. ‘We’ve decided to call in MCU and I also intend to speak to that Russian policewoman.’
    He was interrupted when the phone rang. ‘I have Chief Superintendent Armistead on the phone.’
    Nash had never heard of Armistead but instructed the operator to put him through. ‘DI Nash, Armistead here, Major Crimes Unit.’
    ‘I was about to ring you.’
    ‘Really?’ the word conveyed disbelief. ‘We’ve had a complaint about you.’ The tone was