“Swift?” I ask.
“Yeah, Snatcher pulled her in to discuss the technical shit.”
“You called her brother,” Dart remarks.
Token shrugs. “Don’t know what else to call her. Sister doesn’t work. From the little she said, she knows her fuckin’ shit, and Utah has the resources.” He grimaces and waves his hand toward the PC. “This shit must stop. Fuck, Lost.” His eyes fill with distress. “I’ve never seen anything like this. That kid…”
I won’t be the only one having nightmares, that’s for sure.
I stomp to the window. I thought I was looking for Devon because he hadn’t paid me what I was due. Then, it was to avenge Alicia and that fucking asshole Owen who’d filmed her and destroy what in comparison to what we just found was a fairly innocuous video. Now we’ve fallen in deeper and have found kiddie porn of the worse possible type. Have we reached the depths of his depravity now, or is there more to discover? One thing I’m grateful for, I didn’t have to watch it play out. Did the kid even survive? From what Token said, maybe not unless they got her medical attention. Motherfucker!
What sick fuck gets their kicks watching shit like that? What even sicker fuck gets a kid to call him daddy while he’s molesting her?
My hands bunch at my sides. They are all dead.
“Now we know how Devon affords this house,” Lost states grimly. “Nothing remotely legal about that footage. Now it makes sense there’s a subscription service somewhere where equally sick fuckers pay a fortune to watch it.”
I kick at a table so hard, the leg splinters. “We wait for him to come home,” I growl. “This is that fucker’s last day of living.”
“I want to take that PC back to the compound,” Token exclaims.
Prez’s narrowed eyes show he’s not convinced. “Are you likely to find anything more?”
Token purses his lips. “I might.”
“Utah’s got access,” I remind him.
“It’s not a good idea, Token.” Prez fixes him with his eyes. “We still might have to get the cops or the feds involved in this. What are they going to say if the most incriminating piece of evidence is removed?”
Token tugs at the latex gloves he had used on the keyboard. His shrug shows he’s conceded the point. “I’ll give myself remote access too. If Swift turns nothing up, I’ll take another look.” He cheers up and goes to sit in front of the screen again.
Prez calls out for Salem to join us, then leads him, me and Dart into the kitchen. He props himself up against the countertop and folds his arms. “Fuck knows when Devon could come home. Maybe soon, maybe tonight. Maybe he’s gone filming outside the state. I think we should get back to the compound. We’ll leave Pennywise and Connor here.”
I’m happy with that. All I know is that I want some fresh air. Something to clear my head of what I’ve just seen. It was like all the evil in the world coalesced into a short half hour of film. No matter how many times I shower, I don’t think I’ll ever feel clean.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Grumbler
Back at the compound, Prez calls everyone into church and quickly gives an update on what we found in Devon’s house. The mood grows steadily darker, sombre as he speaks.
Sure we’re all men, and none of us could deny having jerked ourselves off sitting in front of a television screen watching porn stars getting it on in front of our eyes. Hell, most nights, we’re subject to a live show in the clubroom.
As far as I’m aware, anything I’ve watched before has been consensual. I’d even once met an actress who starred in a few of my favourite spank bank shows, describing herself as on the path to a successful showbiz career. From her I knew some of the porn stars could make their fortunes and be revered wherever they go. Though also, that many more would be spat out and left adrift, at least when their looks faded, or their outlook on sex became jaded, and they just couldn’t pretend to perform for the camera anymore.
I have never, ever, watched anything depraved, shying away from anything non-consensual or bestial. Sure, I knew it was there, just never wanted to go looking. As for kids? Hell to the no. Looking around the table, I note the men I ride with seem to be of the same view.
“Caught Snake playing with his dongle in front of some questionable shit once.” Bones looks around. “But even he wouldn’t sink that low.”
“Kids, man, that’s twisted.” Keeper looks pale. “You think Owen knows?”
“I think I fuckin’ want to ask him,” I growl. “Perhaps give him more of an incentive to come clean about anything else he might have knowledge about.”
“If he knows anything else, I’ll make sure he doesn’t keep it to himself.” Salem catches my eye. “Now we know what we know, we can dig deeper.”
Deuce snorts. “He’s not going to admit to any kiddie fiddling. He has to know that’s his death warrant for sure.”
Token looks toward Deuce, then it seems like a light bulb’s gone off. “I reckon he’s got to know more about the site and the login details. Vain fucker like that would want to know how good his ass was looking.”
Token might be right, but I’m not so certain. Something like that would be a tightly guarded secret. Would Devon trust Owen with something that could put him inside for a very long time?
“If he does, I’ll find out,” Salem promises. “Knew there was a reason we left him breathing.”
“Grumbler? Get Wrangler to go take Niran’s place watching your woman. He’ll want to be in on this. I don’t want her and the girl unprotected while Devon’s on the loose.”
I agree one hundred percent, but
