And the Butchery Begins

Chapter 13:

A Flood of Naked Truth

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There is no better way to overpower a trickle of doubt than with a flood of naked truth.

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Annette is late. Throwing a quick glance towards the alarm clock beside her bed she cringes when she sees the time. Shit. Even if the subway was miraculously on time, there was no way she was going to make it to homeroom before the bell. She'd have to run.

Scurrying around her cramped bedroom, she quickly gathers up her books, her tartan skirt flapping haphazardly behind her. She curses as she shoves her books into her worn leather bag, wishing she had time to grab a bagel or something. Unfortunately, the cold war that has sprung up between her and her father has made getting breakfast more trying than normal.

Perhaps her father was right, perhaps she was being stubborn. But she was also right. He was being a hypocrite.

Annette's whole life her father has preached to her the importance of doing what is right and standing by her convictions. He has always set high moral standards for her and she had done her best to live up to him. Apparently, it was foolish and naive of her to expect him to do the same.

She wasn't writing about gossip, she was writing the truth and he knew it dammit! But evidently the truth didn't matter anymore. All her father cared about was appeasing the entitled trust fund brats he was supposed to be educating and their social climbing power hungry parents. Well that was something Annette couldn't and wouldn't abide. He might think she was being stubborn and irrational, but it was better than being a phony.

So, if she has to skip a few meals to avoid dining with her father so be it. She could always stand to lose a few pounds.

Annette's inner monologue is soon interrupted by her ringing phone. Frowning she digs it out of her bag and sighs when she sees who it is. Against her better judgement, she answers it. "What do you want Kathryn?"

"I see someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," she retorts in her usual melodic purr.

"I'm late," Annette sighs, jogging down the stairs. They creek with every step and she loves it, loves the history in the old house. It's a beautiful pre-war townhouse and the kind of place they could never afford to live in if it wasn't owned by the school.

Speaking of which.

"Are you at school? Maybe we can talk there." Maybe. She has been trying to distance herself from the enigmatic Merteuil, but just hearing her voice made her stomach flutter. Annette tries her best to snuff these odd feelings out. Kathryn can't be trusted she reminds herself.

"Actually," Kathryn sighs, "I'm taking a day. It's far too nice out to be cooped up in school. Weather like this needs to be exploited."

"Well exploiting things does seem to be your specialty," Annette mutters sardonically into the receiver while checking under the couch for her physics notebook.

Rather than be insulted the other girl laughs. "I see you're still pissed at me, but for what I still don't know. It's not like I'm the one who kicked you off the paper."

This was true enough although Annette couldn't escape the feeling Kathryn was somehow involved. Kathryn was always involved. Perhaps she was being unfair. Maybe not.

"Look can we talk about this later? I'm really running late."

"No you're not."

"What are you talking about?"

"I took the liberty of calling you in sick," she explains as if that's a completely normal thing to do. "I'm heading up to my family's estate on Long Island and I want you to come with me."

Annette pauses in her search for her book and takes this is. Caught somewhere between astonishment and exasperation she sputters, "How did you…never mind, whatever, I don't want to know. I am going to school Kathryn. I have a million things to do, not to mention a physics exam—"

"What you need is a day off. You have to learn to relax and enjoy yourself."

"I know how to relax," she insists. "And I enjoy myself plenty."

"Is that a fact?" Kathryn purrs in a suggestive tone that makes Annette blush. "Prove it."

"I don't have to prove anything to you." Heading for the door, she tugs her bag over her shoulder and announces, "I'm hanging up now." She ends the call and tosses her phone in her bag with a triumphant flourish.

Annette gets two feet out her door when she looks up and comes to an immediate halt. Parked at the curb is a limo. The window rolls down and Kathryn appears sporting large oval sunglasses and a smirk. "Get your ass in the car little mouse," she calls out to her.

Staring flabbergasted at the car, a half a dozen snarky rebukes filter through her brain. Annette doesn't have time for this, not to mention she's sick and tired of Kathryn treating her like her little wind up toy to pull out whenever the need strikes.

She's going to tell her to fuck off. She is. But then Kathryn removes her sunglasses and her expression softens and she appears almost contrite. "Please?"

Oh hell.

