With the new evidence coming in, the team’s low spirits lifted, but they would still have to wait for confirmation that their victim was Dorota Pelagia. Due to the assault charges brought against her husband, it was a strong possibility that she would have loathed the tattoo of their wedding day, even more so since he was held in prison.
They were disappointed to learn that no DNA samples were taken from Dorota when she had been attacked by her husband. By late afternoon there were still no known whereabouts, yet Anna was certain they had the right girl. It was pointless thinking about bringing over her sister to identify her, as they had no body, thanks to the cremation. They were dependent on matching photographs, so her sister had agreed to send over more.
At six-thirty the woman who had called the television program regarding Anika Waleska arrived in reception. She was accompanied by a lawyer who made it clear that his client wished to remain anonymous. Mike Lewis explained the importance of his client’s telephone call, as it had led them to identify their victim, and he stressed that they needed further assistance. However, due to the severity of the case, and fully aware that she was assisting their inquiry and agreeing to be questioned, she would have to disclose her name.
So Anna and Mike Lewis were introduced to Olga but were given no surname. She was led into the interview room with her lawyer. It was hard to determine which of them carried the overpowering smell of mothballs. She was wearing a camel-hair coat, a silk head scarf tied beneath her chin, and large dark glasses. She was middle-aged and heavily built. Before they could ask anything, her lawyer again stated that it was imperative that nothing his client said would have legal repercussions. It was difficult to promise this, Mike said, because if Olga did have information that could implicate her in the murder, then they would have no option but to take action.
“I have nothing to do with hurting Anika.” Her voice was a guttural rasp.
“How did you know her?” Anna asked softly.
“She work for me, not regular, but when I first meet with her.”
Anna showed Anika’s photograph, asking, “Is this Anika Waleska?”
“Yes.”
“What work did she do for you?”
“I have a small company, housecleaning.”
“How long did she work for you?”
“When I first meet with her, it was three years ago and she work full-time, but then she get other work, so it was not regular.”
“How many girls do you employ?”
“I have maybe six or seven; it depends on what work I have coming in, and I send the girls out.”
“Do your clients pay you directly?”
“Yes, then I pay the girls.”
“Were you aware that Anika wasn’t registered to work — had no National Insurance number?”
“I not ask questions.”
“Can you tell us how she came to be working for you?”
“One of my girls bring her to me. They knew each other from Poland, and she was very nice girl.”
Anna took out the picture of Estelle Dubcek. “Does this girl work for you?”
Olga looked at the photograph for quite a while and then nodded.
“Do you know this girl’s name?”
“Yes. That is Estelle Dubcek, but she was trouble; only work for me six or seven months.”
“When did you last see her?”
Olga shrugged. “Long time ago. As I said, she was not a good worker, not like Anika.”
“Where did the girls stay when they worked for you?”
“I have a flat they use. I charge rent out of their earnings; they come and they go. Anika work for me and also restaurants at night.”
“Did you know that Estelle wasn’t registered to work, either?”
“I don’t ask questions.”
“Both these girls were working illegally.”
“I say I not ask questions.”
“But you must have known when they did not produce a National Insurance number.”
“No.”
“How did these girls know to contact you?”
“I have advertisements in Poland. Students, colleges, if they want work, they contact me or they introduce me to their friends.”
“Olga, Estelle Dubcek was also murdered.”
It was hard to see what the woman was thinking; her scarf covered most of her face, and the dark glasses made it impossible to see any reaction in her eyes.
“Two girls who worked for you have been murdered,” Anna repeated.
“Listen to me, please. I call the television, I give them information that I knew Anika was working in a restaurant, but she was not living in my flat and not housecleaning. I wanted to help, but at the same time I did not want to become involved in any way. I have nothing to do with what the girls did after they leave me.”
“Have you ever used a company called Swell Blinds?”
Olga looked confused. “No.”
“Have you ever met someone called John Smiley?”
“No.”
“Would you be prepared to give us the address of the people both Anika and Estelle worked for?”
“No, I don’t want to do that. I have a very good reputation, I have built up clients over twenty years. They are good people, I have no people that are bad. My girls, I make sure are honest and well dressed and hardworking.”
“And you take a big slice of their earnings, don’t you?”
Olga gestured to her lawyer and then pushed back her chair. “I go now, that is enough. Thank you.”
“And it’s just housecleaning, is it?” Anna said, trying to keep control. She wanted to snatch the dark glasses away from the woman’s face.
“I am honest woman, I have honest business.”
“Two girls who worked for you are dead. You may be an honest woman, but you—”
She was interrupted as Olga stood up with her hands clenched at her sides and burst out: “I have pressure to come here, and I do so out of wanting to be a good citizen. You are trying to make things bad for me. I go now.”
“Please sit down. We have not finished.”
Olga’s lawyer whispered to her, and she sat down again, taking a crumpled tissue from her coat pocket. “I answer everything and tell you all I know.”
“Not quite. You see, it’s possible that you are withholding evidence. We will have no option but to continue questioning you. I would now like you to look at this third photograph.”
Anna took out the photograph of the blue-blanket victim, who they were certain was Dorota Pelagia, and laid it down in front of Olga. She at last removed her dark glasses and stared at the photograph. Anna got out two more pictures, watching her closely. The woman had puffy bags beneath her eyes, and the rims of her glasses were imprinted on her cheeks.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” she murmured.
Olga then turned to have a whispered conversation with her lawyer, holding the hand with the tissue across her chin so it was hard to determine what she was saying, apart from that she was speaking in English. Eventually, her lawyer requested a private conversation with Anna and Mike before he would agree to continue the interview.
Olga returned to the interview room half an hour later. She was wearing her dark glasses and was very subdued. Her lawyer had once more made it clear that for his client to continue, the police would have to agree that no charges could be brought with reference to her illegally employing the girls. In return, she would hand over a list of her clients that dated back five years, and allow them to visit the girls living in her flat. She would also submit tax and VAT receipts for her cleaning company and a list of girls she previously employed.