Unit T Special Forces

CHAPTER 1

Kayla, an energetic seven-year-old girl, was happily playing on the resort beach with other children of various ages. Her parents were sitting with friends in a beach bar that overlooked the area watching - when everything happened at once. It started with what sounded like a huge bang to the building, followed by bits of the bar ceiling beginning to come down on top of the customers. Immediately everyone began to panic, some screaming while others ran around confused. Kayla, like other children, was caught up in the panic as customers from the bar spilled out onto the beach. She was standing there bewildered, not knowing what to do or where to go, when suddenly a man snatched her up in his arms.

Listen kid, there’s been an explosion, don’t struggle and I’ll get you to safety.

But Kayla did struggle. I want my mummy, where’s my mummy? she cried out.

His response to her objection was a hard slap across the face, stunning the little girl into silence before tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Within minutes she was thrown in the back of a van, the door slammed shut behind her. The inside was dark and she scrambled up, banging on the back door screaming for her mother. The engine started and the van set off at speed, nearly throwing Kayla off balance. However, as the van screeched around a sharp bend Kayla could no longer stand and she fell to the floor, sliding uncontrollably into someone else crouched in a corner.

Please don’t hit me again, a child’s voice blurted out.

Kayla was taken aback by hearing someone speak, believing she was alone in the back of the van. Who’s there? she whispered.

Reece…You’re not going to hit me for talking?

Of course I’m not. My name’s Kayla, was that man, who put me in here, your daddy?

No, I was walking back from the ice-cream man and I was pushed. I dropped my ice-cream and a man said it was his fault and took me back to get a new one. But we went a different way and he stopped at the van and told me to get inside. I said I wouldn’t so he grabbed my arms and threw me inside. I tried to get out, but he started hitting me and pushed me back. I hit the side, now my arm hurts when I try to move it.

Let me have a look? Kayla asked.

Kayla ran her hand over Reece’s arm. She didn’t really know what she was looking for except it seemed the right thing to do. Then she touched an area which was wet and sticky. She pulled away.

Ow… that hurt, Reece suddenly shouted.

Sorry, I think it’s bleeding, it feels all wet, Kayla said.

I’ll be alright, Reece replied bravely. But I wish we had a light. It’s very scary in the dark. Can I hold your hand?

Kayla crawled around in the dark to the other side of Reece, reaching her hand out. She touched his body and soon grasped the boy’s hand. How old are you? she asked.

Six, how old are you?

Seven, are you with your mum and dad?

Yes, and my sister, but she’s older and has gone out on a pony ride. Where are we going, mum will be really cross I’ve left the beach.

Kayla shook her head in confusion, although he couldn’t see that. I don’t know.

But you won’t leave me will you?

No, I won’t, she answered.

They fell silent, both very frightened, as the van moved further and further away from the resort and their parents.

However, back at the resort Kayla’s mother, Mary, was becoming more and more frustrated.

George, I can’t find Kayla, Marian shouted across the car park.

George was repacking the boot. He looked up when his name was shouted and turned to see his wife Marian running towards him. She’d been to the beach to collect Kayla.

What do you mean you can’t find her, she was only feet from us in the bar? he asked as she stopped breathlessly in front of him.

I know that - god, I was watching her playing with those older children. But after that lorry crashed into the front of the bar, everyone panicked and I lost sight of her.

Let me lock up and I’ll come and look for her with you. She’s probably gone over to that ice-cream van further down the beach; you know what she’s like when ice-cream vans begin playing their music at home. It’s like some Pied Piper calling the kids together.

If she has, she’ll feel my hand across her bottom. She knows the rules, Marian retorted sternly.

For the next twenty minutes they both scoured the beach. George even ran up to the seafront where all the shops and café’s were, but to no avail. They met on the steps to the beach.

Well, has anyone seen her? Marian asked, very alarmed.

George shook his head. No… no one... I even showed them the photo I keep in my wallet but no one has seen her. This is not like Kayla. Marian, I think we should be telling those policemen who are sorting out the crash. They at least speak our language and can get everyone looking for her.

They both began walking briskly towards the police, who was talking to another couple. The woman seemed absolutely distraught.