Annette lets out a heavy sigh. "Do I have time to change?"

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It's unbearably hot for early October so Annette doesn't think twice when Kathryn suggests they take a dip in the pool. She borrows the lone one piece in Kathryn ridiculous collection of swim suits. It looks relatively modest until she turns around and realizes the back only covers half her ass. When they get to the pool, she wastes no time dropping her towel and disappearing into the cool water.

Annette floats on the surface, gazing up at the blazing early afternoon sun, half listening as Kathryn snaps instructions at a servant. She turns around just in time to see Kathryn drop her silk coverup. Her swim suit, a red bikini, is decidedly less modest than Annette's. She swallows thickly, her gaze drinking in the other girls toned, flat stomach, the slender curve of her hips, the way her breasts jut against the tight fabric of her suit.

Oh god what was wrong with her?

Overheated and embarrassed, Annette sinks underneath the water as if it somehow had the power to cleanse her brain and her body from that dangerous train of thought. She needs to stop. She wasn't like that. And even if she was, Kathryn was the last person she would ever…be with in that way.

Annette stays under water until her lungs burn and she's forced to surface. She takes in a big gulp of air. "You okay?" Kathryn calls from the across the pool, voice warmly amused.

"Yeah"

Kathryn gracefully dives into the water and soon emerges in front of her. Annette blinks, caught off balance by her sudden proximity. She swims back a little, putting space between them. Kathryn laughs, that mischievous little girl giggle of hers. "Don't worry little mouse. I don't bite." Swimming closer to her she adds, "Unless of course you want me to."

She rolls her eyes at the come on. Annette is not an idiot. She knows Kathryn's been trying to seduce her, but to what end she couldn't be sure. Was she honestly attracted to her or was this just some sort of game? Maybe both.

Eager to change the subject Annette looks towards the giant brick mansion looming in the distance and remarks, "This place is really beautiful. Do you come here often?"

"Only during the summer. Aunt Helen lives here full time," Kathryn frowns. "Or at least she did."

Annette recalls hearing about Helen Rosemond's accident from her father. She was in some sort of medically induced coma. "I'm sorry. Has there been any change in her condition?"

"None. She'll likely be a vegetable for the rest of her life."

Kathryn's tone is oddly cool. Before Annette can question her further, Kathryn smiles and changes the subject. "You know you fill that suit out better than I could ever hope to Hargrove."

Annette blushes and tugs self-consciously at the backside. "My ass does anyway."

The brunette swats her hand away and replaces it with her own. Gently she tugs her forward so her body is flush with her own. Annette gasps at the sudden maneuver. Kathryn licks her lips and murmurs gently, "Stop it. You're beautiful. You have nothing to be self-conscious of."

Annette was very aware of her own heartbeat. Her eyes linger on Kathryn's wet mouth, hovering only inches from her own. She remembers those lips kissing her own. She remembers them brushing her collar bone, suckling her nipple. It never went further than that. Annette made sure of it.

But she wanted it. She wasn't so self-delusional she couldn't admit that to herself. Whatever this was between her and Kathryn she wanted it. That didn't mean it was a good idea however.

"Kathryn I -"

"Shh," she whispers as she leans in to close to the short gap between them. Whatever Annette was going to say dies on her tongue as her eyes flutter shut and—

"Well isn't this cozy."

The voice is sharply amused and deeply masculine and the sound of it causes Annette to jolt out of Kathryn's arms in surprise. She turns to find Sebastian Valmont looming over them with a knowing smirk. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Impeccable timing as always Valmont," Kathryn grumbles, rolling her eyes. "I had forgotten you were here."

"Well not for long I'm afraid. I have to go back into the city for a meeting. I was going to ask if you needed a ride, but I can see you're preoccupied." Removing his sunglasses, he turns his attentions on Annette with a smile that some might label charming but Annette saw it as predatory. "Hello, I don't think we've formally met. I'm Sebastian Valmont."

"Annette Hargrove."

"Ah yes, our new headmaster's daughter. How are you enjoying Manchester?"

"It's great," she replies, wondering if the flush from earlier is still visible on her cheeks. "I'm learning a lot."

"Yes, I'm sure. Kathryn's an excellent tutor."

