A/N: Trigger warnings. This chapter contains description of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The room wasn't what she had expected. It wasn't windowless and grey, but rather a light, bright space with a view over the tops of the buildings opposite. Glimpses of treetops reminded Regina that London was a relatively green city. David gestured for her to take a seat in a comfortable office chair as he sat in an identical one. There were two other chairs positioned around a large, circular table. Regina wondered briefly whether she'd made a mistake by asking Emma to wait outside but soon dismissed this thought. She knew what she was about to say. She didn't want Emma to hear those words.
The other chair was soon filled by one of David's colleagues who appeared with three cups of tea and several slices of flapjack. She'd already been introduced to James who looked almost exactly like Emma's father. Classically handsome, sandy blonde hair. It was hard to believe they weren't brothers, or even twins. James sat down and pulled the plate of flapjack towards him as David fiddled with the machine which would record Regina's testimony.
"Ok, are you ready to get started, Regina?" David asked when the equipment was set up.
"Yes," Regina said quietly.
"You'll need to speak a little louder for the recording," David advised as he pressed a couple of buttons and red light blinked on. "This is Sergeant David Swan recording at nine thirty two on August twenty-third, twenty twenty-one. With me is Sergeant James Nolan. We're taking the statement of Regina Mills as part of investigation 3108-21. Regina, would you be able to state your full name, date of birth and place of birth?"
"Regina Veronica Mills. My birthday is July fifteenth, two thousand, and I was born in Puerto Rico."
David smiled and nodded to let her know that the volume was fine. "Thank you, Regina. So, let's start with how you came to be living in the UK."
"I came on a work visa in the summer of 2020 from Puerto Rico. I had a been offered a job at the British Library and I flew here to start work."
"And how was the role at the British Library?"
"I never started."
"Why not?"
"My uncle, my mother's brother, met me at Heathrow as planned but then he took me to an apartment and wouldn't let me leave. I missed my first day of work. I assumed I'd lost the opportunity then, even if I could escape."
"And your uncle's name is?"
"Killian Jones."
David glanced at James. "We'll note here that Killian Jones is a person of interest to the police in the case 3108-21. So, Regina, to confirm, Killian Jones is your uncle on your mother's side?"
"Yes."
"And your family made plans for him to meet you at the airport when you landed in the UK?"
"Yes but my parents have no idea what Killian does here. They arranged it because I was only twenty and I'd never been the country before. He's the only family I have over here. My parents are nothing to do with what happened to me."
A rush of defensiveness flooded into Regina's veins at the thought of her parents being in any way implicated with what Killian was doing.
"We understand. And how long as Killian been living in the UK?"
"About eight years, I think. He moved from Puerto Rico when I was twelve."
"And back in Puerto Rico, do you know what he did?"
"I don't remember. He lived in another town and we didn't see him much. He's a lot younger than my mum and we weren't that close as a family. I can't remember what he did for work. Maybe he didn't have a job at all."
James chimed in now. "So, you said that your uncle picked you up from the airport. Do you remember where he took you that first day?"
"It was the building on Juniper Street. The one where Emma found me."
"For the record, Emma refers to Sergeant Swan's daughter, Emma Swan, who met Regina during a hospital visit and with whom Regina now lives." David seemed to be talking purely for the sake of the machine as James' face showed no surprise at the news.
"And can you describe that building for us?"
Regina nodded slowly, trying to conjure an image of the place she'd tried so hard to forget over the past few weeks.
"It's a tall, narrow building. It's got one entranceway which takes you to a lobby area then there are doors which lead to a corridor. Off the corridor there are rooms which are all the same. I think it's an old hotel or maybe university accommodation. The rooms are bedrooms with a small bathroom. On each floor is a shared kitchen area. At the back of the property is a staircase which takes you up. I think there are five floors but my room was on the first floor and I never knew anyone well who lived any higher than the third."
"Can you describe the room?"
"It wasn't big or anything special. There was space for a bed, wardrobe, not much else. Mine had a little window which opened onto the alley which ran alongside the building. It let in some light but it was pretty dark in there most of the time. The bathroom was just a toilet, sink and a bath with a shower over it."
"And this is where your uncle took you that first day?"
"Yes."
"What did he say, when you arrived?"
"He told me that this was one of his properties. I didn't ask any questions. I was tired and kind of in awe at the fact that my uncle could own something so big. It's a run down building but I remember being impressed when he told me it was his."