Believing at first the woman was complaining about the car crash, it soon became clear to Marian when they were in hearing distance, that the woman was actually asking the police for help to find their child.

Excuse me; did I hear you mention that your child’s missing? Marian asked as they approached the police and the couple.

The woman spun around. You’ve found him, you’ve found my Reece?

Marian shook her head. I’m sorry, no, but we can’t find our daughter as well.

One of the policemen making notes about Reece looked at Marian. How long has your daughter been missing for? he asked.

Since the crash. George decided we should return to the hotel, so he went to the car while I went to the beach to collect Kayla. We thought she’d wandered off to the ice-cream van but no one’s seen her.

Is it possible that both children have wandered off together? Did they know each other? one policeman asked.

It’s possible, George cut in, after all, lots of children were playing together. But Kayla didn’t know Reece before then, we only arrived late last night.

Is all this delay necessary, can’t you call someone and get a search party going? Reece’s mother demanded.

I’m sorry madam. This is a holiday resort. Children go missing every minute of the day and turn up half an hour or so later. I will take details and photos, if you have any, of your children. It’s up to you to initially try to find them and call us, say, in a couple of hours if you can’t find them.

That’s disgusting. I demand you do something now, Reece’s mother retorted.

Madam, instead of arguing the point you should be trying to find your own child. You parents come here, dump the kids on the beach and hit the bars believing the child will stay there and give you no hassle. As I say this happens a hundred times a day. So I suggest you both look for your children and next time keep a firm grip of them. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve far more important things to do.

So you’re saying my child is not important. What’s your superior’s name? Reece’s mother demanded.

He shrugged. Madam, there’s only three of us at the resort. I’m the chief, if you can call me a chief among three. Your child is important, but in law your child is not missing until twelve hours elapse. I’m saying we’ll assist if he’s still missing in two hours, we can do no more.

Marian grasped the woman’s arm. Come on, let’s all four of us begin a search for both children. Then she turned to the policeman. Thank you officer, you’re right, of course, this is a holiday resort and children do wander off. Perhaps you can give me a number to call if we can’t find Reece or Kayla in two hours?

The policeman looked relieved that at least one woman seemed sensible and pulled two cards from his breast pocket, handing Marian a card. The second one he gave to Reece’s mother. Two hours and no longer, that goes for either child and we’ll assist, he said to them both. May I suggest you make your way to the funfair, most of the missing children are found there. It’s the music and lights that attracts them.

With this agreed he left.

Reece’s mother, Sarah, was married to Geoffrey. It had been two years before Reece came along. He was their world and after the policemen had left she was already in tears and imagining the worst. But Marian pulled her together and the families agreed to meet two hours later. This was not because they didn’t want to help each other, they did, but they’d decided their children had different interests and so after exchanging names and photos they went their respective ways.

Marian and George went everywhere they could think. By now many locals had also joined in and they too were looking in dustbins, down cellars and in the store rooms of shops, but to no avail. As the two hour deadline approached Marian was becoming panicky after yet another dead end, when George came up from the cellar in a small bar, accompanied by the barman.

At the same time Geoffrey and Sarah entered the bar.

I see you’ve not found your daughter either. I’ve called the policeman and he’s on his way. He told me to meet him in the town square, Geoffrey said, as he and Sarah joined them.

It was George who replied, Marian was too upset. We’ve been everywhere, Kayla has just disappeared. What about Reece, has no one seen him either?

Geoffrey shook his head. Nothing, it’s as if they’d never been here. Not one person remembers him and yet he was playing on the sand with six other local children.

Both couples left the small bar. Locals standing at the bar counter looked at each other.

That’s three now in less than a month, one said.

Yes, last time they blamed the parents, I don’t think they can do that this time, another replied.

It’s not going to do the resort much good, I’m already down in my takings and the papers are still full of the other missing child, these two will really hit us hard, someone else added.

When the two couples arrived in the square, there were already two police cars and a large number of people stood around. They all turned to watch the two couples approach. The policeman who had spoken to them earlier broke away from a group he was talking to and walked over to greet them.

I’ve already set the wheels in motion, since we spoke about Reece, Mrs Hayway. I presume Kayla is still missing as well? he asked, looking directly at George.