Part of Annette wants to sink back into the water in embarrassment, but another part, the one that resents having to be made to feel ashamed wants to strike back at the smug jerk. She was suddenly struck by the childish need to splash him and ruin his pretty gray suit.

"Sebastian, run along," Kathryn sighs annoyed.

"Don't be rude sis, I'm just getting to know your new friend." The two share a look loaded with what Annette couldn't be sure, but she didn't like it.

Swimming to the edge of the pool Annette addresses him, voice honey sweet. A near perfect imitation of the one she's heard Kathryn use on people in the halls. "You know Sebastian I don't remember seeing you around school."

He turns his attention back to her, looking a little annoyed. "No, you wouldn't have. I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical, but I expect to be back by next semester."

"Sabbatical? Is that what you Upper East Side kids call expulsion?"

Kathryn let out a short laugh behind her. "Sebastian's hoping to be a fifth-year senior."

Sebastian scowls. "Bite me sis."

She merely laughs as she climbs out of the pool. Watching her Annette observers her suit covers even less of her backside than Annette's. She's so entranced by the sight, she doesn't notice that Sebastian has leaned in close to her. "She really has a fantastic ass, doesn't she?" he whispers to her.

Annette jerks back from him in surprise. "Excuse me?"

He merely smirks back at her and Annette decides then that she doesn't like him. Sebastian was indeed handsome, beautiful even, but there was a cruel smugness about him, like a Bret Easton Ellis character come to life.

"I've read some of your articles. You have quite a way with words Mrs. Hargrove."

"Thank you," she replies stonily.

"I especially enjoyed your manifesto in Seventeen magazine. Pretty illuminating stuff." He slips back into his sunglasses and adds snidely, "I thought I caught a whiff of lesbian in it."

Annette is about to snap back when Kathryn calls out sharply, "Sebastian be nice or get lost."

"My apologies," he practically sneers at Annette. When his back is turned, she takes the opportunity to jump out of the pool, not wanting to be ogled like his sister was. Wrapping a towel around herself she takes a seat in the lounge chair beside Kathryn. The servants have laid out a spread of water, ice tea and fruit. Annette snags a strawberry, ignoring Sebastian as he joins them.

"I have to get going," he tells his sister. "Call me later?"

"Hmm," Kathryn hums absently, now contentedly laid out soaking in the sun. "If I must."

"It was nice meeting you Annette." There's the slightest trace of sarcasm in his greeting as he turns to depart.

"You too." Annette has to stop herself from sticking out her tongue at his retreating back. Once they're alone again she remarks, "So that's your brother?"

"Hmm yes," Kathryn sighs. "Sorry about that. I'd say he's not usually such an asshole, but that would be a lie."

Thinking back on what she's heard of him and his infamous reputation Annette remarks, "I find it hard to believe he's gotten that many girls to sleep with him."

"Never underestimate the power of a pretty boy with a bad reputation." Kathryn shrugs. "He can be quite charming when he wants to. And he's good in bed. Or so I hear."

"You know he was checking you out when you got out of the pool."

"I'm sure he was. Sebastian enjoys shocking people. Plus, he really gets off on the whole faux incest thing."

Thinking back on some earlier comments she made, namely about how attractive she found him, Annette begins to wonder about the stepsibling's relationship. "And do you get off on it as well?"

Kathryn turns to her, a teasing smile on her lips. "Someone's in investigative journalist mode. Why don't you have a drink."

It wasn't an answer.

None the less Annette reaches for a glass of ice tea. She brings it to her lips then stops when she smells the tequila. Setting it down she remarks wryly, "Nice try."

"Something wrong?"

"Yeah I don't like long island ice teas." Annette flashes back to the summer she turned fourteen when she and her best friend Mirabel drank a whole pitcher of long island ice tea only to spend the rest of the evening throwing up in her grandmother's rose bushes. Tucking her legs underneath herself Annette asks bluntly, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Do you want me to?"

No. Yes. Maybe.

"I have a boyfriend."

"Oh yes, Tom. How is he?"

"Trevor and he's fine." Or at least he was fine the last time they spoke. Almost three weeks ago.

