Breaking the Circle (19 page)

Evie’s mobile buzzed. ‘Oh no, forgot to switch it off!’ She answered it and held it out to Maya. ‘For you. Be quick or the machines might stop workin’.’

It was Zac calling and Maya arranged to meet him at Victor’s café. She wasn’t sorry to leave the hospital room, because seeing Serena looking so ill made her furious. Escaping
into the balmy autumn evening was blessed relief.

* * *

Zac was waiting for her when she arrived. The café was busy and he was sitting at a small table by the window. She borrowed his mobile to check in with Helen and then
they ordered some drinks.

‘So, what’s happenin’?’ Zac wanted to know.

Maya leaned forward. ‘Well, for a start, somebody’s following me.’

‘No!’ Zac said, his eyebrows drawing together in a big frown.

‘Look, see over there.’ Maya pointed to a man in dark jeans and a hoodie. He was standing in the rain opposite the café. ‘Hm, a different one. The other must have gone
off duty.’

‘What?’

She smiled. ‘I’m under guard. Simon was worried Omega would track me down so he’s put a tag on me.’ She smiled. ‘I’ve led him over half of London
today.’

Zac took another glance. ‘I’m glad he’s watchin’ you,’ he said. ‘Omega’s dangerous and you know too much about them.’

Maya told him of her plan to find out even more by going to the interview the next day.

‘You’re the only person that understands,’ she said. ‘I’m trusting you totally. Nobody else must know what I’m doing. Simon would tell me “no
way”, but I have to try and find out where they took those girls and . . . Kay.’

Zac nodded. ‘I’m listenin’. You can count on me, but. . .’ He frowned. ‘You’re just goin’ to the office, just for information, yeah? But how you
goin’ to get away from your shadow?’

‘I have a plan,’ Maya said.

‘Wait,’ Zac said holding up a warning finger.

‘What?’

‘Did you buy a new mobile?’

Maya’s face fell. ‘I was too busy thinking about my disguise.’

Zac exploded. ‘You got to have a phone – you cannot go into this situation without a mobile. I need to know you’re safe. Everyone needs to know you’re safe.’

Maya looked into his dark brown eyes and smiled. ‘OK. You’re right. I should have thought. Let’s go and buy one.’

* * *

After buying a new phone, they were on their way back to the flat, Zac trailing slightly behind Maya, their hands loosely linked, when turning the corner into the square, Maya
stopped dead and pulled back. The street was busy, but she was developing some kind of homing instinct when it came to danger.

‘It’s them!’

‘Who?’

‘Two of them – waiting for me.’

She leaned back against a wall, her eyes glazed over, and she was breathing fast. Zac stood in front of her like a shield, she put an arm on his shoulder to steady herself.

‘You sure?’

‘One of them’s Ginger.’

‘OK. So what we have to do is stop here and tell the cop guy.’

Maya turned and looked back. ‘Can’t see him. I think we lost him on the high street.’

‘Call Simon.’ Zac held out his mobile.

‘I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘If Simon’s men come running, the gang will know I’m being watched.’

Zac stared into her eyes. ‘You are one tough lady.’

Maya kissed his forehead. ‘It’s all right,’ she said, shaking a carrier bag. ‘I have plan B.’

* * *

A dark-haired school girl wandered into an office block, telling the guard she was meeting her mum. In the bathroom, Maya set to work, while Zac stood outside, waiting. He
watched a few office workers leave, listened to a couple of tunes on his iPod, then a tall, blonde-haired woman, in a short, white dress and high-heeled boots came strolling out of the offices. She
was very attractive, but not his type – a bit too obvious. He looked away, wondering how much longer Maya was going to be. The blonde woman came closer and grabbed his arm. His eyes
goggled.

The woman laughed. ‘It’s me.’ Maya was triumphant. ‘You didn’t recognise me!’

‘Wasn’t lookin’ for no hooker.’

