Hicks nodded. "I am grateful, John."

Milton waved it off. "Just means you owe me a few favours. I'll call them in when I need them."

"I can live with that."

"What did you see?"

"Nothing. If there's a brothel there, they didn't have any business going on last night or today. It's like I said: I saw residents going in and out, but that's it. The men visiting places like that have a look about them that's hard to miss. And I didn't see anyone who looked that way."

Milton nodded.

"You want to tell me what's going on?" Hicks said.

Milton took a sip of his coffee and then set the mug down again. He told Hicks about how he had met Samir, and what the young man had told him about his sister and what had happened to her. He explained what had happened in the flat yesterday, about the man he had killed and the woman he had taken out with him.

As Hicks listened, he remembered what Milton had done for Eddie Fabian. The man had been threatened and Milton had helped him, staying the course even when it was obvious that the men who wanted Fabian dead were dangerous. Helping those who had no one else to whom they could turn was evidently something that Milton was focussed upon. Hicks had no idea why that should be so important to him. It was difficult to reconcile with Milton's history in Group Fifteen.

"So the girl-Nadia-she wasn't in the flat?"

"No," Milton said. "That's the problem. They took her away the day before. And the flat was the only lead I had. If they've abandoned it, I'm out of options."

"There must be something else you can do. This other girl?"

"Her name is Sarah," Milton said. "And she doesn't know anything. I've asked."

"What are you going to do, then?"

Milton paused. "There is something. I need another favour."

Hicks parted his hands, inviting Milton to continue.

"The other girl." Milton angled his head and gave a nod. "Sarah. She's in the bathroom."

"You brought her here?"

"She had nowhere else to go."

"You trust her?"

"There's no reason not to trust her," Milton said. "I couldn't leave her on the street. But I need you to look after her."

"Babysitting?" Hicks replied.

Milton said yes.

"Why do you need me to do that?"

"She's a refugee, like Nadia and Samir. Syria. The smugglers who helped her get to Europe sold her to the Albanians, just like they sold Nadia."

"So take her to the police."

"She won't go. She's scared. She thinks they'll just give her back to the pimps."

"So tell her it isn't like that."

"I've been trying. But look at it from her perspective. You ever been to Syria?"

"Never had the pleasure."

"I have. I did a job there. It was bad then, and it's even worse now. The police there are corrupt. She thinks it's the same here. She thinks she'll just get handed over to them again. I get it. She doesn't know any better."

Hicks looked at Milton with scepticism. "This is just business for you?"

"What do you mean?"

Hicks shuffled uncomfortably. "The girl..."

Milton rolled his eyes. "Come on, Hicks."

His irritation was obvious, and Hicks backtracked. "I had to ask."

"It's business," Milton said. "Jesus, what do you take me for? I want to help her."

"Okay," Hicks said. "Sorry."

"I'm not going to be here for the next few days, and I don't want to leave her on her own."

"'The next few days?'"

"Maybe a week. I'm going to Libya."

Hicks looked blankly at him. "What?"

"Nadia is gone. Unless you've got an idea I haven't thought of, I've no way of finding out where she is."

"You could ask around."

Milton frowned and shook his head.

"There are ways of asking," Hicks added. "You know-shake a few trees."

"There are more than a handful of Albanian mafiosi in London, Hicks."

"But maybe you could get something."

"Yes, maybe," Milton said. "Maybe I could find her, but that would take time, and I just don't have that luxury. What if they know I'm after her? There was another girl in the brothel who ran. Maybe she's told them who I was asking about. That might not be the best thing for Nadia. If they hear someone is looking for them... well, it's not going to take a genius to put it all together." He shook his head. "No. I need to be smarter than that."

"Which means?"

"Nadia and her brother came across on a boat from Libya. The smugglers sold her to the pimps. So I'll ask the smugglers to tell me who the pimps are, and then I'll find the pimps."

"You'll ask them?"

"You said it yourself. There are ways of asking. I have a contact in Tripoli who can help me. I'll find them; they'll tell me what I need. I can be persuasive, Hicks. You know that."

"And Sarah? Does she know what you're doing?"

"No. And it's best that she doesn't. I've told her that I have something I need to do and that a friend is going to keep an eye out for her. That's you."

"What's she like?"

"Frightened. You'll need to be careful with her. Keep an eye on her. She says she doesn't know how to find the Albanians, and I've got no reason to doubt her, but she's been through a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if she's unpredictable."

"Where does she sleep?"

"My room. I was in here last night. Same goes for you. The sofa's comfortable enough. You've slept in worse places."

Chapter Seventeen.

IT WAS TEN when the girl finally came out of the bathroom. Hicks heard the door open and footsteps in the corridor. The door to the sitting room opened, and she was standing there wearing a dressing gown that was much too large for her. Sarah was slender and pretty, with soulful eyes and glossy hair that she wore halfway down her back. Hicks guessed that the bathrobe she was wearing must have belonged to Milton.

She looked into the room, her eyes on Milton first before sliding across to where Hicks was sitting.

"Who's this?" she asked.

"Hicks. The man I told you about."

"You didn't say he was coming today."

"It's fine, Sarah. He's a friend."

"Nice to meet you," Hicks said.

She looked at him with distrustful eyes.

Hicks got up and took a step toward her. As he put out his hand, she took a corresponding step back.

She looked across at Milton. "I don't know anything about him."

Milton smiled, trying to be rea.s.suring; Hicks could see that it wasn't a natural expression for him, and the attempt was only partially successful. "Why don't you sit down and introduce yourself, Hicks?"

Hicks stepped back and regained his seat on the sofa. "Okay," he began. "My name's Hicks, like John says. But you can call me Alex. I used to be a soldier. That's where I met John. I did that for several years until quite recently. Since then, I've been doing private work. Security, that sort of thing."

"When he says security, he means keeping people safe," Milton added. "Bodyguarding. And he's a friend. I'll vouch for him. You'll be just as safe with him as you are with me. I promise."

Hicks could see the slight relaxation in her posture, her shoulders settling down just a little and her arms loosening at her sides. She came fully into the room.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know either of you. And I have reason to distrust men I don't know."

"I understand," Hicks said.

"Has John told you?" she said. "What I used to do?"

"Yes. I know what I need to know."

Milton stood. "I need to go."

Sarah looked alarmed. "Where are you going?"

"I told you, Sarah. I'm going to be travelling for a few days."

"For how long?"

"Just a few days. I promise when I get back, we will sort you out. But you'll be fine until then. Just stay with Alex. He'll look after you."

HICKS FOLLOWED MILTON out of the flat and into the vestibule outside.

"You're travelling light," Hicks said, nodding down at the small bag that Milton was carrying over his shoulder.

"I don't need much. A pa.s.sport and a change of clothes. I'll get the other things I need when I get there."

"Weapon?"

"It's Libya, Hicks. That's not going to be difficult."

"No," Hicks conceded. "I don't suppose it will."

"What about you?"

"I've got my Sig," Hicks said.

Milton took his lighter and cigarettes and put them in his pocket. "I'm not going to be very long."

Hicks put out a hand. "Well, good luck. Don't worry about Sarah. She'll be fine."

Milton clasped his hand. "Thanks," he said. "Be careful. The Albanians are dangerous."

"Like you said: nothing to worry about as long as they don't know where she is."

"And Sarah's been through a lot. Just keep an eye on her."