Kathryn stretches her arms lazily above her head and sighs. "Relax little mouse, you're safe." Looking at her over the rim of her sunglasses she adds, "For now at least."

Ignoring the fluttering her stomach that threat elicited, she presses, "I'm surprised you still want to have anything to do with me now that I'm not on the paper."

"Are we back to this again?" Kathryn sighs. "Despite what you seem to think, I wasn't just using you for your access to the paper. I like you Annette. In fact, I admire you."

"You admire me?" she echoes incredulously. "Come on."

"Is it really so hard to believe? You're smart, and you're brave, and you don't care what anyone thinks about you. That's certainly a rarity at our school."

"I suppose but you have plenty of friends—

"Minions and sycophants," she tells her. "They don't know the first thing about me. Nothing real any way."

"And I do?"

Kathryn removes her sunglasses. Hurt flashes in her eyes as she replies, "I thought you did."

Annette doesn't know what to make of this suddenly vulnerable looking Kathryn. "I'm sorry Kathryn. I didn't mean…I guess I just have been on edge lately after everything that's happened with the paper and my dad."

"Are you still fighting with him?"

"Yeah," she sighs, "And I hate it. I know it's stupid, but he's like my best friend. I miss him."

"Even though he betrayed you?"

Annette shakes her head. "He didn't betray me, he just did what he thought was best for the school. I guess I can understand that. My father's a good man."

"If you say so," Kathryn replies coolly.

Annette's brows shoot up at her tone. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kathryn stares at her hard for a moment, her eyes searching her face. Finally, she sighs, "It's nothing. Look the sun is starting to give me a headache." Abruptly she gets to her feet, grabs her cover up. "I'm going to lay down."

Kathryn makes her departure leaving Annette to stare after her baffled. She goes over their conversation in her head, trying to figure out what she could have said to set her off, but comes up frustratingly short. After a while, feeling like an idiot sitting amongst all this luxury by herself, Annette gets up and heads back to the house. She goes upstairs and changes. When she comes back downstairs she hears music coming from the library. Following it, she finds Kathryn sitting at the piano, absently tinkering with the keys. She stops when Annette enters.

"Look Kathryn I don't know what I said but I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she says.

"What's going on?"

Kathryn pushes back from the piano and runs a hand through her wet hair. "Did you hear about what went down at Blaine Tuttle's party a couple weeks ago?"

Annette shakes her head and smiled wryly. "I don't exactly get invited to those kinds of parties Kathryn."

"Do you know Cecile Caldwell?"

"Sure. Bunny Caldwell's daughter. She's a sophomore, right?"

Kathryn nods. "Well she went to that party with Court Reynolds and well, he raped her."

"What?" Annette shakes her head, trying to digest this and the matter of fact way Kathryn told her. "I mean, how do you know?"

"It's all around campus. I'm rather surprised you haven't heard about it."

Annette isn't exactly miss popularity around Manchester. She has a few friends, serious girls who spend most of the time discussing their academic pursuits not the latest salacious gossip. They're superficial relationships at best.

"Well has she reported it?"

Kathryn levels a, you can't be serious, look at her. "You know better than that little mouse. This is the Upper East Side. We don't discuss such things, let alone report them. Bunny Caldwell would never stand for that kind of embarrassment."

Annette once again finds herself cursing this twisted world she's entered into. She can't imagine a parent not doing everything in their power to protect their child. It's unfathomable.

"Maybe it's just gossip. I mean maybe that's why she hasn't—

"There's a video."

"What? How?"

"Blaine is very into security. Every room of his house is wired with cameras. I'm assuming he's the one who leaked it."

"He leaked a video of a fifteen-year-old girl getting raped?" she spat incredulously. "Charming guy."

"Yeah, well that's Blaine."

Annette's never officially met Blaine Tuttle but she's heard of his reputation and seen him in the halls. She knows he's a dealer and openly gay and always seems to be on the fringes of the latest scandal. Also, no surprise, he seems to hang out a lot with Sebastian. Apparently, assholes stick together.

"Anyway, Blaine's not the issue," Kathryn argues.

"No Court is. Someone should take that video to the cops."