Yes... we’ve looked everywhere, it’s as if she’s just vanished, George answered.

There’s three hours before dark. I’ve mapped out areas for the volunteers to look in. Would you all like to join in and if they’re still not found by then we need to sit down and fill in a missing persons report.

Both couples, convinced now that with all this help their children would be found, readily agreed to join the searchers.

***

As dark came and the children still had not been found, the main body of the search teams was beginning to drift away. The press was also assembling in force. Originally here because of a missing child some two weeks before, they couldn’t believe that more had vanished. Their tack had changed, many papers before were blaming the parents of the original missing child and even suggesting they were involved, but now they were talking about organised crime, abduction and trafficking. This sort of talk sells papers and they all wanted the story as an exclusive.

We’ll have to talk to the papers, Marian. We need to get Kayla’s photo on every front page. You’ve heard what people are saying haven’t you?

She looked up at George, her eyes red with tears. I know and I don’t believe it. No one would take our little girl to give to those sorts of perverts. It’s inhuman.

That may be, but we can’t bury our heads in the sand; the longer we delay the harder it will be to find Kayla. This is the press, Marian. We’ll be a few days’ wonder, then a new story will come along. Both Reece’s family and we have to keep it alive, so the children are not forgotten. You understand don’t you?

She did understand, already the little boy missing two weeks before had gone to the second then the third page. No progress in an investigation either breeds speculation or it’s no longer news.

You’re right, let’s go all out and involve them. We owe it to Kayla to keep her name alive.

CHAPTER 2

A hundred miles from where the search for the children was going on a very specialized team was meeting. Based in France and known only as Unit T, this group was an international team brought together following a series of high-profile abductions, by a variety of governments stating publicly their intention of stamping out the practice of buying and selling people in their countries. Unit T was very diverse; it included specialists such as surveillance groups, financial accountants looking for large money movements or deposits, and a single special incursion SAS-type team aptly named Dark Angel. Dark Angel’s rules of engagement were to move in fast, snatch out abducted persons and either arrest or eliminate the people holding them. To do this they were very well equipped with Apache attack helicopters, a variety of land vehicles and access to the spy network satellite system, besides having the ability and authority to call on any of ten nations for reinforcements, hardware and anything else they might need locally to complete an assignment.

At the top of the table was a Major Grey, who ran the Unit. He’d been away for three weeks on vacation and had brought his team together to bring himself up to date. He now looked around the room of seven people.

The abduction of children while holidaying with the parents is a disturbing escalation of this particular part of the trafficker operations. The problem is; families are more relaxed and trusting when they’re in a holiday area, making their children particularly vulnerable. Stanley, what progress has been made in the recent abduction of the ten-year-old English boy in Spain while I’ve been away?

Stanley, a small man, with greyish hair and glasses hanging off the end of his nose, glanced down at his documents. He was in charge of surveillance and took his work very seriously.

He looked up. Local detectives believe the abduction of the young boy was the work of a Heinz Clapper. Of course they have no proof and didn’t even bring him in for questioning. However, because he operates internationally, they requested we took over the surveillance of this man, which we did.

Why did they suspect him for the child? Major Grey asked.

He’s been involved in running brothels and also trafficking for some years. Over that time he was convicted a number of times of bringing girls in from the Baltic, ostensibly to work in bars but they ended up in forced prostitution. He also had a suspected involvement, which fell apart in court, in the abduction of a boy who was found later by police in France being used as forced labour on a remote farm. The boy’s description of Clapper tallied exactly, but Clapper produced an unbreakable alibi just before the court hearing. That boy was also abducted in a resort, and Clapper used a diversion to create confusion, the same as with the young boy recently. In the latter case it was an activated fire alarm in the complex, where this time it was a bomb hoax.

So is the man a trafficker and a user, with younger children, or just a trafficker?

We don’t think he’s a user, but it’s believed he’s moved to trafficking children because of the very high financial returns. We’ve set up surveillance on his home and business address as well as tapping his phone calls. He’s been very busy on the phone over the last few days, so we know something’s going on and he could be making arrangements for the sale of the child. He uses a sort of pigeon type of language which the recipients seem to understand. We’re of course logging their numbers, all mobiles, and their locations.

