The man in the hood must have noticed her reaction for he turned to follow her gaze, and then swivelled his head back in her direction.
A silence stretched out, and after a minute Nina was finally able to speak, her small voice trembling.
“Who are you?”
“You can call me Tobias, if you like,” came the muffled reply.
“Where are we?” Her eyes darted about the room again, noticing for the first time that there were no windows at all.
“That does not matter for now. But you are safe here.”
“Where are my parents?” Nina dreaded hearing the answer. “I want my mum and dad.”
The man gave the tiniest shake of his head. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m afraid that you won’t be able to see them again. Not for a long time.”
He stepped a little closer, and she could hear his laboured breathing again.
“This is your new home now. You will be staying here. Is that clear?”
Nina did not respond. A horrible empty feeling in her stomach made her suddenly nauseous, and she was afraid she might vomit.
“I have made a lot of effort making it look nice for you. It is clean and warm, there is heating which you can turn on or off, and you have your own bathroom for your privacy. There is hot water, and a kettle for you to make drinks, with a choice of coffee, hot chocolate, plus snacks. I will bring you food for breakfast and in the evening, or sometimes if I am away I will leave you sandwiches. The TV works and you have lighting, plus books and even some jigsaws. In the wardrobe are new clothes, which I hope will fit you.”
Nina listened as he went on.
“The rules are simple. If you behave and do not cause me trouble then I will treat you kindly. I will not harm you or touch you, I will not do anything inappropriate. Do you understand what that means?”
Nina nodded.
“Good. But if you break the rules, if you give me problems or are unruly, then there will be punishments. Do I need to spell those out for you?”
Again Nina looked over towards the cage in the corner, and she meekly shook her head.
“Very well. I am going to untie you now. Do not scream, do not fight, or bite, or spit. Understand?”
“Yes,” Nina managed a strained whisper.
Reaching forward, the man unfastened first her feet and then her hands, and he quickly stepped back. Nina curled up into a foetal position and pressed her back into the wall behind her.
“Now try to sleep. I will bring you food in the morning.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Nina watched him climb up the staircase and pull the heavy door shut behind him with a resounding thud, the narrow strip of light from the room above disappearing, taking all hope with it. A key was turned in the lock, bolts were snapped shut - then silence.
Chapter 5
112 Emergency
Telephone call logged as commencing at 7:12pm
Operator: Emergency call-centre 112. Who do you want to talk to?
(inaudible)
Operator: Hello, which service do you require please?
Nina: (whispers) Help, please.
Operator: How may I help you?
Nina: There’s someone in the house.
Operator: Who is in your house?
Nina: A man I think. He’s downstairs and (inaudible)
Operator: There’s a man downstairs? Is he inside your house? Can you see him?
Nina: I’m upstairs, but he’s with mum and dad. They are shouting.
Operator: Your mum and dad are shouting? Are they arguing? How old are you dear?
Nina: Twelve.
Operator: And what’s your name? Are your mum and dad having a row?
Nina: My name’s Nina. There’s a man, and he’s shouting.
Operator: Is it your daddy shouting dear?
Nina: No, the other man. I think they are fighting. I heard them fighting and there was screaming.
Operator: A man is in your house and he is shouting and fighting with your parents? Is that what you mean?
Nina: Yes, he rang the buzzer and then they were fighting and my dad was screaming.
Operator: Ok dear, please give me your address. Do you know your house address?
Nina Bakker provides her home address.
Operator: I’m going to send the police to your house. Is the man still in the house dear?
Nina: Yes, he’s downstairs and I can hear things breaking.
Operator: And whereabouts in the house are you Nina?
Nina: Upstairs, in my bedroom.
Operator: Very good. Please stay where you are Nina. Don’t go downstairs alright?
Nina: But I think he’s hurting my mum and dad. I can’t hear my mum anymore, but my dad keeps shouting and screaming.
Operator: I understand dear, but it’s very important that you stay in your bedroom.
Nina: (whispers and crying) OK.
Operator: Do you know who this man is Nina? Do you recognize him?
Nina: I don’t think so. I didn’t see him, I just heard his voice and then they started shouting.
Operator: Has this man broken into your house? Is that what you think has happened?
Nina: I think so. (long pause) It’s gone quiet now. They’ve stopped fighting.
Operator: The police are on their way Nina. They should be there very soon.
Nina: Should I go downstairs? Can I go and find my mum and dad?
Operator: No Nina, you need to stay where you are. Wait until the police arrive. Do you understand?
Nina: Yes.
Operator: Good.
Nina: I think (inaudible)
Operator: I didn’t hear you Nina. Can you say that again?
Nina: (whispers) I think someone’s coming upstairs (crying)
Operator: Nina? Do not leave your room. Unless it is your mum or dad, or the police, do not leave your bedroom.
Nina: It’s him. I can hear him coming upstairs. (inaudible) scared.
Operator: I know, dear. Please try and hide somewhere, the police are coming as fast as they can.
(inaudible) (crying)
Operator: Can you hear me Nina?
Nina: He’s outside my room. Please, oh please come quickly.
Operator: Nina, try and stay calm and tell me –
Call ends at 7:16pm
Police Radio message logged
