Harlan interrogates a thug about missing girls:
“I... I just took a couple of girls to the outskirts, after they had been drugged in Toth’s club.”
“Is he behind the kidnappings?”
“Toth is not doing well, contrary to what you might think. He is full of debts, and this business brings him a lot of money. He has the girls kidnapped and tells us where to take them.”
“And who is the real instigator? On whose behalf is he kidnapping them?”
“I don't know. Only once, before all this started, I glimpsed a woman in his office with whom he was negotiating the price. But I wouldn't know how to recognize her, and I'm not even sure that she is really the one in charge. I heard Toth call her by a strange name.”
“What was it?”
“Tesla, where did you put your blade? Our friend needs a refresher.”
“I could do worse.”
“No! Wait... I think... Dorka!”
“What kind of name! Does that sound like something to you?”
“Dorka was the nickname of Dorothea Szentes, the main accomplice of the famous serial killer, Countess Báthory. According to many scholars, she was the one who committed two of the murders attributed to Báthory. And, according to the rumor of the time, Dorka was an expert in black magic, witchcraft, and rituals related in some way to vampirism.”
“That's a good one. Vampires? I wouldn't believe it even if I had one in front of me.”
“Did you hear our Saint Thomas?”
“Yup!”
“The truth is that Toth kidnaps girls for some sadistic bastard who traffics in human beings. I've had a similar experience before, a few years ago.”
“And the body of the murdered girl on display?”
“It's the classic modus operandi of an organized crime syndicate. Whoever breaks the rules or runs away when caught is used as an example to the others. I know who Báthory was, but...?”
“Hey!” (The thug pulls a knife and menaces Tesla, or so he thinks. But she is smiling.)
“Damn! He got loose! But where did he get that knife?”
“Come here, my pretty!”
I don't own page 50 but included its dialogue above since that's when our heroes connect the missing girls to the legend of Countess Báthory and her servants.
Saint Thomas was the skeptical disciple who would not believe that Jesus had resurrected, until Jesus offered Thomas to touch the wounds of the crucifixion.