At that moment Major Grey’s own mobile began to ring. He looked at the caller ID, stood and left the room before pressing the button.

Grey here. He listened for a moment. I see, are you sure Unit T should be involved? Again he listened. Very well, I’ll brief the team.

After replacing the telephone in his pocket, he stood for a moment in thought. Then making a decision he returned to the room. Back in his chair and looking around at the others in the room watching him, he sighed. It seems like the traffickers have struck again, he said soberly. The police in the Cherryville Holiday Village has just made a report to their control of a suspected abduction of not one but two children, aged six and seven. Now the shit will hit the fan.

Stanley looked concerned. Cherryville, that’s the same area as the last little boy. Also, I’ve a report that Clapper was on the road which would pass Cherryville, early this morning. It could be coincidence, but I wouldn’t think so. I’ll check with my two teams to see if he’s returned to his home or gone to his business address.

Stanley left the room and Major Grey looked across to a girl sitting at the far side. If we get a location and suspect the children are with him, could Dark Angel be ready to go in at a moment’s notice, Lieutenant?

Lieutenant Karen Harris was a girl of twenty, dressed in a military one-piece suit and armed with a handgun, secured in a closed holster. She had been abducted herself two years ago and escaped. Following her escape, the man who purchased her still wanted her back. Even when she’d returned home, she was still being chased and after the first attempt to take her, she changed her name from Marshall to her mother’s maiden name of Harris, in an attempt to confuse her pursuers. She was still found, resulting in another attempt to snatch her. These two attempts forced Karen’s hand to return to the Lebanon and face her abductors, although this time as a temporary Lieutenant in the British Army. Her return had resulted in a daring rescue, by Karen, of others snatched by the same trafficker. Both skirmishes with the trafficker had brought Karen very close to losing her life, making her nervous, so she stayed on in the army which gave her both a sense of security and purpose. Karen was also very attractive, five feet nine, deep blue eyes and slim with long dark hair. But she had never been able to meet a lad who she wanted to stay with and often her dates didn’t extend to more than a handful before she became fed up and began to pull back. In her own mind, she believed that her experiences with the traffickers had left her with a deep distrust of men, and their intentions, so she’d close up before allowing herself to become more than good friends. Having said that, there has rarely been a week that went by without someone asking her out!

Karen wasn’t very happy with what the Major was asking of them. Dark Angel has only just returned to the camp after action in the Baltic, Sir. We could leave within the hour if necessary; the Apache helicopters are currently being refuelled and checked out. Air transport has already unloaded the land vehicles, and they’re being serviced. She paused for a moment. However, Dark Angel’s not a first strike force, our rules of engagement wouldn’t allow us to pussyfoot around, and this is very early in an investigation.

The Major nodded. You’re correct, Lieutenant. However, as I’ve said, because three children are now missing the authorities have requested for Unit T to be brought in immediately. If our strike force is used then the rules of engagement are as normal, except if we’re able to pick up Clapper we’d like to be able to interrogate him without waiting for weeks while he’s recovering in a hospital, please. He added with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

She never rose to his inane comment. After all he wasn’t the one standing in front of someone holding a gun determined to kill you. I understand, Sir. I’ll make ready and await your orders.

Karen left the room and made her way to the exit of the building. She was joined by two other soldiers and they all climbed into a Land Rover, setting off to their base.

Stanley had returned to the meeting room, he took his seat again and opened a dossier. I believe Clapper could be our man, for the two children this morning at least Major. It’s been confirmed that a lorry drove into the side of a bar causing quite a disruption. The driver ran off. Anyway, shortly after the crash, CCTV on a public car park less than a hundred yards from the crash shows Clapper’s van leaving at speed. He didn’t return directly home though, nor did he go to his business premises. However, his phone was very active and the messages were directed towards a prearranged meeting tomorrow.

I see, and he still hasn’t returned?

No, Major.

Then we must assume he’s taken the children to some other location and the phone calls were directing potential buyers to this place. We can only hope that he will leave the children and return home tonight. This of course will allow us to follow him in the morning.

