Chapter 10

- Do you know why you're here, Mr. Jones?

- No, but I would certainly like to know.

A police officer who didn't look friendly at all stood in front of Jim. He looked serious, as if to give himself an air of authority he didn't have.

The handsome brunette had his hands bound by handcuffs. He was sitting in a small interrogation room. There was only one door, two chairs, including the one he was sitting on, and a tinted window just behind him.

They were certainly going to grill him. But Jim wasn't afraid, he was ready for it. His henchmen would help him get out of it no matter what. It wasn't this little miserable cop who was going to terrorize him.

- We've had you reported.

- May I know what I'm being accused of?

- I'll let Inspector Benson handle all your questions."The police officer hastily left the room to let in an imposing man. He was very tall and very thin, with short jet-black hair. His rectangular glasses gave him a serious air.

He took a chair from the corner of the room and sat down in front of Jim.

- I'm Inspector Benson. I'm in charge of the investigation.

- Someone will eventually tell me what I'm being accused of?

- Yes, of course, Mr. Jones. You are accused of robbery with violence, assault and battery..."

Henry Jenkins was behind all of this, that was for sure. What a scumbag. He would make him pay.

- ...and rape.

- Excuse me? Rape?

Jim was shocked. He had committed unforgivable acts in his life, but he had never raped anyone. His stomach twisted painfully at the mere thought that Sophie might be involved in his arrest. He had hurt her so much last night that maybe she had taken revenge like this? No, he knew her well, and obviously she couldn't have done that...

- Do you have a response?

- Everything is false.

- Of course... What were you doing on the night of June 2nd between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.?

- I was with a girl.

- And what were you doing?

- Making love. I was making love to this woman. Is that a crime, Mr. Benson?

The inspector didn't answer right away.

- Can this young woman confirm this alibi?

- Yes, of course.

- Very well, who is it?

- Sophie. Sophie Pavard.

Sophie hurriedly got dressed. That had been really bad. She, who had thought Henry was so great, now realized that sexually it didn't work at all. She hadn't lost much... On the contrary.

It hadn't been easy to sleep with him. He disgusted her. Now that she had done what she had to do, she was going to be able to sneak away, leave him there, and with a bit of luck he would be found on the beach naked and embarrassed. Sophie would never contact him again and he would be very disappointed. Her plan was really good. She congratulated herself internally.

But as she was about to sneak away, a voice rose up behind her.

- You're leaving already"

Shit! He was awake.

- Yes.

- And you're not even saying goodbye.

- Listen, Henry, it was a mistake to sleep with you.

Henry, confused, got up hastily, got dressed, and approached Sophie quickly.

- But what are you talking about? It was great.

- No, not at all.

Sophie didn't want to argue with him, so she hurried to turn on her heels to leave as quickly as possible.

- But wait, did you just screw with me?

He caught up with her and grabbed her by the arm.

- Let go of me! Right away.

- Oh come on, I just want to talk.

- And I told you that I didn't want to.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing. She took it out of her pocket to see who could be calling her at this time. It was the local police.

- Wait, why are they calling you? Are you in trouble?

Oh, that falsely concerned look annoyed her to no end.

- I don't know.

Sophie answered.

- Wait! What? Why? Yes, yes... I'm on my way.

Henry wondered what the police wanted with her. Why were they calling Sophie?

- What did they want from you?

- Jim has been arrested.

Sophie seemed completely panicked. She was worried about that jerk.

- So what? Aren't you happy? He deserves it, that dirty guy.

She didn't respond, clearly too shocked to speak.

- They asked me to come and testify. Apparently, someone is accusing him of raping me. So I have to go to the station to testify in his favor.

- What? He's innocent, Henry. I can't let him stay like this.

- Wait, do you love him or something? Why are you defending him like that?

Sophie didn't say anything, but her silence spoke for her. So she was really in love with him. Henry was furious. He thought he had her all to himself again, but no. His worst enemy had to sleep with her and, on top of that, she fell in love with him.

- I'm the one who reported him for rape. He attacked me at my place to steal my money. And I knew he was hanging out with you. That made me so jealous, I couldn't take it. So I took advantage of the situation to make him fall.

Henry hadn't taken a breath once. He had decided to confess everything to Sophie. He was convinced that his revelation would change her mind. But he was far from suspecting the role she had played that fateful night of June 2nd.

- But you're crazy...

Sophie was stunned by Henry's revelation.

- Oh, stop it. This guy is a dirty thug. He doesn't deserve you.

- No, you're the dirty guy.

Sophie ran as fast as she could towards the police station. She had to save Jim, just as he had saved her. Sophie was sure of what her heart wanted. She knew what she had to do. Sophie didn't stop running. Her lungs hurt terribly, yet she couldn't bring herself to slow down. Jim was in danger and it was entirely her fault. She had lured Henry into this trap out of pure revenge. She now realized her mistake. She loved Jim and she wouldn't let him down.

- Sophie! Sophie, look at me! Sophie, can you hear me?

Sophie couldn't see anything. she could only hear. But how could he have done this to her? She knew he wasn't really what one would call a good person, but still. He had tried to kill her. What a sicko...

- Sophie, please answer me.

She recognized that voice. That comforting voice that she had missed so much. But she couldn't answer. She could only hear. She wanted to shout to him that she would be okay, but it was impossible. Her head hurt terribly. She felt herself slipping away. She was going to faint. She just hoped he would be there when she woke up and that he would never leave her again. Before she passed out, she heard him speak these words:

- I'm here.