The People Traders Read Online Free PDF Page B

envisage that, Mr. Marshall. These people are extremists, yes, but the damage to their reputation in killing a young girl; I don't think so. We've also informed the ports and airlines in case they try to take her out of the country. Karen will not leave this country, I can guarantee that."
    Just then a police officer came into the room and spoke quietly to the officer in charge. He nodded his understanding and turned to Karen's father. "Have you ever heard of a Frank Whittle, Sir?"
    "I have, but what's Frank Whittle got to do with Karen?"
    The officer removed his book from his pocket to make notes then looked at Karen's father. "It would seem, Sir, that a girl called Susan James has mentioned this name a number of times; she kept saying you would know him. Perhaps under the circumstances you'd better explain."
    He shrugged, trying to act indifferently. "There's not a lot to tell. Ten years ago I was leaving a sales meeting and there was an accident. Frank Whittle's daughter ran out of a shop with two of her friends: she never stopped at the kerb, but ran out on the road and under my car’s wheels. To cut a long story short, I was breathalysed and the result was positive. Frank Whittle blamed me because of that, saying I'd murdered his child. Shortly after the court case, his wife, suffering from depression, committed suicide. Her death really shook him and for weeks he'd ring day and night, threatening to get even. Eventually I had an injunction placed against him. It was more for the safety of my children rather than myself. The man was a nuisance, yes, but I was also worried his hatred would spread to the family. Anyway, he stopped ringing and I heard nothing again, so I suppose the injunction worked."
    The officer made notes and looked up. "As a matter of interest, how long has it been since hearing from this Whittle?"
    "I don't know exactly, perhaps five years."
    "And how old was his daughter when she died?"
    Karen's father sat for a moment and suddenly put his hands to his head. "My God, she was Karen's age when she died, seventeen with only weeks before her eighteenth. You don't think he's been waiting all these years to take her from us at the same age as his daughter died, do you?"The officer glanced towards another stood by the door and nodded to him. That officer left the room quickly. He then looked back at Karen's father. "It would seem, Sir, in view of what you've told me, that it may not be a simple matter of mistaken identity but more a grudge abduction. Karen's in greater danger than we first thought. I suspect after what you've told me, the snatch was a very carefully planned action by this Whittle. What his intentions are can only be pure conjecture at this stage."
    The room fell silent, everyone considering in their own minds the implications of what had been said. Suddenly the police officer stood. "We'll be in constant contact with you, Sir. I'll have the telephone line tapped and one of our officers will remain here. If you can think of anything out of the ordinary that might have happened in the last few days which may give us some sort of lead or clue, don't hesitate to call me."
    With that he left the house and climbed into a waiting car alongside his assistant. "Anything come through yet?" he asked.
    "Nothing, Sir, it's as if both the girl and this Frank Whittle have disappeared into thin air."
    The senior officer nodded. "He'll emerge, believe me. It's Karen I'm worried about."
    The other detective frowned, "Why's that, Sir?"
    "Well, Frank Whittle wasn't afraid of leaving his name. In my book it can mean one of two things. One, he's intending to leave the country with or without the girl, if he's not already gone. Two, he hasn't given the right name and Frank Whittle's completely innocent. Either way the girl's life's in great danger."
    They fell silent and the senior officer asked the driver to take them to the hospital. He'd decided it was important to interview Susan, now she'd regained