Stanley shuffled his papers and looked at a list with rows of telephone numbers, times of calls and locations. We do have another chance, Major, even if he doesn’t return home that is. Given his calls on the mobile, we’re using the mobile’s cell system to track his route. If he stays where the auction is to be held and like I say, doesn’t return home tonight, and makes more calls, we’ll have a final fix. We could even get a fix if he leaves it on and makes no calls. Either way Dark Angel can take him out and rescue the children.

The Major stood and began to walk around the room deep in thought. He needed to make a decision that may sign the death warrants of the children. The people left in the room didn’t say anything, just waited. He returned to his chair.

With three children missing, that we know of, this must be an auction. No circle would take three children like this. If Clapper is the auctioneer and we can locate his whereabouts we’ve an opportunity to move the major investigation forward. To have a number of private purchasers of children, or for a child circle, together, offers us the possibility to get to the heart of their operations. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Dark Angel will destroy this opportunity. Oh, they will rescue the children, take out or arrest the ones attending the auction, but that is where it would stop. But if we let the auction finish, the purchasers take the children and we escalate surveillance on all these people, we’ve a chance to destroy a large number of child circles.

Frances Kilt, a child psychologist attached to Unit T, cut in. It would seem you’re telling Dark Angel one thing and yet considering we use the children as bait. That, Major, I cannot condone. Every child is precious; the trauma these children are already going through will be immense. You’re also risking their lives.

I’m very aware of that, Frances. But many of these circles have ten or even twenty children already in captivity. As you know children are shared between the members, very rarely are children brought together. They suffer untold abuse, the most violent and perverted of the circle members get them last and children in their hands often die. This is the first opportunity we’ve had in two years to finally break into the circles. So would you be with us if we kept Dark Angel one step behind, ready to go in and snatch the children if it was getting out of hand?

Frances was silent for a short time, then looked directly at the Major. I cannot say I’m happy with the arrangement, Major. But in this case you’re correct, we need to break the circles and without the children it will never happen. So providing Dark Angel’s made aware of the dangers to the children, I will back the operation.

Thank you, Frances. I will not allow these or any other children to suffer unnecessarily from these people once we’ve the basic make-up of the circle. Dark Angel will go in, you have my solemn promise on that. He turned to Stanley. If we assume, perhaps ten or fifteen are in attendance at the sale, what extra resources will we require for following everyone?

The operation will need to be international, Major. We’ve intercepted Clapper’s calls to Italy, Germany and the UK apart from two local calls. Interpol should be informed and each country will probably utilise their internal anti-terrorist network to keep the surveillance up. Our main problem is - let our information be generally known and we risk the operation being picked up by the circles, who will then go to ground, Stanley answered.

Yes, I can understand that. I’ll speak to Sir Peter in the UK and ask him to look after his end. We’ve worked with Mario in Italy before and he turned out to be very reliable. Germany I’m not sure about, but I’ll get advice. In the meantime, none of this is worth a button unless you can get a location fix, Stanley. When you do, I want to know. Also, I want Dark Angel on full standby - if something goes wrong, I need to know I’ve back-up.

I’ll see to it for you, Major, Stanley replied.

CHAPTER 3

Kayla lay asleep on a heap of dirty, damp blankets that had been thrown in the windowless cellar room. Still dressed in the swimsuit she’d been wearing when she’d been snatched, Kayla was trying to keep herself warm by pulling one of the blankets over her body. Illumination of the room was from a very small bulb mounted in a table lamp. This table lamp had been left on the floor in a corner of the room. The lead from this had been extended with sticky tape wrapped crudely around the wire junction, and the extension lead from it passed under the locked, heavy, oak, entrance door. The room had a pungent atmosphere, mainly because there was no ventilation and partly from a portable toilet that hadn’t been emptied for days and the young girl had thrown up more than once when the stench from it caught her throat. She’d been there for hours without food, although the water that had been left in a tin mug, she’d drunk some time ago. For a time she’d shouted for someone to come, but no one had responded and she’d cried herself to sleep.

She was woken when the cellar door swung open. A man came inside, grasped Kayla’s arm and pulled her to her feet, taking her out of the cellar.

Still tired and completely disorientated, Kayla didn’t object, she was glad to be away from the cellar.

Has mummy come for me? she asked as they climbed the cellar steps.