"And inside, did you meet anyone?"
Regina shook her head. "Not that day. He showed me to my room and told me to make myself at home. There were some clothes already in the wardrobe. Dresses, some underwear. I thought that was a little bit creepy. He told me to get some sleep and then he left. I didn't realise until later that he'd locked the room from the outside. He came back that evening with some food but then left again and locked me in. I banged on the door but he didn't come back until the next morning. That was when I met one of the other girls."
"What was her name."
"Katherine. I don't know her last name."
"And what did Katherine say to you? Did she tell you about Killian's setup?"
"Not at first. She just talked. I can't remember what about but it wasn't about … sex." Regina swallowed as the word left her mouth. She wasn't sure she could do this.
As if he was reading her mind, David offered her some words of encouragement. "You're doing great, Regina. We'll go as slowly as you need us to."
"I'm ok," Regina replied, sipping her tea. James went back in for a second piece of flapjack as David asked another question, flakes of sticky oat dropping onto the table.
"Who first told you about what sort of business Killian was running from the building?"
"He did, I think. That second night, he came to my room and said that things were different here. He told me that life was hard in London and that it wasn't like our life back in Puerto Rico. He said that he helped young women make good money and meet rich men. I was too naive to know what he meant. I was twenty but I was sheltered. I'd been a bit of a geek at school and hadn't ever had a relationship. It didn't click with me then what he was implying. He took me downstairs and there was a car waiting. Katherine was already in the backseat so I got in. Killian whispered something to Katherine then we drove off."
"Where did you go?"
"Some hotel. I can't remember which one. I went back there often over the early months as that man liked it but he stopped requesting me after a while. I think he only liked what Killian called 'fresh' girls."
"And what happened at the hotel?"
This was it, Regina thought, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Once she said the words, they'd be out there. Recorded. On record. There was no going back.
"Katherine led the way up to a room. I guess it was his regular one as I don't remember us asking at reception. She knocked on the door and this man opened it. He was wearing only trousers and I remember his belly was hanging down over his belt. He was about fifty. Katherine introduced me and walked into the room. I just stood there in the doorway. I think that was when I realised what was happening. I … I froze."
She reached for some more tea, partly to gather her thoughts and partly because her mouth was suddenly dry.
"Katherine came and took my hand. She led me in. I think she whispered in my ear that it would be fine if I just did as he said. I didn't really understand what she was implying or maybe I couldn't believe that she was the one who was encouraging this. I'd only met her the day before but I thought we were friends. And I'd never done anything like that before. I'd … I'd never had sex before. I was pretty innocent and unaware of the entire world I'd fallen into."
The fact that Regina had been a virgin that night sent a rush of renewed anger through David towards the man he was hunting. It was abhorrent enough that he pimped out women but the fact that he had sold his niece's virginity made his blood boil. But he said nothing and waited patiently for Regina to continue.
"Katherine made small talk. I think we both had a glass of champagne. I remember trying avoid looking at this half naked man sitting on the edge of the bed. And then Katherine pulled me into the bathroom and started talking to me about how we weren't allowed to kiss the men and how she would be waiting in the bathroom the whole time. I was so confused and I didn't understand what she was saying. And then she pulled out a syringe, a spoon, a lighter and a little jagged lump. She told me it would make things easier. I didn't say anything and a few minutes later she was injecting me with heroin. I didn't even know what it was but I do remember my body relaxing straight away. It was like the fear melted away and, well, I guess Katherine pushed me out of the bathroom and back to the man.
"I … I don't really remember what happened next. He was lying on the bed. Naked. He told me to come to him and I went. I had no idea what I was doing but I don't think he cared. He put my body where he wanted me and I lay there while he did what he wanted. It hurt but it was a dull pain. I guess the heroin made that easier for me. I remember there being some blood on the sheets afterwards and I thought I'd come on my period. Katherine explained it was my hymen in the car on the way back. I hurt the next day. My body felt achey and tired. Katherine came to ask how I was doing. She was being supportive and I don't blame her now but she was the one to offer me more drugs. I guess it helped, although I'm sure Killian told her to get me hooked. I, well, I'm clean. Four weeks."
"I'm glad to hear that," David offered. "And I'm sorry to hear about what you went through. Are you ok for us to keep going or do you want to break for a few minutes?"
