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“I know nothing.”
“Let’s try this again.” I turned off the phone screen and tucked the device into my coat pocket.
I would let my shaky morals set the tone. My sister would not approve of me going hard on her. Neither would I. Charity’s recent past was disturbing. That was zinger number one. Number two was probably not for me to divulge.
I had decided long ago to go with the flow, to be the man who gets things done for my superiors, to be unshakeable in the face of life’s fucked-up messes. And I did not get diverted from my path by tragedy.
This woman had recently suffered an appalling gang rape. I had no idea who among the CNC had done that, but they had, and I gathered they were probably dead by now. But that was not the whole picture.
How much could I, should I, tell her?
“You wanted more information. I didn’t know why you were here. Now I do. For that I am sorry.” I maintained eye contact. “I am sorry beyond what words can say.”
She nodded and pinched her mouth tight. “Accepted. Now tell me you’re helping me. Really helping me and reporting this to the cops and then letting me go!”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? Why the hell, not?” That was said bitterly but her volume had returned to normal. Resigned, was how I read it.
I crushed the pangs of guilt that arose.
“That is not what I do.”
“Right. You’re such a good security person.”
“Of course.”
“Jesus H.”
“Do you want me to continue or are you happy to go with the doctor?”
“Continue.” She swallowed. “Keep going.”
Was this going to help her? I needed to get Jacob to cough up more info…me, the employee asking his powerful boss to do something more than he’d said for me to volunteer? Be buggered if I thought I had a chance at that.
I looked around at the trees and prayed no one had wired a recording device into a branch.
“Charity, my boss thinks the doctor may have been involved in doing something to other women he’s kept…ones he’s kept alive and captive. They’ve vanished, apparently. We need some evidence, if possible.”
“Oh.” She sat back. “Fuck. I’m bait then? I’m a victim you hope won’t vanish like the others.”
“Get us evidence either way, and we will set you free, back out into the world, to live your life.”
If Jacob was lying over that promise, I did not know.
“Free. After everything I saw?”
I nodded.
“How do I know you aren’t saying this just to get me to spy for you? What makes you think I can find anything to prove this? This is confusing and feels like gaslighting, which is laughable, considering why I’m here. Why should I have to prove anything to anyone?”
“You don’t.” I was beginning to wish I could upend her, spank her, and get her to see reason. For her, this was prudent. “We’re relying on you to be resourceful.”
“How would I even tell you?”
“The doctor sees this as just the CNC Frat being careful. I’m going to visit you at least once a week. Twice a week if I’m allowed.”
“On his island.”