The man grinned. Yeah, kid that’s right, your mummy’s waiting for you. You’ll see her soon. How old are you?

Seven, why?

He never answered because by now they’d entered a large room. Inside were nearly twenty men. A few lucky ones had a chair to sit on, others were standing around the walls, some smoking.

Number three. A seven-year-old British girl. Bids start at twenty thousand.

The man pushed Kayla into the centre of the room. She stood there confused and frightened; desperately looking at all the faces hoping her daddy was there. When she realised he wasn’t, she tried to run back to the door, but the man who’d brought her into the room, shoved her back into the centre and she tripped and fell to the floor. She lay there quietly, tears trickling down her face, terrified of these people.

Twenty-two.

Twenty-eight.

Thirty.

The bids slowed.

Come on, she’s ripe, nice little body, the man urged.

Thirty-one.

Thirty-five.

Again the bids stopped. Kayla still lay where she’d fallen, her eyes wide with terror. What were they talking about? Where were mum and dad?

Any more bids? - Alright, I’m selling once… twice… sold. Pay your money and take her.

In Kayla’s mind, whatever was happening seemed over as another man grasped her arm and dragged her up, demanding she stood still or he’d hit her. Kayla didn’t move while her hands were pulled behind her back and something was bound around her wrists. Then she was taken from the room. As she walked down a passage she caught a glimpse of a little boy being taken into the same room she had just come out of. She felt sorry for him, heard his screams more than once, before the man with her pricked her arm. It stung for a second, she could feel a coldness running up her arm, and then her head began to spin; voices were sounding further and further away, before nothing.

***

Kayla opened her eyes, it was dark, something was covering her face, her nose was partly clogged, her mouth had been covered with sticky tape with only a very small hole left just to allow her to breathe but not shout out. She kept trying to blow through her nose to make breathing easier. Every few moments she was jolted around, the cramp in her legs giving her pain. She wanted to wee and kept trying to hold it back, but with the pain of cramp and the effort of breathing she couldn’t help herself. Now she felt dirty, the pungent smell of urine, making her feel sick. Kayla lay there shivering, terrified and confused, thinking of the little boy who had been in the van with her and wondering what had happened to him.

The jolting suddenly stopped, with it came silence. Kayla heard a click and then she was being lifted, but still she couldn’t see. She was put down again, there was a ripping sound and suddenly she was blinking in the strong sunlight before she could see the same man who’d taken her from the room standing over her. She was at the back of a car, the boot open, the cover over her face had been the sack she’d been hidden in, now it was ripped apart.

You’re awake then? Stand up.

She stood up with help. Her legs were weak, her head still pounded. She felt sick. He grasped her arm and urged her through a door into a house and upstairs into a bathroom. Kicking the door shut, the man ripped the tape from her mouth. Pulled a knife from his pocket and released her wrists. Then he leaned over and turned a shower on over the top of a bath.

Get your clothes off and under the shower. I suppose you’re old enough to be able to wash yourself?

Yes, mummy doesn’t need to help me anymore, she replied, at the same time quickly removing her swimsuit. She’d never normally take her clothes off in front of a stranger, but she really wanted to get out of them. Besides, the costume was dirty from her time in the cellar and she was covered in urine, from when she’d wet herself. Climbing into the bath, then under the shower, she grasped soap and a sponge and began to wash her body vigorously.

The man placed the soiled swimsuit in a plastic bag and went to the door, before turning back. When you’ve finished, dry yourself off and wait for me to return. I’ve a very large dog, it roams the house and he doesn’t know you yet so you could be attacked. Do you understand?

Kayla nodded. Yes, I won’t leave the room.

She was already dry, with the towel wrapped around her, sitting on the edge of the bath when the man returned. He handed her knickers and a t-shirt.

Put these on.

Dressing quickly, Kayla followed him down the stairs and into the lounge. A table at the far end was laid for one.

I don’t know what you like to eat, but there’s cornflakes, orange juice and some toast for you.

He sat down on the settee and watched as she filled her bowl with cereal followed by milk and began eating. After finishing the cereal she pushed the bowl away, replacing it with the side plate filled with three slices of toast. Kayla looked around the table and then at the man. Can I have some jam please?

