The boy obeyed and looked up into the eyes of the grey-faced man. Gobbling up spit from deep in his throat, he let it fly.
The doctor wiped it away with his coat sleeve. ‘You shouldn’t have done that. Believe me.’
‘What did you take from me?’
‘A kidney. And seeing how you are reacting, I’m sorry I didn’t take both.’
The boy laughed. It was easier than crying. ‘You will pay for this.’
‘Where you are going, boy, you will soon forget me. You are nothing. You hear me? Like all the others who come through my doors. I use them to save those worthy of saving. And you are worthless.’
Hearing movement at the door, the boy twisted round. The young lad stood there, holding a steel case similar to those he’d seen at his home the day his family had been murdered.
‘Father,’ the lad said, ‘are you ready? We need to hurry or the ice will melt.’
The doctor slid a long bony finger along the boy’s face.
‘I will be back for you.’
‘Let me go!’
‘Only when I am ready.’
The boy felt the skin on the back of his hand tingle as the doctor inserted a syringe into the cannula and the liquid trickled into his body. He had no control. Before a dead weight caused his eyelids to close, he saw the emotionless black eyes of the boy at the door, his face sporting a smirk of pure evil.
Eventually he slipped into darkness.
Day Eight
Monday 18 May 2015
Seventy-One
‘Chloe, I think it’s safer if you stay home from school today, and I’m going to arrange a squad car to patrol the area.’
Placing a mug of coffee on the locker, Lottie sat down on the edge of the bed. Chloe’s eyes were swollen from crying.
‘Did you sleep much?’
‘Not a lot. Thanks for understanding, Mam.’
‘Darling, I’ll help you any way I can. I have to go to work now, but ring me if you need anything.’
Chloe smiled and Lottie felt her heart constrict. She squeezed the girl’s hand and feathered her cheek with a kiss. ‘I love you.’
‘Love you too.’
‘How come she gets to stay home and I’ve to go to school. It’s not fair.’ Sean stood on the landing, rucksack flung at his feet, hands stuffed into his pockets. ‘I’m sick too.’
Lottie mussed his hair and appraised her tall son. ‘Image of your dad.’
‘Do I still have to go?’
‘I’m afraid so. Come on. I’m late and I don’t want you late too.’
‘Fuck.’
‘Sean! Language,’ Lottie said.
Katie was at the bottom of the stairs, holding Milot on her hip.
‘Fuck,’ the little boy said.
‘Dear God,’ Lottie sighed. ‘What will that social worker think of this family?’
‘His name is Eamon,’ Katie said.
‘Is it now?’ Lottie folded her arms.
Her daughter blushed.
‘Fuck,’ Milot said again.
And Lottie had to agree with him.
Seventy-Two
Lottie informed Superintendent Corrigan about the girl she’d seen in Frank Phillips’s bedroom. He lifted the phone immediately to contact his Spanish colleagues. Relief soared through her as she entered the office.
‘Right. We’ve got three murder victims and two girls missing, Maeve Phillips and Mimoza Barbatovci. The only things that seem to link them are the DPC, Dan Russell and Andri Petrovci. We’re going through everything from day one right up to date.’
Kirby and Lynch flustered around. Boyd sauntered in with two Styrofoam cups of coffee and handed one to Lottie. She placed it on top of a stack of files.
‘We’re solving this mess today. Today!’ she said. Taking a sheet of paper from her bag, she laid it out in front of her. She’d worked for hours last night, listing things they had to do, reading up on Kosovo, sending off emails.
‘Where’s that warrant for the DPC?’ she asked.
‘It’s before the judge this morning,’ Boyd said.
Lottie told the team about Chloe’s revelations regarding the man calling himself Lipjan.
‘I did some research on Kosovo last night. During the war back in the nineties, illegal harvesting of human organs was endemic. Organs were torn from the living bodies of captive soldiers and ordinary civilians. People were brought to a doctor in Pristina by the KLA and others. Big-money business. This disgraced doctor, Gjon Jashari, was brought to trial a few years ago for crimes against humanity, but he suffered a heart attack and died before anyone could give evidence.’
‘Rough justice,’ Boyd said.
‘I’ve emailed the prosecutor for details of those involved. It’s a long shot, but seeing as we have two dead girls with organs removed, and links to Kosovo in town, it’s worth a try.’
‘Real long shot,’ Kirby said.
‘Get everything we have so far, and a fine-tooth comb. Come on, lads. Today!’
After an hour trawling through reports, transcripts and evidence, Lottie sat back.
‘Anything on the crypto and reports of illegal shootings on lakes?’ she asked Lynch.
‘I’m working my way through the reports. I’ll have a list ready for you later.’
‘Be as quick as you can. The shore of a lake could be our primary crime scene. Kirby, if you haven’t already done it, look up Jack Dermody’s phone contacts.’ Lottie marked off a list she’d made last night. ‘See if anyone crops up who could be involved in all this.’
‘Yes, boss. Will I do the same for Petrovci?’
‘We ran his phone on day one, so now I want you to cross-reference his contacts against Dermody’s. Calls and texts also.’
‘Yes, boss.’
‘And check if any unit dealing with organised crime or human trafficking know of this Fatjon whom Frank Phillips mentioned.’
‘Jaysus, boss, I’ve all this stuff to do and—’
‘I don’t want to hear it.’ Lottie caught the roll of Kirby’s eyes as he made his way out of the office. ‘I’m heading off to see Dan Russell.’ She ticked another item on her list.
‘I’ll go with you.’ Boyd stood up.
‘Of course.’
‘Good cop, bad cop?’
‘I’m the bad one this time.’ Lottie picked up her bag and headed for the door.
‘You’re the bad cop all the time.’
‘Who’s a bad cop?’ Superintendent Corrigan filled the doorway with his oversized bulk. Beneath his spectacles, one eye sported a black patch.
Lottie escaped out under his arm before she said anything about pirates.
Seventy-Three
‘So you haven’t found Mimoza yet?’ Dan Russell said.
They’d refused his invitation to sit. Boyd leaned against the wall to the left of the ex-army man. Lottie stood to the right, her back to him, and perused the line of hanging photos. She spun round. ‘I want to know the truth.’
‘Don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Russell ran a finger round the inside of his collar.
She felt a shiver scurry along her bones. ‘Do you traffic girls illegally for the sex trade?’
‘I’ll report you for slander,’ he retorted.
‘Report away. It was just a question.’ Lottie paused, arranging her thoughts. ‘I’ve been speaking to Frank Phillips. You know him?’
‘I’ve heard of him. Nothing to do with me.’
‘Know anyone by the name of Fatjon?’ She watched him intently. His eyes flickered, nothing more.