Kathryn lets out a humorless chuckle. "And what do you think that will accomplish little mouse? The Reynolds family are deeply connected, politically and otherwise. Anyone who goes up against them is on a suicide mission."

"You sound like you're afraid of them."

"Of course I am," she replies tersely. "Aren't you?"

"No"

If her time in Manhattan has taught her anything it's this: these people with all their money and supposed power aren't any better or tougher than her. They're certainly not smarter.

"You know I've been digging a little bit into Court's past—

"I thought I told you not to!" Kathryn exclaims, getting to her feet. "Jesus Christ Annette."

"I know, I know but listen. This guy is dirty. I've talked to at least four girls who've told me he assaulted them in some way. One of them used to work for the Reynolds family—

"A disgruntled employee? I'm sure she'll make an excellent witness," Kathryn chirps sarcastically, as she starts pacing the room.

Ignoring her she continues, "None of them would go on the record, but I bet they'd change their minds if they saw that video. One assault they could sweep under the rug, but several? That's a pattern. They can't make that go away. The Reynolds might be able to fight off one girl, but an army?"

"An army?" Kathryn echoes. "Where do you purpose to get that?"

"This is the social media age." She held up her phone for emphasis. "It's right at our finger tips."

Surprise flickers across Kathryn's features and if Annette's not mistaken approval. "I'm impressed little mouse. You have bigger balls than I thought."

"Thanks."

Annette's expression dims a little when she recalls something else she learned during her investigation of Court. One of the girls had tossed off the tidbit absentmindedly and Annette had tucked in away in the back of her brain, intending to follow up on it later. It had never seemed like a good time, but she guessed now was as good a time as any.

"Um, you know I heard that you used to go out with Court. Awhile back."

Kathryn goes very still at the statement. The earlier humor dies on her face and Annette thinks she can actually see her pull back within herself. There's a long stretch of tension filled silence and she thinks she might have overstepped. Kathryn turns away from her and walks to the window. When she speaks her voice is devoid of emotion.

"Yes we went out. The summer before high school."

"Oh." Annette wants to ask the follow up question, but is too afraid to voice it.

Kathryn looks back at her with a brittle smile. "Ask the question little mouse."

"Did he—"

"Yes."

Annette let's out a breath she didn't realize she was holding as she edges closer to her friend wanting to offer comfort or something. Kathryn's eyes narrow at her as if warning her to back off. She does.

"My Aunt Helen throws, or rather she used to throw, an end of the summer gala each year. Gowns, tuxes, champagne. The first year I was invited to attend, Court was my date. We were having a wonderful time and then he told me he wanted to show me something upstairs. I wasn't a moron. I figured he wanted to fool around." Kathryn takes a breath, folding her arms across her chest. Her gaze doesn't waver from Annette as she tells her plainly, "It was fine at first, but when I told him I wanted to go back to the party he started to get aggressive. Mean. I tried to leave, but he hit me and threw me on the bed. I screamed, I begged but he didn't care. He suffocated me until I couldn't breathe, but he didn't stop. Even when I got sick he didn't stop. He fucked me until I bled and when he finished he left me covered in vomit and cum then he went back to the party as if nothing happened."

Annette takes this all in horrified and heartbroken for that little girl. She also wonders how much of that night informed on the girl Kathryn ultimately became. Was Court Reynolds the reason she was so standoffish and secretive?

"Kathryn I'm so—

She holds up her hand, silencing her. "I'm fine," she says, her tone flat and resigned. "It was a long time ago and until recently I had put the whole thing out of my mind."

Annette isn't entirely sure she believes that, but she didn't press. Instead she asked, "Did you ever tell anyone?"

"Aunt Helen found me that night, but I made her promise not to tell anyone. She kept my secret."

What the hell kind of adult keeps something like that quiet, she wonders but keeps the question to herself.

"And Sebastian knows."

Annette is not surprised by this. "You two really are close."

It's a statement not a question but Kathryn replies, "We've known each other a long time."

She turns away from her then, goes back to staring out the window, effectively ending the conversation. Unfortunately for her however, Annette wasn't done talking. "Look I know you would never go to the police—

"No, I wouldn't," Kathryn snaps sharply. "And neither will you. What I told you here doesn't leave this room, understand?"

