“They’ve moved past the INHUP stuff and are on to some sort of financial analysis.”
Kovit pulled out his phone and started googling, and Nita peered over his shoulder.
One of INHUP’s directors, a tall man in his forties, had made an official statement. Kovit clicked the video and turned up the volume.
“. . . While we acknowledge that the one-week mandatory verification period wasn’t respected, this was because we found it unnecessary due to overwhelming evidence against the zannie in question.” The man assessed the crowd as cameras flashed and the INHUP logo towered over him in the background. “We were unaware of any relationship with the agent in the photos, but have suspended her pending an investigation, the results of which we will make public after the inquiry.”
“What is this overwhelming evidence?” called a voice from the crowd of reporters. “Can we see it?”
“At this time it is classified.”
“Why?”
“The videos all involve graphic scenes of torture as performed by a minor. Our legal department is working on the legalities of releasing one or two to the public, and we hope that we can allay your suspicions shortly.”
The man waved at the reporters and then walked offstage, and the video ended.
“Can they release the videos?” He looked at Nita nervously.
“Probably,” Nita admitted. “But we can counter this.”
Fabricio interrupted them. “Can you counter the testimony of one of Kovit’s victims who’s come forward?”
Both of them turned around to face Fabricio. Nita stared at him. “Victims?”
“The pink-haired girl. I saw her on television earlier.” Fabricio shrugged. “She’s making quite a fuss.”
Mirella. Mirella was on television.
“Thanks, we’ll look at that now.” Nita smiled tightly at Fabricio and then dragged Kovit into the bedroom, closing the door behind them so that Fabricio couldn’t snoop on what happened next.
Nita clicked through the news links on her phone until she found the one she wanted. It was titled Woman Comes Forward Claiming to Be Zannie Victim.
Nita hesitated, eyes flicking to Kovit as her finger hovered over the Play button. His jaw was tight, and he nodded sharply. “Play it.”
She did. Mirella came onscreen, her long pink hair tied back into a professional bun, her left eye covered by a black patch like a pirate. Her skin was gray and contrasted starkly with her too-pink eye. High cheekbones and a square face made her determined look seem more steely and hard as she spoke. Nita clicked the subtitle button beneath the video so that Kovit could see the translation, since he didn’t speak Spanish.
“I want to clarify, for all those people doubting that this man is a zannie. He absolutely is, and he’s absolutely the monster your nightmares are made of. He was one of my jailers in el Mercado de la Muerte, and he abused his power frequently to torture me whenever he was bored.” Her eyes were hard. “If you see him, don’t hesitate. Kill him.”
The video ended there, and both Nita and Kovit were silent afterward. Nita had always assumed that Kovit had hurt Mirella more than just the one time Reyes had asked him to, but hearing Mirella actually say it, putting words to the monstrosity she hadn’t dared quite imagine made Nita feel nauseous and a little lightheaded.
Kovit was very still, and he blinked slowly before whispering, “Fuck.”
Nita pursed her lips and closed the window. “Mirella has no proof, and anyways, this isn’t a trial right now. We can still fix this.”
“Even when the videos come out?” Kovit sounded skeptical.
“Even then.” Nita opened the fake email account she’d created when they sent Mirella the information about the assassination and found a response.
Thank you, whoever you are, for this information. It saved my life. If there’s ever anything I can do in return, let me know.—Mirella
“Translate it for me?” Kovit asked, and Nita did. His smile was bitter. “So we actually saved her, and she decided to go do this?”
“She doesn’t know we’re the ones who sent the information.” Nita’s voice was soft.
“Would she have refrained from making that video if she knew?”
Nita considered, remembering Mirella, fierce and angry and full of hatred for all the people who’d wronged her. Nita recalled the way she spoke of Kovit, the violence that dripped from her words, and she thought of the video she’d watched. Kovit hadn’t just hurt Mirella once. He’d done it often, who knew how often, before Nita came. She didn’t think Mirella would ever forgive Kovit. Nita didn’t blame her.
“No,” Nita said. “I don’t think it would have changed anything.” She looked