‘Thanks,’ Maya replied, pretending to be offended.

She was as tall as Zac in her high-heeled boots and had to lean down to put her head on his shoulder.

‘Walk me to the flat,’ she said. ‘Put your arm round me, like I’m your girlfriend.’

‘Pleasure’s all mine.’

It was a long walk up the street, Maya tottering in her boots, hiding her face on Zac’s shoulder. ‘Are they still there?’ she whispered.

‘Yeah, keep your head down.’

She couldn’t see Ginger as they walked past, but she sensed him and trembled. At the door to the flat, she handed Zac her key. They were inside by the time the two gang members thought to
check them out. All Maya had to do then was face Helen.

‘What on earth have you got on?’ Helen asked.

‘Forgot to tell you,’ Maya mumbled, before she darted upstairs. ‘Own clothes day at school.’

‘Own clothes!’ Helen exclaimed.

Later that night, when Zac had left, Maya called Simon.

‘You said you’d tell me if there were any developments,’ she said. ‘Has anything turned up?’

‘No, no news,’ Simon replied. ‘But I have got something to say to you. Where the hell is the report I asked for? I could have saved my assistant a journey.’

Maya gulped. The events of the day had taken over and she’d completely forgotten about writing the report. ‘I’m . . . I’m so sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I
didn’t have time, you know with school and everything.’

‘Well, let me have it tomorrow without fail – all the details in hard copy. I’ll send somebody over about eight o’ clock tomorrow night to pick it up. By the way,
Gerard’s family have been informed. They were told he’d fallen in the canal.’

‘I know,’ Maya said.

There was a short silence until Simon spoke. ‘All right. Don’t forget, eight o’ clock tomorrow evening.’

When Simon clicked the phone off, Maya wondered if she’d deliberately forgotten to write the report. Tomorrow, after her visit to Omega, she might be able to write something really
useful.

Her dreams that night were dark and disturbing. She was running and running, trying to catch someone, then she fell into deep water and at the bottom, amongst dense weeds, was Kay. However much
she pulled, Maya couldn’t free her, she was trapped.

In the morning when she woke, her duvet was rumpled and damp with sweat, her head full of scary images. Looking out of the bedroom window, she checked the square and saw a new minder leaning
against the park railings. His street gear gave him away – regulation hooded top, lumberjack shirt and jeans. It was slightly worrying that she could spot him so easily.

Later when she was walking to catch the school bus, she was aware of him trailing behind. She knew the drill from the previous term when a kidnap threat had restricted her movements. He’d
follow her to school until he was certain she was safely inside the building and couldn’t leave the school grounds until he met her at the end of the day.

To avoid alarming the man, she’d have to be clever – make him think everything was normal by catching the usual bus and walking into school. Then, after registration, she’d
split.

A whispered conversation with Leona and Evie during registration ensured their support. Maya didn’t tell them where she was going, but asked them to cover for her – if any teacher
asked about her, she’d gone to the sick room.

When the bell for first lesson sounded, Maya headed towards doors that led out into a tarmac area, skirted the Science block and made her way round to the front exit. There was no other way in
or out since the school had been newly-surrounded by railings and fences. Striding purposefully down the front drive, she hoped nobody would challenge her – and luckily they didn’t.
True to form, her minder had returned to base while she was safely inside school premises. At the bottom of the drive, she headed towards the nearest Tube station.

Sun was dappling the streets as she walked from Leicester Square up to Soho. It was an exceptionally warm day for September; a street sweeper was belting out a Green Day song and tables on the
pavement were occupied by early coffee drinkers. The dusty doorways shadowed by bouncers and hostesses at night were empty now and the streets looked bright and colourful.

It took three trips up and down the street before she spotted the Omega offices. Crammed between a restaurant and shop selling flamboyant party wear was an entrance bearing a laminated sign
– Omega Introductions.