She nods. "I get it, but Kathryn we can't just stand by and do nothing. Girls are getting hurt. He's clearly not going to stop." Squaring her shoulders, she declares, "I'm going to write a piece about this. Don't worry I'll leave you out of it, but someone has to do something."

"You're not on the school paper anymore, remember?"

"Fuck the school paper. A story like this needs a bigger forum. I know a few people at the Times. They might be interested."

"We're not a fucking vigilante squad Hargrove. You can't just go around writing whatever you please."

"Oh yeah? Watch me."

Kathryn studies her, a faint smile on her lips. "It appears I've created a monster. Look Annette, there's something else you need to know."

"What is it?"

"This story…it was the reason you were kicked off the paper."

"What do you mean?"

"The Reynolds, they found out about what their son did and they of course they couldn't have it getting out. That's why they made that ridiculous endorsement to the school. It's why Bunny Caldwell is suddenly sitting second chair on the Whitney Committee and it's also why your father had you removed from the paper."

Annette shook her head in disbelief. "Are you suggesting my father knows about what happened to Cecile? No. No way. Kathryn he would never let someone get away with something like this. Trust me, if he even suspected Court had hurt anyone he would be the first person to turn him in."

"Really, even if it meant pissing off one of the most powerful families on the East Coast?"

"Yes! My father is an honest and a good man!"

"Oh, wake up Annette! Even good men can be compromised. The Reynolds have donated millions to the school. How would it look if your father accused their pride and joy, the same guy he hand picked for student body president, of being a rapist? The school board would toss him out and the Reynolds family would make sure he couldn't even get a job teaching at a charter school. You know I'm right."

There was a tiny voice in her head wondering if Kathryn was right. She knew how important this job was to her father. Would he really set aside all his morals and ethics just to appease some rich and powerful monsters? Annette couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it.

"You're wrong Kathryn," she insists, her lip trembling even as she tried to hold her own. "I know you're wrong."

"Alright then. Prove it."

.

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Later that night Annette finds herself sneaking into her father's study after he goes to bed. She doesn't like it. If feels like a betrayal, but Kathryn insists that there was likely proof of her father's complicity in Court's crimes located somewhere in his emails. Annette was determined to prove her father's innocence.

She knows his email password (her mother's birthday) having snuck a peak over his shoulder one afternoon. At the time she never thought she'd actually use it, she just filed the information away for safe keeping.

Annette carefully types in the keys, holding her breath as if anticipating getting caught any minute. She glances at the partially open door before hitting enter.

Dread fills her stomach as she begins looking through his past correspondence. She hates this, it's such a violation of his privacy. She looks through the past couple of weeks but there's nothing. Outside of administrative emails and a couple sent from herself, there's nothing incriminating. Annette breathes a sigh of relief.

It feels as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She should have known better, she tells herself. Her father just wasn't that kind of man.

Feeling confident, cocky even, she takes out her cell intending to call Kathryn and let her know how wrong she was and how dare she make her doubt her own father.

As she's waiting for Kathryn to pick up she stares at the screen and notices his junk box has two items. Almost absently she opens it. Both have been viewed before. One is an ad for Zoloft the other is blank. Annette opens it and her stomach immediately drops. She ends the call before Kathryn can pick up.

There's a video file simply titled, Reynolds. With shaky hands, she clicks on it. The screen fills with a black and white image of two people in a bedroom. Court and Cecile Caldwell.

"I want to go home," she cries trying to get past him. "Take me home."

"We just got here. Be nice or I won't be Cecile."

"Let go of me!"

His responding smack is so loud Annette jumps in her seat.

"Stop your goddamn whining!"

"Get off me! Leave me alone!"

Cecile fights him. He smacks her again, they wrestle around violently and soon he has her on her stomach and he's holding her down.

Unable to stomach any more Annette shuts it off. She thinks about Kathryn being in the same position and suddenly she feels ill. Court Reynolds was a fucking monster.

And her father knows it. He knows and he did nothing but throw the video out.

Kathryn was right.

Annette grabs her phone and dials Kathryn back. This time she picks up on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Kathryn, you were right. About my father, about everything." Running a shaky hand through her hair she asks, "What do we do next?"