Traffyck by Michael Beres Page A

was accidental. In God’s world, it might not be considered accidental, but here it is. Do you understand?”
    He rocked her head up and down, making her nod.
    “Imagine children snatched from streets, fed drugs, and no longer able to return home. Your husband was one of those who took advantage, and now he has been punished.”
    She shook her head. Not Viktor! Not Viktor, who said they might someday have a child! But the man grasped the hair at the back of her head and made her nod in agreement.
    “Yes,” he said, his voice becoming angry. “It’s true! He was one of many who make a living trafficking children. We cannot allow you to undo God’s vengeance. We cannot allow you to use a Gypsy to create untruths. If you do this, you will harm yourself. Your husband will still be dead, and you will create the additional burden of others knowing what your husband was. It is best to let it go as it is and dwell in the cottage where one keeps silent.”
    He let her head drop to the floor and backed away. Then he said, “Let us pray, Mariya. God will show you the way. Let us bow our heads and pray.”
    It was silent for a long time. During the silence, she recalled Viktor saying similar words when they first met: God’s will and God showing him the way. She remembered at first thinking he was joking. A man who owns an adult video store speaking about God and retribution and sin? Finally, there were the dreams, Viktor talking in his sleep. Before God’s fellowship lowers in final judgment of the children, I pledge .
    Hands at her ankles startled her. They were unharnessing her ankles. Would they let her go? She had been warned, and they would let her go!
    But they did not let her go. Instead, the two of them left her arms strapped and held her down while they pulled off her riding shorts before re-strapping her ankle restraints.
    Something touched her pubic hair, and the man between her legs giggled. Whatever had touched her pubic hair pulled back.
    The man to her right said, “We must be certain you understand our message, Mariya.”
    The man between her legs said, “We have something to help you remember. I found him in the weeds, and I have been saving him for you. He is a symbol of Satan. I will simply place him here and release him. Do not rush, little creature.”
    Mother of God! No!
    She pulled at the straps, lifted herself from the floor of the van, held herself up as long as she could until the man to her right pressed her down and said, “It is God’s will, Mariya. Whatever happens is God’s will.”

CHAPTER
NINE
    Janos found Svetlana in the hallway at Kiev Headquarters Investigative Division. Although it had not been long since he’d seen her, she looked different—upswept hair, thinner, wearing slacks and jacket instead of a skirt.
    “It must be the hair, Janos, because no matter how hard I try, the scale does not lie. Perhaps it is the outfit. Wearing a skirt in militia investigations was becoming difficult.”
    “You look wonderful, Svetlana.”
    “Thank you. And how is Kim Novak? I judged she is about your age.”
    “Who?”
    “Mariya Nemeth. I saw the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo some time ago on satellite. Mariya Nemeth reminds me of Kim Novak.”
    “I will need to take a film appreciation course. Were you able to check the license?”
    Two uniformed militiamen squeezed past, obviously staring back at Svetlana as they walked down the hallway. “Yes. Let’s get out of the hallway.”
    They sat at one end of a long table in an empty meeting room. Svetlana took a slip of paper from her jacket pocket and handed it to him. “The car belongs to Metro Vehicle Rental near Borispol Airport.”
    He took the slip from Svetlana and put it in his pocket. “Thank you.”
    Something was wrong. Instead of joking, she stared at him seriously.
    “What is it, Svetlana?”
    She folded her hands, looked down at them. “You and me, Gypsy. I have a friend—”
    “Anyone I know?”
    “He works in the House