Scholarship

By Jadran Nenadić

Scholarship is a light crime that takes place in Split. The book consists of several short related stories; Six prostitutes were arrested during a raid in a Split brothel the government decided to test the pilot project and offered them a scholarship instead of a penalty, the opportunity to finish school and find a job Everything went well, even better than expected, by the time one of them was killed. Who? Why? ... "You will find out if you read my novel!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jadran Nenadić
• Release date: Jan 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393087380

Jadran Nenadić

About the Author Jadran Nenadic was born on May 15, 1988, in Split, Croatia.  He went to Elementary School Kman-Kocunar where he built airplane and rocket models, as well as participated in the competitions regarding the same. When he was in sixth grade he had an accident when football goal made of iron fell on him on the school football field. The struggle for his survival ensued as well as a long road to recovery because he had to start from zero. His will to survive took over, but it took him many years to catch up to his peers. He later entered High School for Graphic Design where he took initiative and started monthly paper called “Small Break.” After founding the school paper and before finishing his high school education he left foundation for school radio to be formed. Because of his work and drive to succeed he was awarded commendations from the school and student boards as well as automatic graduation. Jadran started writing because he was slow to read which was also difficult at times. After his accident, remembering what he had read and focus to read were diminished so much so he couldn’t even read books even for entertainment much less his own satisfaction, so he switched to writing. In 2013 he went into a comic strip creation workshop at a Studio-21 gallery where he became an active member and volunteered at over a 100 exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events. It was at Studio-21 gallery he had two self-exhibits, one of which was a sea shell exhibit; and Scholarship which is his first novel.

Book preview

Scholarship

IN THE EARLY MORNING hours Jo was coming back from dinner with her boyfriend. They parted ways on top of stairs in Vukovarska Street. She went down to the Third Academy, and turned left along the parking lot. While passing by a dark van, the back door opened and two masked men pulled her inside simultaneously covering her mouth with their hands. Van doors closed and darkness gripped...

I was walking to my office on the campus when I noticed police and multitude of curious people. I didn’t want to stop, but I heard the dean’s voice.

- Frankovich!

- Yes?

- Come over here.

- I can’t; group is waiting for me.

- Just come over here!

- Jo, Jo was murdered...

- My Jo!?

- Yes. This is detective Matich; he’ll be leading the case – and points to the man standing next to him.

- Yes – I stretch my hand still in shock.

- Group regarding, psychologist will go see them; don’t want to cross the line of your role, but...

- ...you are afraid of how they will receive the news.

- Can I go with you? I would like to ask them about possible suspects. Do you know if she had a gripe with someone?

- No... ...I don’t know.

- Did she like to experiment?

- How do you mean?!

- We had a few unfortunate cases caused by rough sex lately. I remember we found a girl thrown on the road just like this with a ripped bag over hear head. They go too far, and by the time they realize they panick...

- Before you start making assumptions... She, Jo, Jo was her name. She was one of six girls in group I lead, a group that’s been around seven years that started after a raid in a brothel in Split. Eight  girls were found in very bad condition; malnutrition, sick, two died from sepsis after we found them, and who knows what else was going on beforehand. They were brought as children to Croatia and were forced into providing sexual favors. After the raid we had a hard time figuring out which country they were brought in from, and since they didn’t have any documents and weren’t being looked for by the authorities, they were allowed to stay. I was picked as the group leader in order to provide any help necessary. Years went into, so to speak, in learning the language and school lessons. There were difficulties, I admit, but nothing that would indicate something like this. I’ve been in direct contact with them for seven years and heard all kinds of stories. These girls have been through hell. I don’t believe they’d go back...

- That changes things. I wanted to hear from her friends. Are you sure she didn’t experiment?

- Yes, you heard some of the statements...

- Okay.

- Unless if...

- If...?

- Their brothel was a fort in this region and after it went down, with the girls’ help, a lot of big and untouchable names went down.

- Wait, Octopus?

- Yes, that was the mission name.

- Woah...this changes things considerably. Tell me everything you know about the investigation. I know there was a big dust cloud around the mission, especially because of the big fish that were caught.