I’m sorry I don’t have any, but I’ll get some next time I’m shopping, you’ll just have to use more butter. I suppose you don’t know why you’re here, do you?

She shook her head, at the same time spreading the toast with butter, and began eating.

This is your new home. Your parents could no longer afford to keep you, so being a distant uncle of yours, I agreed you could live with me.

Kayla stopped eating and turned to look at him. Her eyes were filling with tears. You mean mummy doesn’t want me anymore?

He sniggered. You’ve got it right there kid. Neither your mother nor father had the guts to say goodbye. They just wanted you taken away.

She looked down, no longer hungry; tears began trickling down her face. Mummy wouldn’t send me away without saying goodbye. She always hugged and kissed me goodbye.

Well, she did.

But why, I’ve done nothing wrong?

He grinned. I told you, they’re broke; they can’t afford to keep you.

Kayla remained looking down at the floor, tears dripping off her cheeks, unable to believe she was no longer wanted. What will happen to me? she whispered.

That’s up to you. You can stay here with me, your uncle, but I’m not into kids blubbering all the time so that stops now. Or I’ll drive you down to the orphanage for unwanted children. It’s not nice there, they beat the children and they make you work for your keep. Either way you’ll never go home because there isn’t one to go home to. So what do you want to do?

Can I stay here with you? she whispered, clearly very frightened.

You can. But you forget your baby ways and grow up.

I am grown-up, everyone says I am.

Come over here then, he replied.

Kayla walked over. He took her hand and she sat down at his side. Putting his arm around her he pulled her close. As she leaned over he slipped his hand down, gently rubbing the top of her bare leg. Don’t worry Kayla; you’ll have a good life here. You’ll even have your own room with a toilet and shower. Would you like that?

Yes, I think I would. Will mummy come to see me?

Probably when they get settled, they may even take you back. But in the meantime, this is where you stay. You do want to stay don’t you, Kayla?

She looked down at the floor, tears in her eyes. The last two days had been a real shock to her and she still really didn’t understand what was happening. Yes please and I’ll try to act grown-up for you.

That’s a good girl. Now it’s time for you to see your room.

He stood and offered his hand. Kayla grasped it and he took her through the back, past a pool and into an outbuilding. At the far end was a door leading into a photography studio. He switched the lights on and Kayla looked around confused.

Is this my room? she asked.

He laughed. No, of course not, this is a studio where we’ll take pictures for you to send to your mummy. You’d like her to have pictures of you, wouldn’t you?

Yes, I suppose I would, but where’s my room, you promised me?

Keeping a grip of her hand he took her behind a large white screen hiding a door. It was open.

This is your room, Kayla, just for you. Why don’t you go inside and look around?

She looked down the passage and back up at the man. Will you come in with me, it’s very dark. I don’t like the dark.

He switched a switch and the passage lit up. Come on, let’s explore, shall we.

Grasping her hand, he led the way, first showing her a small room with a toilet and washbasin, further along the passage a shower cubicle and at the end of the passage a closed door. Opening the door revealed a well-lit sparsely furnished room. Kayla stopped at the entrance, but he pushed her inside.

You’ve toys, television and lots of nice clothes. This is your room, Kayla, so keep it tidy.

She looked round, then back at the man. But it’s got no windows to look out of; can’t I stay in the house with you? I promise to be no trouble and do everything you tell me to do.

No you can’t. This is your room; you eat and sleep in here. You don’t leave it unless you want the toilet or I’m with you, so you’d better get used to it, hadn’t you. He slammed the door shut and left her alone. Kayla stood there not knowing what to do. She heard the other door slam shut, then there was silence. Tears began forming in her eyes. She was scared and confused at what the man was telling her, all she wanted was her mother and couldn’t understand why she was no longer wanted.

CHAPTER 4

Stanley was in his mobile control surveillance room. Things were not going well for him. For the last few hours Clapper had not used his mobile and had even switched it off. He was now suspecting that Clapper had either changed phones or was aware that he might well have been followed or tracked with the mobile and had stopped using it. Either way he’d no idea where he was.

