Save Me, Sinners

“Well, to put it directly, it appears that some of the younger members of the sorority, pledges even, have been surveilled, if you know what I mean.”

His eyes flicker over to me and I can feel the change in his breathing. He's alarmed. As he should be.

“Surveilled? As in pictures?”

“Pictures, yes. It would seem so. As well as videos.” I look up again. Some part of me is definitely enjoying watching him squirm like a fish on a hook.

“Christ,” he sneers, dragging a knuckle between his eyebrows. This is bad, and he knows it.

I decide to press further, so that there's no misunderstanding. “These pictures… and video… are being procured without authorization. Without consent. And then offered for sale. Do you understand what that means?”

I let the question hang in the air. The fact is, I don't have very much information on this. I need his imagination to run a little bit wild. Pictures of girls in the shower? In the rooms? Video? I need him to wonder just how bad this is.

“I don't suppose you have a name for me,” he says in a hoarse whisper.

“Elizabeth Whitmore,” I declare.

“Fuck,” he spits. I can tell from his tone of voice that he is not surprised at all.

I lean forward, placing my forearms on my knees. “You remember her?” I ask him, but I know he does. She was the topic of our last conversation, which apparently he did not take very seriously, because she is still enrolled in school.

“Oh, I know the Whitmores. Everyone here knows the Whitmores. Did you perhaps drive past the Whitmore Sports Pavillion on your way here?”

Oh. That makes sense.

But I have to continue.

“According to my source, the sorority house itself is the nexus of the surveillance. If this should get out and the authorities began an investigation… the public would be, well, I'm sure you already know…”

He scrubs his hand over his face, grumbling deep in his chest.

“What you suggest I do, Mr. Lockwood?” he finally asks me. He is weary now. Looking at me like I’m his savior.

“Well I'm sure if the sorority’s charter was removed, the fallout could be minimized. No charter, no need for an investigation, right?”

I hate that I'm saying this. I hate thinking that Lizzie will get away without formal charges being pressed against her, but my priority is merely to have the operation shut down. Justice will come to her in other ways, I'm sure. And swiftly. But for right now, knowing that there are videos or photographs of Kita out there, going to God knows who… It must be eliminated.

“Remove the charter,” he repeats slowly, mulling it over. “I suppose I don't have a choice, do I?”

“It does seem to be the best option.”

For a few long seconds, we sit there in silence. I want to nudge him back toward this decision in case he wants to backtrack, but I feel that his mind is already made up. Finally he looks at me and cocks his head to the side, a gesture that indicates he's accepted my proposal.

“How did you find out about this, Mr. Lockwood? The information just dropped into your lap? Just like that?”

I straighten slightly. “One of the young women came to me,” I answer, repackaging a version of the truth for him. “An exceptional student, perhaps you know her? Nikita Sokolov?”

“Oh!” he says, more interested than I thought he was going to be. “Brilliant girl. Really, top-notch. We are lucky to have her.”

“In what way?”

He waves his hand in the air as though searching for the most expedient explanation. I can tell he wants me out of his office now.

“Miss Sokolov received the Dean's award, a full scholarship that's administered by my office. I go over all of the applications personally, and she was uniquely qualified. Her work with the anti-bullying app has been outstanding. There is a good chance she could be successful with that.”

“An app?” I repeat, incredulous.

“Yes, her professor brought it to my attention. The department was considering purchasing it from her. Not bad for a freshman, wouldn't you say?”