It was an hour before her interview, adequate time to transform herself. The plan was risky. Hopefully her fake Eastern European accent would pass, but if somebody asked her to speak her native
language, she’d be sunk. The few words she remembered would hardly convince.

Walking past the Omega sign, she continued up the street and went round the corner, looking for a coffee shop that she thought might have a decent lavatory. She chose a stylish, modern place
and, once inside, ordered a cappuccino and croissant then sat watching customers come and go. She checked her watch every few minutes, willing the time to pass swiftly, thinking about the questions
she might be asked and what answers she would provide. Over and over she told herself that what she was doing was simple. All that was required was to go up some stairs, into an office and answer
some questions. She could pull out at any time – but for some reason she began to feel more and more nervous.

Her gaze settled on the empty coffee cup in front of her; it was ringed with dried foam. Her eyes glazed over, her heart raced. She was mesmerised, frozen into silent panic.

I can’t do this.

Thoughts and images bombarded her mind, she saw the glinting metal of a gun, remembered the icy cold water of the canal. And she asked herself, why was she doing this, who exactly was her
mission for? Was it for Kay, who might already be dead, for the trafficked girls, to impress Simon or Pam, or for her own satisfaction?

She asked all these questions of herself, but didn’t come up with answers. It was as if an unknown force were driving her, something deeply-hidden in her soul had to fight for justice
– action made her feel better. One day she’d face her demons and think things through, but not yet. Standing up, she gathered her bags and walked towards the toilet – time to
transform.

Taking off her school uniform, she stuffed it into her schoolbag, then slipped on fishnet tights, her new boots, the white dress, and added a bit of bling in the form of a gold pendant and
hooped earrings. She screwed her hair up into a ponytail and carefully pulled the blonde wig over it, tucking in any stray strands of black hair. The magic marker for her eyebrows came next and she
painted them a light golden brown. Concealer hid the bruises, pale foundation lightened her skin, glossy pink lipstick brightened her lips. The only sign of her skirmish with Ginger was the cut on
her chin – painting over it with the magic marker made it almost disappear.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, the transformation was total – a different girl looked back at her, the only distinguishing features she couldn’t change were her large
almond-shaped eyes.

Turning her head sideways, she made sure none of her own hair was showing under the wig, smoothed the fringe and pouted. Yes, she could easily pass for somebody older than her fifteen years.

Red nail varnish was the finishing touch. She painted carefully, then waved her fingers under the hand dryer. Transferring her purse and new mobile to a small silver handbag, she suddenly
realised that she hadn’t considered what to do with her schoolbag. It was scruffy and not the sort of thing you’d take along to an interview, plus if anybody looked inside it,
they’d find evidence of a different identity.

Loud knocks pounded the door. Maya opened it.

‘Sorry, I get ready for an interview,’ she told the girl, who was waiting to clean the toilet.

The girl ran her eyes over Maya’s high-heeled boots and short, tight skirt.

‘Hm! Hope you get the job.’

Maya started to walk away and then turned back. ‘Can you look after my bag for me while I go for the interview? It is not nice – it spoil the look.’

The girl looked amused. ‘Yeah, all right,’ she said. ‘How long will you be?’

‘Maybe one hour. Can you put it somewhere safe?’

‘I’ll stick it in the back with my things,’ the girl offered.

‘Thank you,’ Maya said, handing over her schoolbag. ‘I will see you later.’

As she walked along the street, the white dress clung like a second skin, the hooped earrings jangled and the outsize gold locket bounced over her low neckline. When a man in a sharp business
suit whistled at her she winced, but at least she knew she’d achieved the desired effect.

Taking a deep breath, Maya pressed the buzzer marked with the Omega logo. A voice answered and she announced her name. ‘Dania Ballack.’

When the door release was pressed, she climbed a flight of dingy stairs and opened the door into a small office. Behind a desk with a sweep of empty worktop sat a tiny woman with a pale face and
shiny dark hair. She rose to meet Maya, stretching out a bony hand.