“We’re probably giving him exactly what he wants.”I turned the phone back in Kaspar’s direction.“Attention, attention, attention.Jackson lives for it.”
Kaspar’s brow rose.“You think that is all?”
“Like Caroline said, he’ll want to spin my loss in his favor.He can’t allow any change that implies his weakness.So, my choosing to leave is a huge headache for Ian.”
“Finish it.”Kaspar offered no more insight as she motioned to the phone.“Please.”
I glanced back at Caroline, her knitted brows telling me how little she was relishing the experience of having to witness the man who’d terrorized, not only her, but her entire country, single-handedly blame her for my departure.But then, that was what Ian did.It was what we’d all done.Blaming women for every perceived ‘wrong’ in the country and using them as scapegoats had become as simple as taking our next breath.It was the launchpad that had helped the BTP to seize power with such comparative ease.
Exhaling, I flipped the phone around and pressed the play button, causing Ian’s piggy little features to spring back to life.
“I show you this not to upset anyone.”Ian shook his head.“The peace and contentment of my people is my number one concern.”
I scoffed out loud at that preposterous falsehood.I’d rarely met anyone who cared less about the fate of the average Briton.Ian was interested in filling his own pockets and exercising his cock, and that was about all.
“No,” he went on.“I show you to illustrate why Fortorus has become such a lynchpin of our society.This whore—just one pitiful woman—had the ability to lure my incredible commander general away.She also attacked a number of my commanders and shot and murdered a young sentry who was there only doing his job.”
My hand rose to cover Caroline’s at my shoulder.We both knew who’d shot the sentry that final night, and it certainly hadn’t been her, a fact that the closed-circuit television cameras focused on the security tower would have surely picked up.Ian would have known who was culpable, but as ever, he didn’t care for the facts unless they suited his narrative.
“Just imagine what thousands of these whores can do.”Ian scowled as he grabbed the base of the mic and leaned closer to the camera.Staring at his face, I realized he’d lost even more hair since I’d last seen him, and the lectern was barely able to hide his growing waistline.“We must resist their scourge!We must continue to round them up and deal with their menace!”
“This man!”Elsa tutted in disgust.“He is awful!”
“That is why I am ramping up the round-up teams.”The image behind Ian switched to show a group of masked men.Posing for the photograph, they held their thumbs up to the camera, as though they were taking a holiday snap.I didn’t need to check to know Caroline’s opinion of men like them.It had been groups of men in so-called ‘round-up teams’ who had herded her from her home originally and brought her to Fortorus against her will.We’d abandoned their usage some months ago, knowing Fortorus was full, yet it seemed the plan had changed since I’d been gone.Terrorizing citizens was back on the president’s agenda.“More whores will be captured and held to account for their crimes.”
“Crimes.”Caroline spat the word.“What crime?Not being male?”
“Others deemed worthy will be rehomed with appropriate husbands, while the rest will be permanently taken care of.”His smile was predatory.“This is how we shall avenge our brother, the commander general.This is the legacy of Craness’ evil work.”
“Oh my God!”Caroline tugged her hand from mine and turned away from the screen.“I can’t watch any more of this.It’s even worse the second time around!”
“In the meantime, I ask our trading partners and allies in Europe not to provide cover for this wily snake.If anyone finds Craness, she must be detained and extradited back to Britain to face justice.”
“Unbelievable.”Flicking off the screen, I grimaced as the true extent of Ian’s words resonated.“He’s using my choices as an excuse to kill thousands of women.”
“And blame me.”Caroline’s voice was suddenly tiny.
“And it sounds as though the threat to those women is imminent,” Kaspar added.
An unsettling silence bloomed in the room as I handed the device back to the police officer.Everything I’d worked to achieve at Fortorus; expanding the space to make sure no one had to be murdered, was unraveling in front of my eyes.I supposed, deep down, I’d always known Ian would get his way about the executions, and perhaps I’d even known that he’d use my exit as an excuse to speed up those plans, but watching his brazen propaganda from my hospital bed was utterly debilitating.
Sitting in Switzerland, I no longer had any ability to affect the president.
“I had a call from the team at the ICC.”Kaspar’s gaze darted from Caroline to me.
“When?”Caroline demanded.
“When you used the restroom.”Her explanation was curt.“They have also seen this video, and while they thank you for your information to date, Mr.Harper, they now think the terms of your deal will need to change.”
“What?”I straightened, vaguely aware of the way the machine beside me was beeping faster again.
“You didn’t say anything about this before!”Caroline’s voice was accusing.
“I am telling you both now.”Kaspar took the phone from my fingers and tucked it into her pocket.“If you want the benefit of impunity, the ICC requires more than only a few pages of knowledge about President Jackson and his regime.”
“What do they want to know?”Caroline was back at my shoulder as I asked, her hand trembling as I sought the answers we both needed.We’d thought our nightmare was almost over, but it appeared officials at The Hague had other ideas.
“Representatives from The Hague are on their way to give you all the details.”Kaspar sighed.
