Free Dragonflies: Shadow of Drones by Andy Straka

initial shock of the situation appeared to have washed over her, Hutchinson started to pull herself together. When she felt the girl’s sobs diminish, Raina took her hand off her arm and stood back up.
    “I’m so sorry,” she repeated.
    Hutchinson wiped tears from her cheeks. “I knew something was wrong, after the party, I mean. I just felt funny somehow. But I felt so sick and embarrassed I just wanted to push it away. I guess I just didn’t want to think about it.”
    Again no one spoke. They waited until Hutchinson further regained her composure.
    “But how do you know for sure this is Derek? I mean, I was with him that night and it looks like his room and all, but you can’t really see his face all that well in the video.”
    “We know it’s him, Stacie,” Raina said.
    The young woman nodded. “How’d you get this video?”
    Raina glanced at Tye, who must have felt it was the right moment to enter into the conversation.
    “That gets a little complicated,” he said.
    “What do you mean? Who sent you? Do you work for the police?”
    “No.”
    “Who then?”
    “We can’t say. But now that you’ve confirmed you’re the woman in this video, we can certainly talk to the police. For right now, at least, that’s going to be up to you.”
    Hutchinson nodded. “Has Derek seen this video? Does he know you have it?”
    “Not yet. But he will as of tomorrow night.”
    “Okay…” She hesitated, rubbing her hands together before wiping them down her legs from her waist to the tops of her knees.
    “What’s wrong, Stacie?” Raina asked.
    “I don’t know. I just feel so…so dirty.”
    “I understand.”
    “I’m scared.”
    “Of what?”
    “Of this getting out. Of what might happen. My name and his name in the papers and everything.”
    “Of course. But you know, you may not be the first young woman he’s done this to…or the last.”
    “I know, I know…But, I mean, I’m still not sure if I can go through with it….”
    “You mean press charges?”
    “Yeah…You know who Derek Kurn is, don’t you? His father–”
    “We know who he is.”
    “Then you know if I come forward I could just as easily end up being the one accused…It’s so embarrassing. I mean, I don’t know…the pictures and the stories will be everywhere.”
    There was no denying that. Raina wondered if she herself could stand up under such scrutiny.
    “But you saw the tape,” she said. “It’s pretty hard for anyone to argue with what’s shown there.”
    Hutchinson nodded. “I need to talk with my parents.”
    “Sure. Absolutely.”
    Raina felt sick to her stomach. It wasn’t just the girl’s humiliation and the violation of her body the rape represented. Now Hutchinson and her family had to the weigh the prospect of accusing the son of a prominent public figure and the inevitable media circus that would follow. Whatever Stacie Hutchinson did, she and Tye would have to figure out a way to complete their overall mission.
    Raina pulled out a blank business card with only her name and temporary cell phone number written on it in black ink. There was also a web address for a secure message board.
    “Here,” she said, handing it to Hutchinson. “This is my contact information. The cell phone number won’t be any good after the next two days. Please call us and let us know what you decide by tomorrow. And if you ever need to reach me in the future, you can always leave a message for me on this web message board. Anytime, day or night.”
    Hutchinson took the card from her. “So you’re planning to show what you showed me to Derek tomorrow, right?”
    “Yes. And hopefully elicit a confession from him. You and your parents need to decide whether you want us to take this to the police.”
    “Tomorrow’s Halloween.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “Some holiday, huh?” The girl rubbed at her red-rimmed eyes. “Trick or treat.”

13
    It had already been dark for a few hours. Raina had to wait until Tye returned to his