Armoured Attraction

Vanessa could tell she had lost Karine again.

“Where are you from?” Slowly again. “Where is your home?”

“Estonia.”

Vanessa wasn’t sure where that was. The United States? An entirely different country?

“Is Estonia here in the United States?” Vanessa asked.

“No, it is near Russia.”

Vanessa’s breath whistled through her teeth. Was she understanding correctly?

“Some men came and took you from Estonia and put you on a boat?”

Karine nodded. “First one boat and then the smaller boat with the men who spoke only English.”

Vanessa could see the girl begin to visibly shudder at the thought.

“And there were other girls with you?”

Karine nodded again. “Yes. There are seven more.”

Vanessa felt nausea roll through her stomach. Karine and the other girls were obviously part of a human-trafficking ring right here in the Outer Banks.

“How did you get here, Karine?” Vanessa asked. “How did you get away from the men?”

She held up a hand covered in bruises around her wrist, obviously from handcuffs or other restraints.

“Man tie us when no one is on boat with us. But I got out. And then I jump in water. I rather die from sharks than let them touch me again.” Karine closed her eyes and lowered her hand.

There weren’t any sharks in the Roanoke Sound, Vanessa knew, although there could be painful jellyfish at this time of year. Either way, it had been an amazing feat for the small teenager to undertake. The Sound was more than five miles wide at some parts. There was no way Karine could’ve known how far she would have to swim when she’d jumped in.

Whatever had been waiting for her on that boat had to have been bad enough that Karine was willing to risk her life to get away from it.

Vanessa needed to get the girl to a hospital. Report this to the authorities. Get the cops or National Guard or Marines or all three to start looking for those other girls.

“Karine, you were so brave,” she whispered. “I know it is hard, but do you think you could come with me? I can take you to the hospital. Get you the help you need.”

“I promised other girls I would help them if I lived,” Karine whispered.

“Yes.” Vanessa nodded. “Absolutely. We will go to the police so they can help find the other girls.”

Vanessa thought for a moment that Karine might refuse her help, but she finally nodded and got up off the ground, wrapped in Vanessa’s jacket.

“Okay, I go with you.”

Karine didn’t seem to have many significant injuries. She was able to walk unassisted from the beach to Vanessa’s car. Dehydration was obviously an issue—she gulped down the contents of the water bottle Vanessa offered in seconds—as was hunger. She made short work of a package of crackers. Vanessa wished she had more to offer. She gave Karine a pair of yoga pants to put on, which were too big for the girl but at least were better than nothing.

Vanessa took a direct route to the Nags Head Regional Hospital. She’d brought in enough clients over the years that she was pretty well known there. She walked Karine in through the emergency entrance, relieved to see her friend Judy working the desk.

“Hey, Judy.” Vanessa spoke only loud enough that the other woman could hear her. The last thing Karine needed was the media circus that would come along with anyone finding out she had been part of a probable human-trafficking ring in the area. “I have an assault victim here. Doesn’t speak much English. Probably also suffering from dehydration. She swam a long way to get away from the person or persons who were holding her against her will.”

Judy shook her head and smiled softly at Karine. “I’m so sorry, honey. We’ll help you.” She turned to Vanessa. “It’s crazy busy in here tonight. Can we put her in temp room one? Just until something else opens up. We won’t do any exams there.”

Temporary room one was at the front of the trauma unit. They rarely put assault victims there because it was so busy nearby and was only separated by curtains. Judy wouldn’t put them there if she had another choice.

“Okay, sure. I’ll take Karine in myself.”

She led the girl into the room and helped her to sit. She seemed to stare blankly out the crack in the curtain.

Should Vanessa get her some food? She didn’t want to leave Karine alone, but who knew when she’d last had a decent meal? Maybe Judy could get something for them.

A moment later Karine bounded out of the chair and backed away to the farthest point in the room. Her face was devoid of all color and her eyes were huge.

“Leave. Leave.” The young woman was shuddering so hard that was all she could get out.

Vanessa had no idea what was going on. Why was Karine freaking out now when she had been so docile since they’d arrived? Vanessa looked out through the crack in the curtain to where Karine had been looking.

A uniformed member of the sheriff’s department was talking to Judy at the main desk.

Had Vanessa misunderstood the whole situation? Was Karine running from the law?

She turned back to the young woman and found her slipping under the curtains of the room. Vanessa rushed over, stopping her gently.

“Karine. The policeman out there... Is he looking for you?”

Karine clutched at Vanessa. “Man. Man on boat.”

“That man was on the boat?” A sheriff’s deputy?

“No.” Karine shook her head. “That clothes.”

Not that particular guy, but someone wearing the same uniform. Dear God. Was Karine telling her that someone from the sheriff’s office was part of a trafficking ring?

Vanessa stared at her for a few more moments. She had no idea exactly what was going on, but she was willing to give Karine the benefit of the doubt. If Vanessa was wrong, she’d deal with the consequences later.

“Okay, let’s get you out of here.”

They slipped under the curtain and were out of the hospital in a matter of minutes. Karine was still shuddering, glancing from side to side frantically, obviously searching for anyone who might be following. Vanessa put an arm around her, tentatively, to guide her through the parking lot to her car. Karine stiffened briefly before leaning into her.

Vanessa started the car and pulled to the edge of the parking lot. She didn’t know which way to turn. If someone from the sheriff’s office really was in on this, it wouldn’t take long for them to figure out Karine was with her. She couldn’t take Karine to her house. She needed to get her out of the area.

“Karine.” Vanessa turned to the girl, who was sitting low in her seat so no one could see her. “I’m going to drive you to Norfolk, okay? It’s a city about an hour and a half from here. There are police, FBI, who can help us.”

“No!” Karine sat straighter in the seat. “I cannot leave. I must stay here to help the other girls. Must find them.”

“Yes, we’ll get help and then come back here.”