Outside the surveillance room Karen drew up in a Land Rover. She climbed out, left her AK47 gun in the vehicle with the driver, and went inside. She was already dressed in combat clothing, peak cap and bulletproof jacket, with a belt around her waist containing handgun, communication unit, expandable cosh and knife. For Karen this was normal attire, although she would finally attach a chest cross-belt containing hand-grenades and spare clips for her AK47 when the order came to move on the target.

Hi, Karen, it’s a no go I’m afraid. We just can’t get a fix.

How’s that then?

He’s stopped using the mobile and switched it off, or he’s using another. Either way we’ve had nothing for hours now.

Karen sighed. Not to worry, it was a long shot anyway. But he’s bound to go home sometime; we’ll pick him up there. Anyway, if nothing’s imminent from surveillance the Major wants to see me so I’ll be over at his house if you get something.

Sounds ominous, what’ve you been up to?

She laughed. God knows, you know what he’s like. Probably because the team’s sat around, he’ll want his garden done or some other menial task. It’s called team-building, we call it exploitation.

Stanley grinned. If he doesn’t want his done, you can do mine.

She laughed. In your dreams, see you later.

Karen left the unit and climbed back into the Land Rover. Twenty minutes later she was knocking on Major Grey’s door.

Lieutenant, come in and take a seat. Do you mind if I call you Karen as we’re in my house?

No, Sir, that’s fine, Karen replied, at the same time sitting down on a comfortable settee.

The Major poured two coffees at a side-table and joined her. So has our elusive Heinz Clapper emerged yet?

She shook her head. No, Stanley’s lost him.

He sipped his coffee. Karen also took the opportunity to drink hers as well.

We’ll see how things go, all’s not lost quite yet. Now, as far as you’re concerned, I’m pulling you off this side of the operation, we’ve plenty of personnel to handle it.

Karen looked at him. I suspected this wasn’t a social visit. What have you in mind for me then?

I’ve another lead, which could give the breakthrough into the circles running in Italy. To do this I need you to spend time there with Mario. There’s an expat called Eugene Sacks, a particularly nasty sort, who got out of the UK after being questioned at length over pornographic photos of children found in his house. They didn’t have enough to hold him as he claimed they came to him through the post that morning and he was going to hand them in. They also suspected many of the photos were taken by him, but that fell through for lack of evidence. Anyway, he left the country, spent time in Spain and later moved to Italy. His number came up yesterday as one Clapper called on his mobile. We know he left home, crossed the border into France and drove through into Spain. I now have a report he crossed back into Italy less than an hour ago. Under our recommendation he was stopped for just a few basic questions and the border police of both France and Italy made no search of his car. He’s the sort who would have purchased a child for his photography. Then when he’s finished with them, he’s certain to have a buyer among one of his customers.

Why me, Sir, isn’t Mario capable of sorting this man out?

The Major leaned back. It’s undercover. He’s English and prefers English girls. We need someone to get close to this man, find out what’s really going on rather than go in with all guns blazing. I’ve a feeling Sacks, apart from photographing children in degrading positions, is not turned on sexually by them, for him it’s just a child to use for photos before moving the child on to the real perverts. I say this because Sacks, according to local police intelligence, is also very much a ladies’ man, or thinks he is. So he’s often in the local bars chatting up any woman who will talk to him.

Karen said nothing for a short time, preferring to sip her coffee. So you’re asking me to play up to him. A paedophile who’s taken a little girl to abuse her possibly so badly she’ll have nightmares for the rest of her life? You realise I’ll more than likely kill him.

No you won’t, Karen, and that’s an order. We want him alive. You’ll treat this as an operation and act in a professional way, putting your feelings about this man to one side. We’d all like to take this sort of person around the back and beat the shit out of them, but we’re not here to take the law into our own hands. Do you understand?

I understand. Unless, Sir, I’m up against the wall and my own life is at risk, then I will use the rules of engagement given to Dark Angel to protect myself.

That always goes without saying. I ask none of my people to risk their lives because of restrictions in an operation I give them. Anyway, he likes to drink, likes to impress a girl and as you know when they drink they loosen up, often giving more information than they intend. You’re attractive, intelligent and I might suggest sexy. Besides being more than capable of getting the information we need, without going as far as becoming his girlfriend or anything else he may think he can get from you.

She sighed. "I suppose I could