‘You have your own place?’ he asked.
‘A one-bedroom house. Is small, but clean and warm.’
‘You’ve done well for yourself. I’m happy for you.’
‘Thank you. I work hard. But I would be nothing if not for you and your colleagues. If you are looking for me to thank you, I am happy to do this.’
Bliss turned his head to look at her. ‘What? No, Yeva – that’s not what I want at all. I want nothing from you. I’m giving you a lift home, that’s all.’
The girl’s face turned crimson and she let her chin drop. He could tell she had not wanted to make the offer, and she certainly would not have been happy to thank him in the way she’d implied. He understood her impulse, however. Such was the nature of young girls whose fate had come close to living that kind of life on a permanent basis.
‘I was surprised to see you with Marta,’ he said quickly, hoping to shake them both off the subject. ‘And coming out of a place like that. Do you mind if I ask you what you were both doing there?’
‘I do not mind. I told you I will not do what Marta does. But I do have second job. I dance at club. Not lap dance, you understand. Nor full strip. I dance pole, I earn good tip money. I don’t dance for men or do other things for money. You understand difference?’
‘I do.’ Bliss nodded. It seemed important to her.
‘I do this because I enjoy exercise and atmosphere, not because I have to. Not like Marta. She need to earn living this way.’
‘I get it. But I didn’t think you and Marta were close.’
‘We see each other at club only. We are friends, but not close. What we went through, we went through together. You don’t forget such things. You don’t forget the journey or the people you make journey with. We share something. A different kind of friend.’
Bliss felt an overwhelming sympathy for both girls. All of them, in fact. The five they had rescued, the one who had escaped only to lose her life so brutally at the hands of Lewis Drake’s men. Not forgetting all those who had come before and since. The trafficking of people followed by indentured slavery had gone on seemingly since there had been people around to exploit. That it still existed, with all the money, technological advances and united police forces spread across the world trying to prevent it, was an abomination to him. Such people were enslaved against their will, and often they were still in chains of one form or another. Across the decades this seemed to have largely been forgotten.
‘I don’t suppose you’ve ever come across a young Croatian woman by the name of Sara, have you?’ he asked her, on the off-chance. ‘Marta knows her, but says she doesn’t know how to contact her. I wondered if you knew the girl and how I might get in touch.’
Savchuk looked across at him, and Bliss knew before she spoke that his night had not been in vain after all. ‘Why? She do something bad?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Not that I know of, at least. The thing is, Yeva, she might have information for us about the young girl I told you about – our victim. There’s also the possibility that she may be in danger. If she were to meet with the wrong man… she could be another victim.’
‘You know who victim is?’
‘We do. We believe she was called Majidah Rassooli. Also known as Autumn, or sometimes Honey or Larmina. Do any of those names mean anything to you?’
Shaking her head, Savchuk began to tear up. ‘No. I don’t know these names. I know Sara because she was friend to Primrose – you know Haweeo?’
‘Yes. We’re aware the two were close. We think Primrose might be the one who gave up her card. She may have given it to Sara, or she might have known Majidah and handed it over to her directly. In truth, I don’t know how much Sara will be able to help us, but I would like to speak to her about it. And warn her off… if she’ll listen.’
‘Warn her?’
‘Yes. She might well be in danger.’
‘How? What kind of danger? From who?’
‘I can’t tell you everything I know, Yeva. It’s confidential, you understand? But if Sara is connected to our victim in a specific way – and it sounds to me as if she might be – then she is at risk. I’m not exaggerating. It’s the kind of risk that can cost a girl her life.’
After several long seconds, Savchuk finally relented. ‘I think I know how to speak with Sara. You let me meet. I persuade her to talk to you. You and Penny, I think. Sara will feel more comfortable with Penny there. I tell her you are good people, that I am here because of you. She will speak with you, I think.’
Bliss wanted to push harder, but he knew he had to handle this young woman more delicately. It was against her nature to trust, and encouraging somebody else to do the same would be a massive deal to her. It would take all she had to give.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Please try for me. We’ll meet her wherever suits her best, whenever it suits her most. Just me and Pen. We want nothing more from her than to talk. But please do warn her we think there is a man out there who is dangerous, so the sooner she speaks with us the better.’
Twenty-Six
Bliss treated Chandler to breakfast the following morning; he met her at the Holiday Inn, which served a delicious eggs Benedict. He had no idea if their hollandaise sauce was made by the chef or bought from a supermarket, but it
