Page 117 of Reckoning

“Please don’t look.” She says wincing.

“You were with Otto when these were taken.” I guess, though in truth, it’s not hard. I recognise the background, the lighting. It’s not the exact same space as the videos I saw on Danny Campball’s phone but it’s a close enough match.

“Yes,” She whispers.

“So whoever is behind this was either there, or has copies.”

She doesn’t reply beyond scowling.

“Has anyone ever contacted you, tried to blackmail you?” I ask.

“No, and I don’t think that’s what they want. It’s not about getting money. They’re trying to destroy me. To make me look like an alcoholic. To make me look like a drug addict. Hastings thinks it’s to discredit me in court, but…”

“You know something.” I state cutting across her.

She balks, shaking her head and she starts trembling worse than ever. “I don’t.”

“No, you do. That’s what this is about. They’re trying to make you look like a crack-whore so no one will take you seriously.”

“But I don’t know anything.” She suddenly screams. “I barely remember anything.”

I take her hands, leading her over to the couch and she almost collapses onto it.

“Sofia, when you dream, what do you see?”

She whimpers, shutting her eyes, like just the thought is horrific.

“Sofia,”

“Please don’t. Please,” She begs. “Martin tries this all the time, he keeps asking what I remember, as if any of it will help.”

“But youdoremember bits?” I say.

“Flashbacks. Moments. Nothing that makes sense.”

“Did Otto ever say anything, is there anything that sticks out?”

“You mean beyond the rape and torture?” She replies.

Christ, that look in her face, that pain, I grab her wrapping my arms so tightly like they’re a wall.

“There’s nothing, Koen, I don’t know anything.”

“It’s okay.” I murmur.

But in my head, my thoughts are racing. If it is some deep-state Brethren shit, if Sofia does know something and doesn’t realise it, then they won’t back down. They won’t stop.

They’ll want her silenced. They’ll want her dead.

Sofia

Ispend the entire day beside Tia, watching her take down one video and then another, and another, like it’s endless.

And in a way it is.

It’s been forwarded, copied, duplicated so many times it’s out of control.

We both know there’s no shutting the door on this but the fact that she’s trying to help makes me feel a tiny bit better.

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