"Yes," Regina said at once. She feared that if she stopped talking, she may never start again. She was on a roll. "I want to tell you everything now. Get it over and done with."
"Ok," James said. "So, that first night, Killian didn't come with you to the hotel? It was only Katherine?"
"No, he didn't come, but he was waiting for us when we got back. Katherine handed him a wad of money. I don't remember seeing her get it but I assume it was from the man. The next day, he gave me some money. I don't remember how much and I didn't really know how much a pound would buy me. I was so new to the country. Killian told me I could stay in my room and pay my rent by working for him. I asked about the job at the library. He told me that they'd called him and changed their mind. He said he'd help me look for a new job. I don't know why I believed him, or if I did even then. That first morning after I was just … a shell."
"And what happened that next evening?"
"The same as before. Katherine and I got a taxi to a different hotel and there was another man waiting. It was worse, knowing what to expect. That was our nightly routine for a few weeks and then eventually I went on my own, unless there was more than one man or they'd requested multiple women. I know it sounds mad that I didn't, I don't know, make a run for it. But I had no one, nothing of my own. I had no real money and I was worried about my visa because it was tied to my job. And, well, I just accepted it.
"Killian bought me a phone at one point, told me to call my mum to tell her I was ok. But he was in the room while I did it and he made it perfectly clear that I wasn't to tell them what was really happening. He helped me set up a MoneyGram. Told me I could make good money and send it home for my parents. That I could give them a better life. So I did. I sent them money every week. They were so grateful, so happy. It's not easy to make a good living in Puerto Rico and they thought I was thriving in the UK."
"Did you ever tell your parents what was happening in London?"
Regina shook her head.
"For the purpose of the recording, Regina is indicating no with her head. Did you ever tell anyone?"
"Emma was the first person I told. And you," she added, nodding to David. "That day in the hospital, I might not have verbalised it but you knew, didn't you?"
David nodded gently. "I suspected, yes. And you're doing really well telling us today. Can you talk to us about why you came to the Whittington that day?"
"I got hit by a customer," Regina explained. "The night before. He liked to slap me while he had sex with me but that night he was drunk. He hit me harder than he realised and then, when he saw the blood, it just made him angrier and he hit me again. It wasn't the first time I got beaten and only a few months after I arrived I'd had to go to get stitches in my lip. No one said anything the first time. But Emma wouldn't just leave it." Despite everything, she smiled. "She called you, pushed me to talk. She could tell something was wrong. If she hadn't been so persistent, I'd have been killed that day."
David frowned. "What do you mean?"
"That afternoon, when she turned up at the building on Juniper Street, Killian had seen your business card, Sergeant Swan. It fell out of my bag. He was angry because I'd gone out without telling him where, then he thought I was talking to the cops. He had pulled a knife on me when Emma knocked on the door. Honestly, a few seconds later and I would have been dead."
This was news to David and while he knew he was supposed to admonish his daughter for her actions, he couldn't help but be a little proud in that moment.
"What sort of knife?" James asked, gathering more information which would be of value to the team when they, hopefully, made an arrest.
"A flick knife. He carries it everywhere. I've seen him pull in on men who get aggressive towards the women in front of him. Not because he cares about us but because when we get hurt, we can't work for a few days. It's about money, not about compassion."
"And when Emma knocked on the door, Killian let you go with her?" James asked.
"He didn't have much of a choice. The knife was behind his back but even he wasn't stupid enough to show it to Emma. She made up some lie on the spot about going to see a show and, yeah, he didn't really know what to do so he let me go. I dumped my phone in the bin at Archway tube station and Emma took me back to hers. I've pretty much been hiding there ever since."
James reached for a third piece of flapjack as David consulted his notes which he'd made in preparation for the interview.
"Ok, Regina, this is all very helpful. There may be some follow up questions with regards to what you've told us so far but now we've got some more logistical questions. It's important for us to understand how Killian runs this operation, so any insight you can give us will be very useful."
"I'll do my best but it's not like he lets me in on his business meetings. All I know is how he keeps us hooked on heroin and sends us to whichever man is willing to pay that night."
"Understood so if you don't know the answer, that's fine. But I suspect you know more than you realise. Let's start with an easy one. Do you know how many women who worked for Killian were in that building where you lived?"
A/N: I didn't want to go into too much detail but I hope this was a useful insight into what Regina's been through.