“Okay.” I get to my feet.
“Luke,” she says, and I glance over at her. “Technically, if all Dominic did was take the photo, he’s done nothing wrong.”
“He kept the photo after they broke up.”
“Yes… again, it’s technically not a crime. He might not even have remembered it was on his phone.”
“It’s unethical and violates her ongoing consent.”
“Morally, not legally.” She smiles. “But I appreciate your indignation. You’re a good lad.”
I snort. “I’m twenty-nine.”
“Even so. I’m glad you’re looking after her. We have to catch this guy.”
“And we will.” I speak firmly. “He’ll make a mistake eventually, and then we’ll have him.”
“I hope so. She’s a nice girl. I don’t like this.” She gestures at her laptop. “It’s nobody else’s business.”
“No.” I hesitate. “Can you forward it to my phone, though? I want to show Dominic and see his reaction.”
She frowns. “If he didn’t send it, I’m not sure of the ethics behind that.”
“It’s a good point. But we know she’s only had a handful of boyfriends, who’ve all checked out. She was with Dominic for a long time, and as far as we know, she hasn’t had any one-night stands. Logic says he was the one who took it. When I show him, I’ll be able to tell by his reaction whether he was the one who did it.”
She nods slowly. “Okay.” She taps on her keyboard. A few seconds later, my phone buzzes. I take it out and check to make sure the photo has come through.
“Thanks.” I slide the phone back into my pocket.
“Come and tell me as soon as you’re back, please,” she says.
“Will do.” I nod and head out. I walk out of the office and into the lobby, take the elevator down to the car park, and get into my Skoda.
Then I bang the steering wheel hard, four or five times.
“Fuck!” I yell the word, then lean my elbows on the steering wheel and sink my hands into my hair.
Why did I agree to take this job? I assumed it would just be following a spoiled brat around. I thought it would be boring, mostly. Instead, I’m genuinely worried about my principal’s safety.
And not just worried. I’m shocked and upset. Aurelia’s a lovely, beautiful young woman with a light spirit, and the thought of someone using what was obviously a personal and private moment to hurt her makes me feel violently ill.
I wish I could scrub the image of her tied up out of my brain. I can’t think about how she was still tied up because she’d just had sex. Presumably, it had been consensual. Argh, God, I can’t go down that road. What if it wasn’t, and he took the photo as a kind of trophy, to prove to her the control he had over her?
I breathe in and out, trying to calm myself. Ella’s right; this needs careful handling. I can’t let my emotions get involved. What the two of them did in the privacy of their own bedroom has no bearing on the fact that the photo was shared.
Except it has, in my eyes, anyway. It’s all tied in together. He doesn’t have the right to keep that photo now they’re no longer together. And even when they were… he shouldn’t have taken it. She was tied up; she had no choice. Did she even realize she was being photographed?
I hate this. I hate that I’m keeping it a secret from her. But it’s gone beyond flowers and chocolates. Now, I don’t want her to know people are looking at such a vulnerable photo of her. Her parents are right—it would crush her.
I want to catch the guy who sent it, drag him down to the police station, and have them bang him up for the rest of his life. Or, even better, castrate him, and then have him hanged, drawn, and quartered.
All right, Luke. Steady on. Calm down.
I close my eyes and let my head fall back onto the headrest. I’m not stupid; this isn’t all about Aurelia. I think about what I saw through the scope of my rifle that fateful day in Afghanistan. What they did to the female soldier they captured.
Nope, nope, nope. Not going to think about that now.
I start the engine. I’ll head over to the bank, and maybe I’ll grab a coffee and go for a walk before I head inside. Perhaps a stiff sea breeze will blow the memories away.
