Simon reached out his hands and cupped Debra’s wet face. His thumbs wiped her tears, but new ones came instead.
“It’s okay. You’re veilig with me now” he zei comforting.
Mike frowned confused and agitated. He wanted to know what upset Debra so much. “What is he talking about?” he asked a little mad.
Simon glanced at Mike’s back and back to Debra. “You haven’t told him?” Debra shook her head ashamed. "Hey, u don’t have to be ashamed. None of it was your fault. u were the victim”
Debra looked up, her eyes begging and Simon saw her change back into the vulnerable fourteen jaar old girl whose innocence had been taken from her door violence.
“I get it” he nodded. “If I untie your hands, do u promise not to scream of to run? Because if u do I will hurt your partner and I don’t want to do that, because I know it would upset you”
Debra promised not to go anywhere and Simon untied her hands. He pulled her up and walked her to the bathroom where they could talk in private.
He opened the tap and let the cold water ease the pain the ropes around Deb’s wrists had caused. “It was not my intention to hurt you”
“I know” Deb’s zei hoarse.
“I tried to keep my promise” Simon zei sad. “I tried to look after Beth, but they wouldn’t let me see her. Right after u escaped Agnes grabbed me and put me into that cage. I was gegeven little food and I was beaten”
“I’m sorry” Debra mumbled horrified.
“You don’t have to apologize. I took comfort in knowing u were safe” His lids shut down in defeat. “But I was wrong. u weren’t veilig at all. Deb, why did u have to become a cop? Of all the careers u could’ve had this was about the last one u should’ve gone for”
“It’s my duty to protect other possible victims of the same crime” Debra defended herself. She was not going to apologize for trying to prevent the same thing happening to other people as to her.
“It’s your duty to stay alive” Simon replied passionate. “Which is why I want u to kom bij me. If u pick Joe’s side you’ll be safe. I will protect you”
Debra shook her head heavily. “No. I don’t belong in a cult. No one does”
“It’s not a cult!” Simon snorted. “It’s a family. Don’t u miss having a family? We both know yours is worth shit, but that doesn’t mean u have to be alone”
“I’m not alone” Debra commented, her chest heaving.
“Oh, u mean the worthless boozer and the good for nothing idiot?” Simon snapped, blocking Deb’s way as she tried to get out. “Tell me, Deb, if u trust them why haven’t u told them?”
Deb tried to fight her way past him, but he grabbed her shoulders and forced her against the wall. “Don’t u understand? I’m the only one u can trust. I’m the only one u can talk to, be completely yourself with. With me u won’t have to hide anything”
He let go of her and took a step back. “I’m sorry” he sighed breathless. He reached out an inviting hand. “Come with me. Please”