Beyond a further plexiglass door he suddenly found himself walking on the fluffy carpet he recognised from his suite. Overall, the small connecting room, with its two leather armchairs and wardrobe, looked like the cruise ship again. The door they were standing beside was also identical to those of the passenger cabins, except here the spyhole worked the other way around.

The doctor peered in. Apparently satisfied with what she’d seen, she invited Martin to try out his own card.

‘Your key is programmed to give you access to all areas necessary for your work. You can see her any time you like, but I’d be very grateful if you’d let me know beforehand.’

‘Is Anouk locked up?’ he asked disapprovingly.

The doctor nodded seriously. ‘For her own security. Until we know where she was and who might be after her, she shouldn’t roam around the ship unchecked. There’s a button behind her bed she can use to raise the alarm if she’s in danger.’

She pointed upwards. Above the door was a red lever that reminded Martin of the emergency brakes in trains. ‘In an emergency you can unlock the door that way, but it sets off an alarm on the bridge, so it’s always better to bring your key.’

Martin slipped the plastic card from his jeans pocket, then hesitated. Before he entered he ought to have a better idea of what to expect behind the door.

‘Is this your examination report?’ he asked the doctor, indicating the clipboard beneath her arm.

Without saying anything she handed it to him. Martin scanned the report of her initial examination. Anouk Lamar. Female patient. Age: 11. Height: 1.48m. Weight: 35 kg.

In poor overall condition with signs of neglect. Patient doesn’t react to offers of help or encouragement. Suspected mutism.

‘Is she completely speechless?’ Martin said, questioning the diagnosis.

Dr Beck nodded regretfully. ‘Hasn’t said a single word. All she does is moan, cry or grunt, but mostly that’s in her sleep. She has terrible nightmares. Neurologically everything seems to be normal, as you’ll see. Good reflexes, but…’

‘But what?’ Martin asked, then he saw it himself. The physical results in the bottom third of the report took his breath away: superficial skin abrasions running vertically, right next to the labia majora (false passage).

‘Bruising on both inner thighs. Severe fissures at eight and eleven o’clock in the lithomy position?’ Martin cited this part of the report in disbelief.

Elena nodded sadly. ‘Obviously I’ve taken all the necessary swabs.’

Jesus Christ.

He closed his eyes.

According to this Anouk Lamar had been raped several times by her abductor, and bestially.

18

The same time, deck 5