1911021494 by MICHAEL HAMBLING Read Free Book Online Page B

to forensics. They might make something of it. But there are no fingerprints in the house or on that pick-up.’
    ‘What? None at all?’ Sophie couldn’t believe this.
    ‘No. Every door handle, switch and knob has been wiped clean. They did a slick job. It must have been that pair we saw in the afternoon. Forensics are staying on. They reckon those guys have got to have missed something, somewhere.’
    ‘Professionals, Barry. They’re not going to make it easy for us. But if that young lad was killed on the farm, then there will be traces. He must have lost a lot of blood.’
    ‘So you think it’s linked? I’ve told forensics there’s a chance of it being the same people.’
    ‘She said that they’d been forced to watch someone called Stefan being killed. I’m guessing that’s the body you found,’ said Sophie.
    Marsh nodded. ‘Nearly forgot. HQ phoned the station and said that a Romanian speaker will be with us later this morning. Apparently Kevin McGreedie used her last year in a case at Bournemouth and she was really good. I’ll be off, ma’am. I’ll get someone else here by nine thirty.’
    Sophie took the chair into the ward. She sat beside Nadia’s bed until the young woman opened her eyes. Sophie squeezed her hand and stroked her hair.
    ‘Hello, Nadia. You see, here I am. There has been someone with you all night, making sure you are safe. How do you feel?’
    Nadia gave her a sleepy smile.
    ‘I feel I am from bad dream. Men will be look for me.’
    ‘Don’t worry about that. I think you need something to eat and drink. Shall I ring for the nurse?’
    Nadia had her breakfast and was sipping coffee. Sophie decided it was time to ask about what had happened to her. Nadia struggled to find the right words.
    ‘I go on roof. They were looking. I was hide. I there for all day. I come down in dark and to fire for warm. I saw you.’
    ‘What happened before then, Nadia? How long were you there?’
    Tears came to the girl’s eyes.
    ‘I not have words in English. Bad, bad men.’
    ‘You said yesterday that they killed Stefan. Was he a young man? Did you know him?’
    ‘He was with them. He saw me. We are . . . how you say?’
    Sophie said, ‘Friends?’
    Nadia shook her head.
    ‘Family?’
    She nodded.
    ‘Brother? Is he your brother, Nadia?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Cousin?’
    ‘Yes. Cousin.’
    Sophie decided to wait until the interpreter arrived before she tried for any more information. She showed Nadia the clothes that Jade had left for her.
    ‘These are for you, Nadia. My daughter has given them to you.’
    Sophie had expected there to be one set of clothes, but Jade had included underwear, a pair of faded blue jeans, a pair of pink trousers, two T-shirts, two jumpers, one pink and the other blue, and socks. She’d even thought to include a jacket, a hairbrush, a pair of gloves and a pair of trainer shoes. Sophie was surprised at the thought that had gone into the selection.
    ‘Is very kind,’ Nadia said. ‘What is name?’
    ‘Jade. Don’t change into the clothes yet, Nadia. The doctor is coming back to examine you. You must wait. How are you feeling now?’
    ‘I am sleepy. But I safe now.’ She looked intently at Sophie and squeezed her hand. ‘Thank you. With my heart.’
    Mark Benson arrived a few minutes later to examine Nadia. Sophie sat and watched.
    ‘Now you,’ he said.
    ‘What?’
    ‘You looked a bit peaky yesterday evening. I’ll just give you a quick onceover.’ He winked at Sophie and mouthed, ‘Good for her to see.’
    She sat on the end of the bed while he took her blood pressure and listened to her chest through his stethoscope.
    ‘Fully fit,’ he solemnly announced.
    ‘I should bloody well hope so, you cheeky devil. You look as though you’ve wanted to do that for ages.’
    ‘All part of the Benson service.’
    He and Sophie went outside for a moment so he could speak to her. ‘Now, Nadia is physically already on the road to recovery. Some good food, exercise