- I wasn’t given much detail, but it was an organized crew that smuggled girls from various countries by baiting them with scholarships, fashion catwalks, and summer jobs. Upon arrival to the country they had their papers and cell phones taken away, and one of them would be executed on the stop in front of everyone...

- Executed?

- Bullet in the head. Clean and without blood; to make an example to the rest. They were settled in a house and forced in prostitution. Clients... ...well, I know nothing about the clients because nobody wanted to talk about them. What else can I tell you... ...right, they were brought only for a short period of time, for a season so to speak.

- Enough about Octopus, how are these girls getting along anyway?

- Better than expected, and despite many doubts in the beginning, the girls have shown they love to learn and their behavior was exemplary. Even though they had short time to catch up with the lost years, they were off to a great start. One of them the victim, was competing, was one of the candidates for a prestigious scholarship awarded by a foreign company.

- You’re not aware of  anyone having anything against her?

- No.

- Recommend a psychologist if they think they need someone to talk to. In cases like this it’s a rule. – said the rector.

- I’ll tell them... They have to, or if they want to?

- Just in case, if they have a need to talk to someone to know who to go to for expert advice.

- Let’s take a walk.

We were wandering the hallways that seem to be so happy or full of laughter anymore. I had a feeling they were closing in on me. We arrived to the office where we met the girls.

- Slept in, huh? – aimed at me by Sally as soon as she spotted us - Look, he’s late and he brought a colleague along as an excuse.

- Come in, so...

- I ll go First! – Ella was first to reply.

- No, all of you come in. I need to speak with you all.

- What did we do wrong this time?

They walked in and sat on the chairs while I collected my thoughts.

Suddenly Sally breaks the silence:

- Just tell us what you have to say. We have other plans for the day you know.

- Your friend Jo was killed – Matich speaks for the first time.

- Who? Why? How? When? – questions started pouring in from everyone.

- Right now we know as much as you do, and I wanted you to hear this from me.

- She went out last night...

- Start from the beginning. Went out where?

- And you are? – Jenny directed the question to Matich.

- Detective Matich, I’m the lead on the case.

- I thought that part of our lives was behind us... - Ella says quietly.

- Do you know if she had a gripe with someone? – she was interrupted by Matich.

- She stuck to the books. She wasn’t liked by two guys that were sleeping with every girl at school and bragged about it. They even had a website with points. They were competing with some other guys from the school. – Ella said with heaviness in her voice.

- There were two junkies roaming around the campus. I don’t know why. They’re definitely not gonna graduate any time soon. They were bothering her all the time and she couldn’t get very far away from them. – Jenny says sharply.

- Why didn’t she say anything? I would have done something.

- She was her own person; independent, wanted to take care of her own problems.

- She was too proud to ask for help for something like that.

- Do you know their names?

- The first two were Ante Renich and Jelavich, don’t know his name, and the otheeer two were... ...first one was Marinelo Dedich, and the other one’s name I don’t know. – Ella said flusteredly.

- That will be enough for now. Good bye.

After Matich left, I continued.

In cases like this it would be preferable for you all to talk to a psychologist. Dean told me that he knows how close you were and that he’ll free you of taking as many exams as needed.

- He knows nothing! We know you arranged that. – said Sally angrily.

- Just call us when they catch the bastard! As far as a psychologist goes, tell her thanks! If she knew what we went through on the street she could write a doctorate! – Ella yelled through sorrow and rage.

- And without psychological help – Sally added hiding her tears.

- Well, if you need anything...

- Just catch the bastard. – Sally told me.

I walked them part of the way, and just as I was about to continue dean’s voice startled me.

- Frankovich!

I turned around and saw dean motioning me with the hand to join him.

- Did you talk to the girls?

- Yes, and they rejected a psychologist. I’ll try to quote: If you only knew what we went through on the street and without psychological help!

- I’m relieved they don’t need a psychologist, and I’d like it even more if they needed one if you know what I mean.

- Perfectly.

- I’ll contact the Ministry; maybe I can get them to throw me